Order in Constellations

Water

        “Asherah what’s going on?” Kyle asked as the people in black ushered everyone into the meeting hall. At the podium were our six representatives. One male, one female, for each sign. We call them the twelve even though there are twenty four persons because the pairs work together as wholes. Each one of them held a short paper list.

         We all stood, about three inches of space between every person. I stood on my toes to look around at everyone. They looked around, as confused as we were.  They didn’t know what was going on either. Around us were the Assailants, armed in black everywhere, guarding the doors, and around the walls. I didn’t even have to look out the window to see that they were outside the perimeter as well.

        “I don’t know kiddo.” I replied. He held my right hand, the one with the the bracelet. It’s blue string, just like everyone else’s, attached to the two holes of the red garnet Cancer sign. His left hand sported his Charoite Pieces bracelet.

         “I am quite sure you are all wondering why we have gathered you here today,” The tall dark woman with my sign on her wrist spoke.

        “We have made an adjustment to how things are ordered and and categorized.” Her male counterpart continued.

        “We have come to the decision,” The Pisces male spoke,

        “That persons who are impartial to their sign,” the female continued

        “Are to be collected,” The Scorpio female stated.

        “And taken care of.” he finished.

 

There was a wave of whispers through the group. I looked up at the skylight windows, into the blue water above the compound.

        “what do they mean by impartial?”

        “who’s on the list?”

        “are the other compounds doing this too?”

        “why now?”

 

        “Females born of the Cancer sign.” The dark woman said. “Who are to be collected are as follows:”

I zoned out. Knowing I couldn’t possibly be on the list. I couldn’t possibly right? Haha. Foolish me.

“...Asherah Curtis...”

My mind snapped into focus.

“No-” Kyle mumbled. “nonononono-”

“Kyle listen to me.” I whispered, tugging on his arm. “Everything is going to be fine okay? Nothing bad will happen to me or you.”

“You don’t know that!”

“Kyle listen. You’re nine years old now, you can take care of yourself. If I don’t see you again promise me you won’t-”

“Won’t what?”

“Just… don’t do anything stupid okay?”

The list ended.

 “Would those whose names were called please come to the front?”

Myself and the other girls who were called -well, I can’t really call us all girls, everyone’s of between five and thirty, but there was about four or five of us. Most of them looked older than me, but then again, I’m only 14. Two looked about Kyle’s age. The guards counted us, and; finding that we were all there, ushered us out of the door. I looked through the crowd for Kyle and made eye contact.  I tried to give him a little reassuring smile, but his eyes were already wet with tears.

We walked to the square, where the white marble fountain was.  The water was made to shape each water sign at the top circle, then on the side were all twelve, in order. The water trickled down into the three small pools full of coins. We passed it and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one staring at the scenery around me. What I took for granted and didn’t think I’d ever really miss when I grew up and moved to the center of the city. Now I’m not sure if I’ll ever see it again.