DarkLight Redemption: Post-Human Universe - Book One

Chapter Twenty-Three

As we soar over the mountains of Washington, Vancouver finally comes into view. I'd say that it's a beautiful day if the world wasn't falling apart all around us.

My GPS ultimately leads us to a mansion on the Pacific. Practically the entire side of the house facing the sea is made of glass, and you can see the mountains on the edges of the view looking like the biggest and most gorgeous picture frame ever imagined.

"Damn," LightBlast says in awe. "This place must be worth millions!"

"When you've been around as long as this guy has, you're bound to make some good investments sooner or later," I reply.

We all set down right where the property meets the water. This place is even grander when you're looking at it from ground level. Though I suppose that'd be true of any place.

I hook the GPS onto my belt and look up to see The Immortal standing out on his third-floor balcony. He's swirling a tumbler around and tilts it toward me slightly as an invitation.

The inside of the mansion is lush, with wooden floors and walls. It's also very contemporary, which makes sense as I've heard that The Immortal likes to live in the moment. I suppose when you've got an infinite number of moments, you may as well enjoy each of them.

Olive and LightBlast follow me inside, and we walk up to the second floor.

I see him standing out on his balcony as he takes a sip of his drink. He has the sort of aquiline nose and narrow face that is reminiscent of what you'd see on sculptures from the Italian Renaissance. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd actually posed for a few of them.

He's a little shorter than me, with short dark hair, dark eyes and deeply tanned skin. Truth is, he looks about a decade younger than Charles even though, if stories are to be believed, he's immeasurably older.

"Would any of you care for a drink?" he asks.

"No, thank you, sir," I reply.

I've heard he's had numerous names over his life, but the only one I've ever known him by is Roman Lawson.

"Mr. Lawson, we're here on rather urgent business," I continue.

"Please, call me Roman," he replies calmly as he drains his tumbler down to the ice cubes. "I was one, you know."

"One what?" Olive asks from over my shoulder.

"A Roman," he says with a smile as he refills his glass. "Come to think of it, I believe I was a Roman several times. Let me tell you, I looked good in that centurion armor."

He's so casual with his tone that it's difficult to tell if he joking or not. I've only ever met him in person once before, and that was just briefly. I would honestly love to sit and pick his brain for hours, but this simply isn't the time.

"As I mentioned," I say, redirecting the conversation, "we're on a pretty tight schedule."

"I know," he says. "Just as I knew that you'd come. Well, not you particularly, but someone."

"How'd you know that?" I ask.

"Because someone always does in times like these," he answers.

"Then you know what's happening?" Olive steps forward next to me.

"I've an idea or two," Roman states. "But there is a price."

Olive looks at me and then LightBlast cautiously before cracking her knuckles and assuming attack position.