The Paranormalist 4: The Unearthly Read online

  “Sounds like Rockmore and my father would’ve gotten along splendidly.”

  “There are rumors that Rockmore and a group of his well-heeled friends performed rituals at the mansion. Rituals that involved orgies and human sacrifice.”

  “Let me guess, those activities took place in the observatory.”

  “Bingo! In 1930, there was an explosion at the mansion that, according to the reports, destroyed the observatory and everyone in it. The source of the explosion is unknown. Some claim that one of Rockmore’s followers, a veteran of World War I who had PTSD, brought dynamite to one of the ceremonies.”

  I arched an eyebrow, “Forgive me if I’m not sold on that theory.”

  Vesper continued her report. “Rockmore and at least six of his followers perished that night. The authorities found body parts, but the science of the times made exact identification impossible.”

  Another grainy photo popped up on my phone. It showed the Rockmore estate, but the observatory was gone, reduced to a crater filled with debris. The image looked a hell of a lot like the clearing in the woods we’d just left.

  “Eyewitness reports claim that red and blue lights filled the sky above the mansion on the night of the explosion. And there was a suspicious lack of debris at the site. One record I found from someone who claimed to be there that night said it was, and I quote, ‘as if God himself had reached down and grabbed the place.’”

  That made sense. Given the explosives of the time, much of the observatory should have remained standing even after the blast. Going by the crater, it looked more like a stinger missile had vaporized the structure.

  “Authorities of the time were baffled by the incident and quickly closed the case. Rockmore had no heirs. The state tried to sell the property during an auction, but they failed to find any buyers. Ten years later, the place was torn down.”

  My cell chirped again, and a modern-day shot of the estate filled up the text messaging box. No signs of the manor remained. Nature had reclaimed the area.

  “Good work,” I said.

  “Oh, I’m not even close to done.”

  I smiled at her eagerness. “What else have you got?”

  “This is where things get weird. Over the years, there’ve been various sightings of the observatory all across the Western seaboard. And death seems to follow all these eyewitness accounts. In 1940, there was a report of a mysterious observatory in Death Valley; ten years later, it reappeared in Yosemite. In 196O, there were multiple reports of a strange structure in Sequoia, and the list goes on. The appearances seem to happen in ten-year intervals, on the night of the explosion.”

  “Sounds like the explosion didn’t destroy the observatory. Instead, it created some sort of temporal and spatial distortion. I wish we knew what Rockmore and his followers were up to that night.”

  “Must have been a hell of a party,” Vesper said. “Every time this observatory materializes, people go missing or end up dead. There appears to be a correlation between the appearance of the observatory and higher levels of suicides and violent murders. In 1970, a teacher returned from a hiking trip in the Armstrong Redwoods and brought a gun to his class, where he murdered ten children before taking his own life.”

  A police autopsy picture of the dead teacher popped up on my phone. My next breath hitched in my throat as I took in the tattoos covering the body. They were a match for the ones found on Jeremy Plevins and Ralf Coleman’s bodies. More reports of violence followed. And each time, the now-familiar tattoos covered the corpses of the perpetrators.

  My mind was racing as I absorbed all this information. It seemed to confirm my theory about a supernatural entity being trapped in the structure, desperate to get out.

  “What else do you have on Rockmore? Do we know anything about his cult? What was he was trying to accomplish?”

  “He was obsessed with the link between astrology and demonology. It all sounds like a bunch of rich people bored with mainstream religion and dabbling with forces they didn’t understand.”

  “Or perhaps they understood what they were doing but overestimated their ability to control the forces they ended up unleashing,” I said darkly.

  It requires a high level of confidence and narcissism to tamper with supernatural powers. Men like Rockmore and my father saw themselves as a different breed, far above the average person, their desire to tap into unknown driven by a misguided desire to attain more power. Their quests all ultimately backfired, but by then, countless individuals had paid the ultimate price for their hubris.

  I fought back a wave of anger, determined not to let emotions cloud my judgment. This case was about Rockmore, not my father.

  I took a deep, steadying breath and considered my next move.

  Even though I didn’t know exactly what Rockmore had tried to accomplish in his hellish observatory, it almost didn’t matter. He’d tried to play with infernal forces beyond time and space and had paid the ultimate price for his twisted ambition. The wards on the telescope had likely been meant to protect him and his followers. He’d miscalculated and paid for it with his life.

  I couldn’t be sure without getting another look at the arcane symbols, but my gut told me the disappearance and reappearance of the observatory over the years were part of some ongoing struggle between the demonic energy Rockmore had summoned and the protective powers of the wards, an endless battle that was twisting time and space.

  The hellish force wanted to break into our reality, but the wards were stopping it.

  One giant piece of this puzzle was still missing, but we were getting closer. I wondered if the disappearance of the observatory and the death of Jeremy Plevins and Ralf Coleman was the end of this chapter of the story. Had the structure vanished from this reality until its next appearance ten years from now?

  No, it wouldn’t be that easy. Whatever demonic entity was trapped in that observatory, a part of it had become aware of the power of my athame. My father’s sacrificial blade might be powerful enough to remove the wards inside the observatory in the same way they’d erased the ones on Jeremy’s body. Would this demon come after me, come after my knife?

  These thoughts were spinning through my mind when I heard a loud banging sound on the other end of the phone line.

  “What’s that?” I asked with concern.

  There was a nervous edge in Vesper’s voice as she answered.

  “I don’t know. It came from outside…”

  Dread twisted my intestines.

  “Vesper, get the hell out of—”

  I never finished my sentence as the line suddenly went dead.

  Chapter Ten

  Ash Wilson was having the time of his life as he barreled down Snow Summit on his board.

  He loved the speed. The rush. The freedom

  His world reduced to one objective: ripping powder.

  Ash’s mind was blank except for the challenge of the moment. No time to obsess over the politics of the Hollywood law firm where he worked, or his last failed relationship, or the myriad of other distractions that clogged his bandwidth on a typical day.

  His life in LA seemed a million miles away.

  He and his buddy Jeff had left the law firm early on Friday, traded their uncomfortable suits for baggy snow gear, and made their way up to Big Bear. Two hours later, they’d checked in at the lodge, downed some Red Bulls, and immediately headed to Snow Summit.

  It was past seven when they took the lift to the top and dark already, but Ash refused to wait until the next day. The mountain was calling him. Besides, both Jeff and he loved to snowboard at night. The crowds were a lot smaller, and it was almost like having the mountain to themselves.

  His plan was to do a run and then hit one of the local watering holes. Perhaps even chat up some cuties.

  Life was good.

  He let out a loud woot as he carved another turn. Some people did yoga and meditated, self-medicated with weed or alcohol. For Ash, chasing the rush was his medicine. And this trail had plenty
of jumps and jibs to get his adrenaline pumping.

  Snow sprayed Ash’s face as he barreled around another corner, Jeff right on his tail. The lights that framed the terrain painted golden shadows onto the snow. It was beautiful, and Ash couldn’t imagine any other place on Earth he’d rather be at this moment.

  The memories of his ex, Jane, haunted his one-bedroom Westwood apartment. He should’ve known that dating a fellow lawyer was a recipe for disaster. But Jane shared his wild, untamed spirit, his sense of adventure and mischief. And God was she beautiful. Only one problem. Getting serious wasn’t at the top of her list. That same adventurous spirit unfortunately also extended to her taste in men. Jane liked him a lot, but she wasn’t ready to go steady. She was young, gorgeous, and there were plenty of other fish in the sea. That’s what she told him the night she’d broken his heart.

  If Ash was honest with himself, everything in Los Angeles reminded him of Jane. His job, his apartment, his life.

  But on this icy mountain slope, the memories of his ex held no power of him.

  Up here on Snow Summit, he was free. His own man again.

  His board carved ice as another sharp turn jumped into view. And then he was around the corner, blood pulsing in his ears, ready to bomb down the rest of the mountain.

  Only one problem.

  Something was blocking the ski slope. A giant structure dominated the length of the trail.

  What the fuck? How this giant-assed building could have suddenly materialized in the middle of a ski slope—one he’d laid tracks on a million times—was beyond him. Where had this monstrosity come from?

  Initial shock gave way to tightly honed reflexes. He had to act fast to avoid a head-on collision.

  Instincts and experience kicked in as Ash dug in the edge of his back heel. This scrubbed off some speed, but he was still moving too fast. He swung around to the toe side, and this did the trick and finalized the stop.

  Ash inhaled sharply, his whole body flush with adrenaline. He hazarded a glance backward and saw Jeff mirroring his braking maneuver.

  His friend slid toward him, eyes wide with disbelief.

  “Holy shit! Where did this fucking thing come from?”

  Ash didn’t answer the question. He was too busy staring at the domed structure that had taken ownership of the trail. The building towering over them appeared to be an observatory of some kind.

  Looking up at the structure made Ash flash back to his first New York visit when he was eight years old. The Empire State Building had seared itself into his memory. It made him feel tiny like an ant. He remembered thinking that there was no way people could have built such a majestic tower.

  The observatory had a similar effect on him. It was one of the most impressive buildings he’d ever laid eyes on, and he struggled to tear his gaze away from it.

  It was almost as if the place was calling out to him. He thought about asking Jeff if he felt it too, but he didn’t want his buddy to think he was a whack job.

  His eyes fastened on a steel door at the base of the observatory. The entrance beckoned him.

  A strange certainty settled over Ash. The observatory held the answers to all the questions he ever had. All he needed to do was step inside, and the truth would be revealed to him.

  Moving like in a dream, Ash slid closer on his board. As he approached, a bright glowing light started to seep through the cracks around the door, quickly growing in intensity.

  “What are you doing, bro?” Jeff said. “Don’t tell me you’re going in there.”

  Ash ignored Jeff’s questions. His complete attention was fixed on the doorway and the expanding light beyond.

  He let out a delighted gasp as the door suddenly snapped open, its welcoming light filling up the night.

  So beautiful.

  Jeff’s worried voice grew fainter with each passing second. All that mattered was the light calling out to Ash.

  Then Jeff grabbed his shoulder. “Hey, stop!”

  For a split second, Ash’s chest tightened with anger, and he fought back the irrational impulse to punch Jeff in the face.

  How dare he try to stop him?

  “Ash, are you okay? You don’t look so good, man.”

  The concern in Jeff’s voice gave Ash pause, and he felt the anger drain away.

  What had gotten into him? A split second earlier, he’d been ready to bash in his friend’s head. Jeff just wanted to know what was going on. Maybe they should go in together.

  Ash took another step forward. “Come, don’t you want to know what’s inside?”

  “No. What the fuck are you on?”

  Ash stared at his friend, his confusion growing. Jeff refused to answer the call.

  Don’t judge him, Ash.

  To Ash’s surprise, hearing the resonant phantom voice in his head didn’t freak him out. He experienced neither fear nor confusion but welcomed the advice.

  He doesn’t understand, Ash. But you can make him understand.

  Ash suddenly knew what had he needed to do.

  A deep sense of calm flooded his chest as he turned toward the observatory. He twisted his body, shifting his weight, and eased toward the inviting entrance. The light grew brighter.

  He came to a stop a few feet in front of the open doorway. With a big smile painted on his face, he released his bindings and freed himself from the board.

  Jeff followed him, trailing a few steps behind. Still uncertain.

  Ash turned. His friend was staring at him with big eyes.

  “Come on,” Ash said as he scooped up his snowboard.

  Jeff furrowed his forehead and shook his head. “No. This whole thing is freaking me out. This building shouldn’t be here. And you shouldn’t be so eager to walk in—“

  Without warning, Ash brought his snowboard down on Jeff’s head. There was a loud crack, a splash of blood, and his friend slammed into the snow. Still alive. Just out for the count.

  Good. Now bring him inside.

  Ash felt nothing as he cast his red-stained snowboard aside and stared down at his friend’s unconscious body. His expression never changed as he unhooked Jeff’s bindings. He grabbed him around the ankles and started dragging him toward the observatory’s open doorway, the weight of Jeff’s body leaving tracks in the snow.

  It saddened him that Jeff was so reluctant to embrace the truth. Ash hated to hurt his friend, but there was no other way.

  It was okay, though. He would make him understand. Once inside the observatory, Jeff would thank him for what he’d done. He'd forgive Ash for the little bump on the head. They’d be laughing about the misunderstanding in no time.

  Joy beat in Ash’s heart as he passed through the glowing doorway, his breath strong and steady despite the deadweight he was dragging. The light enveloped him, filled him with a welcoming warmth.

  Once inside the observatory, Ash let go of Jeff’s ankle to explore his surroundings. The telescope was the first thing he noticed. Mesmerized, he approached the huge brass cylinder that pointed up at the sky.

  Let me show you something, Ash. Let me show you what needs to be done.

  Ash peered into the lens and forgot to exhale. He saw a woman. She was strikingly beautiful, with fiery red hair, and dressed in a skintight white snowsuit. She sat on a cozy couch, her attention divided between a laptop and a large smartphone. The expression on her face was intense, determined, entirely into what she was doing.

  Who was she?

  The woman looked up from her laptop, almost as if she sensed that someone was watching her.

  Shock rippled through Ash’s chest. The woman’s face had changed. He was looking at Jane now. The woman he once had loved with all his heart—before she broke it.

  Ash’s fingers wrapped around the telescope’s viewing lens, and his features twisted with anger.

  You loved her so much, Ash. You were willing to do anything for her. And how did she repay your love?

  “She dumped me,” Ash said darkly. “Kicked me to the curb so she c
ould fuck other dudes.”

  She should pay for what she did. Punish her. Hurt her the way she hurt you.

  The voice in his head was right. Jane needed to pay.

  He would make her pay.

  The viewing lens grew black. Ash pulled away from the telescope and shifted his focus back to Jeff but his friend was… gone.

  He experienced a momentary feeling of deep unease.

  And then the insides of the observatory changed before his eyes.

  The floor and walls shimmered and grew transparent, became nearly gelatinous. They were taking on an organic quality, almost as if he wasn’t inside a structure made from stone and steel but a living, breathing organism. Strangely enough, Ash wasn’t afraid. Nothing here would hurt him.

  Ash looked around dreamily for a few moments before he spotted his friend. Jeff’s unconscious body floated underneath the now-transparent floor, suspended in a syrupy liquid of some kind that reminded Ash of amniotic fluid. And Jeff wasn’t alone in there.

  Ash saw snakes, raccoons, a wolf and a deer, forest creatures indigenous to Big Bear Lake, all of them suspended in the amber-like fluid circulating beneath the floor.

  His eyes locked on two serpents and followed them as they swam toward Jeff’s floating form with the speed of arrows. The snakes pierced Jeff’s body as if they were ghosts, became one with him somehow, spliced together by an invisible force.

  And then Jeff’s eyes snapped open.

  There was no terror in his buddy’s gaze—only grim purpose.

  Jeff floated toward the floor’s surface and emerged from the pool, a man reborn. He stood there for a beat, two writhing snakes growing from his chest, perfectly merged with his flesh. Somehow, the amber liquid had combined the three organisms into a new lifeform that was superior to the original design.

  Amazing, Ash thought. He basked in the flow of animal bodies around him, a constellation of living organisms. And then the floor beneath his feet gave way, and he too was pulled under.