The Eleventh House: Turn of the Zodiac, #2

By Ashley R Scott

1 Magical Tether. 1 Woman to Destroy It. 1 Realm of Mages Waiting to Kill Her. 

 

When the mages return to the Earth realm to set a magical tether and begin their rise to power, Ciara finds herself on a quest to a new world. A place she never knew existed.

 

Ciara is learning to adjust to her new life as a Guardian of the Capricorn birthstone. She's also trying to figure out how to control her magic. But all that will have to wait, because the Zodiacs are sending her to the realm of mages on a mission to break their evil web of magic.

 

The wheel of the Zodiac has shifted into the house of Aquarius. With the help of his Guardian and a small group of friends, they have to break the tether and get back to Earth without being captured. But she discovers that it's much worse than she ever imagined.

 

Can Ciara make it back alive or will she risk the fate of the world falling into the hands of those that would seek to control it?

 

The Eleventh House is the second book in the urban fantasy series, Turn of the Zodiac. If you like thrilling adventure, a mystery that you can't put down and diving into a unique world full of magic and Zodiacs, then this series is for you

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ashley R Scott
• Release date: Sep 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781951427986

Ashley R Scott

Ashley R Scott lives in Reno with her boyfriend and furbaby, Zeus.  Even though she misses certain things about her home state of Texas, she loves the area and everything it has to offer.  When she isn’t writing or making local commercials at her day job, she spends her time reading, working on video projects, and enjoying adventures and travel with her two favorite boys.

Book preview

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF THE ZODIACS

Hello and welcome to my world! Trust me, you don’t want to miss a thing! Sign up for my newsletter to get all the updates, freebies, and sneak peeks.

HOUSE OF AQUARIUS

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light. Helen Keller

Sometimes you just have to jump out the window and grow wings on the way down. Ray Bradbury

Each house corresponds to one of the Zodiacs. The Eleventh House is ruled by Aquarius, and the planets Uranus and Saturn.

It is commonly known as the House of Friends and focuses on the strength of numbers. It is a powerful catalyst for change and rules our hopes and dreams.

This is the house of destiny.

1

I can’t see anything but green. The thick emerald leaves fill my vision, blocking out all but the tiniest slivers of light. My hair, glued to my face by a layer of sweat, grates on my already rattled nerves. I peel off the strands one by one and steady myself with a deep, slow breath. My forehead wrinkles in frustrated concentration. The leaves quiver, then fall still.

I grit my teeth and shove away the foliage that’s in front of my face. The leaves part for an instant, then spill back into the open space, weaving even tighter together. A frustrated growl vibrates deep within my throat. A thin vine slips closer, caressing my cheek as if it wants to make me feel better. I sigh, closing my eyes.

I search my mind, mulling over what my mom has been teaching me, so I know whether it’s me or the plants. I open my eyes, staring straight ahead, and grip the table, the knuckles on both hands turning white. Why can I only work my magic in the heat of the moment? My breath catches in my throat as the front door opens. I sit frozen on the dining room chair, listening to the footsteps moving deeper into the house.

Jocelyn snorts. I assume you’re in there somewhere?

For the moment, I’m grateful to be hiding behind the mass of out-of-control houseplants. Yeah.

Still practicing your Earth magic? Jocelyn doesn’t bother to hide the amusement from her voice.

I’m working on my new fort. I roll my eyes as Jocelyn giggles.

The chair from across the table slides out, and I hear a soft thump as she sits down. You should keep working.

Less than amused, I swat again at the plants, but they don’t budge. Are you going to help me or make fun of me?

I’m going to watch a little longer. Jocelyn laughs. Or maybe I’ll send some more pictures to your mom.

Jocelyn! I fidget on my chair, waiting and wiping more sweat from my forehead, half moving and half ripping out my hair.

Okay, okay. You’re awfully grumpy. Jocelyn snickers as the plants split apart. Before long, I’m staring at Jocelyn. The corners of her mouth turned up as she fights to keep a straight face. The leaves frame her face like an emerald lion’s mane, and her hazel eyes flash with amusement.

Hurry up! I’m sweating to death. I reach forward to help her, but the leaves threaten to close again. My shoulders slump as I lean back in my chair, admitting defeat by a mass of houseplants.

I don’t know why they have to have such an attitude, I mumble.

Jocelyn clears the last of the potted plants from my dining table and places them on the floor against the wall. She sits back down, her eyes still on the plants. They’re like babies. They can sense the frustration. If you want a child to stop crying, you don’t get mad because they’ll cry harder. You start to get tense while working with your plants and they’re going to throw fits.

I stare at my friend, my mouth hanging open and my eyebrows arched close to my hairline. She looks so serious, it’s hard not to think she has a point. I glance at the large plants that I had coaxed up from seeds in the last few weeks. My anger dissolves as their leaves twist together. A soft sigh escapes one of them as they snuggle together.

Yeah, I guess. I’ll get better. I wish they’d do what I want them to do. I turn back to Jocelyn. Coffee?

She grins. Always.

Careful not to disturb slumbering foliage, I slip from my chair and tiptoe to the sink. I grab two blue mugs from the dish drainer by the sink, filling them a little more than half full of coffee. A quick pause for two spoons and some toasted marshmallow creamer from the fridge and I’m back at the table.

Jocelyn tops off her mug and stirs before taking a cautious sip. She stares out the window at the gentle snow flurries drifting through the air. When is it going to stop snowing? I love it, but it doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to stop. Driving is a nightmare. I saw three different wrecks on the way over here.

I drum my fingers lightly on the hot ceramic cup. I don’t know. I heard them say on the news that this is the worst winter in decades. We’re in for a long winter and a flooded spring.

The cold feels unnatural. She shivers, taking another sip and warming her hands on the mug.

You okay? I frown as I study her face.

I’m fine. She tears her haunted gaze away from the window, flashing me a halfhearted smile before turning her attention back to her drink.

My heart sinks as I watch her. I know she’s flashing back to a couple of weeks ago. The ordeal with Taurus had been tough for us all, but more so for Jocelyn. She has nightmares, her dreams raging with fire while she doesn’t have any control of her body. She had called me in the middle of the night and confessed about the dreams between heaving sobs. She feels vulnerable. We all do with so many unanswered questions.

What do you want to do today, now that I’m done with my gardening? I throw another glance over my shoulder to make sure I didn’t offend them.

Jocelyn rolls her eyes and giggles. Just like that, I have my friend back. I’m not sure what to do. No casinos.

Jocelyn shakes her head at her own bad joke. Have you seen Aidan lately?

I slump against my chair. No. It’s been about a week and a half. The Zodiacs have been keeping him busy trying to find out what the mages are up to. He said there’s been an increase in magical activity since I sent Taurus back to Polaris. Whatever that's supposed to mean. I guess that was one good thing about having him here.

There was nothing good about having him here. The force of her words and the scowl on her face takes me by surprise.

You’re right. I hold up my hands, pressing my lips in a thin line.

Jocelyn hangs her head. I’m sorry. That came out angrier than I meant for it to.

I shake my head. Don’t be. I shouldn’t have said that.

We sit for a moment in silence before she glances up at me. Do you have any new instructions? Are the Zodiacs giving you any information?

Vague as usual, but I am supposed to go over to Delia’s house and try to find out if her stone is still there. Elaina doesn’t have any idea where her mother kept it. She’s been looking but can’t find anything. I can’t believe we’re looking for another birthstone. The Zodiacs hope that she’s having trouble sensing it because she needs to go through the ritual. I don’t know why people can’t be honest about this stuff. My anger at being in the dark bubbles to the surface.

Let’s go look. Jocelyn shrugs her shoulders at my incredulous face. Why not?

Are you sure you want to go? I’m not even sure what I’m looking for. I also don't want to think about heading out on another hunt with no information. I slump into my chair.

But you did so well the last time. Jocelyn chuckles as I glare at her.

I want to go look, but the idea of being in her house kinda gives me the creeps. They murdered her there and I’m supposed to dig through her stuff. I never figured out what Leo was trying to show me that day. I rub my leg where Delia's neighbor shot me, chilled by the memory.

That’s where we start. Elaina’s okay with it, right? Jocelyn drains the last of her coffee.

I nod, her question pulling me from my thoughts.

Then what’s the problem? You went to a graveyard to dig up Sarah’s great-grandmother, but you don’t want to go to Delia’s house? You don’t think that’s weird? Jocelyn shakes her head.

Fine, you win. I guess we should get it over with. My mind knows it's right, but my chair doesn’t budge.

Come on, we need to hurry and get back before the weather gets any worse. Jocelyn slides her chair back from the table, waiting for me to get up. Her red curls bounce as she taps her foot.

Sighing, I shove myself away from the table and follow her into the living room.

Jocelyn scoops her thick, puffy coat off the back of the couch and slips it on, wrapping her matching blue scarf tightly around her neck. I grab my coat, pulling a beanie onto my head as I follow her out the door.

The tires of my Jeep crackle over the icy road. The snow has been falling for days and the city can’t keep up, choosing instead to concentrate on clearing the highway and main roads as much as possible. I navigate onto a residential street leading behind midtown, gripping the wheel so hard it’s tough to drive.

Most of the houses we pass are small and packed together. Several of them need repair, but the flaws are currently hidden beneath a pristine blanket of snow.

The quiet neighborhood street has an eerie feel, and I shiver as we drive by.

I park along the curb in front of Delia’s house and sigh as I shut off the engine. Dread weighs heavy on me, a steel lump in the pit of my stomach. The darkened windows of her home and the gray clouds overhead dull the sunny yellow paint as if the house will never be happy again.

This feels weird. Jocelyn turns her scrunched face away from the house and looks at me. Doesn’t it?

I tear my eyes away from the house and meet her gaze. It feels weird. After everything that happened here.

The image of Delia’s body lying murdered on her bed flashes through my mind and a shiver runs up my spine. I glance back at the house, pushing away the thought as my stomach ties in knots. Something doesn’t feel right about this house, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

I guess we should go on in there and see if we can find anything. I click my seatbelt free.

Are you sure? Jocelyn asks, chewing on her bottom lip.

With my hand on the door handle, I pause and frown at her. This was your idea.

Yeah, let’s go. Jocelyn slips out of the Jeep and heads up the pathway to Delia’s house, testing each step on the icy sidewalk.

I follow her up to the house, scanning the street. All is quiet in the neighborhood, but I can’t seem to shake the feeling that we’re being watched. My scalp tingles as I glance back at the house that belongs to the man who shot me.

We stop at the front door, staring at the handle. The broken doorknob has been replaced, but the scratches are still clear in the paint on the door. I reach out, hesitating as my hand hovers just inches from the handle.

What is it? Don’t you have a key? Jocelyn stares at me with wide eyes and a hopeful look that tells me she doesn’t want to go inside the house any more than I do.

I know where she hides it, but I have a weird feeling. Let’s try the back of the house first. Remember, Leo wanted me to go back there before I got shot? The man with the shotgun in his shaking hands floats through my memory.

Okay, we’ll try it. Jocelyn guides me away from the door.

She leads the way around the side of the fence, pausing long enough to lift the latch and push through the gate. The wooden door resists against the pile of snow behind it. I glance over my shoulder one last time to make sure the street is still clear before closing the gate behind us.

I stop short, grabbing Jocelyn’s arm to pull her back. She frowns at me. What is it?

Look. The uneasy feeling that had been plaguing me since we arrived has turned into full alarm bells. I point out the fresh set of footprints crisscrossing through Delia’s yard.

Jocelyn gasps. Do you think someone else is here? Could those be Elaina’s prints? she asks, staring with wide eyes.

I don’t think they’re Elaina’s. I don’t know why she’d come in through the back door. Whoever made these didn’t want anyone to see. I frown at the house, reaching out with my senses.

I can’t tell if anyone is still here, but those tracks look fresh. As much snow as we’ve been getting, they should be long buried.

Jocelyn tugs on my arm. We should leave. We can come back with Aidan or Capricorn.

Capricorn isn’t supposed to come back to Earth, you know that, and I’m not sure when I’ll see Aidan. I bite my lip, unsure what to do, and take a deep breath. Come on.

We step around the side of the house, avoiding the windows, which are dark and still. Energy crawls up my arm like bugs beneath my skin as we move closer to the house.

Be careful. I lean in close, whispering in her ear. I’m picking up some weird energy and I don’t like it. Something isn’t right.

You think? Jocelyn stares at the tracks, a frown creasing her brow. Is it from a Zodiac? Do you think you’re picking up the energy of her birthstone?

I rub my arms, wishing I could make the creepy feeling go away. No, it’s different. It feels angry and foreign and it’s making me uncomfortable.

Jocelyn groans. And we’re still going in there?

I nod, my eyes glued to the house, trying to figure out what the energy is and what I’m missing. I push ahead of Jocelyn as the energy picks up to a dull vibration.

What is that? Jocelyn asks, her voice high and tight.

She points to a small planter with a dead plant barely visible above several inches of snow. Behind the pot is a faint glow of muddy yellow light that makes my stomach churn.

It’s not natural, whatever it is. I cautiously approach the light, kneeling beside the pot to get a better look.

Floating inside the gelatinous orb is a tiny object, and I lean in close, but I can’t figure out what it is. I reach a shaky hand forward, hovering inches away from the jelly.

Don’t touch it, Jocelyn says, wringing her hands.

We have to know what it is. I take a deep breath and

wrap my hand around it. The shock reverberates through my body. I squeal as it throws me back on my butt with the snow doing little to cushion my fall. I bring my hand up, sucking on my burned fingers.

Are you alright? Jocelyn pulls me to my feet.

Gritting my teeth, I stare down at the object. What the hell is that thing? That might as well be a live wire.

I kick my foot, spraying snow on the orb, and it hisses like water on a fire.

Jocelyn shakes her head. I’ve never seen anything like it.

She gasps. It’s the mages, isn’t it?

I nod my head, my body humming as if I plugged myself into an electrical outlet. It has to be. I know everything is still new, but that isn’t anything I’ve seen either.

I slip my phone out of my pocket and pull up the camera to take a few pictures. I'm forced to give up after a couple of tries because the energy around the orb keeps blurring the photos.

We snap our heads around at the sound of a loud crash from within the house. I race toward the back door with Jocelyn hot on my heels. I push the door handle but smack into the locked door.

I curse under my breath, shaking out my hand that I’d already burned, and run my fingers underneath the windowsill. They land on the spare key and I snatch it, jamming it into the lock, and we rush through the door.

Inside, I screech to a halt, Jocelyn bumping me from behind. I blink, willing my eyes to adjust to the lack of light inside the house. The floor creaks to my right and Jocelyn gasps, gripping my arm with a low moan. I turn my head, the pit of my stomach crashing toward the floor.

Standing in the dim light, so thick he fills the door frame, is Slade, one of Taurus’s former henchmen. He's dressed from head to toe in black and wearing his ankle- length hit man leather coat. He stares at me with the corner of his mouth tipped up in a deadly sneer. Did you miss me?

The question is, did you miss me? I’m surprised to see you here, considering we kicked your ass the last time. My eyes dart around the room, gauging our surroundings. I don’t see anything that looks like a weapon, but we are closer to the door if we need to run.

The sneer slips from his face, and his eyes narrow. "There’s nothing for you here, Guardian. You’re