The Zodiac: Chapter 20

Aries footfalls were soft against the carpet of the castle. He was dressed in nightclothes, a simple shirt and shorts. His hair was a mess but his eyes weren’t nearly as calm as his face was. His brown eyes were like a storm of indecision and guilt.

The door he walked toward was just like his and the others. All the same, because the Zodiac were meant to be equals. Aries knocked on it lightly.

“Come in.” Cancer said and his voice sounded tired.

Aries opened the door and Cancer didn’t turn to look back at him. The room was almost empty. It was like this for most of them. Their treasured possessions tended to be their weapons and their pendants. Rarely did they find something else that they really liked or wanted. Cancer however did have one thing on his wall. It was a painting of the Zodiac. It was done of them when Libra had just joined them. They were together for the first time in their generation.

Cancer was sitting at a large desk with papers strewn all across it. However at the center of the desk it was empty. His head was in his hands and fingers were digging through his hair. “What do you want?”

“A friend worried about another friend.” Aries said and Cancer sat up suddenly.

Cancer turned around to look at him and smiled calmly his eyes shifting. “Didn’t think I’d see you tonight.”

“Call it my intuition then.” Aries walked to the bed and sat down. “We’ve gotten word that our supply train was raided.  The resistance has our weapons and armor.”

Cancer leaned his head back. “Omega. How many of them were taken?”

“From what the reports say, all of them.” Aries said with a heaviness to his tone.

Cancer dug his hands through his hair sharply and then shouted in annoyance. He stood up knocking his chair over. “Dammit! Leo and Capricorn. They’re responsible for this aren’t they?”

Aries nodded. “Taurus and Sagittarius did their best to stop them but their soldiers had the element of surprise. It was a well executed plan.”

Cancer put a hand to his face and he forced himself to breathe.

“Are our men still in one piece?” Cancer asked finally.

Aries nodded. “The ones who made it out are.”

“Good,” Cancer nodded. “Then get our army ready. The resistance will be coming to our doorstep soon. Let’s give them a proper greeting.”

“Cancer are you alright.” Aries said and Cancer turned to glance at him.

“Why do you ask?” Cancer asked and he smiled.

Aries stood and looked at his friend. “You haven’t truly slept since we fought with Gemini. You’ve been going over our resources, analyzing our weaknesses or just staying here by yourself. I won’t pretend that you haven’t changed. We all know it to be true. But I fear that the man you were is gone entirely.”

Cancer looked at him and a dark look crossed his eyes. One that made Aries tense. But Cancer nodded slowly and sighed, picking up his chair and sitting down. “You’re right. I have changed Aries. The man I was is long gone. I don’t believe that Cancer is still here.”

Cancer took a deep breath. “This power, this power comes from our mother Aries. In dreams. You might remember them now. Once her children have reached a level of maturity she would give them the final piece of their inheritance. The power that would take them above and beyond what they could do naturally. The power to move mountains. To make miracles even. Alpha is meant to be the one to give us this power.

Cancer looked at Aries. “But our mother shackled us. She gave us all this power and the doctrine that we were to be subservient to humanity. That we would have no say over the growth of this country. The kings and queens of old war and we are to help and follow them. We’re Gods Aries. And yet bow are heads like servants.”

Aries listened without interrupting but he looked at him with a frown. “And that’s why you killed King Raku?”

Cancer chuckled softly. “Yes.”

Aries frowned. “Will you truly tell me why?”

“I intend to push Nerodala into a new future. To go beyond our borders. If the Zodiac are meant to be Gods, we should shape this land properly.” He paused for a moment then looked at him. “I know I sound insane my friend but this will be worth it in the end.”

Aries stared at his friend and he saw the calm in his eyes. He saw the confidence in his eyes but he also saw the darkness there. The one thing that wasn’t was the light of his friend. “When did you chance Cancer? When did you become this?”

Cancer stared at his friend and looked out the window. “Even I’m not sure.”

“I serve you Cancer. You’re still my friend. I will see things through to the end.” The ram said and the crab was silent before nodding again.

Cancer looked at Aries, saw the color in his eyes. The same darkness as his own. And for a moment his own retreated and he lowered his head. Whispering to himself, “You and Taurus have been my friends since I was a child. Sometimes I regret bespelling your minds. But I could not do this alone.”

 “I’m going to return to my room, Cancer.” He started looked at the ram and nodded. “Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Cancer nodded as the ram left. He went back to sitting at his desk and stared at the wall. Closing his eyes he leaned his head back. “You opened my eyes to the truth Daze. I almost wish I can thank you. I learned how to really use a cancer’s powers thanks to you. I won’t fail at the finish line. I will become a god. No matter what it takes.”

Gemini opened his eyes and he was confused. He remembered this place. Being in this space of empty whiteness. Where walking around felt like floating in space. It took more time than he thought but he could remember why he was there. He was there because he was going to meet someone. Someone special.

“Welcome back my son.”

Gemini whirled around at the voice though he wasn’t startled. No, as he laid eyes on the woman with her white eyes and veiled face, he relaxed.

“Hi mom.” He said softly and walked into her open arms. She hugged him gently. She could remember doing this when he was younger and he would barely get to her shoulder. Now she was going to have to start looking up at him.

As they separated Gemini frowned. “Things have… they’ve gotten worse.”

She nodded. “I know son. The day is rapidly approaching where you’ll have to fight your brothers and sisters. I never thought a day like this would come for you.”

Gemini shook his head. “There has to be something that can be done to stop it. Some other way that I haven’t thought of yet.”

“It’s sad to say but your brother is far gone from the one that you remember. “ The voice that spoke was nothing like his mothers and yet it ran with a similar quality. Gemini shivered as he felt the new presence enter the area. He didn’t understand it. He didn’t recognize it.

Turning around he was taken aback by her appearance. She was wearing a long black dress. She had a pale grey shawl around their shoulders and a beaded black veil across their face. Just like Alpha her skin was very dark but her eyes and hair were black like a shadow.

Gemini stared at the woman like he knew her but he couldn’t remember her name. Couldn’t place her face. The new woman sauntered forward and raised her hand. Her fingers dragged across Gemini’s face slowly and he didn’t flinch away.

“You’ve grown so much. To think I can hardly recognize you. Nor you me.”

“Who are you?” Gemini asked again and the woman frowned.

“Well Alpha? Why don’t you tell our son who I am?”

Alpha had been very quiet and she it was clear that she wasn’t happy. The new woman chuckled at the discomfort of the goddess. “Not going to tell him?”

“Gemini.” Alpha said finally and it seemed like she was in pain. “This is Omega. My sister and…. also your mother.”

Gemini looked at them, the revelation not processing yet. “What are you talking about? You’re my mother Alpha. Omega doesn’t have children. She has the people who die. They tell her their story and then she sends them on. That’s what the books say.”

“Well apparently the books are wrong.” Omega said. “Did you lie to your children and change their history for your benefit sister?”

“No sister I did not.” She was shaking her head. “You did not create them. After the twelve you abandoned the humans. Instead you opted to see them after their deaths. Wanting to hear the stories they told you. For that they no longer saw you as their mother. They saw you as something to fear. And they told the story in that way.”

“There was no reason to create that mewling bunch of fragile beings. What would we have a need of them when our children were already perfect?”

“Because the gift of love was not something that should only be given to the twelve. That is a gift that should belong to everyone.” Alpha said.

Omega folded her arms. “Is that what you tell yourself to mask your hurt that our other children abandoned this land?”

“Stop!” Gemini shouted spreading his arms. His eyes were shut tight and his head was pounding. “Please. Stop. And explain this. Now!”

“How dare you raise your voice to your mother.” Omega said as she began to glare.

Gemini pointed at her. “You are not. My mother.” He glared at her.

Omega glared back and he’d been on the receiving end on that before. It was like his eyes, but Leo’s as well. All of the Zodiac in one angry glare. Alpha walked to her sister’s side. Omega didn’t shirk away however her glare did dial back. Gemini stared at the two of them and he could see the resemblance. They were more than just sisters. They were twins.

“In the beginning, before the twelve, before Nerodala, before anything there was no Alpha nor an Omega. There was simply Theós. We were one being and we had all the power in the world. We wanted to fill the void that was the existence we lived in. Using our power we divided it all equally into two bodies. However all of the power could not be contained in the bodies we created. Using the excess, we created this world. However, we underestimated the amount of power we once had for there was still more remaining.”

Omega began to speak. “We tried to divide ourselves again, create beings like ourselves to help engage with and watch over our world that we created. They were powerful, Gods in their own right but not like us. They left Nerodala behind to see the rest of the world we had created. With them gone we tried again.

“So with that remaining power we created you. The power was divided once and then twice. Over and over again until the power became equal. It achieved that state at twelve. Twelve bodies to hold that energy. We took each of them, molded and shaped them. Each was unique from the others.  However there was one that was more unique than them. You, Gemini were that one, because whatever your reasons the soul that resides in you split once more. Here you were already taking on a life of your own.”

Alpha smiled warmly. “You were special Gemini and because of that we took the two halves of you, Umbra and Luce, and molded them after our own image. After all we were once one that became two and you were a soul that was one that decided to become two as well. However, we gave you the ability to return to one being again. We did not have the same choice and wanted you to have it.”

Gemini put a hand to his head as he shut his eyes. He stumbled backwards but Alpha caught him gently. He glanced at her and the concern on her face was real. She didn’t want to divulge this much information to him. She wanted to tell all her children when they were ready. When she was ready.

Omega came forward and placed both her hands on Gemini’s cheek and once again he was relaxed. He looked at her and he then glared. She smiled at him gently and then kissed his forehead.

“Cancer said we were Gods,” he whispered looking between the two of them. “I didn’t think he meant it.”

Omega took a step back and closed her eyes, “That information. He wasn’t supposed to know. Not yet. He was told it by a man. A dangerous man. A man almost as old as we are.”

“Daze. He doesn’t come from our land. But he was scorned by one of our children. And seeks to cause destruction and chaos.” Alpha closed her eyes. “But Daze is not your problem to solve. Not right now.”

“No. Your problem is Cancer,” Omega said. “He confronted us. About the truth. Why we had you all remain in the shadows. Out of the spotlight. We didn’t create humanity because we wanted to be worshipped. We created humanity because we realized that we couldn’t be there for you all. We wanted you twelve to have a family that you could eat with, laugh with, and grow and love.”

“But Cancer wasn’t satisfied with that,” Alpha closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. “He wanted to become what he was born to be. And we weren’t going to stand in front of him. We asked him the very same question we will ask you. He gave his answer and wields the power he has now.”

“I haven’t seen a Cancer wield the power of subjugation in so long,” Omega frowned. “I would be proud if not for him using it on his own siblings.”

“Wait. Is that why the others follow him? Why? Why did you give him that power? Why haven’t you stopped him?” Gemini almost shouted.

“If we interfered every time the world of mortals needed help you would never have grown to think for yourself,” Omega said.

Gemini grit his teeth together for a moment, “Why are you both here? Why now?”

Alpha dipped her head. “We’re here to ask you a question. What is it that you want most in the world?”

“Anything in the world?”

Omega smiled. “Anything in the world my son.”

Gemini stared at one and then the other. “My friends. My family. I want to protect them. I want to make sure they can be happy. I’d give anything to have my family together again.”

Omega looked at Alpha who returned the look. Omega made a sound almost like a sigh but Alpha was smiling brightly. “Yes, that’s my son.” She said softly.

“Our son,” Omega turned to look at him. “Separate Gemini. It’ll make this simpler.”

Gemini glanced at her confused but he did as she asked. “Split Gemini.”

Luce and Umbra appeared and the goddesses stepped forward. Alpha brushed hair from Umbra’s face while Omega tapped Luce’s nose gently. The goddesses held their cheeks in both hands and energy flowed forward. The warmth that flowed forward and surrounded the pair of them was more than they had produced before. It reminded him of the energy that appeared whenever the twelve of them were together.

The twins tilted their heads back and suddenly they were one again. Gemini raised his hands, staring at them as if they looked different. His body felt lighter, his eyes seeing clearer. Everything was different but it felt familiar.

“Zodiac Gemini.” Whispering the words softly he was surprised at how they just appeared in his mind. The sensation that washed over him was amazing. His hair and his clothes wafted up by a strange breeze. The faint silver light that flowed around was part of him. He felt his constellation appear on his body and saw the stars decorating his fingers.

Alpha and Omega looked at him and they both had a similar smile on their faces. Gemini turned to look at them and his face was ecstatic however it didn’t last for long. “So what happens now?” Gemini asked.

“You decide Gemini,” Alpha said. “What happens now is completely up to you and your siblings. Good luck my son. I’ll always be watching.”

“We’ll always be watching.” Omega corrected.

As they spoke things started to fall apart. The white world around them was crumbling slowly. It was turning black. Slowly but surely it consumed the world around them. Shutting his eyes he waited for it to consume him as well.

With a gasp his eyes opened and sat up. He looked down at his hands chest rising and falling quickly. They were the same hands as always. He was the same person he always was. Shaking his head, he glanced to the side and saw Aquarius there. She was on her side, fast asleep one of her hands against his hip.

Brushing his fingers through her hair gently he laughed. She grumbled in her sleep and shifted slightly. Something about how he was now he could see something different in her. It was like she had a glow to her. He wondered if this is what they looked like when they had their final power. And maybe you could only see it if you also had the power.

“Stop staring at me.” She said softly and Gemini was startled.

She opened her eyes and sat up. Her hair was a bit of a mess but she smiled at him sleepily. She adjusted her nightgown slightly and then pressed her hands against his cheek and forehead. Frowning she tilted her head to the side.

“You’ve changed Gem.” She said softly and smiled. She frowned as she stared at his face and tried to place exactly what it was then gasped. “Oh! You’ve done it haven’t you? You have it.” She said excitedly. 

Gemini laughed lightly nodding. “Yeah. It was… it was weird to say the least.”

Aquarius got up and took both his hands in hers. “You have to show me Gem.”

His eyes widened slightly as he frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I want you to show me yours. Don’t act stupid Gem.” She was already out of bed and going to find her boots. Her nightgown was like a dress however it stopped around her thighs.

Gemini opened his mouth to object but sighed and shook his head. No arguing with her. Getting out of the bed he went to his pants and his shoes. He was wearing shorts and his shirt currently. Once somewhat dressed and standing with her he held out his hand. She took it gladly and pulled him out of the room. They took the closet pathway that would take them topside.

It was dark outside but they could see the sun starting to peak from the edges. It was close to dawn. They came out of the cellar of a general store. Climbing out and onto the ground before they were running through the streets. Aquarius was leading them to the outskirts of Orrin.

Throwing her hand into the air a circle of light appeared in the midst of the still waters. They both jumped forward and then fell through it. They came out on the other end, their momentum tossing them onto shore. Surprised at the change Gemini looked around them slowly, laughing however he slowly stopped.

“We’re at Aquarius Lake.” Turning to look at her he gave a confused look.

She nodded. “I wanted to come back here. I wanted to come back one more time.”

Gemini frowned at her words but she hit his chest lightly. “Come on, show me Gem. I want to see it through my own eyes.”

Gemini smiled lightly and nodded. “Alright. Zodiac Gemini.” The power that washed over him was still new. It sent a shiver down his spine but it made him grin all the same. His feet left the ground and he was floating gently.  The silver constellation floated around him and he took a slow breath.

“Amazing.” Aquarius said softly her mouth slightly agape. Gemini floated forward and then backwards as he got used to this. He hadn’t tried this before. Unlike when he used his secondary power the wind was keeping him aloft instead of him becoming the wind.

“This is pretty cool.” Gemini said as he raised his hands and went upward slightly. He spun around quickly and then brought himself back down so that he was standing. He didn’t want to get too crazy this close to the castle.

Letting the breath out the energy flowed out of him. It faded into the air and everything settled down properly. Shrugging his shoulders slowly he turned toward her and raised his eyebrow.

“So that’s what I look like when I do it?” She asked.

Gemini laughed but gave her a swift nod. “No. You’re more beautiful.”

She giggled and grabbed his hands and looked up at him.  The mirth and laughter faded away slowly and her face was saddened.

“Moments like this, they’re gonna go away aren’t they?” She asked softly and Gemini shook his head.

“No, they’ll be coming back the same as always.” Gemini said frowning.

Aquarius frowned harder. “But not the same as they are now.”

Gemini shook his head once more. “No… maybe not the same as now or before but,” He pulled his hands away from hers and looked into the distance. “I don’t want to think about that. I don’t want to be forced to lose my family. Sometimes I wonder if I could have stopped this before it happened. Stopped Cancer when he first came to me and I thought he was acting weird.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her forehead against his back. “I know Gem. I feel the same way. But don’t do that to yourself. To put yourself through that guilt. It only causes pain.”

Of course she knew and blamed herself too. She loved the times they had together as one big family. Gemini couldn’t imagine that he had been selfish enough to ignore that fact. Slipping forward he turned around and then cupped her face in his hands.

“We’re going to be together again. All twelve of us. I promise.” He said and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’ll hold you to that Gem.  I’ll be right there making sure that it happens.” She said and leaned up to kiss him.

As they finally separated Gemini smiled gently. “I wouldn’t have it any other way Aqua.”