The Inheritance of Light

Chapter Three - The Enchanted Labyrinth

❧ The scent of damp earth and something unpleasant filled Lola's senses as she sat rigidly in the wet garden, her already neglected gown even more ripped and stained from how hard she had been working. Dried tears rested on her flushed cheeks, and it was no doubt she had been crying for quite some time. She would look back at the imposing manor, and see Corbin standing on the grand balcony, watching her from afar with an expression of pure disappointment and cruel amusement, a goblet filled with what she assumed wine in hand. Lola's slim, dirt covered hands moved with a practiced precision as she tended the dead, somber flowers. Because of Delirium, she knew how to garden very well. She thought about how Delirium would teach her how to plant seeds and grow fresh produce during the spring, and as she gazed at the now neglected and decomposing weeds, once so beautiful and vibrant, she realized how much Deliriums absence had truly changed everything, even the once perfect and well cared for garden.

Lola's surroundings were rather serene, despite the melancholy that lingered in the mist like smoke. The clouds hung low and grey, and the sun just barely peaked through, giving the garden a more mysterious yet peaceful aura. Since Lola was a little girl she was always fond of dark and dismissal weather, like thunderstorms and the occasional blizzard. She remembered gazing out the windows whenever it was grey and sullen out, even as others would consider it "depressing" and "horrible weather." She didn't care what they thought. She liked the darkness. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice from far behind, and she knew exactly who it was just by the sassy and high pitched tone of voice. Ophelia. Lola groaned in annoyance as Ophelia drew closer and closer. "Father says you are being incredibly slow, and that you aren't even tending the correct side of his garden." Lola frowned. It was Delirium's garden, not his. "I am trying my absolute best, Ophelia. You expect so much of me." Lola replied.

Ophelia only giggled mockingly. "Well try harder," She pointed at a different part of the garden, one that quite literally looked like a graveyard for plants. "That's your side. I suggest you start, so you can finish before dinner time," Ophelia giggled again. "Unless you want to go to bed with an empty stomach." Lola's frown deepened, already dreading the awful smell of the rotten tomatoes and dead verdant. Lola's stomach grumbled from hunger, she was too hungry to miss dinner. "But, That isn't fair fair! There is absolutely no way I can finish soon! Let alone before dinner time!?" Ophelia shrugged nonchalantly before skipping back towards the manor. "Better get to it!" Ophelia exclaimed at last before disappearing inside of the manor, leaving only her mocking words and strong scent of lavender parfum behind. Lola stomped her way towards the other side of the garden as she was told, and as if things couldn't get any worse, it began to rain. Very badly. Lola let out a Huff, and then a puff, before suddenly erupting in anger. Lola's piercing scream filled the air as she let out the feminine rage she had kept in her for so long.

From inside the manor, Corbin heard. He stared at Lola from behind the window glass, his expression unamused, annoyed. "Foolish girl." He muttered to himself, and Lilith, who was in a small kitchen baking goods, had heard it too. She peered out a nearby window and saw Lola, alone, slumped in the grass as rain poured down on her."Oh Lola.." She said to herself with a tone full of empathy, and she immediately knew right then and there that Corbin was the cause of Lola's distress, and she decided she had enough. She would confront him, Lilith could not let Corbin mistreat her younger sister, not anymore. Lilith appeared inside of Corbins study. "I am curious as to why Lola is still working in that God forbidden garden, won't you let her in?? It's been hours! And it's pouring out!" She said. "A little rain will do no harm. Maybe, just maybe, this will teach her how to stop being nosy little pest!" Corbin replied, his short temper visibly rising. Lilith frowned and almost seemed offended by his lack of empathy for others. "She will catch a cold! Surely you care about your daughters health??" Lilith said. Corbin stayed silent before speaking once more, subtly dismissing lilith from his study with false kindness. He didn't care about what she had to say, and it was quite clear.

"Go on and finish those treats. They smell lovely." He said at last. Meanwhile, as Lilith Retreated back to the kitchen, and as Corbin remained seated in his study, Lola sat rigidly in the soaking grass while carelessly clawing out handfuls of dirt in order to make room for the flower seeds she would plant soon. The rain poured down on her cruelly, and the sound of distant thunder along with raindrops hitting nearby puddles was the only thing that could be heard in the garden, aside from Lola's own, loud angered sobs. Lola continued to weep and dig deeper holes with her bare hands mindlessly, when suddenly, unexpectedly ... She felt something. Her eyebrows furrowed and she stopped crying for just a moment, a look of mild curiosity and wonder coating her once saddened face as she caressed whatever it was she had found, whatever it was hidden deep in the dirt. With all the strength she could possibly muster up, she pulled back with a strong grip, and after a few agonizing attempts she successfully pulled the item out of the dirt, just to see it was but only a medallion locket.

A locket?? Lola thought to herself as she took a closer look. It wasn't just any medallion locket, the locket had belonged to none other than Lola's mother delirium, and even if Lola didn't know of it, it was far more interesting than it may have seemed. It contained magic, and Lola, oh oblivious Lola .. was about to see for herself. it was beautiful. very much so. It contained a silver rim, and a delicate black pendant engraved in the silver material. My favorite color. She thought silently as she wiped away the dirt, wanting to see more of the unexpected treasure, obliviously unaware of the amount of power it truly held. A warm smile coated her lips, and she suddenly felt happy and proud to have found such a beauty. Forgetting about her task at hand and the sadness she had felt mere moments ago, she emerged up to her feet and began walking back towards the manor, excited to show Lilith the mysterious treasure she had been lucky enough to acquire so suddenly. Though, as she walked, a sudden, high pitched, melodious twittering sound from behind her could be heard even over the rain, and she stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening just slightly. it had sounded almost unreal, almost ethereal, and it had unsettled her.

Lola's head snapped back, half expecting to see a dangerous animal, but what she saw left her utterly speechless, more than any large bear ever could. There in front of her, as if summoned by the mysterious locket being found, floated a creature that looked almost identical to a fairy, the mythical creatures that didn't exist. Or did they?? She didn't know, she began to overthink, but there was no mistaking that the creature floating right in front of her, with its large and pale wings, was indeed a fairy. Lola froze and let out a loud sharp gasp, and as if things couldn't get even more breathtaking, the creature spoke. "Pennam!" It said. Saying "hi" in its own unidentified fairy language, it's voice impossibly high pitched. Lola's words died on her lips from pure shock after witnessing it speak directly to her, and before she could scream, or even convince herself that this wasn't real, that it was only a dream, her mind went foggy, and she suddenly collapsed on the wet grass, fainting from pure shock.