Rising Sign (edit title/settings)

***SPOILER ALERT!***

TIMOTHY DALIS, a single actor living in Philadelphia in 1999, is about to discover that his life holds much more significance than he'd ever dreamed. As he is getting ready for bed one night, he is visited by an ominous figure at his window. His cat, HARMONY, vanishes. In the tumultuous days that ensue, his best friend, NELL, takes him to a psychic. The psychic, SERENY, tells him that an ancient star, MEREL, has been hiding out on Earth and slowly gaining power, an action that will ultimately unbalance the universe and annihilate all life. A prophecy foretells the birth of the STAR CHILD, the infant whose ultimate purpose is to destroy Merel. Merel sets out to capture the Star Child and harness her power while she is still an infant. To prevent that, twelve guardians have been born. They are the signs of the zodiac brought to life, each with a special power. Tim discovers that he is Libra and he has the power to charm. The Star Child is to be born at the turn of the millennium and Tim's task is to collect all of the Signs before the year turns. Almost immediately, he meets ALEXANDER CONLYN, or XANDER; the Sagittarius with the power of travel and they form a bond. The two boys fall victim to LENA, a creature of Merel's called an astranihl, masquerading as a grandmotherly waitress. She captures the boys and there they meet JAMEE/JAMES HOLM; twins who share a body. They are the Gemini with the power to transform inanimate objects. Through the powers of the Gemini and Sagittarius, the trio escapes and makes its way to Xander's home, called The Gathering, a location where psychically talented people live and work. Sereny, Xander's parents, JOHN and RACHEL CONLYN, and PROFESSOR BLANCHE GALTEN, a gruff, but goodhearted older woman, are all members. They also meet MR. PEARS, a librarian and mnemonic (a person with perfect memory), who tells them of ANDERSON BAKER. Anderson was also a mnemonic and amassed a collection of books and artifacts that were placed in four Libraries and hidden from the world lest the information in them be used for ill doings. The key to their whereabouts is in a book, also hidden. The Signs sneak out and obtain DANA WYNTRAP, the telepathic Aries, and RHYS AVELLA, the Leo who can communicate with cats. Rhys insists on bringing four of her furry friends along: DONNE, a calico tom; ROBERT and ELIZABETH BROWNING, a snow white leopard and black panther respectively; and SYLVIA, which turns out to be Harmony's former name, who happily reunites with Tim. Back at The Gathering, Tim and Xander experiment with potions and Tim discovers that his burgeoning feelings for Xander are reciprocated, but it is too soon, for Xander's former paramour was killed by Merel's astranihl, and Xander retreats emotionally. The Signs head out connect with COLE PRICE, the Aquarius, who has water magic. They encounter two astranihl on the way and learn that Virgo has been captured. Then Donne makes a vital discovery at The Gathering: the book of Anderson Baker, which reveals that Merel was not only his former wife, ESMERELDA, but that she became pregnant with KELSEY BAKER, the Pisces, who has the power of dreamwalking. She tried to abort the child because being pregnant sapped her powers, but Kelsey escaped to the dreamworld. After welcoming RORY STYX, the poisonous Scorpio, the group meets with Kelsey, who shows them the locations for the Libraries, which are now protected by elemental deities. They then obtain EMILY HALSBERN, the empathic Cancer; STEPHEN WYONNE, the time-controlling Capricorn; and ELIZABETH "IZZY" MEDINA, the Taurus with the power to turn to stone. The Gathering mounts an attack/rescue mission for Virgo. The Signs encounter Lena who has Nell and her boyfriend, GARY, captive. Jamee kills Lena and the Signs go on to rescue MICHAEL CONWAY, the Virgo, who can heal others. Dana is wounded in the process and Virgo uses his last conscious energy to heal her. Sereny gives up her life to restore Michael. The Signs travel to the Libraries and each goes through a trial to achieve their nascregala or "birthright" which will increase their power. Tim's trial involves riding Pegasus, defeating a giant, and making a choice between five figures that represent different areas of his life. He chooses Nell, a representation of everyday humanity because that's what's at stake. When everyone returns to The Gathering, Professor Galten informs them that the millennium has arrived, but Rachel Conlyn has grave news: John Conlyn has been captured by Merel. Xander is torn between rescue missions, but the others convince him to go after the Star Child first. The Signs battle an army of astranihl, discovering their newfound powers, and rush inside a cottage where a woman is giving birth. Merel is already there. The Signs conspire to transfer the Star Child to Merel's body, thus nullifying her powers, and safely escape with John Conlyn, who lapses into a coma. The child is given the name "Dawn" and The Gathering celebrates her arrival. When John Conlyn awakens, however, he reveals terrifying news to Xander and Tim: the Star Child is but one half of a set of twins and now Merel has control of Dawn's brother. Dawn and the Signs have a new challenge ahead of them to be explored in the following book.