The Book of Gemma VOL. 2

24: A BATTLE OF HORNS

The sun hit my eyes from the window and cracked my eyelids open, shifting to my side and seeing Deecon already staring at the ceiling. Did he ever close them?

"Morning." My voice cracked the silence, pulling the blankets off my body and sitting at the edge of the bed. He smirks from the couch, still holding onto a pillow.

"What?" I ask, he shakes his head a bit, "Nothing.. I just.. Feel like I'm dreaming, hearing you say that from my bed."

I guess it is an adjustment with me climbing out of my coffin all those months ago.

I walk over to the end of the couch, resting my arms on top and laying my head against them. "Are you ready to meet the family?" I beam, eager for him to see I'm not the only messed up God on this planet. He agrees, getting off the couch and grabbing his combat suit. He hasn't worn it since he came to Darus a month ago. He removes his shirt and then stares at me, twirling his finger in a circle for me to turn around.

What does it matter? I was already blushing at the sight of his shirtless body, but I did as instructed and turned to face the wall. My eyes try to wonder back, starving for the sight of him. My head shifts slightly to the side and snaps back to the wall when he says "Ahh-Ahh... no peeking.. Friends, remember?" His tone mocking me.

He opens the door for me and goes towards his ship, I stand on his porch still, looking up to the morning sky.

"Are you coming?" He shouts from the ship door.

"I'll race you." I taunt him and he grins. He jumps into the driver side and begins to take off. I leap from his porch and race him to Sky.

"Took you long enough." I tease as he exits his craft.

"Oh, please. Like I would upset you this early in the morning."

He walks beside me as we head towards the compound. We hear chatter outside the front doors and I hear him take in a deep breath, preparing himself. I push them open and hear the Zodiacs down the hall instead of crowded around the large wooden table. Our feet click on the marble floor as we follow the sound and smell of fresh food being made. We turn the corner and see the Zodiacs handing out food in the mess hall to the soldiers. Laughing and conversations swirled in the room as they ate their feast.

"Gemini!" I hear Lib shout from the long table that held all the food they prepared. Every person in that room turned to look at us and then back to their plates. I actually saw Scorpz look up and smile at the two of us, helping Pisces with the plates.

Aqua poured the soldiers water from her hands, the cleanest drinking water that life had to offer.

Sage and Leo barely help as they lean against the wall, snickering to each other. Tori is lifting the garbage bags to take out while Aries tries to carry more than her. Capri and Cane played a match of chess as soldiers gathered around them.

Lib races to my side and hugs around my lower torso, pressing her cheek into my stomach. "Lib, I want to introduce you-" Lib cuts in a squeal, "Deecon! Your friend Edna has told me so much about you!" She releases me and throws her arms to him. Deecon laughs a bit and I say, "This is Libra, she goes by Lib. The kindest Zodiac who can manipulate the weather with the snap of a finger."

Lib releases him and he greets her, "It's an honor to meet you, Lib."

She giggles whispering to me, "He's a dream, Gemini."

I blush, shushing her. "Where is Edna?"

Lib clasped her hands behind her back, "Your father is helping her nurse a hangover back at your place."

I hear Deecon let out a chuckle, "I told you."

He needs to stop proving his points.

"Could you tell the other Zodiacs that there will be a get together at my place in an hour? Deecon has run this place for the past ten years, he should be caught up on how we are operating here and to meet all of you."