Friday, January 3, 2014 – 9:07 PM EST – The Compound – Old Saybrook, Cennecticut



As the Messenger of Sebastian Duke it is my job and my duty to do the things he can not do or say himself. Things he can not do, not because he is unable, but because he just can not take the risk of being caught. When you're 6 foot 8, you tend to stand out like a sore thumb, while I, at a very average 5 foot 10, can go pretty much anywhere in the world and blend in with my surroundings. Something Sebastian can not do.

I pride myself on doing the very best job that I can possibly do. I have never once let down my King, aside from that fiasco with Jonathan. That though, is all but forgotten and never even mentioned.

I received the correspondence just minutes ago, that Tyler, our hired help on the outside, would be doing what he was hired to do before he leaves his workplace tonight. In turn, it's time to move. It's time to make certain he does his job and then, he gets what unfortunately must come.

Once I got the word from Tyler, I stopped what I was doing in the Dungeon and came to Sebastian's office in order to inform him. Of course when I reached his office, he wasn't there. So, as is usually the case around here, it's hurry up and wait.

I didn't have to wait long though, because within a few minutes, the King of Darkness walked through the door.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What's up, Jake?”

THE MESSENGER: “I received the required correspondence from Tyler.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What's that mean?”

THE MESSENGER: “Tyler will perform the task he was hired to do, and he'll do it tonight.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “How much time do we have?”

THE MESSENGER: “A little less than an hour.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Then we better get a move on. We don't have much time.”

THE MESSENGER: “What do you mean we? I thought we were supposed to make it look like an accident.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “We don't have that kind of time, Jake.”



This extremely unsettling. I had not wanted Sebastian involved, even in the slightest sense. Now, not only is Tyler's demise not going to be an accident, Sebastian apparently wants to perform the act himself.



THE MESSENGER: “Sebastian, I urge you to reconsider this.”



Just now, Father Asmodeus walks into the office.



ASMODEUS: “Sebastian, I've laid Thaddeus down for sleep.”

THE MESSENGER: “Father, help me out here.”

ASMODEUS: “What is it, Jacob?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Jake doesn't think I should go tonight?”

ASMODEUS: “Go where?”

THE MESSENGER: “It's Tyler. He called and said he'd be taking care of the remains tonight.”

ASMODEUS: “I see.”

THE MESSENGER: “We agreed early on that after that was done, Tyler was to meet his demise due to an 'accident.'”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I told him, we don't have time for that, now.”



Father Asmodeus sits himself in a chair.



ASMODEUS: “That child wears me out. I'm not as young as I used to be. However, Jacob, Sebastian is right. We no longer have time to plan out his accidental death.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “His gambling problem and his debts are not unknown to most people in these parts, Jacob.”

THE MESSENGER: “What are you suggesting?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I'm saying we go in there and stage a mob execution.”

ASMODEUS: “Don't leave any evidence. Get in, do what needs done, then get out.”



Part of me wonders if Father Asmodeus is only going along with Sebastian's idea in order to lighten the tension that exists between them.



THE MESSENGER: “If that's the course of action we're taking, then why can I not just do it alone?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Precaution. He's less likely to try anything with me there.”

THE MESSENGER: “Alright. I'll get things ready.”



I get up to leave. Leaving Father Asmodeus alone with Sebastian good either be really good, or really bad.



SEBASTIAN DUKE: “So, I wanted to apologize.”

ASMODEUS: “Oh? For what?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Yesterday. I knew you did what you had to do. I mean, it doesn't make anything easier, but I should never have suggested you haven't gone through it yourself.”

ASMODEUS: “Never mind that, son. You'll work through it, in time. All is forgiven.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “In other news, we're organizing a deadly blow against the Church.”

ASMODEUS: “Now that's what I wanted to hear. Tell me about it.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “No, I'd rather not. I'd much rather you wait and see it on the news with the rest of the world.”

ASMODEUS: “I don't usually like surprises. I think I'll make an exception this time.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “This one will warm your heart.”



Knowing time was of the essence, I pick that moment to go and meet Jacob in the garage. Things are very quiet during our ten minute drive into town.

---

Friday, January 3, 2014 – 9:56 PM EST – Funeral Parlor & Crematory – Old Saybrook, Connecticut



SLAM!



Tyler slams the door shot on the incinerator after placing my beloved Cairlyn's deceased body inside. When he turns around, he is shocked and afraid of what he sees.

The King of Darkness.



TYLER: “Wh-who the hell are you?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Relax, Tyler. I've only come to make sure you did what I paid you to do.”

TYLER: “H-how do you know my name?”

THE MESSENGER: “I told him.”



Like the great apprentice that he is, Jacob emerges from the shadows, previously unseen.



TYLER: “Jake, what are you doing here?”

THE MESSENGER: “Like my boss just told you. We're here to make sure you've done the job.”

TYLER: “The body is in the incinerator right now. The job is all but finished.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Good.”

TYLER: “I'm not trying to be rude, but you guys scare the shit out of me.”

THE MESSENGER: “Well, Tyler, you can understand our concern and seeing that this thing goes through without a hitch.”

TYLER: “Why wouldn't it?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “A lot of thing are at stake here, Tyler. Your life. My money.”

TYLER: “I promise you, it's done.”



Jacob moves a little closer to the extremely petrified Tyler.



THE MESSENGER: “We've waited too long, Tyler. That means your pay is cut in half.”

TYLER: “Like hell it is! I've put my career and my life on the line here! I did what you paid me to do!”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “This one time, I will forgive your outburst. I'd suggest though, that you don't do it again.”

TYLER: “Who the hell are you people?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Who I am and what or whom I represent should not be your concern, Tyler.”



Tyler starts backing himself against the furnace.



TYLER: “Could you to saying my name? It's really freaking me out.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Since you asked so nicely.... No.”

THE MESSENGER: “Relax, Tyler. We just need to know a few things, then we'll pay you what we owe and we'll get out of your hair.”

TYLER: “Shoot.”



Look at the little fortune teller.



THE MESSENGER: “What did you tell your bosses about the body? Surely they noticed an extra.”

TYLER: “Believe it or not, they didn't even ask. We've been pretty busy, so it's just another slab of meat to them.”

THE MESSENGER: “Is there any record of that body being here?”

TYLER: “None. Zero. I promise.”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “That's actually kind of a problem.”

TYLER: “Why's that?”

SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Well, when they start digging through the rubble of this place after I burn it to the ground, they're going to figure out they had an extra set of remains.”

TYLER: “You what?”

THE MESSENGER: “He didn't stutter.”

TYLER: “Wait! You're going to burn the place down? That was never part of the plan.”



Without hesitation, Jacob whips out his stun gun and Tyler is rendered barely even conscious. Working quickly, Jake sets the young man up in a chair and secures him to it using clothing that was previously worn by the deceased.

He then proceeds to slap Tyler in the face to bring him to.



THE MESSENGER: “I'm sorry I have to do this, Tyler. Unfortunately, it's the only way.”



As Jake is going about his business, I take a peak inside the incinerator. What once was a beautiful woman is now nothing more than a thin layer of ash.



TYLER: “Jake! You don't have to do this.”

THE MESSENGER: “We can't take the risk, Tyler. A smarter man than you would have seen this coming. But, your overwhelming desire to risk everything on the next hand your dealt, overtook your better senses.”



Jake looks down and realizes Tyler has urinated on himself.



THE MESSENGER: “It's all in the luck of the draw, right? That's what gamblers like you like to say.

“This is one gamble you should not have taken, Tyler.

“You should have folded.”



POP!

One burst from the silenced pistol puts a bullet between Tyler's eyes. In an instant, Tyler's miserable existence is ended. As Jake and I head back to the Compound, the flames grow in intensity in my rear view mirror.



Fade to Darkness.