I looked around the rest of the table. Maybe I was scanning, but I had never been in a room with so many supernatural creatures are once in my entire life. The man to the right of Axrus was called Aidan Mack, and had the title of Ghost Zodiac. There were ghosts? Can’t say I am surprised anymore, really. Next to Aiden was Mariana. Her skin glistened in the magical light of the room. Next to Mariana was Nym Inayra, the Elfin Zodiac. I recognized the white hair and pointed ears. Elfin were often most mixed with humans, and mainly harmless. The seat beside Nym was empty. There was no name, no sign, and no proof that anyone had ever sat there. Not even once.

Nitch Flander, the Elemental Zodiac. I couldn’t quite remember what exactly an elemental was. I am sure that Nitch is probably used to the reaction with people. Behind him stood James Powell, the Human-appointed Zodiac. I knew James Powell. Every human knew who he was. The only human to ever completely immerse himself in supernatural cultures. Honestly, Powell is kind of a legend. I ogled him in fascination. Next to me were two empty chairs with vampire and werewolf written on them. My stomach didn’t feel so good right then. Where did Colin put those plastic bags when I needed them?

Witch Zodiac, Mazareth Arra sat between a third empty seat. That third empty seat on the other side of her was reserved for “Alice Caldwell, Avian Zodiac”. From the little knowledge I actually possess, I knew avians were flighty and highly unlikely to show up for something as dumb as this. A seat further down was Oliver Lee, the paranormal Zodiac. I knew that, technically, paranormals were considered closest to humankind, but I’ve never met a paranormal who didn’t distance themselves from humans. Honestly, I can’t even blame them.

“Sorry, sorry. We’re late, we know. Kids, what can you do?” Two men rushed into the room. They were out of breath as they clambered into the chairs next to me. The guy closest to me set his briefcase down on the ground beside him and straightened out his suit. He had dark hair and bright green eyes.

The signs in front of them read “Michael Johnson, Vampire Zodiac” and the guy next to me had the sign “David Johnson, Werewolf Zodiac”. I stared in amazement. I admit, I don’t know much about Zodiacs, but I did know Michael and David Johnson. They were mated Zodiacs. That was an unheard of amount of power. Not only did they have command over their faction, but as a mated pair, they now had access to their mates faction as well.

“One day you’ll actually make it on time, and I’ll be amazed.” Axrus growled under his breath. Michael and David didn’t bother to respond. Axrus must have expected that because he hammered his gavel again and looked over at me.

“First of all, the Dragon Zodiac we have all heard so much about.” He gave me an unsettling grin that I could have gone without. The group erupted into a volcano of chatter.

“Ah, you mean that one who saved that Troll? I didn’t expect someone so young.”

“Yes, and I heard he was from the human world?”

“How can he be expected to carry out such a duty? You know, the dragons haven’t had a Zodiac in nearly fifty years.”

“There are always dry spells in Zodiacs.”

“Is he mated? Who is guiding him?”

“I heard he was in Master Wei’s colony. With that boy, Colin, too.”

The Zodiacs all answered their own questions, and each time I opened my mouth to speak, another person intervened. I reminded myself of the embarrassing stunt from early and decided to just stay quiet.

“A new perspective, for sure.” The witch Zodiac, Mazareth, spoke up for the first time. The murmurs died immediately after she spoke. From what I remember in school, there is not one Zodiac that is considered more powerful than the others. I think Mazareth holds that fact to be untrue simply because of the respect she has earned from her fellow Zodiacs.

“Second order of business, the war.” The vampire spoke up. He seemed tense when he spoke. The words fell on quiet ears as the table grew still. Mazareth took this silent moment to state the obvious.

“We will go to war, if this injustice continues,” Mazareth gestured toward the empty chair beside Nym. Nym glanced over at it longingly, like she missed a person that should have been there. The Elfin Zodiac had straight white hair and frosty blue colored eyes. Those eyes looked sorrowful.

“We had nothing to do with such a disappearance. Carmen Santez was born into a debt free family. She was never a slave to begin with. Off my radar, completely.” Axrus excluded himself from any wrongdoing as soon as he was able.

“She was never ‘off your radar’,” Mazareth shot back.

“Don’t act like a child.” Michael, the vampire, chided angrily. I watched from beside me as David took Michael’s hand from under the table, and squeezed reassuringly. And then I thought about Colin. Would he be here to squeeze my hand reassuringly too? Would he tell me that it’s all going to be okay? Because I wanted him too. I wanted him to tell me that being the Zodiac wasn’t going to be hard. That people weren’t going to die because of this war.

“I have three children. A husband too now. I… I must always think of my family when I am here. And as I say this, I know a war is not what I want our future to be.” Michael’s voice was small and David leaned closer to comfort him.

“I also agree with Michael. A war, now when all the dust has finally settled, would ruin our peace. I can’t side against you, Mrs. Arra, but I also can’t side with you. There must be another way-” Nym lowered her head as her voice cracked from tears. “We mustn’t. We mustn’t fight now.”

Nym and Michael were right. We can’t do this now. There hasn’t been a war in a few years now. Humans didn’t have a seat at the table then, and were not included in any wars that took place between factions. But now- James Powell sat right next to me. James Powell would have the power to pull even my family into a war.

“If the witches are set on accusing us of hiding a Zodiac, then we have no choice.” Axrus ground his teeth together as he spoke. “We will not be accused of things we have no part in.”

“That is not the only reason we are angry, Axrus. Slavery is wrong and you know it. How long do you plan to hold trolls as slaves? We are all equal here, and you practice the same kind of magic!” Mazareth argued with more emotion in her voice than before. She was afraid of something.

“I will not be compared to some blue, second class magician!” Axrus slammed his hands down on the table as he stood. That caught everyone’s attention. The other Zodiac’s stayed quiet. Best not to interfere, I gather.

Blue, second class, magician? What a piece of work this guy was.

“Second class? I am appalled,” Michael ground the words out with disgust. Why was Michael pushing this issue so much?

“No attempts of peace have been made. Let’s move on,” Nym’s voice was flat. Dead. She must have been used to the argument by now. Did that mean, if no one could convince them to not have a war, they’d just move on? Just like that? If Axrus claimed that he didn’t take Carmen, then there might be some truth to it.

I stood up from my chair, and slammed my hands on the table like Axrus did. The only difference was that my hands burned from doing so, and his probably didn’t. Because he didn’t seem like a wuss.

“I’ll find Carmen.” I blurted. The room stared. I felt the constellations on the ceiling even stop moving. “If I can prove that Axrus didn’t do it, you won’t have to fight, right? I mean- If the troll zodiac is back, there’s no reason for a war, right?” Oh. Oh no. What did I just do? That was not meant to happen. I was going to stay quiet. Why did I open my big fat mouth again?

“Fine.” Axrus sat back in his chair. “If you can find her by the time the Northern constellations pass the Celestial Equator, there will not be a war.”

“And when, exactly, would that be?” I tried to not look at stupid as I felt in that moment. Have of what he said needed to be googled for translation, pronto.

“A week,” Axrus said simply.

I should have kept my damned mouth shut.