The Unnamed Saga: The Four Thrones, Chapter Two: "Ghosts Underground"

Chapter Two: Ghosts Underground

 

Open on Zelos on his bedroom floor. He has dark circles under his eyes and scrapes along his body and face. His clothes are torn and dirtied. There is a faint golden light under his left eyelid.

Zelos winces.

Zelos opens his eyes, groaning. His left eye is gold in color. His other eye is normal.

Zelos sits up holding his head on the left side.

Zelos: “What in the world?”

Zelos looks toward the window.

Show the window interior, a dark night beyond the panes.

Zelos looks around his room.

Show his bedroom from the floor. There is a small bookshelf to one side, a small fireplace against another wall, a wardrobe, and a table. There is a chest next to the bookshelf, opened, his travel cloak half-draped over the edge.

Zelos: “My room?”

Zelos looks to the door. Outside, there is the clanking of armor and shouting of soldiers.

Zelos: “What’s with all the noise? And what…”

Zelos closes his eyes and groans.

Show an image of yellow and orange flame, burning kindling sounding in the background.

Zelos flinches.

Show the image again, red eyes showing in the flames.

 

Cut to the open door of Zelos’ room, Glenn stepping through the threshold.

Show Zelos looking at Glenn from the floor.

Glenn draws a labored breath.

Glenn: “You’re awake!”

Glenn rushes to Zelos’ side, kneeling beside him.

Glenn: “Are you okay?”

 

Zelos: “More or less. What happened?”

 

Glenn: “You don’t remember?”

 

Zelos: “I’m asking, aren’t I?”

 

Glenn looks back to the door.

Glenn: “Can’t talk.”

 

Zelos: “You’ve taken a vow of silence then?”

 

Glenn sighs.

 

Zelos: “Right. I’m being difficult.”

 

Glenn helps Zelos stand.

 

Zelos: “Tell me something, at least.”

 

Glenn frowns and crosses his arms.

Glenn: “Not much to tell. We were exploring the ruins, you busted through the door, fell down the stairs…”

 

Zelos: “I remember that much.”

 

Glenn: “That’s all I know. You wandered off. I found you unconscious, carried you back, put you to bed.”

 

Zelos: “And you left me to recover?”

 

Glenn: “To find a doctor.”

 

Zelos looks around Glenn.

Show Glenn standing alone, arms crossed, frown creasing his bearded face.

Zelos: “Good job.”

 

Glenn stares.

 

Zelos: “Sorry. I’m feeling out of sorts. My head keeps throbbing.”

The movement outside grows heavier. The shouts grow louder. Zelos nods toward the door.

Zelos: “What about all that?”

 

Glenn: “Not sure. Castle’s in an uproar.”

 

Zelos: “And you, being captain of the guard, thought it best to come and ask for my opinion on the matter.”

 

Glenn: “I was checking on you.”

 

Zelos: “Yeah…Thanks. I’m well enough now, though. So, let’s see what all the commotion is about.”

Zelos leads Glenn into the hall.

Zelos looks left down the empty hall.

Zelos looks right to find Guards at the end of the hall.

Zelos: “Let’s ask them.”

Zelos chases the Guards, calling after them. Glenn follows.

Zelos approaches the two Guards.

Zelos: “Hey, what’s happening out here?”

 

Black Guard1: “There he is!”

Black Guard1 grabs Zelos and twists his arm behind his back.

Black Guard1 slams Zelos, face first, into the wall.

Black Guard1: “I’ve subdued the traitor!”

 

Zelos: “Ow! Wh-What in the hells do you think you’re doing? Get your hands off of me!”

 

Black Guard1 pins Zelos harder to the wall, and Zelos winces.

 

Glenn: “Report!”

 

Black Guard2: “Sir, we’ve subdued the traitor prince as commanded.”

 

Zelos: “I am no traitor! Let me go right now, dammit!”

 

Black Guard1: “Quiet!”

 

Glenn: “Explain.”

 

Black Guard2: “Sir, haven’t your heard? The King has been murdered.”

 

Zelos stops, shocked, his face pinned to the wall.

 

Glenn glances at Zelos.

Glenn: “The King has…? The prince is implicated?”

 

Black Guard1: “He was found over the King’s body!”

 

Black Guard2: “What he means to say is that prince Metis found prince Zelos and the visiting Silvaran princess standing over the king’s body. He tried to call for a guard but was subdued before he could.”

 

Black Guard1 leans into Zelos’ shoulder and whispers.

Black Guard1: “It explains why you were absent from the gala tonight, waiting in your father’s room.”

 

Glenn: “Let go. He’s innocent. I was with him all evening.”

 

The guards exchange glances.

 

Black Guard2: “Now that I think about it, you WERE absent as well.”

Black Guard2 places a hand on his blade.

Glenn strikes, punching Black Guard2 in the jaw.

Black Guard2 staggers while Glenn closes in.

Glenn knees Black Guard2 in the leather padding on his stomach.

Black Guard2 doubles over and coughs while Glenn elbows him on his exposed neck.

Shocked, Black Guard1 looses his grip on Zelos and reaches for his sword.

Glenn steps in and kicks in Black Guard1’s knee.

Glenn grabs Black Guard1’s head and slams it against the wall.

As Black Guard1 falls there is a bloody smear left on the wall.

 

Zelos stares at the bodies in horror, braced against the wall.

Zelos: “Glenn…My father, they…”

 

Glenn grabs the sword from Black Guard2’s body.

Glenn: “Zelos, grab his sword.”

 

Zelos: “My father. What in the world is…”

 

Glenn: “Zelos, the sword. Now.”

 

Zelos and Glenn make eye contact, Glenn’s brow knitted, focused; Zelos wide-eyed, frightened, and shocked.

Shaking, Zelos grabs Black Guard1’s sword.

 

Glenn helps Zelos to stand.

Glenn places his hand on Zelos’ shoulder. Zelos stares him despondently in the eye.

Glenn: “Zelos. I know a lot has happened, but you need to listen close. I am the Black Hand, the captain of the guard, and it is my job to protect the royal family. To do that, sometimes I prioritize members.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn, my father’s dead. What are you going on…”

 

Glenn: “I’m prioritizing you. I want you to understand that. I am going to protect you. So, if you listen, if you follow my every command, I will keep you safe.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn, I…I don’t know…”

 

Glenn sighs.

 

Glenn: “Neither do I, but if we stay here, you will die. That can’t happen. I won’t allow it. So, do whatever you have to. Shut down and let me lead you. We can figure it out later.”

 

Zelos takes a few deep breathes.

Zelos wipes his eyes.

Zelos: “Alright.”

 

Glenn: “Good.”

Glenn messes Zelos’ hair.

Glenn: “Let’s go.”

Glenn starts down the hall with Zelos following.

 

Zelos: “Where are we going?”

 

Glenn: “The chapel.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zara and Elsea running through the halls, Zara in the fore, Elsea in the rear. Zara’s dress and hands are stained with blood. Her eyes are puffy from crying.

They run down a stairwell down.

At the base they come to a stop.

 

Cut behind them, showing the hallway splitting into three directions.

Zara: “Which way now?”

 

Elsea points to the left.

Elsea: “This way, m’lady, hurry.”

Elsea takes Zara’s hand and leads her down the hall.

They reach the foyer and exit under the grand staircase which leads up on both sides.

They come to a stop in the center of the foyer with three guards waiting at the door. One has a blade drawn. The others hold their blades sheathed.

 

Black Guard3, with his blade drawn, approaches while the two beside him draw their swords.

 

Elsea pulls Zara into protection behind her.

 

Cut to Glenn and Zelos sprinting down another hallway.

Zelos stops and peers down the hall.

Show Zara and Elsea from the side, Black Guard3 approaching them.

Glenn joins Zelos.

 

Glenn: “What are you doing? Hurry.”

 

Zelos points down the hall.

Zelos: “I see Zara and Elsea down there.”

 

Glenn: “And?”

 

Zelos: “And they’re looking for her, too, aren’t they? Those guards will…”

 

Glenn: “Capture you both if we don’t go now.”

 

Zelos: “We can’t just leave her.”

 

Glenn: “I can if it keeps you safe.”

Glenn starts down his hall.

 

Zelos grabs Glenn by the hand.

Zelos: “She’s just as innocent as I am.”

 

Glenn: “We don’t know that.”

 

Zelos: “I do.”

 

Glenn looks down the hall.

Show Zara standing in the hall, the guards surrounding her.

Glenn: “She’s covered in blood.”

 

Zelos: “Glenn. It’s Zara.”

 

Glenn: “Maybe…”

 

Zelos runs off, leaving Glenn to watch from the hall.

 

Glenn grits his teeth.

Glenn: “Damn it.”

 

Cut to the foyer, showing Zelos running down the hall.

Zelos: “Stop!”

 

Black Guard3 looks up and over at Zelos’ approaching form.

Zelos enters the foyer and stops in front of Elsea and Zara.

 

Zara: “Zelos!”

 

Elsea: “Lord Zelos!”

 

Zelos looks back at them over his shoulder.

Zelos: “Are you two okay?”

 

Zara: “Zelos, I swear, I don’t…”

 

Zelos: “Why do you think I’m here?”

 

Black Guard3 grabs Zelos by the shoulder and turns him around.

Black Guard3: “Well, well, look what we have here, friends, the traitor prince himself.”

 

Black Guard4: “Looks like we’ll be the pride of the guard.”

 

Black Guard3: “It does, doesn’t it? Now, let’s just hope they don’t struggle and make us use…lethal force.”

Black Guard3 smiles while brandishing his blade.

Show the three guards closing rank, each with their swords drawn.

 

Zelos rests his hand on his blade while retreating toward Elsea and Zara.

The guards lift their blades, laughing. Glenn can be seen down the hall, approaching in the shadows.

Zelos: “Get back!”

Zelos rushes the guards with his blade partway out of its sheath.

 

Black Guard3 butts Zelos with the hilt of his blade, splattering blood across the floor.

Black Guard3 kicks Zelos after Zelos falls.

 

Zelos curls up and coughs, his sword left on the ground.

 

Black Guard3 kneels down and sneers at Zelos.

Black Guard3: “Now, you be good and let us handle the ladies.”

Black Guard3 pushes Zelos’ face into the growing pool of blood on the tiles while he stands. The other guards laugh behind him.

Black Guard3: “Always were a pain in the ass. Feels good to put him to the floor where he belongs.”

Black Guard3 delivers another kick into Zelos’ side.

 

Glenn enters the foyer with his blade ready.

Glenn: “Stop!”

 

All three guards turn, with Black Guards 4 and 5 lifting their blades.

Black Guard3 lowers his blade to Zelos’ throat.

 

Black Guard5: “Captain? What are you doing?”

 

Glenn: “Unhand him. Now!”

 

Black Guard5: “You mean that you…?”

 

Black Guard4: “Captain’s gone traitor like the prince. We capture him, and we’ll be heroes!”

 

Black Guard3 nods, his blade still to Zelos’ throat.

Black Guard3: “Right. Do you hear the man, captain? Put down your sword and save us the trouble of an honest rebellion, will you?”

 

Glenn: “You’ll spare him?”

 

Black Guard3: “We’ll keep him alive, at least, I can promise you that much.”

 

Glenn hesitates.

Glenn drops his blade and joins Elsea and Zara with the guards closing rank around him.

 

Black Guard3 lifts Zelos by the hair, Zelos’ face bloodied and bruised, straining for breath.

Black Guard3: “Please, I hardly touched you.”

 

Black Guard4 laughs.

Black Guard4: “That boy is so soft he probably doesn’t know the feel of another man’s fist.”

 

Black Guard3: “Would have listened better if the king had introduced him to it at an early age, if you asked me.”

 

Black Guard4: “Probably would have saved us this whole mess.”

Zelos’ head lulls while Black Guards 3 and 4 laugh. Black Guard5 looks uncertain.

 

Black Guard3: “Looks like he’s about to pass out. Wake up, will you?”

Black Guard3 lifts Zelos’ head, slapping his face.

He looks into Zelos’ face while laughing, blood on his glove. Zelos’ left eye glows golden-orange.

Black Guard3 squints into Zelos’ glowing gaze.

Black Guard3: “What in the world is wrong with your eye?”

 

Yellow-orange flames erupt from Zelos’ eyes, consuming Black Guard3’s face and fanning out.

Black Guard3 stumbles back screaming, clutching and clawing at his face. The flames eat his face to the bone. His burnt bone shows through the fire, which spreads across his hands and arms.

Black Guard3 collapses into a writhing mass on the floor, his voice fading. 

Show Zelos stumble away from a front angle, Elsea and Zara surrounding and catching him.

Black Guard4 steps forward while Black Guard5 watches 3 burn in horror.

Glenn intercepts Black Guard4, catching him by the arm and elbowing his forearm, snapping his bones apart.

Glenn grabs the sword from 4’s hand.

Glenn strikes 4 across the face with the butt of the sword.

Glenn steps sideways and kicks 3 in the chest.

5 staggers backward.

5 regains his footing.

5 attempts to strike from overhead but Glenn runs him through first.

Stunned,5 slides from Glenn’s blade as blood gathers on his lips.

Glenn turns to the group.

 

Show Zara kneeling beside Zelos, who is crouched and clutching his left eye.

 

Glenn joins them kneeling.

Glenn: “What happened? What’s wrong?”

 

Zelos: “I don’t know. My…My eye, it suddenly started burning. I can’t…”

 

Glenn: “Can you stand?”

 

Zelos nods.

Zelos: “Yes. I just…I’ll need help walking.”

 

Glenn: “Elsea?”

 

Elsea: “Of course!”

 

Glenn stands, helping both Zelos and Elsea to stand with him.

Glenn: “Thanks.”

 

Elsea smiles while pulling Zelos’ arm over her shoulder.

 

Zara: “I’ll get the door.”

 

Glenn: “No. There are more guards outside.”

 

Zara: “Then where do you suggest we go? Deeper inward?”

 

Glenn: “Yes. Follow me.”

 

Zara: “To where exactly?”

 

Glenn leaves.

 

Zara: “How dare you! I am Zara Yvonne Estein, first daughter of the throne of…”

 

Elsea: “With all due respect, princess, he doesn’t seem to be listening.”

 

Zara: “Well…Alright then!”

Zara gathers her skirts and follows.

 

Elsea, looking exasperated, and Zelos, looking sick, follow.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Show Glenn, Zara, Elsea, and Zelos coming down the hallway from the front.

Show them round a corner down another hall.

Show them stop at a wall with an ornate shield placed on it. This section of wall appears slightly newer than the rest of the castle.

Glenn examines the wall.

Zelos pulls himself from Elsea’s side, still wincing. Elsea follows nearby, watching him. Zara is at the rear.

 

Zara: “So, this was your plan, then? A wall. Why, thank you, Sir Glenn, for your level-headed heroics. They certainly wouldn’t think to look for us in a solid wall of stone.”

 

Elsea: “Well, they probably wouldn’t.”

 

Zelos grimaces at the two of them.

Zelos: “Are you two idiots?”

 

Zara: “Excuse me?”

 

Zelos: “Glenn clearly has a plan. Uh, right, Glenn?”

 

Glenn pulls the shield down, revealing fresh stonework.

Glenn examines the wall, feeling around the stonework.

Glenn pushes one stone in.

Glenn pushes in another stone.

Glenn pushes the wall open like a door. A small cloud of dust stirs at the base.

Glenn looks back at them.

Glenn: “Hurry.”

 

Zara pinches her nose while glancing inside.

Zara: “Sewers? You expect me to crawl through the sewers?”

 

Elsea: “Princess, there may not be much choice in the matter.”

 

Zara: “I suppose.”

 

Glenn: “Go.”

 

Zara glances at Glenn hatefully.

Zara looks back at the hole.

Zara: “Fine. I’ll go. But I still have my reservations.”

 

Zelos: “Didn’t have many reservations when I was stepping in to save your royal rear.”

 

Zara: “Quiet, you!”

 

Elsea: “Princess, they were kind enough to rescue us. If we could be kind enough to show them an expedient escape.”

 

Zara: “Kind? Desperate, more like.”

 

Zelos: “I, for one, am already regretting the decision.”

 

Zara stops, poised to enter.

Zara: “I told you to be quiet.”

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to into the darkened sewer interior, a single shaft of light cutting into the darkness.

Two silhouettes appear in the shaft of light, splashing water as they land.

Zara and Elsea stand.

Zelos lands.

Glenn climbs down behind them, stopping to force the wall shut.

Glenn lands in the water.

Glenn feels about until he finds an old torch.

Elsea lights the torch with a flash of sky-blue light.

The blue light fades into normal light as Glenn takes the torch.

Glenn steps forward holding the torch. Zara peers into the darkness beside him.

 

Zara: “Where are we?”

 

Glenn: “Castle under passage. They were built with the castle as a means of escape should the castle fall.”

 

Zelos: “How did I not know about these?”

 

Glenn: “They were sealed up. King was afraid of thieves.”

 

Zara: “And what were his plans should the castle fall?”

 

Glenn: “Didn’t seem likely.”

 

Zelos: “He would never have believed that there would be a traitor in our ranks.”

 

Zara: “What do you mean?”

 

Zelos: “I…I didn’t mean you, Zara. I mean someone else, whoever is setting us up for the…the murder.”

 

Glenn: “Save it for later. Right now, we need to focus. Come on.”

 

The party walks darkened halls, sloshing as they go. Glenn leads with the torch overhead. Zara is at the rear, while Elsea and Zelos walk together in the center. The torchlight reflects off the wet walls, which are partially composed natural dirt and partially stone-crafted.

They descend a set of wooden stairs.

Zara slips and tumbles into a shallow pool of water.

Zara looks miserable and wet.

They continue into a large cavern.

The party stops behind Glenn, who holds the torch high.

Shadows form stalactites high above them. At the edge of the shadows is a mount of soil overgrown with moss and foliage. A stone ring surrounds it, runes etched into the stone.

Zara splashes through the water with the others trailing after her.

Zara falls heavily into the mud, her breath showing in puffs, scowling. The others take a nearby wooden walkway to join her.

 

Zara: “Finally, a place to rest my feet.”

Zara pours water from her left boot.

Zara: “Elsea, a long bath will be needed once we return to Silverthrone.”

 

Elsea: “Of course, m’lady.”

 

Glenn and Elsea help Zelos to sit in the dirt. The color in his left eye has dimmed, and he is no longer wincing.

Glenn: “We’ll rest for a moment.”

 

Zelos: “We don’t need to, you know. I can keep going.”

 

Glenn: “There’s no need to push. We need time to collect ourselves, anyway. These tunnels are unmapped.”

 

Zara: “Meaning that you’re lost.”

 

Glenn: “I’m unfamiliar.”

 

Zara: “And so that was your great escape plan? Leap into the sewers and scurry around like mice until we, hopefully, find an exit.”

 

Zelos: “Better than your plan to run straight into the cell.”

Zara glares at Zelos.

Zelos: “Thought so.”

 

Zara: “Would you like me to poke out your one good eye.”

 

Elsea: “Princess…”

 

Zara: “I mean to say, you are right, Zelos. I apologize, Sir Glenn. Events have left me…irritable.”

 

Zelos: “Events have nothing to do with it.”

 

Glenn: “Zelos, quiet. Apology accepted, Zara.”

Glenn walks the perimeter of the island while Elsea fusses over Zara, using her magic to warm the princess’ skin. Zelos sits on the stone, staring at the wall.

 

Zoom in on Zelos’ face, showing him squinting, his left eye glowing.

Zelos stands and surveys the area.

Zelos steps forward, toward the edge of the mound.

Zelos: “Glenn? Glenn! Come quickly!”

 

Glenn rushes to Zelos’ side.

Glenn: “Is it your eye?”

 

Zelos: “No, not my eye.”

Zelos points into the darkness.

Zelos: “It’s that.”

 

Glenn, standing next to Zelos, holds the torch out before them. Elsea and Zara both peek forward from where they sit, Zara replacing her boots while Elsea binds them.

Glenn: “What?”

 

Zelos: “The woman. Pinned to the wall.”

 

Glenn: “I can’t see the wall.”

 

Zelos: “You can’t?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “My, my, it seems you have the better night-sight, pumpkin.”

 

Glenn goes wide-eyed.

Glenn steps forward, one hand holding the torch, the other coming to rest on the hilt of his sword. Behind him, Zara and Elsea sit up, Elsea putting her body in front of Zara, sky-blue magic flaring around her palms.

Glenn: “Who’s there?”

 

Mary, off-screen: “A ghost, long forgotten by the good people of Fiona. And, it seems, forgotten by you, Sir Knight.”

 

Chapter End.