Tales Of An Ancient Empire

---

"Heaven hath no rage like love turned to hatred,

Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorned".

William Congreve - 1697

A tale about two girls

Born the same day in the empire.

One in the palace, the other

on the desolate Isle of Sorrow.

One named Tanis.

Her mother was the Queen of Abelar.

The other called Kara.

Her mother was a vampire demon.

Tanis was born a Princess with privilege.

Kara was orphaned and became a servant slave.

Different mothers, but sired the same father.

Therein lies the tragic seed of these 24 tales.

Two girls on a dark quest.

Haunted by visions of their destiny.

Struggling to control urges.

A child of light...

A creature of darkness...

This tale begins with Tanis'

dark vision of the near future.

So, where is this renowned father?

Will father show his face to you, sir?

A shallow womanizer fashions

himself a dashing wit.

Perhaps he cannot hear

your whimpering, sir.

Pathetic palter.

"Tales Of An Ancient Empire"

First Tale

"Resurrection Of Sin"

Three Weeks Earlier

Isle Of Sorrow

off the coast of Abelar

Very quick.

Move.

Some other dog beat us

to the treasure.

Hear that?

No, please.

Mercy.

I will serve you.

Abelar, does it still exist?

Abelar?

Ah, yes.

Ruled by a queen, Eldoria.

She has passed on.

Her eldest... eldest child Ma'at

is queen now.

Really?

I won't harm the queen,

but I will make you do

with her seed.

Not that it matters now.

I... I was wondering...

- how... how your enemies...

- To dust.

That will sting.

And now?

And now,

say, "l won't feel anything

except a little sting".

Second Tale

"Call Of Destiny"

The Kingdom Of Abelar

Tanis.

Tanis.

Are you listening to me?

- Sister.

- It is upon us, your dream.

It's happening.

After all of these years, the Sorceress

has somehow returned from the dead.

Levana.

Please don't go.

Go, Lenor.

Please, find safety.

All of you leave at once.

I will alert the General,

Your Highness.

And we must find he

who saved us before.

The Mercenary?

Your father.

But, our father is dead.

He died saving Abelar

from the Sorceress.

Your father is not mine.

I was sired by the king but...

you...

you were by this mercenary.

Mother said you were

the king's child to protect you.

You must leave the past behind.

Our kingdom needs us now.

Kingdom Bush is not my father?

No, but he who is lives.

If we so be separated

mother said this will lead you to him.

With this token, he will know you

and you shall know him.

And this will help you

to understand the sorcery.

My Queen.

They are within the palace,

Your Majesty.

You must come now.

You have to go.

No, come with us.

My Queen,

you both have a long time

to struggle.

I've trained you well,

Your Highness.

You are ready for what comes.

Stand.

Third Tale

"Succubus"

We can make sure of your safety

if you follow this hall.

It will lead you out of the palace.

But what about you?

My duty is to remain here, Kara.

No.

If you stay, then so will I.

You can do nothing more here,

Dernier.

The Royals will scheme

to save their skins.

We will be left to fend for ourselves

and not always with the truth.

They have no regard for us.

But I am sworn to...

You have sworn to love me, Dernier

or was that just to weaken my will.

I love you.

Then save us my love.

- I must kill the infected.

- Leave her. She's a friend.

It's your wish.

Fourth Tale

"Crossing Thresholds"

There, it leads to a quay

where our boat waits.

- It will take you to Durris.

- Durris?

An outlaw city?

If he still lives the people

there will know his whereabouts.

Tanis,

I'm fine.

Remember what I said.

If we so be separated,

you must find him.

We've run out of time.

Run, Tanis.

- But sister.

- Hush.

You're not a child but

a Princess of Abelar,

a leader with responsibilities.

Act it.

Find your father.

Save our people.

They count on us, Tanis.

- I can't do this alone.

- You must.

Go. Now.

I command you.

Do not look back...

or rest.

It's been what, 20 years?

Where's your mother's lover?

What was his name again?

It seems to have slipped my mind.

He has not slipped mine.

Why, of course.

He sent your father to the Abyss.

I must have thought

of a million different ways

to make you and your mother suffer,

but nothing was ever terrible enough.

I mean, how do you repay someone

who buried you alive for 20 years?

Nothing smelled like life,

Your Highness.

You must be wondering

how is it she is back

looking so wonderfully restored.

Clearly, we watched your destruction.

Clearly, you shouldn't have

given the final rights

to a high priest with designs

on your throat.

A pity he perished with some

mysterious plague upon his return.

Who knows what lives in dust?

And who are you?

Go,

go.

- Where is my seat, Your Highness?

- I'm not sure.

Kill her.

Get the girl.

The palace is lost.

- The Queen is dead?

- Or worse.

What are they?

Vampires.

But we will not die tonight.

I could fight harder.

You leave the killing to me.

What is to become of us now

or the kingdom?

My master is the son of a race.

But, there is always a need

for a pretty servant,

and there is one against me as well.

- What is it?

- Hush, hush.

Why the guards they are so daunting?

They're trying to kill us.

What?

It is read.

- It's my fault.

- No.

On your life run.

I have always loved you.

I will.

Fifth Tale

"Initiation"

And now, a ladder across the Abyss

that I might free my father.

In my stead,

you will awaken my seed.

She is the true daughter of my race,

and though half human,

she will be human no more.

Ah, Dernier.

- I'm sorry.

- No, you're not.

You used me.

What?

No, I loved you.

Really?

Yes, right,

I was using you, Dernier.

You are evil.

Becoming a vampire isn't even

the worst of me.

That and more.

Are you going to kill me now?

Bite my throat,

drain me of my blood?

I want you.

I could soothe you, Dernier.

You could use someone like me

for a slave.

I have too much over the past.

I will bring victims to you

to fulfill whatever dark

fantasies you have.

I will do whatever

I have to do for you?

You are a monster.

I will bow to you, Kara.

Kara, bow to her.

Life takes many forms

in many worlds

and she's in her final metamorphosis,

her chrysalis.

Why me?

You are special.

But you've always known that.

Special in a way that no one else

could see until it was too late.

And even as a child,

you have always been cunning,

intelligent,

depraved.

You have tried to blend in

or be a human,

safe,

but even as a child you knew

you were different,

filled with dark corruptness.

Are you ready to be free?

You're free now

but not yet fully transformed.

I have pity for those who can walk in the

curse of light and among these creatures.

We have much more work to do

before we can be safe.

I sent the princess to the reefs.

If she's dust,

find her.

Know what she's plotting,

and most importantly with whom.

Why me?

Because she will know and trust you

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes