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Monsters in the Dark: Episode 3, Hidden Elites, and the Allure of the Epstein Files

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In Episode 3, “The Monster Group,” a narrative detonates the core revelation of the series that changes everything. King Asilas confesses that the visible political world is merely theater. Behind its slick exterior stands a concealed fraternity of planners. Standing in the shadows of “dark halls” are evil men, orchestrating leaders, manipulating social tensions, and guiding history like chess pieces. He calls them Monsters. Not their real name, but certainly a fitting one.

For people attuned to real-world intrigue, it is difficult not to feel echoes of modern controversies, especially the public fascination surrounding the “Epstein files.” It begs us to explore why certain patterns in the story feel so compelling to those who enjoy connecting the dots and have followed the show’s storyline. When one listens to episodes (especially in Seasons 1-2), it doesn’t land the same way anymore. The details emerging from the Epstein files have changed how one can truly take in the content of the series.

The Anatomy of the Monster Group

In Episode 3, Asilas admits he once belonged to the secret elite. With so many names redacted, one can surmise that those who claim to “champion” justice are within the orbit of perpetrators named in those files or in the files themselves. Thus, having the fictitious character Asilas also come from within the circle of fiends seems to be in alignment with what is currently coming to light. Ultimately, it cannot be an outsider railing against power; it has to be an insider-turned-defector.

So, let’s explore what the episode suggests. First, political leaders are selected, not elected. Even the simplest of Lehman have long said this out loud, either in jest or blurted intuition. Second, social chaos is engineered. Many conspiracy theorists have been shouting from the hills for decades that the collapse of the Western world is designed to usher in the New World Order. However, the idea that the public is given a curated version of reality isn’t unique to modern society. For as long as civilizations existed, doubt among commoners has persisted when it comes to “believing” what their leaders say outright.

The emotional power of this confession lies in its plausibility. There are no laser beams or alien invasions. At least, not yet. Instead, the horror is bureaucratic (i.e., cigars, exotic drinks, smoky rooms, long discussions about shaping society). The idea that the fate of the world rests in the diabolical plans of a few is unsettling, to say the least. But deep down inside, we know it.

The terror is systemic.

For the conspiracy-minded, this framework feels familiar. Secret meetings. The King and Capone drinking whiskey and planning the death of billions of people. Elite networks. Influence traded in private. The suggestion that what we see is not what is decided.

Listen to Episode 3 (again or for the first time).

The Epstein Files: Catalyst for Suspicion

When documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates began surfacing publicly through court cases and investigative reporting, the cultural impact was explosive. Names, flight logs, private island references, and redacted files fueled an already simmering suspicion that powerful people operate by different rules. And not just different rules, inhumane and ungodly rules. Some of the information being revealed suggests torture, ritualistic murder, and even cannibalism. It’s disgusting and (for some) completely unbelievable.

Why aren’t people filling the streets with outrage?

Because the situation presented elements that resonate with the “Monster Group” archetype that puts the illusion we’ve all been fed our entire lives on its head. It’s no longer a creepy, horror film or scary campfire story designed to spook the bejesus out of you. It’s starting to set in that this crazy talk is real. And the people engaging in all the “gross stuff” (to quote President Jackson in Season 1) are people we all know very well. They are the wealthy, the rich, and the famous. People we’ve looked up to, people we’ve aspired to be like, people we admired. It’s them, and we want to wake up from this nightmare. But it is true. All of it. And the Epstein files are exposing just how terrifying that secret society truly is. To think: there is still much more we haven’t been shown.

The Psychology of Pattern Recognition

Episode 3 leverages a powerful human instinct: pattern-seeking. Asilas’ analogy about children believing in Santa Claus is pivotal. He argues that society operates under comforting illusions. Once the illusion dissolves, nothing feels stable again. This mirrors how many people describe their reaction to learning about Epstein’s crimes and the elite social circles around him. The idea that wealthy and influential individuals could be entangled in secretive behavior triggers a psychological shift. It invites a broader question:

If this happened, what else could be happening?

That leap is where fiction and speculation thrive.

One of Episode 3’s most compelling elements is Asilas’ transformation. He was not merely aware of the Monster Group; he helped plan its operations. He climbed its ranks. Then he defected. This trope is central to conspiracy culture: the whistleblower. The insider who knows the machinery and chooses to reveal it. In real-world discussions around Epstein, the public has gravitated toward journalists, investigators, and unnamed “sources” who allegedly have deeper knowledge. The idea of someone within the system pulling back the curtain is intoxicating. It satisfies a narrative hunger: redemption through revelation.

The reality, of course, is often far more fragmented and mundane. Legal processes are slow. Evidence is complex. Motives are unclear. But in fiction, clarity is dramatic. A secret society exists. The king knows. The war begins.

“Monsters” as Metaphor

Episode 3 deliberately blurs whether the Monster Group members are metaphorical or literal monsters. Asilas hints that “most of them are not people like you and I.” It could be spiritual symbolism. It could be moral language. Or it could be a literal suggestion within the show’s mythos. Conspiracy theorists frequently adopt similar metaphors in discussing elites. Terms like “monsters,” “demons,” or “reptiles” often function symbolically, expressing perceived moral corruption rather than biological difference.

The language becomes mythic.

And myth is powerful.

The Epstein scandal, while grounded in documented criminal behavior, became mythologized online. Threads spiraled into claims of occult symbolism, ritualistic power structures, and global cabals. But with more details coming to light, with more interpretations and commentary, memes, and TikTok shorts bombarding the masses with images, blacked out faces of literal horror shows, emails with coded, sadistic, and evil messages, our collective heads are spinning. People are going back, reading old blogs and Reddit stories, and literature from Alex Jones.

They all read like a thriller.

The Emotional Core: Betrayal

At its heart, Episode 3 is not about monsters. It is about betrayal. Asilas feels betrayed by the system he served. The audience is meant to feel betrayed by institutions. The Epstein scandal similarly triggered a sense of betrayal. Many citizens asked:

How could this have happened for so long? Who knew? Who looked away?

The mere existence of elite impunity for years created fertile ground for distrust. And distrust is the soil in which conspiracy grows. For those who navigated the dark side of this world, reading fringe, self-published books about the subject of secret societies, and trolling the Internet for breadcrumbs of the cabal on 4chan and other places, the Epstein files are vindication. But no one is celebrating being right about this. Even I, who wrote (arguably) the most epic fiction podcast in the world, there is no glory in being right about this darkness. King Asilas is an archetype, a metaphor, a symbol of a collective scum that dogs humanity’s potential. The bane of achieving peace and prosperity. For in the name of saving humanity, the king ushers in Armageddon and the end of civilization. But none of those happened until King Asilas did one very crucial thing: he hunted those in the Monster Group. And if there is anything that resembles this action in real life, it’s the hunt for those in the infamous Jeffrey Epstein’s client list.

Why These Parallels Fascinate

It is crucial to reiterate: Episode 3 is fiction. The Epstein case, while involving documented crimes and legal proceedings, does not provide verified evidence of a supernatural or unified “Monster Group” controlling governments. But if something smells like excrement, well, there’s only one thing that smells like that. Therefore, the parallels are psychologically compelling and cannot be ignored. Simply put, they reflect archetypes:

  • The hidden council.
  • The compromised elite.
  • The reluctant king who defects.
  • The war against unseen forces.

When real-world scandals reveal genuine corruption, they validate the emotional core of these archetypes—even if they do not confirm the grandest interpretations. For conspiracy theorists, the connection is not about proof. It is about pattern resonance. Such as King Asilas’s obsession with hanging the British Royals. And who was arrested on his 66th birthday? The former Prince Andrew.

The Final Question

In Episode 3, Asilas says that learning the truth changes everything. And he’s right. The moment corruption is no longer abstract, no longer rumor, but a documented, undeniable reality, the mind shifts. Certainty fractures. Trust erodes. And in that fracture, something else seeps in.

When people glimpse real corruption, they don’t just become cautious. They become receptive to grand narratives, to hidden architects, to monsters in the dark. The line between vigilance and imagination begins to blur. So what stalks the halls of power? Are there literal monsters pulling strings in secret chambers? Or are there simply flawed human beings—ambitious, afraid, and armed with too much authority?

Reality is rarely as cinematic as fiction. Power is usually more banal than demonic. But in a world saturated with scandal, secrecy, and betrayal, the shadow always feels alive.

And once we believe something is hiding in the dark… we will never stop searching for it.

First King Asilas Novel Book Launch

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JV Torres, creator of The Rise of King Asilas, has published the first novel based on the epic fiction podcast titled “The Ouroboros.” The book is available on Amazon in both paperback and ebook. Also, there will be an official launch party in Baltimore on November 16, 2023 at 6PM at the Hillsmere restaurant (5707 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD). Some cast members from the podcast will be there mingling with fans and spectators, so it is sure to be a fun event. If you can’t make the event, you can still show your support by getting a copy of the novel by clicking HERE. Also, check out the flyer for the event.

The End of the King Asilas?

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Well, we’ve always known the story would eventually have to come to an end. Though it isn’t something I say lightly, ending the saga of King Asilas is happening right on schedule. During the pandemic, I contemplated stretching the series out to nine seasons, but I changed my mind when I realized I would be diluting a very rich story. I figured there will be ways to keep the King Asilas world alive past the ultimate destruction promised by Revelations. For now, however, I need to stick to the script and end this show the only way it can be done: in EPIC fashion.

So, where does this story conclude? In some ways, the story ends at Armageddon. But in other ways, it continues on long after King Asilas and everyone around him dies. How is this possible? It’s been written that when the Alpha Omega returns to earth, judgment would befall mankind (the living and the dead). From there, a thousand year rule sweeps over the earth, with a Holy theocracy headed by the Christ himself. This idea is largely believed and accepted as Gospel by theologians and Christians worldwide. But what no one has asked (at least no one I am aware of) is what happens after the thousand year rule? Without spoiling the story, I can tell you my imagination lives in the possibilities of “after the thousand year rule.” In fact, if you haven’t figured this out by now, the story is being told by a narrator that isn’t connected to anyone (at least, none we are aware of). Have you noticed the narrator always tells the story in the past tense?

A couple of years ago, I attempted to address this seemingly out of place aspect of the show. How can the narrator be telling the story in the past tense? Simple. The story already happened. So, that means the narrator is in the future. In the short film (that was never produced) titled “The Narrator,” I had intended to bring this aspect to light for King Asilas fans. However, on the advice of others in my circle, I decided against it since there were too many pieces missing to the puzzle and the movie would likely only make sense to fans of the show. So I shelved the idea and will revisit it later.

Which brings me to where this leaves the King Asilas story. I have already produced one film based in the King Asilas world (The Beggar) and am working on a feature film about the king himself. This new movie, titled “Eviscerate,” will feature some familiar characters from the show including Lords Capone and Jackson, Nabal, Queen Rebekah and others. It is, by far, the biggest production I have personally ever overseen. It’s going to be incredible. But this is also one of the major reasons the show has to conclude. In order for me to produce more films (and perhaps even a web series), I will need to dedicate a lot of time and resources. Therefore, producing an audio drama of this caliber cannot be done without dedicating a lot of time to it. There simply isn’t enough time to do all of it.

This may or may not be comforting to die hard fans of the show, but rest assured I am nowhere being done with King Asilas. In fact, I will be producing a season 7 of the show with L.A. Bonet. However, it will be a flashback season, where it is narrated by Princess Monica and the story centers around her. Many of the familiar characters will appear in that season (including the king) because it takes place during the season 1 and season 2 timeline. This seventh season is still in the embryonic stage as I write this blog, so much can change from now to then. At least, fans of the show will know it really isn’t over. From from it.

As for the storyline itself, I have spent much more time on this season than previous ones. Why? It has to end in the most dramatic, epic, memorable way possible. I have really challenged myself as a writer and voice actor to make this final season the best in the world. I have no intention of disappointing the fans of the show. An absolutely incredible ending is my promise.

~JV

The Loss of John Doby

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John Doby portrayed “Lord Quintin Capone” in The Rise of King Asilas.

I met John Doby right as I was beginning to put together the first season of “The Rise of King Asilas.” He had answered an ad I placed looking for voice actors. I asked him a lot of questions. Not because I was oblivious to the acting world, but because I wanted to find the perfect role for him to play on the show. As we talked, it became clear his natural personality could fit “Quintin Capone,” the king’s best friend and confidant. Later on, John and I became friends in real life. We often talked on the phone because he lived in New Jersey and I live in Baltimore. In time, we came up with the idea that he could put his filmmaking skills to good use by filming a short movie based on the audio drama. It was John who actually gave me the idea that I could make a short movie, and this basically changed my life.

My wife and I made a trip to New Jersey a couple of years ago. John and I had collaborated on a short script titled “The Ordo” and we would spend a few days filming it in Keyport. It’s a neat little town and my wife and I took a few extra days to go just up the road to NYC. It was great to spend some time with John (and Lynn Spencer). I felt we bonded a little more and we became better friends as a result. But the film “The Ordo” never actually made it to the final edit stage. John was working on, as he put it, “his life’s work.” He had been putting together a feature film titled “Again.” It’s a sci-fi thriller about a man who brings his dead daughter back to life. The project was years in the making and remains unfinished.

I believe John rather enjoyed playing the role of Quintin Capone because it allowed him to indulge in his crazy fantasies of power and excess. In that regard, John and I found many commonalities. We both had fun portraying the characters we played on the show, and were both amused by people who took the story way too seriously. Sometimes people went after us on Twitter and Reddit, criticizing us–as if we really were like the characters we played. We were two peas in a pod when it came to those who took the storyline of the show a little too far. In the end, I can honestly say there are many things we agreed on and things we didn’t agree on. But where we thought differently, we found reason to pause.

When I heard the news of John Doby’s passing, I was in total shock. My first reaction was to call Steve Fisher (Lord Jeremy Oreb). We both sat on the phone, struggling to process the news. It was a sobering moment for us both: realizing our own mortality, reliving the fun moments in the show, thinking about the years ahead. We both agreed we should never take a day for granted and promised we would speak more often. You never know when someone is snatched from your life. I never got a chance to say good bye to my friend, John. I just took it for granted that I would call him when I finished writing the scripts. But I didn’t get to.

My last communications with John was a text message. I was trying to get him to sign on to our Patreon so he could see my first short movie. I knew he had been busy filming his own movie. I knew this because I saw his postings on Facebook. He texted me back. His final words to me were “Awesome. Congrats! I’ll check it out.” But he wouldn’t get that chance. He was dead two days later.

If I could say one final thing to John, I would say, “I love you, brother.” But something inside me says he knew this. He knew this because whenever he needed a favor, whenever he was feelings down, whenever he was lost in his chaotic life, he would call me. I would be there for him. He knew he could count on me. He knew I was a true friend who never judged him, who never criticized him for his faults or flaws. I accepted him as he was. And I pray God will accept him in Heaven. “Goodbye, my brother. Until we meet again on the other side.”

~JV Torres

Oreb’s Secret

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Like his king, the military was the only life Jeremy Oreb ever wanted. Long before he became a Lord on the High Council and one of King Asilas’s closest confidants, he was an officer in the United States Army. Oreb would eventually become a General and even strategized with General Asilas during the Civil War. However, much of his personal life remained enigmatic until the king inquired about his past. To his surprise, it was revealed Oreb’s personal life was devoid of passionate love. Little information surfaced in terms of personal relationships. So, the king met with Oreb at the Grand Terrace late one evening to press him on details of his personal life. Finally, some juice trickled from the hardened Oreb.

“Sir, the truth is I did love a young woman once—when I was a captain stationed in Iraq during the recon missions throughout the Middle East, years before the Civil War. I met someone during that time. She was much younger than me.” Oreb spoke hesitantly, as if reliving the lost love. He sighed deeply saying, “Her name was Yasmine.”

“That’s a pretty name,” Asilas replied. “What became of Yasmine?”

            Oreb paced a few steps and reached for the bottle of whiskey on the outdoor bar on the Grand Terrace. Sunset was approaching and he could feel Asilas’s mind tugging for specifics of his relationship with Yasmine. The king leaned back, relaxed, and puffed on his cigar. His eyes were like slits as he focused on every word Oreb spoke.

“It was a forbidden love affair, sir,” Oreb said nervously, taking a long swig of his whiskey. “Yasmine was arranged to be married to a second cousin. But I couldn’t help myself, and apparently she couldn’t either, so we fell in love. I wanted to be with her every chance I got. But I knew the more I was with her, the more dangerous the situation became. For her. For me.”

The king sat up straight, put his cigar down on his ash tray and folded his arms. “I take it Yasmine eventually married her second cousin?”

“Well, yes. Eventually she did.” Oreb said as he looked down at his feet.

“But that’s not half the story, is it Jeremy?” The king replied with a giant grin, tightening his folded arms.

“Well, no. At the same time I was seeing Yasmine, I was also seeing another woman named Hamida. She was a widow and lived on the other side of the city. I thought them being so far apart, there was literally no chance they would ever know each other.”

“And yet, they did.” The king said with a slight chuckle.

Oreb finished his drink and walked back over to the bar and poured himself some more. He stood at the bar with his back to the king for a few moments, looked up into the sky and sighed loudly. “My king, I was a fool. A fool in love. And fools do stupid things.”

“How did they find out about each other?” The king pressed, standing up to walk over to his friend, who appeared on the edge of lamenting.

“That will always be a mystery to me, sir. All I know is I really thought having Hamida would help me with the pain of letting Yasmine go. It wasn’t like I wanted to play two women. But I couldn’t have Yasmine. Her parents, the culture—they would never allow it. So, I had Hamida, who was a widow with two children, to crutch my eventual heartbreak. But it didn’t play out like I hoped.”

The king stepped closer to Oreb, who still had his back to him at the bar. Finally, standing next to Oreb, he took a glass and poured himself some whiskey. “A love triangle never ends well, Jeremy. Especially when the parties involved get caught off guard.”

“Hamida went to Yasmine’s house. It turned out she was the sister of the woman in charge of organizing Yasmine’s wedding. They were friends of the family somehow.”

“Now, that is a stroke of some serious bad luck.” The king acknowledged and poured more for himself and Oreb.

Oreb gulped a big shot and slammed the glass on the bar. He turned around and gazed into the murky gardens below. A deep, dark, red hue hung over the shadows covering the grounds of the garden. “Hamida went to the house and managed to get Yasmine alone. They told each other what they knew about me and Hamida confronted me about everything the next day when I went to see her.”

The king chuckled loudly, which made Oreb uncomfortable. “What exactly did she say to you?”

“She called me a pig. A lying, filthy American with no morals.” Oreb paused and sighed loudly again, placing his hands over his face. “I never felt so small in my life. She was right. I was a pig. A selfish pig—only concerned with my own feelings.”

The king stopped chuckling. “And a woman in an arranged marriage in that culture, risking her life to be with you, her sneaking around isn’t worth criticizing? Or a woman whose husband’s body was barely cold and buried running around with an American captain—none of that is selfish, right?”

“Sir, I know you want to spin this so I feel less dirty about what I did, but believe me I learned my lesson. That’s why I stayed single all this time since then. I don’t deserve love. I am a selfish pig!”

“You punish yourself for an indiscretion and those other women moved on with their lives? How is that remotely fair? You should have moved on with your life, Jeremy. You should have married someone and had a family. Instead, you carry around this giant stone tied around your neck. You are a human being. You made mistakes, but you move on. You grow from them and you learn to love again.” The king said as he put his hand on Oreb’s shoulder in an affectionate manner.

“I learned later that Yasmine’s virginity came into question. Her husband wanted to annul the marriage, but she got pregnant right away. I think the husband always suspected something wasn’t right and I heard he mistreated her long after. Then, her husband was murdered. I am not sure why he was killed.”

“So, that’s why you carry so much guilt around. You feel responsible for Yasmine’s misfortune.”

“Hamida, too. She was mostly an outcast and no man would marry her. She became bitter and mistreated her two sons until they were old enough to run away from her and join a terrorist group. Both were killed in subsequent battles with American and Iraqi troops.”

The king finally let go of Oreb’s shoulder. “You sure kept detailed tabs on these women.”

“There is so much pain I caused and so much guilt I carry inside me, sir. I could never let myself poison another person again. I feel I am cursed. That’s why I am such a devout Christian now. That’s why I will follow you to the end of the earth, sir. I believe in our cause with all my might. This is how I can repay my debt and undo the ills of my past.” Oreb lamented with tears in his eyes, which glistened in the brightening moon at the fall of night.

The king replied in a very solemn tone, “Jeremy, everyone has a destiny. Those women met their fate as it was written for them. You are not responsible for their fate. It would have happened even if you never met them.”

Oreb, barely able to speak, replied shakily, “But it was me, sir. I was the one in their lives. Their fate was triggered by my actions. And I accept that. I also accept what you say about destiny. Perhaps at the end of the day, their misfortunes were what triggered my fate as well.”

“It seems like it all is connected somehow, Jeremy. Everything happens for a reason. And the reason is likely not something we are meant to understand.” The king answered, walking back to his chair and sitting back down. He picked his cigar back up and lit it anew.

Oreb paused and walked to the edge of the terrace, placing his hands on its thick rails. “Well, sir, of this I think we are in total agreement—because there is so much I think we are incapable of remotely understanding. Except for one thing.”

“What’s that?” The king said as he puffed the cigar until a plume of smoke covered his face in the dark, which engulfed them both by that point.

Oreb watched Asilas puff his cigar. The orange cinder smoldered in front of the shadowy figure of his king. “These events in our lives compel us to do things we otherwise would never naturally do. We have been nudged by the universe to go the path we are on—whether we like it or not.”