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

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Further behind on the path, Jay, Zoe, Ema, Hathor, Kayla, and Kek kept at a reasonable distance behind their teammates. They reached the guarded corner, the trap door Axel had fallen through now back in place. A warning from Xix meant they knew where not to step. 

"Come on!" Jay called, rounding the corner. "We're almost half woah!" He jumped back behind, a round from the opposite side of the canyon missing his head by an inch. 

"What is it?" Ema asked.

"Someone is shooting at us!" 

"That figures. Shoot back!"

"With what? My charisma and good looks?" 

Kek sighed from behind. "And you are the people who foil my plans every time." He shook his head. "At least Amneris has half a brain to improvise with."

Jay and Ema exchanged glances. 

"No," Jay said, "we can't throw him at them. Queenie seems to think he has a purpose."

Kek's attention snapped to the pair. "Now hang on-"

Hathor pushed her way to the front of the group, a small pouch in her grasp. 

Wedging herself between the corner and Jay, Hathor peeked around the corner. She was met with sufficient gunfire and whipped back into safety seconds later. It was all the time she needed to get a close enough idea of where their opponents were and how many were holding them down. 

Reaching into her pouch, Hathor pulled out two small stones - one bright red and the other an almost transparent green. She grasped them in her hand with a nod. 

"I call upon the powers of Fye and Azity." 

Hathor jumped around the corner. She tossed the stones at the same time as their opponents opened fire. Jay grabbed her arm, yanking her back to safety. Together, they peaked out. 

Across the canyon the stones flew. With the help of Hathor's magic, they landed at the feet of the soldiers Aurelia left behind to provide cover fire. They glanced down at the stones, confused. Then stones begun to glow and hum-

BANG!

The very ground beneath them exploded in a firestorm. 

Hathor and Jay yelped, jumping back to safety. 

Jay nodded with pride. "Very impressive, Hathy. Nice to know someone has been paying attention to their studies." 

She grinned at the praise.

* * * * * * * *

Amneris, Xix, Axel, and Colt - who had just reached the final bridge at the end of the canyon a few metres ahead of Aurelia - were thrown off their feet. Seconds later, a resounding boom! followed. 

Amneris sat up first, shaking dust from her hair. "What the fuck was that?"

Xix coughed, pushing herself upright. She narrowed her eyes at the smoke and fire on the other side of the canyon. "Whatever it was, I have a feeling it was from your people."

"Does it matter?" Axel asked. "Aurelia is down. We can get to the other side of the bridge before she does!"

"Right," Amneris said. "Let's move."

* * * * * * * * 

The bridge ahead was long a thin, barely large enough for one person to run across without falling into the canyon below. It was made of dust-covered gold, leading to the joint end of the canyon. A decorated pedestal made of stone covered in a variety of gemstones was at the centre of a raised staged.