Crimson Heart

Delilah was hidden deep in the shadows of the heavily populated Crimson Heights. She was following a fellow mage. She was part of the security detail of her clan. The Crimson Heart Clan. It was one of four. Back in 2045, scientist groups from around the world decided to look into the four elements to save the earth from demise. Global warming has destroyed all of Australia and melted the ice caps causing the oceans rise. Millions of people died. Along the way they discovered certain people could wield the power of the elements. Her powers derived from fire. Hence the Crimson Hearts, mages of fire.

For months, the clan has been losing important business deals with the government. She was tasked to find out who was selling them out. Per a tip from another member, this mage was responsible. Darmon Phipps was a troublemaker, a rare mage who could control more than just the fire elements. She slithered closer to hear what and who he was visiting. Delilah focused the heat into her Heart shaped necklace to shroud her in darkness.

Darmon was talking to a member of the New World Government. This official in the Emerald Clan was whispering intently to Darmon. It seemed she was displeased with what he had told her. "I need your commitment, Darmon." She whispered. "It is important that you get me what I need to get this done." Darmon audibly sighed. He looked over his shoulder as if he could sense Delilah nearby. He took the official by the arm and headed her away from the doorway they were using. "I know!" he whispered harshly. "I will get it done." Darmon said. "I have most of what I need to complete this for you." Darmon Said. " I will destroy the Crimson Heart mages! Darmon said, almost shouting. "I think they suspect me. I have to be careful now. But it will be done." Darmon stated. He pushed the official almost to a slow run. Delilah stayed as close as she could get to keep hearing them talk.

Darmon looked over his shoulder and pursed his lips. He leaned into his companion and whispered something to her. Soon the two split up and went in different directions. Delilah focused her magic into her heart shaped necklace to push against his shield. Immediately she felt a hard push back. Her head began to pound. He was making her stop using her lungs to breathe. An air clan trick. She was caught in his power and could no longer stay upright. She felt her stomach reel and she was falling to the ground.

Delilah woke up with a reeling headache. She could not focus her eyes to see past the suffocating darkness. Her nose was met with a damp smell, like being underground or in a cave. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed there was very little light, no furniture, and no comforts of any kind. Nearby she could hear running water. Her mouth watered. She was so very thirsty. She placed her hands on her forehead, slowly rubbing at her headache. Delilah sighed out loud. "What or where was she?" She thought to herself.

She had been following Darmon Phipps. She needed proof of what he was up to and was supposed to report back to the clan leader. Marcus Ruby would not be pleased with the little she had been able to hear for it was not a lot of information. But it did prove he was involved with the clan losing clients and business with the World Government.

She flicked a small flame onto the palm of her right hand. To give her more light to look around. The flame rose about 2 inches from her palm dancing around in a red flame. Nearby was a door that was closed, hopefully not locked. Other than the running water, Delilah could not see a way out of what appeared to be an empty room with her being the only thing in said room. Delilah decided to get up off the dirt floor. She turned her head around to see what was behind her, a dark stone wall. It was cool and dry. Delilah placed a steading hand on the cool surface and made her legs lift her off the floor. Once up, she had to take a moment to get her head to stop whirling. It was making her sick to her stomach. Once grounded and no longer dizzy, Delilah began to slowly make her way to the door.

Once at the door, Delilah tried the knob. As she turned it slowly, trying to not make any noise, she realized it was locked. “Dang!” she mumbled. Delilah put her right ear up to the door to listen. No one was walking around or talking. But a low hum could be heard through the door. Delilah's heart sank. She did not know what to do. Sliding down to the dirt floor, Delilah started to cry. Even though she was over a hundred years old, she is still a young mage compared to most of the other members of her clan.

Delilah woke up with a start, she had fallen asleep by the big wooden door. She placed her ear up against it to listen. This time she heard two people talking, she jumped up and started pounding on the door. After a few minutes, Delilah stopped and she could hear footsteps coming toward the door. She stepped back and crouched into a fighting stance, bracing herself to fight. The door slowly opened and Delilah peered into the other room. It was mostly dark in that room but she noticed a shadow was slowly making its way towards her.

The shadow stopped just out of reach of any attack from her. Delilah let out a fighting yell and lunged toward the shadow. Just when she thought she would hit something solid, she fell to the ground. She realised too late. The figure was using magic to shield itself from harm. The real mage was somewhere in the next room. Delilah let out a yelp when she landed wrong on her left foot and felt the ligament pop. Down she went, Delilah slumped her head and started to cry from the pain. She did not see or hear the mage appear before her.

Darmon looked down at the slumped over young mage. She had been following him around for days. He had sensed her many times but yesterday he finally was able to “see” her through the woven magic she had used to shroud herself from him. He wanted to comfort her as she was very young but she was a part of her clan's wrong doings.

Darmon was with a group of mages who wanted change. His group had infiltrated all the clans and in the World Government. The people of this World needed food, clean water, and medicine but the World Government hoarded it all for themselves. The World Government was making the mages more powerful every year while the people suffered more and more by their hands.. The Crimson Heights was just one of the many overcrowded districts controlled by the Four Clans.

Darmon crouched down beside the girl and tried to look at her ankle. Her head snapped up and collided with his own, knocking him over. Suddenly, Delilah was hitting him in the chest over and over. Darmon did not try to stop heer by force, instead waited until he could capture her hands. He turned her over onto her back and raised her arms just to the point of pain. She whimpered but stopped moving.”Hey!” he smirked. “:I am not going to hurt you.” He said to her, “Just want to talk to you.” He immediately let her arms go and she scrambled away from him. She shied away from him. Darmon put his hands up to signal he meant no harm before he climbed to his feet and held out his hand to her. She took his hand because she could not get up to stand on her own.

Delilah was surprised by his kind gesture. But she did not let her guard down. He led her away from the doorway and into a room with more light. The room had books everywhere floor to ceiling in neat but dusty bookshelves. To her right was a small green dragon in a golden cage. It looked like it was smiling at her with small puffs of smoke coming out of its mouth. The man she had been following led her to a small table that had 4 chairs. He took a seat and gestured that she could do the same. She hobbled over to the nearest chair. Still looking around at all the books, and little gilded cages of happy birds, turtles, and some fish. The fish sent bubbles up as if they were trying to greet her.

Darmon watched the young mage look around with amazement on her young face. He had seen her at clan meetings and around the compound. He knew she was smart, otherwise the security division would not have recruited her. He was not really surprised she had attacked him. It was not as if he had not brought her to what she perceived to be a prison. He wanted only to talk with her to see where or how her loyalty might fall. He hoped he could convince her to join his group, the Free Mage Society.

Delilah finally faced her adversary, he had waited patiently while she took in their surroundings. “This place is really amazing.'' Delilah said out loud. She finally turned her attention to Darmon Phipps. He sat in his chair smiling. “It is, isn’t it?” He said to her, “I found this place a long time ago.” His face turned thoughtful. “I think I have been here for about 250 years. My book collection is a bit much. But it is all important information on more than just one kind of magic.” He said and looked at Delilah pointedly.

Delilah turned her head a bit to the side so she could look at him quizzingly. But she did not comment. “Ok,” Darmon said and clapped his hands together. “Right, so I know you know my name, but I am not appraised of yours.” Darmon said to her. Delilah raised her eyebrow at him and slightly smiled back at him. “I do know your name.” Delilah returned. Rule number one, do not give any information to anybody and not to anyone the clan is wanting to watch. She just continued to watch him. Darmon cleared his throat. “Ok, well I get why you do not trust me.” He said. “I get that. But I would like you to then just listen to what I have to say, can you do that?” He asked pointedly.

Delilah shook her head to let him know she would listen. Darmon got up and started going over to the book shelves. He pulled certain books off and started to pile them on the table. He brought over 6 tomes.. After finding each book he would lovingly dust them off and lay them gently before her. He took the one on top and flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for on the page. He sat down closer to Delilah but still gave her space to comfortably sit next to him.

Darmon pointed down at the page and began to read to her. “This is the story of how magic originated back in 2045. Scientists were desperate to find a solution to save mankind. The Earth was dying from over population and global warming. A group of men and women found the source of all the elements of the earth. Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. These elements could be used with the help of certain stones that all came from the earth. Earth needs emeralds, Water needs sapphire, Fire needs ruby, and the Air needs diamonds. Each stone responds to a mage. However, to keep the power from being used for ill purposes, these early mages split the knowledge into four clans”. At this he looked up from his reading to see the girl's face. “Did she get what he wanted her to get from this passage?” Darmon wondered. She looked back at him. He could not tell if she understood or not.

Darmon reached for the next book and flipped through the pages until he found what he needed. Putting the book down between them he showed her a passage. She looked down and began to read. This book told the story of how they tested each potential mage for their dominant magic talent. They would then take these young children to training facilities to teach them how to master their dominant magic. Each clan leader then would test them at a certain age and place them in a department to help run the new World Government. Delilah looked up at Darmon with a bit of confusion in her eyes. He nodded back to her and reached for the next book. Delilah read the four other passages he gave her. She was not ready to speak. But with each reveal she was more and more confused and a bit angry. These books were saying that any mage could control any magic. Not just one.

After an hour of reading, Delilah sat back in her chair and sighed loudly. Darmon reached out to take her hand. She did not pull away from him. “I know this is a lot to take in. You must be hungry and in need of water. He got up and went through a door she had not seen before. He remerged with fruit, cheese, and bread. In his other hand he held a glass with water in it. He placed it in front of her. Before she ate, she looked up to him and smiled. “My name is Delilah. I am in the Crimson Heart Clan.” Darmon returned her smile and patted her on the shoulder. “Eat, then we will talk some more.” Darmon sat down and watched her eat

Delilah sat back and patted her full belly. She had not eaten like that in days. Darmon was gently petting on the green dragon she saw when they had arrived. The dragon scurried around and around his hands and put his head up to get his head scratched. Darmon was smiling and enjoying the interaction. Delilah cleared her throat. “Umm, is that really a dragon?” She asked. Darmon looked up and smiled at her. “Yep, sure is. I found him alone about 100 years ago.” He answered her. “His name is Bruno.” Delilah gently rubbed her fingers down his back. His scales were smooth and kind of silky, not what she expected a dragon to feel like. Bruno turned around and wiggled onto her hand. Delilah squealed with delight as Bruno ran up her arm and sat down on her left shoulder. Delilah laughed. “He is so cute.”.

“Look, I know I have given you a lot to think about. I hope that you will consider something for a few days.” He said to her, “I am giving out secrets and information to a trusted member of the World government. But, it is not to bring down the clans per se.” He continued. “But to make the clans better. To work together to make things better for all people.” He stopped to look at her again. Her smile had disappeared from her face.”I’d like you to consider joining me and my mismatched clan. We are the Clan of All Magic. We have strayed from our individual clans to form our own.” He stopped to look at Delilah. “We want to make all people equal and provide all with proper basic rights. Like food, clean water, and medicine.” Darmon stopped. Delilah played with Bruno’s tail, gently running her fingers down to the tip. Bruno sighed with delight and fell asleep. Delilah closed her eyes, she was not sure, but something was telling her that her life was going to change. She opened up her eyes and stared at Darmon. “I think I am in.”