Capricorn smiles grimly. “We govern ourselves tightly through the council. I rule as head of the council and therefore the Zodiacs. There are also three additional representatives, one from each element, to balance out the power. As I said, we are not immune to our traits.”
Sagittarius swishes his tail. “We waste time with this girl. She knows nothing. She is of no use to us.”
“Do you question me?” Capricorn jumps to his feet, the boom of his voice echoing through the great hall, like thunder from a storm.
Sagittarius ducks his head, his tail swishing behind him and bouncing against his midnight hide.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes tightly shut. My face feels clammy, almost feverish.
Capricorn looks down at me, his goatee swinging softly. “Listen closely. At the beginning of time, with the formation of the stars and celestial bodies, so too were we formed. Once the humans began to populate the Earth, we had a new purpose. As people were born under the stars we rule, our houses influenced your personalities.
“We formed a council and decided that we were allowed one night of the year to mingle with people, the night the wheel turns into my house. To keep any of our kind from staying on Earth, we were ordered to go through a ritual, a grueling affair that split from us a piece of our essence. It would make us vulnerable on Earth and force our eventual return, to keep us in line with the ancient laws. The piece of us was removed and formed into the one genuine birthstone for each of us.
“The birthstones then were hidden from us, and they were sent to Earth to be protected by the Guardians. Twelve females born on the first night of each of our houses. The responsibility of protecting the stone has passed down through generations, always of the same family and only through the women. The daughters of the original Guardians undergo a ritual of their own on their twenty-fifth birthday, pledging to keep the stone hidden and safe. The stones are not only a danger for our kind to misuse, but others well-versed in the way of magic. Some of us know our Guardians, others do not, but we understand them through a connection and can sense our stones when they are close. You, Ciara, are one of those daughters.”
I struggle to stare at him, close to passing out. “How can that be? I don’t know anything about any of this. On top of that, I’m thirty, and I can promise you I haven’t been a part of any ritual.”
Libra sighs. “That’s where your mother has done a disservice. To you and destiny. You are overdue, and there’s no denying the power of who you truly are. You will go through that ceremony. To ignore it would destroy you. As the Guardian of the Capricorn birthstone and the daughter of a Guardian and an Aid, you are destined to be the most powerful of any other in history. Only two can stop Taurus: his Guardian and you. That’s why you must be prepared to stop him. If he has his stone the night the wheel turns, he’ll reunite with his essence, and there will be nothing to stop him from staying on Earth. He will control the humans of his house, and through their obedience, put an end to life as you know it. There is one other thing you must know.”
I groan, feeling sick to my stomach. “What else could there be?”
Leo stares at me, his face softer. “There is a mage in pursuit of the birthstones. He is attempting to collect the stones for himself. With them, he would have full control of the elements, us, and by extension, you. He is working against Taurus. In time, you will have to rally the Guardians and stand against him as one.”
“How… How can…” Everything tilts, and I feel myself slide from my chair. I sense a distant warmth, a gentle touch on my arm, but can’t seem to force my eyes open.
“I will take her back and finish the story.” Libra’s voice sounds miles away. “You can fill me in on the plan when I return.”
My head rolls back as she lifts me from the floor with strength belying her size. I try to protest, but darkness overcomes me.
My body jerks into a sitting position, and I gasp so viciously that I choke on the air.
“Ciara? Ciara! Are you alright?” Jocelyn’s voice is music to my ears. She scoots up behind me, supporting me as I struggle to catch my breath. I peel my eyes open and glance around, squinting through the harsh firelight.
“How did I get here?” My voice sounds scratchy, and I feel as if I have rocks in my chest.
“Libra brought you.” Jocelyn’s voice holds a tone of awe.
Libra sits down beside me, gently taking my hand as I try to focus on her. As radiant on Earth as she is on Polaris, her golden glow is softer but still otherworldly beautiful. “I must finish the story and get back to the others.”
“How can you possibly expect me to do any of this?” My shoulders drop, and I hang my head.
“You are not alone. Those of us on the side of the law will do what we can to help. You have the help of Scorpio’s Aid, as he is in charge of your protection. Aidan can contact us should you have need until you gain your full powers. We will search on our own for Taurus’s Guardian and the location of his stone. Capricorn and his Aid, your father, will help you where they can.”
“What? My father?” Thankful I'm already sitting down, I try to steady myself against the spinning of the cave.
“Yes, Donnelly is your father, and he will help you.” Libra stands, towering over us, and smooths the front of her robes.
“I must go. Aidan, if you’ll lead them one mile due east, you’ll find a small, empty cabin. It belongs to my Guardian, but she does not use it during the winter. You may stay there.” Libra glances around, wrinkling her nose before turning back to me.
“It’s more suitable than this cave. Find the birthstone before Taurus.” She turns toward the opening of the cave.
“Libra?” She pauses, patiently studying me, as a mother might watch a young child. “The night the wheel turns. That’s the night of my birthday?”
Libra nods, pity in her eyes, and vanishes.
Jocelyn gasps behind me. “Your birthday? That’s only three days away!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Darkness wraps a thick blanket around us, the moonlight almost entirely blocked by the dense trees. The small beams that pierce the foliage give the snow an eerie blue glow. We silently high-step in single file through the snow with Aidan leading the way. The accumulation, nearly up to my knees, makes our travel slow and tedious.
The silent forest makes me uneasy, with heavy shadows that could hide any number of potential attackers, human or creature. The new information I just learned races through my tired mind. The forest thins and the ground slopes gently upward, forming a small hill.
Halfway up the hill, Jocelyn stops, her teeth chattering. “Aren’t we there yet?”
I stop beside her, shivering just as violently as Jocelyn. “We just have to keep going.”
Aidan glances over his shoulder from the front of our trio.
“Just a little more. I think I see it just through the trees.” He turns and disappears down the other side of the hill.
“I hope so. I don’t think I can make it much farther.” Jocelyn follows Aidan over the hill.
I catch up and link my arm through hers, as much for warmth as support. “Me either. I’m freezing and tired.”
“There.” Aidan points to the cabin as Jocelyn and I stop on either side of him.
The small cabin hides between the trees, sitting twenty feet in front of us. Darkened windows peek out between the boards of wooden walls, tucked in for the night beneath a blanket of snow that glitters in the silver moonlight.
“It’s beautiful. It reminds me of a Christmas card I mailed out one year.” The quiet beauty of the scene washes over me.
“I remember that. I still have that card somewhere.” Jocelyn takes a deep breath, the steam of her breath rising in front of her face.
“What don’t you keep?” I wrap my arms tightly around myself, yawning long and hard.
“It’s memories. You never know when you might need something,” Jocelyn says as she rolls her eyes, a smirk on her face.
“Christmas cards often come in handy.” I chuckle.
Jocelyn wrinkles her nose, sticking out her tongue.
We slowly make our way down the hill toward the cabin, careful to test the footing before putting our weight down, still moving as quickly as we can to get inside.
Aidan holds up his hand, and we stop.
“You girls wait here. I’m going inside first to make sure it’s safe.” He reaches out and tugs on the front door. It sticks briefly before swinging open with a soft creak.
I watch him disappear through the door, bouncing lightly on my toes, exhausted from the day. My eyes run along the surrounding trees, and I strain to hear anything. The forest remains silent, and I find myself wondering if trees sleep. Aidan reappears in the doorway, interrupting my wandering thoughts by waving us inside.
We hurry to the cabin as Aidan pushes the door closed with a thump. Cautiously, I step forward, arms outstretched to keep from running into anything, but let out a soft string of curse words as I stub my toe. I reach down to feel out the culprit, running my hands over a large wooden bed, and lower myself, perching on the edge of the mattress. I scan the dark cabin in the dim moonlight sparkling through the dusty window.
Aidan glances at me as he moves toward the fireplace. “You should lie down and rest.”
Sighing, I scoot off the bed, careful not to wake the already dozing Jocelyn, and sit close to the fireplace.
“I couldn’t sleep if I wanted to. I keep turning over everything the Zodiacs told me. Hell, I'm still trying to deal with the fact that they're real.”
Aidan carefully arranges some of the larger pieces of wood that were stacked next to the hearth on top of the stones and the ashen remains of the last fire. “It’s overwhelming.”
I absently toy with one of the pine cones. “Do you like being an Aid?”
Aidan gently takes the pine cone from me and places it with the others on top of the wood.
“I’ve never known anything else. We’re chosen by our house when we’re young and taken to live on Polaris, raised in the service of the Zodiacs. We serve until we can’t, then we help to teach the replacement.” He pulls a long fireplace match from the metal holder next to the hearth and strikes it on the stone. The flame flickers then steadies, and he holds it to a pine cone until it catches fire, working his way down the other cones before tossing the whole stick into the fireplace.
“I thought humans couldn’t stay on Polaris. Aren’t you human?” I ask as the fire burns its way into the wood, crackling gently.
A shadow clouds Aidan’s face as he examines the fire, making sure the wood will stay lit. “I am human. Mostly. I was born on Earth. We undergo our ritual, which is unlike any other. In the Guardian and Zodiac rituals, a piece of your essence is removed; in ours, we’re given a fraction of the Zodiac we serve, helping us to survive on Polaris and linking us with our master.”
“Is that why you said you couldn’t disobey Scorpio? It would be a death sentence?”
Aidan nods.
“So, you’ve known lots of Guardians?” The heat already works its way into my frozen bones, and I pray he doesn't notice the blush creeping into my cheeks.
He sits on the floor next to me, chuckling. “Actually, no. We spend our time on Polaris and are forbidden to interact with the Guardians. Only under rare circumstances, such as this one, are we allowed contact, and even then, it’s supposed to be limited.”
“Why did they send you?” Everything sounds so weird to me, but I need to learn as much as I can.
Aidan looks at me long and hard. “I volunteered, actually. They didn’t think it would be wise to send Donnelly, given that he’s your father. He and I are friends, and I’m the only one he trusts to take care of you. Donnelly has always looked after me, and I wanted to help. You’re quite a bit like him.”
“How come he never came to see me?” My voice cracks as I realize just how much it hurts to talk about him.
Aidan snorts. “That is between you and both of your parents.”
The flames dance merrily as I worry my lip. I had never thought about two parents before. “Will I be different once I go through the Guardian ritual?”
“You’ll still be you. If anything, it’ll help you feel whole, and someday you’ll learn to wield the magic of your element. You’re the first Guardian with an Aid for a parent, so who knows how powerful you’ll be after the ritual or how quick the magic will come.
“That’s enough questions for tonight. You need to rest. In the morning, we’ll go into town and get some supplies. We’ll see what we can find out about Taurus and figure out where to start. We’re running out of time.” Aidan reaches over, squeezing my hand, the familiar tingle racing up my arm.
“Do you feel that tingle? Every time we touch?” Warmth floods my cheeks, but I hold his gaze. Firelight dances in his eyes.
Aidan smiles softly. “It’s because you’re a Guardian, even if you haven’t gone through the ritual. Your nature recognizes mine.”
“Oh. That would explain the zap I felt touching Taurus.”
“It’s stronger with the Zodiacs but still the same. Once you undergo the Guardian ritual, the feeling will be powerful, and you won’t have to touch anyone to sense those tied to the Zodiacs.”
“I don’t think I can do this.” Tears well up in my eyes. Overwhelmed is a gross understatement.
“I know you can. Now, go to sleep.”
I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder, and close my eyes, basking in the warmth of his touch mingling with the heat from the fire. My hand slips into his, and I gently squeeze his fingers.
It’s no time at all before I slip into a deep sleep filled with stars and burning gemstones.
I pry my eyes open and slowly stretch my arms and legs, groaning as my stiff muscles scream in protest. Gently, I roll to a sitting position and shake the cobwebs from my brain.
Jocelyn sits near the fire, her hands outstretched toward the heat.
“Where’s Aidan?” I yawn and scoot closer to the fireplace, breathing in the smell of burning wood and roasting pine cones.
“Good morning to you too.” Jocelyn stares at me beneath knitted brows, but she quickly smiles.
I snort. “Sorry. Good morning. Where’s Aidan?”
Jocelyn rolls her eyes then winks. “Aidan went to find more wood. Something is going on between you two, huh?”
“I don’t think so. Not for me. Why? Are you getting that vibe from him?” I concentrate on keeping a straight face, struggling to hear over my pounding heart.
“It’s your story.” The twinkling in her eyes tells me I’m busted.
The door creaks open and Aidan steps inside, stomping the snow off his boots. He drops a small armful of branches next to the fireplace, rubbing his hands together and blowing into them.
“That’s all the dry wood I could find. I need to go into town and get us some supplies.”
I jump to my feet, hastily straightening my wrinkled clothes. “I’m going with you.”
Aidan shakes his head. “It’s too dangerous.”
My arms cross tightly across my chest. “They’re looking for all three of us, and if you’re going, I’m going.”
Aidan crosses his arms, standing a little straighter. “I’m going alone. I won’t risk you.”
“You went alone yesterday, and you came back empty-handed.”
Aidan sputters.
“You kids have fun. I’m going to hold the fort down.” Jocelyn kicks back on the floor, folding her hands beneath her head. “Make sure you get some food. I’m starving.”
I zip up my jacket and head for the door. “Come on.”
We pull off the highway on the South Meadows exit ramp, staying on the south end of town away from most of the casinos. I stare out the window, grateful that everything looks quiet.
Aidan turns onto South Virginia Street, heading north back toward the city proper, and steers the Jeep down the center of two of the empty lanes. “We need to stay on this
end of town. It’s too dangerous to go near your house.”
“Pull in there.” I motion to a small, locally owned grocery store, and Aidan swings the Jeep into the parking lot, pulling into a space near the back. His hand on mine stops me from unbuckling my belt.
“Stay here, please. I’ll be back as quick as I can. If Taurus has anyone under his control in that store, they’ll be looking more for you.”
I kick my feet up on the dashboard, huffing. “Fine.”
“Thank you.” Aidan slips out of the Jeep, rushing toward the front door, moving as fast as he can on the unplowed parking lot.
I mutter to myself as I settle into my seat, relaxing into the quiet stillness, and doze lightly in the blasting heat. A loud rapping on the window makes me jump. I wipe the condensation off the window to reveal Sarah standing outside my vehicle, I and crack open the door. “Hey.”
“I want to apologize for sending you and Jocelyn away from the diner yesterday. I feel awful about it.” Sarah shifts her weight, pulling on her gloves.
“Yeah, we were confused.”
“You girls are like daughters to me. I didn’t want to do it, but they made me.” Sarah fidgets in earnest now, quickly scanning the parking lot.
“They who?” Her nervousness is infectious, and I search the area with her.
Sarah leans in close, lowering her voice. “That man, Bos, and Sheriff Gresham. They made me empty the diner just for them.
“They’re taking over the city. They seem to have some weird control over people. And did you hear about that woman, Reena Sanderson? Her murder happened in his casino, and no one is doing anything about it. Ciara, I’m scared.”
The look on her face makes me want to hug her and tell her what’s actually happening and that everything will be okay. Instead, I reach out, taking her hands in mine, squeezing them tightly.
“Me too. I don’t know what’s happening, but I think those men are after me.”
“Why? What are you doing out? He's dangerous. If he’s after you, you should be hiding somewhere.” Sarah stares at me, pale and wide-eyed.
The Tenth House Page 7
