Dark Reflection:

Heartless Princess

By Daniel Clarence Cobb

All rights are reserved (© 2000).

All Scripture quotes were taken from

the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART I: SAVE ME FROM MYSELF

THE COLLAPSE OF CREATION BITTERSWEET BEGINNING 1: A STAR IS BORN

2: CRYPTIC CONSPIRACY

3: MAIDEN IN THE MEADOW

4: ROYAL RIVAL

5: A PRINCESS IN PERIL

6: WHISPERS IN THE WIND

7: HELD HOSTAGE

8: ROSES IN THE RAIN 9: SECRET SERVICE 10: PRINCE CHARMING

11: LOOKING-GLASS LAND

12: TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL

13: A PROBLEM IN PARADISE

14: COURT OF NOBLES 15: BEWARE OF THE BEAST 16: HOPE FOR A HERO 17: MIGHT MAKES RIGHT

18: CASTLE CELEBRATION

19: ARRANGED ALLIANCE

20: LIFE FOR A LIFE

PART II: RESCUE ME FROM REALITY

THE DIMENSION OF DARKNESS

NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE

1: FALLING FOREVER

2: HOLY HORN

3: UNHOLY UNICORN

4: CREEPY CASTLE 5: MAGIC MIRROR

6: SHADOW OF MY SOUL

7: DON'T FEED THE DRAGONS

8: WELCOME TO MY WORLD

9: THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS 10: DEAL WITH THE DEVIL 11: LIFE IS BUT A DREAM

12: BRING ME BACK TO LIFE

13: THE PRINCE OF PEACE 14: BREAKING AND ENTERING

15: CRYSTAL CASTLE

16: KEY TO MY HEART 17: ENCHANTING EVENING 18: THIEF IN THE NIGHT 19: MYSTERIOUS MOONLIGHT 20: DREAM THE DARKNESS AWAYPART III: WAKE ME UP WITHIN THE RENAISSANCE OF REALITY HAUNTED HAPPY-ENDING 1: DARK DESTINY

2: TRICK OR TREAT

3: SWORD OF LIGHT

4: WICKED WITCH

5: VIRGIN SACRIFICE

6: VANITY FAIR

7: FORSAKEN FAITH

8: ALL THE KING'S HORSES

9: WE ALL FALL DOWN

10: REALM OF NO RETURN

11: VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

12: SOMEWHERE UNDER THE RAINBOW

13: THE CASTLE OF CHAOS

14: THE TOWER OF TERROR

15: TWISTED TWIN

16: DRAGON'S LAIR

17: EYE OF THE STORM

18: WARRIOR WITHIN

19: FIGHT TO THE FINISH

20: ECLIPSED ETERNITY

VERSE REFERENCE: PART I: SAVE ME FROM MYSELF THE COLLAPSE OF CREATION BITTERSWEET BEGINNING

1. DAN. 12:1-4: SHATTERED STAR

2. ISA. 28:14-22: CURSED COVENANT

3. PROV. 22:6: INFECTED INNOCENCE

4. EZEK. 23: SEDUCED SISTERS

5. MARK 10:14-16: CHILDISH CURIOSITY

6. MATT. 8:27-29: PEASANT OR A PRINCE

7. EZEK. 16: A ZEALOT FOR ZION

8. ISA. 40:6-8: FADING FLOWER

9. II TIM. 2:3-4: SPIRITUAL SOLDIER

10. PROV. 27:6: SMOOTH SPEECH

11. GEN. 1:1-4: SEPARATED SHADOWS

12. MATT. 6:19-21: TIMELESS TREASURE

13. GEN. 3: MANKIND'S MISFORTUNE

14. JER. 5:31: FALSE FORECASTING

15. JOB 41: DEADLY DRAGON

16. ECC. 4:9-10: FAITHFUL FRIEND

17. JOHN 19:11: ABUSED AUTHORITY

18. MATT. 24:37-39: MEDIEVAL MAYHEM

19. ISA. 53: STRANGER IN OUR SIGHT

20. JER. 3:1: MY BELOVED BETRAYED ME

PART II: RESCUE ME FROM REALITY

THE DIMENSION OF DARKNESS

NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE

1. JUDE 1:12-13: BIRTH OF A BLACKHOLE

2. JOB 39:19-25: HEALING HORN

3. REV. 6:1-8: HELLISH HORSE

4. MATT. 7:13-14: PRONGED PATH

5. JAMES 1:22-25: MIRROR OF YOUR MIND

6. GAL. 5:16-26: SPIRIT VS. SINFUL FLESH

7. MATT. 23:33: DEMONIC DAMNATION

8. LAM. 1:1-12: CAPTIVE CHAINED

9. LUKE 4:6: RESTRICTED RULER

10. JOHN 8:43-44: LOST IN YOUR LIES

11. II COR. 5:17: CARNAL CREATURE

12. REV. 19:7-19: HEAVENLY HARBRINGER

13. ISA. 57:20-21: SEA OF LOST SOULS

14. MATT. 12:25-26: DIVIDED DARKNESS

15. JOHN 14:1-2: MAGNIFICANT MANSION

16. ISA. 11, 54: GLOWING GEMSTONES

17. JOHN 8:12: THE LORD OF LIGHT

18. REV. 3:20: THE KING IS KNOCKING

19. EPH. 6:10-15: ANGEL ARMOR

20. ISA. 6:8: VOLUNTEER VICTIM

PART III: WAKE ME UP WITHIN THE RENAISSANCE OF REALITY HAUNTED HAPPY-ENDING

1. JOEL 2: A DAY OF DESPAIR

2. PROV. 5-7: MYSTERIOUS MAIDEN

3. HEB. 4:12: SHARPER THAN ANY SWORD

4. ZECH. 5:5-11: THE DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS

5. PSA. 73: WICKED WEALTH

6. PROV. 1:20-33: FOOLISH FESTIVAL

7. PROV. 8: VIRTUOUS VOICE

8. II CHR. 20:22-23: STRONG STEED

9. PROV. 16:18: POWERFUL PRIDE

10. REV. 18: BEWARE BABYLON

11. PSA. 23: ESCAPING EVIL

12. JOHN 12:35: WARPED WORLD

13. REV. 20: A LAKE OF LAVA

14. GEN. 11:4-9: TWISTED TOWER

15. ISA. 47: BABYLONIAN BIRTHRIGHT

16. I JOHN 2:8: DUSK BEFORE THE DAWN

17. II COR. 12:9-10: WHEN I AM WEAK

18. REV. 12: THE WRATH OF WAR

19. ISA. 14:3-20: FIRST STAR TO FALL

20. REV. 21-22: LION AND THE LAMB

"Dancing in the Darkness" by Daniel Clarence Cobb

I sat up straight one morning, remembering last night's dream; 14

A crowd of silent statues came to life - or so it seemed. 14

I was outside in a valley, where not a soul could see; 14

Ghosts grabbed my hand. They each took turns to dance with me. 12

Somewhere in the shadows, the grass grows long and tall; 12

They hid in a moonlit meadow, and I could hear them call. 14

Gentle, graceful, gliding figures softly stepped by my side, 14

So quiet that it frightened me and made me want to hide. 14

Gazing at veiled faces, I saw mysteries untold; 13

I didn't like this at all. It made my blood run cold. 13

For as the wind swept past my hair, I knew I must be bold; 14

I could not break free from their grip - whispering lies of old. 14

"We own you now!" they seemed to say, as if I were their slave, 14

But as we kept in step, I knew that now I must be brave. 14

I fought and struggled, twisted, turned - trying to break free, 13

But each time I resisted, they held tighter onto me. 14

They wore masks and fancy hats, jeering and sipping tea, 13

As if they'd gathered just to mock and torture me. 12

Then a prince approached and looked me in the eyes; 11

He picked me up and danced with me - with the clouds oh so high. 14

I laughed as he lifted me, for this man wore no mask, 13

But as the night waxed on, there came another task. 12

A tear slowly slipped down my cheek as he began to die, 14

And when it touched his shoulder, he cried out into the sky. 14

"It's finished!" he exclaimed at the climax of his pain; 13

Although his words had echoed out, my faith hadn't remained. 14

"Never ever leave me!" This was the last thing that I said, 14

But while I wept bitter tears, he closed his eyes and hung his head. 15

Voices came from nowhere, haunting me once more; 11

"He's dead!" they cried, then scoffed with pride as they had before. 13

As the dawn broke, I woke and smiled, slowly raising my head; 14

The Prince of Peace - the King of Kings - He was alive instead! 14

"You're back!" I shouted. I barely could contain 12

The hope deep in my heart, which swept away my heavy pain. 14

Nothing in the world mattered much at all, 10

As long as he was there to catch me when I fall. 12

He wiped my tears then disappeared into a starry night; 14

As the sun rose, I stood in its golden, glowing light. 13

I faintly could recall those figures spinning around the room, 15

But in my heart, I knew he would come back for me - and soon… 14

PROLOGUE INTRODUCTION: SHADOW'S NIGHTMARE

It's all coming back to me. Shadow the Witch smirked. It worked. I can feel it – the way it used to be.

Spreading her arms wide to embrace all evil, the witch tilted her head back and laughed, letting the sound echo through a haunted castle. Standing on top of a tower, she set a foot on the edge and leaned on one knee. The sword she held reflected her pale face. Her pupils were like black-holes staring into space – nothing but emptiness in her eyes. The light that entered them never escaped again.

Gazing below, the witch viewed a fallen kingdom. All was as it should be in this dark world of death – no sign of life. In the distance, she could see a sea of shadows. She found the sound of blood splashing against the shore rather refreshing. The charred desert sand drank it like rain. There was no wind; the whole world held its breath. It was so peaceful and still – silent as the grave. Everything here in Hell was black and white, except for certain items like candles.

This vampire-like vixen controlled the ancient elements – fire, water, earth, and air. The shape-shifting spirit could not only change her outward appearance with a magical mask, but also turn invisible using a moonlight medallion.

Magic was never meant to be used in such a weak way. With each life force I take, I salvage a small portion of my power.

A beautiful butterfly with colorful wings hovered in the air, then gently perched and rested on her finger. Seeing something so pretty was rare in this ugly place; she glanced up at it curiously and smiled. Then she grew jealous, crushed it in her fist, and incinerated it with a disgusted look. These creatures constantly competed for attention, but she couldn't feel such sensations.

It would have died anyway. The witch shrugged.

The Soulless, Heartless Princess of Darkness was so ruthlessly relentless even demons dared not approach anymore. No twilight terror was wicked as this keen killer with a violent, vengeful nature, void of human emotion. Her craving couldn't be satisfied, for the blood that flowed through her veins was black as coal and the heart beating in her breast was hard as stone. Pain and sorrow were all she'd ever known. Still, she couldn't help thinking something horrible was about to happen.

A gust of wind blew out a torch. A pulsing ray of sun pierced the horizon. The bright flash hurt her eyes, blinded her, and gave her a heart attack. Trees curled under rocks, refusing to reach out for it. She hid, wondering what it was, tasting fear for the first time. It brought back such strange memories, like a distant dream. This hope and happiness – the warm feeling inside just didn't seem right; it almost made her feel alive.

Is that? No, it can't be. A light! Dim, but growing bright… Glowing as it burned in the atmosphere, a falling star hurtled toward the ground. Butterfly swarms flew overhead; she ducked, protecting her face with one arm. Ugh! More of them?

The magic was gone; this beam was a threat to her world. Determined to stop it and restore the realm, hatred surged within her. Her chest rose and fell; she took a deep breath. Haunted by her past, she closed her eyes with a worried expression.

Harsh wind howled and whipped through her hair. Waves stirred the sea. Lightning split the sky. Thunder shattered the serenity. She didn't belong there, trapped in a nightmare. Then the vision ended. As somebody called out her name, she awoke.