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

64

"Welcome to Terpola!" Amneris said with no enthusiasm, stepping out of a bright, swirling portal. "Lovely red sky, lots of black dirt." She lifted a shoe to brush off mud, pulling away with a hiss as her hand burnt. "Ugh. And fragments of scarlet budtorite as far as the eye can see."

Colt laughed and swung an arm around her shoulders. "Come on, Tali. Be glad it's not raining."

Xix watched them with a smile as the three walked. "You two seem perfect for each other."

Amneris tossed her braid over a shoulder. "We do our best."

"I had someone like that once . . ."

"Did you get what you needed to know out of Kek?" Colt asked, sensing the conversation was headed into territory that was best to be avoided.

"He knows a lot about Terpolite history," Xix said, voice in awe. She cleared her throat. "There should be another door near the Chamber of the Frozen Ones that should lead to wherever the Silent Core is. Apparently, I'll know it when I see it." 

"Can't believe we're trusting him," Amneris muttered. "Of all the people in the multiverse, it had to be him."

"Hmm. From what I've seen throughout the years, he's better than some." Xix wrapped a strand of hair around a finger. "I was trapped her for thousands of years. Not thrilled to be back."

"So, that was you who broke everyone out."

"Too many losses that day," Xix said sadly. "Far too many."

"If you want," Amneris started slowly, "you could wait out here while we look for the entrance."

"No." She shook her head. "No, it has to be me."

* * * * * * * * 

"We have looked everywhere down here for some sort of secret doorway," Tara was saying. "There's nothing here."

Amneris made to place her hand on the wall, flinching away at the last minute. "If it's anything like the one back home," she said more to herself, "then there should be a section of wall which we should be able to walk straight through."

Xix was no longer listening as she ran her hands along the dark stone wall. There was something close. She could feel it. Whatever it was, it made her very essence tingle. 

Behind her, the others were still talking as they too searched the room. Tara was skeptical at best about the idea of a hidden wall. Xix shook her head. It didn't matter. It was clear the others couldn't feel whatever she was feeling. 

A hand appeared on her shoulder. She turned to see Amneris standing beside her. "You feel it too?" 

Xix nodded. "We are close. I just . . . know." 

"We'll find it." Amneris turned away. "I'll look on the other side of the room."

"You do that . . ."

The feeling was becoming stronger. Xix closed her eyes, listening. A strange humming sound filled her mind. She stepped to the right. It lessoned. She stepped to the left. It became stronger. Her eyes shot open. She followed the sound, running a hand across the wall. The sound became louder, louder, louder-

With a shriek, Xix fell through the wall.

* * * * * * * * 

The four ran toward Xix's scream only to find an empty room. There was no sign the woman had ever been there. She had vanished entirely. Amneris braced her hands on her hips. "Well, it's safe to say she found the way in."

"No kidding," Colt muttered. "How do we follow her?"

"How do I follow her."

"No."

"But-"

"No!" Colt took her arm at the strange looks from Tara and Liam, pulling here away and lowering his voice to a harsh whisper. "I'm not letting you go in there alone."

"You can't come with me." Amneris shook free of his grip. "You wouldn't be able to enter the room."

"How can you be sure?"

"Only Core Guardians can. Are you a Core Guardian? Because last I checked, you weren't."

"You cannot keep putting yourself into danger like this," he hissed.

Amneris let out a humourless laugh. "Gods! You never change. I can take care of myself just fine."

"The last time you were near Naka's power-"

"I handled it." She glanced at Tara and Liam who were pretending not to listen in. "Look, we can have this conversation later," she said, raising her voice so the others could hear. "Right now we need to find the entrance and I think I know a way."

Colt huffed as Tara asked, "How?"

Amneris clapped, rubbing her hands together. Cyan sparks flew from the movement. She held her hands out before her. A wave of energy dispersed from her body. It bounced off the walls, the ceiling, the floor. It was searching for something . . . something . . . 

There!

One section of wall was fake and, on the other side, there was a woman pushing herself to her feet. Xix no doubt. She'd rolled down what appeared to be a small ramp and was now looking around. Amneris walked towards her, holding on hand out to the wall. It went through. A final glance back at Colt, Liam, and Tara, and she stepped through to the other side.