Ceana Auchenleck was your ordinary 18 year old outcast, at least until she met Mr. Currington. It was an accedent really, one of those one in a million chance meeting things. See Ceana was running home from work and it was snowing pretty bad out, so naturally there was alot of ice on the sidewalks, but she was in such a hurry to get back to her appartment that she wasn’t paying any attention to where her feet landed. You can guess where this leads….

“Shit!” She screamed as her foot slipped on the invisible patch of ice. “Owww…”

“Are you alright miss?” An old man with an english accent asked from in the doorway beside her.

“What? Oh yeah, I’m fine…” Ceana told him as she tried to stand, Oww, oww, oww, oww the pain was barely bearable, she must have twisted her ankle.

“Here let me help you, than was quite the fall young lady. To whom do I have the pleasure of adressing?” He wrapped her arm arround his neck and helped her walk.

“Sam, Sam Hynes.” Ceana decided to give him the name she was given by her adoptive parents, just to be save.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Hynes, my name is Valentine Currington. So where was it you were headed in such a hurry on this fine Yule?”

“Home, I just got of work and I need to get home fast.” She told him pointing the way to her appartment building. Did he just say his name was Valentine?

“I see, do you usually make it a practise to run on ice? I do believe you’ve sprained your ankle, judging by the tears in your eyes.” He said matter of factly.

“Look Mr. Currington, I appreciate your help and all, but I think I can make it the rest of the way on my own…” Ceana said getting a suspicious vibe from the guy, “I’ll just call my Boyfriend to come down and get me.”

“Miss. Hynes, you are in no state to stand outside in negative 16 degree weather to wait for a boyfriend who didn’t have the decency to walk you home from work. You need to see to that ankle young lady so let me help you, I promise you no harm.” Mr. Currington said impatiently. Ceana had no choice but to let him half lead her into the building.

“Um…. thanks Mr. Currington.” Ceana said awkwardly as he finished bandaging her sprained ankle.

“It was no trouble, and you may call me Valentine my dear. So tell me where is this boyfriend you mentioned earlier?” He asked with a knowing smile.

“You can’t blame me for being cautious, have you seen the world out there? It’s a dangerous place for a girl like me to trust any one.” Ceana said with out shame.

“Yes I know, but maybe you are over cautious at times?” He chuckled, confusing her more then she already was. “Now my dear, as is my belief, nothing happens by accident. I was looking for a Ceana Auchenleck, but apparently I have found a Sam Hynes.”

“Oh well… wait, how did you…?” Ceana just stared at him for a second, “What do you want with her?”

“We are old friends. From a time when life made sense and was much simpiler for her.” He said with a warm smile.

Ceana had a weird déjà vu moment and in her mind’s eye she saw a stone Druid Temple, but couldn’t think of why… “What are you talking about?”

“It was about twelve years ago when we first met, she was on a vacation in Scotland with her parents I believe. She had climbed up several hundred stairs to find a temple because it called to her. Begged her to come to it. We spoke at length and she told me a great deal about herself. About a week later, on their way home to Canada, the airplain that she and her parents were on crashed horrifically, leaving only one survivor. Do you know who that survivor was Miss Hynes?”

“But that’s impossible! You can’t possibly be the man I … er she met, you’re far to young looking. And besides how would a four year old survive that kind of a plane crash?” Ceana asked in a near shout.

“You tell me my dear. I myself pondered the same question for many years, until recently that is.”

“Why until recently?”

“Tell me Miss Hynes, do you believe in magick?”

“I’m sorry what?” Ceana asked completely thrown off by the abrupt change of topic. Mr. Currington patiently repeated the question for her, “Well yeah of course I do, I’m a Wiccan. That kinda goes with the territory.”

“That Miss. Hynes is why I wondered until recently. I could find no other solution to my current problem until my sources told me that you had found the craft and had embraced the Wiccan lifestyle as your own. You see Miss Hynes, I am dying and I have chosen you, or rather Ceana Auchenleck,” he said with a chuckle, “As my heir.”

Ceana was speechless; all she could do was stare at the strange old man before her in a mixture of confusion, awe, disbelief and astonishment.

By week’s end Mr. Currington had finally convinced Ceana that he was infact serious about his decision and for him to explain what exactly he was giving her as his Legacy. There was property, money, and a few strange and rare items of interesting origins, but there was one other thing as well. Mr. Currington was also going to make her the Guardian of The Zodiac. A group of thirteen Demi-gods, that’s right Demi-Gods.

“Alright now I know you’re crazy. Demi-Gods? Seriously?” She asked disbelieving.

“I am being most serious Miss. Hynes. The Zodiac are thirteen Demi-gods older then you or I, and yet they resemble, _{and act} as if they are no more then mere teenagers. I have been their guardian for many years now and I believe that my time upon this earth in this body is finally coming to an end. I have no choice but to find a successor and pass on what was passed to me. The Zodiac must be protected. I believe it is time that you met them Miss. Hynes.”

Mr. Currington drove her to an old building only a few km’s from her apartment building. The building looked as if it should be condemned, if it hadn’t been already that is. There were windows missing glass on the upper levels and the walls all looked as if the place had been torched some time ago. The door they went through was barely clinging to its hinges and made a loud squeaking noise as Mr. Currington pushed it open gently. As they walked through the dingy hallways, dodging holes in the floors, Ceana couldn’t help but wonder if this was where he planned on killing her. Finally they came to a bright red door; unlike any other door they had passed so far this door looked brand new. No smoke or fire damage, no mould growing along its edges, even the hinges were still shinny. Mr. Currington knocked several times on the door in a specific rhythmic pattern before turning the handle and walking inside. When Ceana didn’t follow him in right away, he turned back and practically dragged her in.

“Miss. Hynes I would like to introduce The Zodiac.” In front of them were thirteen teenagers standing in a lazy line some leaning on each other, others leaning on the back wall. “Ladies and gentlemen it is my privilege to introduce the child that I have been looking for. This is Miss. Sam Hynes.”

One of the boys at the end of the line asked, “I thought you were looking for a Ceana Auchenleck?”

“I was, however I believe that this girl will make a suitable replacement since I was unsuccessful in my endeavour.” Mr. Currington said with a smile. Miss. Hynes allow me to introduce you to each member of our Zodiac. First we have Mr. Aaron Ryes."

A tall boy at the head of the line stepped forward to shake her hand. “We’ve met Valentine. I was assigned to her school remember. Miss. Hynes I represent the first Astrological sign Aries.”

“Call me Sam.” She said finally recognizing him as that idiot Jock from her high school Football team. She never liked him much.

“Ms. Tory Ackart.” Mr. Currington announced.

“I am the representative of Taurus.” A very pretty girl had stepped forward to shake Ceana’s hand. Her shake was very precise and to the point, not overly friendly, yet not mean either.

“Ms. Genevieve and Mr. Geremia Rowena.”

“We’re the twins of Gemini!” They said in unison. Both of them were short and practically identical, except that she had long bleach blond hair and he had shot black hair. They both shook her hands at the same time in a energetic, and playful way.

“Ms. Candice Theophilus.”

“I represent Cancer; it’s nice to meet you!” Candice was about the same height as Ceana, of average build, and she had the look of someone who suffered from Dr. Jekyll syndrome.

“Mr. Leo Ayres.”

A boy who was extremely tall stepped forward and shook her hand enthusiastically. “I don’t think I have to tell you which sign I repesent, after all I named my self after it!” He laughed heartedly.

“Ms. Virginia Fairbairn.”

“Virgo.” Was all the girl said to her as they shook hands.

“Ms. Libby Reddenhurst.”

“I’m a Libra.” She said with a warm smile.

“Mr. Sebastian Benedict.”

“I speak for Scorpio.” He responded with a bow instead of shaking her hand.

“Mr. Slavin Warwick.”

“And I for Sagittarius.” Another boy said kissing her hand.

“Mr. Cary Sullivan.”

“I’m Capricorn love.” he nodded to her.

“Mr. Alastar O’Callaghan”

“Aquarius.” He looked as if he spent a lot of time exploring the world of literature, trying to find the answers to life’s questions, yet there was something else about him that nagged at Ceana’s memory.

“And of course the lovely Ms. Philomena Faden.”

“Oh Valentine you always save me for last! So very thoughtful! I represent Pisces, Sam. It’s nice to meet you!” Ceana thought that this one may have been a tad too bubbly to be a Demi-Goddess, but didn’t feel it appropriate to bring up that fact at this particular moment in time.

“So Miss. Hynes, now that you have met my wards, what do you think of my offer?”

“Well, it’s very generous Mr. Currington, but I’m still not sure I’m really the one you want to take this over…”

“Take what over Valentine?” The twins asked in unison.

“I was hoping to keep this from you until I had found a suitable replacement, but I am afraid that time is running out.” Mr. Currington heaved a great sigh, “You see children, I am dying.” This announcement was met by a chorus of disbelief and outraged objections from the Zodiac.