12 - “The Song Of Souls”

Originally Written: March 5th, 2000

May 26th, 2000

Beneath the layers of metal and concrete, and the network of pipes and conduits feeding water, power, and heat to the dwellings of Manhattan island, lay her home, the Labyrinth, the only home she had known since her creation five years ago.  Yet within the warm Spring currents of the desolate sky, in which she coasted the ocean winds, lessened in ferocity as it buffeted upon the barrier of the skyscrapers near the coastline, is where she knew she belonged.  Her wings granted her the greatest gift of all, the gift of flight.  But a tinge of sadness marked her features as she thought of where her beautiful wings had come from.

Out of the two individuals Delilah was created from, only one had truly accepted her. With what little contact she had with Demona, often her infrequent words would be traced with an anger buried deep within the immortal’s tormented soul.  Delilah wondered if she would ever be deserving of the life given to her, to be worthy in Demona’s eyes would surely be a wondrous gesture.  Months ago, during the wonderful dances and spirited banter and the grand feast of Elisa and Goliath’s wedding, she would shy away at every opportunity, never gathering enough courage to face her.

Yet a trivial matter in the eyes of those who accepted her for what she was.  She had Elisa’s love, and Goliath’s, and that was more than enough.  An adopted lineage to be proud of.

Her train of thought was instantly broken when she spotted the castle far below her level, she had unintentionally flown too high.  A hurried change of position brought her wings in close, and she quickly descended.  Her eyes met with the curved lines of the battlements, and followed upon the transcending towers to the main courtyard.  She had been spending most of her free time here lately, ever since her ‘mother’ got married, but now, a new reason had caught her affection...

A seven foot tall, white-haired, handsome reason.

Delilah touched down on the stones, and settled her wings to rest around her shoulders. Her surroundings were emptied of what she thought would be a flurry of activity by the ever occupied clan.  Possibly she had arrived just after their nightly patrols, or their escape to the world below to indulge in it’s offering of delectation and festivity.

She thought perhaps she would check in on Annika.  She had grown fond of the new arrival.  They were so alike.  Both learning about the world for the first time, though the blush pink gargoyle had gained an advantage early on, receiving a full education in her hatchling years from her mother.  Math, history, science, reading, concepts that Delilah had just begun to comprehend.  She had struggled so to master the books in the Labyrinth library, often spending hours alone forcing her way through written volumes ranging from children’s stories to masterful works penned hundreds of years ago.

She kept to herself mostly, removed from the others, unwilling to accept their numerous offers of help.  She desired to be independent, she wanted to be strong, she needed to prove herself to the others of just how valuable she was.  But sometimes, catching sight of Derek and Maggie, or Goliath and Elisa, she just wanted sometime to be close to, someone to talk with...someone who would understand.

One dominant difference between her and Annika, she had Todd always alongside, a willing teacher of the modern world, and a trusting friend who cared for her more than Delilah believed he even knew.

She walked slowly around the castle’s exterior, and after confirming she was alone, decided to head inside.  But what she thought was the wail of a passing siren grew into a soft, high-pitched tone, carried on the wind and echoing off the ancient stones.  She allowed herself to be led by the unusual sound, increasing in intensity as she neared the rear of the castle.  Upon turning a corner, she had identified the sound’s source, it was coming from Shadow’s tower.

She hurriedly albeit silently climbed the steep stairs leading up to the small turret.  A large door appeared before her, thick stained hardwood held by two straps of heavy iron, the entrance to Shadow’s quarters within.  She steadily raised her hand with the intent to knock on the wooden barrier, yet paused.  Her bashfulness had restrained her.  She quickly turned to leave when the sound changed pitch and flowed into a melody that held her in place.  Never had she heard such elegance sustained within an unearthly lament.

Her curiosity had taken over, and she placed her ear against the door, her sensitive hearing straining to locate where the sound was coming from.  Nothing from the chamber, yet the music still played.  She lifted her gaze to the edge of the turret’s peak, and climbed gingerly to the top, peering over the cornice brim, careful not to draw attention to herself.  She gasped as she caught sight of the origin of the music, it was Shadow himself.

He balanced his massive, muscular body on the cornice, facing the city and holding a long, thin, golden instrument to his lips.  His large fingers moved nimbly along the shaft, changing pitch with every simple gesture.  A cool breeze passed around his motionless body, catching his long braided tail in the childlike playfulness of the wind.

Delilah watched with amazement as the dark warrior continued playing his instrument, a flood of emotion upon every note.  She struggled for the name of the pipe in his hand, as she had seen it before, in one of her books.

Through her pensiveness, she unconsciously tore a piece of granite loose from it’s stead, careening to the ground below in a quiet yet noticeable clatter.

Shadow suddenly stopped and turned.

Delilah immediately hopped to the ground and huddled near the door, protected by the eclipsing obscurity of the turret’s slight overhang.  She held her breath and lay folded within the cover of her ivory wings until the music started again.

With a sigh of relief, she leaned against the soft wood of the imposing door, allowing the melody to flow around her.  It was so beautiful, she had rarely heard a sound so majestic, so pure.  She listened for what seemed like hours, the strange songs flowing into each other in a long, unending aria.

Then rather abruptly, the song changed dramatically into something she did recognize.  It was a theme from a movie she had watched with Todd and Annika.  So familiar, and so much more memorable than the actual soundtrack.  She soon found herself humming along to the rhythm, and eventually singing, her angelic voice adding to the eerie resonance.

She became so involved in her own sound, that she never noticed the instrument had stopped.  She kept singing, oblivious to the fact her voice was the only thing being cast to the stars, until at the last moment, she trailed off and heard nothing but silence.  Her eyes grew wide, and she wondered if she had been discovered.  She slowly looked up.

Over the tower’s edge, emerged the dark warrior, gazing down on her with the abyss of mahogany eyes.  He smiled and reached downwards with his massive hand.

Delilah hesitated, but soon found her body standing to attention on it’s own volition and accepting.  She was easily pulled to his level and placed on the stones beside him.  She blushed slightly and looked away, twisting her white hair within her fingers.

“You have a lovely voice.” Shadow broke the awkward silence.

“Thank you...” Delilah answered, unsure if she could actually look him in the eye ever again.  “I’ve never heard anything like that, what is it?”

“It’s a flute.”

Delilah rolled her eyes at the name that had eluded her, and slapped herself for not being able to think of it.

Shadow smiled and held it up.  “It has been in my family for generations.  I was taught to play by my grandfather.”

“You rarely speak about him.  Do you miss him?”

“With every night that passes.  When I play this flute, I am reminded of the time spent with him.  He passed on to me ancient hymns from my country’s heritage.”

“They’re beautiful.”

“Thank you.  You seem to be fond of one in particular.  It’s one I’ve added recently.”

“Yes, it’s from one of my favorite movies.”  Delilah smiled at him, and for a moment their eyes met, before she turned away once again.  “I should go.  You probably want to be alone.”

“Music is for all to enjoy my lady.  I would be honored if you stayed.”  He reached for her face and pulled a veil of frosted locks away, uncovering a glimmering pool of chocolate brown.

She nodded silently and edged closer.  He placed the flute to his lips and soon the air was filled with it’s euphonic intonation a second time.  Delilah watched on, eventually closing her eyes and feeling the music caress her virtuous soul.

Yet, as the music played on, it grew cold in spirit and solemn in tune as Shadow’s once beautiful hymn became a somber requiem.  Upon reopening her eyes, she studied his dark features. expressing a saddened emotion, something she had never been witness to. He played to the end, and looked to Delilah as he finished.

“Wow...”  The young gargoyle was almost on the verge of tears.

“I’m sorry to ruin the mood.”

“No, it’s just...that last one sounded so much more sad than the others.”

“It is a dirge dedicated to the deceased, usually played at funerals.  It is said the song guides the spirits to the other side.”

“Does it have a name?”

“The Song of Souls.  It is the very same song I played when my grandfather died.” Shadow looked away, breathing quietly, and feeling the wind on his face.

‘I’m sorry.”  Delilah placed her bronze hand on his dark one.

“As am I.  It was his dying wish that I find others of my kind.  And now I have, but he will never know.”

“I think in a way, he does.” Delilah assured the dark warrior, as he smiled slightly.

The night’s eternal shade would eventually diminish it’s power to the light of day, a transformation of colors from a murky violet to a deep reddish orange, silhouetting the gargoyles on the small turret.  Shadow played on with the young clone listening to every note.  Dawn would freeze them in place, with Delilah drawn to him by a powerful feeling she could not readily ignore.

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