Page 15 of Taurus's Quest
“And why wasn’t I myself? What kind of toxin did I inhale? Should I be heading to a hospital?”
Oh boy, now what should he say?
The tinkle of the bells over the door saved him from replying as someone entered the shop.
“Circe, what a nice surprise,” said a man who might have been handsome if he had a splendid beard like Taurus. “I thought you left work early due to a headache.”
“Andreas?” Circe turned to frown at the fellow she knew. “Yes, I was heading home to rest when something in the window caught my eye. What are you doing here?”
“Same thing as you, I imagine. Looking for a gift. What better than something that reflects our passion for the stars?” Spoken with a smarmy smile.
“Good luck finding a present. It’s mostly junk,” was her flat reply. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I was leaving.”
“Don’t run off. Let’s grab a drink or bite to eat,” Andreas suggested, which, for some reason, made Taurus bristle. Something about the guy didn’t sit right.
“No.” Circe stalked for the exit, and as she went to brush past Andreas, he put a hand on her arm, which led to Taurus tensing.
“Come on. Just one. Your cat can wait to be fed.”
What cat? Taurus hadn’t noticed signs of one when he’d put her to bed. It took a second for the light bulb to go on in his head. She’d used a cat as an excuse with this guy before.
“Andreas, I’m sorry, but I have a strict no-socializing-with-co-workers policy. So while it is kind of you to offer, I’m afraid the answer is no.”
“I see.” The man’s tight expression clearly showed his displeasure at her reply.
Circe didn’t notice or care because she exited the store and began stomping in the direction of her apartment.
Andreas stared a moment before grabbing the door handle to exit.
“I thought you were buying something,” Taurus called out.
“I changed my mind,” the guy muttered before exiting the shop, heading in the same direction as Circe.
Could be innocent. Maybe he lived that way. But... Taurus listened to his gut and vaulted the counter, pulling the new key for the lock he’d had changed since he’d broken the previous one. It took only a second to shut the shop and secure it, long enough for Circe to be a speck in the distance. Seemingly shadowing her, Andreas. Trailing behind them both, Taurus. Not that either would notice if they looked back.
Zodiac Warriors had many gifts, which varied from person to person, magic tricks fueled by their Astraeus benefactor. In Taurus’ case, one of his specialties was not being noticed, a useful trick to have when you were larger than most people and sporting a splendid beard that drew stares of admiration.
It took but some simple focusing to wrap himself in a cloak of invisibility. Although, as Aquarius explained, he wasn’t so much invisible as reflecting like a mirror what people expected to see. Whatever, it worked.
While Andreas lacked the same ability, Circe never realized he followed because not once did she glance behind. She walked with single-minded purpose to the building housing her flat, pausing only to use her key to unlock the exterior door.
Andreas arrived too late to catch it before it swung shut. What would the man do? Walk away or?—
The man grabbed the knob, and Taurus blinked as a glow surrounded the guy’s hand. When Andreas opened the door and slipped inside, Taurus sprinted.
Not human. Danger. Save.
Quick thoughts that ran through Taurus’ brain as he raced to catch up. Upon reaching the door, which was locked, he once more had to resort to his astral magic, but rather than undo the deadbolt, he softened the metal until he could yank hard enough to get access. The stairs leading upstairs took but seconds to ascend, and then he faced another door, this one slightly ajar and from within, raised voices.
“…doing here? How did you get in? Actually, I don’t care how. Get out!”
“I told you to stop pushing your inane project,” Andreas replied. “You wouldn’t listen, and now we can’t take any chances you’ll screw things up.”
“What are you talking about?” she scoffed then followed it with a huffed, “You’re going to kill me?”
That was his cue. Taurus burst into the apartment and quickly took in the scene.
Circe stood in front of her kitchen table, wide-eyed with fear because Andreas advanced with a knife. Taurus’ abrupt entrance led to the man whirling and displaying eyes unnaturally lit from within.
