Leo: Book 6 (The Zodiac Twin Flame Series)

by Rachel Medhurst

  “Leo?” Taurus called, opening the kitchen door. “All’s set. When do you want to make a move?”

  Smiling at Amelia, I raised my eyebrows.

  “As soon as possible,” she said, turning to my brother.

  She wasn’t one to hang around. Allowing her to pass him, he saluted me. “What’s going to happen after you leave them?”

  Checking my phone as it buzzed, I let the corners of my lips sink into my cheeks when I saw the text from my bandmate.

  “I’m going to do what I do best. Work on my bloody album.”

  Chapter Nine

  I wasn’t going to unite with my twin flame in this lifetime. At first, I was bothered by it, but since leaving Amelia and Freddie to their life together a month ago, a weight that I didn’t know I carried, lifted. I was free.

  We had dropped them off, telling them to go somewhere and keep their distance. We didn’t even have each other’s phone number. It was better that I knew nothing of their whereabouts so Nick couldn’t get answers if he ever managed to capture me.

  “We’ve called this family dinner for two reasons,” Aries announced, standing up from his chair.

  Father sat at one end of the incredibly long table, while Mother sat at the other. Bev, dad’s wife, sat next to him, holding his hand on the table. All the siblings and their partners had just finished eating a delicious meal of Chinese take away. The table was covered with open pots and empty paper bags.

  “I hope you’ve not blown off another limb!” I shouted, cursing when Pisces and Virgo hit my arms from either side of me.

  Aries cracked a smile, tilting his head to the side. “Don’t be jealous of my limbs, Leo. Just because I have the longest-”

  “Stop!” Most of the table shouted.

  “Ugh, you would have to be vulgar at the table, wouldn’t you?” Virgo screwed up her face, reaching out to steal my last spring roll.

  “Hey, don’t be so fussy,” I said, smirking at her.

  “Don’t be so…Leo,” she replied, her own smirk lighting her face when I frowned.

  Aries cleared his throat loud enough to calm the eruption of voices around the table. He picked up a remote control and shushed us all.

  “This is the first thing.”

  Glancing at the clock, I suddenly smiled, knowing exactly what Aries was about to do. He pressed the button and the radio came on. Everyone looked at each other, their faces bewildered.

  “We have a new band of the week to play you, starting today,” the radio presenter announced.

  As my song came on, the others stared at me. Some had smiles, while others glared. It was a mixed bag of feelings for all of them. Some were happy for me, others wanted their privacy and thought I was putting the mission in jeopardy.

  “That was quick!” Virgo put her hand over my shoulder, squeezing me. “Good on you for following your dreams. You’ll be famous by the end of the week.”

  The smirk wouldn’t leave my face as the song came to a close and the presenter praised the living hell out of it. Michael had warned us that we could be famous by the end of the week. That’s why we had already shot a video for our debut single. It would get its first play on the music channels in a few days. My life was about to change.

  A cheer went up as Aries turned the radio off and bowed to me.

  “You need to make a habit of bowing to me, brother. I will, after all, be king of the zodiacs…what with being famous and all.”

  The scoffs echoed around the room as Aries threw his middle finger in my direction.

  “Okay, okay, stop your fooling around,” our father said, quietening the table.

  Virgo raised her eyebrows at me, her small hand slapping mine when I reached for her spare rib.

  “Leo.” Father looked at me, his face not showing any sign of emotion. Typical Scorpio, he was. “As much as I’d prefer you didn’t pursue this dream of yours, I want to congratulate you, anyway. I know I said something similar at your party, but I do mean it. You know we’ll always support you.”

  Bev whispered something to him, making him shake his head. I watched them as she tried to get him to say something else, but he refused. In the end, he took his hand away from her and pointed at my mother.

  “I agree with your father. We’re very proud of you. I hope you’ll still take your mission as seriously as you do the singing. That’s why we’re here after all.”

  “Is it?” The others stared at me. “Are we literally here to have a relationship with someone? I’m not so sure.”

  I had lost count by how many pairs of eyes stared at me from around the table. We may have been taught that this was our mission, but our parents hadn’t exactly been the perfect example. Surely, if we didn’t have anything else to learn while we were in this lifetime, we wouldn’t have a life to live.

  “I’m not saying that it isn’t important,” I went on when they stayed quiet. “I’m just saying…maybe my soul chose to be a rock star this time, too.”

  It wasn’t often that I was able to shut the table up with my musings. Even my songs didn’t make them this quiet.

  “I think that’s something you all need to figure out for yourself,” Bev said, saying something for the first time that evening.

  She was a lovely, kind woman. Someone who had weirdly fit into our strange big family. There had always been my mother and father. Until they separated and did their own thing. We had been dragged into their disagreements for a while. And, in that time, Father had managed to find love with her. Even though our mother was his twin flame soulmate.

  “Exactly,” Virgo added. “That’s why our parents have become our guardians. We’re old enough to find these things out for ourselves. Leo knows not to put us in danger. He’ll be careful.”

  Nodding, I released my breath when the others chatted between them. Focus was taken off me as they turned to the people they were sitting closest to. My father and Bev still spoke under their breath so no one could hear. As I watched them, I realised something about Amelia and myself. Maybe Father would have an answer.

  “Aries?” Virgo shouted across the noise. “You said there was two announcements. What’s the second one?”

  Our brother grinned to himself as he stood again. Taking hold of Natalie’s hand, he tugged her to stand next to him. She became shy, her cheeks blushing pink as she rose and put an arm around his waist.

  “You better start losing weight,” he said, pointing at me. “So you can all fit into wedding outfits.”

  Most of the girls around the table squealed, jumping in their seats. The men mostly grinned, looking around at each other. Probably relieved that it wasn’t them making the announcement.

  “When is it?” Capricorn shouted as the cheer died down. “I want to make sure I can get time off work.”

  Capricorn, ever the practical one. She tried to tuck her frizzy black hair behind her ear as she dug her diary out of her bag. I smiled at her, the more serious of the girls. She knew how to plan strategies and get things done…when she wanted something.

  “In October,” Aries shouted back, kissing Natalie on the cheek.

  Our father banged on the table to shut us up. “Why so hasty?”

  October was only a month and a half away. That wouldn’t give us much time to get ready. Everyone would want to do something. Including me.

  “Because…” Natalie put her hand on her stomach and a gasp resounded around the room. “…I’m pregnant.”

  A whole host of congratulations, looks of horror and all other manner of things that accompany an announcement as serious as a baby followed. Cancer looked at me, her cheeks bright red. I nodded, laughing to myself when she jumped up and hugged the happy couple. At least she got her wish of being an aunt. That was really positive…and took the pressure off me.

  The attention on Aries and Natalie meant I would get away with having to explain my lack of twin flame soulmate. Especially as it was my turn to find mine.

  Aquarius came to sit next to me, a small smile on his
face. “You don’t look shocked, I’m assuming you knew?”

  Shrugging, I put my hand on his shirt clad shoulder. The dark skinned man always wore a suit or shirt, no matter the occasion. It suited him. A banking man wouldn’t be seen in anything else.

  “What about you?”

  He looked like a man who wanted to ask something but was holding back. He quickly glanced over to the happy couple while he waited for my answer. Was Aquarius ready to find his partner?

  “What about me?”

  I wasn’t going to make it easy for him, why should I? It technically wasn’t anyone’s business who I was involved with. The last thing I needed was everyone poking their oar into my mission.

  “You know what I mean. It’s your turn…Have you met anyone?”

  At least he didn’t already know that something was up like some of the others. Cancer, Derek, Virgo and Taurus had obviously kept their mouths closed, which made a nice change.

  “Not yet,” I lied. “I’ve been too busy with the album.”

  Getting to my feet, I patted his back, trying to reassure him at the same time as avoiding any more conversation on the topic of twin flame soulmates. Poor Aquarius would have to wait until everyone else had completed their mission. Although, why it had started with Pisces, I didn’t know. It wasn’t like that was the first sign in the Zodiac.

  Approaching Aries and Natalie, I pretended that I didn’t know and congratulated them the same way as the others did.

  “You are moving out, though, aren’t you?” Scorpio asked, butting in. “I mean, you can’t stay here with a screaming child.”

  His usual serious demeanour made me smile. Scorpio had a way of stinging people right where it hurt. Natalie’s mouth dropped open. Aries smiled sweetly before answering. “No, mate, we’re moving to the room next to yours. It’s bigger than ours down here.”

  Turning to Natalie, Aries whispered something in her ear. Watching them, I studied the way they were with each other. Comfortable, yet, there was something more than you would see in other couples. It was the same with all of them. A knowingness that came from the soul.

  “Have you heard from Amelia?” Virgo said, appearing beside me.

  Crossing my arms, I regarded my short, fussy sister. There was something she had been holding back since the day she had helped Freddie. Something that had been on the end of her tongue for a whole month.

  “Spit it out,” I said, drawing her away from the crowd so they could easily gush over the news without hearing what we said between us.

  Tilting her head to the side, Virgo tried to hide her smile by biting her lip. “Leo, I have dreams…” She hesitated, her frown furrowing.

  “Go on,” I encouraged, touching her arm lightly.

  “I have dreams…premonitions. I know it’s not exactly typical of Virgo, but I really tune in.”

  I nodded, not judging her. It didn’t surprise me at all that she took her spiritual self very seriously. She had always shown that side of her. She was first and foremost a healer. Maybe the premonitions helped her to know where that help was needed.

  “I saw Amelia in my dream…the night before I met her.”

  My mouth opened of its own accord, air rushing into my lungs quicker than I could push it out. My chest burned, the fire inside wanting to come out. Virgo had a secret ability too. Something she hadn’t shared publically with the others. Maybe I could tell her what happened to me. Although, it hadn’t happened since our trip back to Henry Tudors time.

  “You did?” I would feel her out first, see if I could trust her with my secret.

  Voices rose as Natalie said something to the group. I ignored them, focusing on my small sister as she crossed her arms and regarded me.

  “In the dream, she was dressed in an old fashioned dress. And, you were there, with her. You were…together…as soulmates.”

  Almost coughing, I stepped back. Opening my mouth, I frowned. Virgo ducked at the exact time fire shot out of my mouth. I clamped a hand over my face, burning my hand in the process. The fire quickly pulled back down my throat.

  “Leo?”

  Everyone rushed over, grabbing hold of Virgo and getting her out of the way. The fire was gone but the look in their eyes said so much more than words.

  “I’m so sorry.” I turned from them and ran to the door that led to the stairs.

  “Leo!” Virgo shouted. “It’s okay, I knew it was going to happen.”

  Ignoring her as the others talked and shouted, I ran through the door and down the stairway. It was quite a few flights down, but I needed to get rid of the fiery energy that consumed me. I couldn’t tell her. I still couldn’t tell anyone about my secret. I was going to tell her everything in that moment. Instead, I had almost killed her.

  My hand burned from where I had tried to stem the fire. I glanced at it, growling when I saw the blisters on my skin. That could have been Virgo’s face.

  Shoving through the door, I stumbled into the lobby of the future hotel. My lips curled into a snarl when I was faced with Taurus, Aries and Scorpio. They stood, their arms at their sides, ready for battle. They must have come down in the lift.

  “Let me past,” I shouted, ready to run them down.

  Shaking their heads, they glanced at each other. Letting the other know that they would stick together to stop me from getting out of the building. Why? I had just almost killed our sister. They needed to let me go.

  “Leo, we know something’s up. Talk to us. Don’t run away,” Aries said.

  Opening my mouth, I shot fire to the side of us, letting them know that I was prepared to threaten them. Scorpio laughed as he drew water from the nearby fountain, which I hadn’t even noticed worked, and threw it at my fire, dousing it instantly.

  “You want to punish me?” I shouted, holding my arms out to the side.

  So, let them. What happened was my fault. I shouldn’t have tried to tell anyone about me. I knew that I couldn’t, so why did I push it? They didn’t know that, though. They probably thought I got angry at Virgo and fired at her.

  A fireball whizzed past my ear, hitting the wall behind me. Aries never missed his target, he missed me on purpose. “We want to stop you from going on a rampage through London.”

  “I didn’t…I…” Surging forward, I tried to get past them.

  Scorpio dragged the water up, guiding it into me full force, pushing me back. The ground sudden started to shake, slowly at first. The water dropped away as a crack formed in the floor between me and my three brothers. Spluttering, I stood still, wiping the water from my eyes.

  “What are you doing, Virgo?” Aries marched to our sister, who stood outside the lift.

  She had obviously just stamped on the ground. Her abilities at shifting tectonic plates or cracking the ground was something she had to be careful of.

  “Let him go, he didn’t mean to do it.” Virgo stepped up to the others, her hands on her small hips.

  I gasped as the blisters on my hand grazed against my soggy spiked hair. The gel could never survive Scorpio’s water attack.

  Taurus faced our sister. “Why did he do it, then?”

  It was good that they were defending her. In their eyes, they saw that I had let my ability loose as we had a discussion. They had no idea what was going on. And, nor did Virgo. Yet, she somehow knew that what had happened was accidental.

  “I don’t know...wait!” she shouted when Taurus growled and turned back to face me. “If you don’t let him go, I’ll cause the biggest earthquake this city has seen. Do you really want that?”

  Aries rolled his eyes. “No, you won’t. You won’t harm others to stop us from protecting Leo.”

  “Try me.” The words were pushed through clenched teeth.

  I stood, dumbfounded, as they battled about me between them. Everything had shifted in the space of a second. It was amazing how life changed in a click of the fingers. It was scary, too scary. I had to get away from the others, away from the accusation deep in their eyes. My brothers�
�hated me at the moment…for the first time in our lives. Just because I didn’t want to stay and deal with what I had done.

  “Go,” Scorpio spat, pointing at the door.

  Aries and Taurus went to protest, but Virgo lifted her leg and threatened to stamp down on the ground. Running for the door, I didn’t hang around. It wasn’t that I ran so I didn’t face what I had done. I ran to stop myself from doing it again. Now only that, the burning in my chest was getting stronger. Which meant, I had to face Moron soon, otherwise he would take me without warning.

  Digging my phone out of my pocket, I dialled Megan. She was the only one who wouldn’t ask questions. My band were my best friends, but in real life. They didn’t know my siblings well. They never questioned anything I did. Which was good, yet, I needed someone I completely trusted.

  “Hello, darling, I was just thinking about you.”

  “Where are you?”

  There was a pause on the other end of the line. She could probably hear my short breath and agitated tone. I could hear it as I ran along the pavement, ignoring the lights of the cars and the few stragglers that made their way home.

  “I’m at home. You can’t come here. My father is having a small get together. Probably swinging, knowing them. Where shall I met you?”

  I held back a cry of frustration. I needed my own space, my own place. Now that I had money coming in, I could rent myself an apartment of my own. Somewhere I could escape to when I needed to time travel, or just get space.

  “Erm…at the club.”

  She agreed, quickly hanging up to leave straight away. The club was for rich people…her type of people. And, soon to be, my type of people. We had been there regularly. If I couldn’t get to a place to follow Amelia’s advice, I would get drunk. Maybe Moron would leave me alone if I was too out of it to do anything.

  My blind headed walking led me to the club. I had no idea how long it took me, but Megan waited outside when I came up to the door. The bouncer let us straight in, ignoring the boo from the queue as Megan kissed his cheek in thanks.

  “What’s happening?” she asked, linking her arm through mine as we made our way to the bar.