The Roses and The Lilies

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 13－ 𝐴𝑡 𝑜𝑑𝑑𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟

"Why the fuck would she do that to herself?" Leo hissed.
Ophichius opened his mouth to defend himself but was interrupted.
"She might've gone into town this morning!" Cancer interrupted shrilly. "Or, maybe, definitely did,"
The assembled criminals turned to her and she shrunk behind Scorpio.
"We might've seen her leave the property this morning," Taurus said. "But in all honestly, we thought she was back. We heard Aquarius chatting happily to someone, so,"
Aquarius frowned for a second before widening her eyes. "Oh! I was talking to Cance's cat,"
"Why the fuck didn't you tell us this earlier?" Leo hissed. "We should-,"
"You can't just be aware of everyone's whereabouts in the house. Everyone deserves their freedom," Cancer replied hotly.
"Shut the fuck up Cancer. I know what I'm doing. I'm a leader,"
Scorpio immediately glared at the woman. "Do not fucking talk to my wife like that. She's right,"
"Leo, you're angry and upset, we know, please just take a second to breathe," Taurus reached over to place a hand over Leo's shoulder but she batted it away.
"I am fine," she hissed. "Go away,"
It was Virgo's turn to glare. "Leo, you're my boss, but do not talk to Taur like that,"
"Leo. We can look at the security cameras," Libra piped up. "Right, you two?" She turned to the twins.
"Yeah, we're combing through it now. She did leave this morning, at 5am, but she didn't come back," Mini confirmed.
"Someone should have noticed! I should have noticed!" Leo punched the table again.
"Leo stop punching my furniture," Ophichius warned.
"Fucking stop me,"
"ENOUGH!"
Several of the gathered 12 jumped at Sagittarius' shout.
"We have to stop blaming each other. We have to work this out together. Apologise to each other," He demanded.
"Sagi-,"
"Now," the ginger interrupted Ophichius, who's eyes widened.
"Fine. Sorry Leo. We'll get her back," Ophichius grouched.
"Sorry. To all of you. I guess I'm a bit emotional," Leo said stiffly.
"A bit?" Aries muttered.
Leo shot her sister a warning look. Aries shrugged.
"Let's start combing through all the security footage we can find, and work out if it was Argentina or not. Cance, Taur, could you make some tea?" Aquarius asked the two.
"Yeah, best we're good for," Taurus nodded. "C'mon Cance,"
"Coming," the woman replied, pressing a kiss to scorpio's cheek before following her friend towards the kitchen.
"Why'd you send them out?" Capricorn asked curiously.
"Stuff like this stresses Cance out, I don't want her to have a panic, especially when she's so close to her due date," Aquarius explained.
Scorpio shot her a thankful look and she shrugged.

"Hey, Bloody Mary,"
Aries looked up from her tablet to glare at Gem.
"What?"
"I think I found something,"
"Already?"
"Yeah. I looked at the neighbourhood watch security cameras,"
"Neighbourhood watch?" Aries looked confused.
"Oh! Security cameras are on every street, and your neighbours will spy on you if they think you're doing something wrong,"
"And you live here? Surely they're suspicious of you,"
"Nah. Ophi owns the town," Gem replied. "Anyway, as I was saying-,"
"He owns the town?" Aries' eyes were wide.
"Yeah. The town's been in his family for years. Anyway, I was saying about the footage,"
"Oh. Yeah. Go on,"
"Thank you," Gem sighed. "So, here's Pisces walking towards the shop," he showed her grainy footage of the brunette walking down an empty street. The time stamp read 5:49 AM.
"Then...," he tapped the screen, and it went forward five minutes.
Pisces was displayed by someone bumping into her, and then being held down. Other figures appeared, and one injected something into her thigh. She went limp.
"Do you know where they come from?" Aries launched forwards, grabbing the screen out of Gem's hands.
He yelped and tried to grab his tablet, but fell off the sofa in the process.
"I have a hunch," he grumbled after a few moments, sitting up. "But I'm not sure. We'll have to go somewhere to make sure,"
"Let's do it," Aries said firmly. "I'll go anywhere. We have to cover all grounds,"
Gem raised an eyebrow. "Okay. Pack a rucksack. I'll meet you outside the property at 1am,"
"1am?"
"I don't want to alert everyone and make them hopeful. It's just a hunch,"
Aries nodded. "Okay,"

"Want a drink?"
Libra jumped at Sagittarius' voice.
He chuckled and passed her a bottle.
"What's this?" She squinted at the bottle.
"Beer," he replied, swigging his own bottle.
"Thanks," she said, opening the bottle with an opener and clinking it with Sagittarius' own beer.
"Cheers," He nodded to her, taking another sip.
She sipped on it slowly.
"How are you feeling?" Sagittarius asked after a long stretch of silence.
"I'm worried," Libra cupped her face and sighed. "I'm worried about Leo. It took Aries and I fifteen minutes to make her sleep,"
"She loves her, right?" Sagittarius said quietly.
"I suppose so. I don't think she knows it yet,"
"I think she'll find out soon,"
Libra laughed hollowly and turned to him.
"How are you doing Sagi?"
"I'm-,"
"Tari?"
The duo looked up as Capricorn shuffled into the kitchen.
"Hey Capri!" Sagittarius fumbled with his beer, almost sloshing the rest of it over himself.
Libra sniggered and he shot her a look.
"What are you two doing up?" Capricorn crossed his arms and tapped his fingers against his biceps.
"Drinks," Libra replied, holding up her beer. "Want one?"
"No. You understand it's 12am, yes?"
"Sagi was here first!" Libra protested.
Capricorn's eyes turned to Sagittarius, and the ginger squirmed in his seat.
"I wanted a beer!" He whined.
"Why are you awake?"
"Why are you awake?" Sagittarius countered.
Libra watched the exchange, drinking her beer.
"I was asleep. Then I woke up, and wanted to get some water," The taller replied.
Sagittarius hummed and glanced around the room.
He raised the bottle back to his lips but it was snatched out of his hands. "Hey!" He protested as Capricorn finished the bottle.
"Come on, let's get to bed," Capricorn placed the empty bottle down and took Sagittarius' hand.
"You should get to sleep too, Libra," he added before dragging Sagittarius out the room and leaving the woman in shocked silence.
She waited five minutes before bursting into giggles.