Pursuit of the Zodiacs (36 page)

Virgo asked, “What did it say?”

Scorpio replied, “It’s my business, not yours.”

Virgo said, “Very well.”

The heart attack slowed them down, but they saw no Vampeers in sight. Virgo still felt their presence nonetheless and urged to move forward.

“Over there,” Virgo pointed at a carnival event in progress with a huge human gathering. “They will pose no threat to us, and we can blend in with the crowd.”

At a distance, Vampeers changed their forms and blended in with the crowd as well. “Shit, you were wrong. Let’s just stay and kick their ass,” Scorpio said.

Virgo replied, “Not in public, boy. Our identity must remain hidden. Besides, we cannot best them until our Gems are fully restored. Let’s move.”

She flagged down a cab. “Get us somewhere else … fast.”

“What the Hell?” The driver could see four men in his rear view mirror running with incredible speed. He hit the pedal, and the car accelerated. “Friends of yours? They seem really angry.”

Scorpio laughed to himself as they made their escape. With no more danger in sight, Virgo gave the driver their destination.

They arrived in the parking lot of a gated community forty-five minutes later. “This is where we part ways,” she paid the driver, including an extremely generous tip.

A trail of blood ran down Scorpio’s right arm. “You’re hurt. Let me see,” Virgo said.

Scorpio replied, “It’s nothing.”

Virgo replied, “Don’t be stubborn, let me see it.”

She grabbed him and saw a gash just under his armpit. She applied pressure to the wound, revealing her healing gift.

Her healing ability worked in seconds. The wound closed before his eyes. The bleeding stopped and he felt no more pain. Scorpio displayed an unusual sign of gratitude. “Thank you, Virgo. This wound must have been inflicted after exiting the Dimension. Now what?”

Virgo responded, “We wait.”

Scorpio said, “Wait for what?”

A Demon Archangel descended from the roof of their new safehouse. Besides his cunning mask, he wore dark grey armor with solid black wings. Virgo recognized him as Crusix, a Master Archangel, known as Lucifer’s trusted new messenger. He handed her a Scroll, a duplicate of the one that the Gemini misplaced. This one contained extra instructions. “You’re late, what is your report.”

Virgo held the Scroll tight as she spoke to Crusix. “What’s happened to Skore?”

Crusix answered, “He’s gone missing and may have been eliminated. These reports are vital to this mission. Therefore, he has called upon a Master Archangel to carry out this task for the period remaining. Now, that report.”

Virgo said, “After we exited the Gateway, we realized it had been unattended, and to our surprise we were attacked by Vampeers. It happened so fast. They were awaiting our arrival. I’m afraid that Karz, Zodon and Dynamo have perished saving our lives.”

Crusix said, “Vampeers attacking the Zodiac? This could only mean one thing. They tried this tactic centuries ago, but due to their greed for power, Lucifer had a special team of Archangel’s wipe out a whole generation of their species. They wanted to combine Vampeer and Zodiac blood with Angel’s blood so they could breed a Super-unstoppable class of their own.”

Virgo added, “Well, that very tactic has resurfaced, and they seem to be under order of one who’s very powerful. We encountered the Vampeer in the Dimension on our way here.”

Crusix said, “It’s settled. I will forward this report to Lucifer at once.” He took flight, but momentarily returned having forgotten to tell them something. “Oh, and one more bit of news for you. The Queen of England has been murdered. The news hasn’t reached the public yet, but it is another death that has shaken the Underworld. We are losing this war. You must prevail in discovering the rest of the Zodiacs.”

Scorpio was shocked. “What!”

Crusix exited, this time leaving a devastated Scorpio sitting and clutching his knees.

Virgo said, “Are those tears I see? Let this be a lesson to you. And, coming from a person who kills without remorse. You surprise me, boy.”

Scorpio said, “You need to shut your mouth right now. And stop it with that boy talk. I have a fucking name! You will address me as Sire.”

She made her way over to discipline him, but stopped dead in her tracks as she sensed an unfriendly aura. “We must move inside at once.”

Cautiously, they entered the safehouse, checking each and every square inch for intruders. When they had reached the front window, Virgo experienced the same bad aura. From their window, they saw Dynamo standing at the front door. Virgo said, “He’s one of them. I can feel it.”

Dynamo knocked on the door.

Virgo whispered, “I’m not an expert, but to my knowledge they cannot enter unless we invite them in.”

Scorpio added, “I agree. And it appears he lead those things here as well.”

Dynamo yelled through the door, “I know you are in there. I can hear and smell you. Will you allow me entry?”

Scorpio said, “Get the Hell out of here!”

Virgo replied, “Scorpio, calm down. Dynamo, you and I both know that cannot happen. You’ve been turned. Where are Zodon and Karz? Have they met the same fate?”

Dynamo responded, “Luckily for me, I was able to reason, and my life was spared. They will not leave until they receive a sample of blood from both of you. That’s their only desire, and no harm will come to you. Just a sample, and they will leave you alone.”

Virgo answered, “That can not happen either. I’m sorry, old friend.”

Dynamo replied, “Very well.”

He left, and the two Zodiacs waited. They saw smoke and fire coming from the back hall of the safehouse. “They’re trying to burn us out,” Virgo said.

Scorpio replied, “Just like that, huh? He didn’t even put up a fight for your life. And you were defending them? Your colleague is a Son of a bitch.”

Virgo remarked, “He is not himself. It’s inevitable. We must face them whether our Gems are restored or not.”

Through the rough terrain, fear and darkness, only complete and utter exhaustion paused Jacob’s pace. He was marked for death. Luck was the only reason for his
existence, but yet he accepted it nonetheless. The will to live had its own balance and structure backed by pure instinct in which he trusted dearly. The Moon became bright enough to expose his coordinates, and he could sense danger at every turn.

“Mileck, damn I’m sorry!” he said to himself. “It’s all my fault. He should be in my place right now instead of me.”

A mile later, he sensed something following him. Not on the ground, though. This time his pursuer came from on high. Exhausted, he submitted. “Come on, you bastard. I’m tired of this shit.” He saw an unidentified rectangular craft large enough, he thought, to carry about ten people. He watched as the soundless craft hovered overhead and scanned his body for identification. It landed. Nothing he hadn’t seen before, Jacob travelled to many Galaxies, near and far, and worked contracts for a range of intelligent species.

The craft’s ramp lowered. She had on long black boots and tight slacks, along with a bullet-resistant suit and an open trench coat. Her laser gun was big, similar to a Sterling submachine gun. She approached him and introduced herself. “My name is Lucille. I am an assassin for the Dark Graduates.”

Realizing this was the end, he only wished that fortune hadn’t played its evil joke by giving him hope. Jacob regretted not dying alongside Mileck and Rashad.

“The Dark Graduates have sent me here to tell you they’ve made a grave mistake about their judgment regarding this Pursuit. They’ve sent me here personally to tell you to continue your service to The Pursuers. Furthermore, I am here to make sure that that service is not disturbed.”

This was the last thing he had expected anyone to say to him. “Who told you I gave The Pursuers aid?”

Lucille answered, “Your friend made it very clear you were acting alone long before the order to eliminate you was overturned.”

Jacob said to himself, “Mileck, that bastard. But he did what he thought was right.”

Lucille said, “He had no other choice. The Dark Graduates are not fools. After the meeting and ruling in the hall, to make sure the ruling sustained its mark, they had personal spies observing everyone who attended over the last several days. I cannot disclose precisely how many executions transpired after countless treacheries, but
the numbers were a disgrace and a total disrespect to The Dark Graduates. Order had to be restored, so I restored it.”

Jacob replied, “So, if the ruling has been overturned, why did they have you eliminate so many?”

Lucille answered, “Whether Mortal or supernatural, in order to be taken seriously, balance must be positioned within the laws of the Universe. And with those laws comes punishment if they are broken. You know of these terms already, Jacob.”

Jacob said, “I understand, but they are breaking their own rules by ordering me to continue my service.”

Lucille responded, “You are asking and talking too much. You should be grateful they kept you alive after so many have been punished. I wouldn’t question their judgment further if I were you. You’ve officially received what you sought, and more. If you don’t mind, it is best that you come with us. The Zodiacs are making their approach.”

Within sight, a horde of Capricorn’s dead, bloodthirsty minions charged in their direction. She punished those within range with her laser-powered weapon. After watching heads explode, Jacob hit the ramp and boarded the craft with Lucille following right behind. The craft took off and disappeared into the clouds.

Back at Bishop’s Kingdom, they realized the two Archangels sent to the Moon to execute Jedediah had not yet returned. His emissary asked, “Should I send more out to investigate?”

Bishop pondered the question for a moment. “Hmmm, there must have been some interference. Very well, send some Archangels to investigate. This time, send five Master Archangels. If there’s a problem on the Moon, they will be able to manage it.”

The Emissary said, “Yes, Sire.”

The Emissary called upon five of Bishop’s Master Archangels: Exodus, Genesis, Leviticus, Ezra and Amos. This was indeed a powerful group of supernatural Angelic beings, trained under the techniques of Bishop himself.

The Emissary brought them to Bishop, and one-by-one they appeared in the hall and bowed down in front of Bishop and his Emissary. “I have called you together for an important task. Go and investigate what has happened to our Brethren on the Moon, and come back with a full report.”

The five departed as the tall doors opened to let them pass.

“What if they do not return, my Lord?” His Emissary asked.

Bishop answered, “Then the Man who can move Suns will personally make a visit to the Moon, give whomsoever the credit they deserve, and eradicate the problem. I see only a god defeating those five by themselves, no other.”

His Emissary said, “Time for more pressing matters. What will be done about the Zodiacs?”

Bishop answered, “Their legacy will be destroyed, along with their ancestry. Soon the non-awake populace in every corner of the Universe will hear the thunder and roar of my coming, and I will overthrow the failed Almighty King they’ve sanctioned themselves to fear. I will rid the Universe of something he should’ve left absent since the dawn of man: … Freewill.”

Another messenger walked through the doors and up to the Emissary and whispered in his ear. The Emissary dismissed the messenger. “Sire, I have worthy news. There’s word that Michael is on an important mission on Venus.”

In secret, to accommodate his ultimate plan, Bishop had sought for centuries the removal of God’s top Master Archangel, Michael. Bishop spoke, “This is excellent news. See to it that the Master Archangels receive word, and let them take care of him following their existing assignment. I will dispatch more soldiers to guarantee victory.”