Heaven's Eyes Page 3

  With a nod, Jake entered the mansion; greeted by a coolness to the air that muted the warm California heat.

  “Man after my own heart,” Chaz noted, closing up the house. He motioned to a set of open French doors several steps to their left. “Please.”

  Still reeling from the difference between what he imagined the shock rocker’s home would look like and the quiet, almost serene foyer, Jake nodded and followed Chaz into an ornate sitting room.

  “Not what you expected, I take it?” Chaz asked, settling himself into a plush, red velvet reading chair.

  Shaking his head, Jake sat down on the near end of a matching red sofa. “Somehow, I pictured something more... more... darker?” he tried to explain.

  Summoned by some unseen means, an attractive blond woman, in a French maid’s short black-and-white uniform, with black stockings over pearl-white skin, walked into the room. She carried a silver tray, complete with a white China tea service in her hands.

  Jake tried to not gawk at the woman’s abundant cleavage as she bent before them, setting the tea service out for the two men. He did catch Chaz admiring the view of her from the back, and even as she stood up and glanced at him, he met her gaze without embarrassment.

  “Do you require anything else?” Her voice had a sweet timbre that sounded almost musical.

  “I think that’s all, Daphne,” Chaz replied and the maid bobbed a quick, shallow curtsey and walked from the room. When his gaze returned from watching her leave to the teacup in his hands, Chaz noticed Jake watching him with a bit of a smirk on his face. “More of what you expected?” he asked, raising the cup to his lips.

  After the initial pleasantries had come and gone, Chaz Black lead Jake Andrews through the mansion’s wide halls, down into the estate’s basement, which housed the shock rocker’s “Studio of the Macabre”.

  Gazing at the full-size statue of a naughty teenage schoolgirl on a torture rack that could have dated back to the Middle Ages, Jake couldn’t help but reflect back to the kaleidoscope of different effects and sets that he, Ron Hall, and Trent Massey had fabricated for Nightmare Manor a few years back. The vampires in the ballroom, a ghost bride sleeping levitated above her lost love, the dot and door mazes, the zombie crypt... it had all seemed like harmless, scary fun... until that night when it all became way too real. Not wanting to fall into a state of melancholy as the memories threatened to wash over him, the effects producer swept his view from left to right, taking in the large collection of pain and torment all at once.

  “The reason I invited you here was to try and win you over to my cause,” Chaz called from the center of the room, where he stood beside a large conference table, on which a collage of assorted photographs awaited their perusal.

  Sauntering over to the table, Jake replied, “I will admit, the opportunity to meet with you away from the craziness of a concert venue appealed to me. My attorneys weren’t that happy about me coming here unchaperoned–” to which Chaz laughed aloud, “–but I assured them you wouldn’t talk me into investing in anything that was high risk.”

  Shaking his head, Chaz held his hands out to the pictures before them. “Behold, my dream realized.”

  At that, Jake looked down, paying more attention to the photographs. Scanning them, he suddenly reached down and snatched one up. The full-color image was that of a high-energy amusement park ride named The Unhappy Sumo. Holding the photo out, he said, “This is over at The Landmark Resort. I remember when this ride was brand new. Its got four banks of seats that rotate and spin on a central axis, about thirty feet in the air. It made me sick the first time I rode it, but after I was used to it, I couldn’t get enough.” He dropped the photo, then spied another and pointed. “That’s the Starship. One tower launches you over three hundred feet up at high velocity, the other pillar takes you to the top and drops you into freefall. Killer rides, both.”

  Chaz nodded and pointed first to The Unhappy Sumo, then to the Starship. “That’s now The Guillotine, and the other’s Heaven and Hell.”

  As he looked, Jake recognized many of the other rides from the defunct amusement park outside his hometown of Shadow Valley. Pondering the significance of Chaz’s words, he finally looked up into the rocker’s intense eyes. “You’re talking about more than a simple seasonal haunted attraction. This is a full-on horror park. I don’t know if my family name is gonna have enough sway with the planning commission to get you approval for this. Money to reopen and operate The Landmark, sure, but this...?” He waved at the table and shook his head, but already his mind had started running different scenarios that he could try to win the votes he and Chaz would need to make the man’s dream a reality.

  “You’re the only son of the town’s founding family. My people tell me that if anyone can push this project through, it’s you. We’re talking about a heavy influx of cash into the local economy, not only from purchases, but think of the jobs we’ll be creating: contractors, laborers, foremen, park employees, performers... this could be a good thing in a lot of ways.”

  Jake rubbed his chin, losing himself in thought. “I know the towns in the area could really use the influx of cash, that’s for sure. And there’s been a lot of talk about either selling or demolishing The Landmark.” Again, he met Chaz’s intensity, look-for-look. “Recent talk, in fact. The longer the park goes abandoned, the less likely an investor is gonna come along and dump loads of cash into it to bring it back to its heyday.”

  Gesturing to his chest, Chaz said, “I’ve got the cash. Plenty of it. Enough to do it right. All I need is for you to sell it to the powers-that-be. Allay their fears, soothe their concerns, help them to look past what happens on stage and understand that what I want to do will benefit everyone... especially them.”

  Jake wasn’t foolish enough to buy Chaz Black’s “Wholesome Benefactor” routine, but he also recognized a good business opportunity when presented with one. “There’s a lot of things that could go wrong.”

  “More things that could go right,” Chaz countered with a nod.

  “The planning commission’s gonna hate the ‘horror park’ idea,” Jake said, even as he felt his own resistance to the idea fading. “Especially with all that happened at Nightmare Manor.” At that moment, Jake Andrews found himself in an unusual situation. Not so much that he couldn’t find plenty of arguments against the plan, but that he didn’t want to argue.

  Making his way around the near end of the conference table, Chaz suggested, “You brought them around once.”

  Jake looked up at the man who towered over him by several inches. The rocker’s black locks cascaded over his shoulders and down his back. His tan face held a little afternoon stubble, but it was his eyes that held Jake’s attention.

  “You can bring them around again.” Then he held out his hand in expectation.

  “There are a million little details to work out before we can even really get started. And with the Centennial celebration coming up, everyone’s maxed out as it is.”

  “Come on, Jakob. Make this old rocker’s dream come true.” Jake could only describe Chaz’s look as feverish and for a brief moment, a chill of fear ran down his spine. Then the internal resolution set in and he shook Chaz Black’s hand.

  “Let’s do it.”

  Chaz smiled in triumph.

  Chapter 3

  “Live, In Paradise”

  Paradise: The Afterlife

  Joshua Robinsson, SoulChaser Mentor and Afterlife connoisseur, crossed the foyer of his high-rise apartment to the front door. He expected to see Kiah when he opened it, but instead found Pol standing on his Welcome mat, a pensive look on the SoulChaser’s face.

  “I don’t usually meet with my teams at my home, but please come in,” Joshua said, holding the door wide.

  Pol nodded his thanks and stepped inside. Never having been to Joshua’s home in Paradise, his Mentor wat
ched as he looked around.

  Joshua lived alone and preferred it that way. He had long ago forgotten how many different versions of Paradise he had sampled. From a sprawling plantation mansion to a small cottage on the edge of a vast icesea, he always tended to gravitate back to the big city. And he wasn’t alone. Billions of others shared his love for the bustle and energy of the big city.

  Pol wandered through the suite, admiring the collection of memorabilia that Joshua had acquired from his tour through Paradise. He stopped at a head-high spear tipped with a hammered spearhead about a foot long. Then he glanced at Joshua and said, “You’ve been to the Chandalia mountains?”

  Smiling, Joshua said, “Lived there for a while. Loved the solitude, but as you can see, the city called me back.” He held his arms wide, as if to encompass everything around him.

  Pol nodded. “Funny thing, not many people I know of consider living in a high-rise apartment any kind of Paradise.”

  Joshua gestured for Pol to follow him over to a large bay window. He threw the curtains wide, affording them a beautiful panoramic view of the city. The sun sat low on the horizon, tinting the vast pallet of colors from the buildings with a hint of shadow. A clear blue sky above already let a few twinkling stars through. Below them, the city streets were alive with people going about their evening business.

  “I noticed when I came that even though the street was packed with people, there wasn’t the tension you feel on a regular city street,” Pol said as he absorbed the view.

  Smiling, Joshua took Pol by the arm and, ignoring the SoulChaser’s initial protests, lead the man down the elevator and out to the curb.

  Standing in the crisp evening air, he opened his arms wide, gesturing to everything around them and said, “Look around. Tell me what you see.”

  His voice tinged with uncertainty, Pol said, “Uhh... lots of tall buildings, people walking everywhere. Trees lining the street.”

  Joshua inhaled a deep breath and let it out again. “Breathe in that air.”

  Pol did so, then looked puzzled. “It smells clean and rejuvenating. Nothing like I would have expected. I didn’t notice it before now.”

  “Did you notice that there’s no lock on my front door. Just like there’s no doorman at the building entrance?”

  Pol turned to look behind them. The large glass entry into the main floor lobby had people coming and going, but no security to monitor them as they did so.

  “Come on,” Joshua said and set off up the street. His denim pants and white shirt rippled in the light breeze and his simple sandals slapped lightly on the sidewalk.

  Pol hurried to catch up with his Mentor and they walked side-by-side, Joshua keeping up a banter while pointing out the many beautiful things around them.

  “It all comes down to this,” Joshua said as they crossed the street and walked through the entrance to a massive city park, “we have all the energy and opportunities and creature comforts of the big city without any of the downsides. No pollution, no crime, no homeless. This is the Paradisicle version of a huge metropolis.”

  Letting his eyes take in the sights of the park in the evening light, Pol said, “I never would have expected... I think the last time I visited your home, you still had that beachside bungalow. But this is good, too. I think I see the appeal.”

  “Now,” Joshua said with a smile, “What brings you to my little piece of Heaven?”

  As they talked, the two men walked over to a bench beside the park’s walk path.

  “It’s about something that happened on my last retrieval,” Pol said.

  Joshua shifted his weight a little to get comfortable before he said, “I was at your debrief. Nothing stood out.”

  “I was so concentrated on getting the details right, it completely slipped my mind.”

  Joshua nodded and said, “That can happen the first couple times. What was it you forgot?”

  Pol leaned forward, nodding a hello to the two young women walking past them, resting his elbows on his knees. “Right before I captured Helann, she told me that... I’m not even sure if it’s important now.”

  “Go on. She told you what?” Joshua prodded gently.

  “Well, she said that I was standing before a General of the next Eternity War.”

  A heavy moment passed between them.

  Stunned into silence, Joshua crossed his arms, one hand rubbing his chin in thought.

  Pol gave him more than a minute of silence, before saying, “What do you think?”

  “I’m recalling something Masaal said as he was being lead away from the Judgement Counsel. It didn’t seem important at the time, either, but I’m beginning to think maybe there’s more to it than any of us know.”

  “Well, that’s the only thing she said that I forgot in my debrief. Sounds like you already know more than I do,” Pol said, sounding relieved.

  Joshua looked at the SoulChaser and put a brotherly hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for bringing this to me. Now, I’m famished. Join me for dinner? I make a mean spicy fish.”

  This time Pol smiled in return. “No, thanks. Can I have a raincheck?”

  “Certainly,” Joshua said as his guest stood.

  “I’ll see you at our next mission briefing, then,” Pol said, and began to walk away.

  “Pol,” Joshua called, causing to the SoulChaser to stop and turn. “If you remember anything else, or need to talk, you know where to find me.”

  Pol looked around them, then back at his Mentor. “Until you get bored, that is?” he said, a teasing tone in his voice.

  This brought a broad smile to Joshua’s face. “Being that as it may, you can always find me.”

  Nodding, Pol agreed, then turned and joined the crowd of evening walkers heading deeper into the park.

  Joshua watched until he couldn’t see Pol any longer, then, satisfied the man had crossed over into another area of Paradise, probably the mountain cabin he shared with his wife, Collette, Joshua turned and pondered this new information as he began the walk back to his own home.

  Chapter 4

  “Light ‘em up!”

  It must have felt the way a fighter pilot did moments before streaking down and off the end of the flight deck. His vision closed into a tunnel... nothing existed to the left and right... just the tarmac ahead. At the far end, black, gray and purple clouds plumed and coalesced, threatening a storm on the Southern California horizon. The evening sun behind struggled to break through and light the way before him.

  “We’re all a Go on this end, Nick,” came the voice of his crew chief, Bucky, in his ears. “It’s dialed in as closely as we can get it without real-world numbers.”

  “I’m ready to light ‘em up,” Nick James said, his voice sounding hollow to himself inside his race helmet.

  “Nick...” Bucky began, then hesitated for a few seconds, “listen, you can’t drive it like you would on the street. If you do, it’s going to bite you, hard. Are you sure you don’t want to wait until tomorrow?”

  Nick cleared his mind of everything but the sound of the engine, the feel of the racing wheel in his hands, the feeling of being at the launching end of a shotgun barrel.

  “Start the countdown, Bucky,” he said.

  A heartbeat later, the light tree in his peripheral vision began to blink. Two flashes of red at the top, then three amber, then a bright green.

  Nick butterflied the clutch and buried the accelerator. He sensed the high-octane fuel flush through the intakes, felt the seat below him drop a touch as the rear driveline loaded up, then his head snapped back as the Cobra street racer leapt off the line. First gear... slotted into second... the tone of the RPMs told him to go for third... His vision tunneled in even closer as the far end of the several-mile-long drag strip seemed to slither closer.

  As he tried to contain his f
ocus and not let the laser-speed indicator board on the shoulder of the drag strip distract him, he let his eyes catch a slight glimpse of the far horizon. At that moment, a spiderweb of lightning flashed through the far storm clouds–

  The blackened clouds above lit up again in a rainbow of sheet lightning... less than a moment later, thunder crashed through his head, threatening to deafen him... the site of a macabre, gothic room... a handful of bodies scattered around, blood covering them, life drained from their eyes... a beat up, crazed young man, crashing through several panes of clear glass...

  “–Nick!” shattered his reverie, the horizon ahead beginning to swerve before him.

  His heart surging into his throat, Nick fought to keep the rocketing car under control. It sluiced right, then lurched to the left. The wheel struggled to leap from is hands, but he kept it from escaping.

  With a shuddering, weaving, the Cobra screeched to a halt, sprawled on the shoulder of the drag strip.

  “Nick! Nick!” Bucky’s voice screeched in his ears. “Stay put, we’re on our way!”

  The powerful engine growled into silence and without responding to his crew chief, Nick yanked his helmet off and gasped in a full lungful of air. Without meaning to, his gaze found its way back to the sight of the storm on the horizon and the haunting memories of Nightmare Manor creating a deep foreboding in his heart.

  Chapter 5

  “New Arrival”

  Paradise, the Afterlife

  In the midst of a dreamless sleep, Kiah felt the warm kiss of the morning sunrise on his dark skin. The backs of his arms tingled with it and as he rolled over, the golden brightness of it was like a halo behind his eyelids. Slowly, he awoke; his eyes gradually opened and adjusted to the dawn’s rays. He expected, as his vision came into focus, to see the radiant golden hair of his beloved laying beside him. Instead he stared into the much-too-close face of a large feline. Tan and brown, streaked with black from his pink nose, back over his head, the adorable face wasn’t actually a lion, but the biggest house cat Kiah had ever seen. And the man had the distinct impression that the cat was amused with him.