December 15, 2008 5:30 AM
Santa Barbra, California: Earth
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▫️Larkin

I start with a box of glass things, nothing, I throw it against the wall. Jasper had a knife and slices it through a shower curtain. I grab a hammer from our pile of tools and break down the wall. We Zodiacs were ruthless in getting what we want. The wall I cracked open had a box in it. Take out the box and pull out some documents from it, old papers that looked almost a century old, useless stuff. I throw the box on the pile of broken things. I was wearing what the humans here called retro clothing, almost like a pirate. My black clothing was tight and tied together with ribbon or clips. I look over at myself in the mirror, I notice my long black hair that grew all the way down to my hips and big pale pink lips, dang I looked good today, just wait until Ames sees me. My skin was ice cold and had almost no color, the perfect Malison style. I also wore big gloves and held a long stick that I was using to tear this bathroom apart.

I am not alone here. There is another girl, she rips apart the shower curtain, her eyes scans the ground and she picks up a single piece of golden hair. She had long straight dark orange hair and a hoodie on. She wore black workout spandex and sandals, her skin was pale and covered with freckles. Her name was Jasper Zodiac, wife of Mike Zodiac. I was unfortunatly still not married to my love Ames Zodiac. He had given me a promise ring ages ago, which I still wore on my pinky with my gloves covering it. Ames had put aside our relationship while we looked for Seven... I hope we find him soon, so Ames can start paying attention to me again.

"He was here," Jasper says after studying the hair. "I can still smell his stench. It is new, like minutes old."

"Good work Jasper," I smile. "Let's tell the others."

We were at Copper Cove High School. Jasper and I ran to another room, just as trashed as the one we left. I couldn't see any of the faces in the room, just their shadows as they plung through the room, searching for any sigh of Seven.

"I didn't see him here last night at the game," Ames huffs. His voice was deep but not very manly, but still a handsome voice. I smirk softly as I recognize the voice of my boyfriend.

"I believed in you," Luke says. "Just don't see why you called me down here for no reason. You told me you found Seven. You lied."

Ames let out a small light from his fingertips to light up the dark room. I could barely make out the faces in the dark. "Well, I could sense him, it was very very strong, and when I got the chance I tried to track him down, but I couldn't find him. But at least now we know he is here on Earth."

Luke had dark hair and basically no muscles at all. He had a white button up shirt and black jeans, on his back he had two long swords. Around his neck was a clock with a portal attached so he could travel from planet to planet. "You know we have very few of these Vortexers, so if you just feel like wasting them like this..."

"I am not wasting it!" Ames yells at him. "I told you we found traces of Seven here, you are the one who rushed down here. I don't see why we can't just leave him here to die!" Ames on the other hand had part of his dark brown hair hanging in his face. He was wearing a brown jacket and a white t-shirt, fixed with a green scarf for a pop of color. His eyes matches his scarf and were filled with jealously of Luke and everyone around him. My love had only one weakness, nothing was ever enough for him, he was always aware that there was someone better, and he strived to be the best in the room, always.

"We found this." Jasper held up the golden strand. "Only one piece though, think you can track him?"

"As long as he is in the light." Ames smiles at me. "I can't find anything in the light."

We all had our unique set of powers and while I could speak to birds and control the wind, Ames could create light and track anything that stand in light. Jasper's powers were hard to understand, she couldn't control them easily since she was more telekinesis based. Luke meanwhile had the ability to travel through time, but was always sick for days after he did so.

"I knew I sensed him here," Ames says. "What should we do with everything we destroyed?"

"Get rid of it all," Luke commands. "The whole school."

I hear the door squeak open behind me. I turn around and I am face to face with a boy I don't entirely recognize, but seems familiar. He had bright blond hair and is wearing the same basketball jersey Ames wears. "I'm sorry," he apologizes. "Is this not the restroom?"

"No it is. But Soren," Ames walks forward to look at him. "What are you still doing here? The game was over last night."

"Yeah, after that scene I caused, I ran and hide in a classroom..." Soren looks down at his feet then back up at Ames. "I fell asleep and just woke up. But Ames, its 5:30 in the morning, what are you doing here?"

I take a moment to study this boy, he seems so familiar. His eyes are what makes me understand what he is. "Your Malison." I speak up.

"As are you, I can see." Soren gestures to us all. "As are all of you. I can tell your Zodiacs as well. But why would a bunch of Zodiacs spend their time at a high school... on Earth?" He looks over to Luke. "Even the powerful evil Luke Zodiac is here. Why?"

"Evil?" I question under my breath, the quickly throw up my long staff and hold it to his neck. "What master do you serve?" Soren's eyes lock with mine.

"Larkin," Ames warns. I look to see Soren's hands are on his belt, he doesn't have any weapons on him. I look sideways at my boyfriend and he whispers: "That's not a belt."

I look back to Soren, he has a rather large smirk on his face and before I can react to what he is holding he pushes my staff aside and kicks me back, I hold my stomach in pain from the blow and Ames rushes to my side to help me up. That gives Soren enough time to draw his weapon, his belt was not a belt, but a whip blade. With one snap of his wrist the long string of sharp iron flicks up into a strong sword. "Long. Live. Seven." Soren snaps each word out with so much power and determination, yet so much respect for the evil master he serves.

Soren runs at Ames and I, who are both basically sitting ducks, he swings the sword and was about to bring it down on us when a shield blocked him. I look to the side to see Jasper with her hand up into the air towards us, a mixture of blue and silver mist come out of her hand and move around us, shielding us from his blow. We were protected by the blue and silver mist from Jasper. But nobody was there protecting Jasper.

Luke touches his necklace and instantly disappears into a flash of bright white light. Transported back to Malison, leaving us to die like the wonderful leader he is. Jasper is struggling to keep the shield up for much longer, it flickers in and out of existance until it finally disapears and Jasper falls to the ground. Soren starts to approach Jasper, his sword outstretched. "You will never find Seven... you will die before you get a chance to." He speaks softly to Jasper before holding up his sword again to stab her.

Ames was the first one to react. "Call your bird!" He commands me and slides across the ground towards Jasper. I whistle loudly and hear a screatch from my dear friend. Ames snaps both of his fingers and any light left in the school shatters, leaving us in total darkness. I close my eyes and see what my birds sees, she can see in the dark.

Soren stumbles over some broken pieces of wood, while Ames picks up Jasper from off the ground and carries her back towards me. I reach out my hand and take his. "Lets get out of here," Ames whispers.

"But, we need to get Soren, we can torture him for information," I whisper back.

"No time," Ames seems determined to leave. "We need to regroup. We can face him another time... let him get word back to Seven that we are here and we are here to fight."

I sigh softly. My bird lands on my shoulder, now I can see my own surroundings. Soren is walking towards our voices, he is getting close. We need to hurry. I start walking, almost running out of the room and I don't stop till we reach outside. Soren doesn't follow us out.

Ames rushes over to his car, he sets Jasper in the backseat and jumps in shotgun, he was panting, obviously too weak to drive. I get in the drivers seat and start the car, then drive as fast as I can away from that school.

I look over at Ames. "You need to rest dear," I tell him.

"Are you okay?" He puts his hand in mine. "You aren't hurt are you?"

"I am fine."

"Good. Can't marry you someday if you die," He chuckles. Ames closes his eyes and rests. I smile at my boyfriend.

He is right, we will face Soren another time and we will get married someday.

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I have not done an author's note in a long time!! Thanks to everyone who is still reading my story, your votes and comments really make my day. I am trying to write a bit more often before school starts, because I don't think I will have a lot of time this year. Thank you so much for all your grammar/spelling/punctuation corrections, they make my life much better. Keep on reading! If you want me to answer any questions, or if you got ideas for my future chapters comment here! I would love to hear them!

Thanks so so much!