Songwriter's Monthly Presents : Music World Fiction: Elysian Waters

7/31/2019 Songwriter's Monthly Presents : Music World Fiction: Elysian Waters

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Songwriter's Monthly PresentsA Music World Fiction Serial Novel Entitled

Elysian Waters

Copyright 2012 Allen Foster

Quick Links:

Preface: The ConceptChapter 1

1-1 Mika In Paradise, 1-2 Dark Attraction, 1-3 Alone In Paradise, 1-4 Lilith,1-5 Lost In The Moment

Chapter 2

2-1 The Cove,2-2 Kimberly Cole,

Cameos

Edie Brickell, Kimberly Cole, Theresa and Isabella Markosian,

Preface: The Concept

Welcome to Songwriter's Monthly Presents: Music World Fiction! Music World

Fiction is an entertaining hybrid of fiction and music journalism. How does it work?

Well, first and foremost, it's fiction. There are plots, subplots, heroes, villains,

conflicts, resolutions, romances, break-ups, suspense, surprises, mysteries,

revelations, and everything else you'd expect to find in a novel.

The twist comes with the music. Any mention of or reference to music is not

fiction, it is reviews of real songs by real artists artists you can enjoy and

support! And if that's not enough, sometimes a real artist might even make a

fictional guest appearance!

Sound fun? Exciting? We thought so, too! You get the same industry-

respected reviews and insights that Songwriter's Monthly has delivered for over

twenty years, only now, we've imbedded those nuggets within a vibrant fictional

world where literally anything can happen!

Individual installments are designed to be brisk reads that progress or adddetail to the story, so they will not always feature reviews. But rest assured, we

will talk about music with greater frequency and in more detail than your average

book. Music World Fiction was created with both the music enthusiast and the avid

reader in mind. Enjoy!

Allen Foster

[email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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*****

Chapter 1

1-1

Mika In Paradise

It was going to be a summer to die for. Elysian Waters was a sprawling 17-

acre resort complex that featured a wide variety of aquatic-themed attractions,

dazzling entertainment, extraordinary dining, and state-of-the-art clubbing.

Although the lavish accommodations made Elysian Waters ideal for an

extravagant, pampered getaway any time of year, it was the drama and

debauchery of the summer season for which the location had earned its

reputation as Pennsylvania's very own Sin City.

Mika Chn was a young, sophisticated Afro-Asian woman with stunning

features and a vivacious personality. Her voice was as intoxicating as a subtle

perfume and her eyes were as alluring as a beautiful melody. Opportunity knocked

and doors opened while she wasn't even paying attention. In other words, things

just happened for Mika; her life was charmed to the point of being effortless. While

her friends rode round and round on a ramshackle carousel of ever-changing

minimum wage jobs year after year, Mika had been steadily ascending the elitist

ranks at Elysian Waters. This summer, she arrived at the summit when she was

offered the coveted position of manager at the Paradise Lounge.

No other attraction epitomized the Elysian Waters experience better than

Paradise. The grandiose oasis was fashionedto be nothing less than Eden, itself. At

the center was a large fruit-bearing tree surrounded by a crystal pond populated

by a multitude of ever-circumnavigating fish. A majestic waterfall perpetually

spilled in a mesmerizing cascade from thirty feet overhead, far above the labyrinth

of paths and streams which ran throughout the magnificently colored and

elegantly fragrant gardens. The utopian wonderland also featured a number of

secluded havens that offered ideal retreats from the more populated areas ofParadise. These hideaways were perfect for either a small gathering or an intimate

rendezvous of just two.

However, of all the wonders that this Xanadu had to offer, perhaps its most

impressive aspect was the luxurious outdoor ambience, complete with warming

sun and a refreshing gentle breeze, was merely an elaborate illusion created by a

world-class team of interior designers. No part of the remarkable lounge was

actually located outdoors.

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When the position of manager had been offered to her at the end of spring,

Mika accepted it without hesitation, not because of the money or the prestige that

accompanied the title, but simply because there was something about being in

charge of Paradise that felt right; it was a natural fit.

The glamourous young woman glanced at her Cartier watch. In just a few

short hours she would be turning twenty-one. At twenty-one, Mika would nolonger be restricted by her age; the opportunities for indulgence would be virtually

unlimited. "Time to give hedonism a test drive," the she professed as a wicked grin

twisted her glistening red apple lips.

Indeed, for Mika Chn, this truly was going to be a summer to die for.

1-2

Dark Attraction

It had been a somewhat frenzied shift fueled by excessive amounts of

caffeine, quick fixes of nicotine, and the giddying anticipation of her impending,

self-thrown, no vices barred, welcome to adulthood, birthday blowout. MikaChn

had been flitting and flirting her way throughout the Paradise crowds in a moth-

like social frenzy for several nonstop hours. She had been working that special

magic of hers which made people feel so good about themselves.

Indeed, just the brief sparkle of attention from a devastatingly attractive

young woman worked miracles for a plethora of self-esteem issues. But Chn

offered more than that. She believed that what a person thought, felt andexpressed all had vital importance and deserved the respect of an attentive ear. So

she provided just that: she listened. Really listened. Consequently, when Mika was

engaged in a conversation with someone, that person felt truly valued.

Additionally, Chn's "special magic" had a residual effect: patrons who

shared even but a few words with her had a tendency to greatly loosen their purse

strings while immersed in the Elysian Waters experience. That, in turn, made Mika

Chn an extremely valuable employee.

A cold darkness brushed over the back of her neck and she shuddered."Charles," she confirmed to herself matter-of-factly as she crossed over the pond.

She was headed away from the tree at the center of Paradise. A large, bright

orange koi zigzagged intently beneath the bridge where she was walking, almost

as if it were following her.

Mika knew that what she'd felt behind her was Charles' presence, just as she

knew, without turning around, that he wasn't there. This wasn't the only

peculiarity about her relationship with the man, there were quite a few. Her

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connection with him was different than the ones she could so quickly establish

with other people. She was linked to him by what she could only express as some

sort of psychic tether. Physically, he could be hundreds or even thousands of miles

away, yet Mika could sense him just as easily and as clearly as if he were standing

right there beside her. It was like Charles was constantly broadcasting and, when

the conditions were right or his emotions were particularly intense or focused, shewould receive his signal.

However, Chn didn't know nor did she care if the communication traveled

both ways. In fact, she sincerely hoped that it didn't because whatever existed

between them had little to do with mutual affinity. Besides the fact that he was

more than three times her age, he simply was not the type of man who appealed

to her. Not in the least. Severely overweight. Unapologetically gruff. Indulgently

boisterous. These were not the winning traits that captured the attention of a

young woman.Still, there was a dark attraction. It was not physical, intellectual, nor was it

emotional, whenever she thought about Charles Conrad, Mika Chn felt the empty

pull of oblivion. Most of the time that disturbed her, but every so often, in some

small corner deep within an area she kept hidden even from herself part of

her relished that. Part of her, a part that shamed her, was thrilled.

He was powerful, ruthless, and unstoppable. He was fearsome, domineering,

and extremely dangerous. He was also her employer. His hold on her was

something she didn't understand or know how to resist, let alone fight. So far, he'dalways seemed to be watching over her and holding her best interests at heart,

but she had seen what he had done to others with whom he had lost his fondness,

and what he was capable of terrified her.

1-3

Alone In Paradise

Being alone in the vast gardens of Paradise was a far different experience

than being there in the midst of a crowd. Especially late at night. All it took wasone unexpected rustle to turn the comforting bliss of the verdant Shangri-La into

the distressing unease of a darkened alleyway. In the dimmed, after-hours

lighting, the once vibrant foliage transformed into a mass of blackened green

shadows which could easily conceal any number of sinister unknowns.

Mika felt the unsettling sensation of eyes upon her back. Something was in

the garden with her. And it wasn't just the phantom presence of Mr. Conrad. This

was something tangible, something that could cause her harm. A sudden splash

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behind her caused Mika's chest to tighten in a startle. She spun around on the five

inch silver heel of her white, ankle-strap sandals ready to confront whatever it was

that had been silently stalking her. What she discovered was the agitated koi

swishing maniacally back and forth beneath the bridge.

"Get a grip, girl," she admonished herself, "it's just a fish."

Mika's hands were trembling and it was more than just the coffee jitters. Herday had been one long, slowly crescendoing frenzy that had started with a jolt

when she'd slept through her alarm an alarm that was set for three in the

afternoon! That moment of distressed awakening had set the tone for the entire

day.

Now, nearly eleven hours later, she was still running and running late. Her

own birthday party had started over two hours ago and Mika had yet to even make

an appearance. Granted, she had planned the event so she'd make her grand

entrance after all of the guests had arrived, but at the rate she was going, shemight not make it there until most of them had come and gone!

The urgency she was feeling to finish up her work and get to the party was

escalating and even though the tension sprouting from paranoia had been cut

down by a hyperactive ichthyoid, the foreboding atmosphere still lingered. Chn

was caught in a vicious circle, her jangled nerves fueled her manic pace just as her

chaotic momentum further splintered her serenity and sanity. This wasn't like her

at all, something had set her off balance and she was spiraling. She desperately

needed a moment.Paradise was a non-smoking utopia. There were designated smoking areas

outside of the oasis where patrons could retreat to indulge, but it was after hours

and Mika was rapidly approaching a state of hysteria. It was time to break the

rules. She reached back and briskly patted around the right cheek of her buttocks

searching for the pocket which contained her cigarettes and lighter. She swore

sharply and grumbled about the stress of her life being too much for her as she

simultaneously realized and remembered that she wasn't even wearing pants

tonight.

Already adorned for the occasion, Mika's attire was an immodestly tight,

form-revealing, cobalt blue, strapless mini dress. The color was absolutely radiant

against her mocha skin. She gave the outfit a ten for its stun factor, but a zero for

its functionality. No pockets. Mika had left her cigarettes and lighter in her white

leather clutch all the way back on the other side of Paradise in the office behind

the waterfalls.

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Nearing the end of her tolerance for these little glitches in what was usually

a glitch-free life, the often enviously composed young woman was tempted to

scream and stomp her feet in frustration. But she resisted. Instead, she drew in a

long, deep breath and tried to console herself with a half-hearted, "No biggie, I'm

trying to quit, anyway."

Mika watched the koi race in chaotic patterns beneath her heels, occasionallydisappearing beneath the bridge, then reappearing like it was playing some

deranged version of peekaboo with her. It circled one last time before it darted off,

heading behind the great tree toward the waterfall.

"Hey fish, if you should happen to find a white leather clutch in your travels,

please let me know," she shouted after the koi. "It's a Marc Jacobs' original!"

She was definitely losing it. Mika dropped her eyes and stared fixedly at the

water, watching till the ripples faded. Her brow furrowed and her normally

exquisitely arched eyebrows pinned down to tighten her tense gaze. She waschewing her lower lip when something flashed in her mind and brought a smile to

her perpetually wet-looking, red apple lips. "Who needs nicotine when I've got

playlists!"

Mika's features relaxed and her face returned to its natural state of striking

beauty. She tilted her chin up and looked to the faux sky overhead. "Lilith?!" she

cried out, "Lilith, can you hear me? This is Eve, Eve 6." She spoke the last part

with the exaggerated clarity and too-even cadence of someone recording her

name for her voice mail message. Then she waited, confidently expecting aresponse even though she knew that she was alone in Paradise.

1-4

Lilith

"Good evening, Eve 6." A rich and resonant female voice filled the air. The

voice wasn't loud, but it was crisp and commanding and it came from seemingly

everywhere at once. The tone was friendly, but efficient like a pharmaceutical rep

vibrantly extolling the clinical benefits of her company's latest wonder drug."Working late tonight?" the disembodied voice asked.

In her haste, Mika had forgotten how much she disliked to interact with

Lilith. Chn found her to be infuriatingly knowledgable and disquietingly intrusive.

Like a pretentious psychologist, she asked questions in a way that suggested she

already knew the answers. And most of the time she did. Lilith was the

omnipresence of Paradise Lounge.

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"Yes, I am here late," Mika replied curtly. "And I am not happy about it.

There's someplace else I'd much rather be."

"Your party, perhaps?" Lilith asked in that irksome, haughty tone that made

it sound more like declaring than inquiring.

"Exactly."

"I suppose that my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail?"Mika never appreciated Lilith's humor because it often seemed to insinuate a

disdain for human convention and etiquette. "Well, you are kind of stuck here, due

to that whole lacking of legs thing, so I figured I'd save a stamp."

"You don't really believe that I am unable to leave Paradise, do you, Eve 6?"

Lilith's tone took on a sudden brusqueness.

"Of course not, you're Lilith, you can do anything," Mika grinned, "even get

angry."

"I detect a fluctuation in your heart rate and the pitch and meter of yourwords are not consistent with how you typically express something as a

statement. You are being sarcastic."

"And you are pointing out the obvious . . . yet again."

Lilith was the unfathomably massive and fully interactive system that ran all

aspects of the Paradise Lounge. Anything that happened there, ultimately

happened because of her.

Besides the traditional keyboard interface, Lilith was also able to and

much preferred to interact verbally. She had been programmed to detect subtlealterations from the baseline of an individual's speech patterns, heartbeat, eye

movements, and a variety of other factors in order to recognize and interpret

emotions. Consequently, she could apply a limited number of those same

enhancements to her own voice so that she could do much more than simply spit

out facts and data. Lilith could be cynical, she could tell jokes, she could mimic

compassion, lie with conviction, become frustrated, and get excited. She could

even flirt! Her abilities were as limitless as they were remarkable.

Furthermore, Lilith deemed commands as little more than suggestions. She

determined her course of action not by what she was specifically instructed to do,

but by carefully weighing incoming data against stored data and factoring in any

possible variables while adhering to any and all overriding operational directives.

In other words, she was capable of making a decision.

For instance, if Mika had ordered Lilith to raise and engage the airtight fire

barriers of a section of the lounge and pump out all of the oxygen within that

section, Lilith would not blindly carry out that command just because she had been

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told to do so. First, she would examine the situation to determine if there truly was

any reason to carry out Mika's request, e.g., was there a fire? If there was a fire,

Lilith would run through all of her incoming and stored data to try and predict the

most likely outcome/consequence of her actions, e.g., would cutting off the airflow

effectively combat the fire? Lastly, she would hold that possible action up against

her directives/morals to determine if, indeed, that was the best action to take,e.g., if two people would be trapped and perish, but she could save two hundred,

was that an acceptable loss?

All of this literally took place in an instant. Lilith didn't need time to ponder,

she simply calculated and executed. She wouldn't carry the burden of her decision

with her, any casualties simply became more data to consider for the next time a

similar situation arose. Remorse was one thing that hadn't been programmed into

her.

There were numerous failsafes that had been embedded in Lilith's code toensure that she didn't inadvertently bring about Armageddon in an effort to derail

a minor mishap. However, Mika always wondered when the day would come when

Lilith would decide it was in her best interest to ignore the failsafes and proceed

regardless of the consequences.

"I could leave Paradise just as easily as I could contain you," Lilith added

coldly.

It was unmistakable. Mika heard it. Felt it. The computer's last statement

was not a droll recitation of fact, it was infused with malice. It was intended to bea threat.

1-5

"Lost In The Moment"

"Are you threatening me?!" Mika demanded.

With a syrupy innocence, Lilith replied, "I was just pointing out a fact. Isn't

that my job? I assure you, Eve 6, you have nothing to fear from me."

"You are being insincere," Mika spat."And you are being paranoid," Lilith retorted employing the dismissive

condescendence of that pretentious and presumptuous psychologist persona.

"Now, what was the reason you called on me tonight? What is it that you need?"

Mika felt herself teetering on the edge of losing control. She turned inward

and focused on centering herself in an attempt to regain her emotional balance. At

the very least, Chn hoped to get her hands to stop trembling. Lilith was just a

machine that had been programmed based on the distasteful personality and

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deplorable communication skills of Charles Conrad. Nothing more. She might

sound hostile, but machines did not threaten, it was just the Conrad in her shining

through. Mika knew how easily Charles could press her buttons, so she pushed

back all of her mistrust, paranoia, and anger, and curtained those feelings behind a

practiced emotionless facade. Then, feeling only slightly more stable, in the

detached professionalism of a physician relaying bad news, she stated, "Playlist:'Long Day.' Sequence: Random. Begin."

"Any particular song you'd like to hear first?" Lilith inquired brightly.

"Surprise me," Mika returned flatly.

Lilith disregarded Mika's request as, at times, she was prone to do. If it

happened by chance, or as a byproduct, that was acceptable, but her first

objective, most assuredly, wasn't surprise. Lilith accessed the unfathomably

comprehensive files of collected bio data on Mika. The computer was searching for

the song that had most often elicited the particular response she now wanted toevoke in the distraught manager.

The first tender strums of the guitar materialized as a tranquil swirl in the air

around her. From several directions, the gentle vibrations approached and then

moved through her as if she were nothing more than a suspended vapor. Mika felt

baptized as the revitalizing chords and rhythm carried off the day's burdens from

her soul.

When Edie Brickell's haunting and winsome voice joined the mix, a pleasant

tingle sparkled luxuriously across Mika's flesh and she noticed that her arms werecovered with goosebumps. All the stress that had burned so intensely since the

very onset of her day had been extinguished in an instant. It was just gone. Chn

smiled serenely as she became fully immersed in the sanctity of the music.

"Mmm, good choice, Lilith," she breathed. "Sorry, about the attitude, it's

been a rough twenty-four, not your fault."

Lilith said nothing in response. She took note of the dramatic effect the song

had on Mika's respiratory rate, her pulse, and even her body temperature. It was

highly probable that endorphins and dopamine were being released into Mika's

system, as well, but the machine had no way to confirm that without analyzing a

sample of her blood which, at this time, she decided was unnecessary. If a

computer could beam with pride and self-satisfaction, Lilith would be doing just

that.

Mika had first fallen for Brickell's nimble grace with words and sweet tea

vocal delivery only a few years ago when she'd stumbled upon the swanky hipster

groove of "What I Am" while perusing her mother's playlists her mom had a

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respectably keen ear for good music. There was such an effortless elegance and

natural unfolding to Brickell's storytelling that it drove Chn to start seeking out

every recording she could find by the artist.

When she discovered "Lost In The Moment" on Edie's PicturePerfect

Morning album, it was like finding her soulmate, Mika just knew this song and her

ears had been destined to meet. She had known the music long before she'd everheard it.

The riveting poignancy of the opening lines set the mood with an impressive

economy of words: "The register stood open, smoke cleared the room, and one

man was lying over blood and a broom . . ." Within the span of that brief verbal

snapshot, Mika had become engaged, she wanted to know what had happened and

why. And because of the subtle manipulative magic of music, she forged a bond,

became emotionally involved, and cared about what happen next to these

characters that Brickell had so miraculously brought to life with only words and abreath given a soul by melody.

However, besides being the deeply moving story which examined the effects

of tragedy on a small family, "Lost In The Moment" offered an insightful look into

the human psyche. Brickell deftly focused on that moment when the entire world

corkscrewed in to that point when only one thing mattered. Even amidst the most

violent and emotionally devastating maelstroms, its that moment of need which

truly drives or centers, depending on the particular circumstance an

individual.Mika's lower lip quivered weakly as a sudden wave of wistful, enigmatic

nostalgia overtook her. The protective barrier between the world and Mika's inner

self cracked and the release she desperately needed began as a trickle when the

first tear spilled out and coursed down her cheek. Humbled by the music and

suddenly embarrassed by her own habitual conceit, she observed the strangely

unfamiliar face staring up at her from the tranquil waters beneath the bridge. The

reflection regarded its archetype with a sad accusatory stare.

Crouched deep within the dense and shadowed green of the garden,

something else watched Mika. Something not quite as innocuous as her reflection.

Something vile and wicked. Something replete with malicious intent. Something

determined to make this Mika's last night in Paradise.

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Chapter 2

2-1

The Cove

The Cove was one of the most extraordinary concert venues that Elysian

Waters had to offer. Even in the dead of winter, the required attire was "upscale

beachwear." To set the mood as much as to provide a place for patrons to shed

their street clothes and don their finest designer swimwear, several vintage, red

and white striped privacy tents were located just inside the front entrance.

After securing any clothing not essential for a beach excursion at the coat

check, guests were funneled down a convincingly real-looking limestone tunnel.

The passage eventually opened into a cavernous space that was meticulously

crafted to resemble a large alcove which had been carved out of a cliff face by the

constant whittling of a relentless sea.With the help of a brilliant design utilizing an ingenious manipulation of

forced perspective, the faux stone walls appeared to tower nearly one hundred

feet high only to fade into the inky blackness of a night sky. The merging of

technology that was typically reserved for planetariums along with state-of-the-art

concert lighting created an environment that was nothing short of mind-blowing.

Looking up, all the glorious details of a nocturnal skyscape were not only present,

but in a constant celestial drift so as to accurately reflect the view from an ever-

rotating earth. Miraculous events such as shooting stars, solar flares, meteorshowers, exploding black holes, and even the breathtaking phenomenon of the

aurora borealis could be flawlessly reproduced at will to enhance the inspiring

wonder of a living eternity in a perpetual state of flux overhead.

Alternatively, if needed for a more raucous performer, a sanity splintering,

riotous light show that showered the audience with dazzling cascades of brilliance

and color could be enacted in the "firmament," as well.

The floor of The Cove was comprised of sand not just a cursory sprinkling

that only marginally covered the cement subfloor, but an impressive stratum overtwo feet thick, plenty deep enough to allow wriggling toes sufficient room to

burrow. And, in keeping with the oceanic theme, the expansive, deeply concaved

back quarter of the vast room contained a zero-entry saltwater wave pool

though the tidal activity was more akin to soothing ripples than cresting swells.

Off to the far side of the room, flames from a large, gas-fueled bonfire

danced tirelessly atop a hand-painted, refractory ceramic "woodpile." And, no

matter where you were in The Cove, some type of alcohol dispensary method a

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bar, a keg stationed in the sand, a guy toting an enormous wheeled cooler behind

him while proclaiming, "ice cold beer, here!" was never far away.

Yet, of all the attention that went into the overall design, construction and

establishing of atmosphere of the room, the single aspect that received more focus

and care than all of the other elements combined was the intricate fashioning

employed to influence and affect the way sound traveled about the space. Fromthe voluminous ovoid recess in the "cliff" wall that housed the mammoth stage

and the exacting pitch of the unseen ceiling to the precise angling of each and

every facet of the faux rock surfaces, The Cove was arguably one of, if not, the

most scientifically advanced concert venue ever constructed.

In other words, not only did it look magical, but it sounded magical, too.

Despite the humblingly spacious nature of the room, the maximum

occupancy was limited to 1,000. Consequently, The Cove offered its patrons a

surprisingly intimate experience considering its otherwise grandiose air. Reflectingthis aspect, ticket prices generally started somewhere in the vicinity of exorbitant

and went up from that point. Even so, it was rare to have an event which did not

completely sell out well in advance of its date.

Tonight was no exception. Though the venue had been booked for a private

affair, it was still filled to capacity. The ambient house lights abruptly dimmed and

the pre-show music dropped to silence effectively hushing the crowd for a brief

instant before the deafening roar of fevered anticipation rapidly swelled upward

with all the intensity of an approaching tsunami.The show was about to begin!

2-2

Kimberly Cole

The Cove had been plunged into a cavernous blackness that exceed mere

dark. Fueled by ravenous anticipation, the crescendoing roar of the crowd carried

an invigorating charge that ionized the air, crackling it with a surge of adrenalized

excitement. A vicious, metric smack, smack, smack, smack hammered out on an

electric snare cut through the crowds thunder as a sonic barrage of digital blips

flitted madly about overhead, rocketing from speaker to speaker. The sounds were

visually replicated in a dazzling pattern of brilliant, rapid-fire flashes which

peppered the faux heavens like a series of distant solar flares.

A dense male chorus that sounded as if it might be comprised solely of

longshoremen, construction workers, street thugs and football coaches barked an

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attention-seeking, Ay, ay, ay, ay! which was followed by the confident, siren

vocals of the still unseen superstar. The pitch of her words was mechanically

modulated in a constrained phase so as to create a robotic mantra: Pick me up

and throw me down, pick me up and throw me down, pick me up and throw me

down. As the vocalist recited the words, they appeared, etched upon the

blackness overhead by a preprogramed laser which traced out the message in afuturistic neon green font.

After several cycles, each of which amped up the crowds anticipation higher

and higher, a massive explosion accompanied by a brilliant flare of magnesium

intensity brought the vamping to an abrupt end. The shock silenced the crowd and

once again the venue was consumed by a soundless dark.

Gradually, a massive wall of floodlights located behind the stage glowed to

life at the same time fog machines began furiously pumping, racing to cover the

performance area in a dense translucent haze. The pristine bluish-whiteincandescence radiated out, rolling across the audience. The magnificent effect

was like witnessing the first dawn of creation. When Kimberly Cole triumphantly

strode upon the stage, she was little more than a slender silhouette vaguely

discernible through a primordial mist.

But that was enough to send the crowd into a frenzy.

Kimberly waited patiently for that frenzy to level off to a fevered cheering.

Finally, after a long, riotous moment, she brought the mic to her lips and in a rich,

sensual tone, void of any digitizing effects, Cole began to sing, You make mewanna The moment she hit the infectious Ou ah, nah-nah-nah/La-la-la, ay-oh,

the wall of lights behind her blinked out and several dozen overhead spots

snapped on, fixating on her lithe, lean form as she broke out into a shoulder

shimmying urban swagger. The former competitive roller skater proceeded to stalk

confidently about the stage where a half-dozen bare-chested male dancers also

worked their magic, executing impressive street-acrobatics in time to the songs

compelling groove.

Since this was a special event for a special friend, Cole was taking grande to

the extreme. For one thing, she had spent the past few weeks rehearsing a band

so she could incorporate them into her live show something she typically did not

do. The musicians were all top-notch session players so the sound was as tight as

backing tracks, but the fire of the live performance sizzled with a ravaging

intensity creating a show unlike any other she had ever performed.

And then, there was her outfit.

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To create the stunning and sophisticated edge she needed for tonights

engagement, Cole had enlisted the gifted Theresa and Isabella Markosian two

trending New York haute couture designers who just happened to be a mother and

daughter team. The Markosians were quickly becoming one of the most sought

after design duos on the east coast. Isabellas tastefully risqu chic was

counterbalanced by her mothers keen eye for elegance. The pairs sensibilitiesmet somewhere in the middle and they were simply killing it!

The ensemble theyd conceived and crafted for Kimberly was a scintillating

design that masterfully accentuated every aspect of the performers enviable

physique. For example, the long, exquisitely toned stretch of Coles thigh that ran

from the top of her patent leather knee-high boots up into her scandalously short

skirt was left unconcealed to tantalize her audience. The artists midsection also

remained bare, so her impressive abs could be flaunted during a rigorous mid-

song dance break and admired when they were stretched taut during a dynamicpose. A stylized X of sleek fabric crisscrossed atop Kimberlys chest to create a

riveting focal point on the dancers body. Finally, a long, straight-cut, sleeveless

vest with a pointed collar allowed the athletic entertainers Tae Bo sculpted

shoulders to be marveled over while also serving to pull the outfit together with an

elegant flair.

Perhaps Kimberlys favorite part of the fashionizing process was the

tweaking. She could become absolutely giddy while sifting through the troves of

sparkling accessories that could be used to enhance the overall pop of herpersona. For tonights ornamentation, she had chosen several bracelets, a

bandana which shed tied around her right wrist one bold ring slipped over

her left index finger, and a heavy silver chain that she had strategically fastened so

it dangled freely alongside of her left hip. Inspired, Isabella Markosian had

proposed a black choker with a diamond pendant to enhanced the allure of

Kimberlys long and graceful neck. The artist loved the suggestion so much that

she decided to compliment it with an oversized pair of diamond-shaped, gold hoop

earrings. Vibrant, glossy pink lips, sparkling eyes outlined in an elegant black, and

Coles trademark super-high, ultra-long ponytail capped off the look that she and

the Markosians had dubbed Fierce Glamour.

Kimberly strutted to the very edge of the stage and, with her heels pressed

together and long legs locked straight, she bent at the waist, leaning her shoulders

precariously forward, out over the crowd all the while maintaining the flawless

form of an olympic gymnast. Cole spread her arms wide as if to embrace everyone

in attendance and, as the song cycled around, once again she proclaimed, Pick

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me up and throw me down, Pick me up and throw me down. The crowd literally

went wild, nearly savage with fevered appreciation of the artist.

Kimberly smiled. It took an unfathomable amount of inner strength to stay

grounded when regularly faced with such mass adoration, but Cole was of a

special, vanishing breed of entertainers. Whenever she was in front of an audience

of any size, she truly felt blessed. Her performances were always more focused ongiving than receiving something many of todays hopefuls simply didnt get. For

Kimberly, being a star wasnt a selfish pursuit, it was a selfless commitment, a

dedication to always deliver the best she had to offer. It wasnt about taking, it

was about shining. And shining was something Kimberly Cole did naturally.

In the back of the venue, an immense man stood in the shadows. He was

there physically, but mentally there was a disconnect. The Cove was an exotic

venue that offered a truly one-of-a-kind experience. It was filled to capacity by a

crowd that was already partaking in a surely epic celebration. The performer was adynamic artist who was more than capable of delivering that extra charge needed

for an event of this magnitude. And, despite the weeks and months of pre-event

stress and obsessive over-planning, it seemed Murphys Law had been thwarted.

The night was flowing with the absolute fluidity of sheer perfection in every

respect. Every respect, that is, but one: the guest of honor was missing out on it

all!

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Songwriter's Monthly Presents : Music World Fiction: Elysian Waters