Her Words | Her Will | Her World
At first, I created The Compendium as nothing more than a living dictionary, one that will continue to grow as new names, patterns, and revelations emerge within the Candle Face Chronicles. It was intended as a structured catalog of names, places, and phenomena surrounding Candle Face. It was designed to provide paranormal investigators, researchers, and readers with a single source of definitions, enabling them to identify verifiable patterns. Over time, those patterns stopped looking like coincidences. They began to feel deliberate, like pieces of a larger design that wanted to be seen.
This archive is that design. It documents the hierarchies of Isabel’s followers, the laws that define her power, the signs that herald her arrival, and the fates of those who ignored her warnings. It isn’t propaganda, nor is it a warning, although it might serve as both. What began as a study of belief has become a record of its power and a reflection of how belief takes hold in the mind of the one who seeks to understand it. And I’m beginning to understand.
Let these definitions guide you. They won’t give you every answer, but they might teach you where to start looking. Learn the language Isabel’s children use, the words that bind them to her story. But know this: the deeper you read, the harder it becomes to stand apart. Even I can’t say with certainty where observation ends and devotion begins.
Isabel – The forgotten daughter of La Llorona. Drowned by her mother, she seeks recognition denied to her in life. Belief gives her strength, and disbelief fuels her anger. She punishes skeptics but can show “compassion” to those who believe, who are known as The Children of Isabel.
Candle Face – The name I gave Isabel after her transformation from a forgotten child into a force of reckoning. Candle Face is an active and relentless hunter who punishes disbelief and answers devotion with power. Her burned appearance reflects the betrayal that shaped her and the rage that fuels her. To her followers, she is Mother. Candle Face is the embodiment of Isabel’s vengeance, the voice of her will, and the manifestation of every belief spoken in her name.
Mother – The sacred title used by The Children of Isabel when referring to Isabel. Speaking this name out loud is considered an act of devotion and submission.
Arthur (Ray) – The investigator and chronicler who documents Candle Face Chronicles, including The Lost Souls, The Fugitives, and Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona. He maintains The Journal.
Mr. Smoe – A former Disciple, interviewed by me on several occasions. After his death in 2025, I inherited a series of decoded notes from him that later formed the foundation of the published book Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona. Smoe had also hidden thousands of scrolls in his attic, many of which contained bound spirits. These scrolls would eventually form the basis of what became known as The Scrolls of Souls. His work preserved stories that might have otherwise been lost and reshaped the course of the investigation.
The Journal – A record of encounters, testimonies, and investigations related to The Lost Souls, The Fugitives, and Candle Face/Isabel.
The Lair – Also called Atlitzinco, “The place of the sacred water.” It's Candle Face’s realm, where The Lost Souls are trapped and The Shadows patrol.
The Empty Lot – The site where I first saw Candle Face manifest on Ben Howell Drive in Austin, Texas. Believed to be an active portal.
Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake) – A frequent site of drownings linked to Candle Face. Her death by drowning mirrors the tragedies that occur here.
Austin, Texas – The center of the investigation and the setting for many encounters, including events near Lady Bird Lake.
The Children of Isabel – The collective name for all who follow Candle Face. United by faith and bound by devotion, they form a living hierarchy from the first believer who shouts her name to the eternal Shadows who serve after death. Advancement through these ranks is never self-appointed; only Mother may choose who ascends. This structure represents both spiritual ascent and proximity to Candle Face’s will.
The Congregation – Organized groups of Children of Isabel who meet to share stories, spread belief, and recruit followers. All gatherings must be held in public, for faith kept in secret holds no power. Only when her name is spoken openly does Isabel’s power grow.
The Master Shadow – The most powerful of the Shadows. Once human, he now leads the hunt for The Fugitives. In life, he was known as Kenneth McDuff. His loyalty to Candle Face is absolute, and his power is second only to hers.
The Children of Isabel are bound by devotion and ordered by purpose. Advancement is never self-appointed. Only Mother may choose who ascends. This hierarchy reflects proximity to her will and the depth of one’s service. From the first hint of belief to the eternal duty of The Shadows, every rank serves a function.
1. The Believers (Foundation Tier) – The foundation of Candle Face’s power. Believers are those who accept her existence, speak her name out loud, and share her story. Most are devotees who never encounter Candle Face directly but still strengthen her through belief. Their faith fuels her presence and opens the way for deeper commitment.
2. The Devoted (Ritual Tier) – Believers who commit themselves fully to Candle Face’s cause. They perform public rituals and actively spread her story. Many Devoted hope to ascend into organized groups known as Congregations, where their dedication is tested.
3. The Deliverers (Execution Tier) – Those who prove their belief through action rather than ceremony. The Deliverers hunt the unbelievers (AKA: The Marked), capture the defiant, and deliver them to The Lair in Isabel’s name. Their actions are sanctioned only by Mother, and their success often determines whether they are chosen to ascend as Disciples. Many of the Lost Souls were first taken by Deliverers.
4. The Disciples (Command Tier) – Chosen servants of Candle Face who act as her direct agents. They lead Congregations, coordinate Deliverers, and speak with Isabel’s authority. Disciples recruit aggressively. Only Disciples may interpret Isabel’s will and only she may elevate one of them further. In death, many ascend beyond mortality to become Shadows.
5. The Shadows (Eternal Tier) – The ultimate transformation of devotion. Disciples who die in service to Candle Face are remade as Shadows, eternal enforcers who guard The Lair and carry out her will without hesitation. Their loyalty is absolute, and they form a reward granted only by Mother. At the top of this hierarchy stands The Master Shadow, commanding all others and leading the hunt for The Fugitives.
The Lost Souls – Spirits captured by The Deliverers or Candle Face. They remain imprisoned in The Lair (AKA: Atlitzinco), often crying out through The Voices for help.
The Fugitives – Thirty-one souls who escaped The Lair. They hide from The Master Shadow. The Guardians protect them by telling their stories until they can pass on.
The Marked – The living who reject Candle Face’s existence and continue to deny her story. They aren't killed yet, but their disbelief has drawn her attention, and they're now being watched, hunted, or manipulated by The Deliverers. Most don't realize they're in danger until it's too late. All of the Lost Souls were once among The Marked.
The Scrolls – Parchment vessels created to hold The Fugitives. The parchment serves as their body, while The Ink binds their voice to it, preserving their stories and containing their being until they can pass on.
The Bottles – Temporary vessels once used to contain The Fugitives before they were sealed within The Scrolls. They now stand as relics of early containment efforts.
The Ink – A spiritual binding substance that fuses a soul to its parchment body. It transforms The Fugitive’s voice into written words, seals their being within The Scroll, and holds them there until they're freed.
The Portal – A gateway between our world and The Lair. It often appeared as a swirling shadow or shimmer in the air. The Lost Souls once emerged from it to deliver testimonies to me.
The Voices – Pleas from The Lost Souls or The Fugitives. They often come through dreams or waking visions, calling directly to me or The Guardians.
The Codex – A hidden layer of meaning within The Lost Souls’ testimonies. Decoding these messages can reveal Candle Face’s motives, history, or maybe weaknesses.
The Heat – A rise in temperature and thickening of the air that marks Candle Face’s presence. This differs from most spirits, who bring cold.
The Guardian Oath – A vow taken by The Guardians. It binds them to their duty to preserve or protect a Fugitive.
Belief – The force that fuels Candle Face’s strength. Belief empowers her, while disbelief provokes her anger. Yet even doubt, once spoken or shared, feeds her anger and adds to her growth.
The Guardians – People who protect The Fugitives by preserving and showcasing their scrolls, ensuring their stories are seen, heard, and shared until the souls can pass on. To truly open communication between themselves and The Fugitive they safeguard, Guardians must take The Oath when they accept a Fugitive's scroll. Without it, the voices of The Fugitives remain distant, incomplete, or silent.
For more details about Candle Face (Isabel), The Lost Souls, and The Fugitives, visit my journal. There, you'll find entries that explore their past, document findings, and invite you to take part in the investigations.
