“You’ve probably been spacing out a lot lately, huh kid?” Daniel looked from the parking lot back to her. Ignoring her, he spoke up, “Listen, Matilda. I know that there’s a lot that I still don’t understand. But I really need to know what we’re doing here. How is this going to help?” She glanced around the room and then back to Daniel. For the first time since they had spoken, he got the impression that Matilda was nervous. She actually did that?
“Hand.” Daniel blinked at her as she reached her hand out to him. He looked skeptically at her hand and then her face. Was this some kind of trick? Matilda let out a loud huff and rolled her eyes. “Hells bells, son. You act like I’m going to murder you in front of all these people. Just give me your gull-dern hand and be done with it.” She impatiently snatched at his fingers. He felt the snap as soon as they made contact. It was unlike anything he could have imagined, not a shock like static, not electrical like that one time he felt all that current go through his body when his hand had found the wire beneath a house─ it wasn’t even human. What was she?
His eyes were met by deep, pools of black. He felt himself face-to-face with a god─ ancient, wise, and powerful. This wasn’t the normal, bubbly Matilda. Where was her gleam, and her mischievous smile? The more he tried to look away, the more the black perfection drew him in. Her skin, her hair, her eyes─ Where were her eyes? The sensation of falling quickly overwhelmed his senses and he found himself surrounded in a world of stars. There were so many that he struggled to realize that he was actually still on Earth. In front of him were vast mountains that flooded the background as far as the eye could see. Trees lined the long stretch of river in front of him. It was breathtaking, like something right out of a painting. He could stare at it for hours and be content. Gentle bleating startled him and he turned to his right.
He stared across the field at all of the sheep. Further back, there was another animal sound, it was deep and rich─ and then he realized it instantly─ cows. He couldn’t make out all of them, but could see several silhouettes and hear hooves beating against the dirt. There were many, almost as far back as the eye could see. The man’s land much have reached at least twenty acres, if not more. Daniel couldn’t even make out the fence that must have lined the perimeter. The animals kept mostly quiet, save for the sporadic bleats by the young lambs and calves. They grazed quietly, hastily nibbling at the grass. He was so close that he reached for one out of sheer curiosity, but his fingers only touched air.
“Not too bright, are ya darling.” Matilda drawled. Daniel glared at her and was about to say something extremely un-gentlemanly when he caught the look on her face as she stared off across the field. It was sad. Something that he had never seen on her before. He was shocked at how vulnerable she appeared. He went to ask her something, but her finger found his mouth and she shushed him. She pointed to the water. Daniel watched as the sheep huddled together next to a man. He was lithe, yet obviously muscular. There was something in the way he held himself─ a sort of pride that spoke of hidden talents and charm. He bent and whispered softly as he passed the sheep, careful to not startle the timid creatures. His steps were full of purpose and it was obvious that he was used to this kind of duty.
Minutes passed as Daniel and Matilda watched this man walk the perimeter, making sure that the gate was secure and the littlest lambs were safe inside the barn. It must have been tedious, doing this every day. He finished his chore and strolled to the edge of the water where he laid his staff. He sat for some time, just gazing at the brilliant shine of the night’s sky. Daniel was growing tired of all this waiting. What on earth were they supposed to be doing? Watching a sheep-herder? Matilda squeezed his arm, as if reading his thoughts and telling him to hold out a bit longer. Soon, he knew why. He watched as the man jerked and then jumped to his feet. Curious, Daniel scanned the area. Just off to the left in the woods, he spotted it. There was a glimmer poking through the trees. He stood and raced with the guy as the man sprinted into the dense forest. They ran in stride, Daniel just barely behind him. Finally, some action. The man suddenly froze at the clearing and dropped to the ground, hiding behind a very large tree. He didn’t need to, but found himself doing the same.
Daniel peered from behind the tree and looked out to the little pool of water. There, walking along the shore, was a woman. It was a woman so pale, her skin looked like porcelain. But that wasn’t what was dazzling. It was her robes. The cloth seemed to be spun from the very stars in the sky. The only bit of skin you could see peeking out was her face, neck, and feet. Her hair was blacker than the night, but appeared as soft as spun silk. Both men were awestruck, their eyes glued to the petite figure. The maiden slowly removed her robes, and carefully placed them between two branches so it would not touch the ground.
Daniel felt like a peeping tom and averted his gaze to look at the man instead. He watched as the guy stared longingly at the beautiful girl. There was more there than simple lust, he appeared to truly care for the girl. It was a combination of attraction and nurturing. The same feeling that he had felt for Celeste. Daniel had the feeling that this man had been here before. What was different about this night, he wasn’t sure, but he watched as the man built up the courage and finally stood. He took several breaths and then walked out to the clearing. Daniel winced, expecting to hear a scream. When none came, he looked out to the water. The woman was beneath the steaming water, her face a sea of calm. He had only seen water do that once before when he had visited Arkansas a few years back. The pockets of steam rising in combination with the water bubbling meant it was a hot spring. The man bowed and dropped down to the ground.
She kept her gaze level, before finally smiling at him. This was no woman─ this was a goddess. Her eyes were all a solid color, no whites visible, and yet they were the most beautiful eyes in the universe. Such strength, knowledge, sadness─ the loneliness she projected broke him. Tears openly flowed from his eyes as he sensed her life sentence─ creator, and mother of the stars. Forever alone. The scene disintegrated and seconds later, Daniel and Matilda stood in the center of a lavish home. There were cups and bowls made of gold and paintings that lined the walls. At least, he believed them to be paintings, until he took a step forward. His mouth gaped as he realized what it was. But, it couldn’t of been─
He knew he couldn’t touch them, but he reached anyway. It was the universe, here in these people’s home, lining the walls. Each tapestry was separated by a deep, sea of black. There was no light between them, only void that seemed to slightly push the scenes from each other, and yet keep them together at the same time. What was this place?
The woven fabric hummed as he hedged closer. Even in this pocket of time travel Daniel and Matilda were in, it seemed as if the very essence of life knew of their existence. Was this it? Was he staring at the very beginning of their planets─ their universe? His body felt lighter, as if it tugged to be one with the stars. He eagerly moved from window to window, staring at each new scene. There were hundreds that covered the huge space. Finally, he stopped on the familiar yellow sun and several planets. Yet, it was still different─ he counted many more than they had ever known existed. He absorbed everything, his training kicking in. So many particles, and dust, it was violent and yet equally beautiful. He, a simple detective, could solve some of the greatest issues with theories by simply staying here to watch─ by watching the world literally unfold before his eyes, watching how man came to be─
“Hun.” Her soft hand broke him of the spell and he whipped around angrily toward her, cranky at the interruption of his great discovery. Beauty and kindness greeted his anger, and his hate melted instantly. She held his face level with hers, and her voice sounded gently, “Greater men have lost themselves to her beauty, and remained so forever. Best you not look back, child, I won’t be able to save you a second time.” Daniel whimpered, it felt like he was on the brink of something big. He wanted to disprove this woman, show her and others his great discovery. Don’t all men want to know of t
heir origins? Of what exists beyond the great barrier between our minds and bodies? How would she know if he took just one more peek, just long enough to see? Just a bit longer─
A hard slap shook the thoughts right out of him. “Jesus, you’re as stubborn as they come. Ain’t the first time this gal had to roll up her sleeves and beat the tar outta someone.” Her cheeks were flushed, but the old spark was visible again. Daniel burst out laughing. Matilda bristled and pointed her finger, “you listen here, boy, you look at that damn painting again and I’ll make you wish you weren’t born.” He let out a few last chuckles, rubbing on his face. With a right hook like that, she wasn’t messing around. “I didn’t know you cared,” he said slyly. She huffed and walked past. “Well, can I trust you not to be a dolt or do I need to put some blinders on you like a horse?” He nodded, and she straightened her dress. “We’ve wasted enough time, come on, there’s something you need to see before we can go.”
7 Land of the rising sun
They followed the crowd to the platforms for the Sky Bridge. It was brisk, yet pleasant outside. He stopped and breathed in deeply at the Narita air. It was un-like anything Scott had experienced no matter where he went. Each time he visited, he felt it harder and harder to come back. It used to be a place they all felt at home. Admittedly, the only thing that brought him here this time was the small hope that Celeste was somewhere in this city. Secretly he hoped that Kotone would show him more in the forest. It would be tomorrow before he could travel that far south to Ise, but it was something he knew he had to do. Both he and Daniel had come back before, but he had a suspicion it wasn’t at the right time. Something had been eating at him since Kotone showed him more details from his pictures. How had he not noticed that before?
Even though he felt bad for not seeing it, that wasn’t what he really feared. It was what waited within the woods. This time of year was spiritually charged. He remembered Kotone speaking to him about it. It was a time when spirits were known to roam the earth more freely─ one she had never missed. Scott had never seen anything, but then again, he hadn’t looked. And that’s when it had struck him earlier.
He had been looking for Celeste in the wrong mindset. He couldn’t just search, he had to accept that it was there. All this time, Scott had lacked one thing. Acceptance. Of course, it was ludicrous to think that he didn’t believe what he saw. He had long gathered that there was something beyond himself. Real acceptance─ that was tackling an entirely different beast. He had assumed over time that other creatures existed, some trickier than others in how they manifested themselves. Scott had rationalized it for years: beings that lived in the fourth dimension or capable of living on various time-lines. Possibly even creatures that could simply slip through dimensions. He acknowledged it, but he hadn’t looked for Celeste properly. Creatures only showed themselves to people that searched for them. Wasn’t that how it happened in most fables? Demons in our everyday world, a life beyond the common man’s sight─ perhaps Lovecraft was on to something.
Their train arrived right on time, and they quietly boarded. This unusual break in character gave him pause. Luci was only quiet when she was thinking on the next strategy, but it wasn’t like that this time. Suddenly the cold feeling was finding its way back into his belly. He had not felt this since the call from his men about Celeste falling off of the grid and after talking with Daniel. Luci now wore a similar, but slightly different look. That look was what he saw men get before losing everything they owned. That look was what he saw on his daughter’s face when she first discovered she wasn’t in control of her own body. That look was what he saw in his wife the first time she discovered that her body was riddled with cancer. That look─ was fear.
There were few things in a person’s lifetime that made them feel that way. It was usually loss of control, or fear of the unknown. With a sinking feeling, he realized it was the latter. Luci flashed a tight smile and then looked outside as they jolted forward. If he was unsure before, that look solidified what he suspected. What are we doing? Scott wondered silently. What are we all doing?
** *
The falling sensation was something John was sure would have stopped after they had plunged from the river, into the Sea of the Dead. He was wrong. Michael groaned and wretched, still semi-conscious from the last encounter. John grimaced at the extremely unpleasant sensation, his jaw grinding, “I feel you, buddy. Not much longer, OK?” John knew he wasn’t going to get a response, but still hoped that somewhere Michael could hear him. The large gate only opened for those that required judgment. Then, three tasks were appointed to those willing to fight for a chance at either Heaven, or cast back into the River of the Dead─ doomed to wander forever. It always baffled him how the dead could have easily walked from the twisting misery.
Over the years, very few had managed to wander along the borders and try the twisting gardens that bordered the gates. They were far outnumbered by the millions that twisted around them, but there were some. He had tried to speak with a few stragglers that swam near them, but quickly surmised that they were a mindless herd of followers. After the initial draining sensation and shock of falling into the river, the shark-like frenzy had subsided. There was something unsettling about floating next to people that took no notice of their surroundings. If he had to put it to words, it was like walking in a large, crowded city without all of the sounds. It was as if there were a giant phone screen in the far distance, beckoning them with notifications. It would have been humorous if their human forms were still intact. They had their human shapes, but their skin was made of something that could only be described as rubbery sand paper. The earlier shark frenzy popped back into his mind. They moved in herds─ mouths gaping open. Their movements were quick and determined as their large, dull eyes stared forward at nothing and everything.
John couldn’t remember any of this the last time he had done guard duty. All he could recall was the wails or incoherent nonsense that sputtered from the river occasionally. That made him think. Was it possible that he didn’t notice them before because he hadn’t been close enough? He was again reminded that his memory for things as an angel was becoming fuzzier. It was hard to tell what did and didn’t happen.
John was surprised to find that the sensation had left him as they got closer to the gates. Michael must have sensed it, because his groaning ceased. He had never seen the commander looking so pathetic. But when he thought on it, the transition from angel to human was extremely disorienting. You would randomly phase shift from one plane to the other and lose whole days, if not weeks, between them. His mind wandered to Mitsuko. He wondered how she had been these last few weeks without him. It was rare that they left each other’s side, and being gone stirred a deep ache. John missed the smell of spring in her hair and the warmth from her body. Occasionally he felt sorry for Celeste. She knew nothing of what was really going on. And now that she was back with her father, he was sure that she hated him more than ever. Not only that, but he wasn’t even sure Celeste existed anymore. That was an alter-ego Dr. Heisman had created. Since she was a child, Celeste had been trained to be human. But now that she was with the Demon King, Kiwako was surely reborn.
The Demon Empress’s rise had long been a fear of Mitsuko. She would harp on balance and how essential it was that the two existed separately until the scroll of binding was found. He frowned thinking about all of her sleepless nights. She was too good for all of this pain. She deserved better.
Celeste was only a small part of the big picture. It wasn’t that she meant nothing to him, it was that she was only a fraction of the person that she could be. Mitsuko was Kiwako to a degree. They weren’t sure exactly how it worked, all they had were theories. That’s why they were going through this hell. Eons. A human mind could not even comprehend how much time had passed before he had found Mitsuko again. He couldn’t even remember the dark years before there was Earth. John closed his eyes, thinking back to after he was cast from Heaven. The long travels in the In-between,
not alive─ not dead. At some point, his mind checked out and he simply stopped existing. It wasn’t until he was re-born into his human family that he was finally reunited with her. Every moment was theirs, every second was precious. He would never loser her again.
John shifted forward with the others, floating toward the dark spires. The sooner Celeste accepted what was best for her and they found a way to re-unite the two, the better off everyone would be. Mitsuko’s soft skin and smile popped into his mind. He couldn’t understand how something so beautiful could have such a dark past. For all her innocence, he knew she had equal amounts of evil. When he had first met her, she was the epitome of Venus─ Her beauty as flawless as her character. It wasn’t until Kiwako revealed her true nature and horrible things began happening around them, that he put two and two together. She was cursed and somehow split from her better half. Dr. Heisman had done a good job at keeping her from herself and they had all been praying the treatments were working. And they were─ for a long time. But now he knew why she went to Japan. They had all been fooled, especially her father. Scott had felt the guiltiest, knowing that Yamamoto was more than likely a front to lure him and his daughter there. Sure, it was a valid business deal and went through without a hitch but the timing was weird. And shortly after, Yamamoto’s death had come as equally shocking for the industry. Something didn’t sit right with him about the whole thing. It felt rigged, and he was more than sure that the bug-eyed demon woman had something to do with it. After Scott had told him everything surrounding Kiwako’s childhood and how they had given birth to her, he had no doubt that the deity was not who she said she was.
Hell's Gate: Resurgence Page 4