Page 7 of Pisces Rising
Pisces shook his hand, a flicker of recognition stirring within her despite the haze of forgotten memories that shrouded her past.
Sag wasted no time getting down to business. "We need to find the vessel that gives you your powers," he said, his expression serious. "How much has Gemini told you about it?”
Pisces shrugged. “Not much.”
Gemini grabbed a piece of licorice from a buffet and stuck it in her mouth. “Chill, Sag. I wasn’t trying to host an episode of This is Your Life on the way back. The girl had just fallen from the sky, escaped a giant scorpion, and scaled a mountain. I figured she should get something to eat before we discuss the fate of the entire Universe.”
Sag narrowed his eyes at Gemini and smirked. “Got it.” He gestured toward the living room filled with giant lavish sofas. “Come have a seat. Gem will get you something to eat. You must be starving.”
Pisces accepted the offer, her stomach finally growling. She was grateful to get off her feet.
Sag brought her a glass filled with an orange liquid. “Drink this. It will help with the exhaustion.” He sat on a chair across from her and rested his elbows on his knees. “I’ll help however I can, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. First, tell me what you remember before falling from the sky.”
Gemini presented Pisces with a plate filled with fruits, cheese, and nuts. “I figured you’d prefer this over the sushi.” She winked and sat down beside Pisces.
“I don’t remember anything,” Pisces admitted, feeling a pinch of embarrassment. She was utterly helpless, unable to recall even the slightest details about who and what she was. “Aries told me I am...or was...Mistress of the Zodiac.”
Sag nodded, his expression gentle. “That means you are the oldest. You’ve gained the most knowledge and experience of the Zodiacs.”
Pisces swallowed a bite of cheese. “And now I am nothing.”
Gemini clicked her tongue. “Now, now, little fish, don’t beach yourself just yet. You’re still you. Except now you’re like a phone with no charger.”
Sag rolled his eyes and continued, “It's crucial that we figure out how and why this happened. Because if it can happen to you, it can happen to any of us.” His grave tone made Pisces uneasy, but it rang true. “What do we need to do?”
"Pisces, we need to find your Cerulean Tear," Sagittarius said. “It's the source of your powers and your knowledge. Without it, you're vulnerable—we’re all vulnerable.”
“What is the Cerulean Tear? Why did I have it?” Pisces asked.
Sag sat back in his chair. “The Cerulean Tear is a small star. It’s a vessel that normally lives inside you.” He pointed to her heart, and she immediately sensed an emptiness where the Tear used to be. “Because you’ve gained so much knowledge and power, the Cerulean Tear holds the weight of it. As a celestial being, your soul can’t contain it all.”
Gemini chimed in. “It’s like your spiritual handbag. And now someone’s snatched it.”
A laugh escaped Sag, and he shook his head. “Gem, this is serious. Enough with the jokes.” He turned his attention back to Pisces. “One of the Zodiacs must have taken it. It’s the only possibility. We just don’t know who yet.”
“Scorpio,” Gemini said definitively.
Sag shook his head. “I don’t think so, Gem. He wouldn’t have followed her down if he already had it. He’s chasing it.”
A pit formed in Pisces’ stomach, wondering who she could truly trust and who was vying for her demise.
"We must act swiftly," Sagittarius continued. "Time is of the essence. The longer your Cerulean Tear remains missing, the greater the risk to the balance of the cosmos if the thief discovers how to unleash it."
The weight of his words and the words he didn’t say fell heavily on Pisces. It was much worse than she thought. There was so much more at risk than just her existence.
Gemini turned her elfish green eyes to Pisces. Gone was the wry smile, replaced with sincere determination. “We’ll do whatever it takes to find it, Pisces. Don’t you worry. You’ve got friends on your side.”
Sagittarius nodded in agreement, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. “So? Are you ready to go get your Tear back?”
She looked from Sag to Gem. Friends, her intuition purred. “Yes,” she said, feeling a warmth in her soul.
"Good,” Sag said with a clap of his hands. “We'll start by gathering information and contacting the Zodiacs. Someone has to know something. With any luck, we'll uncover the identity of the culprit and retrieve your Cerulean Tear before it's too late."
Too late. What would happen when it was too late? Pisces’ mind raced with questions. She could recall common details any human would know, but her life in the stars was a blur. All she knew was that there were twelve beings of the Zodiac, and she was one of them. She’d already encountered two when she fell, and now two sat before her. That left seven more to discover and many more questions to be answered.
Chapter
Seven