In Leah Taylor's family, horoscopes and the zodiac was an absolute taboo. She never knew exactly why, only that it had something to do with one of her uncles. He had gone to London three years before she was born, saying something about how he was a Virgo. He had come home two years later in a body bag. 

Her mother was distraught over the loss of her brother and banned all talk of it in the house. She wouldn't have any of it, not from books, movie, television, none of it. Leah never understood any of her family's hatred for it. It was superstition and nothing else. At least, that was what she always thought.

She was sixteen when she found the article, which lead to the stories of the stars and Darcy Kelly. It's the simplest things that change your life. One day, she found herself deep in writer's block so she started looking up different names of her friends and family on the internet. It didn't get interesting until she looked up her dead uncle. 

Leah couldn't believe her eyes. "'Twelve Dead in Salisbury Explosion', huh?"

Her eyes scanned the lines carefully as she read bits of the article to herself. "Unexplained death, appeared thrown to Earth, said to be explosion by British authorities, only one of 13 survived." She scanned the obituaries until she found it: Liam Quinn, 23. She then saw the name of the only survivor. She pushed away from her desk and stumbled over to her trunk, tossing its contents aside as she was searching the one thing she ever hid from her mother. She gripped the book with shaking hands. It was a present from a friend and it was 12 short stories about the zodiac. The book was called Twelve as One and it was written by the one and only Darcy Kelly. She needed to talk to him and luck seemed to be on her side. After a quick internet search, she found out that he was doing a signing today near her. She threw the book in her bag and smiled at her fish bowl before she ran out the door.

She had just reached the door and tugged on her sneakers when she heard her mother' voice. "Leah Faith, where do you think you're running off to now?"

"I'm going to the bookstore, mama!"

"How do you plan on getting there, young lady?"

Leah smiled sheepishly at her mother. "Can I borrow the car?"

"As long as you don't spend all day in that bookstore, yes."

The older woman was engulfed in a hug. "Thank you so much! I'll be back soon."

After her daughter was out the door, Mrs. Taylor felt a chill go down her spine. She had heard those words before, many times, but it was that one time ringing in her head that she had to restrain herself from running after her daughter. 

"Ana, there's just one more thing I have to do before I can come home. But I'll be back soon, I promise. I love you, sis."

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Darcy Kelly fully expected to die that day. They all knew what they were facing and the overwhelming odds that surrounded them. He lost the only family he ever had in this world and he believed that the cycle was broken for all time, as the relics had been captured. All but four, he reminded himself. All but four, they will save us all. He wrote his pain in his stories and published them on a whim at 34. His work surprisingly became a huge hit. 

Two years later, he was on a small book tour down the America east coat, currently in Savannah, Georgia. There was a moderate crowd to hear him read and sign their books. He didn't mind it. He felt like he was honoring his old comrades. Before he knew it, there was one last person in line. 

He leaned over the book. "Who do I make this out to?"

"I want it in memory of my Uncle Liam."

His hand froze over the page. A memory came to the surface.

"Guys, I'm going to be an uncle!"

"That's amazing Liam!"

"Yeah congratulations, your sister had sex."

"You won't forget about us, won't you? Once this is over?"

"Oh, I can never forget you. I'll have to have you guys over sometime."

"I beg your pardon?" He refused to look up.

She slid papers into his line of view. "Does this look familiar?"

Memories began flashing in his head. He looked up at the girl and leaned back in his chair. "Would you mind if I buy you a drink from the cafe? This is the type of thing I would prefer to talk about over tea."

She looked him in the eye. "That's fine."

Darcy grabbed his cane and stood up. "What's your name?"

"Leah Taylor."

"And your sign?"

Leah was taken aback. "My what?"

Darcy faintly smiled. "Your star sign, course. Are you a Virgo?"

"Pisces, actually. My family doesn't like to talk about this sort of stuff."

The man winced. "I can understand why, honestly, I can. However, I would not've asked if it wasn't important." He pulled a chair out for her and summoned the waitress, who left after taking their orders.

"Why is my star sign so important?"

Darcy folded his hands. "You read my book, yes?"

"I did."

He twiddled his thumbs. "Well, its not exactly fiction."

She frowned. "It has to be. The things you write about are not realistic. You write about people that are stars, like literal stars."

"Those twelve were stars, literal heavenly stars. Stories come to life, if you will."

She stared at him. "Are you saying my uncle is a star? A literal star? Like in space? That kind of star?"

"Yes. Well, sort of. He was a collection of stars that formed a single being. Astéri, they were called. Láspi call them constellations."

"You're insane" was the wrong thing to say as the waitress returned. 

She gave Leah a worrying glance. "He causin' any trouble, doll?"

Leah tried for a convincing smile. "Nah, this is just what we do. No problem here." The waitress left at that.

Darcy stirred his tea. "I did know Liam. I know that's what all this is about. He was like a big brother to us all, especially Valerie. Oh, they squabbled like siblings too," he chuckled at the memory. 

Leah stared at her own drink for awhile. "Was he happy with you guys in England?"

The older man thought about that. "I suppose he was, but he put his duty in front of his happiness. I remember he was on the phone with his eldest sister before his death. She told him she was with child and he cried tears of joy. He said he would come and see her as soon as all this was over. It was the only promise I've ever known him to break. I suppose that child was you, Miss Taylor?"

She stood up. "Thank you for the drink, Mr. Kelly, but I have to get home." She ran from him and he watched her go.

"She's a Pisces, hm? There may some hope for the world yet."

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That night she dreamed of a small pond. Her two fish swam in a circle. A young man sat with his feet in the water. His blond hair went to his shoulder and green eyes held mischief within them. The silver arm band around his upper arm held two gemstones, one light blue and the other purple. There was something familiar about him... Like she know him already...

"Uncle Liam?"

The man smiled. "Not quite, but I knew him though."

It took her a second before recognition kicked in. "You're Noah Anderson, from the article and Mr. Kelly's book. Aren't you?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I am. Wait. Do you mean Darcy? Darcy Kelly? He wrote a book?"

She nodded.

Noah sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "It's been too long. How old is that fucker now?"

Leah winced at the language. "The website said he was 36, I think."

"Damn, time flies. I mean, look at you. You weren't even born yet when we died. But then again, that's why I'm here."

She felt her heart race. "What do you mean?"

He looked at her, almost apologetically. "You're smart, I think you can put it together. In fact, I think you already have."

She nodded. "I'm an Astéri, aren't I?"

Noah looked impressed. "Nice vocab, kid. You're a type of Astéri known as Zodica, Pisces to be exact."

"What do I do now?"

"Find Darcy again. Talk to him and then go find the others." He took off his armband. "This is yours now, it'll help you out. Now that you've been awakened, I've overstayed my welcome." He slipped the armband up Leah's left bicep as he started to fade.

"Wait! I still got questions!"

He smiled. "Don't worry, you'll see me again. Just gotta figure out how the relic works. You can do it, kid. You're me, you're a Pisces." He smiled as he faded away."

Leah awoke in a cold sweat. She looked at the window to see it was still dark. However, she thought the stars gleamed a little brighter. She rubbed at the band. What have I done?