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

35

"The Path of the First Sun," Ema said, giving her friend a withering glare. "You're hilarious."

"I am," Xix agreed. "Come on."

The First Sun, it turned out, was the name of a very old and very famous casino about a day's trip away from where they were staying. Anyone could enter so long as they had the money or family ties. The building was three stories, all made of a pale stone with few rectangular windows, not including the single panoramic window on the top floor. The bottom two floors were the casino itself while the top was accommodation for the owner. The reason Ema and Xix were there.

The guards took one look at Xix and asked for her identification. She gave it to them willingly, saying Ema was her cousin. A lie, of course, but it worked. No one dared mess with the daughter of Enliatu Archeron. Xix thanked them, giving the guards three gold coins each. Where she found those, Ema had no idea, but she doubted they were from the pair's funds.

"Areos, the owner, is a collector of ancient relics," Xix explained as they weaved between tables and lottery machines. "I'd bet you anything he has a map of some sort which will lead us to Apep."

"Pun intended, I presume," Ema muttered.

It took Xix a moment to understand, a slight smile appearing when she did. "Yes, pun intended."

Ema looked around the casino, all but drooling at the sight of gold, silver, and bronze coins being passed between hands. Gold was the most predominant. Never had she seen so much in one place! All these people from all these species appeared to be creating gold out of thin air. On top of that, Ema could swear she saw a few diamond coins being passed here and there. Or maybe she was seeing things.

"How, exactly, are you planning to see Areos?" Ema asked. "I doubt he'll let you just walk right into his office."

Xix pulled an old-looking coin from her pocket, flipping it between her fingers. "That's exactly what he's going to do."

Xix lead the way to a heavily guarded door at the far side of the room. Ema hung back as she talked with the guards, asking them to let her enter. When they refused, she showed them the coin in her hand. The guards showed her to a camera. Xix held the coin up to it, waving Ema over as the light on the door flicked green.

Surprisingly, the guards let the pair through without checking for weapons. Ema couldn't tell if it was because the guards were incompetent or because they thought there was no threat from two women. The thought remained with her as they were escorted to a silver-and-gold elevator at the other end of the white-painted hallway but allowed to enter on their own. It took about half a minute to reach the top floor. The doors opened. Ema's breath was taken away.

The top floor was incredible. Crystalline waterfalls lined the entrance, all glowing in the light of the sun and each with some sort of exotic flower or bush in the water. The polished black tile path led into a single open room - the one with the panoramic window visible from outside. Large and leafy green plants framed the window and some of the glass cabinets in the centre of the room. A large black desk sat looking away from the window, and behind it . . .

"Areos, I presume," Xix said, addressing the large pale man behind the desk.

He looked up, eyed the women with harsh brown eyes, and waved the guards away. Areos sat forward, resting his chin on his hands.

"Several years ago," Xix continued, "a friend of my ancestor came to the casino and lost rather badly. To avoid debts, they offered you a trade. Freedom from your soldiers for an old map. I would very much like it back."

"A map," the man repeated. "The one leading to Apep."

"That would be the one, yes."

Areos stood, adjusting the lapels on his blazer, and walked toward the women. With one hand, he gestured for them to follow. In a glass cabinet, appearing to be floating, was a map yellow with age. The black ink was faded but still quite readable.

Areos clasped his hands behind his back as Ema and Xix looked at the map in wonder. "It's one of my older relics," he stated proudly. "One of a kind, as far as I know. I once sent people to find the Castle of the Chaos Serpent." His pride faltered momentarily. "Unfortunately, that did not go well."

"What happened?" Ema asked.

"They never returned." He faced Xix. "What are you willing to give me for the map?" She held up the old coin but Areos shook his head. "Aside from that."

"I'm afraid this is all I can give you."

"Not true." The man's eyes dragged over Xix's body. Then Ema's. Ema felt herself shiver under his lust-filled glance. "There are . . . other things you could give me for it."

Ema and Xix exchanged glances, appearing to be considering the offer. They reached behind themselves, under their backpacks and heavy jackets, each pulling out a silver handgun and pointing it at at the man before them.

"Let me make myself clear," Xix said, voice hard. "You can take the coin for the map or we can shoot you."

"That's what you think."

Areos reached into his pocket, pulling out a small silver tube. He pressed the red button on top of it. A panic button, Ema realised. But it was too late. Alarms started blaring.

Xix would have none of that. She whacked Areos across the head with the butt of her gun. He fell to the floor, unconscious but not dead. As she did, Ema smashed the glass of the cabinent with two shots from her gun. She grasped the map, rolling it and stuffing it into a pocket inside her jacket.

"So," she said, "how do we get out of here?"

Xix eyed the elevator. "We can't go that way," she murmured thoughtfully, eyes drifting around the room. Ema did the same . . .

Both of them stared at the panoramic window.

Ema glanced at her handgun, feeling for extra clips in two of her pockets. There were certainly plenty for if they had to fight their way out. She glanced at Xix. "How many rounds you got?"

Her friend grinned. "More than you."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Of course."

The elevator dinged, having arrived on the top floor. The two women raised their handguns toward the window, each firing at the window. The glass shattered, raining glass onto the street below. Ema and Xix turned behind as the guards rushed toward them. The two women ran for the broken window, jumping through and shattering the remaining glass in their path.

The guards, having stopped at the edge of the drop, found themselves staring helplessly over the drop. They shot rounds at the two women, no doubt hoping a lucky shot would kill at least one.

Ema cried out as a bullet flew through her jacket and hit her upper arm, the sound making her partner look toward her in alarm. Xix shot a hand out in front of her, red light streaming from it to create what, from above, appeared to be nothing but a pile of red glitter. But it was solid.

The two women hit it, bouncing harmlessly off the makeshift landing pad and rolling onto the ground. Ema glanced at her wounded arm, the small amount blood loss telling her the wound was far from fatal. Probably just a scratch. She would check later.

Ema was dragged to her feet as more security raced after them. Some of the guards were on radios, no doubt calling for backup. Two women had just attacked one of the most important men in this galaxy! Everyone needed to go after them to regain the item they had stolen. The two women were considered armed and dangerous.

Xix reloaded her handgun, Ema doing the same. They smiled at each other, adrenaline pumping through their veins at a new level. Ema couldn't deny how much she loved the rush it brought.

Together, they ran.