A Dialogue Between Archus and Bathory

Bathory: ... Hello lover.1

Archus: You!2

B: I would not expect to find you here.3

A: A shame I could not say the same for you.4

B: Yes, I suppose I deserved it after my... ordeal.5

A: Ordeal? You make it sound as though you hated your un-life!6

B: Quite Right.7

They move closer together8

B: But you know, lover, I had so missed you... it's been centuries...9

A: You have a concept of Earth's time down here?10

B: I care not for Earth. As soon as I knew it was created by Him I took my leave of any interest in it.11

They are now close together, Bathory raises her right handand strokes Archus' cheek12

B: But I do know you.13

Archus viscously grabs her arm and pulls her around with her in front of him, with both facing the same way. Archus is grasping her right arm and his left hand is caressing her throat.14

B: You're hurting me! Mmm, you're hurting me...15

A: Do I detect a hint of fear in your first exclamation?16

B: Only the usual kind, my dear. The kind I give freely, the kind that became my legacy.17

A: Your legacy...18

B: Our legacy! Tell me you do not remember!19

A: If only I had that luxury. From what I do remember, however, is that you fell like a sinner to vice. It began then... and you revelled in your choice. In your darkness. In your vampiric lust -20

B: You forget your place my love. Remember your token in my prize, for I drank you too.21

A: But that was all you took. You took my flesh and I pleasured yours. Do not flatter yourself, darling, for I remember my place. It was at your side once -22

B: You were at my side but that was all. You shared my bed and we drank our fine liquors from each other night... after night. But it was nothing compared to my... quiet time.23

A: Everything you became boiled from that chamber. Those crimson baths, the ravaged flesh, the raw carcasses of virgins whose purity and blood you stole -24

B: That you gave me! Do not presume I was alone in this! Do not forget what you did, and above all... lover, do not forget the way you felt when you did it...25

A: ...26

B: (quickly) Look at us lover, see how perfect we join. See the creases in our sex, how... warm we feel when we touch-27

A: The warmth I felt was as a flicker of a candle. It came, it brightened, and faded into darkness. I feel you, yes, I take in your scent, I taste your flesh and it crumbles to ashes in my once wanting mouth. For I felt you, for a time, and I was warmed. But I feel cold, my Countess, for I am not a man now. I have wings...28

B: So does a bat.29

A: So does a dove.30

B: Yes, I suppose it does. That was the one thing I despised about you. I hated your faith, just as I hate Him...31

A: Then, my Countess you will continue to hate me. I do not wish to be your enemy, but at the same time I care not for your spoils.32

B: hmm, so how is it then, that you came to be here, even after your subsequent delay?33

A: I died, Elizabeth. I was given a choice. He saw of my, escapades, for want of a better word, and He said I could either spend my time in Purgatory, or serve Him in a more useful manner. Naturally, as my actions would suggest, I took the latter. This was my penance, my task. He also gave me the capacity to be human, that I may learn from my mistakes, and to help others from theirs.34

B: Ah, so we have a Constantine complex present in our little hero's soul?35

A: Nay, Elizabeth. John did what he did for personal gain, and he was alive. I was resurrected, and I carry out my duty willingly in His service. Where he stumbles, I walk.36

B: Quite. I tire of you Archus, not least of all your tone toward me. You still have not answered my question, unless of course...37

Bathory breaks free and faces Archus, and widens her mouth in delight38

B: Ha! You came for her! Is my boy in love? You love her! My goodness Archus, do you really presume to take her back? (laughing) There is no way out! You cannot defeat him, you will die!...39

Bathory's expression dims to that of saddened realisation (ish)40

B: You know this, do you not?41

A: (stays silent)42

B: Answer me, damn you!43

A: Aye, my Countess, I seek your master. I will go to him, to the city that lays behind you, and I will take her out of his rule and influence.44

B: I have no master. How dare you presume to think I would will myself into darkness, only to find it is ruled by someone else! I am Bathory! My legacy has reached across history and into Hell where all who see me fear me and love me. I care not for the likes of Lucifer. Go to him, if you must, but do not think I will give you up as easily as I did your God...45

A: You are wasting my time, Elizabeth. Let me pass and your form will survive.46

Archus moves toward Bathory47

B: (scowls) I will let your manner pass this time, Half-Angel, but only because of what we shared, otherwise you would fall just as others who crossed my path have. As for my form, you cannot harm me.48

Archus grabs Bathory into previous position49

A: You underestimate YHWH, my love. In our time together I tried on many occasions to both save you and defeat you. I was there at your beginning, Countess, and I orchestrated your downfall.50

B: You called the priest!51

A: I was the priest! For all your power and intelligence, you lack wisdom in your very nature..52

Archus pushes her away, and draws one of his swords53

A: For remember you were dust, and to dust you shall return!54

Bathory roars as a lion would, and lunges for Archus, yet is decapitated55

A: You took my flesh, but that was all. My soul belongs to God, and to her, should she choose.