Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  Outnumbered, she reached for her laser-powered weapon, but dropped it as Zachariah’s two soldiers moved in, violently thrusting their spears. She equipped her golden axe while skillfully parrying their offense. They didn’t find their mark. She countered, delivering armor-piercing blows. She chopped through a soldier’s armor, and her axe met his ribcage. It lodged in, and she abandoned it.

  “Ahhghh” The injured soldier grimaced.

  Zacharia intervened, shooting his laser-powered weapon at the Master Arch as she retreated. She rolled and retrieved her grounded gun and shot Zacharia’s other inexperienced soldier in the forehead. He plummeted and hit the ground hard face first.

  Zacharia took cover behind a group of nearby boulders.

  Sabrina yelled, “Leave, and forward this message to Bishop. I’m certain I speak for the whole kingdom when I say he will not be victorious in whatever war he intends to initiate.”

  “Wait, wait, Zacharia! Don’t leave me here!” The injured, but dying, soldier cried out to Zacharia.

  Zacharia ignored the soldier’s plea and departed. Sabrina put an end to the injured soldier’s misery with one shot, then removed much of his innards while retrieving her golden axe from his side.

  “Hey! Who’s in here? This is the last stop! All passengers must exit this train!” The train conductor’s loud knocking on his locked compartment door awakened Capricorn. He raised the shade and saw the industrial developments of New York City outside his window. For the first time, he was at peace.

  “Hey! Open up this damn door!” He could no longer take the train conductor’s noise and shouting. He broke down the door, knocking the train conductor unconscious. Casting aside the shattered door, he stepped over the train conductor’s body and exited the train.

  Once outside, he covered his head with his hoodie.

  “Kid, you should consider doing something about that temper of yours.”

  Capricorn asked, “Who is that? Show yourself.”

  An Angel waived in the shadows of the train station. Capricorn slowly approached the winged phenomenon standing about seven feet tall. He had brass skin, hair like oil and dressed in golden attire. He warily kept his distance. “Even in the presence of a soldier of God, you still display no evidence of trust?”

  Capricorn answered, “Bullshit! Even Heaven has its own share of traitors. How do I know you’re not one of them?”

  The Archangel replied, “And they will meet their judgment soon. I will personally make sure of it.”

  Capricorn began walking away.

  The Archangel continued, “You dare turn your back on me? I might be the only friend you have here. I know who you are!”

  Capricorn replied, “Who am I?”

  The Archangel answered, “You are a Zodiac. The entire Universe is in search of your kind as we speak. The only reason I haven’t forfeited your life is because it’s evident you haven’t been turned.”

  Capricorn said, “Turned? What are you talking about?”

  “Lucifer is trying to reassemble his Fallen army, and you’re one of the pieces to his puzzle because of your bloodline. That’s the reason why you are here. Am I correct? You’re here to find out the history behind your gifts. Otherwise you’d still be on Saturn.”

  Capricorn said, “I can’t take this shit anymore. I just want everybody to leave me alone!”

  The Archangel answered with a little more compassion. “I understand your frustration. But you don’t have much of a choice. We’ve all been given a destiny. Some will serve a purpose in life without pursuing it. And in return, they will perish in regret while others will stop at nothing to find their destiny. You have a chance to side with those who seek peace. You must know your calling.”

  The Archangel handed Capricorn coordinates to a secret location in New York City. “I will be there along with more friends. If you do not show up, I will know the path you have chosen, and I’m afraid that our next meeting will not be a pleasant one, my friend.”

  Capricorn said to himself, “He must not have heard me the first time. Very well, I will personally make sure everyone gets the message, Devil or Archangel.”

  “Are you all right?”

  The Bookkeeper, fully recovered from his injuries, found himself on a couch not too far from Ozias. He answered, “Yes.”

  With the President confined in his cell, Levi and Zodeen interrogated him.

  Abdeen, Daniel and Goliath posted on the training grounds of the safehouse. Daniel and Goliath tested their new gifts, courtesy of the Vampeers.

  “Fascinating,” Abdeen couldn’t help but be impressed.

  Due to the combination of Vampeer and Angel DNA, genetic manipulation allowed Goliath to generate coin-sized mosquitoes from a nest surfacing from his back. Under his authority, they could also communicate. Additionally, whatever host they drew blood from could be injected into him, and he’d possess the power of the host for a short duration.

  After his observation, Natenal welcomed Goliath’s new achievement.

  Daniel manufactured blood-drawing winds in the form of funnel clouds, within which he could entrap his victims and drain the captive of his blood.

  While Daniel and Goliath practiced on the training grounds, Abdeen approached Natenal in secret and elicited his opinion concerning their new gifts.

  Natenal answered, “My Brother, you seem a bit worried.”

  Abdeen replied, “I think we should all be a bit concerned, my Lord. What if their Host returns and wants his innovations back?”

  Natenal answered, “We will be more than ready for the Vampeer’s return. What you’re witnessing is not a curse, my Brother, but the future of Mosqidou. This is fascinating.”

  Natenal patted Abdeen on the shoulder and went back inside to go over plans.

  Abdeen watched as Natenal left and saw Levi walking through a brick wall towards the planning table.

  Natenal looked up at Levi, not in the least surprised or concerned that he had walked in through the wall rather than the door. “What news do you bring?”

  Levi said, “After a bit of convincing, the President had come to his senses. He mentioned that, prior to our invasion, the First Lady had been killed by mercenaries and that we missed Taurus, Pisces and a few of their disciples by just a few hours. They’ve been summoned by the Pope himself to make their way to Rome. There is some big news happening there, apparently.”

  Zodeen commented, “Another Zodiac, perhaps?”

  Natenal replied, “That would be my assumption, too.”

  Abdeen said, “Our next move should be Rome. It’s only right.”

  Natenal ordered, “Gather the rest and tell them to prepare themselves.”

  Levi asked, “What should be done with the President?”

  Natenal replied, “He must be eliminated. Word of our coming will not leave this safehouse.”

  Abdeen and Abdeel escorted the President out back for execution. The President became defiant and was dragged away. “Fools! Killing the Anti-Christ will not extend the warranty of this Universe! Ha! Lucifer will still reign, and I will be there watching as your flesh is fed to the damned!”

  Ozias emerged at the top of the stairs of the training room. “We have a visitor.”

  It was the same Archangel that Capricorn had encountered at the train station.

  “Vincent? What brings you here?” Natenal asked.

  Vincent, another Master Archangel, said, “I bring some important news. I’ve crossed paths with a Zodiac while on my way to a separate mission, a mission that I cannot disclose. He is a boy no less than ten or eleven years of age. His name is Capricorn, and he is very powerful. As much as it grieved me to do it, I left him an ultimatum and gave him the coordinates to this location. I simply told him if he valued his life, he would meet me here.”

  Natenal spoke, “You threatened the boy? Why not bring him here?”

  Vincent answered, “We were given strict orders not to get involved in your campaign. My visit here has already broken a
few Covenants, and I will have to pay penance, which could jeopardize my promotion. So, please understand that I have a lot at stake here, Brethren.”

  Natenal acknowledged, “Yes, Vincent, you are right. I appreciate the risk you’ve taken. We will take it from here. Please continue your campaign, and give it no more delay.”

  Vincent replied, “I trust if he doesn’t comply with my warning, you will handle it accordingly. There’s not much time left. The success of your mission will result in much success in mine.” He turned to leave and remembered, “Oh, and I failed to mention, Michael is at war with Devils on the Planet Venus as we speak. God help us all.”

  They bid Vincent farewell and prepared themselves for Capricorn. Natenal had already chosen whom he’d send if the Zodiac failed to heed Vincent’s warning.

  Some of the others mentioned helping Michael, but Natenal would not authorize it. “Yes, I’m sure all of us would love nothing more than to aid our Brother Michael on Venus, but our fight is here.”

  Vincent crashed through one of their safehouse windows. Both of his arms broke and he rolled on the floor in agony. The Pursuers gathered their weapons.

  Ozias watched a figure outside the window. The Demon’s eyes generated a pulsating red glow. The Demon removed itself from the window as more members of The Pursuers headed toward the disorder.

  “I guess I was not the only Archangel onboard that train. Lucifer has intercepted him and fed him lies! The boy is lost. He must be eliminated!” Vincent laughed to himself as he slowly drifted into unconsciousness. “I pardoned my guard due to his age, a foolish mistake.”

  Natenal ordered, “Irisan! Use your gifts and help Vincent! Everybody else, guard the doors and windows and prepare yourselves!”

  Levi warned, “Beware, our enemies will rise beneath the Earth.”

  Capricorn’s minions clawed their way through the training room floor; but, thanks to Levi’s gift and forewarning, The Pursuers knew where to engage. A full head-on ambush ensued. Vincent had unintentionally led the Dead Rising to the safehouse.

  Zodeen yelled, “Into formation! This Zodiac has the power to wake the dead!”

  Levi sensed that someone from the outside was trying to manufacture a sinkhole that would consume the safehouse. He left the conflict on the inside to investigate the perpetrator outside.

  Levi spotted a young boy. “Boy! Just what do you think you’re doing?”

  He watched as the young Zodiac administered a discharge that caused the safe-house’s fixtures to collapse.

  Capricorn stopped and spoke to the Pursuer. “Boy? I will make sure you address me by my name before begging for death.”

  Chapter 25

  PERSON OF INTEREST

  TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

  As Ruler of the First House, you must initiate actions, or see to it that history is restored. Do not let past events cloud your judgment. It will only leave room for error. Mars grants her blessing upon you.

  ARIES’ DREAM

  “Where is your other Son?”

  She’d mistaken these special innovative shackles as jewels. Perfectly placed in her jewelry box by one of Crusix’s delegates, they posed as custom bracelets cloaked with fine diamonds and pearls. Aries read the gift card forged in Adam’s handwriting. By the time she realized the deceit, the bracelets mechanically gripped both her wrists. She watched as the diamonds and pearls dropped and scattered on the floor. Deprived of her gifts, she looked up to see a small group entering her home. “Where is your Son?” Crusix repeated as his voice elevated. In misery, Aries refused to answer him. She had just watched all but one of her children slaughtered by a Demon. Crusix carried out her punishment by order of Lucifer for her disobedience. Unfortunately, during Aries’ exile, he had uncovered her whereabouts. She had, in the meantime, built a whole new life of happiness. But evidently, conceiving children with the wrong colleague was against his Covenant. He would have none of it. She cried hysterically, shouting, “I will never tell! You will have to kill me!”

  The Demon slapped her, knocking her across the room.

  He motioned to his ghouls to hold her down. She kicked out at them and flailed her bound wrists. They pinned her down. A roar coming from outside stopped Crusix as it deafened everyone in the room. The ghouls let go of Aries, but only to cover their ears. Staggered, they saw Crusix tumbling along the ground outside, having been knocked clear through the wall, which proved too weak to withstand the impact of a bullet-fast fireball.

  A relieved Aries gazed upon Leo who had just come to her aid. His face dropped after witnessing her children positioned on the floor with their heads resting on their stomachs. Disappointment brought him to his knees for not arriving sooner. He looked up and saw two of the ghouls grabbing onto Aries again, but this time with less confidence. They shivered in their armor while gazing at Leo, the fresh hole in the wall, and then back at Aries. The ghouls attempted to flee, but didn’t get far. Leo grabbed hold of them both with his paws and massive jaws. He sunk his teeth into them. One by one, he mauled their upper bodies and spewed out torn and bloody flesh. Enraged, he approached a crying, battered and bruised Aries; and with his indomitable strength, dashed the shackles that bound her.

  Leo vowed to the wind, “Crusix, I will make sure your death is a slow one. I promise you. All Hell will hear your cry!”

  The wind carried his threat outside. Aries crawled towards her dead children as Leo exited through the burnt hole in the wall.

  He saw Crusix staggering about, though still dangerous. And when his mind cleared, he welcomed the challenge. Leo attacked, but the Demon Master took advantage of Leo’s fury and, using it against him, patiently awaited the half-man, half-lion phenomenon and shot him in mid-pounce. An electrical discharge struck Leo, knocking him back from where he’d leapt. Leo dug his claws into the ground to stop his tumble. His mane didn’t prove too indestructible after all as parts of it began to crumble. “There’s a solution to all things, common and supernatural,” Crusix said while reloading his specialized gun. Leo released another deafening roar, this time towards the Earth. Crusix discharged his weapon again, but Leo’s booming sonic roar sent the electrical discharge soaring back at a wide-eyed Crusix. His arm broken, and weapon smashed, the Demon Master was next seen fleeing through the dissipating cloud of smoke. Ghouls stepped into his place and showered Leo with sword and spear assaults. But the wise Lion simply stepped back far from their reach.

  Aries mourning ceased. A vengeance-seeking Mother entered the field in hopes of easing her pain through fire and blood. She told her only surviving Son to seek cover while releasing Sunrays across the field. Beams of red light went straight through incoming Demons. As burnt and mutilated Demon bodies hit the ground, the rest stopped and sought shelter. However, their Master, Crusix, escaped. That’s what broke her down.

  “You must be strong, Aries!” Leo walked over to her and helped her up while taking her Son’s hand. “Come along. There will be hundreds more Demons here shortly. We must get this little one to safety.”

  Leo felt a little contented since not all had been lost to the Devil. Aries and her Son still lived. He guided her to safety. She wrote a farewell letter to Adam and departed, never to see him again, all for the sake of their surviving Son.

  End of Aries’ Dream

  Not too far from the Pope’s estate, Aries awoke from her disturbing dream. Traumatized, she went into another room to check on her remaining Son, eight-year-old Paul.

  She sat down on the side of his bed and thought about the dream. Her Horoscope had unveiled heavy news, which brought her to tears.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” Awakened by his Mother’s struggle to hide her weeping, he consoled her. “There is no other way to escape their evil. All these years of running and hiding must end. It is their turn to seek shelter from the storm.”

  She retired to her Son’s bed for the rest of the night and fell asleep.

  Aries moved to a different safehouse, not too far from the last one, after sensi
ng danger. The following night, her Son looked on as Aries created replicas of herself. Her whole body illuminated and vibrated as each replicate emerged from her like a Gateway. All six of them stood in formation and awaited orders. She chained herself to her own bed with a well-cushioned mattress so she didn’t inflict injuries on herself or her Son during the pending uprising. She had the skill to be several places at once. They headed off to the Cathedral where the Pope currently resided. A group of Mercenary Demon Nuns was the first to meet her wrath. They walked down the front stairs of the Cathedral unaware of the danger. They looked to their right to see six beings hovering. Their skin was of fire, and their eyes were of the Sun and emitting rays. The Cathedral was under fire.

  “Escort the Pope out of here!” the Pope’s assistant cried while watching Demon Nuns being ripped in half by beams of red light. Severed limbs and burnt corpses tumbled down the stairs as Aries’ replicas made their way up. Different classes of extraterrestrial beings met them halfway with special classified weaponry for fighting fire.

  “Don’t worry, my Son, I’ll be fine.” Each replica that fell took a toll on her. A jolt of energy lifted her off her back and onto the mattress. Her Son continued watching over his Mother while trying to hold her down.

  Confused by Aries’ success, the Pope’s assistant, along with many others, covered their heads while dodging the flying incinerated corpses thrown about the Cathedral Hall. Down to four, Aries’ replicas split up to check every room, but the Pope had already gone. He and his assistant escaped through a secret underground tunnel.

  The Pope arrived at his underground refuge. His assistant caught up, entered the hall and noticed that the Pope had been injured. “Pope? My Lord, You’re hurt!”

  The Pope said, “It’s nothing, a mere grazing.”

  The Pope received virgin blood that caused the wound to heal almost immediately.

  “What are we to do with Aries, my Lord? Should I call upon Taurus and Pisces?” his assistant asked.