United Against Hate: Chapter 36

“That about does it. Can you move at all?”

The doctor took a step back putting his hands into the pocket of his worn white jacket. He had on faded brown clothes, a face like a fox, and short cut black hair that seemed to be purple in the tint of the setting sun. He sat down on what he assumed may have been a bench at one point. In the rubble of the Sanctum, he wasn’t quite sure what anything was anymore. He was just glad that he and his team had been able to put out the fires that had been burning since their arrival.

Leo sat up slowly forcing herself to not move too fast. She’d scolded her sons many times about reopening their wounds after getting hurt. And despite the magic that this man had used on her, she wasn’t taking any chances.

She sat up slowly and her body ached. Most of all her head. It pounded worse than when she took a hammer blow from Aries between the eyes. Taking a deep breath, she looked down at herself.  Her clothes were torn and singed. She had strange green rocks strapped to her arms and palms, her leg, and she could feel on of her face.

She turned her hand over and moved her fingers slowly. “Thank you,” she said to him. “What’s your name?”

“Nico. Robert Nico,” he smiled. “And it’s not a problem. You should thank her majesties for having the forethought to bring me and my team along.”

“You’re not from here are you?”

“Afraid not. You’ve met some of my friends though. Nero and his family.”

She nodded and started to move again but he held a hand out, “I wouldn’t recommend trying to stand up just yet.”

“What happened?” she asked trying to assuage her throbbing head.

“I don’t know for certain but I can go off of what some of the other survivors said. After you defeated the demon, Daze arrived and delivered a blow that leveled much of the city. You should have been annihilated.”

“So why weren’t we?”

“The Speaker. He used his powers to protect as many people as he could when the blast hit. Including you ten. But doing so used up what life he had left. By the time we arrived, there was nothing to be done for him. I can say that he died with a smile on his face.”

Leo looked down. “I didn’t know him well or long. But I guess I owe him my life.”

“Everyone had their roles to play here,” he sighed. “Though it’s impressive. When we were here, you were over one of the other Zodiac. The younger boy with the heterochromia.”

“My son,” she said quickly. “Where is he? Is he okay?”

“Yes.” Nico held his hands out to her. “We can even go see him and the others.”

“Is it alright for me to be moving already?”

He chuckled, “If we do it carefully yes.”

He extended his hand to her and she stared at it for a moment before she took it. When she did the rocks on her body started to glow brightly. Briefly, it was like her pain disappeared. She felt tired but her headache was gone. “What is this?”

He winked, “Magic.”

Pulling her along, they walked together through the rubble. There were lots of people working through the wreckage. Soldiers and regular people trying to find what was left. If their friends or family survived the fighting. From what she could tell, most of them were met with sadness. People dressed like Nico did what they could.

Navigating the rubble, they found themselves in something like a marketplace. Former stands, buildings, and fountains lay in pieces. The scorch marks from the fireball had blackened the area. But gathered around with similar glowing green stones, were the other ten members of the Zodiac.

“Mom!” Gemini ran over to her and slowed so that he didn’t run right into her. But when Nico stepped away he hugged her tightly. Grunting she hugged him back just as tightly, taking a very deep breath. She rubbed his back gently and looked down at him. “You’re okay. Thank Alpha and Omega.”

She smiled and nodded, “Yeah Gem. I’m glad you’re okay too. All of you.” She looked at the others as they came over.

“Yeah getting rid of us isn’t easy,” Caprciron said grinning wide.

“That’s nothing to gloat about goat,” Aries shook his head.

“Whatever sheep. Lemme be happy we survived.”

“How is everyone else?” Leo asked.

One by one they showed off the various glowing rocks on them and repeated similar things that she felt. Tired and aching but no pain for now.

“I saw to all of them,” Nico said motioning to the necklace he wore. It was glowing faintly as well, the same hue as their own. “I’ve never had patients quite like you all before but that comes with the territory of being Gods.”

“We’re close,” Virgo frowned hard. “But even we couldn’t protect everyone here.”

“We did our best,” Taurus said resting a hand on her shoulder. Scorpio took and squeezed one of her hands. “In war there are no winners or losers. Just survivors.”

“Speaking of survivors. We should go to the cathedral. Their leader is gone. What are they going to do?” Aquarius asked.

“I agree,” Leo said. “We owe them that much.”

Nico scratched his head, “You all are a bit of a handful. But I’ll help you get there.”

“Thank you.”

They moved together, carefully navigating the rubble of what was once the capital of the Sanctum. Many people recognized who they were and many of them had watched them defeat the demon. They got many bows and greetings of thanks. They were used to it from their own people but from strangers, it felt odd.

The cathedral along with a few other buildings had managed to avoid the destruction that the city had taken. Likely the Speaker made a choice to keep it standing amongst everything else. At the top they saw the line of soldiers that stood together like a wall to keep the people out. But as the ten of them approached one of the soldiers waved toward. Short brown hair, tan skin, and wearing a similar blue uniform as the rest.

“There you all are.”

“Mattheu right?” Capricorn asked.

“That’s right.”

“Glad to see you survived.”

“Me too,” his smile fell slightly. “You want to talk to the commander and Isaac?”

“Are they the ones in there?” Leo asked.

“Yeah. There’s been. A situation,” he said carefully. 

The Zodiac exchanged glances at one another before Leo nodded, “Let’s go find out what happened.”

Mattheu took a step back and waved, “Let them through!”

The soldiers stepped aside and they walked through. The cathedral was empty and their footsteps echoed inside it. There were cracks in the ceiling where light peaked through and most of the pews were shoved aside like a barrier. As they walked, they could hear the argument between the soldiers.

“We both know what this means!”

“No we don’t! It’s a sign with no interpretation.”

“What more interpretation do we need? It appeared only after we both came here.”

“No it appeared only once you arrived here. It can’t be more clear.”

“What can’t be?” Virgo asked as she walked forward quickly.

Isaac and John both turned, startled as the ten of them approached. But between the two soldiers, was a spear embedded in the ground. The blade was a diamond and on both sides were three interlocking ovals.

“What is that?” Gemini asked.

“A sign,” Isaac said.

“A sign that we do not agree on,” John amended quickly.

Libra stepped forward, “What is the sign?”

“I can only assume it’s that,” Aries said motioning toward the spear.

“Obviously Aries. But what does it mean,” Aquarius said smiling at her older brother.

Scowling at her, he rolled his eyes but looked toward the two soldiers for context. Isaac looked at John and John looked back at him before letting out a noise of frustration. “When the battle ended, we came to check on the speaker but found him gone. We assumed the worst and were in the process of figuring out what comes next when this came from the sky.”

“Well that’s not ominous at all,” Scorpio mumbled and Virgo giggled.

“it’s a sign from above. From the Father,” Isaac said looking at them and then John. “The speaker is dead and it’s time for a new one to be chosen. That chosen is you, John.”

“You’re rushing to that conclusion Isaac.”

“What else could it be John? The spear descended when you entered? Not before.”

“So you’re saying that the father has chosen John to be the new speaker?” Virgo asked.

“That’s what I believe,” he nodded again.

“The idea that the Father would make a new choice so soon is too much,” John disagreed.

“With all that’s happened this is exactly the time we need leadership,” Isaac said. “You’re one of the oldest soldiers of the Sanctum. We wouldn’t have survived this battle without you.”

“We couldn’t have done this without the Zodiac,” John said and Isaac was already shaking his head. “Nor could we have done it without you coleading.”

“And look you’re even trying to be humble. That’s exactly what the Father looks for.”

“What if you’re both wrong?”

They paused and looked at Virgo as she started walking forward. She stood in front of the spear and held her hand out to it. She could feel the power radiating off the weapon and shut her eyes. For a moment she could feel a pair of eyes on her. She looked toward the sky and the faintest outline of a man was there. But it disappeared as quickly as it formed.

“Both of us are wrong? What do you mean?” John asked confused. “What could you know about this?”

“Let’s hear her out,” Isaac said glancing at him and then looking back to Virgo.

He remembered his time with Virgo so there was merit to hearing out the young woman. But she turned her eyes onto the two of them. “There’s always a Speaker to communicate with the Father right?”

“Yes. It’s integral to our country,” John affirmed.

“How are they usually chosen?”

“Dreams, signs, tests, and eventually just prayer,” Isaac said ticking it off in his mind. “When they are chosen, they meet Him, and when they returned. They’ve ascended.”

“And he sends his will through the Speaker and rarely through other means?” When they both nodded at her, she pointed at them both. “What if this time then, the Speaker isn’t meant to be one person. But instead, you both.”

“What?” they both questioned at the same time.

“The spear didn’t come until you were both here. He didn’t call out to either of you specifically. He called out to both of you,” she said her eyes gaining a faint glow.”I think you both are meant to become the next Speaker.”

“Two Speakers. That’s never happened before,” John said in disbelief.

“And of any two, the two of us? I’m a Lich,” Isaac said as if they explained it all.

“And after what I’ve been through, I may as well be a mage,” John added.

“This conflict came from mistakes in the past. From unfair treatment of a mage. How much life has been lost because of this? Both of you have had magic change your lives directly and yet here you are, still loyal. I know Gods aren’t fast to change, but maybe this is the first step.”

Neither was quick to deny her claim. Instead, they thought about what she was saying. There had never been multiple Speakers before. There had never been a magical Speaker either. But the Sanctum had never come this close to destruction before let alone at its own hand.

“Could it be possible?” Isaac asked.

“I don’t know.”

“How sure of this are you?” he asked looking at her.

“Not very. I don’t know much about your god. But,” she turned and looked at Leo and then at Gemini and then back to them. “Sometimes they pay more attention than they let on.”

Isaac folded his arms, “Is there a way we would know for certain?”

“There’s one obvious one,” Gemini said looking at the spear. “Both of you touch it. And see what happens.”

“That could end well or very badly,” John didn’t take his eyes off the spear. He looked at one of his gloved hands and at the old cane he leaned on before looking at the younger soldier. “You have a husband. Do you want to take that risk?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Isaac replied. “We’re soldiers. We chose this life knowing what it could mean and they knew that too. For good or for ill. If Virgo is right, this will change our lives forever. I’m not sure in what direction.”

“If this were any other person, I wouldn’t believe it. But I’ve seen her and her siblings fight. I’ve felt the power that flows within them. It reminds me of our Father in many ways. And you’re vouching for her. So, if she believes this, I’m willing to believe in it. And Father save us if it isn’t.”

They both took a few steps forward and stared down at the spear. Hesitantly they reached to the spear and at the same time they grabbed the handle. They both gasped and there was a flash of light blinding the Zodiac. But when the light died down Isaac and John both stood side by side their arms shaking as they held the spear aloft. The symbol in the center glowed a pale blue as did their eyes. And then they faded as they let go of the spear.

“That was. Something,” John said leaning heavily on his cane.

Isaac held one hand against his chest, feeling his core pulsing, and for a second his eyes flashed purple. “I thought interacting with the Father before was something but that. That was incredible.” He nodded toward Virgo. “But you were right. He wanted to speak to both of us. Two Speakers. That’s never been heard of before.”

“So many things are changing. I hope for the better.”

“We’ll be able to do it together captain,” Isaac said confidently.

“Maybe that’s why we were paired together,” John chuckled. “Experience with youthful confidence.” But he turned toward the ten of them and bowed his head. “Thank you. For more than you know. We owe you a great debt.”

“We owe you as well,” Leo replied.

The air suddenly rumbled and they all tensed ready for a fight. A huge explosion of sound echoed above their heads and they all jumped together raising their fists, the Zodiac conjuring their weapons.

The ceiling exploded as light flooded the cathedral. John and Isaac covered their eyes but the Zodiac stared their own eyes wide. They saw the stars within the light. The wind howled in their ears and the light was glaring but then it all ended at once.

A man stood amongst them, the ground scorched from the light’s arrival. He shook himself, rubbing his face slowly. His clothes were in tatters and he had a huge hole in the chest of his shirt. His brown skin was scarred but in one piece. He looked incredibly thin, not quite emaciated but he’d seen better days. He brushed his bangs aside and looked at everyone with relief flooding his brown eyes.

“That’s. This is impossible,” Aries said eyes widening.

“It can’t be can it?” Virgo asked.

Gemini’s eyes were wide as he looked at the man. He looked at his mother to make sure they were seeing the same thing, but Leo’s amber eyes didn’t leave the man. Her hands shook and she almost felt like falling over.

“Pisces?”

“Hey Leo,” he said his voice rasping.

“Is this real? Is this really real?” Leo shook her head. “If this is some kind of illusion. Or trick or magic. I swear I’ll burn this place down!”

“Easy Leo,” Pisces raised his hands. “You did say Arkoria was going to have trouble. But you all did it. Guess you didn’t need me after all though.” He cracked a small smile at her.

“I’ve always needed you,” she said and walked straight to him. She wrapped her arms around him tightly. Gemini was the next one nearly crying as he held onto his father. One by one they came forward and wrapped their arms around him.

“You dumb fish. We thought you were dead,” Capricorn said looking at his brother.

Pisces laughed, putting his hand on Gemini’s head. “For a while I very much was.” He closed his eyes. “When Daze took me and Cancer. He ran me through with his sword and it was like what made me, me, was ripped out. It’s like I’ve been asleep this entire time and I’m just now waking up.” He looked around slowly. “Where is Cancer?”

“Not here,” Gemini said. “He’s in Noria.”

“If I may,” Nico said coming forward. “Cancer is a young man correct? Looks remarkably similar to you in fact. Twins I take it?”

“Yeah. Have you seen him?” Gemini asked quickly.

“I did. He is doing well. As well as can be in a war.”

Gemini let his shoulder sag, “Thank Alpha and Omega.” He looked back to Pisces and then just laughed finally crying. “Everything’s okay. Everyone’s okay.”

“I told you we’d bring them home,” Leo said softly squeezing his shoulder. But she looked back to Nico. “Can you get us to Cancer?”

“Me personally? Oh no. But my assistants can,” he said and drew his finger along the air. His finger glowed and he turned. Closing his eyes he nodded slowly a few times, then grinned. “It’s all set. You can take a portal at the base of the Cathedral.”

“All of us together again,” Virgo said softly. “I want that very much.”

“I think we all do Virgo,” Aries said glancing down at her.

“Are you two good here?” Leo asked looking back to Isaac and John.

They exchanged glances, a look between them that was familiar. Almost as if they were reading one another’s minds. Isaac shrugged and John motioned toward them with his cane. “We’ve got a lot of work to do but yes. We’ll be good. You’ve done more than enough for us.”

“Now that our full family has come here, we definitely want to come back,” Virgo said. “It’s all amazing.”

“Settle down Virgo,” Aquarius said. “Let’s get everyone back home proper before we talk about traveling again. Especially interacting with our own neighbors more. But coming back here can definitely be something to do in the future.”

They nodded and waved toward them one more time before leaving. They walked together down the steps following Nico.

This wasn’t their first time with portals but this one felt different. The magic inside it was unlike Alison’s or Ryza’s. When they stepped through it, they enjoyed the warmth that washed over them. Once the last of them were through, the portal closed and Nico nodded. “Truly an interesting bunch.”