SCENE ONE

THEIA

Back villain, lest thy heart meet blade!

MARIA

When blade finds mark, only bitter flesh and sour blood will it meet. 

THEIA

Not so, my dearest. Thy fate is not yet sealed, my blood not yet spilled. Anders’ death was tragedy enough, thou would be wise to not make another. 

MARIA

There is one heart among us, fiend. As my task is thy death, my life belongs to thee. 

MARIA lunges forward, and pierces THEIA through the heart. 

MARIA

My heart is thee, now does not beat. For all my time, I’ll bear robbed vitality. 

THEIA falls to the ground, and MARIA kneels beside her. 

THEIA

Listen as I perish, sister, as my heart lie in thy hands. I must ask one thing of thee.

MARIA

The feud is done as blood is let. My son may be mourned now he is avenged. I only wish to have shared the grief with thee, dear sister. ‘Tis my honor to abide thy request. 

THEIA

Take my heart, ‘fore it does cease to bleed, take it to its home. Bring it to Athene. 

MARIA

But will she not avenge thee?

THEIA

She may, but such is the debt thou hast. 

MARIA

This second boon is last. I bear thy charge atop that which I stole.