Page 17 of Pisces Rising

For now, Pisces would keep Aries’ accusations to herself. Until she understood more about what had happened to her, she didn’t want Sag or Gemini to turn their loyalties against her with suspicion.

As they approached Virgo's island sanctuary, Pisces couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up inside her. She was getting closer to the truth, and she had a feeling that things were about to get much more dangerous and complicated than she ever imagined.

Chapter

Fourteen

As they approached the sleek, modern building nestled amidst the island's lush foliage, Sag slowed his pace to walk alongside Pisces. He leaned in closer, his voice lowered. "Since you've lost your memories, let me explain. Virgo relishes the order and predictability of the human realm. That's why he stays grounded here on Earth for such long periods, meticulously studying the hidden portals and dimensions folded within the very fabric of the stars and planets."

Pisces nodded, her interest piqued by the prospect of exploring such celestial mysteries. "He's found success locating and understanding these portals?"

"Many times over," Sag confirmed with an approving nod. "His brilliance in unraveling their secrets is unmatched. Which is precisely why we need his insights now to help uncover how this crime against you could have occurred."

The double glass doors slid open silently, revealing a vast, brightly-lit lobby filled with gleaming state-of-the-art equipment. The walls were lined with massive screens and monitors, each flashing a dizzying array of intricate data and celestial imagery.

A tall, lean figure with sharply defined cheekbones and piercing blue eyes approached them. His crisp dress shirt was perfectly tailored, and the sleeves were precisely rolled up to his elbows. Virgo moved with understated elegance and poise.

"My friends," he greeted them with a curt nod of acknowledgment. "I'm glad you've come, though I wish it were under better circumstances." His gaze lingered momentarily on Gemini, and Pisces couldn't shake the sense that some unspoken acknowledgment or tension passed between the two celestial beings.

Before she could dissect the moment further, a sudden loud clattering drew everyone's attention. Aries' bulky, armored frame stuck out like a sore thumb amid Virgo's pristine laboratory as he collided with a pedestal displaying a collection of celestial maps and charts, sending them tumbling to the floor.

"Do be careful," Virgo cautioned Aries with a weary sigh, removing his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Much of my equipment and instrumentation is extremely sensitive and precisely calibrated. A delicate touch is required."

"My apologies," Aries rumbled gruffly, though his disinterested tone made it clear he held little regard for Virgo's precious research materials. The elegant stargazer failed to display even an inkling of fear toward the imposing warrior figure, clearly prizing order and control above all else.

"Now then," Virgo continued briskly, "I suspect your visit pertains to the recent...intrusions I've detected within the veil between our realm and its celestial counterpart?"

“Not exactly,” Sag offered.

Virgo turned on his heel, expecting them to follow as he strode down a curved hallway lined with secure rooms.

Pisces hung back momentarily, shooting Gemini a questioning look. Something about Gemini's presence seemed to put Virgo on edge, his analytical gaze assessing her in a manner distinct from the rest. Perhaps a romantic component between them hadn’t yet been revealed. Gemini offered a small, tight smile in return, but her eyes remained guarded as they trailed after the others. Just what was her celestial sister hiding?

Pisces inhaled slowly, composing herself as they entered Virgo's inner sanctum. For now, she would piece together the clues as they emerged and keep her instincts closely attuned. She only hoped uncovering the truth didn't unravel everything in its wake.

Once they were all in the lab, Virgo turned his attention to Sag. “Then why are you here? Aquarius told me what happened, but I haven’t been in the stars for some time.”

“What did Aquarius tell you?”

Virgo looked at Pisces empathetically. “That our dear mistress has fallen from the stars, and her power is weakened.”

Aries grunted with frustration. “Not weakened, it’s gone. The Cerulean Tear has been stolen. Pisces’ memory has been wiped. And Scorpio is up to some shit.”

Virgo's eyes widened fractionally behind his glasses as concern creased his features. "That is...most troubling." He crossed briskly to a large, curved desk lined with computer monitors. "When did this theft occur?" He looked at Pisces like they were the only two in the room.

Pisces shook her head, feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable. "My memories are fragmented. I can't recall the exact timing."

"It was three days after the last full moon," Aries said briskly.

Virgo's deft fingers flew over the keyboard as he rapidly entered data. After a momentary pause, his gaze flicked briefly to Gemini before settling on Pisces again. "That corresponds with a supernova event that may have disrupted some of the realms throughout this galaxy," he said carefully. "If I were to hazard a guess, I'd theorize that whoever stole the Tear took advantage of that cosmic disturbance to hide it within one of the unstable dimensions unlocked by the supernova."

"How many dimensions are we talking about?" Sag asked with a concerned frown as he studied the screens.

Virgo's expression was grim. "As numerous as stars in the night sky, I'm afraid. The supernova could have opened pathways to an untold number of realms, any one of which could now harbor the missing Tear."

An uneasy silence fell over the group as they digested the daunting implications. Somewhere out there, the precious Cerulean Tear was stashed away—and finding it would be more arduous than locating a stellar needle in a celestial haystack.

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