Character Story: Deliah (Part 1)

Part 1 of Deliah's Story in what I hope to be a collection of character stories from the same universe. Intended to be read together but still understandable as individual stories. Hope you enjoy.

  “God, I hate this place.” She muttered to herself as she marched through the great expanse of the Watchers hall, located on the top floor of the Adytum City central tower, over two-thousand meters above the city's ground levels. The night before a criminal had escaped one of the cities underground facilities, both the Civil and Republican armies were on edge with rumors of the assigned squad encountering more than just the dangerous convict on the mission to terminate him that night.

  Aside from the occasional official and the Sentinels Guard, the hall was almost completely empty. Bright sunlight pouring in through the archways to either side, made the white marble shine and filled the hall with a cool, fresh breeze from the surrounding desert which could be seen to expand beyond the city walls from the top of the tower. Her boots struck like thunder against the floor as she approached the great doors of the Sentinels Gate, stretching almost to the ceiling. The black finish of the steel doors and the silver and gold of the Adytum City crest embedded into it created a strong and beautiful contrast against the pure white of the marble forming the great hall. The crest itself was a golden sun with an Angel, a Demon and a Human crossing swords at its centre, all sculpted from of silver. The Angel and Demon both hovered above the Human in the middle, wings outstretched while the humans cape billowed out behind him, like wings of his own. Around the crest the faint outlines of countless terrible creatures, a chaotic mess of claws, wings and tendrils, were etched into the steel of the door to represent the Fiends, creatures that once brought the world to its knees, fought back by the unity of the three races.

  As she approached the gate she briefly touched the base of her cap to ensure her auburn hair was tucked away out of sight. A quick glance and brush down of her sand coloured coat, decorated with medals of bravery and service finally ensured she was ready for her meeting. To either side of the doors two Rook Class Machina loomed over her, the red glow beneath their visors and the black finish to their armour combined with their immense size always gave her a sense of powerlessness. Each bore a heavy artillery cannon mounted to the shoulder, a shield easily three times her height and five inches thick attached to their arm and an equally large blade sheathed at their side. With their free hand each held a chain as thick as her waist, connected to the doors. She couldn't help but tighten her grip on the pommel of her sabre as if to squeeze out what little comfort it could provide. Forcing back her nerves she took a deep breath.
  “Major Deliah Fran of the Civil Army at your word Sentinel!” The slamming of her boot against marble from the strength and conviction of her attention and salute echoed down the empty hall. There was silence for what felt like an eternity. She knew that within the chest of the giant Machina, the pilots conveyed her arrival to the Sentinel within the sealed room.

  “Major Deliah Fran.” The two pilots spoke in sync, the deep, metallic boom of their voices through the speakers of their Machina shattering the silence. “The Sentinel shall see you now.” At this the two giants came to life, their foot steps sending shock waves through the floor as they slowly dragged the immense doors open by their chains. Beyond there was nothing, only an endless darkness that seemed to devour all light around it.

  “Ah, Deliah.” A kind yet weak voice escaped the dark. “Please, come in, come in.” She hesitated before walking forward, passing between to two towering guards. As the darkness washed over her she hastned her steps, quickly leaving the bright hall behind her. She was passing through a barrier formed by the Sentinel. Any who entered this darkness whom the Sentinel deemed a threat would be consumed and destroyed by it. Experience has taught her never to look back here or risk letting fear and panic get the better of her. What were only a few steps felt like a mile in the short darkness. “Come on Deliah, almost there.” The weak voice flowed over her like a soft breeze gently urging her forward.

  In the instant of one step the darkness vanished yet not much changed. In place of the pitch black there was a large, round room with a dome ceiling made entirely of black marble. Behind her, a much smaller version of the great doors was embedded in the wall. However, this one was made of solid wood and painted white, the Adytum crest of silver and gold still adorning its centre. Despite the lack of windows the air was fresh with a breeze. She had seen and experienced these things many times, yet could never grow accustomed to them. On one wall opposite to her, countless monitors shone bright, illuminating a room that would otherwise be in total darkness, casting the shadow of a desk and the chaotic form of the rooms permanent inhabitant across to her feet. Seated at the desk, staring up at the monitors sat the Sentinel.
  “Ah, Deliah. I'm glad you could make it.” He said. Using the desk as support he forced himself to his feet, arms shaking. She moved to stop him but was stilled by a firm wave of force that seemed to pulse out from the Sentinel. “I'm fine.” He said firmly. “I may be the Sentinel but I should still at least stand to greet a friend.” The last word sent a pang of guilt through her. She knew that he had considered her a friend, one of so very few. But from her countless summons and visits she couldn't help but want to forget about him and the horrid room in which only he existed, every time she left. Using a cane carved from granite stone resting beside his chair, the Sentinel stood and wavered as he turned to face her. Her eyes, now adjusted to the light of the monitors, gazed upon the surreal form of the Sentinel which so few ever see. One large bull-like horn protruded out the left side of his head through his long black hair, the back braided neatly into a long tail that ended at his waist while his right eye glowed an eerie silver, the traits of a demon. The other eye was surrounded by seemingly random markings that stretched down his face and neck producing the same light and a crooked, frail white wing sprouted from the base of his spine to his right. The result of a human mother of Angelic decent and a human father of Demonic decent, there was no better representative to watch over the city than one who embodies the union of the three races inhabiting it. A man slightly younger than herself, only in his mid-twenties, she's known him to be plagued with poor health since birth due to his mixed blood lines. Draped over his frail form he donned the Sentinels Robes, worn by all the City's watchers before him. The black and white of the robe's delicate silk shimmered in the artificial light. The intricate patterns and images, telling the tale of the city's history, sewn into it over the years matched the complexity and elegance of its current wearer.

  “Sentinel, I-”

  “Deliah, we've been over this. Please, call me Tribus.”

  “Tribus, I have received your-”

  “And must you be so formal all the time? I sometimes wonder if you have any friends outside this tower.” 

She paused to gather her words.

  “Tribus, how are you?”

  “Thats better.” He said, a thin smile upon his face. “I am well, feeling better these days than usual, and thank you for asking. How are you and your husband?”

  “We're doing fine, thank you. He should be back today from his gathering in the Dead Zones.”

  “Ah, yes. Collecting artifacts from the old wold and selling them on the market, no?” He said. “What was his client looking for this time? A King James' Bible?” She nodded in response. Still impressed by his memory recalling the details of a conversation they had had weeks ago. Then again, there was hardly anyone for him to converse with in between. “I've never understood the appeal of the old ways. Paper is so frail and unreliable.” He sighed, as if the statement was more directed at himself.

  “Collection perhaps?” She offered in response. “From what he's brought back many beautiful things could come from it.” She half gestured to him but he didn't seem to notice. “He said they wanted it as a present for an old priest.”

  “Ah, I see. I can think of a couple of men who would appreciate a book like that.” He said thoughtfully. “Tell him to be careful out there. I know the Lliath are working hard to control Fiend populations but from their reports more dangerous Fiend types seem to be appearing, not to mention all the bandits these days.”

  “Yes, I know. I tell him so every day.” A small laugh escaping her lips. Tribus' smile grew ten fold.

  “Ah, much better. This is what its supposed to be like between friends, no?” He said grinning, revealing a set of sharp fangs.

  “Yes, it is.” She said, feeling foolish and guilty for wanting to forget one as kind and genuine as he. But in the back of her mind she knew she would soon want to forget.

  “Now, onto the matter at hand.” He said, turning back to the monitors. At this she approached and stood beside him at attention. Each screen showed a different section of the cities outter walls from an aerial perspective provided by security drones patrolling the perimeter. “You are aware of last nights incident?”

  “Yes Senti-” He shot her a sharp glare. “Um yes, I dispatched Officer Tristan Moore and a team of his men to apprehend the escaped convict, Anderson Karel.”

  “And was the operation successful?”

  “Yes, with the help of two Lliath operatives, Anderson was terminated.”

  “I see, a shame.” He said. “Has his family been informed?”

  “None to be informed.”

  “Ah, how sad indeed.” A solemn expression crossed his face. She could never work out if he was empathetic to a fault or if it was simply the topic of friends and family to cause this sadness. “Anything else?”

  “Yes, Tristan requested Andersons recent psychological reports and we found he displayed some unusual behaviour before his escape.”

  “Such as?”

  “They deemed him clinically insane, talking to himself and rambling on about some war.”

  “I see, how troubling and what of the incident last night? I've heard the rumors.”

  “Yes, Tristans report says a Demon covered in a grey cloak appeared shortly after Aderson's death.”

At this he directed a hand to one of the monitors, the image of the wall distorted into a mess of static but slowly took back form, bending to his will. The image was of the same section of the wall but from the lighting she knew it was night. “This was captured shortly after Anderson's death. It was moving too quickly for me to detect at the time but by the time I'd identified it, it was too late.” He said grimly. “Does this look familiar to you?”

Her stomach sank as she gazed up at the blurred image on the screen. A creature with large bat-like wings and a scorpion tail flying over the wall into the city. It was humanoid in shape but its features were covered by a tattered grey cloak and hood. Her jaw hung low in shock. Taking her silence into account Tribus continued.
  “You cannot see it but I can, this is a full blooded Demon, not like the descendants we have now.” She looked at him in shock and disbelief.

  “Thats impossible, full bloods haven't been seen since the war of the Black Flood and the Rifts are heavily guarded.”

  “Impossible?” He said with a small laugh. “Just look at me, before I was born they said it was impossible for Angel and Demon bloodlines to cross and produce offspring, yet here I am.” She looked at him still in shock. “This Demon managed to sneak past all security save for this one Sentry. No unusual reports have arisen since, meaning they must be hiding within our walls. Anderson played some role in this but now he's dead and we need her for answers.”

  “What are your orders Sentinel?” The shock snd severity of the situation brought her back to her formal ways, this time Tribus didn't stop her.

  “Assemble the Commanding Officers, alert them to the potential threat and have them and their men on the look out for any suspicious or unfamiliar individuals in their Sectors, since we don't know if they are capable of hiding their demonic features yet. I have already informed the Republican army and the wall will be on lockdown come noon.”

  “Yes Sentinel.” She said with a low bow.

  “Good, you are dismissed.” He said with a smile. “But before you leave are there any other matters you'd like to discuss? Official or otherwise?” She knew he'd offer, he always did and each time she'd say the same thing with the same result; him getting angry and her leaving in a bad mood. But perhaps things would be different this time.

  “Actually yes.” She said quietly. “Some celebrate today as a holiday. Would you like to come and speak to the men yourself and see the town?”

  “Deliah, we've been over this.” He said with a sigh and a weak smile. “The King thinks it best for me to stay here in the Tower.”

  “Tribus, you have grown since then and you can take care of yourself. You have the authority to leave here when you wish.”

  “The city needs me watching these walls.” His smile began to fail.

  “All you ever do is watch these walls when that is what the Republican army is for.”

  “Deliah, its not safe for me out there.”

  “Tribus, don't you want to know what its like to be free for once?”

  “But I am free.” As he said this he closed his eyes and as he did the markings on his skin began to shine to the point she had to shield her eyes. A small crackle of power flashed from the Sentinel, then the black walls and ceiling around them began to fall away piece by piece. The light from the screens began to fade as the room grew brighter. The marble floor wavered for a moment as if distorted by hot air before giving way to grass beneath their feet. She looked up and around them, beyond the walls was not the view of the desert city most would expect but an open field of grass with blue sky above, the Sun shining. All that remained of the dark room were the monitors seemingly floating in midair and the White door now standing out of place in the lush green field.

  “Is this not freedom?” He said with a proud grin, turning to stand in front of her. “My powers have grown here, I can be anywhere I want without leaving this Tower.” He took a deep breath. “If I desire rain it will fall, if I desire a breeze I can make one.” as he said this a gust of wind washed over them bringing cool air with it. Despite his frail form the Sentinel was a powerful being which some in the city even worship as a god. From this display it was clear he had rightfully earned such a reputation.

  Deliah looked around, her expression neutral. She had seen him pull this trick before and while each time felt more real than the last, it was never perfect. The grass was lush and soft beneath beneath her feet but didn't look right, the shade of green was off and while the blades of grass swung with the breeze, some twitched and flashed like a glitch on a screen and the soil, while soft had a firmness behind it that felt unnatural. The Sun shone bright and she could feel the heat on her skin but was not quite right as the heat seemed to pulse and the light faintly wavered and waned. The breeze was cool and seemingly fresh but this too felt off. The air moved but it was not free, still confined to the room in which she knew they still stood.

  “Tribus, please. I'm worried about you. Being locked in this forsaken place isn't healthy.”

  “I am not locked in here.” He said defiantly, his voice growing dark. “Just look around you, cant you see?”

  “It's not real Tribus.” Her own voice growing agitated, her temper rising. She began to realise this was a mistake but it was too late to turn back now. History was doomed to repeat itself.

  “Its real enough for me. The King says I'll be safe here and-”

  “Its not real!” She shrieked as she drew her sabre. It flashed as she struck it against the edge of the illusion, streaking the wall that still existed around them, sending sparks into the air. Tribus gasped and stumbled back in surprise as the illusion was broken. A flash of white and they were back in the dark marble room. He hit his desk and stood trembling, leaning his back against it. Deliah stood before him, the blade in her hand reflecting the artificial light of the screens, shocked by her own actions.

  “Tribus are you okay?” She gasped. Hurriedly sheathing her blade she checked the door behind her worried that the guards would have heard her outburst. Tribus didn't respond, instead he slowly sank to the ground, his head down, hair covering his face. “Tribus?”

  “Sorry, I know its not real.” He said, taking a deep shaking breath.

  “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-”

  “Deliah, its okay.” He looked up at her, tears fell from his eyes streaking his shining face. “I know you mean well but I can't leave here. I just cant.” A mix of anger and sadness filled her has she looked at her friend on the ground. She clenched her fists as she held back tears of her own.

  “Tribus, if you don't leave here this room will be your grave.”

  “I know, but I know you wont let that happen.” He said smiling as he raised his hand to her. She helped him up back onto his chair as gently as she could. “Thank you, now go and pass the orders to your men. We have work to do.” She hesitated, letting her eyes take in the sight of the strange man sitting in the chair before turning to leave.

  “Things are changing Deliah, I can feel it.” His voice stopped her at the wooden door. “If the Lliath reports are accurate then the number of Fiends are on the rise, the Republican Army reports say that Bandits are getting their hands on more Military grade Machina than ever before and now there is a full blood within our walls. Perhaps we should heed Andersons words. Perhaps we should prepare for war.”

Author's Note

I intend for this to be part of a large collection of character stories where the main events for one character have influence on another characters story but I also want each to be appreciated and enjoyable as an individual story so please let me know if the plot makes sense or is confusing, if too much exposition is dumped or not enough.

Aside from that please let me know what you thought of the work in general. I will likely edit the work as feedback comes in so some things may change over time and as other stories are written.

Thanks.

Reviews

[Peter Rogerson]

An enjoyable journey into a different reality, but if you will allow let me make a couple of observations.
Firstly, length. I discovered years ago when posting stories on the ancient MySpace when it was mainly a blogging site that 1500 words was the maximum that held my readers attentions and subsequent posts got fewer views. These days I mainly write around the 1000 words.
Secondly, and I don't mean this too critically because what you have written is mainly very good, but if you edited in a few apostrophes where you have forgotten them (you clearly understand their use) then old farts like me might be happier. After all, the understanding of what we write is in the mind of the reader rather than the intention of the writer and sometimes an apostrophe can considerably change the meaning.

Don't worry too much about font size: a larger font might make a lengthy story more easy to read but it might also make it seem longer and people in a hurry...

[Joshua]

Thanks for the feedback. A fresh view is always appreciated.
The length can't really be helped at the moment, but I suppose in future works I could work to cut each part down a bit to be shorter so I'll keep that in mind.
As for the use of apostrophes, after twenty years of speaking, reading and writing English, I'll admit, I still can't use them perfectly. I'll try to go over it and try to add where I've missed.
The font was edited to what it is now as it really was rather small for something of this length.
Thanks again for the feedback. It's greatly appreciated.

[D.S. Dirck]

Really great story. Interesting characters. I might change the formatting a bit, upping the font size to make it more readable. But other than that, you did a really great job.

[Joshua]

Thanks, really glad to hear that. Also the font size has been a problem but I'm still getting used to this and haven't figured out how to change that yet.