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

26

One week later and all they had to show for it was a half-torn piece of old parchment covered in faint writing in the Old Language. Amneris glared at it, willing it spontaneously give her some answer. Naturally, nothing happened. Were it not the only thing they had to show for a week of work, she would have set it on fire by now. 

"I mean, it's better than nothing."

Amneris glared at Jay and his positive attitude. While it was helpful to have an optimist at her side at times, this was not one of those times. "It's essentially nothing."

"It has the name 'Aurelia' on it," he countered, pointing at the word on the parchment.

"Yes," Amneris agreed, "but nothing else." 

Jay held the parchment up to one of the lights. "There doesn't appear to be anything on the other side."

"No one does that in real life."

"Hey, it's better than giving it the 'tell me your secrets or I'll destroy you' face!"

"I make a face?"

Pointedly ignoring her question, Jay placed the parchment back on the table. "Maybe there's a complete copy of it somewhere," he murmured. "Can't you do the scanning thing with your gloves?" 

Amneris held up her gloveless hands.

"Ah. Right. Never mind."

"It wasn't a bad idea, though."

"Don't patronise me." 

Rolling her eyes, Amneris snapped her fingers. Her usual arm-length fingerless gloves appeared on the table. "I should just wear these all the time, shouldn't I?" she asked teasingly, pulling on the left glove. The right remained on the table. She would only be needed the one.

Amneris clenched her hand once and opened it again. Her palm faced the parchment. A blue-green light shot out of her glove, scanned the parchment, and vanished. Amneris held her hand face-up in front of her, allowing for a small holographic screen to appear. It was searching the entirety of the Lyriumian database which, she knew from experience, could take a while. She closed her hand. The screen vanished.

Jay continued to stare at the parchment. "Why is half of it missing?"

"Plot convenience?"

"But, seriously, why is half of it missing?"

"Perhaps it got damaged in the past," Amneris said thoughtfully. "Bad handling. Lack of preservation. Stolen. There's plenty of reasons." Her glove flashed. "Oh, hello. We got a hit." opening her hand allowed for the screen to reappear. "There's a copy in the restricted section of the Library in the Academy."

"You gave it to the Academy?" Jay asked in disbelief.

"I don't know more than half the things I've put there."

"Unbelievable."

"Oh, shut up."

"Good thing I said I'd go to the Academy," Jay said.

"Yes, when are you going?"

"First thing tomorrow."

"Have fun with school," she smirked.

* * * * * * * *

Have fun with school. Jay huffed at his Queen's words as he stepped onto the fog-covered island early the next morning. He'd been through school back when he was mortal and had no interest in attending it again. Ever. But, all things considered, the Academy wasn't all that bad for the occasional visit or few day stay on business. Jay had a feeling he would be here for more than a few days. 

The Headmaster - an aging Lyriumian male named Orion - was waiting at the end of the docks. He greeted Jay warmly, taking a small jab at being called out so early in the morning though bot knew he'd been awake for hours before hand. The school officially started its first classes not too long after sunrise, though most students tried to avoid those in whatever way possible. 

"I was surprised to get your call," Orion was saying. "It was rather last minute."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Jay said. "Meant to call earlier but things happened."

"Anything to be concerned about."

"Doubtful." A lie. Of course it was something to be concerned about. The Rebels now had a Frozen One in their ranks and Jay knew he and his fellow courtiers were no closer to tracking them down than they had been weeks ago. "You know our Queen," he told Orion. "Always paranoid."

The Headmaster laughed lightly at that. "Now now. Let's not speak ill of her here. She's done many wonderful things for my students."

"Very true." Jay lowered his voice to a stage whisper. "But you should try living with her."

"I have enough on my plate with my thousands of students," he said with a smile. "How long will you be with us this time?"

"As long as it takes," Jay sighed.

Orion nodded. "You are welcome to use the guest rooms as usual."

"Thanks. Any guest class appearances you'd like me to make as payment?" he asked.

A shake of the head. "Though I would like to know in advance if you decide to make any."

"When have I not done that?"

The Headmaster stayed silent.

Jay shrugged. "Yeah, alright. You have a point there."