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

1

Present Day

The room was all but pitch black with only the faint outline of various shaped boxes, stairs, and the sliver-grey shimmer of the metal balcony below visible in the moonlight of this world. Using a small laser, Amneris Topanga cut open the glass skylight. She used one hand to steady the frame while the other cut through a glass panel. Once freed, the panel was placed on the concrete roof beside her.

Amneris tossed a rope into the darkness, her Fae hearing barely able to hear it hitting the metal level below. She slid down the rope slowly, landing as light as her boots would let her on the metal grate. She cringed at the echo but nothing appeared to investigate. The rope was tied out of sight. Amneris jumped to the pale concrete level below, pulling her dark good over her features. Then, she ran.

in a way, this mission was a test. No magic was allowed - not that she could use it in a no-magic zone - so Amneris had to rely on her senses. That became difficult when her earpiece buzzed to life.

"How's it going in there?" Leo Inu's annoyingly cheerful voice came through the static. 

She hissed back, "It would help if you didn't interrupt me." 

A wall of crates stood in her way. Amneris frowned, skidding to a stop. Normally, she'd be able to jump over it with a small boost of magic. Annoyingly, she had to find another way around. There was a small gap between two of the crates, barely big enough for her to fit into side on. It would have to do. 

It was a tight squeeze. And that was being generous. Amneris shimmied her way down the small gap, a par of her mind beginning to panic at the tightness of the space. Come on, she urged herself. Not the time to freak. The roaring in her mind became louder but the end was in sight. Just a few more steps-

She was free.

"This is a no magic zone, Le," Amneris said, attempting to hide the shaking in her voice. "I actually have to rely on my senses. In other words, piss off."

A sigh. "Copy that, little red robin."

"Did you just call me little fucking-"

The line went silent.

Amneris made a mental note to stab her General.

Before she could make any further plots, she heard a faint sound of footsteps. Coming in her direction! Amneris pressed her back against the wall, her dark clothing making her nothing but a shadow as she waited.

Two armed figures entered the room, brushing passed her. Their armour covered enough of their features that she could see nothing of their faces or any defining features. The scents were distinct. Different. They were not the same species but she couldn't place the damned scents.

Once they passed, Amneris dashed through the doorway-

Only to come face to face with three others.

They stared at each other, all four too surprised to move. Clearly, no one had expected intruders. 

Amneris unsheathed her dagger. Before they could make a move, she was upon them. There was a gap in the armour just above the neck. The aimed the blade of her dagger towards it.  She moved to the seconds, slicing just above the neck, before making the same move on the third. Overall, the movements took a matter of seconds. Then she was running again.

The dagger was placed in its spot on her thigh as she ran. Amneris cringed at the motion, her arm aching. Was she really that out of practice? She blew out a long breath. Of course she was.

An alarm filled the air, red light flashing across the dark concrete floor. She raced down the hallway - left turn, straight, another left, straight again. Amneris skidded to a stop, having to grab onto the corner of the wall to avoid falling face-first on the floor. Peaking around the edge of the corner, she saw there were still guards at the door. The door she needed to enter. Someone ran past, yelling at them for being idle. Amneris swore as they came towards her, pressing her body against the wall and holding the hood over her face. They passed. She ran.

Amneris knelt before the door, pulling two pins from her pocket. She stuck them into the lock, moving the pieces of metal while keeping an eye out for others running past. Fortunately, none came. The door clicked. Amneris tried the handle. The door opened. Satisfaction crossed her features.

No one rushed out of the room was empty and she couldn't hear anything inside. Amneris stepped forward. There was a glimmer in the darkness followed by a whooshing sound. With a shriek, Amneris dropped to the floor. Several sharpened arrows whizzed over her head - one brushed over her hair! - and embedded into the wall. She fell backwards in surprise though quickly regained her composure. She stood and moved further into the room

No other traps were triggered.

No more alarms were set off.

The room itself was empty aside from a glass case sitting atop a marble pillar covered with old carvings. Amneris pressed on the palm of her hand, a faint green-blue light appearing on the black fabric of her glove. The held it towards the podium. A beam of the same colour scanned it, then vanished. She could take a closer look later.

Using her fist, Amneris smashed the glass case. Shards pierced her skin but it didn't bother her. She'd felt more pain in far more enjoyable circumstances. Amneris grasped a papyrus scroll and shook more shards of glass from it. The sound of approaching footsteps told her there was no time to verify whether or not the scroll was the real deal. She shoved it in her pocket.

Amneris broke into a dash as guards appeared in the room. She dropped from her feet and slid between them, before jumping up and running once again. The guards gave chase. They were fast. She and her aching legs were faster. 

She found the entrance, bouncing between walls to gain altitude before leaping and grasping onto the metal grate. Arms straining, she pulled herself onto it. For a moment, Amneris only lay on her stomach. She got up. 

The rope was within sight. She grasped it, climbing back up to the skylight and pulling herself out-

"Topanga!"

Amneris looked over her shoulder. Through the constant flashing of the red lights, she couldn't tell which said her name. It didn't matter. She couldn't stand around and figure it out. The guards would be on her heels sooner or later. 

Using her dagger, Amneris sawed through the rope and let it drop into the building. She didn't bother replacing the skylight before jumping from the roof. Pain shot through her thighs as she landed, swallowing a cry, and broke into a run.