The Tenth House

by Ashley R Scott

  “We’re hiding up on Mt. Rose. Jocelyn and Aidan are with me. We just came down here to get a few supplies.” I let go of her hands and lean back in my seat.

  “Tell me where you’re hiding. I can help bring supplies. It’s the least I can do. I’ll help you any way I can. I’d do anything to keep you girls safe.” She smiles, but it holds none of her usual spark.

  “Thank you. That means a lot.” I fish around in the console for a scrap piece of paper and a pen, jotting down a quick map leading to the cabin. We both turn at the sound of crunching boots, and I chuckle as Aidan fights with a shopping cart on the ice.

  Swearing, he parks the cart next to the Jeep.

  “Ciara, are you alright?” Aidan looks at Sarah, frowning as he studies her.

  “Yeah, I’m good. Aidan, this is Sarah. I’ve known her all my life, and she owns my favorite diner.”

  Sarah nods and quickly steps back, avoiding him as he unloads the cart and hands me bags of food along with several bundles of wood. After helping Aidan, I pass Sarah the map and lean out of the Jeep to wrap her in a tight hug.

  “You be careful. No one knows what’s happening.”

  “You too, Ciara, I’ll be in touch.” She returns the hug a little too tight, causing me to cough and pull away. Her cell phone rings and she pulls it out of her pocket, glancing at the screen. She stares at it briefly like she’d seen a ghost, before forcing a smile up at me.

  “It’s my daughter. I have to go.” She turns with a quick wave and puts the phone to her ear, walking toward the store.

  Aidan slides into the driver's seat and starts the engine. “What did you give her?”

  Still watching Sarah walk away, I pull my seatbelt across me, fastening it with a click. “Directions to the cabin. She’s going to bring us some extra supplies, so we don’t have to keep coming to town.”

  Aidan carefully backs the car out of the space, navigating it out of the parking lot. “Can you trust her?”

  “Of course.” I settle back into my seat for the slow drive back to the cabin, thinking she was probably my only friend besides the two with me.

  After a few more stops for warmer clothes, blankets, and other supplies the grocery store didn’t carry, we make our way back up the mountain, turning onto the side road that leads closest to the cabin. We load up with our supplies, preparing to make the mile-long walk back to our new home, a smile on my face.

  “I'm happy to see you smile. It suits you.” I glance over at Aidan to see him returning one of his own.

  “I feel better now that we have supplies and help. We can just stay out here.” I turn my face toward the direction of the cabin, sniffing the air. “Do you smell that?”

  “It smells like burning wood.” Aidan takes off running, the swinging bundles of wood throw him off balance. He dumps them at the base of a tree without missing a step.

  I drop my bags on top of the wood and pick up my pace, racing to keep up.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Dark smoke billows through the trees as we near the cabin, and the burning wood crackles. I top the last hill right behind Aidan, almost slamming into him as he suddenly stops. He throws out his arm to keep me from falling, staring wide-eyed at the angry flames licking up the wood of the engulfed cabin.

  I drop to my knees in the snow. “Where’s Jocelyn? We left her in the cabin. How could we have left her?”

  Near tears, I fight down the panic that threatens to choke me. “Do you see her?”

  Aidan scans the area, coughing as he shields his eyes from the thick smoke. “Not yet.”

  I open my mouth to scream her name, when Aidan suddenly grabs me, a hand clamped firmly over my mouth. Male voices slip through the sound of popping wood.

  Aidan yanks me to my feet, and we dash behind a tree with a trunk thick enough to provide some cover. I push myself deep into the snow, keeping close to the ground, shivering as the cold seeps through and soaks my clothes.

  Aidan squats next to me, searching the forest for the source of the voices. All I can think about is finding Jocelyn.

  Snow crunches under heavy steps that grow closer to our hiding place. Aidan pushes himself against me, smashing me deeper into the snow. Together we sit, tense and waiting.

  Three shapes appear through the smoke about fifteen feet to our left. Gresham leads the way, Wesley and Slade following closely behind him. All three of them are dressed like hit men, with ankle-length black leather dusters that graze the top of the snow.

  I open my mouth and just as quickly shut it as Aidan gives me a warning glance.

  “That should take care of that.” Wesley shoves his gloved hands into his pockets.

  “Be vigilant. We only know that one for sure was in there.” Gresham forces his way to the front of the group, his face a steel mask, stopping just a few feet from where we’re crouching. He scans the trees.

  “Why do we keep getting these crap assignments?” Slade asks as he walks up, stopping behind Gresham.

  “If you could do your job, maybe you would get what you think is a better assignment. Then I wouldn’t be stuck out here babysitting.” Gresham scowls as he takes another step closer to us.

  I hold my breath, pushing at Aidan to move, but he doesn’t budge.

  Wesley steps up, completing the trio.

  “We don’t need no damn babysitter. That bitch has the help of some of the Zodiacs.” He spits in the snow, kicking it with the toe of his boot. “Let somebody else mess with her. We should be doing something better than traipsing around in the cold.”

  Gresham turns his steely gaze on Wesley. “Just what do you think you should be doing?”

  Wesley shifts his weight, staring at the treetops. “I don’t know, something better.”

  “We should be tracking down the other Guardians, handling the hits,” Slade says, patting the bulge in the front of his jacket.

  Gresham grabs the collar of Slade’s coat, squeezing his fist so tight, his knuckles turn white.

  “You will take the orders I give you. If you have grand delusions of better jobs, then get it together. Until then, it is my job to make sure you two screw-ups do the jobs you have.” Gresham shoves Slade, sending him stumbling backward.

  “Now, move!” Gresham storms away from the cabin, brushing past Slade and Wesley. “And keep your eyes peeled for the girl.”

  We wait silently, hunkering behind the tree, with hatred spewing out of my every pore until they’re out of sight.

  Unable to wait any longer, I muster all my strength, shoving Aidan off me. I lurch off the ground, my legs numb from sitting in the snow, and stumble toward the cabin. “Those bastards! They killed her. It’s all my fault!”

  Aidan gently takes my arm, holding me steady. I start toward the cabin, but he pulls me back. “Let me.”

  He cautiously approaches the burning building, and I scream as part of the roof breaks, crashing to the ground and narrowly missing him. He throws his arms up, batting away the sparks that float around him, and ducks his head, disappearing into the raging flames.

  I wait, wringing my hands and praying that Jocelyn isn’t inside the cabin.

  After an eternity, Aidan reappears, black smudges covering his face and clothes. He shakes his head, bending over to cough. “I couldn’t see anything.”

  “Jocelyn!” Spinning around, I desperately search the tree line for any movement.

  “Jocelyn!” I jam my hand into my pocket, fumbling for my phone, which doesn’t have any service this far out in the forest, no matter how many times I push the button. Swearing, I stuff it back into my jacket. “Jocelyn!”

  “Over here!” I run to the sound of Aidan’s voice as he stands on the other side of the cabin.

  “Where? Where is she?” I spin around so fast, I almost lose my balance.

  Aidan follows footsteps leading away from the back of the cabin.

  “Are those her tracks?”

  He shakes his head. “Mine from earlier, but it’s all I see right now.”

>   The cabin collapses behind us as I run toward the trees, pushing past Aidan. The footsteps continue deep into the trees, and we follow them, ignoring the tree limbs that smack my face.

  “Jocelyn?” The tracks disappear, and I stop, Aidan bumping me lightly from behind. “They’re gone. Where’d they go?”

  “There!” Aidan dashes through the trees and I struggle to keep up. We finally find Jocelyn crouching at the base of a large tree, shivering and wet.

  I drop down, landing on my knees beside her.

  “Are you alright? What happened? Why didn’t you answer me?” I put my hand on her shoulder, and she looks at me, tears shimmering in her wide eyes.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure if those men were still here. I was waiting in the cabin when I heard a man talking. At first, I thought it was Aidan, but when you guys didn’t come inside, I felt like something was wrong. I peeked out the window and recognized the sheriff. I ran to the window by the bed, and when I figured out no one was out there, I slipped out and made a run for the trees, following Aidan’s tracks. I heard them laughing as they lit the cabin on fire.” She chokes back a sob, wiping away the tears spilling down her cheeks.

  I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “Are you hurt?”

  My heart breaks. For her sake, I wish she wasn’t here. For my sake, I’m glad she is. I suppress the urge to hunt down Gresham and his men and pull her close.

  “I’m fine. I can’t believe they tried to kill us. I heard them say they knew we were staying here. How’d they know?” The tears stream in earnest, tiny rivers flowing down her cheeks. The haunted look in her eyes doesn’t hide her anger.

  “Taurus has eyes and ears everywhere now. We have to be careful where we go and who we talk to.” Aidan reaches down, helping Jocelyn gently to her feet.

  I stand, brushing the snow from my pants. “Where do we go now?”

  Aidan shrugs. “We can’t stay out here anymore. They’ll be searching the area for us, and we need shelter.”

  “We go back into town.” I raise my hand as both Aidan and Jocelyn open their mouths to protest.

  “We need somewhere to stay, and we need information. So, let’s go.” I walk back to the cabin, watching for a moment as the wreckage smolders, the whole place nearly ashes.

  We drive north down Virginia Street, passing through Midtown before reaching downtown. The clouds had cleared, the December sky a bright blue with a cheerful sun glittering off the icy pavement. I don't see any movement on the streets outside my window, and my stomach ties in knots.

  “Where is everybody?” Jocelyn leans forward, perching between the two seats.

  I shrug, keeping my eyes glued to the streets. “It’s weird, though.”

  “Where are we going?” Aidan shoots a quick glance my way. He grips the wheel as he navigates through the narrow streets of downtown.

  “Keep going until you hit Center Street, then follow that to East Plaza. There’s a parking garage where we can leave the Jeep.”

  A few minutes later, Aidan circles the winding ramp of the parking structure, pulling into a spot on the empty top floor. We each grab a blanket and extra scarf from the bags, wrapping them tightly around our bodies and heads. We descend eight stories of metal stairs and cautiously exit the building.

  We walk down East Plaza Street and head into the heart of downtown, housing almost all the city’s casinos. Straight into the hornet’s nest.

  “There’s an old building down by the Truckee River. The owners abandoned it a few years ago. If we can get in, we should be safe to hide there.” Jocelyn takes the lead, navigating through downtown, sticking to the alleys wherever we can to stay out of view.

  We slip around a large dumpster, careful to avoid the grease that stains the sides, and make our way toward the street. We stop, smashing together behind the trash container at the sound of an all too familiar voice.

  “Were they there or not?” Taurus’s voice drips with venom.

  “The friend was there for sure, and she’s dead. I don’t know about the Aid or the Guardian. There’s nothing left of the cabin.” Gresham sounds a little unsure of himself.

  “I’m not interested in the friend. You were sent to kill the Guardian,” Taurus hisses through his teeth.

  “Are you feeling alright, sir? You look a little...”

  “Just do what you’re told and keep the questions to yourself.” A footstep crunches on the ice, and we push closer together.

  “You listen, and you listen good. We’re running out of time. I want all the Guardians dead. The mages have already gotten in the way. Do you understand? You kill them, and the next one to go belongs to Capricorn. And get me the stones before the mages get them. I want them dead too. I won’t bow before anyone else. Nor will I see my brothers and sisters bow.” A note of fear enters Taurus’s voice.

  “Next time I want answers, you better have answers.”

  We wait, listening to Taurus’s wheezing breath.

  “Sir, we’re looking for the mage and his order. We have no word of their location.”

  Taurus coughs deep and wet, almost choking as he struggles for air.

  “And what about your stone?” Gresham asks.

  “You let me worry about that.” Taurus’s voice is weak and gravelly, as if he has a mouthful of rocks. “Don’t touch me!”

  “Yes, sir. I can do more to help. You can give me more control over the men. I can get this done for you.”

  “You’re dismissed.” Taurus’s voice is deadly.

  We freeze at the sound of movement, but the footsteps fade in the opposite direction. Jocelyn cautiously peeks around the dumpster then presses back against the wall.

  Another wet cough fills the air, a little too close for comfort. I hold my breath as Taurus crosses the front of the alley not far from our hiding place; his skin pale and clammy, sweat soaking through his shirt even with the temperature close to freezing.

  I watch him disappear around the corner and let out my breath long and slow, staring at the street.

  Jocelyn turns to me with wide eyes. “What is wrong with—”

  “I’m Capricorn’s Guardian.” I hang my head, at a loss for words.

  “Not yet. Not officially,” Aidan says, shifting from one foot to the other.

  I stare at him. Then it hits me. “My mother.”

  Aidan bumps the curb in front of my mom’s house. Jocelyn and I throw open our doors and hit the ground running before he parks the car.

  I grab hold of the front door and yank. Locked. I beat on the door and bounce around, checking the windows that look dark and empty.

  “Maybe she’s not home.” Jocelyn bangs on the screen door, the metal rattling with the force.

  I peek around the edge of the house. “Her car is in the driveway.”

  Back to the door, I slam my fist again, gritting my teeth as the metal from the door bites into my hand. “Mom!”

  “What is all the fuss?” I turn around so fast that I bump forcefully into Jocelyn and grab her arm to steady her balance as we stare open-mouthed at Capricorn, standing next to Aidan.

  “Stop that now before you draw any more attention to yourselves.”

  I rush forward, pulling on Capricorn, the jolt shocking away some of the panic. I step back, rubbing my arm. “Where’s my mom?”

  “She's safe.” He nods toward the door. “Come, let’s go inside. Your parents are waiting.”

  My parents. I’ll have to get used to that.

  We follow Capricorn up to the front door. He pulls the handle, and the door opens with a slight creak.

  “That was locked.” I push the door, following Capricorn inside.

  He chuckles. “Not if you have the key.”

  My mom flies past Capricorn, throwing herself at me, hugging me tighter than she’s ever hugged me in my life.

  “I’m so sorry about everything.” She sniffs in my ear.

  I reach up, lightly patting her back. “It’s going to be okay.”


  She pulls away and wipes the tears from her face. I can’t remember a time in my entire life when I’d seen my mother cry.

  “I thought I could shelter you from all of this. I thought if I didn’t tell you anything, you’d never have to worry about something like this happening.”

  Unsure of what to say, I only stare at her.

  She ducks her head and pulls me into the living room, where Donnelly and Capricorn wait. As we sit, side by side, she grasps my hand, her fingers entwined in mine.

  “Mom, we came to warn you. We overheard Taurus ordering Gresham to kill all the Guardians. He wants Gresham to start with you. You need to get out of here.” I squeeze her hand tightly.

  The hair stands up on my arm as thick, angry energy builds in the room. I glance over at Donnelly, his face white and his fists balled on his lap.

  “It is forbidden to kill a Guardian.” He looks at my mother, his jaw set and unmistakable love in his eyes.

  “He’s already killed one. I watched him do it. Or rather, his flunky killed her.” I wait, looking back and forth between my parents.

  “I know you’re my father.” At his sharp inhale, I add, “Libra told me.”

  Donnelly drops his head. “Then I owe you an apology as well.”

  “I’m more interested in an explanation. Where were you my entire life?” His answer better be good.

  “I wanted to be here. I watched you every day. I love you, and I love your mother.” Donnelly softens, hanging his head.

  “Love? How can you love either of us? You don’t even know me, and you abandoned her!”

  “Ciara.” Mom puts her other hand lightly over mine, but I yank it free.

  “No! I have a right to know, and don’t you dare stick up for him!” Thirty years of anger boil to the surface.

  “This is not the time for this conversation.” Capricorn locks his eyes on mine.

  “We might all be dead tomorrow. I want an answer.” I hold his stare, refusing to back down.

  “It is not their fault.” Capricorn smooths the front of his robe, the green and gold in his eyes flaring.