Pursuit of the Zodiacs (75 page)

Noah said, “We have all suffered casualties. However, we have done the right thing by not intervening. By intervening, you would be breaking our Covenant, and I don’t need to remind you of the repercussions.” Looking around he saw that not many agreed with him. He continued, “If Michael hadn’t departed so soon, he would have approved my decision. Aru, you offered some encouraging words at our last meeting by way of satellite. I told you I would restore order. Do you have anything to add? An apology maybe?”

Aru, the Representative of the People of the Sun, sat there motionless with a wrinkled face. Noah couldn’t figure out if Aru envied his regained presidency or suffered losses during the Pursuit of the Zodiacs.

Asq, the Representative of Neptune, queried, “But what awaits us? Our Zodiac predecessor has yet to fall.”

Lucius, the Representative of Mercury, answered rather pessimistically, “You had better hope and pray he or she survives. Come to my World if you are having doubt. It’s all fucked up there.”

Noah interrupted, “That language is not acceptable here, Lucius.”

Lucius was having none of it and challenged Noah. “Oh, but the slaughter of innocent children is?”

Infuriated, Noah banged on the table. “That is enough! I’ve had it with your conduct! We all knew what the risks were dealing with this Pursuit. Whether we agreed to it or not, we must abide by the laws of the Dark Graduates. The same laws you yourselves have signed with your own blood. Oaths have been sworn, and that’s the end of it. And, that being said, this marks the end of our meeting!”

Some settled with Noah’s ruling, while others disagreed vehemently. All of the Representatives and their associates headed towards the exits.

“Everyone, remain seated!” Aru, the Representative of the People of the Sun, shouted. The members of the Dark Graduates looked at Aru and at each other. The most muted being in the room had become the loudest.

“Aru? What is this?” Noah asked as hundreds of his soldiers entered the room with specialized weaponry energized from the Sun. Noah’s fleet also entered the huge Council Hall.

Aru strongly disagreed with the first judgment regarding the Pursuit of the Zodiacs. He strengthened the reasoning for his disrespect by informing everyone of his secret. “You bastard, Leo was my damn Brother! You will die in his name! To the other Representatives … leave now. No harm will come to you. However, when this night is over, there will be a new Leader! I will call upon you soon.”

Acknowledging the seriousness that Aru displayed, the Representatives of the Dark Graduates exited the Council Hall, not sure of its future.

“No, Genesis, not you. You are not going anywhere!” Aru yelled.

Genesis replied, “What? To Hell with you Aru!”

Chaos erupted in the hall as Aru’s men exchanged laser fire with Genesis and Noah’s forces. The other Representatives were escorted out, and everyone else ran for their lives.

One of Noah’s GIs entered the war-torn Council Hall to relay an important message. He reported that Aru had warships stationed near headquarters awaiting orders.

Not only was Aru out for Noah’s blood, he wanted his throne and an elevation in rank as the new Leader of the Dark Graduates.

“OH, THE STENCH!”

They arrived at their destination. As they exited the train, the stench of rotting reptilian corpses enveloped them. The putrid smell was almost unbearable.

“Cameron and Julius did a real number on them,” Taurus concluded.

“Yes, the natives must have been too scared to investigate, so they just left them here,” Virgo added.

“Wait here until I get the others.” Troy restarted the engine and departed.

Virgo inquired, “How long must we wait?”

Taurus sat down on the curb, finding a spot as far away from the reptilian bodies as possible. “It could be a while, Cousin. Might as well take advantage and rest.”

Virgo lay down behind him. Moments later, she entered a deep sleep.

VIRGO’S DREAM

“Come on ladies, these gentlemen won’t service themselves. Earn your pay!” The barker pointed to Virgo. “Hey you, virgin girl. I don’t believe it! Come here, whore!”

An intoxicated well-known politician grabbed her, but the thick number of security guards restrained him. The elite, the one percent who ruled the World, ran this private strip club. Only active members of secret societies could attend, and they lusted for younger women, predominantly virgins. The ones who lost their virginity to the most powerful of men were either dismissed, sold … or worse: sacrificed in front of a live audience that consisted of politicians, people in the entertainment industry, Presidents, former Presidents, members of law enforcement, and many other influential but corrupt individuals. Even though this place had no moral standing, the women’s purity is what made this place so successful.

The audience grew weary and encouraged the next act. “Come on, bring on the next stripper!” one of the audience members eagerly shouted.

Out came the most beautiful woman they had ever set eyes on: a young Virgo, in her late teens. Any one of them would have given anything to sleep with her. The room grew silent as she appeared on stage. All the yells and wolf whistles stopped. Those receiving lap dances, or who had otherwise been getting their money’s worth, paused from their activities to watch her perform.

They were under her complete authority. She used her telekinetic abilities and ordered all of the customers in the room, and the private owners of the establishment who secretly watched from their tinted reinforced windows, to eradicate themselves. They turned their own guns on themselves; and when no bullets remained, the rest made their way to the roof of the forty-story building and jumped to their deaths. The place presented its own sign of purity, as it was empty. “Less filth in the World,” she said, gazing upon the dead bodies and empty tables and seats.

“Okay, open your eyes and follow me,” she said to her awaiting colleagues. Everything went according to plan. They rubbed their eyes after concealing them for so long and walked over the fresh dead bodies of men they despised. Virgo escorted them out of the building. Just when they felt liberated from working in that terrible dwelling, the very halls darkened and became hot. She gazed upon an Elder Aries and Lucifer. Due to the experience age had given him, this Aries had power paramount to his Zodiac cousin.

“Have her submit, and bring her to me,” Lucifer ordered as he vanished in the dark.

End of Virgo’s Dream

“Virgo, you must wake,” Taurus shook her while keeping a covert tone. “We have company. You must wake up.”

Gradually, she regained consciousness; and her eyes followed where Taurus pointed. He continued pointing over towards one of the Pyramids. Her blurry eyes came into focus on none other than Bishop.

“What is he doing here?” Taurus questioned himself.

“Did we not form an alliance with him?” Virgo asked.

Taurus answered, “Yes, that is the current news. But the way things are, he could have had a change of heart. We will not introduce ourselves until we know where he stands. Let us wait and see what happens here.”

After another mile, Bishop landed on his mark.

“Is it done?” He asked while watching his trusted Vampeer Luther exit the tomb in which he uncovered the Nephilim Giants.

Luther answered, “Yes, my Lord. They are ready for your instructions.”

Bishop said, “Excellent!” He shouted with a welcoming tone. “Come out my children, and free yourselves from captivity!”

It worked. They came out in huge numbers, following Bishop’s voice. Virgo and Taurus, watching at a distance, did not have to investigate any further to see whom he had summoned.

“They have Lucifer’s Giants! Devious bastard,” Taurus grunted.

Virgo added, “They’ve been awakened ahead of schedule. Nothing is going as planned. Lucifer needs to be informed.”

Luther said, “I bring you more news. These Archangels volunteered to fight alongside you, my Lord.”

The Archangels came forward.

Bishop replied, “How nice. Unfortunately, their service will not be necessary, nor could we ever trust them. Coerced loyalty is worse than no loyalty at all.” He ordered the Giants to eliminate the Archangels.

Luther elevated his voice to override the cries of Archangels in the background. “Another group we encountered inside escaped. Should we pursue? I’m sure they have not gone too far.”

Bishop said, “Let them go. Soon, all of them, along with their god and their kingdom, will be crushed.”

“There you have it. Nothing else needs to be clarified. I see Bishop has a conflict of interest,” Taurus affirmed.

Despite being Zodiacs, it was foolish to face a god and the Nephilim Giants alone. They kept their heads down while slowly descending a hill. However, during their exit they crossed paths with Lucas and Prometheus, the fleeing Archangels from inside the tomb.

“I’m sure you’re aware of what is going on, and a skirmish between us could alert the Mover of Suns. I’m guessing you are the escapees they spoke so kindly of?” Taurus informed.

“Yes, you are correct, Zodiac,” Prometheus answered.

“Well? What now?” Virgo asked calmly.

They set their differences aside and worked together. One of the Nephilim caught a powerful scent. “Yes, I can smell them, too. Power, so much power,” another Giant validated.

Even the Mover of Suns joined them in their search as he hovered towards the Pyramids. “Zodiacs,” he said while pointing out their location, putting an end to everyone’s curiosity.

“Bring them to me,” Bishop ordered.

“Shit,” Taurus said after overhearing the Giant’s new assignment.

Lucas heard the orders as well and motioned everyone to follow him. “Let’s move.”

They trekked through rough terrain and into an unknown cave. As their lights pierced the darkness, they found more writings that are arcane and art on the high walls of the cave.

“I wonder what has yet to be unearthed here,” Prometheus pondered aloud.

“Or, it could already be among us. I’m sure they did not stop at Giants,” Virgo concluded.

Lucas shielded his eyes and yelled, “Damn you and your Devil Magic, Zodiac!”

Virgo replied, “What?”

Lucas spoke, “We know of your telepathic power. Look away or meet our guns.”

Taurus said, “Fools, lower your voices. Why are you so quick to die?”

Prometheus added, “Her beauty is a curse from the Devil himself. I fear what lies underneath that flesh.”

Virgo responded, “You watch your tongue.”

Prometheus answered, “No, it’s yours I should watch. Is it that of a serpent by night?”

Taurus said, “This is neither the time nor place to raise conflict. We have a common enemy to fight. We must tread on!”

A large hand appeared at the entrance of the cave, reached out, and grabbed one of Prometheus and Lucas’s men. Virgo advanced with her telekinetic abilities. Enchanted by her death-defying beauty, the Giant submitted to her authority. He unhanded the Archangel and turned on his dispatcher by grabbing a hovering Bishop in mid-air. The Mover of Suns was astonished at the Zodiac’s power. “Power indeed,” he said while breaking the neck of the Giant, releasing its grip on him. “No!” he yelled, stopping the other pursuing Giants in their tracks. “I will handle this myself. Go to your craft and wait for me there.”

They left as Bishop slowly made his way into the cave.