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aunt_zeldaI'm afraid there's no slash in this, but this is just David's backstory, in a book I'm writing he shacks up with a hot (male) vampire, so all you have to do it wait.
Also, everthing below this is MY WORK, steal it without citing the source and FACE MY WRATH! *glares*
Prologue: The House of Xanthis is as old as it is powerful. For generations they have protected us from the terrors that hide under our beds. Their noble sons and daughters have stood between us and utter destruction at the hands of the damned. Vampires are their primary concern, for those creatures infest
But times have changed. No one worships the Old Gods now but the House of Xanthis. Scorning society, a Xanthis man will readily marry his first cousin, and in some instances it is accepted when he weds and beds his sister. The family makes no distinction between a vampire who has killed twenty families and a vampire who never touches humans. They see only monsters unworthy of existence, and wipe them out.
Among those-who-know – other, lesser vampire slayers, magic circles, and the like – the Xanthis name still inspires respect and admiration. The Furies, however, are not the only ones craving the blood of a Xanthis. Deep in the darkness, little by little, the enemies of the house of Xanthis are swelling in number.
(Enter the Chorus.)
Chorus: Praise be to Hestia: Hearth-Mother, fire-keeper! Praise be to Zeus and his ever-growing family, may his lightning never touch us! Praise be to Hera, Mother of All, may her jealously never curse us! Praise be to Athena, Wise Woman and Warrior Queen! Praise be to Poseidon, Earth-Shaker and Storm-Bringer, may he grant us calm seas ever after! Praise be to Aphrodite, may she grace our beds with her everlasting beauty! Praise be to the Hospitable One and his Queen, the Spring Maiden, may they welcome us when our time comes! Praise be to the Archery Twins, the Virgin Huntress Artemis and her brother Apollo, the God of innumerable good things! Please never shoot us with your collective arrows!
House of Xanthis: strong and tall! House of Xanthis: never fall! House of Xanthis: protector of us all!
House of Xanthis: thank you for throwing this fantastic birthday bash and inviting us all!
(They dive upon the refreshments table, drinking punch and having a good time.)
(Enter David, his older brother Lysander, their first-cousin Caterina, David and Leander’s parents, and assorted relatives.)
Father: Thank you one and all for making such long and arduous journeys! Thank you one and all for returning to the house of our ancestors to celebrate my son’s eighteenth birthday! David Xanthis is now a man, and what a fine my son is going to be! Next week he shall marry his cousin, the lovely Caterina Xanthis. May the gods grant them many children!
Chorus: May the marriage of David and Caterina Xanthis be blessed by the gods!
(A toast, David and Caterina blush and awkwardly hold hands.)
David: Thank you, one and all, for forming the greatest gathering of the Xanthis family since 1904! May the gods grant us another hundred years of glory! I would ask Aphrodite to bless my cousin, but I see she already has!
(Laughter. Meanwhile, Lysander has slunk off to the side.)
Lysander: Oh yes, greatest gathering of the family since 1904 … they didn’t all turn out and deck the halls for my eighteenth birthday! Oh no, it’s always been ‘David this’ and ‘David that.’ Can my little twit of a brother do no wrong? Or did I just do it first and get all the glory for it?
Caterina … oh, why were you not engaged at birth to me? I’m more worthy than David, I’m stronger and braver … and better-looking! I’ve wanted you since we were children, and now I’m going to have to watch as you and David make me an uncle and second-cousin at the same time! How is this fair, oh Wise Athena? How is this just that a first son should be brushed off to the side, neglected all his life, and given no bride when he comes of age? Should I make a move to claim what’s mine? If I force Caterina, she will have no choice but to wed me instead of that weakling David …
(Enter a Blind Oracle.)
Oracle: Woe! Woe! Woe! Death and destruction and fire and blood! (Falls to knees) Apollo! You treat your vessel unkindly, causing me such pain as I staggered up the path to this great house! But it is pain I can bear, for your gift is powerful indeed! Aiiiiiii!
Chorus: What is it, Oracle? You who are cursed with mortal blindness have been granted the Sight by the gods, why do you speak of destruction to us, the Family of Xanthis?
Oracle: Pain! Mighty Zeus, the pain! I will tell them, I will tell them! … no, it is too terrible to speak … aiiiiiii! Apollo you have your sister’s venom! Aiiiiiii! (Collects self) The House of Xanthis will fall by morning. The gods have turned from you! The dead are walking! They will drink your lifeblood and laugh as you sink into oblivion! Never shall your family rise again, never shall your curse be lifted! All is ashes, ashes and ruin!
(Uproar. Father Xanthis quiets his family.)
Father: Oracle, is there any way to avoid this calamity? Or it is destiny that we should die these terrible deaths?
Oracle: If Caterina Xanthis breaks her engagement with David Xanthis and weds instead Lysander Xanthis, the House may yet be saved. Caterina must bear Lysander many children to protect the Xanthis line. Aiiiiii! I go, I go, Mighty Apollo! Sister Artemis, shield me from his blows! Aiiiiii! The House of Xanthis will fall!
(Oracle exits, crying out in pain.)
(The family begins to discuss the Oracle’s prophesy.)
Chorus: We came here in merriment, now joy and happiness has fled. The star of the hour must forsake his promised-wife for his family’s sake. The blushing bride now goes to the older brother, the lustful brother, the ill-wishing, scheming, unsatisfied, forgotten Son of Xanthis. You got your wish, Lysander, but did you want your bride to come to your bed for reasons other than desire?
It is never wise to discredit the word of the gods, but to break a birth-engagement may lead to more bad than good. Oracles are full of shadow-words and nonsense. You need a skilled priest to translate. Was that even an Oracle, or a madwoman, faking blindness?
Mighty Athena, show us the truth! Mighty Apollo, give us another sign! Hospitable One, do not come for us yet! Our children are only beginning to shine, to blot them out now would be terrible indeed!
(A balcony. Caterina is having a mental freakout. Lysander shows up and grabs her around the waist.)
Lysander: Tears, pretty cousin? Tears of joy, perhaps?
Caterina: (Wrenches out of his grip.) Keep your hands off of me!
Lysander: That’s no way to speak to your future husband, pretty cousin. You should learn to hold your tongue. The gods will take even greater offense if their wishes are not obeyed.
Caterina: The gods do not send unwilling, virtuous maids into the beds of lustful monsters!
Lysander: Virtuous maids? Come now, pretty cousin, I have seen your wandering eye drift my way these past years. I know you desire me. I know you’ve desired and had many a man. Whatever would perfect, trusting David say if he knew his bride had the track-record of a common whore?
Caterina: What? How dare you! I am still a maid! I have never gone to bed with a man!
Lysander: Your word against mine, pretty cousin ... I could tell them all such tales of your late-night escapades: a different boy every week last summer, sometimes even two at once. I’ll say I cannot tell more, because the details sicken even me. I’ll tell them you run with vampires and let them drink from you. You’ll be such a filthy disgrace that it will be considered charity for me to take you as my wife!
Caterina: (staggering) No … no, you would not! You could not! How could you weave such horrible lies to my own family?
Lysander: Because I desire you, Caterina. If I cannot have you willingly, I’ll take the next best thing. And if even that doesn’t work … well, who’d care if a disowned slut gave her consent or not? Think about that tonight. Unless you’re out screwing some vampire girl …
(Lysander leaves. Caterina falls to her knees.)
Caterina: Gods and goddesses, I have always been faithful to you. I have always burnt you offerings and taken part in the ceremonies. Though the world has forsaken you, I and my family have held fast to the old beliefs. I have only ever asked of you one thing, to marry my cousin David Xanthis, and now, when my future is upon me, you spurn my obedience and piety. You foist upon me this horror of a relative, this demon in human form who will spin lies to my family to get me into his bed. Why have you not struck him down with lightning? Why have you sent this raving Oracle the promise of destruction and the walking dead? Why must I couple with Lysander? I beg your guidance in this state of horror. I don’t know where else to turn!
(With a flash of light, three goddesses appear. They are Artemis, Aphrodite, and Hera.)
Chorus: Goddesses! (They fall to their knees.) We are unworthy of this visitation! To grace this house with your divine presences is more than we deserve!
Caterina: Goddesses! Thank you for responding to my petition! I am unworthy of your attentions and guidance!
Chorus: Silence, child! The Goddesses will speak now!
Artemis: Caterina Xanthis, you come from a line of warriors. Your spirit is strong and need not yield to a man. If you go to my
Chorus: Artemis, mighty huntress, your words echo of self-preservation.
Caterina: Artemis, I thank you for your offer of protection. But … to live a virgin for all eternity … I am in love with David; I fear I cannot give him up, even to save my own life.
Aphrodite: Caterina Xanthis, you are a beauty descended from me. You need not live a barren life, forever slaying monsters and never feeling love. Lysander does not deserve you. Run away with David to
Chorus: Aphrodite, your words tug at our hearts, and at Caterina's as well.
Caterina: Indeed, exquisite goddess, you bring to light the dark desires of my heart. But to abandon my family … no. There must be yet another way.
Hera: Caterina Xanthis, the blood of the Xanthis family runs in your veins. You owe it to your family to sacrifice everything for their safety. I, too, have married against my will, but it has brought me power and leeway over my husband. You would do well to learn from my example, child. Betrayal of you family is a most heinous crime.
Chorus: Mighty Hera, you are too forceful. Humans are not like your husband, they do not obey when you command.
Caterina: No … no I do love my family! But I cannot … will not marry Lysander! He is a beast in human form and I will not consent to his bed!
(The Goddesses vanish.)
Caterina: I am more confused than ever before!
(She runs off in tears.)
Chorus: Lysander has proven himself unworthy of his parents’ attention. Yet he feels justified in his barbarous actions towards his cousin. He would profane Caterina’s reputation for the sake of forcing her into his bed. Lysander will come to a bad end, that is certain: a bad end that we feel will come far too late.
Poor Caterina: pious and pure, terrified and in love. You have been given three options by the goddesses, Daughter of Xanthis. Artemis would protect you if remained a virgin evermore. Aphrodite would have you flee with David and in exchange will curse Lysander. Hera commands you to marry Lysander and make what good you can of such a situation.
Which will you choose? Which is the right choice? Will the House of Xanthis fall by morning regardless of your options?
(The balcony, again. David holds Caterina in a loving embrace.)
David: What shall we do, Kitty? I’m loath to defy the gods but … this command of theirs doesn’t seem right. Maybe it’s a warning, to test us. The Oracle said the family would fall, but maybe if we break the engagement and you marry Lysander, the gods will destroy the family anyway. If we flee, the gods may spare us.
Caterina: How can you say that, David?!
David: Look around you, Kitty: the family is inter-marrying like crazy, spending money flippantly, and living to the excess. We’re barely about protecting the innocents anymore, it’s haphazard affair of random, bored attacks. I think the gods are angry with our family, Kitty. I think they want to punish us for our decadence. But we can escape, can’t we? There’s places we can flee to, and as long as we beg forgiveness and burn the right offerings, the gods won’t bother us! We could go to
Caterina: Stop it, David, stop it! You know we can’t! We only know how to do one thing: slay monsters. That’ll never get us money. You want us to use our college-funds? I got accepted to dozens of colleges, you too! If the gods are truly angry at our family, shouldn’t we stand by our relatives and die together.
David: Kitty … Caterina, listen to me! We never did anything to offend the gods. The rest of the family, they did. We’re young and loyal to the gods. We’ve got our whole lives ahead of us! Everyone else has pushed us around like chess-pieces all our lives, but we can be so much more! We can go anywhere in the world and live life as we want to! We could get married and rent an apartment by a college, and nobody would ever need to know we were cousins. We’ll kindle a new fire in Hestia’s alter and teach our children the old beliefs! We can work, Kitty, we can get jobs. I’ve got money saved up that can get us started; we can access it anywhere in the world, Kitty, anywhere! And wherever we go, there’ll be monsters to slay. We can start life over, Kitty, free of corruption and curses!
(Caterina kisses David.)
Caterina: I’ll meet you out back in an hour. Pack. We won’t even leave a note, we’ll just go. How about … Paris for a start?
David: Sounds perfect, Kitty.
(They kiss, then race off in opposite directions. Lysander slinks out of the shadows.)
Lysander: Run away from me, will you, pretty cousin? You would defy the gods and abandon your family to their wrath? Oh brother, you will spirit her away with fancy-words and the promise of happy endings! I will stand by my family while you flee like a dog with its tail between its legs. Imagine it: the favorite son, abandoning his family and defying the gods. Corrupt family indeed! Coward!
Chorus: Will you pursue them? By law it is your right.
Lysander: And what should I do? If I kill my brother I will be blood-cursed, and the gods will not give Caterina to me. They will foist her upon some other, and I will be the disgraced relative instead of David. How I loathe him …
Chorus: Will you let them flee, then?
Lysander: They can go to Hades, for all I care!
Chorus: (gasps) You speak the Hospitable One's name?! He may come calling for you, son of Xanthis.
Lysander: Let him come!
(Lysander exits in a rage.)
Chorus: The plot thickens! Aphrodite’s words prevail with young lovers, for passion outweighs loyalty to family and self-preservation. Is an ocean enough to keep the gods at bay? Will Poseidon sink the ship that carries such passengers? Or does David Xanthis speak the truth? Is flight from a corrupt family the only way to stay alive? Is such a life worth living, after leaving your family to die without you?
Rage is clouding Lysander’s judgment, he spoke the name of the Hosptitable One recklessly. Lysander has gone out, alone, unarmed, into a dangerous town at night. Muggers aren’t the only things that lie in wait for loners in these lands. Will Lysander be the first to fall prey to the gods’ wrath? Can David and Caterina flee fast enough? Would even Hermes' wingéd sandals be enough now?
(David and a weeping Caterina are dragged into the gathering-room, where the whole family is assembled, except for Lysander.)
Father: My son … my son and my niece were about to elope! They would turn their backs on the gods and their family! They would leave us to ruin and death!
Chorus: Have you no respect for the gods?! Have you no respect for family?!
(Lysander enters, followed by a horde of slavering vampires. Lysander is covered in bloodstains, but looks oddly pale.)
Lysander: Oh, my pretty cousin! Oh, my honored brother! Oh, my loving parents! You see what your betrayal has done to me? I am the enemy my family sought to eradicate! When I heard of my brother’s plan to elope with my fiancé, I ran into town in a rage. These creatures found me and made me one of them. Now I am their leader, and I’ve led them to their greatest feast yet!
Chorus: Oh, Mighty Zeus! When you sent word of destruction and pervasion, we could not imagine this!
Vampire: We thought this boy would serve as only a quick drink, but when he told us who he was, and that the entire Xanthis family was assembled up the hill, we saw opportunity for revenge. We’ve boarded up all the windows and doors, save the one a maid invited your son and ‘whoever he brought’ with him in through. There’s no way out, murderers! Die with or without honor, we only want your blood!
(The vampires attack the family. Even the Chorus is killed: they lie down and stay still. David fends off several vampires, even killing a few with an ornamental sword. Lysander heads for his parents.)
Lysander: Oh mother, father, what a pity you never loved me as you loved David! Maybe then I would have spared your miserable lives!
(Lysander kills his parents, then starts for Caterina, who’s been cornered by several vampires.)
Lysander: Ah, pretty cousin … the gods have smiled on you indeed. You would not have me while I lived, but now I shall have you in death!
Caterina: I will never be yours, Lysander! My heart belongs to David! My soul and virginity I yield up to the gods!
(Caterina grabs a dagger and plunges it into her chest. Lysander roars in outrage and attempts to pour his own blood into her wound to make her a vampire, but David leaps in to stop him.)
David: You will not have her! You will never have her now!
Lysander: You! You are the cause of all this, little brother! You stole Caterina’s affection, you stole the love of our parents, now I’ll steal your life from you!
(The other vampires overpower David and tie him up. Lysander binds David to a pillar and lights a match as other vampires douse the slain bodies of the Xanthis family with alcohol from the party.)
Lysander: Where are your gods now, little brother?
(He tosses the match off to the side and races out with the other vampires, laughing. The house begins to burn down.)
David: Gods and Goddesses! I have served you well in my short life! If this fate is deserved, speak to me no more, but if I have not wronged you, save me from this blaze so that I might be avenged!
(The fire burns away David’s bounds but does not touch him. David stagers out of the house and watches as it burns down.)
David: (Falls to his knees) Thank you, Hestia, keeper of the Hearth. Thank you, Zeus the almighty. Thank you, Hera, loyal wife. Thank you, Athena, champion of the righteous. Thank you, Poseidon, may you give me calm seas and steady earth on my journey. Hospitable One, please accept these offerings (throws all of his cross necklaces into the flames) and welcome my family, chief among them Caterina Xanthis, into your kingdom. Thank you Artemis and Apollo, may you watch over me as I go forth and avenge myself and my family upon my brother, Lysander Xanthis. His un-life shall be short, I swear upon it!
(David staggers off into the night. The Chorus rises up from the floor.)
Chorus: Who knows when fate will strike? Trees that grow too high are the first to be struck by lightning. Forgetting what your blood-duty is can prove fatal, and that blood is forfeit to the dead creatures that stalk the night.
And what of the last of the Xanthis line? David, barely a man, is now alone in the world. Will he become Nemesis’ Champion? Will he chance damnation and slay his brother? Will the hand of Fate sweep in and rescue him before he, too, falls from the grace of the gods?
The Oracle at
The Oracle at
The End (for now ...)
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Date: 2008-05-26 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-26 01:04 pm (UTC)Well, this was just for the class really, Greek plays are difficult as hell (but the bits about the gods were fun to write!) But I'll try and churn out the preliminaries on that novel to see what you lot think. (David falls for a vampire, coming from a family that slew vampires on sight, so it's pretty violent from his side, Zachary - the vampire - on the other hand, is falling head-over-heels for David and thus lets David do whatever he wants ... tee hee, I'm twisted!)
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Date: 2008-05-26 01:57 pm (UTC)I hate writing plays in general so I can sympathise. It's hard! (Twisted is good though, can't wait. And if you need a beta reader, let me know. *wink wink nudge nudge*)
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Date: 2008-05-26 04:26 pm (UTC)I love improv ... and it's mostly my own fault, I didn't realize I had nothing to use until the day we preformed them ... I'm very pleased with myself, though. *beams*
I hate writing plays in general so I can sympathise. It's hard!
The Greek FORMAT is hard. The characters have to keep interacting with this weird all-knowing group that's more apt to switch sides than an ensemble in a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Then they have to RECAP and MUSE after the scene ... *headdesk* yeah, I'm so glad that I got through that with some remnants of my sanity ...
(Twisted is good though, can't wait. And if you need a beta reader, let me know. *wink wink nudge nudge*)
I've only got rough sketches right now ... I'm still wondering how to tie the alien-bits with the magic-bits and who the baby who got stolen in the prologue is and ... yeah, it's a FANTASTIC prologue, but it has NOTHING to do with the rest of the story so far, and I HATE IT when prologues lure you into buying the book and then the first half of the book is blah-blah-blah character set-ups ... *sigh*
When I've got more stuff I'll ask for help ... keep reminding me, though!