The Darkness Effect

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

-Jake-

"SELENE! DON'T LEAVE!" I hear my voice echo from the walls of my chamber. I sit up, my head hurting violently from both lack of sleep and the constant booming my chamber emits. Ba-dum Ba-dum Ba-dum. I know she was here. She fought to free me, but neither of us are any match for the darkness that has already conquered my mortal body. Hell, it even conquered my soul, trapping it inside this mortal heart.

I kneel over, defeated. How could I let this happen to myself? Not only have I put Selene in danger, but Ladelyn too. Lyn, my beautiful woman of the moon. She is both the spirit of day and the spirit of night, enabling her control over water, fire, the tides, and sometimes light, although she was never really able to master that. However, even though she is very powerful, only surpassed by Selene and myself, but she was not always. Nor was I for that matter.

We were once just children. Wealthy children. We had been arranged for a business marriage from the time we were both mere toddlers. We were raised as best friends, and as time passed, we began to have strange feelings towards each other. By the time we were both almost of marrying age, neither one if us had qualms over the marriage. We were in love.

The day on which we were arranged to be wed, it all fell apart. It came as a surprise to everyone. Our families were well liked and respected in our country. Well, at least, that was what we believed. We were standing atop a white podium, smiles brightening both of our faces. The priest was warbling in loud baritone and the air around us smelled of roses. The dimming sunlight illuminated Lyn's brown hair and brought out the golden flecks in her emerald green eyes. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace." The priest finished.

All of the sudden, a loud bang roared across the crystaline beach we stood upon. Everyone, stunned, stood up and began screaming and running. It was almost comical to see the people running in circles as if their tails were on fire. Almost. Because when I looked away from the crowd, I saw Lyn. A red stain was spreading like a rose on the left breast of her beautiful white gown. Her face retained a look of utter shock and her hand began to rise to the wound. She collapsed forward into my arms.

"LYN!" I screamed as I lied her gently on the ground and cradeled her in my arms , "Lyn, you cant die, stay with me dear, stay with me..."

"Jake," her voice was barely a whisper, " Jake, you have to listen to me."

"Yes, Ladelyn?" Tears streamed down my cheeks and blood stained my hand as the red stain spread.

"I love you, but there is nothing you can do. Get everyone out of here and leave me, please." Water cut through the makeup that she wore and with each drop, her eyes lost more color.

"No... NO!" I yelled and held her closer. "I will never leave you." The sun had set, the night's full moon shone on her face, casting shadows under her eyes and creating a ghoulish look.

She took one last, laboured breath, our tears mixing together on her face. Suddenly, the air around us lit up like the sun, causing my green eyes to squint in shock. I could feel her being lifted from my arms, but unabe to accept the idea she was being taken away, I held tighter.

We were both being lifted now, the tips of my toes grazing the ground only lightly while I resist the foreign pull. My short hair is ruffled and mixed with Lyn's silken locks. I open my eyes fully to witness something very strange. Lyns hair was turning silver. Starting from her scalp, it appeared as if the color was being drained from her. Her skin was greying, her hair too. I realized then that we were completely suspended in the air. When I looked down, all I saw was the metallic light. Curiously, I craned my neck to look around.

We were in a bubble of illumination. As i was turning to look back at Lyn, a soft voice cut through the bubble like an echo. "Oh dear, Ladelyn, it appears as if you've brought a straggler with you." it whispers. Startled, I nearly let go of Lyn, but I regained my composure and held even tighter than I had before.

"Why are you doing this?" I call weakly, scared out of my mind.

"HA ha," bellows a new voice, this one strong and intense, " I enjoy this one, Lunam. He seems intelligent."

"Now, Caelum, you know your agreement with Selene. We can't take them both at the same time."

"BAH!" I flinch slightly," Selene never made me agree. However, to answer your question, boy, we are the spirits of the sky and the celestials. I am the GOD of the sky while Miss Lunam here is the godess of planets and such," Lunam makes a sound similar to an exasperated sigh," We are growing old in these forms. Flying around and halting the Malum has taken much out of us. We are finding the destined 5 whose bodies we are to use as hosts. You and your wife are two of them, Selene is another, her body hosts the powers of Terra. Bonitas and Lucem are also looking. But WE found you first." Explained Caelum.

My head was spinning, spirits? Malum? And Selene, I know that name!

I shut my eyes and rack my brain for any memory of the soft name. All of the sudden, it hits me!

"The maid's daughter?" I inquire, dumbfounded with the idea that the quiet girl who read books in the corners of the mansion could possibly be the host of a spirit... or god... I'm still not quite sure about that.

Caelum, seemingly irritated, speaks again, "Yes, the maid's daughter is now a queen of the earth. I advise that you not refer to her as anything but Her Majesty."

I open my eyes again, guilt filling my gut. My father had her mother executed. Her mother is dead because she asked him about resignition! Tears cloud my vision.

I am so sorry Selene.

But I can't think of her now. Right now, in this moment, my main priority is Ladelyn.

"Alright, mighty entity Caelum," I emphasize the name with annoyance, "Take me if you want but-"
I didn't get to finish. Before I could, wind started filling up my lungs. I was gasping for air. Then, I made the mistake of letting go of Ladelyn to claw at my throat. I begin a descent to the hard ground below me, seemingly in slow motion, and silently think my goodbye to my beloved Lyn.

As I see the ground approach me, I close my eyes and brace for the inevitable pain of impact, but it doesn't come. Hesitantly, I open my eyes. Wind whips around below me, causing sand to blow in every direction one would think possible. I begin to try to push myself up, and to my surprise, the mass of air which I am lying on seems perfectly solid. I stand up, wary of everything that surrounds me. I look up, but the ball of light which was once there had vanished, along with Lyn.

I crumple to my knees and the platform of turmoil ceases to exist. I can't say I remember much of what happened next, my mind was in a state of shock. I lost her. I lost my beloved Ladelyn.

What I do remember is a singular voice. Specifically that of Caelum. The voice uttered six words. Only six before I was mysteriously transported to the castle of Earth where I would meet Selene.

"We are one. She is safe."