10-04-2013, 01:43 AM
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – 3:53 PM EST – The Compound – Old Saybrook, Connecticut
I could say I'm quite happy to have my son back. You could say he's never left, but I assure you all, the Sebastian Duke you have seen for the passed several months, the one that had a near death experience and came back from it a changed man, that is not the Sebastian Duke I raised. Only recently have you begun to grab a glimpse of what the REAL Sebastian Duke is all about. Not the always concerned, always docile man you've seen of late. No, not at all. The Sebastian Duke you have seen in the last few days, that... that is the man I raised. A cold, calculating son of a bitch. A man that does not fear repercussions. A man that does exactly what he knows needs to be done. Perhaps removing the crown from John Madison's head is exactly what he needed.
I guess as it stands right now, I'm extremely happy to see this new attitude he's been expressing. Now, I can hopefully talk some sense into him concerning Caitlyn and my unborn grandchild. Which is why I've summoned him here, to my private residence here on the grounds of the Compound. To make it known that I am vehemently against my grandchild being raised as a Catholic child.
Almost right on cue, here comes my son, looming large in the doorway of my home. He leans against the wall as I continue to sit in my chair near the fire place.
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “So? What is it?”
ASMODEUS: “Son, we need to talk.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What about?”
ASMODEUS: “You know full well what is on my mind, son. Your son, is on my mind. And his mother.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I don't know why every one is so concerned with Caitlyn and the kid when the kid isn't even here. Won't be here for another few months.”
ASMODEUS: “The point is, Caitlyn and her family are the enemy.”
With the help of my cane, I stand to my feet and begin to make my way toward him.
ASMODEUS: “They are Catholic. They are everything we hate, and everything we stand against, Sebastian!”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “I just don't see why it matters what they are when the kid is not even here yet! When the kid gets baptized, then we'll talk.”
I don't know what came over me, but I reached up and slapped my boy across his face.
ASMODEUS: “Sit!”
His face is beet red. Partially from anger, partially from me striking him. He does as instructed. I stand near the window looking out onto the grounds. Thinking back to my youth.
Sunday, October 11, 1964 – 11:10 AM EST – The Duke Residence – Old Saybrook, Connecticut
I remember it like it was yesterday. The day I was baptized and whisked away into the Catholic faith. In those days, I thought it'd be forever. I was born September 2, 1959 to Leonard and Margaret Duke. Of course, I was not given the name Asmodeus on the day of my birth. Charles William Duke is my birth name.
My father was in the United States Air Force and my mother was undoubtedly a true saint in every sense of the word. Since my falling out with the Church years later, her and I had been at odds for much of my adult life. But she was a true matriarch and loved her children and grandchildren with ever fiber of her being. When she passed on early this year, it had effected my son horribly. I guess you could so it effected me too. We've both credited her for anything that is good and wholesome inside ourselves.
Back on point, on the 11th of October, 1964, was the day I was finally going to become a Catholic. As I said, my father was in the military so finding the right moment to have me baptized proved to be quite the difficult task. Today was the day. My parents, myself, and my baby sister were piled into Dad's 1958 Plymouth Fury. My younger brother would not arrive for a couple more years.
I remember being bored out of my young mind at the ceremony that I believed was very much pointless. Catholics. Always by the damn book. They can't just say “hey, you're a Catholic.” No, they have to make everything a big, over-exaggerated deal.
The priest, I forget his name, dunks my head in water.
PRIEST: “Charles William Duke, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Present Day
ASMODEUS: “Son, if you have any hopes of this child ascending to Grand Master of the Illuminatus, I assure you, he can never be raised Catholic.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What do you want me to do about it!?”
ASMODEUS: “PUT AN END TO IT BEFORE IT BEGINS!”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “And if I do nothing?”
I really dislike when he forces my hand.
ASMODEUS: “I'll do it for you.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Get real! You're an old man! You're...”
ASMODEUS: “I taught you everything you know! I can teach him, too! And when the day comes that you decide to step off the throne, the young man could ascend.
“If he's raised Catholic, I promise you I will disown him and he'll never be Grand Master.”
I know my son. He's bending, and about to break.
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Matthew came up with a plan. I was acted interested, but I was not really in favor of kidnapping her. I mean, say we kidnap her, keep her here until the child is born, then what do we do with her?”
ASMODEUS: “I think you know the answer to that.”
I give him a minute for things to sink in. To allow him to form a mental picture.
ASMODEUS: “Son, I know you care for her. And it's not easy. I've been there myself.”
He looks up at me with a quizzical look on his face.
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”
ASMODEUS: “What do you remember of your mother?”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Nothing other than what you've told me.”
ASMODEUS: “The fact is, she's not a drunk or a tramp living on the streets of anywhere.”
I've piqued his interest.
ASMODEUS: “Your mother was a good woman for the most part. Except she was Catholic. Son, I did what I felt I had to do. To ensure my Illuminatus would live on, and that my son would not grow up Catholic.”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “Dad! What the hell are you saying to me?”
I return to staring out the window.
ASMODEUS: “After you were born, I...”
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “You what?”
ASMODEUS: “Son, I had to eliminate her.”
I wasn't sure I should say it. But he needed to know that I've been down this road before. It is not an easy thing, but the right thing. In order to remain safe and secure for the present and the future, children must be born and their mothers must be eliminated.
It truly is a vicious cycle. It is also a necessary one.
SEBASTIAN DUKE: “How did you get away with it?”
ASMODEUS: “A story for another time.”
Without saying another word, Sebastian makes his exit. After he does so, I pull out my cell and give Matthew a call. I take a seat and put the phone on speaker.
MATTHEW: “Yes, Father?”
ASMODEUS: “It's a go. We'll secure the girl.”
MATTHEW: “I thought he'd already liked the idea.”
ASMODEUS: “In theory, sure. But, he still cares a great deal about her. He would not have done it.”
MATTHEW: “But he's willing now?”
ASMODEUS: “Not exactly. We're doing it anyhow.”
MATTHEW: “I understand Father.”
ASMODEUS: “Good. Come Friday afternoon. Have a plan ready.”
MATTHEW: “We might have a problem.”
ASMODEUS: “Oh?”
MATTHEW: “Jacob. He's not behind this idea at all.”
ASMODEUS: “Friday afternoon, I'll call him over here before you get here. We'll have a chat.”
MATTHEW: “You think you can convince him?”
ASMODEUS: “HA! My son, I can convince anybody of anything.”
Without another word, I end the call and retreat to my bedroom to contemplate my next move.
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