Page 9 of Pisces Rising

“Not always,” Sag said defensively, not looking away from the map.

“Sometimes,” Gemini said, rolling her eyes.

Their reluctance to speak about Aries made her uneasy. What power did he have over them that they avoided speaking about him? Pisces cast her eyes down. “He said I gave it up. That this is all my fault.”

This caused Sag to finally abandon the map and put his full attention on her. “However it happened, it was a moment of vulnerability.” His voice was gentle, but his tone was firm. You were ambushed by someone you trusted who sought to exploit your connection to the Universe for their nefarious purposes. The Zodiacs are not supposed to try to kill each other. However this happened, it’s not your fault.”

Pisces’ heart sank, the heaviness of betrayal by one of the Zodiacs bearing down upon her like an anchor. "Who could have done such a thing?" she wondered aloud.

Sagittarius's gaze met hers, his eyes filled with concern and determination. "That, my dear Pisces, is what we aim to discover." He nodded and turned back to the map. "But for now, let’s focus on finding your Cerulean Tear. Whoever took it is responsible for all of this.”

Pisces nodded, her resolve strengthened by Sagittarius's unwavering support.

“To be honest, I don’t think Aries is smart enough to have stolen the Tear,” Gemini said, casually examining her nails. “It would take someone clever to pull that off. And he ain’t it. All brawn and no brain.”

With a pen and paper in hand charting the Zodiacs, Sag said, “I don’t believe he’s the one who took it, but not because he’s not smart. Never underestimate him, Gem.” He turned back with a look of caution. “Aries doesn’t need power. Aries is power. He is clever enough, but he wouldn’t need to steal the Cerulean Tear to claim the Universe. If he wanted it, he would just take it by force.”

Gemini scoffed and waved her hand. “He’d set the whole thing on fire before he ever got it under his control.”

The expression on Sag’s face said that was absolutely untrue. He gave up debating Aries’ power with Gemini. “It had to be someone else, Pisces. Someone close to you,” Sag declared, his words churning in her mind. A wave of nausea washed over Pisces as she grappled with the implications of Sagittarius's thoughts. Betrayal loomed like a specter in the shadows of her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder—who among the Zodiacs could have orchestrated such treachery?

Sagittarius redirected their focus to the glowing map suspended before them, his finger tracing the twinkling points of light on Earth. "Aquarius is closest," he declared, his voice tinged with urgency. "We should visit her first and see what she knows about the missing Tear."

Gemini nodded in agreement, her eyes flickering with glee. "But first, we need to clean you up," she said, turning her attention to Pisces. "You look like we bought you on Facebook marketplace."

Pisces felt a flush of embarrassment wash over her, remembering the disheveled state of her appearance.

“Get up,” Gemini ordered, motioning with her hand for Pisces to stand.

She obediently rose to her feet, and as Gemini waved a hand over her, a cool breeze picked up around the room. When Pisces opened her eyes, she was transformed, clad in tight leather pants, a white crop top, and leather boots. A sense of discomfort settled in her stomach at the unfamiliar attire, and she shot Gemini a dissatisfied look.

Gemini chuckled at Pisces’ reaction, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "Sorry, I thought you might want to look a little more badass for our adventure. But I suppose we should keep it practical."

Gemini altered Pisces’ outfit again with another wave of her hand, dressing her in light blue jeans and a sky blue off-the-shoulder sweater. Pisces let out a sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease. “So, Scorpio becomes a Scorpion, Aries is a raging fire ram, Sag makes maps, and you?—”

“Mistress of illusion,” Gemini said with a wicked smile that made the hairs on Pisces’ neck stand up. Sagittarius interjected before she could dwell any longer on Gemini, his tone insistent. "Um, we have a problem. Aries is on his way to the city." A jolt of apprehension swelled in Pisces.

Sag swiped the map away and began gathering things in a bag. "He must have known this is where you’d be. We need to leave now. I’m sure he’s pissed you snuck off."

Pisces’ heart raced at the thought of facing Aries right after her daring escape. "Does the rest of the Zodiacs have the same map?"

Sagittarius shook his head. "No, this is an ability unique to me." He handed Pisces and Gemini each a backpack. “Let’s go.”

As they hurried out of the hotel, Pisces’ gaze fell upon three sports bikes waiting outside. She raised an eyebrow in disbelief. The thought of getting back on a motorcycle, let alone driving one, filled her with dread.

Gemini and Sagittarius exchanged amused glances before Sagittarius addressed the valet, “Please bring my car around instead.” Moments later, a sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb, and they piled inside with Sag at the wheel.

As they sped into the heart of the city, Pisces couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung over her like a dark cloud. With Aries hot on their trail and the fate of the stars hanging in the balance, she knew that this was just the beginning, and the challenges ahead would either be her redemption or her undoing.

Chapter

Eight

The SUV tore through the city streets unnoticed. Sag’s expert maneuvers guided them swiftly past the congested traffic. Gemini sat beside him in the front seat, her eyes scanning the surroundings casually. In the back, Pisces took deep breaths, trying to quell her anxiety. Everything around her was unfamiliar, and she longed for the soothing energy of the ocean at her feet. It was the only moment of true peace she’d had since falling from the sky. "I feel so out of place," she admitted.

Gemini turned to her, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "That's because you've never been one for the hustle and bustle of the cities," she remarked. "You tend to stick to the tranquil shores of the oceans and lakes."

Pisces nodded. “Of all the things I’ve heard in the last two days, that’s the one I believe the most.” She closed her eyes and let the memory of the serene waters calm her frayed nerves. It was as though she absorbed the city's chaotic energy around her. The calming embrace of nature was where she most longed to be at that moment.

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