Pursuit of the Zodiacs (12 page)

As he made his way inside the training hall, I watched him through the window of my office. He’d taken up smoking since the last time we met and was putting out one cigar as he was lighting the next one. The students did not expect such an older man, nor was he intimidating. They pretty much ignored him and continued with their training. But little did they or I know at the time that we were all witnessing an Elder Zodiac.

“Ah there you are Ethan,” I said as we embraced as Brothers.

“Are you serious? This is who we will be sparring with today?” One of the students joked.

The rest laughed. Some debated on who should spar with him first.

“Yes, his name is Ethan. He will be your sparring partner for the day, so prepare yourselves. Please, everyone gather around.” I motioned everyone over to one side.

The first student looked at me as if this was all a joke. “Old man, at least remove your cigar,” the student said arrogantly.

“No need,” Ethan replied.

The student dispensed fire upon Ethan. The flames had no effect as it encircled the Elder. Like a rope, Ethan grabbed and pulled the fire generating from the students body. The fire obeyed as he molded it in to a giant circle, and it hovered beside Ethan as if it was the Sun. The student could no longer produce fire; nothing but smoke surfaced from his core. “How is this possible?” He said.

Ethan replied, “Seems like you’ve lost something. Here, I’ll return it to you.”

Ethan pointed towards his sparring partner and under his authority, the circled flame returned and imploded into its own carrier. The student suffered a few bruises. It was the impact that had shaken him up. The match was over, and the
room grew silent. In shock, the students looked on while some carried Ethan’s first victim away.

Student after student challenged Ethan, and one-by-one, the students were carried off the floor. Ethan had yet to finish his cigar. Even I didn’t know what to make of it all.

“Brother, what have you been up to since the last time we’ve met?” I probed.

“I will explain later. More humility is needed here.” He faced the remaining students.

As much as they needed this, I had developed some concern for my own students. I’d come close to stopping the whole session until I saw the results. The students were learning. The defeated had humbly returned to observe. I was pleased. Without question, they would never forget this day. Someone who looked as if violence had never crossed his path humbled all eighteen of my best students without ruining his cigar.

“If it’s not us Brother, it will be that cigar that kills you,” I joked.

Each student, one-by-one, embraced Ethan. He earned their respect and they wanted to learn more.

“I think you might have taken my job, old friend.” We laughed.

Without pause, he hit me with it. “I’m afraid I have some troubling news, Brother.”

He warned that there was a Pursuit of the Zodiacs. He brought to my attention that he was one of them. He went on to say that his real name was Capricorn and that the ones responsible for financing this school were the same ones who considered my students nothing more than weapons … pawns for Lucifer. He also added that the Vampeers had a common interest in my students as well. This whole time they kidnapped and recruited mercenaries with extraordinary gifts while young and enlisted them to my school.

I said to myself, more than to Capricorn, “How did I not see this?”

“Do not blame yourself, Brother. You meant well. It’s these Devils who I will be sharing words with next.”

Just as Ethan and I feared, it wasn’t long before the school came crashing down. Like a deep fatal wound, the truth bled beyond repair. There were too many watchful eyes observing from the outside in. After reaping the benefits of recruiting students
willing to obey, the evil forces that funded this school ordered the eradication of all those who invested their time teaching.

I was at the top of the list of those who had to be removed. My mission in reporting this atrocity to the members of the Dark Graduates ended in failure by the hands of the same students I’d taught in the past. In addition to my own teachings, unknown sources outside the school had finely tuned their gifts. As instructed, the ones I’d managed to save from corruption had taken refuge. Some had become mercenaries in secret societies and organizations, including the Dark Graduates.

That was the last time I saw my old friend Ethan, or any Zodiac for that matter. He warned me to leave the school. But a stubborn Master, concerned for his remaining students, brought forth his own demise. By the time I realized that it was past time to leave, misfortune unearthed herself. Hence, this recording today as I lay here in a pool of my own blood. By the time anyone finds me, I will already be gone. I’ve come to terms with death and made peace with God. May He be with you all in these coming times.

Chapter 11

UNTIMELY MEMOIRS

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

As Ruler of the Fifth House, try to avoid too much work today; you will encounter a very strong and powerful man from the North. His visit will not be a pleasant one. The exchange of gifts will be inevitable, and one’s ego will be forever altered. Continue to be self-aware; trust your instincts, and may the Sun give you strength
.

It was midnight in Sendai, Japan, and a man headed home after a long night of drinking and conversing. He slowly walked to his vehicle, parked not too far from the bar. A bit buzzed, but not completely out of it, he realized that he had a follower and stopped.

He spotted the camera-wielding pariah and spoke, “Okay, okay, you got me. Prepare to earn your payday, because you’ve caught me in a good mood. I’ll offer only one autograph to go with those pictures.”

The man in pursuit spoke, “I am not with the media, nor am I paparazzi. I know who you are, Leo.”

Instantly, the stranger’s words sobered up the drunken actor. His follower opened an umbrella. Seconds later, it rained.

The street was absent from the watchful eyes of spectators. The alleyway was slightly lit by a hovering balloon lamp.

Leo spoke, “Judging by my Horoscope this morning, my guess is that you came a long way, my friend.”

The stranger answered, “Yes, indeed.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but it mentioned you were very strong, and I must not underestimate you.”

The stranger replied, “Yes, indeed.”

“Hmmm, a strong man from the North, huh? Well, well, you made it clear you’re not here for an autograph; so let’s just see how strong you really are.”

The stranger answered, “Of course not. And for the record, not only are you a horribly over-rated actor, but after I’m done with you, I will destroy your golden god and the secret society that issued you that lump of evil.”

Those statements struck the Zodiac’s nerve, and he replied, “Just who the Hell are you anyway!”

The stranger said, “Don’t fret about that. But if my identity is somewhat of importance to you, I will satisfy your inquiry. My name is Giloh. I am an assassin, a Mercenary, one of many sent to take out the Fallen.”

Giloh unleashed lightning bolts from a storm cloud hovering just above them.

Leo walked towards his striker, his true form intact. Lightning ricocheted off of Leo’s indestructible mane, doing a number on nearby cars, street lamps, trees, and other random fixtures.

As Leo advanced, Giloh went to Plan B. He disconnected the canopy and ribs from the shaft and handle of his umbrella. A round shield and sword sparked the Zodiac’s interest.

“Impressive,” Leo replied. Giloh violently slashed at Leo with strikes, but not enough to put Leo away. Leo’s indestructible mane strengthened, offering protection from each blow. And he let out a fiery roar that forced Giloh to dispel the cloud
over him, which Leo realized was the source of his power. The echoes of his roar caused a brief Earthquake. Leo grabbed the Mercenary, breaking both of his arms. He sunk his mighty jaws into the face of a stunned Giloh, almost ripping his head from his body. Leo clutched his chest while he choked on his flesh. He bent over to vomit. After hurling the remnants of his enemy onto the pavement, he transitioned back into his humanoid form.

“Your sender should have warned you, the Zodiacs are no ordinary Fallen. Look at you as your body twitches and squirms in its last moments. Go now. And may your disappointment settle within while you await sentencing in the Judgment Realm.”

Leo left the twitching assassin in a pool of his own blood for the World to see. Sometime thereafter, the assassin’s twitching ceased.

Leo thought about that morning’s Horoscope. “Hmmm, a strong man from the North? He was hardly a match. Something is wrong here, or maybe my Horoscope underestimated me. Ha-ha-ha!”

A group of kids on their way to school came across the fallen mercenary’s body. “Look at that guy over there!” one kid shouted. “He’s all fucked up!” It made front-page news along with the sudden Earthquake scare.

Detective Lee arrived at the restricted crime scene. He raised the yellow tape and analyzed the victim from under a white sheet. He had been in homicide for a few years and solved almost ninety percent of his cases. He took each one very seriously.

He saw a weird, abnormal print in some mud near the body. It resembled the footprint of a large cat. When they had contacted the zoo director and keepers from an animal park a few blocks away, they reported that all animals had been confined, and that none had escaped, despite the minor Earthquake. Detective Lee hoped that it would be an open and shut case. But after finding that no animals escaped, things got complicated.

The detectives went from store to store and resident to resident for signs of anybody harboring illegal large cats within the vicinity. This had to have been the deed of some kind of wild animal. The face was completely disfigured and unidentifiable. They ran the fingerprints of the man before the autopsy and found that he had no fingerprints at all.

Detective Lee ordered, “Impossible! Do it again.”

They applied ink to his thumb for a fingerprint, but the black ink never made an impression on the paper.

Detective Lee said, “What kind of shit is this?”

The detectives and medical examiners gathered around, but none succeeded in getting a print

Detective Lee wondered aloud, “Who is this man?”

“Welcome to Japan, my Brothers. Praise God! My name is Masaru, and I will be your Guide for the remainder of the trip.”

Natenal and his small group arrived from the Dimension leading to Japan with no problems other than hearing distant vulgar whispers from Demons that didn’t dare challenge them.

Masaru continued, “Was the trip a pleasant one?”

“Yes, it went well,” Natenal replied.

“I see, I see. We were just hit with a minor Earthquake coming North of Japan in a city called Sendai. All very peculiar if you ask me.”

Grenad said, “Speak on.”

“Well, in addition, Sendai was also hit with a strange murder. Someone’s face had been completely torn off, and the victim had no fingerprints. It’s top news around here.”

Natenal said, “It’s settled. Sendai is where Leo resides, and there we will meet him. We will make our move under the cover of midnight.”