Zodiac Academy (Draft 1)

Chapter 3: The glowing stones

My heart fluttered in my chest when she mentioned that. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. "Uh...sure...why?" I say instead, and this seems to make Alix glow, brimming with excitement.

She squealed, "Yes! I've been waiting all week for this moment!" Finally taking notice of all six eyes on her, she settled back in her chair, clearing her throat. "Ahem! I mean...erm..."

Nate rolls his eyes, taking over the conversation, "This is why I usually do the talking." His expression turns serious, "The Astrological Zodiacs, you've heard of them? The twelve constellations?"

I nod, unsure of where this was going. Were they going around the neighborhood at night stargazing with people? "Yes, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer..." I trailed off, because something told me I would want to listen to what came next.

Nathan nods, "Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio-"

"-Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces!" Alix interrupts happily. Okay, it's official, I wish I met someone like her before now. We would've been great friends.

"Yes, and they are all very real." Nate continues as if there had been no interruption. And wait, what? Did he just say that they were all very real? Like, the actual what? Is he kidding me? My heart pumps faster. "There's this place...for guys like us."

...

Oh no.

Is he talking about a mental facility? Maybe Juvenile Detention or something? It's not like I purposefully set the darn tree on fire! I didn't even do it! Come on! We've been past this!

Before I could open my mouth and go on a rant, Alix speaks, "It's called the Zodiac Academy, and people like us, who take after the Zodiac signs go there to study about... well, um...I can't exactly tell you unless you go there, so...yeah."

Nate continued for her, "It's a place where we can go and be safe, a safe place from-" He paused, as if unsure whether or not he should mention this profound information. Sadly, he decided against it. "It's a safe place."

I'm surprised my parents are putting up with this, there's no way this could all be true! For one thing, Shayne doesn't believe in astrology, not even the slightest. Yeah, yeah, I've heard a ton about it being categorized under 'pseudoscience' (that's fake-science F.Y.I.) and that you're not gonna have a splendid day just because "the stars aligned". Yes, I know that much. Coming from Shayne: 'It's a whole buttload of useless knowledge.'

Shame on him. (More like: Shayne on him. Haha..ah...)

Mom doesn't really care much for the zodiac stuff, she's more of a logical reasoning person. Not much of a space person, I suppose.

Alix nods in agreement, "You know how each sign is connected with an element? Well, each sign can manipulate bits of their corresponding element! Plus, there's a whole list of other special gifts, or 'powers' if you will, that goes along with!"

"Powers?" I repeat, confused. What would they need powers for?

"It's like a parting gift before the Zodiacs left for their eternal slumber," Alix explains. Eternal slumber? "Like a: 'Sorry we have to go, but here's a bonus goodbye present!' type of thing. Each sign has their own special gift."

"Like?" I prompted, seriously intrigued.

Alix smiles, which creeped me out a bit by how smug she looked. "Like how Geminis can tell the past or future."

"You're a Gemini?"

"Yup! May 30th!" She says proudly, beaming. "I can see small glimpses of the future, and my twin sister can see bits into the past! If you're single-born, then it's a fifty-fifty chance of either sight." She has a twin? Of course, Gemini is represented by the twins.