Lancaster's Inferno - Cocytus (Circle IX - the Ultimate Destroyer
- Part IV)

Scene I: London, England - Buckingham Palace - Tuesday, June 24, 2003

It'd been a definite while since I had the privilege of visiting the Palace.  However in this case, it may not be a fucking privilege.
Not since my installment and succession as Duke of Wessex some ten years ago had I entered the storied gates of the home of the Royals.  Why I was summoned here I did not care to speculate to a great extent.
 
Although I could not help but fear the worst.  All that shit in the tabloids must have gotten the Palace's knickers in a twist, most likely the cause of this impromptu requested "visit."  

The last thing I needed was a lecture from Her Majesty's personal secretary, or some other menial official within the Royal household.

The wound in my soul lay agape, and I was simply not in the mood to try and defend my actions over these past several months.

I was guilty.  I was guilty of having that affair with Christine those few years ago, and shit I was guilty of something with Kathy, even if that bitch had to sell her story to the goddamn Sun.

The bigger mystery though was just how the hell they found out about Christine; it's beyond me.  I only bared myself to Stephanie and, well, Simkins, about her.  Simkins.

Would he?  No, it had to be her, just to humiliate me.  Nevertheless...the very idea that it could have been him made me very upset.  And the more I thought, the more I believed it was possible.  It would be something I would just have to bring up and clear the air.

"Shitttttt."  I glanced at my watch.

I drove along the busy streets of London, trying to maneuver my way in the early evening traffic.  It was raining, visibility wasn't all too good.  And I was late.

"Fuck might as well show up drunk too," I called out to nobody as I turned into a lane heading towards the Palace.  Finally I had arrived at the gate.

The guards signalled for me to stop my Jaguar as I rolled down the window, letting some rain fly inwards onto my trench coat.

"Could we see some identification please sir."

I pulled out my wallet and presented my driver's license and birth certificate.  He poked his head in the window.

"Very good your Grace.  You're expected."  He handed back my documents and smiled.  "By the way your Grace, congratulations on your tag run with Seamus."

I couldn't help but present an unforced smirk.  I nodded my head in appreciation as he pointed the way.  After several other security checks including a thorough frisking, metal detector pass through, I was shown in to some sitting room, somewhere in the Palace.  I admired the decor and various antiques lining the walls. Nothing short of magnificent could be expected from the Palace.

I looked at myself dressed in a suit, and hoped it was enough.  I tried to follow protocol, no matter how much I fucking hated it.

I sat and sat, waiting for whomever the hell I was supposed to see to get here.  I decided to poke around the room and look at some of the pieces.

Marvelous, to say the least as I parked my eyes in front of one of the many paintings. It was then finally, when I heard a door open and a voice call out to me.

"Interesting piece isn't it?  I am quite fond of it myself."

It was a woman's voice, an elderly one, but it spoke clearly and with force.

I turned around and stopped dead in my tracks and froze.  Before me stood by the Grace of God, Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and Queen of the Commonwealth.

I didn't know what to do.  She stood there, her hands together, wearing a formal floral dress, her hair, silver as always, wearing a simple pearl necklace.

I snapped out of my trance and approached her, and very slowly, knelt before her, taking her hand.  "Your Majesty."

I rose and was met by a soft smile.  She motioned to sit down.

"Please, do sit down Robert. Tea should arrive in a few moments."

She sat down, as I then took my seat across from her on a small couch, in front of a small oak coffee table.

I was still taken aback that she of all people requested my presence.  What words could she possibly have for me?

"I'm sorry to have called you down here from Wessex on a day teeming with rain.  But I'm afraid I'm not much of a weather forecaster."

I smiled genuinely and somehow forced words from my lips.  "That's quite alright Mum, I had a lovely drive anyway.  It's most kind of you to invite me here, and of course, an absolute pleasure and honour."

"The last time you were here were under somewhat less fortunate circumstances though, if I recall correctly."

I nodded my head.  "Yes Mum, and I do hope that this occassion will be somewhat more memorable for the right reasons."

She did not smile.  "Robert, I asked you here for one reason, and one alone.  And that's simply to talk to you about your life. How things are going, professionally, and personally."

Thank shit that's all she said.  She was a woman of great tact anyway.

The tea arrived, and not too soon.  I had to collect my thoughts, and try and present things to her in a somewhat, how shall one say - less, rough, way.

"Well," I sighed, "I can only assume you've heard about the rubbish in the tabloids.  And to be honest your Majesty, I cannot deny any of it, nor can I defend my actions.  All I can do is apologize and try to assure you that I shall not dishonour you or the family ever again."

She listened as she poured the tea into her cup, and some into mine.  The idea of being served tea by the Queen was somewhat amusing, but I awaited her response.

"Do you take milk in your tea?"

What?

"Yes, I do.  Thank you Mum."

She handed me my tea cup, which I sipped slowly. I set it down as she did.

"I was quite close to your father Robert, as you're well aware.  He was a fine man, and he at times voiced concern to me about you.  All I am doing is the same as he did, not in a condescending manner of course, but one of genuine care.  He loved you very much, I do hope you know that."

I nodded.

"I am not here to judge you Robert or condemn you.  I know you must be going through some troubles, or else those papers would not have pounced as they do tend.  God tests all of us Robert, and this perhaps is just your phase."

God.  Don't talk to me about Him.  I gave up on Him in Jerusalem.

"Just remember," she added, "the Lord does not give up on anyone...people give up on Him."

I took my tea and raised it to my mouth, so I could avoid commenting.

"So do tell me how are things."  She sipped her tea as I suddenly felt my mouth go dry as sandpaper.

"I, well, have just accepted a divorce from my wife."

She frowned.  She obviously knew the pain of divorce too well, amongst her children.

"I am sorry.  Marriage is not without its strains, but it is a blessed institution.  Do not give up on it."

"Thank you.  And I won't.  I am just very glad that I have Edward, our little boy, to help hold us together, even loosely."

"That is lovely, I am pleased to hear it.  How is he doing?  He must be a few years old almost."

I desperately took a long drink from my cup of tea, hoping it would banish the Sahara from my mouth.

"He will be two years old in several months from now.  It's unfortunate that I do not get to see more of him, being over in the United States all of the time."

"Ah yes, now what is it you do again?"

Oh shit.  How the hell is she going to react to this.  "Well your Majesty I beat the shit out of people for a living in perhaps the most ridiculed sport in the world."  Vagueness was my ally.

"I am a professional athlete, for an organization in the central United States."

"Wrestling or what not, isn't it?"

"Yes...it is."  I could not hide my obvious embarrassment.

Elizabeth merely smiled again.  "I hear William mention something here or there about that sport, or Harry even, but I myself have no pretense to know anything about it.  Horses are my passion.  Unfortunately I haven't had a winner in quite a while."

"They're a bugger of sorts, at times.  I had a deep interest in horse racing when I was younger, but then I got off track as I tend to do."

She gave a small laugh as she offered more tea.  The next twenty minutes or so flew by, when she told me her time was over, and had to tend to other engagements.

Elizabeth stood as I once again bowed to her and thanked her for her generosity and time.  She left, and as I got up, another voice called to me from the couch.

"God doesn't abandon you, man abandons Him.  What shit.  I hope you did not buy into that sentimental crap."

?

I turned around to see a man in a very well tailored suit sitting on the couch where Her Majesty sat just moments ago.  I didn't hear anyone enter after she exited. I stared.

He looked as old as time, yet at the same time...did not.  He sat there smugly, greying hair, slight black mustache, piercing blue eyes.

"What's wrong Rob, not going to greet your Lord and Master like you did that withered monarch?"

"Do I know you?"  

He laughed.  "I would like to think so.  Some of those fellows you work with would like to think so, too.  But no.  You're the only privileged one to know me!  You along with Judas Iscariot and oh, Hitler, Brutus, Jack the Ripper...all those noteable names."  He smiled happily.  "Come sit down, let's talk."

I furrowed my brow.  "I'm quite fine here, thank you.  Now cut the shit, who are you and what the hell do you want."

"Tut tut, cursing Hell like that.  Do I really have to be so goddamn blunt with you?"  

"Well I'm either dead or this is a massive hallucination, so, yes, please do be blunt."

He laughed again.  "I assure you it is neither.  I am, as noted, your Lord and Master since that fateful afternoon in Jerusalem. And I intend to you use you, Robert Lancaster, and all that money of yours, and put it to good use, in my service."

"Really."

"Oh yes, quite."

"I'm a wrestler."

He chuckled quietly.  "I know Robert.  I know everything about you of course, your hopes, your dreams, and hopefully, I can make them all come true, if you behave accordingly.  Besides, I love entertainment, and you do that quite well.  What I'd like to see you do in that ring however, is unleash the fury I know is right there [he pointed to Lancaster's midsection].  Stir the shit, as it were, unlease all that frustration and just tell the world to go fuck itself, and do as you please.  As long as I concur, of course."

"Perhaps I've already planned to do all that you say, and more."

The man shrugged.  "Perhaps you have, but I want to see all the hell I've put you through over these past, oh, months - 'Lancaster's Inferno' as you so aptly called it - put to good use.  Don't disappoint me, or there'll be more of that to come, and mere humiliation and divorce will not be the price you pay this time."

Without hesitation I spoke.  I had no option, no other direction.  "I pledge you all I have, and I shall not disappoint you."

A wicked grin crossed his lips.  "I chose well, Robert.  See you in Hell."  

Now I am completely enveloped in Hell's fiery grip.  And I enjoy it.  There's no looking back now.  The Inferno rages on.
God help whomever I cross next.

His gaze was relentless, his wickedness, eternal.  He nodded his head at me once more.

I blinked.

And he was gone.


http://www.geocities.com/culturalexorcist/wessex/hofl.html

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1