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

46

The ship was ancient from its design. Well, ancient in the way that most things from most universes older than herself were ancient. Amneris couldn't help but stare at it. It was so familiar. Why couldn't she place those symbols on it? No, that wasn't the question. Who the fuck was driving? That was the question. She had a feeling they were either behind the attack or far enough up the chain of command to get some useful information. 

The bottom of the ship opened up. A ring of soldiers dressed and armed the same as the others jumped around her. The raised their weapons, preparing to fire. Amneris sighed. Did no one tell their underlings of her immortality? It was a wonder she hadn't managed to take over the multiverse or something. Wasn't like anyone could stop her. Although, this latest threat certainly had taken her by surprise.

The soldiers fired. Amneris dropped to the ground. The bullets flew over her head and into the ring surrounding her. They fell. Amneris stood, brushing white dust from her jacket. "Idiots." 

Bracing herself, she jumped, her power boosting her height high enough to soar above the ship. It was larger from above and the pattern of symbols was clearer. Yes, Amneris had definitely seen them somewhere before. She landed on the metal hull with a bang. 

* * * * * * * * 

One of the two women in the cockpit jumped from her seat. "Someone is on the roof."

The other smiled, knife in hand. "That would be our favourite Queen. I guess this means one of us will have to distract her. Do you want first go at her or shall I do it?"

The golden-haired woman took the knife from her. "I've been waiting for my vengeance longer than you have lived. She's mine."

* * * * * * * * 

Amneris ran across the hull of the spaceship, regretting landing in the centre. The ship was far larger up close. She considered zapping to the cockpit but decided that would be no fun. Running it was. Her boots clanged on the metal as she moved, each sound making her cringe. Metal hulls and heeled boots were never a good mix. 

The end of the ship was coming up. Amneris let out a non-existent breath. She was so close to finding out who was behind this attack on her world. Oh, how she was going to enjoy killing them. Amneris stopped, bending down. She thrust her hand through her hull, ripping away the first layer of metal. A body tackled her away. Amneris let out a surprised cry as she tumbled off the top of the ship. She thrust her feet out, her boots clanging against the metal. 

She sighed. "Thank you, Zoe." Running in magnetic boots was difficult but they sure made it easier to stay in place. 

She climbed back atop the ship. A woman was staring down at her. Amneris eyed the knife in the woman's hand, the anger in her golden eyes. She could feel power radiating off her form. It was ancient. Extremely ancient but weak, as though it was only now awakening from a long slumber. A woman with golden eyes, golden hair, and dark skin. That rung a bell somewhere in her mind.

Amneris stood upright. "The fuck are you and why are you attacking my school?"

Instead of answering, the woman ran forward. Her movements were sloppy. Amneris was able to avoid them easily. She caught the woman's arm, snatching the knife from her grip. This didn't stop her. The woman spun out of the grasp, tossing Amneris over her shoulder. The knife was taken back. Amneris rolled away moments before the knife slammed down where she had been lying, ripping through metal. Not so sloppy, then.

"Okay, lady," Amneris said, "I have no idea who you are, but from your actions I'm going to assume you're someone with a grudge against me. Unfortunately, that doesn't narrow down the list of people you could be so you gotta help me out here."

The woman remained silent, though she did not attack this time. The knife in her hand twisted toward the light. Amneris found her attention drawn to the strange metal. A mix of red, silver, and gold. It looked as ancient as the ship . . . 

Her eyes snapped up to the woman. An ancient ship. An ancient knife. An ancient power. No, ancient wasn't the right word. It was beyond ancient, possibly . . . "Billions of years," she murmured. Amneris tilted her head. Now she remembered. "You're Aurelia." No answer. "That woman from the room beneath the Terpolite Castle who left me the message in the crystal. You're her, aren't you?" 

The woman's voice was weak when she spoke. "I am."

"I supposed that knife would be Oathkeeper?"

"It is."

"And I suppose you're here to kill me for some reason?"

Aurelia's eyes narrowed, her power flaring momentarily. "You murdered my mate."

"Lady, I've never seen you before in my life. Or my afterlife for that matter. You've got the wrong woman."

"Afterlife," she repeated. A moment of confusion. "No, you are her. You have her power and her appearance. You have her name. You must be her! There is no other explanation."

"If you're so insistent on me being whoever it is you think I am, can you at least tell me who your mate is?"

Her eyes glowed gold. "You forgot my mate. You forgot your greatest enemy." The woman's voice was no longer weak. It was filled with newfound strength found within her rage. "You dare forget Archeron!"

Amneris blinked. "Did you just say -"

The ship rolled to its side. Amneris fell onto her hands and knees with a grunt. Aurelia slammed her knife into the metal, grasping it with all her strength. Whoever was flying the ship must have decided enough information had been given, Amneris though. There was still one more question to be answered.

Hey!" Amneris called. "Why attack the school?"

Aurelia, now half-standing against the tilted hull, smiled. "How else would we take that which is most precious to you?"

"Most precious to . . ." Amneris turned her attention toward a sudden explosion near the remains of the Vivus Dorm. "Hathy!"