The Tenth House

by Ashley R Scott

  I let out a shriek as two powerful arms flash around the corner, one grabbing me around the waist and the other clamping firmly on my mouth, cutting off my scream. I squirm and kick my feet, biting at the fingers that grip my face.

  There’s a commotion in front of me, and I hear Aidan shout.

  I claw at the arm around my waist, and as I manage to break the skin, my captor sits me firmly on my butt, swearing softly.

  “Dad?” I scoot back to get a good look, wincing as the brick wall of the house bites into my back.

  “Hush.” He puts his bleeding hand on my shoulder to keep me down, peering intently through the darkness.

  “What the hell? You scared me!” My voice comes out a couple of octaves higher than I mean for it to sound.

  “I said hush,” he hisses in the darkness. “We think someone is watching the house.”

  The outlines of Aidan and Jocelyn are barely visible as I squint through the darkness, standing next to a very tall figure that can only be Capricorn. He motions for us to join them.

  Donnelly grabs my jacket and pulls me to my feet. We sneak over, and Capricorn wraps us all in his arms, with Donnelly hanging on tight to me. A bright green light flashes in front of my eyes, blinding me.

  I’m pulled in every direction. It’s like being in the laundry; first, the spin cycle, then tossed around in the dryer. My stomach turns faster than my body, and I pray I don’t throw up.

  Suddenly, I’m dumped into a pile on the floor mixed in with Aidan and Jocelyn. I groan and roll over to find Capricorn and Donnelly standing over us. We’re lying on the blankets next to our fire can.

  I sit up, rubbing my head where I hit it on the floor. “What the hell was that?”

  “My apologies. Humans aren’t meant to travel that way.” Capricorn coughs, walking gingerly over next to the window.

  Aidan pops up as if nothing happened, but Jocelyn looks a little green, staring quietly at the floor.

  I turn my attention back to Cap. “You don’t look very good.”

  “You humans never cease to amaze me with your invention and technologies.” Capricorn turns to look at me, tired, with bags under his eyes and a little pale. “No. My body is starting to fail. I’m using magic and spending more time here than is allowed.”

  I lean forward, studying him. “You’ll be okay, right?”

  “I will in time when I can stay on Polaris. Remember, I cannot die.” He moves across the room, sitting awkwardly on the pile of blankets across from me. “You did not find the stone.”

  It wasn’t a question. Capricorn already knew I didn’t have it.

  Slowly, I shake my head, staring at my hands. “It wasn’t anywhere in the house. I hope they didn’t already get it. Or maybe she hid it somewhere else.”

  “The stone is not being used.” Capricorn absently picks at the hem of his sleeve.

  “I still have my will. With the power of my essence inside the stone, Taurus would hold sway over what I say and do.” Capricorn rises again, pacing in front of the window. The neon lights filtering in through the window flash across his face.

  “I don’t know where to find it.”

  Cap glances back at me, mischief sparkling in his eye, before turning back to the window. “Think.”

  “Think about what? I didn’t know anything about any of this stuff until two days ago!” The frustration builds inside me and bubbles to the surface. “She didn’t tell me anything!”

  “Calm yourself, girl.” Cap leans his forehead against the chilly glass, leaving a smudge in the dirty film that layers the window.

  “I am calm!” My voice rises to a dangerously high pitch, as I get up and cross the room, closer to Capricorn. “I don’t know where the stone is hidden. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. Find your stone. Find his stone. Stop Taurus. I feel like I'm in a horrible dream. I can’t do this. You’re asking the wrong person.”

  Cap smiles at me, his eyes twinkling. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. One of the downfalls of our personality, I’m afraid. The upside, though, is that although you are down right now, you cannot let this go. You are in too deep. Think, child.”

  “I’m too tired to think. I don’t know where Mom could’ve hidden it.” I kick the floor, in no mood to play games.

  “Your mother tells me she’s not sure of its exact location but assures me it’s safe.” Capricorn crosses the room, heading for the door. “Come, Donnelly.”

  Donnelly nods at me as he crosses the room.

  “What are you talking about? She gave it to someone?” I cross my arms over my chest, staring at the Zodiac.

  Capricorn opens the door, pausing half in the room and half in the hallway.

  “Think.” Capricorn disappears through the door, and Donnelly follows, closing the door softly behind them.

  I stand rigid, staring at the door, my mind reeling.

  Jocelyn gasps behind me. “Ciara, is he talking about what I think he’s talking about?”

  I turn to face her, and we lock eyes, the years of our friendship allowing us to communicate with unspoken words.

  Aidan looks back and forth between the two of us. “You know where it is? You know where the stone is? Please, tell me it’s safe.”

  I look at Aidan, my stomach rapidly sinking toward my toes as if it were an anchor on a ship. “I know where it was, but if they trashed my house, they could’ve found it. It wasn’t exactly hidden. In fact, I’d just tossed it into a box to pack.”

  “I stayed with you that night you took it. There was something about that box.” Jocelyn stares into her memories.

  “We should go get it. If Capricorn thinks it’s safe, we have to keep it that way.” I turn for the door, but Aidan’s hand on my arm stops me.

  “We go in the morning. We have to be able to see if anyone is out there.” I open my mouth to protest, but Jocelyn interrupts.

  “He’s right. You know exactly where it is now. We’ll get it first thing in the morning. When we can see if someone is watching us,” Jocelyn says.

  I let out a huff, but I know they’re right, even though my stomach twists at the idea that it was just sitting there exposed in my house. What if someone went back before we did?

  “Until then, we need dinner and sleep.” Jocelyn pulls her car keys out of her pocket and jingles them.

  I pull my keys out of my pocket and toss them to her. At her confused look, I say, “I guess you’ll be taking mine if it’s clear. Since your car is still at my mom’s house.” Her sour face makes me chuckle.

  “We have dinner.” Aidan motions to the row of bags against the wall.

  Jocelyn rolls her eyes. “Actual good food, not junk food.”

  Aidan’s face falls, insulted. “It’s not junk.”

  “You want me to come with?” I shove my hands into the pocket of my jacket, but she shakes her head.

  “That’s okay. I’m just going around the corner.” Jocelyn heads out the door, closing it softly behind her.

  I walk over and drop down beside the trash can fire, the warmth of the flames seeping into my weary bones.

  Aidan sits down beside me, opening another bag of chips. He tilts the bag toward me, but I shake my head. “Do you really think the stone will be okay until tomorrow?”

  Aidan nods, swallowing a large handful of chips.

  “They haven’t found it yet, and we’ll go first thing in the morning. I promise.” He crams another handful, sighing as he chews.

  “That’s what bothers me. I’m sure Taurus's men trashed my house. I don’t know how they would’ve missed it.” I wrap my arms around my knees, pulling them tightly to my chest. “What if they have it and just haven’t tried to use it yet?”

  “We’ll find out in the morning. Try not to worry about it.” His voice sounds muffled around a cheek full of chips, which makes me laugh. “What?”

  “Nothing. I’m just still having trouble with everything. How is this even real? How am I supposed to stop this when I don’t even k
now what’s going on? There are only two days before he can get his full power back if he has his stone.” I hang my head, feeling like a whiner but not knowing what else to say.

  “Some of it you’ll learn. A lot of it will be instinct. Remember, this is who you are even if you don’t know it.” Aidan wipes his hand clean on his pants before gently touching my knee. My breath catches in my throat. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

  I slowly shake my head, swimming in the ocean of his eyes, not sure what to say. It’s been a long time since someone told me I was beautiful. I open my mouth to speak, jumping as my phone rings, the sound shrill in the moment. I fish my phone out of my pocket and glance at the screen. Jocelyn. I hit the button to answer then put it on speaker. “Everything okay? Are they still watching my Jeep?”

  “I have dinner, but I’m parked down by the new bridge. You need to come down here. Bring Aidan.”

  She hangs up before I can ask any more questions.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  We stick to the shadows as much as possible, keeping a close watch on anything that moves. It only takes a few minutes to reach Jocelyn sitting in my Jeep. She rolls down the window, leaning back so I can see that she has a passenger.

  “Sarah? What the hell is she doing here?” I take a step closer to the Jeep.

  “Get in before you make a scene.” Jocelyn punches the button, rolling up the window.

  I throw open the back door and climb in, Aidan circling and joining me on the other side. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”

  “Just relax for a minute.” Jocelyn twists in her seat, staring at me around the headrest. “I ran into her while I was getting dinner. I think you need to hear her out.”

  “I don’t need to do anything. I know who you are. Why didn’t you tell us you were Taurus’s Guardian?” If I could, I would stare a hole straight through her.

  “I wasn’t sure what you knew. I didn’t know how to tell you.” Sarah’s face falls, so forlorn that I feel my anger slipping. I have no intention of letting her off that easy, especially if she’s guilty.

  “How about you just come out with it? Were you going to tell me at all?” I continue to stare her down, but she holds my gaze, sadness filling her soft brown eyes.

  “I wanted to tell you. Taurus understood you didn’t know you were a Guardian and I was ordered not to say anything. He’s busy right now, and I had a little time to try and find you.” Sarah toys with her brown leather gloves.

  “Find me for what? I thought the Zodiacs couldn't control Guardians.” My mind spins wildly. I want to believe her, but right now all I feel is betrayed.

  “I wanted to tell you who I am. To let you know that I can help.” A spark of hope flashes through the sadness.

  “Help? You sold us out yesterday, didn’t you? You told Gresham’s men where to find that cabin. Do you know they tried to kill us? They nearly succeeded in killing Jocelyn.” I reach for the door handle, but see the tears spill down over her cheeks and hesitate.

  “I never wanted that. I’d never want any harm to come to you girls. I’ve always looked at you two like daughters.” She wipes the tears, but they’re streaming so fast that it doesn’t do any good. “I’ll help you however I can. Please, you have to believe me. I want to help you find his birthstone.”

  I exchange glances with Jocelyn, frowning. “You don’t have his stone?”

  She shakes her head, sniffing.

  “My great-grandmother hid it a long time ago and didn’t leave a record where. This isn’t the first time Taurus has tried something like this. You asked about being controlled? We’re regular people to start with, and they can manipulate us. The ritual depends on the stone to be complete. You can perform the ritual without the stone, but it isn’t as powerful, and therefore we can be controlled some, but it's not as easy.” She wipes her face again, the tears finally slowing.

  I stare at her. The fact she didn’t have it was like a punch in the stomach. That I need Capricorn’s stone to complete my ritual makes me even more anxious to find it. “If she hid the stone that long ago, why do we need to go and find it? Can’t it just stay where it is?”

  Sarah shakes her head. “I think he has an idea where it is, and I can’t risk that he’ll find it first.”

  “If Sarah has the stone, she can send Taurus officially back to Polaris.” Aidan shifts in his seat.

  “I need to send him back, Ciara. He won’t let me live my life. Can you help me?” The tears stream full force again.

  The gravity of the situation presses firmly against my shoulders, and I lean back in my seat, sighing. I study Sarah's face, trying to decide if she means what she says. “If you get the stone, how do I know you can keep it from him?”

  “He has my daughter.”

  Her statement is so matter of fact that it catches me off guard.

  “What?” I pinch the bridge of my nose, wincing at the start of a headache.

  “He has Hannah. I have to stop him, or he’ll kill her. He’ll kill all of us.” Sighing deeply, Sarah looks at me, pleading with her eyes. “No one knows what will happen if he ends the Guardian line.”

  Jocelyn raises her eyebrows at Sarah. “Do you have any idea where your great-grandmother might have put the stone?”

  Sarah glances at Jocelyn then back at me, grimacing. “I think she had it buried with her.”

  My chin hangs nearly to my chest as I stare at her. “That’s just great.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I don’t like it any more than you do.” Sarah’s shoulders drop, and she looks more tired than ever.

  “Are you saying what I think you are?” I can’t believe what’s running through my mind and I hope I’m the only one crazy enough to be thinking it.

  Sarah slowly nods her head, but Aidan answers. “Tomorrow we go to the graveyard.”

  “Are you crazy? You want to dig up Sarah’s grandma?” Jocelyn softly bangs her head against the back of her seat. “That’s ridiculous. And illegal.”

  I sag into my seat and look out the window at the river, flowing icy and black, like my emotions. “We don’t have a choice. If Taurus knows it’s there, he won’t have any trouble having someone dig her up. If we can get it first, we’ll be one step ahead for a change.”

  Jocelyn peers around the edge of the seat, glaring at me. “You’re crazy too.”

  I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to go.”

  “Of course I’m going. It’s just crazy.”

  “We’ll go first thing in the morning.” Aidan’s face is set in a grim line.

  “After my errand.” I stare at him, willing him to remember that we were going to my house first, still not wanting to give too much information in front of Sarah. Something still feels off.

  I look at Sarah, surprised at the glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Meet us here by the river tomorrow morning at ten. Do you know where they buried her?”

  She nods, fighting back more tears, and slips out of the car, shutting the door with a soft click.

  Jocelyn straightens in her seat. “Seriously?”

  I nod. “Seriously.”

  Aidan and I slip out of each side of the car. Before shutting the door, I lean back into the vehicle. “Hide the Jeep and meet us back at the building. Hurry up. I’m exhausted and starving.”

  With that, I shut my door, slipping with Aidan into the cover of darkness.

  We barely make it inside the abandoned, torn-up room that we’re using for our home when the door opens, and Jocelyn traipses in behind us, carrying a large bag. The smell of beef and French fries emanating from the bag instantly makes my mouth water. Dropping down onto the blankets, I hold out my hands, waiting for my dinner. Jocelyn rolls her eyes and fishes out a white Styrofoam box, handing it to me.

  “This smells so good.” I waste no time flipping the lid open and diving into the fries. I slowly chew the fry, savoring the greasy potato.

  Jocelyn hands a box to Aidan, grabs three bottles of water, and joins us on the floor.<
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  Aidan pops his box open, sniffing at his meal. “What is this?”

  “You’ve never had a hamburger and fries before?” Jocelyn chuckles, moving the fries over and squeezing a ketchup packet into the open corner.

  “It’s my favorite.” It’s hard to talk around the giant bite of burger that I’m chewing. I swallow hard and wash the food down with a sip of water.

  “It’s not going to bite.” I glance at Aidan and pick up some fries, stuffing them into my mouth.

  Aidan shakes his head, staring at his food. He tentatively reaches in, picking up his burger, and takes a tiny taste. His eyes light up, and he takes a second bite before finishing the first. “This is almost better than the chips.”

  I snort. “What do you mean, almost? The only thing better than a thick, juicy hamburger is a thick, juicy steak. I can’t believe you’ve never had one.”

  Aidan happily tastes a fry and dives into his meal in earnest. “I’ve spent my whole life on Polaris, except for a few short trips to Earth, but they were all business. We get a lot of deli meats, bread, fruit, cheeses, that sort of thing. I can’t imagine them serving a hamburger in the Great Hall.”

  Jocelyn and I stare at him as he laughs at his own private joke.

  “You’ve been missing out.” I lick the mayonnaise off my finger and polish off my burger and the few remaining fries. I groan, disappointed that I’d run out of food so fast, but I hadn’t been able to control myself.

  Jocelyn tosses her empty Styrofoam box to the side, lying flat on her back and rubbing her stomach. “That was so good.”

  She rolls over, watching Aidan as he mops up the last of his dinner. “I think you got it all.”

  “Yeah…” Aidan slowly sets the box to the side, looking one last time to make sure there wasn’t any food left.

  A soft breeze stirs through the room, and I glance at the window to see if it’s open, forgetting that it’s nailed shut. “Do you feel that?”

  My hair flutters around my face as the wind picks up.

  Jocelyn props up on her elbow. “Yeah, I feel it. What is that?”