The Zodiac Warriors: The Will of the Gods

Chapter 1: Beautiful stranger

Hi, everyone. Here is my first novel of the Zodiac Warriors series. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

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Part 1

All stories are true

'All stories are true', Skarpi said. 'But this one really happened, if that's what you mean.'

Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

Chapter 1

Beautiful stranger

Caitlin was sitting at the desk in her one-room apartment she had rented for surprisingly little money in the centre of Preston, one of the biggest university cities in the country. She was staring at the computer screen in front of her. For hours she had been striving to get herself in the mood to work on her thesis, but the words just wouldn't come out. It was one of those days when you simply couldn't wrap your mind around things, no matter how much you tried. When her cell-phone rang, she felt almost relieved. Saved by the bell, she thought and picked it up.

'Hello?' she said

'Hello?' a female voice answered. 'Really? Every time you answer the phone it's like you don't know who's on the line. It's like you've never heard of caller ID.'

'Oh, hey Jordan', Caitlin said. 'Sorry, I was a bit distracted and didn't check to see who was calling.'

'Then it's a good thing I'm not someone you would rather not speak to. How's work?'

Caitlin took a deep breath. 'It's not going well. I can't seem to be able to focus on this god damned thing. You would think I had more discipline. I mean, the deadline is approaching and it's not like it's gonna write itself.'

'I know, but don't worry about it, I have faith in you. You always end up on top somehow.'

Caitlin smiled. Jordan was not very good at encouraging people. In fact, she didn't even want to know about their problems. They only made her feel depressed, she said.

'You're probably right', Caitlin said absent-mindedly.

'Of course I'm right', the other girl said with conviction. 'I'm always right. Just ask Mason.'

'It's alright, I think I know what he would say', Caitlin laughed. She had been friends with Jordan for two years now, ever since Jordan started dating Caitlin's best and oldest friend, Mason. Caitlin and Mason had been schoolmates since the age of seven and it was friendship at first sight. Well, more or less.

At times Caitlin thought that maybe Mason was in love with her, and there were times when she thought she was in love with him too. But that wasn't worth thinking about. What she and Mason had was too precious and valuable to ruin with romance. Maybe things would have worked out with the two of them as a couple, but maybe they wouldn't have. At any rate, she wasn't prepared to take that risk.

And now Mason was dating Jordan and it didn't bother her. She liked Jordan, especially since she didn't really have any female friends, and since Jordan didn't seem to mind her boyfriend having a girl as his best friend.

'Anyway', Jordan went on, 'are you getting ready for your date?'

'It's only 5:00 pm. My date is at 7', Caitlin replied.

'Wow, can you sound less excited about it?'

'Sorry, but I am a little nervous. I mean, I haven't dated in a while', Caitlin said. In reality, she hadn't dated in two years, and she had never had a real boyfriend. She didn't have the time nor the patience for a relationship. Besides, she was still so very young and she thought she would have all the time in the world to make a serious commitment to someone.