HOME | DD

Description
Act I

Scene I

In a tall peaceful monastery hidden in thick woods, there is a single dim light on near the bottom floor.  It soon turns off.  The door to that room, an ancient heavy oak door, creaks open.  A young man in his early twenties with a dark brooding face stands in the entrance.  He has rectangular glasses and is dressed in simple clothes.  The light from the oil lamp in the hallway falls on a sleeping young woman’s face in the room and the empty twin bed next to her.  Eli looks back at his sister Lacey, then hefts his small canvas bag, silently closes the door, and softly walks away.  The immense monastery doors are not bolted and no one is on guard; there is no need.
Eli makes quick progress on a wide dirt road in the dense forest.  Suddenly, he sees a dancing globe of light, nearly blinding him.

Eli: What’s that?!

Eli stumbles back, but a strong grip on his arm keeps him from falling.  A hooded stranger holds the lamp up so Eli can see his face.  A chill comes over him; the man has pointed ears and two marks on his face: one red, one dark gray.

Red: Eli, I presume.
Eli: (rips his arm free) Who are you?
Red: I am Red, and my master would like to talk to you.
Eli: What?
Red: (snaps his fingers) Please come with me.  (Several demons in sunglasses and business suits step forth from the trees.)  I think you would be interested in my master’s offer.
Eli: (surrounded on all sides by the suits, he smirks.)  Guess I have no choice.

Red snaps his fingers again and a bright blue portal pops out of nowhere in front of Eli.  Walking through, they enter the demon world: A large grand hall is before them, with three thrones at one end.  The smaller throne to the right is occupied.

Eli: (walking down the hall with Red) So who is this “master”?
Red: Do not speak of her that way, half-demon.  You are most fortunate to be in her presence.
Eli: Her?

They stop before the occupied throne, where a hooded demon sits proudly, like an empress.  The demons before her bow, Red making sure Eli does the same.

Red: Lady Tisiphone, I have found Lethe’s son as you have asked.

Tisiphone rises, taking off her hood.  She is regal, with heavy-lidded eyes, round blue cheek marks and curved ridged horns.  Her dark blue hair is heavily curled.

Tisiphone: Well done.  You may leave now.

Red bows again and walks out with his men.  The brazen doors slam and bolt shut, leaving Eli alone with Tisiphone.  She descends the steps leading down from the throne, but she is still a head taller than Eli.

Tisiphone: You are wondering why I summoned you.
Eli: (glowers) And why shouldn’t I?
Tisiphone: (pauses and examines him closely) Up close I can see more of your father in you than I first perceived.
Eli: (curtly) I never knew that bastard.
Tisiphone: (smiles slowly) Very well, then.  Now, why did you leave the monastery?
Eli: Never mind that.  What do you want me for?
Tisiphone: If you had not left, we could not have reached you.  That was the reason Mr. Sachs took you there, didn’t he tell you?  One of Lethe’s children has already been proven a dangerous weapon.  It was wise to secure them in a safe place where they could be happy enough to never even dream of leaving.
Eli: (through his teeth) What do you want me for?
Tisiphone: You want to escape, don’t you?  I will let you leave whenever you wish.  But…I hear five years of bitterness in your voice, and more.  You want to be left alone, with a life of your own.  A dream you’ve only touched once…when your family wasn’t there to prevent it.  (starts climbing the steps to her throne) I can give you that, if you accomplish one task for me.
Eli: Why me?
Tisiphone: You have Lethe’s blood, no matter how mixed.  Only that line has the magic ability I want now.  I have been waiting for five years.  (sits down) Are you interested?
Eli: Will I be left alone by demons?
Tisiphone: Yes.  And by your sister, if you so wish…along with considerable funds to help you make a fresh start.
Eli: What is this power I have?
Tisiphone: To make others forget up to a certain point in their lives.  Your father was never interested in this…he preferred brute force.  And since you hare half-human, you have a limit…about ten years, I would estimate.  But it will still have its uses.
Eli: (chuckles) You forget, lady.  It’ll take me a couple hundred years to learn this.  I’m leaving now.  (turns around to walk away)
Tisiphone: (in a soft but audible voice) This ability is in your blood, Eli.  It only needs to be awakened.  (claps hands)  Guards, bring forth the condemned one known as Lethe!

Eli stops still as the doors in front of him bang open, bringing a horrid stench.  Lethe is thrown in headfirst, naked except for loincloth.  He has many wounds, some putrid, some bleeding sluggishly; they will never heal.  Only one, a large chest wound, bleeds bright red.

Eli: (disgusted and horrified) That…that’s…
Tisiphone: Yes, it is your father.  (Eli jumps; Tisiphone is right behind him)  Alive and…not so well.  Now it is the time for you to decide, Eli.  One taste of your father’s blood will awaken your ability.
Eli: (visibly shaking) No way…no way in hell or heaven.  Lacey turned crazy after she joined him, and if that’s how he turned out…no way…I told you I’m leaving.  (starts to detour around Lethe)
Tisiphone: (softly) Wait, Eli.  Don’t you want to know who did this to him?
Eli: (stops) Lacey…she told me she got him in the chest, but…
Tisiphone: But I gave him the whip wounds.  And further punished him by never letting him heal again…all because he abused his power, especially on women.
Eli: (slowly turns) You…?
Tisiphone: I said you may leave, Eli.  But that doesn’t mean I will not pursue you…you who left your own sister and even tried to kill her because you could not have your own way.

Eli’s shoulders droop; his bag falls down.  He turns around, almost drunkenly.

Eli: (points at Tisiphone) Fine.  I accept, but you, you’d better keep your promises too.  After I help, you leave me alone!

Tisiphone smiles and brushes past Eli.  She turns Lethe over with her foot and beckons Eli to come.

Tisiphone: Now, taste the blood of your father…only the brightest color will do.

Eli is holding his nose, sickened.  He bends over and dips his finger in the blood gushing from the chest wound.

Eli: Here goes…

Eli touches his finger to his tongue.  Seconds later he bends over and vomits violently.  After he is done, he falls, unconscious.

Tisiphone: (bends over and gently turns him over) I’m sorry, Eli.  I have to…I must do this.  (stands up) RED!

Red rushes in with five “suits”.

Tisiphone: Carry him to the room I prepared and give him new clothes.
Red: Lady, excuse me.  Did he…?
Tisiphone: Yes.  And if you continue to serve me confidentially, you will have your chance.

The suits carry Eli out, Red and Tisiphone following.  The doors slam shut behind them.

Scene 2
(A modest hotel in London, England at 1 AM)
The lights go on in a bedroom with two twin beds.  Yawning heavily, two young women enter, laden with shopping bags and boxes.

Raven: (waves outside the door) G’nite Mal!  G’nite John!
Mac: (giggles) Goody night!
John: (gulps heavily) ‘Night.  Don’t forget to pack.  (walks into the room next door)
Mal: ‘Night Mac, g’nite Raven.  Wake me up, ok?
Raven: ‘Kay.  (closes door quietly) Poor Mal.  We made him carry all our stuff all day.
Mac: (grins) Only because you asked him to (Mal dodges Raven’s bop on the head and flomps on her bed) Can’t believe we’re going home already.  At least we’ve graduated from college now.
Raven: We should pack.  (drags her suitcase from under the bed and opens it)
Mac: Do it in the morning, Raven.  I wanna go to bed.
Raven: Then we’ll be late tomorrow.
Mac: John won’t mind.
Raven: (smiles) Fine.  (flips off light and crashes on to other bed)  How did you get him to “chaperone” us?
Mac: Reverse psychology, my friend.  I told him I’d finally found the time to go on the trip to England he’s been wanting for months.
Raven: (chuckles) I can’t believe you actually followed through with psychology.
Mac: Well, what are you going to do for the next four years?
Raven: Well, I’m going to move out as soon as Gabe and Poe get married…
Mac: Hmph.  I still say they should have a massive wedding with oodles of flowers and a seven-tier cake.
Raven: Nah.  They know you’d blow it up.
Mac: Hehe.  Probably.  But what are you going to do for a job?
Raven: Oh.  I thought I’d…go into studying religious iconology and…
Mac: (sits upright) What?!  You’re becoming a NUN?!  Wait ‘til Mal…
Raven: Shhh!  Don’t yell!  I’m not!

A muffled thump comes from the wall between them and the next room.

John: (muffled yell) Go to sleep over there!
Mac: (smiles) Sorry guys!  (to Raven) You’re not?  I just thought…
Raven: Nah, it’s not about Mal.  I don’t know.  Maybe I should do something else instead of something out there like symbology and philosophy.  But I want to find out more about…about…you know…
Mac: You already know who your parents are.
Raven: I know, but don’t you realize?  There’s a whole lot more, a whole world we don’t know that they live in.
Mac: I’m cool with that.  I just hope Mal’s good enough in business so he makes tons of money.  One of us has to be happy.  I’ll be drowning in debt from my loans and you have to go back to school too.
Raven: Yeah, well…(turns over on bed away from Mac)  Mac, I’m just not ready for a relationship yet.  I’ve been having this weird feeling, like a premonition or something.
Mac: It’s been over five years since you and Gabe stopped being chased by Isaac and demon goons.  Nothing bad will happen now.
Raven: You started chasing after John five years ago.
Mac: (sighs) He’s been real busy with his detective agency though.  Who would have thought there would be so much stolen silverware?
Raven: Good night, Mac.
Mac: Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Scene 3
(Raven’s house in suburbia, early afternoon)
A car crammed with luggage pulls up.  Gabe gets out of the driver’s seat, John out of the front passenger seat.  Mal, Mac, and Raven squeeze their way out and start unloading.

Gabe: (unloading) Geez, did you girls have to buy so much stuff?!
Mac: (sticks out her tongue) Careful!  It’s your wedding present.
Raven: Where’s Poe?

The front door opens and Poe comes out.

Poe: I’m here.  How was your trip?
John: Exhausting.  Where’s lunch?
Poe: It’s ready, but it looks like we’re going to have some visitors.  I got a phone call saying they were coming soon.
John: Who?
Poe: Speak of the devil…

Another car pulls up.  Sachs is driving and a young woman with red eyes and pointed ears is next to him.

Gabe: Sachs?  What are you doing here?!
Mal: (to Raven and Mac) Hey, that person…is that Lacey?
Mac: If she’s here, where’s Eli?
Sachs: Gabriel, please let me speak.  This is very urgent.
Gabe: Isaac promised he would leave us alone.
John: Listen guys, I’d get inside.  Then we can eat first and talk later.

Half an hour later, all are inside the kitchen.  John, Gabe, Sachs, and Lacey are seated.  The rest are standing.

Sachs: Thank you for having me over for lunch, Gabriel.
Gabe: I didn’t know you were coming.
Sachs: Neither did I, until this morning.  I went to the mansion as usual.  The first thing I noticed was that there were more guards than usual at the front gate.  When I asked for entry, their leader, Red, denied me entry, or rather said that Isaac didn’t need me.
Poe: Well, doesn’t he have his wife…?
Sachs: I have been serving the Jenners for a long time, Poe.  I always know when something is wrong.
John: Who is this Red?
Sachs: I think you remember Gray quite vividly, John.  Red is his replacement…and I suspect has a closer relation as well.  He has the same face marking, but over his right eye.
John: Great.
Gabe: Sachs, why are you here?  We can’t help you.  And Lacey, how come you’re here?  Where’s Eli?
Lacey: That’s exactly the point.  Eli is also missing.  When I woke up this morning, he was gone.  The monks called Sachs right away.  Then he came and picked me up.
Poe: Well Sachs, do you have any clue what happened to Isaac and Madeline?
Sachs: That’s why I came here.  I’m going to need your help to get into the mansion.  I also have a feeling that Eli’s disappearance ties in with my situation.
Raven: (suddenly) They’re not happy with Isaac and Madeline, are they?  The Powers That Be.  Lacey, has Eli been…weird lately?
Lacey: I don’t know.  The past five years, I’ve been happy, so I thought he was happy too.  But he’s always…there’s always been this edginess.  This morning, his bed was neat.  His things were gone.  He left…on purpose.  Without telling me anything, just…all of a sudden.  (starts crying) Like he didn’t want to be with me anymore…
Mac: (mutters) Hmph.  I knew it.
Gabe: (stands up) I’m sorry Sachs, Lacey.  We can’t help, especially after what happened last time.
Sachs: Have you forgotten that I helped you last time?
Gabe: I know, and I’m very grateful for that.  I know that you’re telling me the truth.  But I don’t want to shatter five years of peace.
Sachs: But…
John: (stands up beside Gabe) Well, I’m going.  Gabe, there’s more at risk here than you think.  There’s always been a Jenner, whether you like it or not.  And Eli…I wouldn’t want the demons to get to him.  Last time he was becoming too much like his father.
Lacey: (furious) NO!  Eli would never…! (pause) I don’t know anymore…
Raven: (steps up to Gabe) Gabe, John’s right.
Gabe: Raven, I know you’re independent now, but I refuse to see you go.  You’ve had enough too.
Raven: The only reason why we’ve been safe the last five years is because Isaac promised me he would leave us alone.  If he’s gone, the Powers That Be will send someone else, maybe someone that will want to use me like Lethe did…or kill you to establish themselves.
Gabe: Look, I don’t think Isaac’s in trouble.  Like John said, they always need a Jenner there.  And since I won’t do it, Isaac has been.
John: Not really.  Raven released him from it before, don’t you remember?  It was only when Lethe was gone that he could come back.  As far as the Powers are concerned, the Jenners are now disposable.
Mal: If Raven’s going, then I’ll go too.
Mac: Ditto.  We’ve gone there before.
Gabe: (defeated sigh) Fine.  I’m coming to keep an eye on you.  Poe?
Poe: Might as well join the bandwagon.
Sachs: Then we have a few hours to prepare.  Poe and Raven, bring along your sword and the shard I gave you.
Poe: By the way, Raven, a package arrived for you in the mail a couple days ago, just after you left for London.  (hands her a small box)
Mac: Hey, good things come in small packages.
Raven: (unwrapping it) Look, there’s a card.  (opens card) “For Raven, a little graduation present.”  (stops reading)
Mac: Who’s it from?
Raven: (choked tone) It’s signed “Aaron.” (opens the box)  It’s…beautiful.  A crystal cube.  (turns to walk out of the kitchen)  I…I should go put it away.
Mal: Raven, I think you should take it with you.
Raven: (turns quickly around) Why?
Mal: Just a hunch.
John: (comes over and rubs Raven’s head) I think it’s good.  C’mon we should get going.

Act II

Scene 1
(The Jenner mansion, 6:00 PM)
At the edge of the surrounding woods, two cars pull up and stop.  Gabe, Poe, Raven, Mal, Mac, Sachs, John,  and Lacey get out and start trekking through the woods to the back.  Sachs is in the very front, followed by Gabe, Poe, and John.  The younger set are in the back.

John: (yawns widely) Gosh, I have such jetlag.
Poe: It’s your fault, you know.
John: (shudders) No, it’s not.  I don’t know how Mac got me to come.  It’s scary.  Damm psychology majors.
Gabe: (laughs) By the way, John, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.
John: Should I be afraid?
Gabe: No, I just…I’d really like to you be my best man.
John: Oh.  Sure, if I survive tonight.
Poe: Don’t talk like that.  We’ll be fine.

A few feet behind, Mac nearly trips over a large root and is barely caught by Mal and Raven.

Mac: Dang it, I hate this freakin’ forest.
Raven: So, um, Lacey, how’ve you been?
Lacey: Life’s been nice at the monastery.  It’s really peaceful.  I’ve made friends; I even have a cat named Polar Bear.
Mal: Do you have to go to school?
Lacey: Yeah, there’s the monastery school.  I don’t really want to go outside for college, but Eli…(she stops talking)
Raven: Don’t worry, we’ll help you find him.  We just have to take care of this first.
Sachs: (up ahead) From now on we have to be quiet.  There’s about five guards up ahead around the trapdoor.  We have to get this over with fast.

Silently they creep up and pounce, with Poe in the lead with her sword.  Moments later the fight is finished.  Sachs quickly picks the lock over the trapdoor.

John: Heh.  You’re a man of many talents.  I can see why the Jenners kept you around for so long.
Sachs: Hmph.  Let’s get in quickly now, before the changing of the guard comes.
Soon they are in the great hall with the staircase leading upstairs.

Mac: Weird.  You’d think there’d be guards inside too.
Mal: Maybe they thought no one would be able to get in.
Raven: I just hope there aren’t Maturias around.
Gabe: (to Sachs) Where should we go now?  Should we split up?
Sachs: No, it’s too risky.  We…

A high-pitched shriek comes soaring down from upstairs, making everyone jump.

John: Well, I guess that’s where we’re going.

A few moments earlier, Eli paces the floor in the main bedroom.  Bored, he stops and slumps against the bed, but not for long.  He hears soft sobbing coming from the room across the hall.

Eli: Who’s that?

He walks over.  Opening the door, he is greeted with a loud, ear-piercing shriek.  Peering in, he sees a small four-year-old girl with dark purple hair and horns clutching a white, hungrily mewling kitten.

Girl: Who are you?
Eli: My name’s Eli.  (crouches down to her eye level)  How ‘bout you?
Girl: I’m Meg.  Don’t you dare hurt Sippy.
Eli: I won’t.  I like cats.
Meg: But he’s hungry.  Where’s Mommy and Daddy?  They help me feed him.  But they didn’t come to wake me up today, and they said never step out of my room unless they come.
Eli: (taken aback) They…they won’t be coming today.
Meg: But they always come.  What did you do to them? Where are they?  (starts crying and carefully holds her kitten closer to her body, like a baby.  Where’ve my parents gone…
Eli: I’m so sorry…
Raven: That’s right, Eli.  Where are Isaac and Madeline?

Eli spins around, eyes wide open.  Raven stands in the doorway flanked by Mal and Mac.  The rest of the group is in the main bedroom, waiting.

Eli: (rises) Raven!  How…what…?
Mac: Hey, who’s the kid?
Meg: (wiping away tears) I’m Meg.  You’d better not hurt Sippy either.
Raven: Eli, how long has she been here?
Eli: I guess since this morning.  I didn’t know she was here at all.  What are you doing here?
Raven: I’ll explain later.  Let’s take her to the main bedroom and straighten things out.
Meg: I’m not going anywhere until Mommy and Daddy come.
Eli: Don’t worry, Meg.  Look, we’re going to help you feed Sippy, and you must be hungry too.
Meg: …okay…
She follows the other four into the main bedroom, where the adults are waiting.

John: Was Mission Coerce Eli successful?  (pause)  My God…
Meg: Staring’s not nice, mister.
Gabe: (to Sachs) You never told me they had a girl.
Sachs: I couldn’t.  Madeline in particular wanted to keep Meg safe from any…retaliation.
Eli: Did any of you bring food?  She and her cat are hungry.
John: (sighs) Always be prepared I say.  (reaches into his jacket pockets and produces a tuna fish sandwich) Here, kiddo.  (walks over, crouches down and offers the food to Meg) It’s all I got.
Meg: Good.  Sippy can have the fish.  (removes the sandwich and dumps the filling on the bag for her cat, then sits next to her cat eating the bread)
Gabe: Eli, you should start explaining yourself now.
Eli: I…I don’t know the half of it.  I just left the monastery and this Red guy takes me to a demon lady named Tisiphone.  Then…
Sachs: (looks up) Wait!  Are you sure that was her name?!
Eli: Yes…why?
Sachs: Can you describe her?
Eli: She had dark blue ringed hair…really curved horns…dark blue ovals on her cheeks…
Sachs: My God.  Does she have wings?
Eli: I didn’t see them…but I think they were under her cloak…
John: What is it? Who is she really?
Sachs: One of the most ancient demons, older than Christ.  If she is behind all this, we don’t stand a chance.
Raven: And why not?
Sachs: The ancient Greeks first mention her in their myths.  Tisiphone is one of the three Furies, winged women who avenged victims by pursuing the wrong-doer with flailing whips, chasing him around the world until he died.  They’ve been removed from the human world long ago and it has even been rumored that their leader has since been…indisposed.  But they are still part of the upper hierarchy.
Lacey: Oh no…(comes out from corner of the room) Eli, what is she making you do?
Eli: Lacey?! (face hardens) I never thought you would leave the monastery.
Lacey: Are you kidding?  I left this morning because of you.
Eli: Oh really?  And where are all your friends?  Didn’t they want to help?
Lacey: (voice hardens) They did.  I told them, “No, he’s my brother.”  (starts to break down) I’d thought…I thought that…that me being happy would make you happy.
Eli: You know that’s not true.  I have to search for happiness in my own way.
Lacey: But not this way!  Whatever this…woman offered you, it’s not worth it!  Please!  Please tell me why!
Eli: I…They…(lowers eyes)  She showed me him.  Our father.  He…it was horrible.  I had to do what she said.
Lacey: (hands over mouth, eyes wide) Oh, Eli…I’m so sorry…
Gabe: Eli, Lacey, please leave this until later.  We have to decide now what we’re going to do.  Eli, what did Tisiphone ask you to do?
Eli: I…I don’t know.  She said to wait until she sent for me (takes out clear orb) I think this’ll send me there.  I have to hold it in order for it to work, though.
Raven: That’s it!  (Everyone looks at her) That’s it then.  When she calls for you, some of us will go back with you to get Isaac and Madeline back.
Eli: No.  I won’t do it.
Raven: What?  Why not?
Eli: She’ll kill me.  Don’t you understand?  I’m under her power now.  If I bring back people to free her prisoners I’m dead.
Raven: This is about more than you!  I have a feeling deep down that this kidnapping is a lot more than it seems.
John: (looking up from Meg’s side) And what about the kid?  You should know what it feels like to be all alone.  Why would you want to wish that on someone else?
Lacey: Eli…please…
Eli: (snappy) Fine.  But I won’t be involved in any heroic rescues or anything like that.  Only transport.
Raven: Good.  Then I’m going.
Mal: Me too.
Mac: Me three.
Gabe: Raven…
Raven: Gabe, you have to stay behind.
Poe: She’s right.  They’ll also be after the child and if something comes up both you and her need to get out fast.
Lacey: I want…I should be going too, if Eli’s going to stay by the portal.  I’ve been over there before.
Raven: Then it looks like we’re set.  All we have to do is wait.

Scene 2
(Just outside the great hall in the demon world)
A small door goes down a narrow staircase and into a featureless room.  All the walls are white, with no furniture or windows.  Madeline, cradling Isaac, looks up as a white rectangle emerges from the wall and Tisiphone enters.

Madeline: Lady?  (sits up) Is it really you?
Tisiphone: Yes.  I hope you have been treated well.
Madeline: Not at all.  Isaac has been unconscious since we were attacked.  What is the meaning of this?
Tisiphone: You should know already.  The Powers That Be are displeased with your marriage.
Madeline: (looks down at Isaac) Will you help us?  I was at the head of our cause.
Tisiphone: (kneels down beside her) Please, listen.  The reason you are not already dead is because I’ve been making excuses for you.  Opponents to our cause have been harshly denouncing us because of you.
Madeline: I have done nothing wrong!  The Powers should be pleased; they now have tighter control over the Jenners.  And how could you not expect me to marry?  I love him.
Tisiphone: That would be true, if you did not have the child.
Madeline: (gasps) You…you know about Meg?
Tisiphone: Ever since she was born.  I tried to keep it secret but the Powers know all eventually.  For my punishment, I was commanded to kill you three.
Madeline: Oh no…oh no…where is Meg?  What have you done with her?!
Tisiphone: Safe, for now.  But I have a deal to make with you both.  (touches Isaac on forehead) Wake up, mortal.
Isaac bolts up, panting.  He looks around frenziedly.

Isaac: Where…Maddie, where are we?  (sees Tisiphone) Who’s she?
Tisiphone: I am Tisiphone.  The powers That Be have instructed me to kill you.  But there is still hope if you follow my directions.
Madeline: All right…we’ll hear you out.
Tisiphone: You probably recall the half-demon Eli, son of Lethe.  He will help me.
Isaac: What?  Don’t you dare let him near us, especially Meg!  Where is she?!
Madeline: (alarmed) Isaac!  Please calm down…you can’t talk to her like that!
Isaac: Why not?
Tisiphone: (stands up and stretches wings) It has been a long time since I’ve seen such impudence from a mortal!  Silence!  (calms down)  With Eli, I can erase your memories back to before you ever met.  Madeline, you will return to this world and perform another service.  Isaac will continue being our channel in the human world.  There will be no pain; you will never have met.
Isaac: But Meg…what about Meg?
Tisiphone: That I cannot help.  She will be destroyed.
Madeline: NO!
Tisiphone: But you will never have known her.  (turns away) Those are my terms.  Accept, and you will have them on my word.  Decline, and die.
Isaac: How…how could you…
Tisiphone: You should be grateful.  I am taking an enormous risk on my reputation to offer this, but because of Madeline’s effort I am willing.  I do not have to do this.  That is all.  Decide in one hour.  I will return by then.

She opens the door by an unseen force, and starts to leave.  Suddenly, she stops.

Tisiphone: Red?  Who are these four?

Red stands in front of Tisiphone, arms crossed.  Behind him, Raven, Mal, Mac, and Lacey are struggling within invisible restraints.  They cannot speak.

Red: Two humans and two half-demons, my Lady.  One of them is Lethe’s daughter.  The other is the one you were looking for.  I believe they were trying to rescue your prisoners.
Tisiphone: Very well.  Put them inside.  I am coming back to deal with them anyway.
Red: Yes, milady.  (throws the four in and the door closes.)  Eli is here also.  He must have brought them.
Tisiphone: Yes…and others must have been left behind at the mansion.  Red, I believe this is your chance.  You may leave.  Remember to bring the child back.
Red: Yes, milady.  (Both of them ascend the staircase.)

Scene 3
(Back in the mansion bedroom – Meg and her cat are fast asleep.  Gabe, Poe, John, and Sachs are sitting, waiting for the others to return.)

Gabe: (suddenly) I knew this wasn’t a good idea!  What if…
Poe: They’ve only been away fifteen minutes.  Give them a chance.
John: They’ll come back.  I trust them.
Gabe: (sighs) It’s just… I’m very worried.  Raven said…she sensed there was more than just Madeline and Isaac’s marriage.  It may have something to do with her.
Poe: I hope not.  I was…
Gabe: Was what?
Poe: (smiles shyly) I was hoping she’d help me pick out the dress.

A glowing flash suddenly erupts.

John: Woah, are they back alrea…

They see a tall figure, someone they obviously do not know.

Red: I thought you’d be here.
John: Who’re you?
Sachs: (dryly) Hello, Red.
Red: (bows mockingly) Good afternoon, Mr. Sachs.  I suggest you stay out of this.  Kindly take the Jenner girl with you, but…well, you know what will happen if you try to leave with her.
Sachs: (keeping control of his anger) With pleasure.  (He gently lifts the sleeping girl and her cat and takes them away.)
Red: (turns to Gabe) Ahh…now I can get down to business.
Gabe: What do you want?
Red: (casually) Isn’t it interesting, Gabriel, that we both hated our brothers?
Poe: Gray…he was your brother?
Red: Yes.  After his death I am compelled by family loyalty to kill his murderer.  (touches his left cheek) I even gave myself this scar to prove that I could do it.
Poe: That’s just stupid.  Why seek revenge for your brother if you hated him?  In the end revenge never pays off.
Red: You can’t understand.  I’ve never wanted to do anything with this either.  I just wanted to be left alone in peace with my books.  But tradition calls for…it needs blood.  When I am done I can return home.
John: This is crazy…insane!  (pushes Red) I won’t let you do it! To kill Gabe you’ll have to go through me!
Gabe: John, please, I…
John: Gabe, it’s not payback for saving my life or anything.  But you have Poe, Raven, people you need to take care of.
Poe: But John, we want you to be with us too.
John: I can deal with him.  It won’t be any use for you to be in danger.  Trust me.  (faces Red)  So, what’s it going to be then?
Red: (shrugs) It doesn’t matter to me if one or all of you die.  I’ll fulfill my duty all the same.  (takes out two revolvers) It will be a traditional duel.  A fair fight.
John: Well, isn’t that a change!
Red: We will stand with our backs to each other.  After I say start, we will each walk five steps in unison.  Then turn and fire.
John: Sounds good to me.
Everyone is silent as they get into position.

Red: Start.  (He and John start walking.) One, two…
Poe: John, be care-
Red: Five.

Red turns quickly, and BANG!  His gun fires.  John has his gun up, but looks down interminably at the small hole in his chest.  Poe gasps.  John slumps down, his lungs being crushed by the air rushing in.  Red walks over to him.

Gabe: No…
Red: (bends down to take John’s gun) Gabriel, it’s your turn now.
John: (a barely heard whisper) No.

BANG!  John fires directly into the upper left of Red’s chest.  Red drops, convulses horribly on the floor for seconds, then stops.  He is dead.

John: (sighing) Ah…(lets go of the gun and lies down, still.)
Gabe: (standing shocked) My God…
Poe: (shrieks) NO!  (tears off her jacket to cover up John’s wound.  Gabe!  Get Sachs to call 9-1-1, then come back here!  We have to do CPR!  Something!
Gabe: (shakes himself out of his shock) Right.  I’m going. (runs)

Act III

Scene 1
(In the white-walled prison, moments after Tisiphone and Red left.)
The bonds holding Raven, Mal, Mac, and Lacey are gone.

Mac: (rubbing his head) Ooh…I think that was a pretty stupid idea, Mal.
Mal: Hey, it worked, didn’t it?  We ran into suits and let them take us here instead of getting lost.
Mac: But how are we going to get out?  (looks around.) The door’s totally gone.
Madeline: Lacey?  Is that you?
Lacey: Yes, Lady Madeline. We’re here to bring you back.
Isaac: (sighs heavily) Good luck doing that now.  We’re all stuck.
Madeline: (looks over at the others) I remember you, the human girl…
Mac: Uh…yeah.  (to Raven) Do you still have the weapons?
Raven: Poe has the sword, but I still got the blade. (takes it out)
Madeline: (eyes widen) That’s…that’s what Eli used against me!  It’s a miracle that it was so old… (stops, scrutinizing Raven.)
Mal: Heh…
Madeline: (furiously turns to Isaac) Isaac…you lied to me!  There was a girl…a demon girl with the blood of the Father!  Like Lethe described!  Why…
Isaac: I’m sorry, Maddie.  But in return for your life I promised I wouldn’t go after her or my brother anymore.
Madeline: You really did that?
Raven: Yes, and we want to get you back.  I don’t want anymore crazy plots to come after Gabe or me.
Madeline: (leans against wall) You’re wrong, child.  No matter how true any mortal can hold his promise, The Powers will always be after you.  You are an unknown, an anomaly with great potential.  All of Heaven and Hell are watching you, waiting for their chance to destroy or use you.
Raven: So…I’ll never be left alone?  With a normal life?
Madeline: I imagine that your father will do his best.  But you have already played into Tisiphone’s hands.  I can’t believe I didn’t see this happening.
Mal: What?!  What does she want with Raven?
Lacey: I can see it too.  (everyone turns towards her) I can see her mind wide and clear.  We heard her offer to you two, and it is the biggest risk of her life.  I can tell that the Powers do not know of it yet.
Raven: And that’s where I come in, don’t I?
Madeline: Yes. As compensation, she will hand a great weapon over to them and reinforce her influence on women’s rights…and perhaps return to the human world with regained powers.  But the world will erupt into a terrible war.
Isaac: So what will we do, Maddie?  Meg…she’ll die either way, whatever we do…
Madeline: (kisses Isaac on the cheek) No she won’t. I promise you.  My choice is the same as yours.
Mac: Great…Now who was that guy who got us?  The guy who’s getting the kid.  What was Tisiphone talking about, his “chance”?
Isaac: Hmph.  That was Red, Gray’s bro.  His replacement.  I think he’s back off to the mansion to kill my dear brother…he was with you, right?
Raven: He’s off to kill Gabe?!
Isaac: (becomes serious) Yes…can’t you see the family resemblance?  He’s been very impatient for 5 years, and now that I’m not there…well…

All six sit, silently waiting for Tisiphone to come back, a horrible dread growing.  All too soon, the rectangle on the wall appears and Tisiphone enters, looking as if she is starting to lose her temper.

Tisiphone: What is your decision, Madeline?
Isaac: We want to have our memories gone.
Tisiphone: (smiles) I thought so.  (She moves aside; behind her is Eli, looking pale.  He does not look at the others as he walks up to Madeline and touches her on the temples.  Isaac stands up to be by her.)
Madeline: Just before you do it, Eli, I must tell Tisiphone something…something Isaac doesn’t yet know.
Isaac: Maddie…what?
Tisiphone: (raises eyebrow) Oh?  Do tell.
Madeline: In fact, I’m surprised you never noticed.  Doesn’t my daughter’s name sound familiar to you?
Tisiphone: (eyes narrowing) You mean Meg… (eyes open wide in shock) You didn’t!  How could you…she’s part human!
Madeline: (triumphant) But it’s true.  She’s the heir to Megaera’s throne…the leader of the Furies.  I knew it.  Your sister is dead, not “sleeping.”  You cannot kill my daughter or face your virtual extinction.
Tisiphone: No!  It cannot be!  We are immortal.
Mac: (to Mal and Raven) I can’t believe it either…that little girl’s going to become evil like her?
Eli: (suddenly grabs Madeline and Isaac by the wrist) Raven!  The time is now!
Tisiphone: What are…!  ELI!

Tisiphone is shoved aside by the others escaping through the door she left ajar.  Raven sprints to the front, holding the blade in front of her.

Raven: Come on!  We can make it through the portal!

Suddenly, “suits” come in from all sides.  Raven slashes with the blade to evaporate them.  One comes up behind her but Mal punches him aside.

Mal: Oh yeah!  Way to kick demon butt!

They keep running through the path Raven makes slashing through the “suits.”  The portal in the great hall is close ahead.

Raven: Almost there…

A blast of wind knocks them down on their feet.  Looking up, they see Tisiphone, outer robe cast off, wings outstretched.  A deadly whip, loaded with thorns, is in her hand.  She lands in front of the portal.

Tisiphone: Madeline…I trusted that you wouldn’t run away.
Madeline: (laughs) Lady, what you offered was living death.  To live with a hole in one’s life, never knowing what was missing…that was true hell.
Isaac: If you kill us, do both of us at once.
Tisiphone: So be it.
(Tisiphone snaps her whip over their heads.  The other four see two shimmering threads hooked on the whip.)
Isaac: (slumping to the ground) Raven…
Raven: ..yes?
Isaac: Would you…could you take care of Meg?
Raven: I will.
Madeline: (lying down, eyes closed) Good.  Don’t let her become…

They both stiffen and do not move

Mac: Oh my…
Tisiphone: (turns to Eli) Now, Eli…I do not understand your lack of loyalty.  I would have given anything that you wanted.  Didn’t you want my offer?
Eli: Yes, but… (his mouth is dry)  No, not anymore.  (glances at Lacey)  I realized…I’ve been very selfish.  At least she cared enough to leave the monastery’s safety.  Maybe…I don’t mind being with her anymore.
Lacey: I discovered that too…that he needs my help to be happy.
Tisiphone: That is of no consequence to me…except disappointment.  Suffer together, then.  (She waves her hand, and they struggle silently within invisible bonds again.)
Mal: Quick, Raven! Take out your present!  Maybe it’ll help somehow.
Raven: I’d almost forgotten… (She digs in her pocket, takes the crystal from the box, and lifts it in front of her face.)
Mac: Umm…what’s it supposed to do?
Tisiphone: I have no time for such trifles.  (She cracks her whip once, and in an instant the crystal is shattered on the floor.)
Mac: Shoot.  That never happens in the movies.  What’ll we do now?
Raven: (walking forward, determined) Tisiphone, I know what you want from me.
Tisiphone: Good, then let us make a deal.  Your human friends will go home safely if you come with me.
Mal: Raven, no way!  That’s the most ridiculous…

The whip crackles.  Mal screams; there is a long gaping gash stretched across his back.  The blood starts welling up moments later.

Tisiphone: (slowly) I think…there is a time when the human world needs to feel the wrath of the Furies once again…what is your decision, Raven?

Raven does not answer.  She’s staring, not at Mal or Tisiphone, but at the shattered crystal, which has started to softly shine.

Mac: Raven?  Mal?  You guys ok?
Mal: (kneeling on the ground) Heh…I need to barf really bad.
Mac: Raven?  Hurry…she’s waiting!
Raven: (clutching her head) NO!
Tisiphone: (softly) No?
Raven: Something, someone’s trying to act through me…from that crystal.  (shuddering) It’s too strong…but I can’t let…last time…
Mac: (takes a deep breath) Raven, just let go.
Raven: But…
Mac: It’s from your dad.  Trust me.  I don’t think he’d let Heaven or Hell destroy you.
Raven: ‘Kay…

For a moment, nothing happens.  Then the crystal fragments’ shine grows immeasurably, blinding everyone.

Scene 2
(Back in the mansion.)
Meg is in her room, sleeping.  Gabe and Poe are crouched anxiously over John, who is no longer breathing.  Red’s body is covered with a bed sheet.  Sachs stands by.

Sachs: Gabriel, it is no use anymore.  I’m surprised that we are not swarmed with demons right now.
Poe: Why?
Sachs: The others are not back.  They are probably captured, or worse.  Tisiphone should be alerted to our presence.
Gabe: How can you be so sure?
Unknown voice: It’s a pretty good guess.
Gabe: (swivels around) Who’s that?!

Aaron and Banai enter.

Banai: Who else?  You were wondering why no demon hordes were here.  (spots John) Oh my.  This is a fine mess.
Poe: (desperate) Please, can you help him?
Banai: I can try, but we’ll see.  (kneels down besides John and uncovers his wound)
Gabe: (to Aaron) Um…sir.  Thank you.
Aaron: Just call me Aaron.  I did it for my daughter’s sake, not just yours.
Gabe: Well, can you tell us how she and her friends are doing now?
Aaron: I don’t know. There’s limits to how far we can see, especially to the other side.
Gabe: Oh…couldn’t you…?
Aaron: No.  I cannot directly help her.  She may be my daughter, but she’s out of my jurisdiction.
Gabe: I should have never let her go…I’m sorry.
Aaron: Gabriel, don’t. (Gabe looks up.) I’ve had to let her go long ago.  You should trust yourself; you’ve raised her to be a good kid.  So trust that she’ll come back…but all on her own.
Gabe: At least…alright.  It’s all up to her now.  Thank you…for the advice.
Aaron: (with a small smile) That’s not needed.  I would give almost anything to be in your shoes now…

Scene 3

The blinding light has faded. Tisiphone crouches, hands over her eyes.  Lacey and Eli are free, but too shocked to move or speak.  Mal and Mac have stayed where they were.   Raven strides forth to Tisiphone.

Raven: (in a burning voice) You will let us go now.  You will leave us alone.
Tisiphone: (gasping) Yes, I promise. Please stop it.  Stop the pain!
Raven: You will remember this even when you have forgotten all else, until the end.
Tisiphone: Yes, yes, just… (The fire ripping through her veins stops.  She collapses, weeping.)
Raven: (tired and normal again) Okay.  Guy’s let’s go now.  (Goes over to Mal and tries to help him up.) C’mon Mal, we have to get you help. Can you walk?
Mal: I will. (Mac steps forward to help.)
Raven: No, Mac… (points to Isaac and Madeline’s bodies) We…we have to at least get their bodies back.
Lacey: (stands up jerkily) I’m coming.
Eli: Me too.  We should get them through first.

Slowly they push the bodies through.  Then Raven, Mal, Mac, and Lacey go through the portal, but Eli stays.

Eli: (walks over to Tisiphone, who is still weeping) Despite what Raven did, I don’t trust you.  You still want…you want to be restored to your former glory, don’t you?  The Furies’ ultimate revenge.  Starting here I want to stop that.  I’ve had enough of it ruining my life.  (touches her on the temples and concentrates; tips over, as if an enormous amount was suddenly thrust upon him and stands up slowly.)  I’m leaving.

Eli walks through the portal to find chaos: a crying Mac embracing a wincing John, Poe treating Mal’s back, a somber Gabe covering Isaac and Madeline’s bodies, and a solemn conversation between Raven and Aaron.  Lacey is waiting for him.  Banai and Sachs are in the other room with Meg.

Raven: So, do you think I’ll be left alone now?
Aaron: I…I can’t promise that.  But maybe now you can make others leave you alone. (pats her on the shoulder) I’m sorry, I can’t stay.
Raven: It’s ok. (hugs a surprised Aaron) I got to see you again.

Aaron “poofs” away.  Raven goes over to Gabe and hugs him too.

Gabe: How was it?
Raven: Okay…I don’t really know what’ll happen now.
Gabe: (looks down at Isaac’s body covered with a sheet) I suppose that’s the last of the Jenners now.
Raven: No, it’s not.  I’m going to let Meg keep her last name.
Gabe: (stares) What?  You’re going to take her in?!
Raven: I promised them I would.  I’m the only one that can keep her safe.
Gabe: I’ll always be there to help.
Raven: (kisses Gabe on the cheek) I know.  But you have other things to think about.
Mal: (wincing) Oww!  Stoppit!
Poe: Quit whining.  It won’t hurt as much if you stop twitching.
John: Hey, seriously, I’m alive!
Mac: (sniffs) Yeah, but…
John: Believe me.  I’m hurting too much to be dead.
Sachs: (coming in from Meg’s room) Banai just left with Aaron.  What are you doing with the girl?
Gabe: We’ll be taking her.  Are you…you know.
Sachs: I will help you all get home…then yes, I will start the funeral plans.
Gabe: We’ll be there.  We should be going now; it’s late.
Raven: Eli, Lacey, what about you?
Eli: We could use a ride to the monastery.
Raven: You’re going back?
Lacey: No, we’re going to pack up our stuff and go.
Gabe: Go where?
Eli: Wherever we choose.  I think it’s time to be out on our own.
Raven: But…don’t you need money?  A home?
Eli: Don’t worry about us.  We just need to get away.
Lacey: To find out own happiness.
Raven: Good.  As long as it’s your own choice.

Exit all.

The End

Description
Act I

Scene I

In a tall peaceful monastery hidden in thick woods, there is a single dim light on near the bottom floor.  It soon turns off.  The door to that room, an ancient heavy oak door, creaks open.  A young man in his early twenties with a dark brooding face stands in the entrance.  He has rectangular glasses and is dressed in simple clothes.  The light from the oil lamp in the hallway falls on a sleeping young woman’s face in the room and the empty twin bed next to her.  Eli looks back at his sister Lacey, then hefts his small canvas bag, silently closes the door, and softly walks away.  The immense monastery doors are not bolted and no one is on guard; there is no need.
Eli makes quick progress on a wide dirt road in the dense forest.  Suddenly, he sees a dancing globe of light, nearly blinding him.

Eli: What’s that?!

Eli stumbles back, but a strong grip on his arm keeps him from falling.  A hooded stranger holds the lamp up so Eli can see his face.  A chill comes over him; the man has pointed ears and two marks on his face: one red, one dark gray.

Red: Eli, I presume.
Eli: (rips his arm free) Who are you?
Red: I am Red, and my master would like to talk to you.
Eli: What?
Red: (snaps his fingers) Please come with me.  (Several demons in sunglasses and business suits step forth from the trees.)  I think you would be interested in my master’s offer.
Eli: (surrounded on all sides by the suits, he smirks.)  Guess I have no choice.

Red snaps his fingers again and a bright blue portal pops out of nowhere in front of Eli.  Walking through, they enter the demon world: A large grand hall is before them, with three thrones at one end.  The smaller throne to the right is occupied.

Eli: (walking down the hall with Red) So who is this “master”?
Red: Do not speak of her that way, half-demon.  You are most fortunate to be in her presence.
Eli: Her?

They stop before the occupied throne, where a hooded demon sits proudly, like an empress.  The demons before her bow, Red making sure Eli does the same.

Red: Lady Tisiphone, I have found Lethe’s son as you have asked.

Tisiphone rises, taking off her hood.  She is regal, with heavy-lidded eyes, round blue cheek marks and curved ridged horns.  Her dark blue hair is heavily curled.

Tisiphone: Well done.  You may leave now.

Red bows again and walks out with his men.  The brazen doors slam and bolt shut, leaving Eli alone with Tisiphone.  She descends the steps leading down from the throne, but she is still a head taller than Eli.

Tisiphone: You are wondering why I summoned you.
Eli: (glowers) And why shouldn’t I?
Tisiphone: (pauses and examines him closely) Up close I can see more of your father in you than I first perceived.
Eli: (curtly) I never knew that bastard.
Tisiphone: (smiles slowly) Very well, then.  Now, why did you leave the monastery?
Eli: Never mind that.  What do you want me for?
Tisiphone: If you had not left, we could not have reached you.  That was the reason Mr. Sachs took you there, didn’t he tell you?  One of Lethe’s children has already been proven a dangerous weapon.  It was wise to secure them in a safe place where they could be happy enough to never even dream of leaving.
Eli: (through his teeth) What do you want me for?
Tisiphone: You want to escape, don’t you?  I will let you leave whenever you wish.  But…I hear five years of bitterness in your voice, and more.  You want to be left alone, with a life of your own.  A dream you’ve only touched once…when your family wasn’t there to prevent it.  (starts climbing the steps to her throne) I can give you that, if you accomplish one task for me.
Eli: Why me?
Tisiphone: You have Lethe’s blood, no matter how mixed.  Only that line has the magic ability I want now.  I have been waiting for five years.  (sits down) Are you interested?
Eli: Will I be left alone by demons?
Tisiphone: Yes.  And by your sister, if you so wish…along with considerable funds to help you make a fresh start.
Eli: What is this power I have?
Tisiphone: To make others forget up to a certain point in their lives.  Your father was never interested in this…he preferred brute force.  And since you hare half-human, you have a limit…about ten years, I would estimate.  But it will still have its uses.
Eli: (chuckles) You forget, lady.  It’ll take me a couple hundred years to learn this.  I’m leaving now.  (turns around to walk away)
Tisiphone: (in a soft but audible voice) This ability is in your blood, Eli.  It only needs to be awakened.  (claps hands)  Guards, bring forth the condemned one known as Lethe!

Eli stops still as the doors in front of him bang open, bringing a horrid stench.  Lethe is thrown in headfirst, naked except for loincloth.  He has many wounds, some putrid, some bleeding sluggishly; they will never heal.  Only one, a large chest wound, bleeds bright red.

Eli: (disgusted and horrified) That…that’s…
Tisiphone: Yes, it is your father.  (Eli jumps; Tisiphone is right behind him)  Alive and…not so well.  Now it is the time for you to decide, Eli.  One taste of your father’s blood will awaken your ability.
Eli: (visibly shaking) No way…no way in hell or heaven.  Lacey turned crazy after she joined him, and if that’s how he turned out…no way…I told you I’m leaving.  (starts to detour around Lethe)
Tisiphone: (softly) Wait, Eli.  Don’t you want to know who did this to him?
Eli: (stops) Lacey…she told me she got him in the chest, but…
Tisiphone: But I gave him the whip wounds.  And further punished him by never letting him heal again…all because he abused his power, especially on women.
Eli: (slowly turns) You…?
Tisiphone: I said you may leave, Eli.  But that doesn’t mean I will not pursue you…you who left your own sister and even tried to kill her because you could not have your own way.

Eli’s shoulders droop; his bag falls down.  He turns around, almost drunkenly.

Eli: (points at Tisiphone) Fine.  I accept, but you, you’d better keep your promises too.  After I help, you leave me alone!

Tisiphone smiles and brushes past Eli.  She turns Lethe over with her foot and beckons Eli to come.

Tisiphone: Now, taste the blood of your father…only the brightest color will do.

Eli is holding his nose, sickened.  He bends over and dips his finger in the blood gushing from the chest wound.

Eli: Here goes…

Eli touches his finger to his tongue.  Seconds later he bends over and vomits violently.  After he is done, he falls, unconscious.

Tisiphone: (bends over and gently turns him over) I’m sorry, Eli.  I have to…I must do this.  (stands up) RED!

Red rushes in with five “suits”.

Tisiphone: Carry him to the room I prepared and give him new clothes.
Red: Lady, excuse me.  Did he…?
Tisiphone: Yes.  And if you continue to serve me confidentially, you will have your chance.

The suits carry Eli out, Red and Tisiphone following.  The doors slam shut behind them.

Scene 2
(A modest hotel in London, England at 1 AM)
The lights go on in a bedroom with two twin beds.  Yawning heavily, two young women enter, laden with shopping bags and boxes.

Raven: (waves outside the door) G’nite Mal!  G’nite John!
Mac: (giggles) Goody night!
John: (gulps heavily) ‘Night.  Don’t forget to pack.  (walks into the room next door)
Mal: ‘Night Mac, g’nite Raven.  Wake me up, ok?
Raven: ‘Kay.  (closes door quietly) Poor Mal.  We made him carry all our stuff all day.
Mac: (grins) Only because you asked him to (Mal dodges Raven’s bop on the head and flomps on her bed) Can’t believe we’re going home already.  At least we’ve graduated from college now.
Raven: We should pack.  (drags her suitcase from under the bed and opens it)
Mac: Do it in the morning, Raven.  I wanna go to bed.
Raven: Then we’ll be late tomorrow.
Mac: John won’t mind.
Raven: (smiles) Fine.  (flips off light and crashes on to other bed)  How did you get him to “chaperone” us?
Mac: Reverse psychology, my friend.  I told him I’d finally found the time to go on the trip to England he’s been wanting for months.
Raven: (chuckles) I can’t believe you actually followed through with psychology.
Mac: Well, what are you going to do for the next four years?
Raven: Well, I’m going to move out as soon as Gabe and Poe get married…
Mac: Hmph.  I still say they should have a massive wedding with oodles of flowers and a seven-tier cake.
Raven: Nah.  They know you’d blow it up.
Mac: Hehe.  Probably.  But what are you going to do for a job?
Raven: Oh.  I thought I’d…go into studying religious iconology and…
Mac: (sits upright) What?!  You’re becoming a NUN?!  Wait ‘til Mal…
Raven: Shhh!  Don’t yell!  I’m not!

A muffled thump comes from the wall between them and the next room.

John: (muffled yell) Go to sleep over there!
Mac: (smiles) Sorry guys!  (to Raven) You’re not?  I just thought…
Raven: Nah, it’s not about Mal.  I don’t know.  Maybe I should do something else instead of something out there like symbology and philosophy.  But I want to find out more about…about…you know…
Mac: You already know who your parents are.
Raven: I know, but don’t you realize?  There’s a whole lot more, a whole world we don’t know that they live in.
Mac: I’m cool with that.  I just hope Mal’s good enough in business so he makes tons of money.  One of us has to be happy.  I’ll be drowning in debt from my loans and you have to go back to school too.
Raven: Yeah, well…(turns over on bed away from Mac)  Mac, I’m just not ready for a relationship yet.  I’ve been having this weird feeling, like a premonition or something.
Mac: It’s been over five years since you and Gabe stopped being chased by Isaac and demon goons.  Nothing bad will happen now.
Raven: You started chasing after John five years ago.
Mac: (sighs) He’s been real busy with his detective agency though.  Who would have thought there would be so much stolen silverware?
Raven: Good night, Mac.
Mac: Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Scene 3
(Raven’s house in suburbia, early afternoon)
A car crammed with luggage pulls up.  Gabe gets out of the driver’s seat, John out of the front passenger seat.  Mal, Mac, and Raven squeeze their way out and start unloading.

Gabe: (unloading) Geez, did you girls have to buy so much stuff?!
Mac: (sticks out her tongue) Careful!  It’s your wedding present.
Raven: Where’s Poe?

The front door opens and Poe comes out.

Poe: I’m here.  How was your trip?
John: Exhausting.  Where’s lunch?
Poe: It’s ready, but it looks like we’re going to have some visitors.  I got a phone call saying they were coming soon.
John: Who?
Poe: Speak of the devil…

Another car pulls up.  Sachs is driving and a young woman with red eyes and pointed ears is next to him.

Gabe: Sachs?  What are you doing here?!
Mal: (to Raven and Mac) Hey, that person…is that Lacey?
Mac: If she’s here, where’s Eli?
Sachs: Gabriel, please let me speak.  This is very urgent.
Gabe: Isaac promised he would leave us alone.
John: Listen guys, I’d get inside.  Then we can eat first and talk later.

Half an hour later, all are inside the kitchen.  John, Gabe, Sachs, and Lacey are seated.  The rest are standing.

Sachs: Thank you for having me over for lunch, Gabriel.
Gabe: I didn’t know you were coming.
Sachs: Neither did I, until this morning.  I went to the mansion as usual.  The first thing I noticed was that there were more guards than usual at the front gate.  When I asked for entry, their leader, Red, denied me entry, or rather said that Isaac didn’t need me.
Poe: Well, doesn’t he have his wife…?
Sachs: I have been serving the Jenners for a long time, Poe.  I always know when something is wrong.
John: Who is this Red?
Sachs: I think you remember Gray quite vividly, John.  Red is his replacement…and I suspect has a closer relation as well.  He has the same face marking, but over his right eye.
John: Great.
Gabe: Sachs, why are you here?  We can’t help you.  And Lacey, how come you’re here?  Where’s Eli?
Lacey: That’s exactly the point.  Eli is also missing.  When I woke up this morning, he was gone.  The monks called Sachs right away.  Then he came and picked me up.
Poe: Well Sachs, do you have any clue what happened to Isaac and Madeline?
Sachs: That’s why I came here.  I’m going to need your help to get into the mansion.  I also have a feeling that Eli’s disappearance ties in with my situation.
Raven: (suddenly) They’re not happy with Isaac and Madeline, are they?  The Powers That Be.  Lacey, has Eli been…weird lately?
Lacey: I don’t know.  The past five years, I’ve been happy, so I thought he was happy too.  But he’s always…there’s always been this edginess.  This morning, his bed was neat.  His things were gone.  He left…on purpose.  Without telling me anything, just…all of a sudden.  (starts crying) Like he didn’t want to be with me anymore…
Mac: (mutters) Hmph.  I knew it.
Gabe: (stands up) I’m sorry Sachs, Lacey.  We can’t help, especially after what happened last time.
Sachs: Have you forgotten that I helped you last time?
Gabe: I know, and I’m very grateful for that.  I know that you’re telling me the truth.  But I don’t want to shatter five years of peace.
Sachs: But…
John: (stands up beside Gabe) Well, I’m going.  Gabe, there’s more at risk here than you think.  There’s always been a Jenner, whether you like it or not.  And Eli…I wouldn’t want the demons to get to him.  Last time he was becoming too much like his father.
Lacey: (furious) NO!  Eli would never…! (pause) I don’t know anymore…
Raven: (steps up to Gabe) Gabe, John’s right.
Gabe: Raven, I know you’re independent now, but I refuse to see you go.  You’ve had enough too.
Raven: The only reason why we’ve been safe the last five years is because Isaac promised me he would leave us alone.  If he’s gone, the Powers That Be will send someone else, maybe someone that will want to use me like Lethe did…or kill you to establish themselves.
Gabe: Look, I don’t think Isaac’s in trouble.  Like John said, they always need a Jenner there.  And since I won’t do it, Isaac has been.
John: Not really.  Raven released him from it before, don’t you remember?  It was only when Lethe was gone that he could come back.  As far as the Powers are concerned, the Jenners are now disposable.
Mal: If Raven’s going, then I’ll go too.
Mac: Ditto.  We’ve gone there before.
Gabe: (defeated sigh) Fine.  I’m coming to keep an eye on you.  Poe?
Poe: Might as well join the bandwagon.
Sachs: Then we have a few hours to prepare.  Poe and Raven, bring along your sword and the shard I gave you.
Poe: By the way, Raven, a package arrived for you in the mail a couple days ago, just after you left for London.  (hands her a small box)
Mac: Hey, good things come in small packages.
Raven: (unwrapping it) Look, there’s a card.  (opens card) “For Raven, a little graduation present.”  (stops reading)
Mac: Who’s it from?
Raven: (choked tone) It’s signed “Aaron.” (opens the box)  It’s…beautiful.  A crystal cube.  (turns to walk out of the kitchen)  I…I should go put it away.
Mal: Raven, I think you should take it with you.
Raven: (turns quickly around) Why?
Mal: Just a hunch.
John: (comes over and rubs Raven’s head) I think it’s good.  C’mon we should get going.

Act II

Scene 1
(The Jenner mansion, 6:00 PM)
At the edge of the surrounding woods, two cars pull up and stop.  Gabe, Poe, Raven, Mal, Mac, Sachs, John,  and Lacey get out and start trekking through the woods to the back.  Sachs is in the very front, followed by Gabe, Poe, and John.  The younger set are in the back.

John: (yawns widely) Gosh, I have such jetlag.
Poe: It’s your fault, you know.
John: (shudders) No, it’s not.  I don’t know how Mac got me to come.  It’s scary.  Damm psychology majors.
Gabe: (laughs) By the way, John, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.
John: Should I be afraid?
Gabe: No, I just…I’d really like to you be my best man.
John: Oh.  Sure, if I survive tonight.
Poe: Don’t talk like that.  We’ll be fine.

A few feet behind, Mac nearly trips over a large root and is barely caught by Mal and Raven.

Mac: Dang it, I hate this freakin’ forest.
Raven: So, um, Lacey, how’ve you been?
Lacey: Life’s been nice at the monastery.  It’s really peaceful.  I’ve made friends; I even have a cat named Polar Bear.
Mal: Do you have to go to school?
Lacey: Yeah, there’s the monastery school.  I don’t really want to go outside for college, but Eli…(she stops talking)
Raven: Don’t worry, we’ll help you find him.  We just have to take care of this first.
Sachs: (up ahead) From now on we have to be quiet.  There’s about five guards up ahead around the trapdoor.  We have to get this over with fast.

Silently they creep up and pounce, with Poe in the lead with her sword.  Moments later the fight is finished.  Sachs quickly picks the lock over the trapdoor.

John: Heh.  You’re a man of many talents.  I can see why the Jenners kept you around for so long.
Sachs: Hmph.  Let’s get in quickly now, before the changing of the guard comes.
Soon they are in the great hall with the staircase leading upstairs.

Mac: Weird.  You’d think there’d be guards inside too.
Mal: Maybe they thought no one would be able to get in.
Raven: I just hope there aren’t Maturias around.
Gabe: (to Sachs) Where should we go now?  Should we split up?
Sachs: No, it’s too risky.  We…

A high-pitched shriek comes soaring down from upstairs, making everyone jump.

John: Well, I guess that’s where we’re going.

A few moments earlier, Eli paces the floor in the main bedroom.  Bored, he stops and slumps against the bed, but not for long.  He hears soft sobbing coming from the room across the hall.

Eli: Who’s that?

He walks over.  Opening the door, he is greeted with a loud, ear-piercing shriek.  Peering in, he sees a small four-year-old girl with dark purple hair and horns clutching a white, hungrily mewling kitten.

Girl: Who are you?
Eli: My name’s Eli.  (crouches down to her eye level)  How ‘bout you?
Girl: I’m Meg.  Don’t you dare hurt Sippy.
Eli: I won’t.  I like cats.
Meg: But he’s hungry.  Where’s Mommy and Daddy?  They help me feed him.  But they didn’t come to wake me up today, and they said never step out of my room unless they come.
Eli: (taken aback) They…they won’t be coming today.
Meg: But they always come.  What did you do to them? Where are they?  (starts crying and carefully holds her kitten closer to her body, like a baby.  Where’ve my parents gone…
Eli: I’m so sorry…
Raven: That’s right, Eli.  Where are Isaac and Madeline?

Eli spins around, eyes wide open.  Raven stands in the doorway flanked by Mal and Mac.  The rest of the group is in the main bedroom, waiting.

Eli: (rises) Raven!  How…what…?
Mac: Hey, who’s the kid?
Meg: (wiping away tears) I’m Meg.  You’d better not hurt Sippy either.
Raven: Eli, how long has she been here?
Eli: I guess since this morning.  I didn’t know she was here at all.  What are you doing here?
Raven: I’ll explain later.  Let’s take her to the main bedroom and straighten things out.
Meg: I’m not going anywhere until Mommy and Daddy come.
Eli: Don’t worry, Meg.  Look, we’re going to help you feed Sippy, and you must be hungry too.
Meg: …okay…
She follows the other four into the main bedroom, where the adults are waiting.

John: Was Mission Coerce Eli successful?  (pause)  My God…
Meg: Staring’s not nice, mister.
Gabe: (to Sachs) You never told me they had a girl.
Sachs: I couldn’t.  Madeline in particular wanted to keep Meg safe from any…retaliation.
Eli: Did any of you bring food?  She and her cat are hungry.
John: (sighs) Always be prepared I say.  (reaches into his jacket pockets and produces a tuna fish sandwich) Here, kiddo.  (walks over, crouches down and offers the food to Meg) It’s all I got.
Meg: Good.  Sippy can have the fish.  (removes the sandwich and dumps the filling on the bag for her cat, then sits next to her cat eating the bread)
Gabe: Eli, you should start explaining yourself now.
Eli: I…I don’t know the half of it.  I just left the monastery and this Red guy takes me to a demon lady named Tisiphone.  Then…
Sachs: (looks up) Wait!  Are you sure that was her name?!
Eli: Yes…why?
Sachs: Can you describe her?
Eli: She had dark blue ringed hair…really curved horns…dark blue ovals on her cheeks…
Sachs: My God.  Does she have wings?
Eli: I didn’t see them…but I think they were under her cloak…
John: What is it? Who is she really?
Sachs: One of the most ancient demons, older than Christ.  If she is behind all this, we don’t stand a chance.
Raven: And why not?
Sachs: The ancient Greeks first mention her in their myths.  Tisiphone is one of the three Furies, winged women who avenged victims by pursuing the wrong-doer with flailing whips, chasing him around the world until he died.  They’ve been removed from the human world long ago and it has even been rumored that their leader has since been…indisposed.  But they are still part of the upper hierarchy.
Lacey: Oh no…(comes out from corner of the room) Eli, what is she making you do?
Eli: Lacey?! (face hardens) I never thought you would leave the monastery.
Lacey: Are you kidding?  I left this morning because of you.
Eli: Oh really?  And where are all your friends?  Didn’t they want to help?
Lacey: (voice hardens) They did.  I told them, “No, he’s my brother.”  (starts to break down) I’d thought…I thought that…that me being happy would make you happy.
Eli: You know that’s not true.  I have to search for happiness in my own way.
Lacey: But not this way!  Whatever this…woman offered you, it’s not worth it!  Please!  Please tell me why!
Eli: I…They…(lowers eyes)  She showed me him.  Our father.  He…it was horrible.  I had to do what she said.
Lacey: (hands over mouth, eyes wide) Oh, Eli…I’m so sorry…
Gabe: Eli, Lacey, please leave this until later.  We have to decide now what we’re going to do.  Eli, what did Tisiphone ask you to do?
Eli: I…I don’t know.  She said to wait until she sent for me (takes out clear orb) I think this’ll send me there.  I have to hold it in order for it to work, though.
Raven: That’s it!  (Everyone looks at her) That’s it then.  When she calls for you, some of us will go back with you to get Isaac and Madeline back.
Eli: No.  I won’t do it.
Raven: What?  Why not?
Eli: She’ll kill me.  Don’t you understand?  I’m under her power now.  If I bring back people to free her prisoners I’m dead.
Raven: This is about more than you!  I have a feeling deep down that this kidnapping is a lot more than it seems.
John: (looking up from Meg’s side) And what about the kid?  You should know what it feels like to be all alone.  Why would you want to wish that on someone else?
Lacey: Eli…please…
Eli: (snappy) Fine.  But I won’t be involved in any heroic rescues or anything like that.  Only transport.
Raven: Good.  Then I’m going.
Mal: Me too.
Mac: Me three.
Gabe: Raven…
Raven: Gabe, you have to stay behind.
Poe: She’s right.  They’ll also be after the child and if something comes up both you and her need to get out fast.
Lacey: I want…I should be going too, if Eli’s going to stay by the portal.  I’ve been over there before.
Raven: Then it looks like we’re set.  All we have to do is wait.

Scene 2
(Just outside the great hall in the demon world)
A small door goes down a narrow staircase and into a featureless room.  All the walls are white, with no furniture or windows.  Madeline, cradling Isaac, looks up as a white rectangle emerges from the wall and Tisiphone enters.

Madeline: Lady?  (sits up) Is it really you?
Tisiphone: Yes.  I hope you have been treated well.
Madeline: Not at all.  Isaac has been unconscious since we were attacked.  What is the meaning of this?
Tisiphone: You should know already.  The Powers That Be are displeased with your marriage.
Madeline: (looks down at Isaac) Will you help us?  I was at the head of our cause.
Tisiphone: (kneels down beside her) Please, listen.  The reason you are not already dead is because I’ve been making excuses for you.  Opponents to our cause have been harshly denouncing us because of you.
Madeline: I have done nothing wrong!  The Powers should be pleased; they now have tighter control over the Jenners.  And how could you not expect me to marry?  I love him.
Tisiphone: That would be true, if you did not have the child.
Madeline: (gasps) You…you know about Meg?
Tisiphone: Ever since she was born.  I tried to keep it secret but the Powers know all eventually.  For my punishment, I was commanded to kill you three.
Madeline: Oh no…oh no…where is Meg?  What have you done with her?!
Tisiphone: Safe, for now.  But I have a deal to make with you both.  (touches Isaac on forehead) Wake up, mortal.
Isaac bolts up, panting.  He looks around frenziedly.

Isaac: Where…Maddie, where are we?  (sees Tisiphone) Who’s she?
Tisiphone: I am Tisiphone.  The powers That Be have instructed me to kill you.  But there is still hope if you follow my directions.
Madeline: All right…we’ll hear you out.
Tisiphone: You probably recall the half-demon Eli, son of Lethe.  He will help me.
Isaac: What?  Don’t you dare let him near us, especially Meg!  Where is she?!
Madeline: (alarmed) Isaac!  Please calm down…you can’t talk to her like that!
Isaac: Why not?
Tisiphone: (stands up and stretches wings) It has been a long time since I’ve seen such impudence from a mortal!  Silence!  (calms down)  With Eli, I can erase your memories back to before you ever met.  Madeline, you will return to this world and perform another service.  Isaac will continue being our channel in the human world.  There will be no pain; you will never have met.
Isaac: But Meg…what about Meg?
Tisiphone: That I cannot help.  She will be destroyed.
Madeline: NO!
Tisiphone: But you will never have known her.  (turns away) Those are my terms.  Accept, and you will have them on my word.  Decline, and die.
Isaac: How…how could you…
Tisiphone: You should be grateful.  I am taking an enormous risk on my reputation to offer this, but because of Madeline’s effort I am willing.  I do not have to do this.  That is all.  Decide in one hour.  I will return by then.

She opens the door by an unseen force, and starts to leave.  Suddenly, she stops.

Tisiphone: Red?  Who are these four?

Red stands in front of Tisiphone, arms crossed.  Behind him, Raven, Mal, Mac, and Lacey are struggling within invisible restraints.  They cannot speak.

Red: Two humans and two half-demons, my Lady.  One of them is Lethe’s daughter.  The other is the one you were looking for.  I believe they were trying to rescue your prisoners.
Tisiphone: Very well.  Put them inside.  I am coming back to deal with them anyway.
Red: Yes, milady.  (throws the four in and the door closes.)  Eli is here also.  He must have brought them.
Tisiphone: Yes…and others must have been left behind at the mansion.  Red, I believe this is your chance.  You may leave.  Remember to bring the child back.
Red: Yes, milady.  (Both of them ascend the staircase.)

Scene 3
(Back in the mansion bedroom – Meg and her cat are fast asleep.  Gabe, Poe, John, and Sachs are sitting, waiting for the others to return.)

Gabe: (suddenly) I knew this wasn’t a good idea!  What if…
Poe: They’ve only been away fifteen minutes.  Give them a chance.
John: They’ll come back.  I trust them.
Gabe: (sighs) It’s just… I’m very worried.  Raven said…she sensed there was more than just Madeline and Isaac’s marriage.  It may have something to do with her.
Poe: I hope not.  I was…
Gabe: Was what?
Poe: (smiles shyly) I was hoping she’d help me pick out the dress.

A glowing flash suddenly erupts.

John: Woah, are they back alrea…

They see a tall figure, someone they obviously do not know.

Red: I thought you’d be here.
John: Who’re you?
Sachs: (dryly) Hello, Red.
Red: (bows mockingly) Good afternoon, Mr. Sachs.  I suggest you stay out of this.  Kindly take the Jenner girl with you, but…well, you know what will happen if you try to leave with her.
Sachs: (keeping control of his anger) With pleasure.  (He gently lifts the sleeping girl and her cat and takes them away.)
Red: (turns to Gabe) Ahh…now I can get down to business.
Gabe: What do you want?
Red: (casually) Isn’t it interesting, Gabriel, that we both hated our brothers?
Poe: Gray…he was your brother?
Red: Yes.  After his death I am compelled by family loyalty to kill his murderer.  (touches his left cheek) I even gave myself this scar to prove that I could do it.
Poe: That’s just stupid.  Why seek revenge for your brother if you hated him?  In the end revenge never pays off.
Red: You can’t understand.  I’ve never wanted to do anything with this either.  I just wanted to be left alone in peace with my books.  But tradition calls for…it needs blood.  When I am done I can return home.
John: This is crazy…insane!  (pushes Red) I won’t let you do it! To kill Gabe you’ll have to go through me!
Gabe: John, please, I…
John: Gabe, it’s not payback for saving my life or anything.  But you have Poe, Raven, people you need to take care of.
Poe: But John, we want you to be with us too.
John: I can deal with him.  It won’t be any use for you to be in danger.  Trust me.  (faces Red)  So, what’s it going to be then?
Red: (shrugs) It doesn’t matter to me if one or all of you die.  I’ll fulfill my duty all the same.  (takes out two revolvers) It will be a traditional duel.  A fair fight.
John: Well, isn’t that a change!
Red: We will stand with our backs to each other.  After I say start, we will each walk five steps in unison.  Then turn and fire.
John: Sounds good to me.
Everyone is silent as they get into position.

Red: Start.  (He and John start walking.) One, two…
Poe: John, be care-
Red: Five.

Red turns quickly, and BANG!  His gun fires.  John has his gun up, but looks down interminably at the small hole in his chest.  Poe gasps.  John slumps down, his lungs being crushed by the air rushing in.  Red walks over to him.

Gabe: No…
Red: (bends down to take John’s gun) Gabriel, it’s your turn now.
John: (a barely heard whisper) No.

BANG!  John fires directly into the upper left of Red’s chest.  Red drops, convulses horribly on the floor for seconds, then stops.  He is dead.

John: (sighing) Ah…(lets go of the gun and lies down, still.)
Gabe: (standing shocked) My God…
Poe: (shrieks) NO!  (tears off her jacket to cover up John’s wound.  Gabe!  Get Sachs to call 9-1-1, then come back here!  We have to do CPR!  Something!
Gabe: (shakes himself out of his shock) Right.  I’m going. (runs)

Act III

Scene 1
(In the white-walled prison, moments after Tisiphone and Red left.)
The bonds holding Raven, Mal, Mac, and Lacey are gone.

Mac: (rubbing his head) Ooh…I think that was a pretty stupid idea, Mal.
Mal: Hey, it worked, didn’t it?  We ran into suits and let them take us here instead of getting lost.
Mac: But how are we going to get out?  (looks around.) The door’s totally gone.
Madeline: Lacey?  Is that you?
Lacey: Yes, Lady Madeline. We’re here to bring you back.
Isaac: (sighs heavily) Good luck doing that now.  We’re all stuck.
Madeline: (looks over at the others) I remember you, the human girl…
Mac: Uh…yeah.  (to Raven) Do you still have the weapons?
Raven: Poe has the sword, but I still got the blade. (takes it out)
Madeline: (eyes widen) That’s…that’s what Eli used against me!  It’s a miracle that it was so old… (stops, scrutinizing Raven.)
Mal: Heh…
Madeline: (furiously turns to Isaac) Isaac…you lied to me!  There was a girl…a demon girl with the blood of the Father!  Like Lethe described!  Why…
Isaac: I’m sorry, Maddie.  But in return for your life I promised I wouldn’t go after her or my brother anymore.
Madeline: You really did that?
Raven: Yes, and we want to get you back.  I don’t want anymore crazy plots to come after Gabe or me.
Madeline: (leans against wall) You’re wrong, child.  No matter how true any mortal can hold his promise, The Powers will always be after you.  You are an unknown, an anomaly with great potential.  All of Heaven and Hell are watching you, waiting for their chance to destroy or use you.
Raven: So…I’ll never be left alone?  With a normal life?
Madeline: I imagine that your father will do his best.  But you have already played into Tisiphone’s hands.  I can’t believe I didn’t see this happening.
Mal: What?!  What does she want with Raven?
Lacey: I can see it too.  (everyone turns towards her) I can see her mind wide and clear.  We heard her offer to you two, and it is the biggest risk of her life.  I can tell that the Powers do not know of it yet.
Raven: And that’s where I come in, don’t I?
Madeline: Yes. As compensation, she will hand a great weapon over to them and reinforce her influence on women’s rights…and perhaps return to the human world with regained powers.  But the world will erupt into a terrible war.
Isaac: So what will we do, Maddie?  Meg…she’ll die either way, whatever we do…
Madeline: (kisses Isaac on the cheek) No she won’t. I promise you.  My choice is the same as yours.
Mac: Great…Now who was that guy who got us?  The guy who’s getting the kid.  What was Tisiphone talking about, his “chance”?
Isaac: Hmph.  That was Red, Gray’s bro.  His replacement.  I think he’s back off to the mansion to kill my dear brother…he was with you, right?
Raven: He’s off to kill Gabe?!
Isaac: (becomes serious) Yes…can’t you see the family resemblance?  He’s been very impatient for 5 years, and now that I’m not there…well…

All six sit, silently waiting for Tisiphone to come back, a horrible dread growing.  All too soon, the rectangle on the wall appears and Tisiphone enters, looking as if she is starting to lose her temper.

Tisiphone: What is your decision, Madeline?
Isaac: We want to have our memories gone.
Tisiphone: (smiles) I thought so.  (She moves aside; behind her is Eli, looking pale.  He does not look at the others as he walks up to Madeline and touches her on the temples.  Isaac stands up to be by her.)
Madeline: Just before you do it, Eli, I must tell Tisiphone something…something Isaac doesn’t yet know.
Isaac: Maddie…what?
Tisiphone: (raises eyebrow) Oh?  Do tell.
Madeline: In fact, I’m surprised you never noticed.  Doesn’t my daughter’s name sound familiar to you?
Tisiphone: (eyes narrowing) You mean Meg… (eyes open wide in shock) You didn’t!  How could you…she’s part human!
Madeline: (triumphant) But it’s true.  She’s the heir to Megaera’s throne…the leader of the Furies.  I knew it.  Your sister is dead, not “sleeping.”  You cannot kill my daughter or face your virtual extinction.
Tisiphone: No!  It cannot be!  We are immortal.
Mac: (to Mal and Raven) I can’t believe it either…that little girl’s going to become evil like her?
Eli: (suddenly grabs Madeline and Isaac by the wrist) Raven!  The time is now!
Tisiphone: What are…!  ELI!

Tisiphone is shoved aside by the others escaping through the door she left ajar.  Raven sprints to the front, holding the blade in front of her.

Raven: Come on!  We can make it through the portal!

Suddenly, “suits” come in from all sides.  Raven slashes with the blade to evaporate them.  One comes up behind her but Mal punches him aside.

Mal: Oh yeah!  Way to kick demon butt!

They keep running through the path Raven makes slashing through the “suits.”  The portal in the great hall is close ahead.

Raven: Almost there…

A blast of wind knocks them down on their feet.  Looking up, they see Tisiphone, outer robe cast off, wings outstretched.  A deadly whip, loaded with thorns, is in her hand.  She lands in front of the portal.

Tisiphone: Madeline…I trusted that you wouldn’t run away.
Madeline: (laughs) Lady, what you offered was living death.  To live with a hole in one’s life, never knowing what was missing…that was true hell.
Isaac: If you kill us, do both of us at once.
Tisiphone: So be it.
(Tisiphone snaps her whip over their heads.  The other four see two shimmering threads hooked on the whip.)
Isaac: (slumping to the ground) Raven…
Raven: ..yes?
Isaac: Would you…could you take care of Meg?
Raven: I will.
Madeline: (lying down, eyes closed) Good.  Don’t let her become…

They both stiffen and do not move

Mac: Oh my…
Tisiphone: (turns to Eli) Now, Eli…I do not understand your lack of loyalty.  I would have given anything that you wanted.  Didn’t you want my offer?
Eli: Yes, but… (his mouth is dry)  No, not anymore.  (glances at Lacey)  I realized…I’ve been very selfish.  At least she cared enough to leave the monastery’s safety.  Maybe…I don’t mind being with her anymore.
Lacey: I discovered that too…that he needs my help to be happy.
Tisiphone: That is of no consequence to me…except disappointment.  Suffer together, then.  (She waves her hand, and they struggle silently within invisible bonds again.)
Mal: Quick, Raven! Take out your present!  Maybe it’ll help somehow.
Raven: I’d almost forgotten… (She digs in her pocket, takes the crystal from the box, and lifts it in front of her face.)
Mac: Umm…what’s it supposed to do?
Tisiphone: I have no time for such trifles.  (She cracks her whip once, and in an instant the crystal is shattered on the floor.)
Mac: Shoot.  That never happens in the movies.  What’ll we do now?
Raven: (walking forward, determined) Tisiphone, I know what you want from me.
Tisiphone: Good, then let us make a deal.  Your human friends will go home safely if you come with me.
Mal: Raven, no way!  That’s the most ridiculous…

The whip crackles.  Mal screams; there is a long gaping gash stretched across his back.  The blood starts welling up moments later.

Tisiphone: (slowly) I think…there is a time when the human world needs to feel the wrath of the Furies once again…what is your decision, Raven?

Raven does not answer.  She’s staring, not at Mal or Tisiphone, but at the shattered crystal, which has started to softly shine.

Mac: Raven?  Mal?  You guys ok?
Mal: (kneeling on the ground) Heh…I need to barf really bad.
Mac: Raven?  Hurry…she’s waiting!
Raven: (clutching her head) NO!
Tisiphone: (softly) No?
Raven: Something, someone’s trying to act through me…from that crystal.  (shuddering) It’s too strong…but I can’t let…last time…
Mac: (takes a deep breath) Raven, just let go.
Raven: But…
Mac: It’s from your dad.  Trust me.  I don’t think he’d let Heaven or Hell destroy you.
Raven: ‘Kay…

For a moment, nothing happens.  Then the crystal fragments’ shine grows immeasurably, blinding everyone.

Scene 2
(Back in the mansion.)
Meg is in her room, sleeping.  Gabe and Poe are crouched anxiously over John, who is no longer breathing.  Red’s body is covered with a bed sheet.  Sachs stands by.

Sachs: Gabriel, it is no use anymore.  I’m surprised that we are not swarmed with demons right now.
Poe: Why?
Sachs: The others are not back.  They are probably captured, or worse.  Tisiphone should be alerted to our presence.
Gabe: How can you be so sure?
Unknown voice: It’s a pretty good guess.
Gabe: (swivels around) Who’s that?!

Aaron and Banai enter.

Banai: Who else?  You were wondering why no demon hordes were here.  (spots John) Oh my.  This is a fine mess.
Poe: (desperate) Please, can you help him?
Banai: I can try, but we’ll see.  (kneels down besides John and uncovers his wound)
Gabe: (to Aaron) Um…sir.  Thank you.
Aaron: Just call me Aaron.  I did it for my daughter’s sake, not just yours.
Gabe: Well, can you tell us how she and her friends are doing now?
Aaron: I don’t know. There’s limits to how far we can see, especially to the other side.
Gabe: Oh…couldn’t you…?
Aaron: No.  I cannot directly help her.  She may be my daughter, but she’s out of my jurisdiction.
Gabe: I should have never let her go…I’m sorry.
Aaron: Gabriel, don’t. (Gabe looks up.) I’ve had to let her go long ago.  You should trust yourself; you’ve raised her to be a good kid.  So trust that she’ll come back…but all on her own.
Gabe: At least…alright.  It’s all up to her now.  Thank you…for the advice.
Aaron: (with a small smile) That’s not needed.  I would give almost anything to be in your shoes now…

Scene 3

The blinding light has faded. Tisiphone crouches, hands over her eyes.  Lacey and Eli are free, but too shocked to move or speak.  Mal and Mac have stayed where they were.   Raven strides forth to Tisiphone.

Raven: (in a burning voice) You will let us go now.  You will leave us alone.
Tisiphone: (gasping) Yes, I promise. Please stop it.  Stop the pain!
Raven: You will remember this even when you have forgotten all else, until the end.
Tisiphone: Yes, yes, just… (The fire ripping through her veins stops.  She collapses, weeping.)
Raven: (tired and normal again) Okay.  Guy’s let’s go now.  (Goes over to Mal and tries to help him up.) C’mon Mal, we have to get you help. Can you walk?
Mal: I will. (Mac steps forward to help.)
Raven: No, Mac… (points to Isaac and Madeline’s bodies) We…we have to at least get their bodies back.
Lacey: (stands up jerkily) I’m coming.
Eli: Me too.  We should get them through first.

Slowly they push the bodies through.  Then Raven, Mal, Mac, and Lacey go through the portal, but Eli stays.

Eli: (walks over to Tisiphone, who is still weeping) Despite what Raven did, I don’t trust you.  You still want…you want to be restored to your former glory, don’t you?  The Furies’ ultimate revenge.  Starting here I want to stop that.  I’ve had enough of it ruining my life.  (touches her on the temples and concentrates; tips over, as if an enormous amount was suddenly thrust upon him and stands up slowly.)  I’m leaving.

Eli walks through the portal to find chaos: a crying Mac embracing a wincing John, Poe treating Mal’s back, a somber Gabe covering Isaac and Madeline’s bodies, and a solemn conversation between Raven and Aaron.  Lacey is waiting for him.  Banai and Sachs are in the other room with Meg.

Raven: So, do you think I’ll be left alone now?
Aaron: I…I can’t promise that.  But maybe now you can make others leave you alone. (pats her on the shoulder) I’m sorry, I can’t stay.
Raven: It’s ok. (hugs a surprised Aaron) I got to see you again.

Aaron “poofs” away.  Raven goes over to Gabe and hugs him too.

Gabe: How was it?
Raven: Okay…I don’t really know what’ll happen now.
Gabe: (looks down at Isaac’s body covered with a sheet) I suppose that’s the last of the Jenners now.
Raven: No, it’s not.  I’m going to let Meg keep her last name.
Gabe: (stares) What?  You’re going to take her in?!
Raven: I promised them I would.  I’m the only one that can keep her safe.
Gabe: I’ll always be there to help.
Raven: (kisses Gabe on the cheek) I know.  But you have other things to think about.
Mal: (wincing) Oww!  Stoppit!
Poe: Quit whining.  It won’t hurt as much if you stop twitching.
John: Hey, seriously, I’m alive!
Mac: (sniffs) Yeah, but…
John: Believe me.  I’m hurting too much to be dead.
Sachs: (coming in from Meg’s room) Banai just left with Aaron.  What are you doing with the girl?
Gabe: We’ll be taking her.  Are you…you know.
Sachs: I will help you all get home…then yes, I will start the funeral plans.
Gabe: We’ll be there.  We should be going now; it’s late.
Raven: Eli, Lacey, what about you?
Eli: We could use a ride to the monastery.
Raven: You’re going back?
Lacey: No, we’re going to pack up our stuff and go.
Gabe: Go where?
Eli: Wherever we choose.  I think it’s time to be out on our own.
Raven: But…don’t you need money?  A home?
Eli: Don’t worry about us.  We just need to get away.
Lacey: To find out own happiness.
Raven: Good.  As long as it’s your own choice.

Exit all.

The End