Pursuit of the Zodiacs (40 page)

They landed, and prayed before Ithiel’s upside down crucified corpse. “Who did this!” Enraged, Abdeen helped Adam, Zodeen, Levi and Cancer carefully remove Ithiel from the cross.

“They made me watch!”

They could hear the cry of a panic-stricken Bookkeeper as he came out of hiding. Abdeen grabbed the Bookkeeper and demanded that he tell them who killed Ithiel.

“Ahh!” The Bookkeeper held his injured shoulder and hit the ground as Abdeen released his grip. Adam stopped Abdeen from doing any further harm to the Bookkeeper. “Brother, he’s in shock. Give him a moment to recover.”

Levi added, “Yes, he’s right, Abdeen. He clearly isn’t himself right now.”

“They made me watch!” That was all the information they could get out of the Bookkeeper. He continued rocking back and forth, weeping and holding his injured shoulder.

Levi and Cancer investigated the area. Judging by the prints in the ground, there had been at least five others. They followed the tracks, which brought them to a lifeless Jedediah. His head had been removed and placed on a spear.

Cancer commented, “This was more than a message.”

Levi asked, “Your meaning?”

Cancer continued, “This was a declaration of war, my friend. Whoever did this despises you in full.”

Levi pointed out, “We’ve gained many enemies since this campaign opened. Once the Bookkeeper collects himself, we will know more.”

Cancer pointed to some others in the distance. “Maybe you’ll get more answers sooner than that. We have company.”

Off in the distance, they saw a few astronauts walking towards the scene, workers from one of the Moon bases. Judging by their heavy, outdated attire, they lacked the advanced gravity-resistant technology required to roam the Earth’s Moon freely.

Zodeen spoke, “It’s as clear as the very Moon we stand upon. They bear the Mark of the Beast.”

Abdeen, infuriated over the loss of his comrade, went to meet the visitors. “I’ll handle this.”

He removed Jedediah’s head from the spear, pulled the spear and thrusted it into one of the astronauts, making him one with the Moon. Abdeen couldn’t help but notice the emblem representing their evil society on their backpacks. “I condemn you Devils back to Hell!” He set them on fire and walked away with his back to their cries.

Abdeen spoke, “Cancer, since the Moon is your Ruling Planet, how much time do we have left before it starts its alteration?”

Cancer answered, “Not much. You should all start heading out now.”

Abdeen asked, “Aren’t you coming, Brother?’

Cancer replied, “I’ll return after the Super Moon has finished its conversion. The power it generates will revitalize me. If transportation is a concern to you, friend, don’t worry. I have gifts you have yet to see. I will meet you back at the safehouse.”

Levi said, “Don’t make us have to come back for you, my friend. You know we will.” Levi, despite losing one of his comrades, sought to uplift the group with a joke.

Cancer replied, “You have my word, Brothers. I will return.”

And so, The Pursuers left the Zodiac behind. They recovered Jedediah and Ithiel’s body and assisted a distraught Bookkeeper aboard the Mosqidou Spacecraft.

Capricorn left the vicinity along with his statement.

“Are there any more survivors?” A police officer shouted.

Battered and bruised, but alive, Sagittarius, Aquarius and Libra were in stable condition following their plummet into the manmade sinkhole. The EMTs went through their protocol as the police and firefighters searched for more survivors. The summoned Dead Rising Demons from Capricorn’s powerful gift had retreated to the burrows of their Underworld. With no signs of immediate danger, they received aid from the medics.

Sagittarius said, “That boy would have been a huge service to our mission if it weren’t for the two of you! How could you be so foolish?”

Libra responded, “Our apologies. We should’ve known spies were among us, and should’ve chosen our words more wisely.”

One of Sagittarius’ wings had been ripped from his body. He grimaced while one of the EMTs applied stitches and disinfected his open wounds. The EMTs had yet to believe their involvement in aiding this supernatural being before them. They finished and wrapped his wounds. “We must get rid of them. They know what I am,” he said privately.

Libra spoke, “That won’t be necessary. Have you been watching the news lately? The deception has been brought to the fore. The humans are aware of the existence of unfamiliar things. You of all should know that.”

Aquarius added, “They know of the existence, but not the technicalities that follow. As far as we know, they think we are Angels or something better.”

Sagittarius said, “We’ve been here long enough. We need to leave before we meet their cameras and give up our location.”

“There’s been another sinkhole, this time on Donavan Road,” one of the firefighters said to another group of coworkers.

Libra overheard him. It’s the same road where her Uncle resides. Libra said, “No, please. He couldn’t have!”

They rushed off the scene, but not without the increasing eyes of onlookers.

As they approached Libra’s Uncle’s house, they saw familiar events similar to the carnage that they’d left behind. Uncle Charles’ house had become yet another piece of real estate to fall victim to a sinkhole. Libra got out of their moving vehicle and ran towards a house no longer on its foundation. She broke free from the firefighters grasps and ran to the destruction. With her worst fears met, she approached and removed the bloodstained sheet. Hardly recognizable, Uncle Charles stood as another
statement left by the Zodiac child. Capricorn’s lust for retribution struck again. She collapsed to her knees and cried out.

Sagittarius said to Aquarius, “You two have created a monster, but yet that boy never ceases to amaze me. Not only can he summon the dead, but within minutes he is able to send any structure to the pillars of the Earth.”

Aquarius replied, “His gifts are unique indeed. I can only imagine what he will become by the time he’s an Elder.”

DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS NEVADA

A little boy cried. He rejected the help people offered, concerned while boarding the train to another city. He entered a private stall and locked it, not certain exactly to where the train was headed. He took out a picture of him and his Father.

“You have gifts and the mindset to create your own destiny, Capricorn. Your actions must be used to manufacture an honorable one.” It was one of the many bits of wisdom that his Father had imparted unto him while growing up. He wiped tears from his face and proceeded to the window to partake of its view.

Chapter 24

THERE WILL BE OBSTRUCTIONS

“Sometimes, even the greatest of techniques will, at some point in time, reveal their flaws.”

- P
OPE

T
hey reached Vatican City where everyone exited the limousine. Zen and Demetrius waited outside as the two summoned Zodiacs entered the heavily guarded underground fortress of the Pope. It had all classes of Super humanoids, Demon Angels and extraterrestrials. Security increased once the Vatican learned of the Queen of England’s assassination. In her honor, murals and paintings covered most of the walls.

“It’s like we never left the White House,” Pisces mumbled to herself.

The two Zodiacs proceeded through a chapel archway to a large vaulted room where they saw the Pope formally seated on a golden throne. At a distance, they saw the Pope with a vile grin on his face. Five Demon Master Archangel’s guarded his throne, positioned not too far from his side. With his throne covered with pure gold, his chair alone could pay to feed the entire population of Africa for months. Yet, they still starve. This was no Pope, just another pawn for Lucifer.

“The Holy Father requests that you come closer,” said the Pope’s assistant to Taurus and Pisces.

Taurus mumbled, “What’s wrong with him? Can’t he speak for himself?”

The Pope’s assistant answered, “Prior to your summoning, entities tried to take his life. Fortunately, he survived, but ended up badly wounded and is still recovering. Currently, he is undergoing some complications that cannot be discussed right now. Therefore, I will be his translator.”

Taurus spoke directly to the Pope. “We did not come all this way to speak to the hired help. Why have you summoned us?”

The Pope struggled to move. He whispered in his assistant’s ear as he was given a golden cup of what they believed to be blood. His assistant said, “He says you have caused a great deal of disorder.”

Taurus replied, “Yes, we are aware.”

The assistant continued, “He says the only reason you two are alive right now is because Lucifer has an interest in you. But if it were up to him, he would feast on your flesh, and his golden cup would be empty, but for the remnants of your blood.”

Taurus replied, “Wait just a damn fucking minute! You must be drinking a little too much blood in that golden cup of yours. I understand you’re upset, but we won’t stand here and be threatened!”

“Watch your tongue, Zodiac, or you will be forced to continue your mission without one.” As soon as the Pope spoke those words, the Demon Master Archangels shortened their gap, but the Pope signaled them to hold their positions.

Taurus replied, “Just when things were getting good, you deprive your men of death. You can continue with your foolish games all you want, but I will not stand here and be ridiculed unless you have something important to spew out of that rotten tongue of yours your, Excellency,
”
he said.

Taurus motioned Pisces to follow him.

“We’ve discovered Aries’ whereabouts, Zodiac,” the Pope said, partially able to speak due to the blood he’d consumed since the arrival of his guests.

Taurus and Pisces stopped dead in their tracks. Taurus had a grin on his face. “Your words have meaning, but why am I getting the impression that this news could’ve been presented over the telephone?”

The Pope answered, “This news was too important to gamble, in case an infiltrator had lucked out and hacked your calls or messages. It had to be delivered in person. Besides, there is word that she is not too far from here.”