by M J Marstens
“Because we are soul-bonded,” he finally responds. “When we vowed our love to each other just now, it created a universal soul-bond that allows us to speak telepathically to one another.”
“Aw, you guys all love each other?! That’s so cute,” I coo.
He rolls his eyes.
“Knock it off, woman. I said I love you, not-”
“That’s so sweet. Touching even. The stupid child doesn’t even know what love really is, but you Mars. . . I thought you knew better. I guess you never learned your lesson,” a sickly sweet voice carries over to us from across the snowy landscape.
How the fuck did Bitchface get here?!
“Oh, you two were too busy fucking to even notice the power surge of me entering,” she explains.
Oh god. . . can she. . .
“Oh yes, I can!” She cackles evilly. “I jumped onto my mental link with Mars when you two soul-bonded and it linked us together as well, my dove!”
Fuck a duck.
Lina and I were soul-bonded.
Now she would know if I had another vibrator attack planned.
She gives me a sour frown, probably remembering ol’ Super Blue. . . too bad his rubber ass didn’t actually smother her to death. . .
“Hey,” I suddenly protest. “How come she can hear my thoughts?! I’m not projecting shit to her!”
Caed lets out a long-suffering sigh, “I. . . lied. To make you feel better. In truth, until you can shield yourself like the rest of us can, we hear almost every thought.”
We both grimace.
My thoughts are even more unfiltered. . .
A super scary concept. . .
“Mars. . . lying?! Surprise, surprise,” Lina says like the little shit-stirrer she is.
Too bad I’m not falling for it.
“Cut the crap, Bitchhole. I’m not afraid of you.”
She looks genuinely surprised.
“You’re not afraid of me? Hm. I guess I haven’t properly lived up to my name. I will address that now. But not with me. No, no, no. I’m not scary. So the question is: what is little Zahra afraid of?”
CHAPTER 31
ZAHRA
“Blank your mind!” Caed roars mentally.
“Too late!” Queen Coo Coo chortles.
Oops.
I’m like Ray from Ghostbusters.
Except I didn’t think of a giant marshmallow man who looks just the Michelin tire mascot.
Nope. . . because that’s not what I’m afraid of. . .
“Is that a clown?” Caed asks in a strangled voice.
“Um, I can’t really see through this snow,” I hedge.
“A fucking cute, birthday clown?! Why in the holy fuck are you afraid of that? It’s not even a killer clown!”
“Killer clowns aren’t real!” I defend. “And are you kidding me?! Look at that thing! Big, fake red nose, painted face. . . he’s dead in the eyes!”
“Because he makes a fucking living dressing as an ass and entertaining snot-nosed kids!”
“Well, my parents got me one when I was like six and I’m still terrified, k?! Back off!”
“What’s wrong with his face?”
“Oh. . . ah, he might have a debilitating case of herpes.”
“Your parents hired a clown with herpes? That’s fucked up No wonder you’re so messed up.”
“What? NO! My parents didn’t hire me a herpes-ridden clown. . . it’s just when I was in junior high, during sex ed, they showed us pics of STDs, and it scarred me for life!
“You’re terrified of clowns and herpes?!”
I glare in response.
Then I remember Lina.
I quickly whirl around, searching for her.
Damn, we really dropped the ball.
“She jumped dimensions the minute your fucked-up clown came limping into view,” Caed supplies.
Well, one of us dropped the ball.
I look at Fuck-O the Herpes clown and shudder, inching closer towards Caed. In truth, I’m terrified, but what the hell is it supposed to do?
“He’s a diversion tactic,” Caed again supplies.
A diversion tactic?
From what?
“From them,” Caed points to a spot behind my shoulder.
And there, past Fuck-O, are hundreds of hulking white forms with glowing red eyes.
Ice Enforcers.
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
I look to Caed for direction, but he has already turned back into a Polar Bear.
“Zahra, get out of here! Get the others! It’s our only chance!”
He plows through Fuck-O and charges toward the horde of death.
But I’m frozen.
How can I leave him alone?
“Venus, I’m at full strength, thanks to you. I will be fine. I promise,” his words whisper in my head.
Ok.
He wouldn’t lie to me. . . again. . . would he?
“Go! Tae ickum leevum, little girl.”
“I love you, too, dickhead,” I say out loud.
Then I spread my arms and will a portal to open. Looking at Caed one last time, I see he has already taken several enforcers down. I send him my love and strength and then jump into the blackness.
R
MOON
I effortlessly jump dimensions, until I’m in my beloved Jupiter’s domicile. Such a sweet, simple man. It nearly killed him to stand with his brothers against me, but still he feels guilty. He would never betray me at heart.
I laugh, thinking of stupid Venus. Poor Mars will have his arms full when the Ice Enforcers get to the scene.
Serves those fools right.
Especially that little bitch, Zahra.
She’s craftier than I thought, though.
Her mental instability also nearly rivals my own.
But I promise you I’m much more unhinged.
“Jupiter!” I sing. “Oh, Jupey!”
I lumber through the lush, tropical paradise that my lover created. So gorgeous, so peaceful. I pass some Moonbeams, the flower Jupiter made and named after me. Their honeyed fragrance wafts in the air as I brush by them. I breathe in their sweet perfume.
“Jupiter!” I trill once more.
“Yes, my beloved?” a voice asks behind me.
I whip around.
Damn man is more silent than a stalking panther.
“Jupiter, darling. So nice to see you at your home again.”
The giant green god of plants leans in to kiss my cheek and I stroke his massive chest suggestively.
“It has been too long, my expansive god. I’m needed in the upper levels. . . can you give me a boost?”
Poor, poor man. He looks torn.
His brothers would say no.
But he wants to say yes.
I slip my silky, black dress off my shoulders, and it pools at my feet to display my gleaming, silvery skin.
Every naked and tantalizing inch of it.
He reaches for me like a man possessed, but I slap his hand away.
“Power first. Touching second,” I command.
Again, he hesitates, but then I feel the slow, cool trickle of his power caress my aura, before meshing within me.
“Yes,” I purr. “That’s it, my mighty, but gentle one. Give me more.”
This time he steps forward to kiss me, and I allow it since he continues to feed me his powers.
“Thank you, my pet,” I croon.
“Anything for you, my beloved,” he says before pushing his tongue inside my mouth.
I let him sweep me up.
I suppose a quick romp won’t hurt.
A smile into his shoulder.
I was about to play my ace-in-the-hole.
CHARACTER CHART
Human Form
God Form
Nyambe Soley
Sun
12th Dimension Realm of Luminous Spheres
Ermio Mercoledi
Mercury
11th Dimension
Realm of Ambienc
e
Selina (Lina)
Moon
10th Dimension
Realm of Jewels
MAJOR GODS
Caedon Marx
Mars
9th Dimension
Realm of Faunae
Kane
Jupiter
8th Dimension
Realm of Verdure
Khalid Al-Zahil
Saturn
7th Dimension
Realm of Edict
Uran Blitznetsy
Uranus
6th Dimension
Realm of Aura
Illu Blitznetsy
Neptune
5th Dimension
Realm of Aquae
Arawn
Pluto
4th Dimension
Realm of Four Kingdoms
Zahra Rosa Delsol
Venus
Mrs. Gerty
Vesta
MINOR
Edgar
Chiron
GODS
Siamese Cat Look-alike #1
North Node
Siamese Cat Look-alike #2
South Node
GLOSSARY
Domicile: A planet’s exalted home (i.e. Sun in the 5th house or Libra).
Hypsoma: An exalted sign or planet.
Ingress: When a planet enters a new sign or house.
Kaṣmīmī: The Arabic transliteration from the Latin cazimi which means “as if in the heart”. The Arabic term appears to be a translation of the Greek term egkardios (ἐγκάρδιος), which literally means “in the heart”.
Cazimi is a Medieval astrological term that is used to refer to planets that are so close to a conjunction with the Sun that they are “in the heart” of the Sun.
Luminary: Astrological name of the Sun or Moon
Mare Crisium: The Latin name meaning ‘sea of crisis’; the name of one of the lunar mares.
Retrograde: Reviewing lessons/ re-evaluating planet’s recent astrological course
Selenography: The study of the moon.
Zodian: The language of the gods.
Aspect Keywords:
Conjunct: elevates the energy (together or in conjunction)
Sextile/Trine: creates harmony (two or four houses apart)
Square: creates friction or energy (three houses apart)
Opposition: creates opposition or a need for balance (six houses apart)
ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS AND PLANETS
Sign Keywords:
Aries ♈ (Cardinal Fire, 1st house, Mars)
Taurus ♉ (Fixed Earth, 2nd house, Venus)
Gemini ♊ (Mutable Air, 3rd house, Mercury)
Cancer ♋ (Cardinal Water, 4th house, Moon)
Leo ♌ (Fixed Fire, 5th house, Sun)
Virgo ♍ (Mutable Earth, 6th house, Mercury)
Libra ♎ (Cardinal Air, 7th house, Venus)
Scorpio ♏ (Fixed Water, 8th house, Pluto)
Sagittarius ♐ (Mutable Fire, 9th house, Jupiter)
Capricorn ♑ (Cardinal Earth, 10th house, Saturn)
Aquarius ♒ (Fixed Air, 11th house, Uranus)
Pisces ♓ (Mutable Water, 12th house, Neptune)
Planet Keywords:
Sun ☉ (rules the self)
Moon ☾ (rules emotions)
Mercury ☿ (rules the mind)
Venus ♀ (rules relationships & money)
Mars ♂ (rules energy & drive)
Jupiter ♃ (rules expansion, exploration, new experiences)
Saturn ♄ (rules goals, ambitions, responsibilities)
Uranus ♅ (rules change, independence, the unconventional)
Neptune ♆ (rules your subconscious, spirituality)
Pluto ♇ (rules power, control, transformations)
THANK YOU
As always, THANK YOU to you, my reader. I hope you enjoyed this second installment of The Afflicted Zodiac. If so, please consider leaving a review https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q4Y7CCC/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
Also, a special thank you to the Reverse Harem Book Club! Thank you for the inspiration, safety word ideas, and the great discussion! And lastly, thank you to my family: for your patience, your love, and your support. I’m truly blessed!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
So many people to acknowledge in this book, where to start, where to start. . . Firstly, a special thanks to my cover designer, GC Les. I did a lot of revisions this time around and she was very patient with me. Secondly, thank you to ALL my beta readers. I appreciate your feedback and help while writing this book. Thirdly, a special shout-out to the lovely, but crazy ladies of the RH Accountibiliteam group. Thanks for keeping me on track with ridiculous punishments such as centaurs. (Please note how the centaur in MY book didn’t wear pants. He is very left-winged.) And lastly, THANK YOU to Whimsicalworks4u for editing my book. You added the finishing touches to make my book complete! So thank you to all these wonderful individuals. I’m so, so, SO appreciative.
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE
B
THE AFFLICTED ZODIAC
BOOK 3
Author’s Note
WARNING: This novel is intended for readers 18+. There is explicit language, sexual scenes with multiple partners, dominant/submissive themes, and threats made by men who ARE gods. . . I hope you enjoy!
NOTE: There is a human-to-god color-coded reference in the back, as well as an astrology terminology chart.
DEDICATION
To Sweet Tooth, even though you’ll never remember I dedicated anything to you. Thank you for always supporting me in this endeavor. And in case you were wondering, you do have the perfect penis.
CHAPTER 1
ZAHRA
When I finally come spiraling out the black tunnel of hell (as I am now calling all portals for dimension jumping), I free-fall into a magically verdant landscape. I have never seen anything so. . . green. Everywhere, plant life is thriving and all the bushes, trees, and vines teem with flourishing blossoms and fruits.
After landing gracefully (you believe that, right?), I snag a juicy-looking peach. The succulent fruit reminds me of Sunny and I am suddenly overcome with a deep sadness that I cannot explain. It feels like I have lost him. I quickly shove that thought aside. There is no room for pessimism right now; I have shit to do.
A mission to complete.
And that mission:
Fuck-up Bitchhole’s plans.
I can do that, right?
I mean, I am pretty good at fucking shit up. . . usually by complete incompetent accident, but still. . .
I take a bite of the peach and groan.
Ohmygod.
Not even my hand tasted this good.
I hungrily take another slurping bite, and another, and another. . . before a thought crosses my mind:
Every dimension has fucked me over. I just don’t expect it out of Kane’s domicile, but with my luck, I just ate the fruit from the Garden of Eden or some biblical shit that is going to come back and bite me in the poop-shooter. I spit out whatever remnants remain in my mouth and throw the peach on the ground.
Instantly, it’s absorbed into the soil.
Creepy and sanitary.
I stroll about, running my hands along the lush vegetation. It seems to reach for me and I have to untangle myself from a few clinging vines. Another thought pops up:
What if plants are Kane’s protectors?!
Is a giant Venus Fly Trap going to come out and eat me or is some Jumanji-style flower going to shoot me with a poison-tipped dart?
I am suddenly very leery of my surroundings.
I hug my arms around me and try to make myself as compressed as possible on the path, so as not to brush against the probable deadly beauty that surrounds me. Still, delicate stems and stalks extend towards me. I wonder if my warm glow also attracts them. Who knows?
“They like you,” a familiar voice says softly from behind me.
I whirl around to find Kane, in his Jolly Green Giant form. I’m so excited to see him, I
run and throw my arms around his waist. It is like hugging a Sequoia tree! His arms remain limply at his side and I look up. . . unfortunately, he is even taller in this form than on Earth. I have to take a few steps back to see his face.
He has his gaze averted, but I can feel something is wrong. . .
“You soul-bonded with Caed,” he comments, still not looking at me.
“How did you know?” I ask in surprise.
He shrugs, looking off in the distance.
“I can feel your bond with him through mine. . .also through Lina’s.”
I cringe.
Fuck me, I forgot the lovely white Goddess of assholeness had sneakily soul-bonded with me when I had formed a connection with Caed.
What a cock-sucking shit-bitch.
I change the subject before I get all butthurt over Fuck-O the clown again.
“I’m on a mission. To tell you guys to prepare to all go direct. Once I get to the twelfth realm and tell Arawn, I will make it happen. Nyam is. . . injured. . . and we need to get him help asap. I left him with. . .”
I trail off when I see his giant, green shoulders slump even more.
“Kane, what’s wrong. And don’t lie to me. I know something is wrong.”
“Sun’s. . . gone, Zahra.”
“Nyam’s dead?! What? How? How do you know?”
“I don’t feel my connection to him. I haven’t for a long time now.”
I frown, thinking, “But Caed didn’t say anything. . .”
Had he been trying to protect me?
“He probably doesn’t know. As the God of Expansion, everything is amplified for me, including our bonds. I can feel them, even stretched through the realms.”
“I. . .I. . . I didn’t tell him good-bye,” I mutter around the pain compressing inside my chest.
There is a physical ache in my heart and I suck in gasping breaths, trying to internalize this information. I recall Nyam telling me that gods don’t die, though, but become essence.