Chapter 9
♄ ♈️ 5° 29' 🏠 7
Serenity, Daiyu, and Katrina are sitting on Serenity's back screened-in porch on her couch.
Daiyu is drinking water, Katrina is tending to some of her bruises on her arms, and Serenity is taking pain medication for her head.
Serenity rubs her forehead some more.
Her skin begins to flush.
Katrina sees her friend nearly about to pass out.
"Serenity, what's wrong? Is that medication bothering you? I'll take it," Katrina said.
"No, that's not necessary. I…" Serenity said as her voice trailed.
Her voice is starting to sound drowsy, as if she's in a trance or dreamlike state.
"I…" mumbled Serenity.
She passes out.
Head and shoulders slumped on the arm of the couch.
"Serenity!!!!" shrieked Katrina.
"No! What happened to her??" ached Daiyu.
No one knows what happened to Serenity. Daiyu and Katrina look horrified.
Daiyu tries to shake, wiggle her head, but she's completely unresponsive.
"This isn't fair!! Agh!!!!" screamed Katrina.
Kicks the screen by the door.
Now it's hanging off, the mesh barely hanging on.
"Katrina, stop!" pleaded Daiyu.
Katrina's Scorpio rising eyes activate, this time with more crimson in her scleras. Iris even a deeper blue.
Her skin is as red as a stop sign.
Stomps to Daiyu, huffing and puffing.
She's barely keeping her cool.
"We're going to find and kill that bastard! He hurt us and Serenity!" stated Katrina.
Daiyu takes a few deep breaths and motions for Katrina to calm down.
Takes a few steps back.
"Look, I want to get him too, but he's too strong for us right now. What can we do?" asked Daiyu.
Katrina calms down briefly, her Scorpio rising eyes still in effect.
"We need help," Katrina stated calmly.
Daiyu jumps in the air with elation, smiling ear to ear. She seems especially hyper and jittery.
"A-hah! The other zodiacs! The air signs, fire, and the others! Together we can beat Maine!" Daiyu exclaimed.
Katrina is finally at ease.
Her eyes go back to normal.
"That sounds perfect. I'll go to the water sector and get Rosco. He has the power from Pisces. Then I'll go to the air sector," explained Katrina.
"I love that plan! I'll go to the fire sector, then we can all meet back here and get help from the hosts of Capricorn and Taurus!" Daiyu said excitedly.
"Let's make our move," said Katrina.
Daiyu smiles at her, then looks at Serenity. The smile fades.
"I want to be with her for a little longer. You can start. I won't be long. Plus, I want to make sure she's safe," Daiyu replied.
Daiyu looked more determined and focused than ever. She's not going to let anything bad happen to Serenity.
Even at the expense of her life. That's the price of friendship. True love. To die for one another.
"Ok. I'll see you soon when we meet back up here. Bye, Daiyu," said Katrina.
They hug and embrace for a good 20 seconds before stopping.
"Ok. I'm out."
Katrina hops out the mesh she kicked earlier.
Looks back. Grins. Covers her mouth.
"Tell Serenity I'll fix that, hehe," Katrina chortled.
"No worries," Daiyu said with a smile.
Katrina turns around to look at the night sky.
"Scorpion Style: Rising Phoenix!" she said.
Her body is engulfed with ocean blue water, the moonlight bouncing off it, shimmering.
Then her body turns into a small puddle. Heats up, turns to steam.
A few seconds later, the steam forms a water phoenix. The chest, tail, beak deep sea blue.
Wings, beak, crest on top of her head, and claws turn maroon. Eyes look like Pluto and its surface with mini mountains, valleys, and craters.
The colors of them pale blue and maroon.
"Gorgeous. Be safe, Katrina," said Daiyu.
Katrina, as the phoenix, looks back. Directs her attention back to the sky.
"Trill!"
Flaps her wings. Takes flight. Off she goes.
"Let's get you back inside, Serenity. I'm so sorry this happened to you. We will avenge you. We won't let you down. I promise," Daiyu said confidently.
Daiyu grabs Serenity, cupping her body as how a bridegroom would carry their bride.
Gently, Daiyu nudges on the door to open it, then laying Serenity on the couch.
Daiyu goes in the kitchen.
Rummaging through her cabinets, she finds honey so she can prepare some of her special chamomile tea.
Daiyu likes to put honey, peppermint, and makes it at night when the moon is out so its effects will multiply.
"Maine…" she thinks to herself.
She has a flashback of Maine clapping after turning into dust.
She remembers the gaze of his eyes.
His words echo in her mind as the memory of him speaking shortly before he attacked them replays like old film in her head.
"Serenity. Little sis. You and your friends can use all the zodiac powers you wish, but… my eyes see through it all."
Snaps back into reality.
"Don't worry, Serenity, I'll get to you soon," said Daiyu.
#
Pitch black.
Everything is pitch black.
A water droplet hits the ground and causes a ripple.
Splash.
There she is.
Serenity is floating on her back. She's snoring.
Thankfully, she's awake.
Startled, she flails in the water. However, she calms down when she realizes she isn't sinking.
Lying on her back to float again, she reminisces of her battle with her brother… Maine.
She distinctively remembers throwing the purity bombs to explode the fortress he summoned.
The memory replays.
"Maiden Style: Purity Bombs!"
As the memory replays, she visualizes the smoke after her attack made contact.
Snaps back into reality.
Well, her alternate world haha.
She floats to a sandy area. It looks like beach sand.
The area is elevated and sits up nigh.
Behind the slope of beach sand is a cave. Of course, barely anything can be made out.
The only means of any light is a faint ray of sunshine that illuminates where she's looking, but not anywhere else.
Serenity floats to the land.
"I'm wet as hell. I don't get wet this often either," said Serenity.
Rings her shirt, takes off her socks to get all of the excess water out, then attempting to pat her hair dry.
All of the water from the shirt makes a small puddle.
Looks at the cave in front of her.
"Time to go in," she stated.
#
It is daytime in Drokeo Bay. Daiyu is playing soft flute music to ease her heart and mind and to keep Serenity's body relaxed.
They're in her living room. Daiyu has Serenity laid out on a leather pullout sofa bed.
Knock. Knock.
Daiyu pauses to see who it is.
"Who is it?" she questions.
"It's ya boy!" said the voice.
He sounds youthful. Could be an ally.
"Come in. Doors open from earlier," she announces.
The man comes in.
It's Adonis.
Daiyu looks pleasantly surprised but doesn't not know who the man is.
She immediately studies his body. Notices how muscular and filled out he is and his nose stud piercing.
Stutters to talk.
"Hey-hey, how's it going? What's your name?" Daiyu said shyly.
By this time, she starts to blush and giggle, voice low.
"My name is Adonis Bell. My birthday is May 8th. I'm Taurus's host," he stated calmly.
She giggles.
"Ooooh, earth huh? Hahaha! Is it true Taurus people like nice things?" asked Serenity.
"Mhmm. Got plenty of those. Plenty of gadgets, mementos, and good food. Can't forget that nah. Good eating is the way to go," said Adonis.
"You got a lady friend?" asked Daiyu.
"I mean a few, but we're just friends, nothing more. I don't talk to many people. I'm just here to check on Serenity," Adonis said.
"Well, if you ever want a woman that'll take care of you, I'm the one. My sign is known for motherhood. Them other girls ain't me."
Adonis looks at her plainly. Blank but confused expression.
"You trying to hit on me? I guess I'll keep that in mind, but what about Serenity? No offense."
Daiyu snaps back into reality.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that. Yeah, so her brother, whose name is Maine, attacked Serenity, Katrina, and I. We almost died," Daiyu explained.
Adonis began to get angry.
His quiet rage spilling over to the conversation.
"We need to get his ass then," said Adonis.
Daiyu grabs the towel she soaked in ice water, folds it neatly, then covering the entirety of Serenity's forehead.
"Let's talk over some tea," Daiyu said.
He calms down.
"That sounds nice. You got peppermint? Breath gotta smell fresh, mane."
"Haha, of course. I'll prepare it. Wait on the back porch for me. I'll be out there in a few seconds," she said.
Nods in agreement.
"Bet. See you out there in a few."
Goes outside to the back porch.
Sits on the couch, observing the night sky and the stars.
Daiyu brings out their tea. Peppermint for him. Dandelion root for her.
"Together," she said.
Raises her cup for a toast.
Click!
They toast and take a sip.
"Mhmmm-mhmmm!" said Adonis in delight.
Daiyu smiles. She looks proud that he enjoys the tea.
Sips hers.
A look of satisfaction. Places the cup on the table.
They begin to talk.
"So what brings you here at this hour? People usually just don't pop up at night," asked Daiyu.
"Serenity and I have been training together since we got our powers, but I knew her before that. She's a very good friend of mine," said Adonis.
"That's awesome! Yeah, Serenity is out for right now. I'm really concerned for her," stated Daiyu.
"Who the hell is Maine? You said her brother? Man, when I see him…" said Adonis, barely keeping it together.
Daiyu pats and rubs his back.
"You mean when WE see him. He's entirely too strong. He beat us 3 easily," explained Daiyu.
"No offense, but you don't have the raw power I have. I'll make short work of him. I'll tear him to shreds," said Adonis.
"He's a Virgo…" Daiyu whispered quietly.
"He's an earth sign?? Wait, there's only 12 hosts??" Adonis said confusingly.
"I know. And what's baffling, he is so much more advanced but restrained. You might find it hard to believe, but he could've killed us. He spared our lives. Why? I don't know," explained Daiyu.
Adonis sips more of his tea.
"Her brother, huh. What did he look like?" asked Adonis.
"They look very similar. He has waves on his head," said Daiyu.
"Hmmmm. He needs to be stopped. I'll get Isaiah. He's the host of Capricorn," said Adonis.
Adonis takes a few moments to think. Maine doesn't ring a bell in his mind, but at the same time, he doesn't sound totally unfamiliar.
Continues to ponder.
"Adonis, are you ok?" asked Daiyu.
Adonis snaps out of it.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm going to avenge Serenity. We all will. I'll meet him face to face. I want my fade, bruh," Adonis said.
"Thank goodness we have fearless people like you," Daiyu said.
They look at each other and laugh together.
#
Katrina is flying over all of Drokeo Bay.
From her viewpoint, she can see every sector and all of the lights lit up.
Still nighttime.
She dives down to the water sector right near Rosco's place.
Turns back to her normal base form.
"Rosco, you better be here, bro."
Knocks on his wooden door.
The door turns into a mist.
"Come in!" said Roscoe.
"Well, that's one way to enter," Katrina said.
Once she walks in, the door goes from mist to wooden again.
"How did you do that?" a curious Katrina probed.
Rosco's living room is littered with Impressionism, expressionism, photo realism, and encaustic art.
Sitting on the couch playing his Warrior Bros 3 on his Atox21, a fighting game.
Rosco flips a chocolate bean in the air. Lands in his mouth.
He chews.
"Just a Pisces thing. Illusion and dreamworld type stuff. What brings you here, Capri? You don't be showing your face often. Stranger danger," chuckled Roscoe.
"First, don't use my last name like you work for the government. Second, not much time to explain, but this rogue zodiac who says he's Serenity's brother almost killed me, Serenity, and Daiyu," explained Katrina.
"Well, sounds like that's a big problem. What you want me to do?" asked Roscoe.
Katrina gives him a stank face.
"Um, so we can defeat him? He's just randomly attacking people. That doesn't concern you?" asked Katrina.
"Depends on the motive," said Rosco.
"Oooh, so if he came and attacked you out of the blue and kept popping up on you, you're telling me you would be cool with that?" said Katrina.
"Absolutely not. I just don't want to get involved in anymore trouble," stated Roscoe.
"Bro, we have to fight Argasis the 13th… this is just one more obstacle. Plus, he's not going to stop. All of us are in his sights," Katrina said.
"And how are you so sure, hmm? You see something we don't see?"
Katrina began to get frustrated. Drags her hands down her face.
"You know what? Never mind. I saw his soul. He's far from done. I can say that much, but I'll go to the air sector. Maybe I'll get some ACTUAL help."
As she is about to exit, Roscoe chirps up.
"Wait. I'll come and help. Just give me a few minutes," Roscoe pleaded.
Katrina shook her head no as her back is turned to him.
Goes outside, leaving the door open.
"No. You can stay in your dreamworld and play your games. I don't have time to argue with you. Souls are on the line. Bye, Rosco," she said coldly.
Once more, she takes her phoenix form. Takes flight.
Her aura and embers from her maroon tail slowly float in the sky like dust as she flies away.
The door closes by itself.
Rosco looks sad. He looks down at the ground, observing his ocean-themed rug.
It has various types of aquatic life, such as sharks, fish, whales, and his favorite, the octopus.
His eyes turn a deep sea blue as he evaporates into a thick mist.
A faint blue aura pulsates in his eyes like a heartbeat.
He's gone.
#
Drip. Drip.
Droplets hit the sand as Serenity is walking deeper and deeper in the cave.
Loud echoes with every breath she takes. Every movement in her body is magnified. The sounds fill her ears.
"I don't know where I'm going, but I'm going somewhere," she said.
A hot breeze hits her in the face, causing her to sweat momentarily.
Wipes her brow and eyes using her elbow to remove excess sweat.
Takes a few steps back.
The breeze picks up in intensity and heat.
"Man, where is this heat coming from? Who turned on the heat?" she thought.
"Me."
Replied an unknown voice.
A large flame takes form in the air.
It grows and grows. Turns blue.
Serenity backs up more but falls down on her back.
She yelps.
"Ouch! Damn it."
From the flame manifests a woman. Full Afro. Black hair with lots of grey in it. It has a soft white glow to it.
Bone corset. Black. Black reflective mirror tattoo in the middle of her chest.
Obsidian-colored skin. Irregularities in her skin that looks like fissures.
Some fissures are gray, others green, the rest red.
Her forearms and arms are covered in broken Virgo symbols, each with cracks that go across and through it like broken glass.
Each one individually rotating in a circle, the quality of them distorted, changing from black to green to red over and over again.
Wild, nearly inhuman eyes. Iridescent black. The Virgo insignia in them. Fissured. Swirling in the irises like a black hole.
A necklace hangs from her neck. It's a gold crescent moon with a stake going through it diagonally.
They look just alike physically and in the face, apart from everything else odd about this woman.
The black and green aura around her seems to have a mind of its own, moving like a flame.
The woman stares at Serenity intensely like it was fate that they had finally met.
"Do you know why you're here?" questioned the woman.
Her voice is low, soft, that carries a little melody. However, it's filtered through a wicked distorted echo that her voice is making.
Serenity closes her eyes. Covers them with her hand.
"Face me like a woman. Don't I look familiar to you?" she groaned.
She sounded disappointed and somewhat angry.
"I-I don't recognize you. You look like a monster. Just leave me alone. Tell me how to get out of here," asked Serenity.
She gets extremely annoyed.
She hisses at her.
"You keep ignoring me, Serenity! I'm the version of you the world never gets to see because you're too afraid. Stop denying me of my freedom!" she yelled.
Her voice rang in Serenity's ears, still lingering long after she yelled.
"No, you're not! Leave me alone!" Serenity pleaded.
"No, you're not going anywhere. The longer you suppress me, the more miserable you'll be. The weaker you'll be. I'll force you to confront me," she said.
"No, you can't leave me alone, you freak show! I don't know who you are!" shouted Serenity.
"I'm your deep shadow. Some would call me Lilith. I'm yourself when you step into your true power. I look corrupted because you suppress me, but now you can't. My name is Diana. You will respect and honor me, Serenity Rice," Diana said.
"No!!!!"
Diana flies toward her.
"You only have one option… fight!" Diana exclaimed.