I was standing between Pisces and Zak. Pisces spread out her hands, mystical blue energy radiating out of them as she faced the horned being. Zak bore his ax blades at the other being. It was growing darker by the second and the trees of the Dark Forest appeared like long shadowy spindles dancing in the increasing black mass.

  "I suppose they are part of the family?" Zak muttered over his shoulder to Pisces while my arm lit up in green sparks of lightning.

  I caught Pisces's jaws tighten. Her eyes glowed brighter as she regarded the horned being. "Karkinos and Capricus," she said.

  "What?" both Zak and me responded.

  "Karkinos," Pisces reiterated and there was a way she said it, as if she was making my mind understand the name. I followed her gaze. She looked back at the being Zak was facing.

  This being, Karkinos, had the most baffling appearance out of all the other Zodiac I'd come across. It had five pairs of hooked legs coming out of its broad abdomen and an elongated torso. My mind snapped after catching the unsettling resemblance this Zodiac shared with the typical crab. It had two curved claws coming out of its core and the snapping sound they made as they hit against each other matched the hooked set of mandibles that served as its mouth and then the rest, the only thing that gave the being any kind of human likeness, was its two black eyes which glinted in the dark. Its head was broad and stretched, where two markings were etched. They were two figures looking like the number "6", but flipped and inverted so they mirrored each other, similar to the Yin Yang symbol.

  I assumed it was the Zodiac's insignia as the markings glowed on its head in a pale white light, contrasting with its crusty dark brown skin. Its whole appearance reminded me of the Xenomorph and I shivered after it snapped its claws again.

  "Well, well," the Zodiac, Karkinos, snapped, his mandibles rattling as he spoke, "I see you're still fighting a losing battle, Pisces."

  "Maybe you should rethink your words after what I did to Tauros!" Pisces responded heatedly, to which the other Zodiac laughed at, saying, "That brute was nothing. Always sucking up to Aries as if he was better than the rest of us. That will perhaps be the only thing Aries likes about you right now and maybe he'll spare you."

  This Zodiac was a lot more human-like compared to its Xenomorphic counterpart but was just as tall, standing over the earth from which I had watched it literally crawl out of. Its feet were slender, ending out in hooves, similar to those of a goat and that appearance resonated throughout the rest of its body. Purple colored scales spread out from its thighs, covering the rest of its upper body and would have thin membrane endings on areas like its elbows and jaws which looked like fish fins. Its face was that of a woman as it sneered back at Pisces with its pink eyes and above them was a complicated symbol.

  The symbol was like a "V", except the two endings were twisted on either side: the left was elongated in a straight horizontal line while the right had its line extending into a knot, forming another line that projected downwards into a "J" shape. So complex, I know. That was its insignia. It glowed in a dark hue, almost like Pollux's insignia and illuminated the scales running on its head, all the way down to its neck and then there were the horns, projecting out from either of its temples and spiraling several inches over its head, looking very much like the horns of a goat.

  "You should've remained hidden after running away," Karkinos cracked at Pisces.

  "You, Karkinos, lecture me about running away? Like you did after you failed to defeat Hera's mortal enemy!" Pisces levelled and I could tell she had struck a nerve while I struggled to comprehend whatever it is they were saying.

  "Hercules was no mere mortal!" Capricus defended Karkinos who'd been stumped, glaring at Pisces and my eyes widened after I had heard that name and made a mental note as to how tight these Zodiac were with the gods.

  "And I would have ripped him apart had Hera not sent me to the stars!" Karkinos levelled, trying to make himself feel good.

  "Always with the same excuse," Pisces taunted and I had to marvel at her ability to crawl under the skin of others. "Don't you ever grow tired of that?"

  "Enough of this!" Capricus snapped, stomping the ground with her hooves. "It's time we did what we came here to do!"

  Pisces regarded the two Zodiac. "Where's Aries?"

  "What," Karkinos guffawed, "you think he'd lower himself to come after you?"

  "Well, I guess he's already there if he keeps sending all of you to handle just me."

  At this, both Capricus and Karkinos had lost their cool and they charged at us from either side. I readied Despyon's shield, letting Sage's power flow into it in the form of green lightning. I broke out from the group as Zak swung his axes at Karkinos and metal clashed against hard cosmic skin.

  Pisces literally phased her body and I watched as Capricus's claws cut through her but only swiped at air. Pisces reformed and countered by using telekinesis to hurl Capricus across the air before sending her crashing into a tree.

  Zak had one of his axes knocked out of his hand and the blade spun in the air then landed to the ground where it lodged itself into the dirt. I threw Despyon's shield at Karkinos as he was about to crush Zak with one of his massive claws, cutting him off with a blast of energy and he was thrown back, rolling on the ground and rattling his legs.

  "What's the plan here, guys?" I asked as we regrouped, having our backs to each other as the two got back up.

  "Karkinos will put up a more physical fight," Pisces offered, " look out for his claws and go for his legs."

  "Ah, now that I can handle," Zak grinned, flexing his arms after reacquiring his axe.

  "But it's her you really need to look out for," Pisces cautioned as Capricus advanced towards us. "She can manipulate the one thing—"

  Pisces gasped.

  "Where the hell did she go?" I asked after Capricus suddenly sunk into the ground after the earth had ruptured where she stood.

  This distraction resulted in Karkinos launching his attack, catching us off guard. He charged, lashing out with his claws and we barely had enough time to move out of the way as the tips of his claws tore against the ground, narrowly missing us.

  Zak had rolled away from us so he came up behind the Zodiac and flung himself at it in an attempt to land on its extended back but Karkinos perceived this, whacking Zak with one of his legs and sending him reeling to the ground.

  Pisces and I came after Karkinos. I threw Despyon's shield. Pisces conjured up a ball of energy. I watched as the shield and Pisces's energy sailed towards the Zodiac but they never reached their target. Instead, the two gradually lost their momentum then stopped moving entirely and remained suspended in the air. At first, I'd thought Pisces had done something as I turned to look at her but my movement slowed. My body lagged and became heavy. Why wasn't I moving? I gasped. Nothing else was. Everything had stopped, frozen in place.

  The only thing I caught after that was Capricus's voice as she chuckled maliciously. She came into view, materializing before me. I watched her shoot up from the earth and the displaced dirt did not fall to the ground, it simply hovered over the ground before gradually losing its momentum and also becoming frozen in place.

  Capricus was the only thing moving at that point. Even Karkinos was immobile while Zak was frozen in place, appearing to have been in the middle of getting up.

  "The one thing I can't manipulate," Pisces's voice found its way into my head. ". . .Time."

  It took a moment before I understood what was happening.

  "How do we get out?" I asked with my mind.

  "We can't," was her shockingly direct response as Capricus approached her.

  My eyes were the only thing moving and I forced them towards Capricus's direction. I watched her regard Pisces, tracing her clawed finger along her hair. "Such unique features," I heard her say. "Such a weak form. You know you never belonged with us and should've remained hidden after Sage's death."

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  I forced my eyes to turn even more and something happened. I was seeing things. Things that hadn't been there before.

  "Listen," Pisces's voice found me again as I caught a glimpse of her face. Her eyes were looking ahead, fixed in place and not moving. "We can't get out of this. . .but you can."

  "What do you mean?" I asked, trying to fight whatever was currently going on with my sight. "What is she doing to us? My eyes—"

  "What? What do you see?" I caught a gasp in Pisces's voice.

  My sight had become contorted, warped. The darkened environment was dancing in front of me, forming ripples and waves. There was only one other time I had ever had such an experience and it had involved "accidentally" taking some substances while at a party back in Sacramento.

  "Focus, Desmond," Pisces's voice again. "What do you see?"

  "It's hard to make out," I narrowed my eyes. The effect intensified until the visuals shifted and became more discernible. "Wait," I said after what looked like tiny balls of green light materialized, dancing alongside the waves at alternate points. "I see spherical shaped light thingies or something."

  An even louder gasp from Pisces followed. "It's the vision and. . .and something else I didn't think you'd be able to do this soon."

  "What is it? What's happening?"

  "You're seeing through space. The vision is allowing you to evade Capricus's time manipulation."

  "I'm what?"

  "Those aren't spheres. They are holes. Gateways through space."

  "And you can't see them?"

  "Only you can. Now it's time to use both of Sage's abilities together and get us out of here."

  "How do I do that?"

  "Focus on the gateways. They'll show you the way."

  "How?"

  "You just have to—" Pisces's voice was cut off, turning into a groan that was no longer in my head. I turned my eyes and caught Capricus driving a claw deep into her cheek, causing blue blood to drip down her jaw, apparently unaffected by the twisted flow of time.

  "No wonder Sage took a liking to you," Capricus taunted, glaring at Pisces with her pink eyes. "I'll peel off your face and wear it as a band."

  Pisces was moaning now, the distress in her voice growing apparent. I turned to the glowing holes in front of me. I had to get out and help her. Focus, she had said. There were half a dozen holes dancing in the air. I concentrated on the one closest to me and I experienced a weird feeling in my eyes. The hole appeared to move closer to me, as if my eyes were a camera, panning into the distorted temporal aura.

  Pisces's moaning stopped and Capricus had turned to me. "What?" I caught the surprise in her voice. "How are you moving?"

  I could feel more pressure exacted down on me. Capricus was increasing her power and so did I. I concentrated on the hole until it was growing, widening by the second and getting closer and closer.

  Come on! My vision panned out as the hole engulfed me like a vortex, bathing me in bright green light and everything around me folded in on itself and I recalled a similar experience back when Ethel had used her staff to teleport me and Pisces.

  My vision restored itself and everything twisted itself back in place. At least for my part. Pisces was still immobile. Only Capricus and I were moving through time.

  "Impossible!" Capricus spat, bearing her teeth. "Only Sage could do that!"

  "Well," I levelled, still trying to comprehend what was happening. "haven't you heard? I'm his successor."

  Of course I hadn't planned what to do after that as the horned Zodiac came at me. She sunk into the ground when she was only inches away, only to reappear behind me. She struck me, sending me falling with my face where I scraped my chin against a rock.

  "You are doomed, no matter, mortal!" Capricus towered over me, grabbing me by the collar. She was about to claw at my face but I brought my arm around, getting her across her own face with my empowered right arm and tiny sparks of electricity dissipated upon impact. This made her drop me after which I crawled, looking for Despyon's shield.

  "Ugh, you little. . ." Capricus cursed and I could hear her hooves stomp against the ground before she appeared in front of me. She whacked me hard in my side and I was thrown across the ground, landing nearly two feet away from where Pisces stood.

  Capricus was on me again, hoisting me up by my neck this time and I had to remark at just how all the Zodiac I'd met so far had immense amounts of physical strength.

  "You may have our power," she sneered at me, maintaining her grip, "but you're still a mere mortal. Why don't I show you what we actually do to your kind?"

  The Zodiac parted her jaws, bearing her fangs and I thought she was going to suck the blood from my neck like a vampire but it was much worse. A faint light materialized from her throat, lighting up her mouth and quickly got me in a trance as I struggled to look away. I could feel my consciousness drift, almost literally, as if it was being pulled out of my body. Remember how Pennywise, the dancing clown, would paralyze his victims by projecting their fear? Well, now I knew what that felt like.

  I was losing myself. My very existence was withering away as my soul slowly broke apart from my body. I tried hitting against Capricus with my hands but even Sage's power appeared to have been temporarily vanquished somehow. I swung my arms and at one point, I felt the tip of my finger brush against Pisces's hand. This gave me an idea. One last attempt at cheating death yet again. I could only hope it would work.

  While Capricus continued to feast on my soul, I extended my arm, desperately trying to reach out to Pisces. I did. I could feel my heart rate slow down. My eyes were closing. No! I had to stay awake for this to work and with one powerful surge of strength, I grabbed onto Pisces's hand and it all happened so instantly, I barely had time to register as Pisces's eyesight became my own and I was able to see the gateways again. I concentrated and a wave of light washed over me like before.

  The connection had been severed. I was back to losing my soul to Capricus and my eyes began to shut but the ordeal was cut short, followed by Capricus flying through the air and crashing into Karkinos. I fell on my knees, gasping for air and Pisces was there by my side, her hands feeling my face.

  "Are you okay?" she asked and the glow in her eyes had waned.

  "Yeah. . ." I managed to say over a fleet of coughs and wheezes as life returned to my body. "Are you okay?" I found myself looking at the deep gash on Pisces's cheek.

  She was about to respond when Zak came by our side. Apparently, Capricus's time freeze had been disrupted after Pisces had knocked her clean off the ground.

  "What-what happened?" Zak asked and I could see the confusion on his face.

  There was no time to explain. Capricus and Karkinos were getting up. Zak balled his fists. He had lost his axes. I looked at Pisces. She appeared to be in much better shape than I was as I tried to regain my composure and face the other Zodiac.

  The two Zodiac were so angry they hit each other while getting up and in my current condition, I was not sure how long I would hold up but a look from Pisces reassured me as a wave of comfort seemed to radiate from her. She used her power to retrieve Despyon's shield and Zak's axes and the three of us readied ourselves for the next battle.

  Pisces was leading the attack but appeared to pause, apparently sensing something and as I observed, so did the other Zodiac. Soon, Zak and I would also catch on. It started with a muffled sound in the distance that gradually shifted into a louder thumping sound—the sound of multiple hooves hitting against the ground. This was followed by the neighing of horses and finally, from one end of the forest, the emergence of soldiers atop horses, hoisting flaming torches and red flags that bore the unmistakable double swords and the head of a wolf symbol on them—the sigil of Abinor.

  Zak had been the first to react as he watched his troops match into the clearing but keeping clear of us, especially Capricus and Karkinos.

  "Neldor?" he called as the man leading the troops advanced while still on horseback. "Am I glad to see you."

  The conversation had been a little weird and out of place, especially given the fact there were two very dangerous cosmic beings preparing to attack on the other side.

  "Not another step, traitor!" Neldor huffed, his wild eyes hard and set on his face as his scar became visible over his nose under the light of his torch.

  "What're you doing?" Zak asked, puzzled. "How did you find us?"

  "You forget how we've ruled the Dark Forest, you and I," Neldor said, almost in a brotherly manner but there was something in his voice as he maintained his grimace. "We're scourging the lands of these demons once and for all!"

  Both Capricus and Karkinos snarled, their bodies stepping out of the dark and the soldiers' light illuminated their appearance, creating gasps, curses and cries among the troops.

  "Well," Capricus spoke, a wild glint in her pink eyes as she regarded Neldor and his men, "this night keeps getting better and better."

  "I almost envy your courage in thinking you can take us on with this foolish excuse of an army," Karkinos added, snapping his claws and cracking his mandibles in laughter.

  "General?" one soldier called and Zak had been about to respond until he realized who was actually being addressed.

  Neldor turned to the soldier and gave him a nod. I looked back at Zak and noticed how he was not doing a good job at hiding the shock on his face after the revelation, but he almost immediately masked it with a sly grin.

  "Of course," he even laughed, "the Chieftain made you General."

  Neldor grinned at him. "It was only a matter of time, now that your name is tainted with treason." He slid off his horse and this time, Pisces was the one to have her jaw drop.

  On Neldor's silver-plated chest, was what appeared to be a symbol, one I had seen before. The two vertical lines capped off with curving horizontal lines on either end—Pollux's insignia. It appeared to have been painted on at first, but after more light fell on it, it became horrifyingly clear what had happened. You could see pieces of Pollux's flesh sticking out on some parts of the symbol.

  "What did you do?" Pisces asked, her voice breaking for a moment.

  Neldor smiled twistedly. "Don't worry. You will all find soon enough."

  Pisces must have seemed troubled but Capricus and Karkinos are the ones who sold it as they both charged at Neldor and his troops and I can't believe I'm saying this wasn't even the worst thing to happen that night. That was on its way and you're gonna wanna stick around or back out altogether, for I tell you this, what would happen next would not be for the faint of heart.