Trials:
Present

Delilah shivered as a sharp wind penetrated her thin clothing. Stupidity, she thought, it was pure stupidity coming out here without a coat. Her eyes wandered over the clearing she was in. It seemed that everytime she woke up she was in a new one. This one was wide with ivy-covered trees and thorn bushes lining it.

As her eyes wandered her thoughts wandered too. What was everyone doing back at the school? Did anyone know she was gone? She wondered if anyone would care. Jed or Michael? Did they care?

She sighed and thought bitterly about her old life. It was funny how she referred to it that way. Her old life. How different was it from this life she was leading now? Before she didn't have anyone to care about her, and now...she didn't know if she did either. Delilah bit down on her lower lip and willed herself not to cry. Pathetic. The word echoed through her brain and racked her skull. She was pathetic.

"You're not pathetic."

Delilah looked at Abigail blandly, "Reading my thoughts?"

Abigail looked down and blushed, embarrassed, "Sorry," she said glancing up tentatively, "You looked so sad."

Delilah let herself fall back against the soft, lush grass. "I'm sorry." she said, "I'm just reflecting."

"People do care about you." Abigail assured her, then she smiled a little deviously, "Especially Jed."

Delilah raised her eyebrows inquisitively but Abigail clamped her mouth shut. Sighing she decided to just forget about it and wait.

•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•

Delilah's eyes fluttered open to a still dark sky and she found herself in a different clearing. This one was wide and bright with moonlight. Blades of grass tickled her skin as she rolled over onto her stomach and proceeded to survey the clearing from that point of view. The trees surrounding the clearing were covered in vines that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. Tiny white flowers grew from the vines and cast their own glow, accenting the vines nicely and giving enough light for Delilah to see clearly. She rolled back onto her back and then a thought struck her.

Why can I feel the grass?

Delilahs eyes grew wide when she noticed that her clothes had been changed. She was wearing a dress so light that it felt like nothing. The back was open to expose half of her back and the front dipped down low, but not low enough to be uncomfortable. The dress was dark red in color and the skirt swayed gracefully around her ankles as she stood.

Why am I not cold? Delilah wondered. In this clearing it appeared to be summer. The stars above her twinkled and her breath caught when she saw a familiar figure at the other end of the clearing.

"Michael?" she whispered, slowly walking towards him. Several feet from him she noticed something strange about him. As she peered closer she realized that she could see through him. Slowly she lifted a hand and tried to touch his arm, but it passed right through him.

Michael turned and looked at her, but didn't see her. "Michael?" She tried again although she knew he wouldn't hear her. Michael stepped forward but then stopped suddenly and doubled over, his face contorted in pain. Instinctively, Delilah reached out for him, but her hand passed through him. Delilah bit down on her lip and felt a tug on her heartstrings at the sight of him in such pain.

After a few minutes Michael stood up again, looking drained and tired. He took another look around him and then proceeded to walk right through Delilah. Delilah turned and saw that he had disappeared.

"What's wrong with him?" Delilah asked, knowing that Abigail was right behind her.

Abigail let out a sigh, "I don't know, Delilah. There really isn't much I know about him other than the fact that he's looking for you."

Delilah turned around and looked at Abigail, "He's looking for me?" She asked, looking back to where Michael had been.

Abigail nodded, "He cares for you very much."

Before Delilah could stop it, a smile had spread across her face. But she quickly sobered up, turning back to Abigail she asked, "What now?"

"Well," Abigail hopped down from the tree branch she had been sitting on, "We'll takea walk around the school."

Before Delilah could respond she felt herself freeze in place as a bright light surrounded her. When it faded she found herself in the front hallway of the school looking up at the grand staircase.

"We're at the school!" Delilah said and started walking towards the staircase.

"Yes," Abigail said, half-running to catch up with the taller girl, "I see that."

"Does that mean I'm done with the Trials?" Delilah asked, stopping suddenly and turning to Abigail.

Abigail chuckled, "No, silly. I just wanted you to see how things were going with you being MIA and all."

"Oh," Delilah visibly deflated, then she brightened again, "Can I get something to eat?"

Abigail smiled, shaking her head, "Maybe, but you'd have to hide while you eat it. You're invisible so it would look strange if someone saw food floating around."

Delilah nodded, "I'll eat it in a closet. But Can we go get some food now?" She looked at Abigail hopefully.

"Okay," Abigail said, "Lead the way."

•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•¤•

"Wandering around in enchanted forests sure gives a girl an appetite." Delilah said between bites a few minutes later inside the darkened pantry just past the kitchen.

Abigail rolled her eyes, "Could you chew any louder?"

Delilah swallowed her last bite of an apple and stuck her tongue out at Abigail. The girls giggled but stopped suddenly when they heard footsteps approaching. There was definately more than one person and soon there were voices too.The voices were somewhat muffled because of the thick door so Delilah couldn't tell whose voices they were.

"Why do we have to meet in here?" One voice asked.

"Because my office has been taken over." A voice that sounded vaguely like Mr. Eldman's said. Delilah had only seen him at the school a couple of times since she'd come to the school.

She heard snickering coming from somebody.

"It's not funny." Mr. Eldman again.

"Yes it is," said the person who had been snickering, "You shouldn't have given them so much intelligence."

Mr. Eldman huffed and grumbled a little bit before grudgingly saying, "It was your idea, Hayden."

Some laughter that was quickly covered up by coughs at this.

"Need I remind you why we're here," Mr. Eldman said in louder voice. There was a little bit of murmering before it quieted down again and Mr. Eldman continued, "Now, Mr. Scheid, you have the floor." Mr. Scheid taught defensive and offensive skills. This class was limited because they had to do it indoors at this time of year.

"Thank you, Mr. Eldman." A voice, obviously Mr. Scheid's, said, "I have been observing this student for some time now..."

"Delilah!" Abigail hissed, pulling Delilah's attention away from the meeting taking place on the other side of the door.

"What?" Delilah asked, slightly irritated.

"I can only keep us here for so long before we have to go back to the forest." Abigail bit her lip, "I can't keep us here much longer, it's a strain."

Delilah nodded, "Oh, well I guess we should be getting back soon...But I really wanted to know what they were talking about."

Abigail smiled, "I'll keep us here a bit longer then, but we may have to leave suddenly. I don't do this very often."

Delilah smiled happily and pressed her ear to the door again.

Mr. Scheid was still talking, "...I've only seen traces of it, but it could become very strong, knowing this student."

Someone interrupted him, "We haven't had a Gifted with this power since.." They trailed off, "How do we know this student won't become like her?"

"We'll have to watch them very closely to make sure no one corrupts them," Mr. Eldman said, "You know how helpful this power can be."

"If it developes at all," Mr. Scheid said, "I'm not sure that the power's not going to grow or simply fade away like it did in me. There's a great chance that it won't grow at all."

"But it's such a great risk," the person who interrupted before said, "You know this power can consume the Gifted that carries it."

"Unless," Mr. Scheid said, "They get the proper training."

"And who would train this student?" The Interrupter asked.

There was a moment of silence after this that Mr. Eldman finally broke with a sigh, "That is what Hayden is here for."

Suddenly Delilah found herself being wrenched from that world and taken back to the forest. She'd become so wrapped up in the conversation that she had forgotten that Abigail only had so much power.

When Delilah's vision focused back on the forest she found herself alone again. With a sigh she went and plopped herself on a log and began fingering the material of her dress. She still didn't know where the dress came from, but that was the last thing on her mind. She wanted to know what the teachers were talking about! What power? What student? And who was She? Delilah heaved an exasperated sigh and let herself fall off the log and onto the soft grass.

She looked up and saw the shimmering figure of Michael again. He was still slightly transparent and he looked tired and worried. Oh, how she wished she could go tell him to stop worrying. She saw him sigh and fling himself onto the grass in a way similar to what she had just done. She moved closer to where he was laying and looked into his handsome face. She sighed when he got up and passed right through her.

Delilah slumped to the ground and closed her eyes, instantly falling asleep. When she opened them again it was still night and Abigail was standing over her.

"Hi," Delilah said groggily, "I forgot to ask earlier, but where did this dress come from?"

"Oh," Abigail smiled, "Do you like it? It's a gift from Laena."

"I like it," Delilah said, "Tell Laena thanks, will you?"

Abigail nodded happily but then sobered up and looked fearful.

"What's wrong?" Delilah got up and brushed herself off.

"Laena said you have to take the test now." Abigail looked up at Delilah with big eyes, "Please be careful."

Delilah was touched by the child's conern and nodded as she took her hand, "I will." She said, then added almost as an afterthought, "I promise."

Abigail led Delilah throughthe woodsand over a gently flowing stream before she stopped in a clearing larger than the others Delilah had been in. Abigail let go of Delilahs hand and Delilah walked forward on her own. A few feet into the clearing she saw lights come up around the clearing's bordersand create a sort of invisible wall around it. Delilah looked around at the walls that shimmered slightly in wonder and then her eyes finally fell on Laena, standing in the center of it.

Laena looked to be in her early twenties with long red hair. Her skin was pale and the green dress she wore set off her eyes, which were also green, but even more vibrant.

"Delilah," Laena said in a loud voice that carried across the clearing perfectly, "I finally get to meet you." She smiled, crossing the clearing quickly and enveloped Delilah in a hug.

"It's nice to meet you," Delilah said politely when Laena pulled back.

Laena studied Delilah's face for a moment, "You're even more lovely than your grandmother was at your age. Your parents must have been proud," She said softly and sympathetically. But in a moment she was all smiles again. "Your test will start in a few minutes." she started walking away, "Good luck!"

"Wait!" Delilah called, "Don't I get to know what the test is?"

Laena turned back and smiled, "I thought you would've figured that out already," She said, "It's the biggest conflict of all." At Delilah's blank look she finally said, "The conflict between yourself."

The conflict between...myself?

I don't talk to myself that much...

Delilah frowned and tried to figure out the meaning of Laena's words. Her musing was interrupted when jolts of pain shot through the right side of her body. A light glowed around her as the pain increased. What was happening to her? She felt like she was being ripped in half and every few moments she let out a scream. Why were they doing this to her? What kind of torture was this?

(¯ˆ•..(¯ˆ•..¤..•ˆ¯)..•ˆ¯)

A few minutes later found Delilah lying on the ground with a pounding headache. She slowly sat up and let out a scream at the face she saw: Her own.

"Hello..." The double frowned for a moment as she thought then finally smiled and said, "self."

Delilah stared at the mirror image of ehr in utter confusion. What had happened? Who was this girl? Slowly, Delilah got to her feet and took a closer look at this girl. She wore a black dress like the one Delilah had woken up in before Abigail took her to the school. The double's dress was black and, somehow, Delilah's had turned white. Her double had dark hair that was exactly like Delilahs. Her features were all the same as Delilah's, but both her eyes were black. The darkness of the dress, hair, and her eyes contrasted greatly with the girl's skin. Delilah never realized she was that pale.

"You think I look weird." The Double spoke, "You should look at yourself." She then pointed to a mirror a few feet from them.

Delilah slowly walked to the mirror and cautiously peered at her reflection. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her hands quickly rose to her face. Her face! Her skin looked like paper! Pale blond hair fell in waves over her shoulders and her eyes were so pale the irises could have blended in with the whites of her eyes but at the outer corners they darkened. The double was right. She did look the stranger of the two.

"What happened to me?" She whispered, horrified.

The double slowly walked over to Delilah. "We were separated." She said simply. After a few moments she added, almost to herself, "And now we must see what part of you is dominant."

"What do you mean?" Delilah looked alarmed.

"You and I are Darkness and Light." The double said, "You were split, Delilah. Most humans have both light and dark in them and the two can coexist peacefully, but you have too much of each. So, naturally, one has to dominate."

"And how do we determine that?"

"We will have a battle." The Double smiled at this, "And whichever of us wins will be dominant."

"How do you know all of this?" Delilah asked, "If you're me, or part of me, why don't I know it too?"

"I know because Laena told me so I could tell you."

Delilah nodded, then said, "I'm assuming you're darkness and I'm light."

The double smiled, but made no reply.

Delilah took her silence for a yes and then turned around to look at the clearing. It was bare, with only the mirror in the middle. "So when do we start?" Delilah turned to look at The Double but then jumped away with a shreik as a orb of...darkness flew past her.

"Now." The Double said with a smirk and launched another orb of darkness at Delilah.

Delilah dived, narrowly missing getting hit. Then it hit her. Not an orb of dark energy. She had her powers back!

With a giggle Delilah leapt into the air and made a barrier around herself before she launched a volley of aerial attacks on her double.

As she fought, Delilah felt a thrill she had never felt before. Bashing someone so unmercifully seemed to make her happy. But it was so wrong. How could she possibly enjoy it?

A swift kick to her midsection brought Delilah down to the ground. She looked up at The Double hovering before her. Delilah's eyes burned with fury. With a menacing smile she slowly stood and launched herself at The Double. Delilah caught one of her legs and dragged her down to the ground before swinging her fist skillfully at her face.

The double staggered backwards before putting up and arm to block another punch. She mumbled something Delilah couldn't hear.

"What?" Delilah asked, stopping momentarily and preparing another ball of light energy.

"You are the wolf in sheep's clothing." The Double looked Delilah in the eye before an almost angelic smile crept onto her face. "Though I may be dark I'm not evil."

Delilah looked down at her white dress and felt a sickness in the pit of her stomach. It didn't make any sense. Darkness had always been associated with evil. Even in children's fairytales. The lgith was always good and darkness was evil. But appearances were decieving. She lowered her hands, ashamed of herself.

"You're learning." The Double said. But the voice was Laena's. Delilah watched as her double grew taller and her facial features changed to Laena's in the blink of an eye.

"What did I learn?" Delilah asked, suddenly feeling stupid. Before waiting for an answer she said, "I was evil. I could have killed her. I would have killed her! Why was I being so un-like myself? What did I really learn?"

Laena smiled. "You learned to control yourself. Now I know that even if the dominant part of you is dark, you will be able to keep yourself from hurting others."

"So the test wasn't really to see which part of me is dominant?" Delilah asked, "The test was really to see if I could control my, ah, evilness if the dark side of me were to dominate?"

"Yes," Laena said, then frowned, "We don't usually separate people and then let them batter eachother to decide which side is dominant. That part comes about naturally."

Delilah nodded and then yawned. Laena smiled sympathetically, "You must be tired," she said, "The test I gave must have drained you. Abigail will take you to a real bed to sleep on."

"My bed?" Delilah looked up hopefully.

"No," Laena laughed lightly and shook her head, "You've still got the Trials Future to see."

Delilah nodded, "Thank you."

(¯ˆ•..(¯ˆ•..¤..•ˆ¯)..•ˆ¯)

Delilah was still outside, but it was warm and the grass felt as soft as any carpet beneath her feet. This clearing was small and the trees that surrounded it were as thick as walls. It was decorated like a real room with a bed, a small couch, and a vanity. Delilah inspected herself in the mirror. Her eyes and hair color had gone back to their normal shades, but somehow they seemed more dramatic. The brown eye was darker and the light eye was lighter than before. Her hair even seemed to shine differently.

Sighing she moved from the vanity and flopped onto the bed. It was probably just her imagination.

Delilah frowned and thought about the test. Even though she hadn't given into the evil power that was driving her, she still felt guilty for enjoying it. She shivered as a sudden cold breeze came through the clearing. A curl fell over her forehead and Delilah tried blowing it away. It went up, but fell back down onto the same place. Sighing again she pulled the covers up and around her and slowly let her eyes close. But before she fell asleep she felt a gentle hand remove the curl from her forehead.

---

A/N: I'm sooo sorry it took so long to update! I had a serious case of writer's block. But I forced myself to write. So I hope it wasn't too terrible. Tell me what you think! I love your beautiful reviews. :)

And just in case anybody was wondering, MIA is the abbreviation for Missing In Action.