The four Zodiac were gathered in their tent staring at one another. Virgo was sitting on the bed while Cancer and Gemini were pacing back and forth in tandem. Scorpio stood near the entrance her arms folded and face a mask as she looked down.
“I know we agreed to do this but is that really the smartest idea?” Cancer said glancing between the three of them. “I mean another dimension? Have any of us ever done something like that?”
“Kinda,” Gemini said quickly getting a sharp look from everyone. “The old me said that when we go visit our Mothers it’s kinda another dimension.”
“Well we four haven’t done that yet,” Cancer said shaking his head. “So we haven’t done that.”
“What’re you getting at,” Virgo asked.
Cancer started to say something but then he shook his head again. “I don’t know. Just that this entire thing. It’s bigger than us. A lot bigger than us. Dangerous. Are we sure that we want to go there?”
“Yes,” Virgo said without hesitation. “I’m not going to abandon them to do this on their own. Not after coming this far.”
“I also think we should do it,” Gemini said. “We trained for this. Sure we came here because Princess and Scorpio wanted to know more about themselves. But it’s bigger than that now. The whole world’s in danger.”
“Not our world,” Cancer corrected him. “Just this land. We could go back home and never have to worry about this again.”
“Except that’s not even remotely how this would go,” Scorpio said getting everyone’s eyes on her. “The Ouroboros started this wanting to absorb the four God’s that reside here. Once they have those four, where do you think they’ll set their eyes next?”
“Home,” Cancer said softly.
Scorpio nodded, “Exactly. They’ll go to Nerodala and try to take us and expand on whatever undead nightmare that Pride has planned. Except they’ll be empowered by the four Gods here. And I doubt that even the twelve of us will be able to stop them. No, I know that we won’t be able to. This isn’t just about stopping them and saving this land anymore. It’s about saving everyone.”
Cancer looked at her and nodded slowly, his eyes going toward the ground, “I believe you. But I can’t help it if I’m scared.”
“You think we’re not?” Scorpio said and offered him a smile. “This whole thing terrifies me.”
“Me too,” Gemini added.
“And I,” Virgo said lacing her fingers together and frowning. “All of this is frightening. But more than that fear is my faith in our Mothers. They’ve guided us this long and protected us. And now we have the chance to save our newly found siblings. Our Mothers will definitely look after us. As long as work together I believe we can do this.” She huffed taking a deep breath, her face somewhat red.
Cancer looked at her and laughed, “Nice speech Princess.”
“Well said Virgo,” Scorpio said coming over. Virgo blushed and beamed at her. Scorpio walked over to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. Scorpio glanced at her and then looked back at the twins who also glanced at each other.
“So are we in agreement then?” Gemini asked spreading his arms. “We’re going with them.”
“Yes,” Scorpio nodded.
“Mmhm,” Virgo agreed.
Cancer made a face but finally nodded, “Yeah. No way I can leave you all to do this on your own.”
“Awesome,” Gemini went over to his brother and wrapped his arm around him tightly despite his mild protest. “You know. We’ve gone further than the other Zodiac before us.”
“What do you mean?” Cancer asked finally extricating himself from his brother.
“As far as I know none of the other Zodiac have ever journeyed this far away from Nerodoala,” he tapped his forehead. “Most of them have traveled around Nerodala and the surrounding lands. But going past the mountains. Coming here. None of them have. There aren’t even records of this place’s name.”
Cancer nodded slowly, “You may be right. I know the previous Cancers have wanted to but they never took the leap. Peace has been hard to come by. There’s always something going on in the country.”
“That makes sense based on what I remember,” Virgo said and frowned. “Though I don’t think Virgo has ever wanted to pass too far away from our Mothers’ realm. Though even they’ve never known about our Mothers’ other children.”
“Were they kept a secret?” Scorpio mused. “Or maybe they were a piece of history they’d rather have omitted.”
“Who knows,” Cancer shrugged. “There’s still many secrets left to uncover. The previous Cancer wanted to investigate the ocean beyond Xye. See where it went”
“What makes you think something is beyond there?” Virgo asked curiously.
Cancer looked at Scorpio and Scorpio grimaced but nodded her head, “I’ve gone to the border of their country. Listened to the stories from the pirates. They talk about fish people. And people making things from nothing. Like magic.”
“Well we’ve already visited here. Maybe we should go there next,” Gemini suggested shrugging his shoulders. “Wouldn’t be a big deal.”
“No way mom or dad doesn’t go with us if we do that again,” Cancer said.
“Let them come. Especially dad. He’d love to go with us,” Gemini smiled. “I miss them actually.”
“Me too. Mom, dad, Aqua, Cap, everyone,” Cancer said. Taking another breath and blowing out from his cheeks he looked at all three of them. “Okay. Let’s make sure we all survive this. Watch each other’s back. So that we can make it back in one piece and see home.”
At the stables, Alistair stroked the mane of Eaergo. The grey horse stared at him with passive eyes, his tail swishing back and forth. He reached toward a bag against one of the poles of the saddle and pulled out a brush. He began brushing the horse’s flank slowly and keeping his gaze on the animal but his mind was elsewhere.
His mind was on the task ahead of him. The Necropolis. It sounded like something out of a book. Not a real realm that he was about to enter with not only his lovers but his closest friends to take on a cult. But it was something that would happen before the day was out. He knew his sister and Vanye would figure it out relatively soon.
“You know brushing him isn’t something that you have to do,” Benidict said walking through the stables.
Alistair nodded, “I’m aware but between him and Noir I feel like someone has to take care of these animals. They’re used to a certain type of treatment after all.”
Benidict thought about that and nodded, “True. We used to have servants to take care of our horses. And now we don’t even have a kingdom to come back to.”
“Not yet at least.”
Benidict nodded, “Assuming we survive this her Majesty will return and resurrect Cerise from the ashes. At least that’s what Mori tells me.”
“And from Mori is the voice of Her Majesty right?” Alistair asked and Benidict nodded. “I want her to be correct. If for no other reason than for you and Mori. I want Cerise to come back.”
Benidict laughed and lowered his head, “You would wish for the return of Cerise for merely your lovers. I cannot tell if that is love or the true kindness that resides in your heart.”
“Can it not be both?” he continued brushing the horse and Eaergo watched the two of them and only the slightest twitch of the tail showed he enjoyed it.
“It could be. And imagining it to be both makes me wonder what I did to deserve a man such as you. Her Majesty knows I have not been the best of men. To deserve you seems like some sort of blessing I don’t deserve.”
“Deserving or not it is the life we have now,” Alistair said. He stopped brushing Eaergo and walked toward Benidict wrapping his arm around him and then kissing him softly. “I have you and Mori. I am very happy. So at the very least, I deserve you no?”
Benidict wrapped his arms around him and said, “You may have a point there Al.”
They shared another kiss and Benidict pulled away going to the saddlebags and picked another brush. He walked toward the stable where Noir stood, a simple black horse, but she enjoyed the attention more than Eaergo. She turned to look at Bendiict as he approached and chuffed pleased as he began to brush her.
“You know,” Benidict began. “We’ve never discussed you coming with us.”
Alistair peaked out and looked at him, “What do you mean?”
“When Her Majesty returns and Cerise grows. You’ll come back to Cerise and live with us. At least that is what I hope for.”
Alistair blinked surprised. He hadn’t thought about it much either. “I am for all intents and purposes a Sanguiknight. And I wouldn’t want to give up you two. So yes. I would. I’d miss my sister. A lot. We’ve been together since always. You know the first time we were really separated was when she went to train with Vayne and I met you.”
“Are you saying that without your sister’s influence you fell for a gentleman like me?” he asked chuckling.
Alistair shook his head smiling, “You know what I mean Ben.”
“I believe I do. You two are twins but it’s time for you two to grow into your own people. Even if that means being apart.”
“Exactly. That’s assuming we all live through these events,” he nodded and looked at Eaergo. “Too bad you likely won’t be able to come with us. Easier to go on foot assuming we teleport right in front of the Necropolis.”
“There you two are.” Both turned as Morrigan strode into the stables. Both horses reacted, stamping the ground and standing a little bit straighter than before. They turned to look at her and yet Morrigan only had eyes for her men. She went to Benidict kissing him and then Alistair doing the same. “What are you two doing here?”
“I was following Alistair,” Benidict said with a chuckle.
“I haven’t been here to visit Eaergo. He took care of me more than once in Noria. At the very least I could give him a bit of attention.”
She reached past him and stroked Eaergo’s head and the horse lowered his head. She rested her hand against the flat of his head and smiled, “Well met Eaergo.”
“So you were looking for us Mori?” Benidict asked. “What’s wrong? Or did you just miss us?”
“Can’t it be both?” she asked. “But there is a reason I came to see you. Before we go I wanted to make sure that you have both fed. Properly fed, not just the kind that leads to us having sex.” She looked at Benidict and he pretended to look coy.
Alistair nodded his face turning serious, “We don’t know what’s going to be on the other side of that portal. We might as well be as strong as we can be. But what about you?”
She shook her head tapping her chest, “This provides for me in that way. Now if I feed, it is purely for pleasure.”
“I don’t know if I like that,” Alistair said almost pouting. “I enjoyed feeding you.”
She stroked his jaw and smiled kissing him again but Alistair didn’t let her pull away. Surprised she leaned closer into him tilting his head back slightly reveling in the softness of his lips and the quickness of his tongue. But she pulled away more forcefully tracing his lips with her thumb.
“I said feeding for sustenance, not pleasure this time,” she chided though it was halfhearted.
“Yes. There will be plenty of time for pleasure later,” Benidict said coming up behind Alistair and wrapping his arms around him. “But for now Al we feed and soon we fight.”
Morrigan nodded and walked toward the two of them exposing both her wrists. She didn’t trust the two of them or herself to be able to feed from the neck. Alistair took her right and Benidict took her left. They both bit down, their teeth piercing the skin and letting her blood flow like a river beyond a damn.
They’d shared from the vein many times in the past and the process was almost routine in how simple and efficient they were. They fed for only a few minutes, trying not to savor the taste of her blood. Since taking in the Queen’s core her blood had changed, electrified with power beyond them.
They both pulled away, wiped their mouths and both of their eyes were burning red. Something that would fade away in time. But the exhilaration in their veins was something that would stay with them. And all three of them felt it together in the air. A ripple of magic that was entirely foreign but heralded something more.
Morrigan’s eyes were glowing brightly, “They’ve done it. Let’s go.”
They nodded and Alistair said his farewells to Eaergo and even visited Blaze for a moment before leaving with them. Along the way they found Vincent sitting outside one of the inns. He was staring up at the sky a tankard between his legs. He jerked forward, looking at the trio of Cersians and waved.
“What are you doing out here bandit?”
“Nice to see you too Morrigan,” he grunted as he stretched out the ache in his limbs. He shook his head severely to wipe away any of the buzz that was still hanging around him. “You feel that like a minute or so ago?”
Alistair raised his eyebrows sharply and looked at him. “You mean you felt that?”
“I thought he had no magical talent,” Benidict teased.
“I don’t,” Vincent replied quickly. “At least. I hope not. Not trying to get pulled into this magic crap more than I already am.”
“Looks like things may be changing for you bandit,” Morrigan pulled him to his feet. “It’s time.”
That seemed to sober him up. Making a grim face he sighed but motioned for her to go. “Right behind you.”
The four worked their way back to the proving grounds and along the way met the Zodiac. Just like them they felt the surge of magic and wanted to investigate the source. Beating them however were Ryze, Ryza, and Orion. They were standing outside the tent along with Vayne and Alison.
“I understand the basics of this spell,” Ryze said spreading his hands, the last afterglow of energy leaving them. Touching his thumbs to his fingers he looked at his sister who was doing a very similar thing. “We’re the failsafe then.”
“In case things go badly yes,” Alison nodded but the moment she saw Vincent she walked straight over to him and pressed her forehead against his chest. “Devising magic is a tiring process.”
“But ultimately rewarding,” Vayne added and appraised their group. “Is this everyone?”
“Not quite,” Morrigan replied and whistled. Like coming out of the air itself they appeared, the final two Harlequin came and bowed before Morrigan. “Now we have everyone.”
“Harlequin. We thought their order were wiped out. Formidable allies indeed. Alison let us begin the spell. We assume you all will want to address one another before we depart.”
Taking a deep breath Alison went back to her teacher’s side and they began to weave their hands through the magic, chanting and channeling power that came from both the demons inside them and the natural conduits of magic that they were. The air turned to electricity indicating the magnitude of the task. While they worked Morrigan turned to address those that had gathered.
“I don’t have to tell you all why we’re here or what we’re doing. You’ve been on this journey with us from the beginning. You’ve all faced off against the Ouroboros. You know how strong they are. But I’ve also had the chance to fight with you all and I know your strength. Not only can we do this, we have to do this. We succeed. No matter the cost.”
It wasn’t a rousing speech but it had the cold edge of truth to it that cut away any doubts or fears. If they failed here, they could say goodbye to everything and everyone they cared about. Morrigan met the eyes of each person assembled and nodded to them one by one. Turning around she looked at Alison and Vayne as they stepped apart.
They threw their hands aside and the portal that appeared was nothing like the ones prior. It appeared like a crack in the air, ripping away more and more and revealing a deep black nothing. Cold air rushed out and there was no sign as to what would be awaiting them on the other side. She looked at the mages and both nodded that it was complete. Taking a steady breath and with one hand on her sword, Morrigan was the first to cross the portal and enter the Necropolis.
The Harlequin Library 