Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

61

The next morning, the Lyriumian Court, the Old King, the Queen, and their guests were seated on pale lounges on one of the Palace's balconies, the sun having barely risen above the horizon. Few guards stood close to the door back inside on Leo's orders. "Better safe than sorry" he'd said in reference to their guests. A holographic screen had a line to Terpola where Tara and Liam were seated somewhere inside the Castle.

"Alright," Amneris said. "I think we've got everyone here. Time to get down to business." She clapped her hands together. "And because I have no fucking clue what's going on, I'm gonna let Leo take it from here."

Leo sent her a withering glare but spoke. "The first thing we're going to do is make sure everyone is on the same page. Not too long ago, Nephthys broke into Crita's Castle and freed Aurelia, one of the Frozen Warriors from ancient Terpolite times. Shortly after, they and members of the Rebellion attacked the Academy, kidnaped Hathor, and killed many teachers and students.  They took her to Apep where she was rescued soon after. That was also where we found Xix and Ema. By now, I believe it is safe to assume the Rebels have moved from Apep to some unknown world. Have I missed anything?"

"Do we know why Aurelia was freed?" Ema asked. "Or why the Academy was attacked?"

"Pretty sure the Academy was attacked to get at Queenie," Jay said. 

Amneris nodded. "And it worked. Got a new body and everything."

Hathor raised a hand shily. "I think I can answer that first question."

"You can?" Kayla asked, surprised. 

She nodded. "I guess you could say I played dead for a while after they took me."

"That's my girl!" Amneris exclaimed proudly. 

Her head ducked. "Thanks."

"What did you hear?"

"Nephthys said something about needing Aurelia to lead her to some sort of ultimate power. It sounded like she was looking for a way to end the worlds."

"The Warrior's power!" Tara jumped to her feet. "Be right back!" 

"O-kay." Liam shook his head. "No idea what that was about. While we wait for her to get back, there is something else you missed, Leo." The General immediately turned to him. "There was a break-in at Crita's main library a few months ago. We didn't think anything of it," he admitted sheepishly, "but we have a list of stolen books. They all have some reference to the Frozen Ones."

"I wonder . . ." Jay stood, scrolling through contacts on his phone as he walked to the other end of the balcony. "Just checking something!" he called back at the questioning looks which followed him. 

Nikki swirled her mug of tea. "Safe to say this entire situation has something to do with these Frozen Ones."

Tara appeared back on screen. "You said Nephthys wanted to end the world?" 

Hathor nodded. "That's right."

"According to the stories, who we now know as the Frozen Ones were warriors chosen by the first Dark King. They were entrusted with the secret of some massive power but nobody has ever discovered what it is. There used to be records but they were destroyed when someone destroyed Ilsbrook."

All eyes turned to Amneris. She closed her own with a huff. "For the last time, I was having a very bad day."

"Scroll fragments were found with the bodies of scholars-"

"I'm sorry, okay! Well, I'm not because they totally had it coming, but-" Colt placed a hand over her mouth.

"-They were badly burnt so only a few words could be read on what remained. That's how we know the secret was something to do with a mass amount of power." Tara scrolled on her tablet. "Unfortunately, because of the horrid state they were discovered in, that's all anyone has been able to find out. If Nephthys is trying to end the worlds," she continued, "maybe it has something to do with that."

"It definitely has something to do with that," Jay said, rejoining the group. "A few kids hiding in the library during the attack saw some of the Rebels taking books from the mythology section. They didn't try to stop them because, well, guns."

"Reasonable," Dan said. "Were there books on Terpolite mythology in the Academy library." Jay nodded. 

"Such a mystery what was stolen," Ema sighed.

"What about the scroll we found?" Carmin asked. "Did you find anything on that?"

"Nothing we didn't already know," Leo said. He snapped his fingers. The scroll in question appeared in his hand. "There are a few lines of text on it even Amns couldn't translate."

Xix eyed the scroll. "Might I take a look?" Exchanging glances with Amneris, Leo handed the scroll over. Xix unrolled it and begun reading as the conversation continued. 

"Nephthys must be after whatever this power is," Colt said. "That would explain why she woke Aurelia."

"But why her in particular?" Zoe leaned forward, deep in thought. "From what Tara has told us previously, there are many warriors in crystal pods. Nephthys went after this one in particular. Why?"

"Do we know anything about Aurelia?" Ema asked.

Amneris grimaced. "I know someone who does." She crooked her fingers at one of the guards. "Could you be a dear and have someone bring Kek up here please?" 

"What the fuck could you possibly want with him?" Jay exclaimed as the guard left. 

"As much as I hate to admit it, he knows a lot about the Frozen Ones." She placed her hand over Colt's clenched fist. "He has no influence over me anymore," she said in Kemetic. "It'll be fine." He only nodded.

Xix spoke suddenly. "This scroll, was it found on a pillar?" 

"It was," Amneris said.

"Do you have a picture?" It was pulled up on her phone. Xix frowned at it. "Assuming this is the original . . ." 

"You're making your oh shit face," Ema said, nudging her friend's shoulder.

"Huh? Oh. Sorry." She forced a smile. "I've probably read it wrong. That's all."

"Nope," said a voice from the doorway. "You've read it right."

The group spun around to face Kek.