Pursuit of the Zodiacs

by Walsh, Nathan

  Irisan answered, “Our Bookkeeper is safe from the grasps of Devils like you.”

  Pharisees said, “You think we’re going to let you just walk in here and join us? We’ve followed you for days, and all we’ve uncovered were trails of blood and the stench of innocent people you’ve murdered along the way!”

  Cancer, amazed to see another Zodiac, said, “Gemini?” He failed to keep his silence and moved in closer to investigate his cousins.

  “Don’t get too close to these Devils, Cancer,” Zodeen warned. “They are nothing like you, despite your history.”

  The Gemini were equally amazed to see another Zodiac among Mosqidou. “Cancer? Well, well, I see you guys accomplished something. Sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, Cousin.”

  Pharisees continued, “Do not let them deceive you. We would’ve been just fine without them. Let’s get rid of them before they thrust their blades through our throats while we sleep.”

  Half of the group picked up arms again. “Stop! First we must find out the reasons for their visit here,” Abdeel urged the others as he made his way down the balcony stairs, cleaning the Demon blood from his two-handed Water Element Sword. He continued, “Are the three Zodiacs among us potential allies, or do they stand as a potential threat? That question needs to be answered before we set fire to this place and depart. Now, you’ve mentioned differences between you and your Dark Kingdom, Zodiac. You need to explain.”

  The Gemini asked Abdeel, “So, I take it that you’re the leader of this Pursuit?”

  Abdeel ignored the question. “Your only position here as of now is to answer my questions. Cooperate with us, and perhaps we’ll let you live. Your crimes against this Universe have torn your Father’s memory beyond recognition.”

  The Gemini, like most, did not like the memory of their Father sullied. “Easy there, Pursuer.”

  Abdeel said, “What’s this? Did I strike a nerve? To avoid tarnishing his name further, you must atone for your sins. And atonement can’t be met if your grave is created in this very room.”

  Pharisees broke in, “I’m afraid they do not care to listen, Brother. We waste our time. Their level of comprehension isn’t in anyone’s favor but their own.”

  Abdeel replied, “We’ll have to wait and see.”

  Zodeen went to investigate noises coming from upstairs. “We have more company descending upon the roof!”

  Abdeel replied, “What is this?”

  Pharisees declared, “They’ve brought more Devils here!”

  The Twins dismissed Pharisees claims. “What’s with all the paranoia?”

  “Guard those two. We’ll go check out the roof,” Levi said while joining Abdeel in the investigation.

  They headed up towards the roof. And, to their surprise, they saw Abdeen on his Chariot of Fire accompanied by a new comrade on a Supernatural Flying Carpet.

  THE MOVER OF SUNS

  Between the realms of Mortals and gods, Jedediah traveled a great distance to the House of Bishop, The Mover of Suns. Every Immortal knew that, if he traveled within the compass of the Mortal realms, he gave up his Immortality. However, the greatest risk to Archangels was dying in sin. For his many works, Bishop had been rewarded with his own Planet, Moon, Sun, and a golden kingdom accompanied by fifty wives. Jedediah hoped to persuade the god to leave the safety of his humble abode, or risk forfeiting his own life.

  Free from chemicals and poisons, the air alone allowed all of its inhabitants to live for all of Eternity. Roaming the land free, he witnessed multiple classes of extraterrestrials parallel to what he saw on an African savannah. To his left he saw golden Pyramids and similar fixtures that displayed nothing but royalty. Crystal clear rivers circuited through land.

  “Why would he leave such a place?”

  For Jedediah, it was too late to alter his thoughts. Bishop’s great golden gates opened upon his approach. He chanced that he would not leave this land alive. Convincing Bishop would be his biggest challenge yet. He had indeed become another statistic of the madness plaguing this Pursuit of the Zodiacs.

  “Come forth, Jedediah.” He heard a voice that riddled against the walls of the hall, and Jedediah followed it.

  The giant hallway was filled with great statues of Archangels, books and Scrolls neatly piled on tall bookshelves, and lastly, four sets of colossal mirrors. The technology behind these great mirrors made it capable of detecting Devils and anyone bearing marks of Dark Covenants. After analysis, these mirrors would present the results to the man that could move Suns. So far, he had passed security, and a second pair of enforced gates opened.

  Back in the underground tunnels of the White House, confusion turned into vengeance as down the hall they could hear the cries of the two surviving assassins. They’d plucked their eyes, and removed their fingers and toes, along with their genitals. The interrogators gleaned all the information they were likely to gather and left the assassins butchered. Those with an invitation will view their private execution in the morning. They were none other than mercenaries from the Dark Graduates, engaged in a secret war against their government for quite some time.

  “They clearly should have packed cyanide to accommodate their suicide mission. Now, regret settles despite the ending of their torment,” Demetrius uttered.

  Taurus added, “I knew it was just a matter of time.”

  Zen queried, “What is your meaning, Lord?”

  Taurus continued, “Torture, if executed properly, will restore any man’s memory. It will go as far as them telling you at what age they were potty trained as a child.”

  “Indeed,” Pisces replied.

  Zen stared at the assassins. “Look at them over there. Look at how they beg for the comfort of death.”

  Taurus remarked, “Silence. If you were on the receiving end of the same fate, you would’ve bit your tongue and bled yourself dry during the first stages. How they’ve made it this far defies reason.”

  They headed back above ground towards the White House. Among the increased security dwelled the President himself, and his body language indicated that he had already been given word of his loss. “How am I going to address this to the public?”

  Taurus responded, “Not to worry, Mr. President. It will not reach the public.”

  Taurus introduced Pisces and the rest of his entourage, and ordered everyone else but Pisces to take a seat. She demonstrated one of her interesting gifts. Right before the President’s very eyes, Pisces shape-shifted into the fallen First Lady. The spectators looked at each other amazed … all except for Taurus, who was confident in his Zodiac counterpart.

  The President observed Pisces. “Incredible! I’m at a loss for words. Not even our most expert reptilian shape-shifter could pull this off. It’s a complete match. Such detail. It’s as if my wife never left.”

  Detective Lee went home after a long night of paperwork at the office. He titled his report, “The Year of the Dragon and two Archangels” … a report that would have cost him his job, had it not been for other witnesses who had corroborated his version of the events.

  “Huh?” He heard a noise down the hall from his room and grabbed his gun. He stepped into the kitchen where he came upon a massive man helping himself to a sandwich.

  Detective Lee, relieved to be facing someone holding a butter knife rather than a gun, resorted to sarcasm. “What the fuck is this? Would you like a beverage to go with that sandwich?”

  The man replied, “Certainly, that would be nice.”

  Detective Lee’s gun flew from his hand as Daniel surprised him with a surge of wind, slamming him up against the fridge.

  Goliath responded, “Never mind. I’ll help myself to a beverage.”

  The detective stood up and brushed himself off. He recognized his aggressor. “Hey, I know you! You were the one fighting with our suspect at that damned store! I almost lost my job over you freaks!”

  Daniel said, “Silence! You have two options: one, you’re going to take us to this Devil that call
s himself the Year of the Dragon. Comply, and you will not be harmed. But if you decide to disobey and call any one of your badged associates, I’ll have Goliath here initiate option two by slowly breaking every bone in your body. I assure you, it will not be pleasant.”

  Detective Lee agreed to the first option. They followed him to his car, and the three headed out into the night.

  “So what the Hell are you guys? … Supernatural beings from a different Planet or something? … because you’re definitely not human?”

  Daniel responded, “We are soldiers of God sent down on a secret mission.”

  Detective Lee replied, “No disrespect when I say this, but I’m pretty sure the World knows of your existence, and everyone is curious to know why you are all here.”

  Goliath said, “Our existence has been exhibited for centuries, yet people have failed to read the signs. Instead, you ignore them in their entirety. Before time collapses, it is best that you commit to gaining a better sentence in the coming Judgment Realm.”

  Detective Lee said, “That’s what this is all about? The World is ending? And I haven’t even gone sky diving yet.”

  Goliath spoke, “That’s all you have to say after you’ve been told imperative news? You’re one of the reasons why the apocalypse is coming ahead of schedule.”

  Detective Lee replied, “Sheesh! I guess a sense of humor is the first to go in the Afterlife.”

  They parked at a discrete distance from the Year of the Dragon’s condo.

  Daniel warned the detective, “Stay out of our way and you won’t be harmed.” Goliath confiscated Detective Lee’s weapons, cellphone and police radio before handcuffing the officer to his own steering wheel.

  Detective Lee pulled at the handcuffs. “What is this? You may need my help you know. This isn’t right. You can’t do this to people!”

  Daniel said, “Wait on our return.”

  Daniel and Goliath walked only a few paces when a voice emerged from the darkness. “We’ve been expecting you.”

  The Year of the Dragon slithered out in his true form, taking the two Pursuers by surprise. The detective braced himself.

  Daniel sensed that he was not alone and told the onlookers to come out. The Year of the Dragon spoke, “Oh where’re my manners? Let me introduce you to my friends.”

  A large gorilla creature appeared on the rooftop. An entity resembling a half-man, half-rat crawled out from the sewer. A strange woman with feathers entered. They didn’t know what to make of her until the man they came to destroy introduced them. “Meet my friends: The Year of the Rooster, The Year of the Monkey and The Year of the Rat.”

  Goliath scoffed, “Ha! What’s this Folly? You have introduced us to farm animals?”

  Daniel didn’t have the slightest idea of what to do.

  Goliath, stubborn in his ways, cared less about the numbers in front of him. He lunged towards the Year of the Dragon, but the huge oversized primate man met him halfway. It punched Goliath, revealing its amazing Lightning Fist. The blow knocked Goliath onto the hood of the detective’s car face first.

  As Goliath slid down the hood of the car door, he made eye contact with the detective. Already upset about his confinement, detective Lee couldn’t help but joke, “Looks like it’s going to be a loooong night for you two. I would call for back up, but you guys confiscated my shit.” Infuriated, Goliath flipped the car over with the detective still cuffed to the wheel inside. Held securely by his seatbelt, the detective watched the events upside down in the discomfort of his capsized vehicle. “Great. … Thanks,” he replied.

  “Is it true Leo fell by the hands of you bastards?” The strange woman questioned.

  Daniel replied, “Our quarrel is with the Demon Dragon. Do yourselves a favor and leave while your lives are still intact.”

  The Year of the Dragon spoke, “Ha! So much confidence despite you and I knowing death is inevitable. Consider taking your own advice, friend.”

  With one of his brutal wind assaults, Daniel knocked all four of the combatants hard into trees and vehicles. This gave Goliath enough time to equip his massive Axe. He gained their respect, and they set out to make this a brief fight.

  The Year of the Rooster instructed her comrades to cover their ears as she made a deafening cackle, dropping Daniel and Goliath’s defenses. The Year of the Dragon moved in, throwing his Razor Blade Cards, which fortunately could not penetrate Goliath’s skin. Goliath swung his axe and sliced a portion of his tail off.

  The Year of the Dragon pulled back in agony and disbelief at the strength of the Pursuer. The Year of the Rat next stepped forward to battle Goliath. With his swift and fast movements, he challenged Goliath’s indestructible skin by trying to rip it apart with his Double-Sided Shining Lance. Goliath caught it by the tail. He swung and threw him through the door of a garage nearby. Daniel struggled hard to channel out the Year of the Roosters telekinetic abilities and sent a cyclone down her path, instantly swallowing her whole and whisking her a mile away from the skirmish.

  The Year of the Monkey moved in. He missed Goliath with his massive sledgehammer. Goliath kicked the Monkey back, and Daniel rid the off-balance Zodiac of his oxygen, entrapping him in a suffocating bubble. The Year of the Monkey tried desperately to punch through his suffocating entrapment. Enraged, the Year of the Dragon created an inferno. Flames engulfed trees and nearby real estate. Daniel and Goliath retreated behind some parked vehicles to be clear of fire.

  The Year of the Rooster’s screaming cackle awakened the neighborhood. Someone streamed the skirmish live over his YouTube account. Another onlooker Tweeted a blow-by-blow commentary of the battle.

  Goliath spotted and gave chase to The Year of the Rat as the Man-Dragon reenergized for another assault. Daniel capitalized with bursts of winds that punished internal organs with its intense pressure, slumping the Man-Dragon down by the side of a parked car. All Daniel could think about was a dying Shiloh as he was seconds away from avenging her tragic and painful death.

  Deprived of air, The Year of the Monkey passed out. He landed hard on a parked vehicle, triggering its alarm. Daniel was briefly distracted as he checked on the noise, for which he paid heavily, as he was fast engulfed in flames.

  “Nooooo!” Goliath shouted as he witnessed his comrade burning in the street. His rage caused him to grow in size and the Year of the Rat was the first to be penalized for being in his way. He grabbed the Year of the Rat by the tail again, slammed him into a nearby car and sent it soaring just over a roof and onto the next street over. He charged through the fire of the Year of the Dragon. The flames enfolded his impenetrable skin as he put his massive Sledgehammer to work. Scales of the Man-Dragon’s armor began to break away as Goliath raged. Moments later, Goliath accomplished his goal through a series of tantalizing blows to his body. There was only so much it could take. The Year of the Dragon, at last, lay dead.

  “Hey! There’s something you need to see,” Libra’s Uncle Charles said.

  Uncle Charles, having temporarily gotten his guests’ attention, spoke, “You must act before the government covers this up and tells us a bedtime story.”

  Aquarius, Libra and Capricorn set their eyes on the video stream. Transfixed, entities never before seen exchanged gifts. The increasing viewer count in the lower right side of the video ranged in the millions.

  Uncle Charles commented, “Amazing! It seems that you have distant cousins with a common history, my friends.”

  They gazed upon the Chinese Zodiacs and the two Pursuers. In addition to the groundbreaking video, it justified the increasing number of reports of supernatural sightings. Accumulating at a substantial rate all over the World, random clashes between Angels and Devils stirred the Earth. Courtesy of a high-definition lens, the uncertainty concluded. The World had proof that Angels and Devils dwelt amongst the souls of man.

  Uncle Charles continued, “Well, this explains a whole lot, huh? I see Atheists and Scientists committing acts of mass suicide in the next few days. I wonder, does
the Pursuit have meaning anymore?”

  Libra’s Uncle might have been joking to himself, but the seriousness of the disclosure had yet to really find its mark as shock polished this New World. Sinners became believers, and believers stuck to their Covenant, strengthening in numbers. Lucifer, with his Satanists and Luciferians, had fought a losing battle. Disclosure, the very thing they’d hoped to avoid during the course of this mission had surprisingly given Mosqidou an advantage. The masses handled the truth well. They rid themselves of corruption by overthrowing governments. Money had no more trail or worth, and businesses and corporations collapsed, all for the sake of the truth.

  ZODEEN’S DREAM

  Cairo Egypt. My name is Donovan Sanders. I’m an independent journalist hired by a team of explorers who went by the names Maria and Peter Solomon and Robert Callahan. I’m here to record the authenticity of their findings. The team of explorers discovered interesting hieroglyphics on the walls in a secret chamber in the foundation of an ancient Pyramid. The Pyramid was never finished and the foundation had been covered by the sands of time. Recently excavated, the explorers eagerly awaited the arrival of an Archeologist named Atef, who’s also an expert translator. He was hired to decode the language and mysterious art. After a full day, he arrived, and everyone introduced one another. He put on his special magnifying glasses; and, in a deep focus, squinted his face.

  “This painting is from one of the laborers who helped build this Pyramid’s foundation. The event that took place halfway through its construction was one of the reasons why the Pyramid was never finished. The other workers refused, saying it was cursed.” Pointing at a section of the wall, the Archeologist continued, “As you can see, during the incident, the laborer and a few others stayed behind to witness supernatural forces fighting against one another, while the rest fled for their lives.

  “It says here that the travelers came from their lights and from their darkness, meaning Gateways or Portals and the like. One, as bright as the Sun; and the other, dark as the night. The worker went on to say that one multitude was of the light; and the other, from the darkness … darker than the hole they originated from. Upon noticing one another, both rivals wasted no time trying to completely annihilate each other. Fire came from their hands and mouths, meaning they had advanced weapons … lasers, to be exact. After the fighting ceased, the Devils from the dark retreated into their portal, and the people of light closed it for all of Eternity. The drawings are of Archangels, Demons, and other classes of Aliens from other Planets.