Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  He shot, and they soared towards Cancer. He swiftly dodged from side to side as each one missed. They speared cars and dumpsters. As long as Levi stood upon the Earth, he was unstoppable. Cancer’s eyes became even darker, and so did the Moon. He entrapped Levi in an effervescence full of water. As Levi ascended, he became weak, while Cancer extended his bind with an excruciating electrical burst. Levi shouted in pain as the electrical current tortured him. His impenetrable skin was worthless as his insides cooked.

  Unable to bear the pain, in desperation, Levi performed his last deed as a Pursuer. He forfeited his impenetrable skin in order to accomplish this last maneuver. He manufactured an indestructible spear out of his core using all his impenetrable skin, and unleashed it upon the Zodiac. With his impenetrable sheath gone, his humanoid form imploded. Levi was dead, but his spear found its mark deep in the Zodiac’s stomach. As ligaments of the Pursuer hit the Earth, the Planet consumed Levi, and he was at peace again.

  “Levi!” The Bookkeeper shouted. The dying Zodiac struggled to remove the spear from his flesh. The Moon shed its umbra and turned into blood.

  “No!” A great flood emerged by the hands of Aquarius after witnessing the Blood Moon. She searched for her Zodiac counterpart. The cascading water scattered The Pursuers around like lost sheep throughout the perimeter, along with the Demons that had come to destroy them.

  Pisces slithered into a nearby alley, unharmed by Aquarius’s flood. She returned to her humanoid form after shedding her serpentine skin.

  Libra helped Aquarius pick up Cancer’s body. “He is dying,” she said simply.

  He opened his mouth, but could not manage to speak.

  “Place him over here,” Pisces instructed the others while laying down debris enabling a soft surface. “The Pursuers are right; and, most importantly, so is my Horoscope. If I side with Lucifer, the Universe will be condemned, regardless of what our ancestors counseled while I was under the Scroll’s authority,” Pisces said while gazing at the Moon fully saturated with blood.

  Cancer took his last breath and began his journey towards the stars. Libra closed his eyes, and they awaited that familiar pain that unfailingly accompanies the fall of a fellow Zodiac.

  Pisces warned, “We must leave before they gather themselves, or else they will take full advantage of our weakened state. The pain will be more severe than ever, and the glow in our special Gems will lead them straight to us.”

  “She is right, Aquarius. Our revenge will come when the Moon no longer bleeds,” Libra added, while gaining the attention of an angered Aquarius.

  “DO YOU HEAR THAT?”

  Midway through their crossing, they heard heavy laser fire and beasts roaring.

  “Yes. What is going on over there?” Emmanuel asked.

  Sabrina answered, “Never mind that. The beasts’ attention is diverted. This is our chance to escape.”

  Emmanuel added, “But that could be reinforcements!”

  Sabrina stated, “Camiel and Uziel are dead, Ariel is missing, and you are next in command. What are your orders?”

  Emmanuel briefly pondered his options. One false move could jeopardize the lives of the entire group. He ordered one of his Archangels to fly to the highest tree and use his telescope to identify the other occupants engaging with the beasts of the land.

  A few minutes in, he reported witnessing Bishop’s insignia on the craft.

  “As I suspected. They must be here to finish what he started. Let’s move,” Sabrina ordered.

  “Lookout!” one of the soldiers shouted.

  A massive beast resembling a spider appeared out of the thick trees. It paused, looking down on them. It had wings, and its fangs alone would forever be in their memory.

  “That monstrosity was there this whole time?” one of them uttered in shock.

  Startled by the sight of the beast, he moved back, but got his wings entangled between the branches of the tree.

  “Quick, shoot it down,” Emmanuel ordered, as the spider beast dashed toward its helpless prey. A soldier stepped in front of the creature and fired, but it swiped out and took the soldier down with its long legs.

  Others joined in and hit it with everything they had. The creature took the soldier with its pincers and dragged the body back to its nest. His soldier’s screams were mercifully halted by Emanuel’s sniper gun before falling victim to the beast’s massive fangs.

  Stunned, his surviving soldiers gazed at Emmanuel. “Don’t hesitate to do the same for me if I’m ever in the same circumstance,” Emmanuel said.

  They moved through the wilderness towards the gatekeepers. They reached the safe zone where the gate to another Dimension stood behind high electric fences and a small security compound. They were free from all dangers. It opened upon their arrival.

  “Quick! Hurry!” the Gatekeeper warned.

  “Hold on,” Sabrina slowed down and analyzed the compound as the rest passed her by. She noticed a piece of armor from one of the gatekeepers in the dirt and picked it up. The fresh bloodstains alarmed Sabrina.

  Sabrina yelled, “No, Brethren. We’ve been deceived.”

  She ran to stop them, but the reinforced gate closed behind Emmanuel and the rest of the men, trapping them inside. The original gatekeepers were killed; and their murderers, Exodus and Leviticus, stepped forward. Over three hundred men accompanied them on the ambush. To add more insult to injury, out came Ariel with a menacing grin on his face.

  Emanuel inquired, “What a disgrace. Tell me, Ariel, how many other traitors still remain behind Heaven’s gates?”

  Ariel replied, “Enough to know that you are on the wrong side, my Brothers. Farewell.” He exited the Dimension, and they were left with death.

  Emmanuel shouted after the departing Master Archangel. “Come back here Ariel, you treacherous bastard!”

  His shouting served no purpose to the contentment of his newfound enemy. The end neared, and they came to terms with it. They figured out how they would embrace death.

  “Sabrina, don’t be a fool. You must leave. That’s an order!” She honed in on Emanuel’s last words while watching her Brethren exchange laser fire behind the electric gate. He ordered, but reality offered no options for Sabrina either. Go back into the wild among the beasts of the land, or meet Bishop’s men. Her inabililty to save her colleagues brought forth discouragement while observing the faces of her enemies through the gate. They took pride in butchering her soldiers in front of her like savages … nothing close to Angelic beings. Sabrina soaked in the cries of her Brethren.

  They reopened the gate. “Hurry up and kill that one, and let’s go,” Leviticus ordered.

  She took off her helmet and spoke openly into the Universe. “Lord, I’ve done all I can. I hope it was enough.” She took out five of their men before two laser blasts halted her offense. The reign of another Master Archangel ended as a sword plunged through her throat.

  Exodus said, “She was pretty good. That was indeed entertaining to watch.”

  Leviticus added, “Yes, that was an honorable death … very unfortunate. Nonetheless, was that the last of them?”

  Exodus answered, “I believe so.”

  Leviticus wondered about the others. “And, what of Grenad and Zachariah?”

  Exodus answered, “It seems as if they are under duress. We are not getting a response from our communications.”

  Leviticus said, “Hmm, fools, this was no rescue mission. Our duties have already been carried out. Let’s leave them be. If they are worthy of becoming Master Archangels, getting out of this place alive should be their truest test.”

  Exodus saw an opportunity for winning some money. “Wager?”

  Leviticus replied, “Don’t trouble yourself further with useless flutter, my friend.”

  They laughed amongst themselves and departed in special transportation vehicles.

  “THERE WAS ONE MORE! WHERE IS SHE?”

  Devastated, Nicholas, the Demon Master Archangel, returned with a few other Archa
ngels after finding out that one of the bodies of the Children of Time was reportedly missing from the ship’s morgue. It had been a few days since their murder, but Nicholas confirmed that the body of Lisa, the leader and most important key to the group, was in fact missing.

  “Missing? I don’t know what you are talking about!” Noah replied.

  “Scan the perimeter. I don’t want any one leaving,” Nicholas ordered.

  Noah said, “Just what we need, a reminder of your bullshit.”

  Nicholas stopped and grabbed Noah by the throat, picking him up and holding him in mid-air. Noah’s followers drew their guns on the Demon Master Arch. “Your men must not care for their lives. It would be wise to order them to stand down,” Nicholas warned Noah.

  Noah replied, “It would be even wiser if you put me down, Devil. I still have influence despite our unfortunate alliance.”

  Nicholas released Noah. “Consider yourself lucky you have some importance to Lucifer, Dark Graduate.” After releasing Noah from his hold, he, along with his men, strode through the halls of their ship.

  The Dark Graduates detested their visits, especially on the many occasions when they were unannounced. They never knew what to expect.

  As Noah looked on, Nicholas broke open the forbidden door that had been barricaded and bolted shut. He tucked his chin, and fought back the tears, still burdened over what took place in there. He turned his head, not to relive the moment. However, the memories still returned.

  Noah demanded retribution. He motioned for his Reptilian guards standing in the hall to survey the room.

  “Tell Lucifer to form an alliance with someone else.” Noah signaled his men, and they fired upon Nicholas and his small group of Devils. Nicholas broke free, and more soldiers fired upon him in the hall.

  “You stupid fucking bastard! We will eat the flesh of all those you hold dear, I promise!” Nicholas threatened.

  As he broke through the guards, Noah’s special security, Brutus, a Nephilim Giant, stopped him and separated Nicholas’s body in the hall.

  “Blessings, Brutus. It is done. May this be one step towards penance. I am so sorry, my loves.” Noah ordered his men to eliminate any Demons onboard his ship, to withdraw from Rome; and then he ordered all the Representatives to rebel against any Luciferian force. Furthermore, an Alignment between all Representatives of Planets near and far was to be issued in follow-up to the defiance.

  Noah gave further orders. “Hang their bodies from our craft as a warning to the rest. Today marks our resignation from service to these Devils. We will no longer stand bound as their puppets.”

  “SOMETHING ISN’T RIGHT.”

  On another part of Earth, undiscovered by Mortal men, Lucas and Prometheus, two Archangels, underwent protocol. They checked on the condemned Nephilim Giants confined in a secret tomb. Their pace slowed after discovering metal fragments leading up to the towering doors. The locks had been shattered, and the Nephilim Giants freed from captivity.

  “We have a problem,” Lucas said. “Over a hundred years of work ruined, and on our watch. How unfortunate.”

  They entered the opened tomb and walked through the giant door to investigate further. “They must have been unearthed by one of their own,” Prometheus speculated.

  Lucas broke in, “Wait, it is too late. Let’s not go any further until we are given word or aid. There could be some more lurking about.”

  Prometheus said, “You are right.”

  Prometheus radioed in the grave news to headquarters. They were told to remain there until more Archangels arrived to assist them with the investigation.

  A half-hour passed. Marcus, a Master Archangel, arrived and greeted them. “They’ve been set free ahead of their time. I wonder what their liberator is up to,” Marcus said to himself as the others observed.

  Prometheus added, “They would be loyal to whomever would be brave enough to free them for a course of a thousand years. Who wouldn’t want Giants serving them in their army?”

  Marcus said, “You’re right. In that case, it could be anyone.”

  Over fifty heavily armed Archangels continued inward towards the belly of the tomb. They uncovered a trail of blood. Marcus ordered his Angel’s to inspect it.

  Marcus asked, “Human blood?”

  Lucas replied, “Most likely the blood of virgins.”

  “They were led out. A sacrifice must have followed after. Most likely women. Some to bear more Nephilim abominations, and the rest consume. It’s deplorable,” Prometheus said.

  Marcus, appalled, spoke, “My God, who has done this?”

  Lucas answered, “Someone with an agenda, sanctioned by pure evil.”

  Deeper into the tomb, they passed fleeing rodents and stepped over ancient bones. They found ripped Scrolls. The suspect set fire to the vital ones. They found more Scrolls and broken doors. As their lights cleared the darkness, they encountered strange ancient writings on the walls of the tomb, a language foreign to their Immortal tongue.

  “What does it say?” one of the soldiers asked.

  However, no one knew.

  They felt the Earth slightly shaking beneath them. Marcus knelt down and touched the ground. “We are not alone. Some are still present. We need to move,” he warned.

  During their confinement, the Giants developed a thirst for the blood of men; but Angel blood stood in a class of its own, and they wanted more. One of the soldiers heard heavy breathing coming from the shadows of a hall not too far from where he stood. “Brothers, my sacrifice will buy you time to escape, Godspeed!” Aware of his misfortune, he shot into the direction of the heavy breathing, and the light generating from his laser exposed the incoming Giants. The sight alone stirred other Archangels into firing upon the Giant beasts, but their weapons hardly slowed their movements. The Giants caught up with Marcus’s Archangels and parted limbs.

  “We must retreat,” Marcus ordered.

  They appeared everywhere, blocking all exits. The Archangels set eyes upon their releaser. A Vampeer sat calmly on one of the Giant’s shoulders.

  “Stop, all of you!” Surrounded, they complied as the Vampeer descended from the Nephilim phenomenon.

  Prometheus stated, “Of course, we should have known a Vampeer would be the one responsible for this.”

  Lucas added, “Always seeking Immortality that will never come.”

  “Most of you are already familiar with me. I go by the name Luther; and yes, I am a Vampeer working for the Lord himself.”

  Marcus asked sarcastically, “Which Lord, Devil?”

  Luther answered, “Insults even in the presence of death. I admire that. However, if it will bring clarity towards your end, so be it. Some of you don’t have to die here. I am giving you an option, or let’s say an opportunity. Join Bishop, and you will live to see a new future when time dies and Eternity emerges.”

  Lucas said, “So Bishop has partnered with the Vampeers for an advantage? How am I not surprised?”

  Luther answered, “Your ruler’s days are numbered, along with Lucifer, and any other god in our path. I make this offer to you. Join us, and be free.”

  Marcus replied, “Never, I would rather humbly accept death.”

  Luther shrugged his shoulders. “So be it. I am not here for games, Archangel.”

  Luther gave two of his Giants the okay to eliminate his disapproving rival.

  Despite his rank, Marcus, the Master Archangel, issued no contest for the two Giants as they tore into his flesh and ate his remains in front of his men.

  After bringing forth torment, Luther renewed his offer to the others. “Does anyone else want to humbly accept death? I assure you, it is not quite what it’s cut out to be. Ha-ha.”

  The Giants continued feasting on Marcus, their commander, in front of them. A few of the Archangels changed heart. They surrendered their weapons. Only Lucas, Prometheus and a few other Archangels held their positions.

  During the verbal clash between Marcus and Luther, Lucas noticed an opening in a
wall down the hallway, and knew the Giants couldn’t pass through it. He signaled those around him, and they waited on his word.

  Luther spoke to those who had steadfastly refused to join him. “So, it is settled. It seems that there is no other way to change your minds, so you must die. Farewell.”

  “Come!” Lucas shouted as he tossed a poisonous smoke grenade in the air towards the Giants. It exploded and gave off a great flash shortly blinding all those exposed to its impact. Seconds later, coughing ensued and their eyes burned.

  They trailed Lucas down the hall while placing their protective masks over their faces before the poisonous gas reached ground level.

  The beasts gave chase through the toxic atmosphere like lions chasing gazelles, removing the slow and the weak. The cries of those captured encouraged the rest to move faster. They dared not look back, lest it slow them down.

  “ADAM!”

  Daniel shouted. He saw Adam soaring overhead on his Supernatural Carpet near demolished skyscrapers. “What’s going on? Where’s Abdeen and the rest?” he asked.

  Just as Daniel finished his questions, Abdeen appeared on his godlike Chariot pulled by two giant Lions of Fire. He descended at a safe distance so the heat didn’t cause any misfortune. They both looked distressed, as if they had lost something. Since the genesis of this mission, their wings displayed whitish gold. Now, Abdeen’s wings were as dark as the night itself. Darkness plagued even the most trusted Archangels; but nonetheless, they remained devoted to their mission.

  “What’s troubling you, Brethren? Where is Abdeel?” Goliath queried.

  Abdeen promptly updated his fellow Pursuers on what happened. “My apologies to you both. This is unfortunate news to us all.”

  Both Abdeen and Adam detected Lucille as she approached.

  Surprised, Daniel said, “We thought you had departed. No fault would have come to you if you had. You should have gotten as far away from here as possible. Things are only going to get worst.”

  “No, what happens here determines the outcome of this whole Universe. Who am I not to be a part of it, even if I must see death? However, I have returned with some news. The Dark Graduates have broken their alliance with Lucifer,” Lucille reported.