The 13th Destiny_Heaven's Deadliest Sign

by Roger David Francis

  “There are other options,” Vera said slyly.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Abby stared at Vera, “I’m so confused. My head’s been all over the place since Beth made me wish you were dead.”

  “I am dead, you stupid girl. Now go and put the kettle on. This is my house and when that wicked son of mine gets back he’ll want his tea on the table.”

  Abby looked at her mother-in-law. “Joe said the house belonged to him now.”

  “But we know the truth, don’t we?” Vera’s words were clipped.

  “What are you going to do to Beth?” Abby asked conversationally.

  “Do? Why, I can’t do anything, can I? But you can.”

  “Like what?”

  “Poison her,” Vera said with satisfaction. “That ant powder you use in the garden, sprinkle it in her coffee.”

  A shiver of fear ran up Abby’s back. Poison her best friend? All at once she felt flustered. “This isn’t right,” she said.

  Vera was suddenly standing behind her, her fingers poking her arms. “You think me being dead is right?” She hissed.

  “But you’re old; it was your time to go.”

  “Rubbish, girl. You left me to die, lying in my own piss and vomit on the living room carpet, you owe me.”

  The doorbell rang.

  “Well, don’t just stand there, let her in.”

  Beth followed Abby through the hallway into the living room and looked around. She was surprised how sparse it looked. The last time she’d been here it had been crammed with Vera’s ornaments and knick knacks; they’d been everywhere, on every surface. Her friend had cleared them out and the room seemed much bigger and brighter. The old overstuffed armchair that Abby’s mother-in-law used to sit in had been replaced by a new modern chair with slim armrests and instead of the heavy marble coffee table, a lovely small wooden one took pride of place in the middle of the room.

  “I like what you’ve done to the room,” Beth said.

  “Do you? I feel guilty throwing out Vera’s things.” Abby paused, “Joe doesn’t mind though, so I suppose it’s all right.”

  “What about you, Abby, are you okay now?”

  “You mean do I still think Vera’s in the house? No, she’s dead. I know that now, thanks to you.”

  Beth glanced at her sharply. The way she’d said it sounded like she was blaming her for Vera’s death.

  “I’ll go and make the coffee,” Abby said.

  “Don’t forget the ant powder,” Vera whispered to her as she went past her into the kitchen.

  Should she use one scoop or two? Abby wondered, her hand hovering over the grey powder. She felt as if she was watching herself in a dream. She was about to poison her friend while her mother-in-law sat in the living room with Beth who thought she was alone. Could she do it? Was that the question, or should she be asking herself why?

  There was no answer unless it was simply that she was doing as she was told like she always did. She could hear the demands in her head.

  “My hair needs brushing.”

  “No problem.”

  “My dentures need cleaning.”

  “No problem.”

  “My backside needs wiping.”

  “No problem.”

  But it was a problem, one she shouldn’t be having any more and Abby grinned savagely.

  She took the two mugs into the living room and set them down on the table.

  “Have you done it?” The whispering voice of Vera made her stomach churn. She nodded her head slightly.

  She said, “I don’t know what I was thinking, Beth, I just made three cups of coffee. Silly, isn’t it? Habit, I suppose.”

  Vera’s greedy eyes had lit up. She glided past Abby and into the kitchen.

  Beth took a sip from her mug. “You’ll soon be back on track,” she told Abby, “you just need a couple of weeks off work.”

  “Yes, that’s right.” Abby said smiling. “But I miss the company.” From the kitchen came the sounds of gagging and her smile grew broader. Could someone die twice? She hoped so. “I need a bit more sugar,” she said and went into the kitchen.

  Her mother-in-law was writhing on the tiles, her face grey.

  “Why?” she gasped.

  “Because I want you out of my house and out of my life, you miserable old bat. And every time you sneak back in you’ll die again and again and again until you get the message.”

  Abby began to turn away and Vera’s hands clawed the tiles, her face contorted with pain. “You’re going to leave me here alone to die?” she whimpered. “Again?”

  “Yes. You’ve tormented me in life, you’re not going to carry on tormenting me in death.”

  “You’re a wicked girl. I’ll tell you what you want to know. Joe’s been seeing someone behind your back; he’s been up to all sorts of appalling dirty stuff with a sixteen year old addict. You have no idea.”

  “Liar. He wouldn’t do that to me.”

  “Yes, he would. When he’s done with her he comes home and passes on the most disgusting diseases to you. Haven’t you felt the soreness and wondered what it was?”

  Abby felt her face flush. She’d thought it was a simple case of Thrush that was causing her to itch; now she wondered if it was something more.

  “Shut your vile mouth up.”

  “He’s not the man you think he is. He’s into violence, sexual domination, you can’t satisfy him. Look at you. You’re ugly and pathetic, only good for one thing, cleaning up after him. Now, please, I’ve told you the truth. Help me, get me some water.”

  “No problem,” Abby said and tipped the kettle full of boiling water over her mother-in-law.

  Beth walked home slowly. She thought she’d heard Abby talking to herself in the kitchen but when her friend returned she seemed bright and cheerful. A few times when Joe’s name had been mentioned Abby had looked away and changed the subject and Beth wondered if they’d had an argument. Still, it was none of her business.

  She was glad she didn’t have far to go, the black clouds overhead were threatening to break and she didn’t fancy getting caught in a downpour. She wanted her life to go back to normal, didn’t want to be caught up in this strange series of events. If she could, she’d willingly give up her five hundred pound scratch card win and not have to worry about Shandra.

  She couldn’t help feeling miserable. She was outside the little grocery shop now where she’d brought the winning card. Needing some milk she stepped inside. The same young girl, Ruby, was serving.

  “Come to spend some of your winnings, with us?” She asked Beth cheerfully. “I wish I could win some money. I’m getting married in four weeks and it’s costing a fortune.”

  Beth paid for the milk and hesitated. “It wasn’t just good fortune, you know,” she said. “I had a bit of help.” She told her about Shandra. “What’s your star sign?”

  “I’m Cancer,” the girl told her. “So if I give you twenty pound I can ask for one million back?”

  “I think you can ask for anything.” Beth felt guilty when the girl’s face lit up. I’m not doing you a favour, she wanted to shout. I’m looking after myself. If I was halfway decent I’d walk away but I’m not going to. I need your star sign because I’m frightened of an old woman’s unspoken threats to me and much worse than that, my son.

  Grinning, the girl handed Beth twenty pounds and wrote Shandra’s number down. “My boyfriends away for a few days,” she told Beth, “I’ll wait until he gets back and make the phone call then.”

  Beth felt the false smile slipping from her face. “No, you have to do it today,” she lied, “otherwise it won’t work.”

  “How mysterious,” Ruby chuckled. “Okay, I’ll call the woman in my break.” Beth got to the door when the girl called out, “I believe in Karma, do you?”

  Nodding and smiling, Beth left the shop, her stomach churning.

  I don’t think I do believe in Karma, she thought. Do good, be good, and good will come back to you. It was too simple to explain
what was going on. She wanted answers. Now she’d given Shandra eight star signs, only four to go. If it was so important to the woman to get all twelve then there had to be a reason and Beth decided a little blackmail might be in order to find out.

  Jason was still in his bedroom but there was a dirty cup and plate in the sink so he had emerged for refreshments. Sometimes she dreaded to think what mischief he was getting up to on the internet, but he was fifteen, almost an adult and she couldn’t watch over him all the time. She just hoped he used his common sense when he batted around the various sites looking for adventure. It was all part of growing up, she supposed.

  Beth sighed. Adventure for her growing up had been the antics of the Famous Five and Secret Seven. Her mum had the whole collection of books from when she’d been young and Beth had loved them all. It had always been summertime, butterfly’s hovering, high tea with scones, the family sitting at the trestle table in the garden, the dog running around trying to beg a morsel of food. How she’d envied them.

  Now it was the internet, hard core spite and sexual antics that left nothing to the imagination.

  Her phone was ringing when she walked in. Of course it was, she thought wearily.

  “Hello?”

  “My dear, we haven’t spoken for a while. You’re not doing too badly, eight now, but I still need the other four and you have only twenty five hours left to go.”

  “I want some answers from you,” Beth said firmly, “Or I’m not carrying on.”

  Shandra’s voice held a note of surprise. “Goodness me, you sound like you think you’re in charge.”

  “I think I am. If I don’t get the other four star signs for you then you’ll have to start all over again, find another mug.”

  “You’re quite right my dear, I’m just not sure you’d understand.”

  “Try me.”

  Shandra sighed. “Very well.”

  Chapter 12

  “I am a hand maiden to the God Ophiuchus.”

  Of course you are, Beth thought, and I’m Mother Christmas. Was this what it was going to be, a fairy story to distract her from the truth? Why didn’t the old bat just admit she was running a scam instead of spinning a load of crap? She sighed but didn’t say anything and the crackly voice continued.

  “I don’t expect you to believe me, mere mortals are stupid and ignorant but Ophiuchus is divine.”

  Shit, she’s got the hots for some old bloke. Beth almost laughed out loud. Who was he, some freak who ran a cult? That would explain the different people she thought were involved, they were members of the cult.

  “You believe there are twelve signs of the zodiac but you are wrong, my dear, there are thirteen.” The old voice was warming up as if once she’d got started there was no stopping her. “Ophiuchus rules the constellation of Serpens,” her voice dropped to almost a whisper, “he is a snake man.”

  Yeah, and I’m a bunny girl. Beth was beginning to get tired of the nonsense. She said, “Get to the point, Shandra, I haven’t got all day.”

  “Please don’t talk to me in that tone, my dear, I’m trying to explain. You have no idea how overwhelming the power of Ophiuchus can be. If he doesn’t get what he desires there will be terrible consequences, not just for you but the world.” She paused and took a strangled breath. “He is omnipotent, his eye is everywhere.”

  Beth tried to conjure up the image of an old man with one big eye swivelling around the middle of his forehead as he watched the earthlings go about their business. Bugs Bunny here we come, she thought. She said, “I’m not buying it, Shandra, you sound like an intelligent woman, are you on steroids or something?”

  “Mock me all you want it doesn’t change what must be done. As you rightly pointed out, my dear, I do need you to complete your task, time is of the essence, my master is waiting anxiously.”

  Okay, Beth thought, first he’s a God now he’s a master, why doesn’t the silly old woman tell the truth, admit she fancies him?

  “Ophiuchus rules his planet secretly because he is the keeper of the thirteenth stone. His world is situated behind the sun, hidden away. Many eons ago the great God Urkelio sent out his twelve most discreet disciples to set up their own worlds, but unbeknown to him Ophiuchus made himself invisible and followed them.”

  Of course he did, Beth thought, sounds like a great guy, sneaky and inventive, just the sort of man a gal would look up to.

  “Each of them were gifted a talisman, a special stone from the house of Crymantion, the most powerful structure in the universe.” She paused, almost as if her next words shamed her, “Ophiuchus was forced to steal his.” She whispered.

  “Do you enjoy reading fantasy novels?” Beth asked curiously.

  Ignoring her Shandra carried on, “The Twelve disciples found their planets which became the constellation of star signs but Ophiuchus lost his way.”

  Yeah, it was all that sneaking around. Beth sighed.

  “And,” Shandra continued, “he travelled further around the universe than the rest. It took him a thousand years to find his own planet and it was only then he realised he’d been forgotten and that made him angry.”

  “That’s what happens when you’re immortal, people take you for granted.” Beth agreed.

  As if Beth hadn’t spoken, Shandra continued, “The zodiac was in place but Ophiuchus still had the thirteenth stone.”

  Beth glanced at the clock on the wall. It was nearly six o’clock. Twenty five hours to go and then she could put this nonsense behind her. She was obviously stressed, there was no other explanation. If she was in her right mind she’d put the phone down now and get on with some housework. There was a film of dust on the sideboard because of her neglect and her son was skin and bones because she hadn’t given him his tea yet. And what was she doing? Clutching the phone with sweating palms listening to an old woman’s ramblings.

  The monotonous voice was still bleating on and Beth tried to pick up the thread, hearing Shandra’s tone warming up as she got further into her story, “My master ruled his new world with an iron fist but he had enemies and one of then, a terrible creature known as Claptious stole the precious talisman from him and cast it into space where it found its way to earth.”

  “Right, so where’s all this going, only I do have potatoes to peel.”

  There was silence at the end of the line for a few moments and Beth thought Shandra had put the phone down. But it was a vain hope and the crackly boring old voice resumed again.

  “So earth became the thirteenth sign. You didn’t know that, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t know the moon was made of green cheese either but I’m open to the concept.”

  “Sarcasm is in poor taste, my dear. I understand that what I’m telling you is beyond mortal comprehension but please make an effort. The only way Ophiuchus can rule the planetary system is to join the thirteen signs together to become one.” She paused for effect, “The thirteenth planet which shall be known as Ophiuchusander, where he will take his rightful place as ruler of the universe and for that he needed my help.”

  “That’s a bit of a mouthful, I’m not sure us mere mortals would want to change earthlings to Ophiuchusanders.”

  “It’s of no consequence what you want, my dear.”

  “Bit of an abuse of power though, isn’t it? I mean, I’ve been bought up with villains on the silver screen who want to rule the world, God knows they’ve tried, but the whole solar system, isn’t that a bit greedy?”

  “You don’t understand. He has a snake.”

  “So have half the population of the world.”

  “A serpent that does his bidding.”

  “I had a Jack Russell Terrier once who sat on command. Okay, enough. You still haven’t explained why you need me to do your dirty work.”

  “When the last of the twelve signs, Gemini has been wished upon the stars will become magnetised, they will draw together and melt into each other and then join with your world. The planet will expand to become one great universe wh
ere Ophiuchus will be King. Not only will he possess your pathetic world but he will rule the constellation.” Shandra sounded like she was gasping with delight. “He will be all powerful, his greatness beyond understanding. Try and imagine it, my dear, all thirteen star signs together as one almighty powerful force. And it’s all down to the God Ophiuchus.”

  “Sounds like quite a guy.”

  “You have no idea.”

  You’ve got that right, Beth thought. She really did need to start peeling the potatoes. “It all sounds a bit tacky to me,” she said and then added kindly, “Are you sure you don’t need to see a psychiatrist?”

  “You foolish girl, listen carefully, Gemini is the most powerful star sign, it would be fitting if it was the last one on your list. That is for you to achieve. Now,” her voice turned brisk, “I’ve told you too much but I need you to understand the importance of your mission.”

  “My mission?” Beth was astonished at the woman’s nerve. She’d been fed a whole heap of claptrap and now suddenly it had become her duty to fulfil her mission. “What if I refuse?”

  “It’s too late for that, my dear.” Shandra chuckled, an ugly wet sound, “If you had stopped before there would have been nothing I could have done but unlike the others who let me down you’ve succeeded in passing the halfway mark and now for your own sake you must finish what you started.” She actually laughed; a dry cackling sound. “You have a sister, Lydia, I’m sure she’ll be only too happy to oblige.”

  Beth opened her mouth to protest and heard the faint click on the end of the line.

  “Shandra?”

  The phone was dead.

  Beth gnawed at her lower lip. She’d somehow got involved in some sort of weird cult. She didn’t think it was black magic, there’d been no mention of spells and Satanic rites, she almost wished there had, at least she could have looked it up on Google. This was far and away worse. Some bugger wanted to rule the universe and it was down to little old her to help him achieve his ambition. In some ways she was relieved. It was so ridiculously unbelievable that after seven o’clock tomorrow evening she could wash her hands of it, they could find another mug who needed five hundred pounds for a new settee.