“So, what’s the mist thing?” Leo’s voice made Amneris turn her head slightly. He was talking to Colt by the sound of it. “How do you do it?”

“Magic,” was all Colt said.

Amneris rolled her eyes just as Nikki let out a roar, slowly moving towards the ground at the sight of a group of people. Upon landing, the three jumped off the dragon’s back. Nikki shifted back into her Fae form, stretching once again. “Be glad I’m so strong, you guys. I’m not carrying the whole Court.” She placed her hands on her hips, seeming annoyed. “I’m not transport, you know.”

“We know, Nikki,” Amneris and Leo said in unison, giving each other a look.

By that time, the group had appeared in front of them. Amneris grinned at the sight of her Court – her family. Sixteen years. She hugged them each in turn, never wanting to let them go for that long again. She had become used to having a family once again. Sure, talking over the phone was good, but seeing them in person was so much better.

“How was being human?” Carmin Yzuka asked with a laugh, her gloved hands rubbing her friend’s arms.

Amneris groaned. “I thought I was gonna die!” She smirked at Leo over her shoulder. “I have no idea how you handled it for twenty-five years.” They all laughed, Leo gently hitting the back of her head. She noticed Colt standing over to the side, watching them all closely. She went over to him, gently pulling him towards her Court. Almost immediately, they all glared at the Terpolite. She rolled her eyes. “At least introduce yourselves?”

Reluctantly, they did:

Leo Inu: The man with long obsidian hair tied at his nape. His eyes were midnight black – seeming to devour the light around them – and his skin was golden-bronze. He had been a human on Earth about four thousand years ago. “Queen’s General,” he said with his arms crossed, that almost-permanent scowl on his features.

Nikki Day: The woman with black curled shoulder-length hair with indigo streaks running through it. Her lime eyes were bright against her dark skin. She had golden markings around her wrists. She was a shapeshifter on Earth about three thousand years ago. “Queen’s Second. A pleasure to meet you.” She gave Colt a small bow.

Zoe Aniju: The woman with a cream pixie-cut, some of the tips a bright fuscia. She had bluebell eyes and fair skin which was quite common among her people. She was a Light-Bender originally from Erstonia about two-thousand five-hundred years ago. “Queen’s Spy, though I prefer my Blacksmithing among other things,” she told Colt with a smirk.

Carmin Yzuka: the crimson-eyed woman with red-tinged medium-beige skin and long, straight ruby hair streaked walnut. She had black dragon wings with scarlet vein-like patterns, tipped with shining obsidian talons. She was a Dragonoid from a planet called Dragmire about two-thousand years ago. “I have a special gift that this Court uses when necessary.” Her voice was kind as always, though it was clear she was not going to say anything else.

Dan Yzuka: Like Carmin, he was also a Dragonoid from about two-thousand years ago. His eyes were amber, the same skin as Carmin, and shoulder-length brown hair cut messily. He had dragon wings identical to Carmin’s aside from the fact that the talons were silver. His arm seemed to be permanently around her. “Main Strategist for the Queen.”

Jay Winston: He had several silver piercings in one of his pointed ears which stuck out of his close-cropped lemon-blonde hair. His fair skin and azure eyes meant he could almost be mistaken for a Light-Bender but was actually a Fae from Zievis about six-hundred years ago. He seemed to have a cocky smile pasted to his face which screamed trouble. “Assassin and most awesome jokester you will ever meet.” Everyone but Colt groaned.

Kayla Far: Out of everyone in the Court, she was the only one with gills on each side of her light skin, slightly covered by her tortilla hair. Her hazel eyes were surrounded by waves and had a sparkling blue raindrop on each temple. Three-hundred years ago, she had been on the world Keprairilia and was a Zer. “I’m the Court’s Healer and baby-sitter of this arsehole.” She pointed at Jay who looked more than offended

Hathor Topanga: The woman was part Human, part Fae, and part Lyriumian. Her eyes were violet, and her hair was a blood red. Both were dark against her bronzed skin. There were various symbols on her arms. She had been found on Xolya two-hundred years ago and was the youngest member of the Court. “Queen’s Third in Command,” she said with a small curtsy.

“These people are my Court,” Amneris explained to Colt once the introductions were over. “Each one of them has been a member for a different amount of time.”

“She kind of picks us up as she goes,” Jay joked. “Though some of us may have been a mistake.” This was directed towards Zoe who was being given a sidelong glare.

Zoe’s hands shot up in defence. “Excuse you. I’ve been here for a lot longer than you have and the dragon incident was not my fault!”

Hathor cringed, crossing her arms in a sign of discomfort. “Kinda was.”

“Whose side are you on?”

Nikki clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “People. Mission. Now.” She turned to Amneris, placing her hands on her hips. “We know Tara has been stealing ingredients. Spill. What’s going on?”

Amneris rubbed her hands together nervously. “Tara doesn’t have all the items. I know where a few are and recent found another two, one of which I got on Earth. The next one I know about is in the Azmarinan fort.

“You’re kidding,” Carmin murmured, her wings flaring. “That is a Terpola hot area. You would have to be crazy to . . .” She trailed off as though having just remembered who she was talking to.

“I can get us there,” Amneris insisted.

Leo placed a hand on her shoulder. “No more magic.”

“Heka.”

“Whatever.”

“I can still get us there,” she kept insisting. “It won’t even use a lot of power.” Before Leo could even consider opening his mouth, Amneris snapped her fingers and the group vanished.

* * * * * * * *

The ten stood on the outskirts of the Azmarinan fort, surveying the area they were about to enter. It was mostly desert, a few half-dead trees dotted here and there, the only signs of sort-of life throughout the area, aside from the massive brick castle surround by large iron walls. From where they were standing, there seemed to be no way to get in

Nikki was the first to speak from where they were all laying on the edge of a sandy hill. “There is absolutely no way we’re all fitting in there without someone noticing us.”

Amneris rolled her eyes. “Not all of us are going in, genius.” She stood, dusting herself off. “Zo, Car, Dan, you lot are on guard duty. Make sure no one follows us in. Hath, Kay, Jay, healing posts just in case.”

“And me, Nikki, and the newbie are with you?” Leo asked. Amneris nodded. He looked like he was trying to hold in a groan as he gave Colt a look. “You’re not part of the Court so I would advise that you don’t get yourself killed. Unlike us, you won’t come back to life.”

Colt seemed taken back as Leo and Nikki dashed off. He turned to Amneris who only have him a shrug and gestured for him to go on. He did. Amneris gave the rest of her Court a final glance before they all took off, heading towards different areas of the fort or just staying put.

* * * * * * * *

The four ran straight towards the fort, avoiding being seen by the guards pacing along the walls. Nikki and Amneris ducked behind a large boulder when one turned towards them, Leo and Colt doing the same behind another. Leo threw a small stone at Amneris’ head. She hissed, giving him an annoyed questioning look. He pointed to Colt. Why do I have to babysit? is what he was asking. She raised her hands in a shrugging motion, Nikki holding in a laugh behind her. Leo looked like he was about to bite her head off.

They ran towards the fort, stopping just before one of the walls once a set of guards had moved on. Nikki shifted, landing as a raven on the edge of the wall. She cawed and Leo jumped over. Amneris made her way to go next but was violent pushed against the iron wall by Colt. He clamped a hand over her mouth as she yelped. Two soldiers passed above them, hands on their hilts. Colt kept her pressed against the wall a moment longer after they had passed out of sight. Amneris poked his shoulder and he let her go. She pointed at the wall. He climbed over without argument, Amneris jumping after him.

Leo and Nikki were waiting for them on the other side. They glanced between her and Colt. Amneris shook her head. Later. They dashed from the wall towards the building. Amneris pointed at Nikki and Leo before moving her finger in a circle. They understood, dashing around the building. Amneris unsheathed her dagger as she and Colt waited for them to come back.

“You do this often?” She gave her new partner a questioning look. “Hunt for items to save the world from unspeakable evil?”

“Oh.” She nodded. “This is a bit of a normal thing, but it has been a while.” When was the last time we had a mission to save the world? She sighed, picking at her nails with her blade. “What is taking those two so long?” She groaned. “Surely this building isn’t any bigger than it looked from that hill.”

“Maybe they ran into some trouble?” Colt asked.

She snorted. “They’re trouble. I feel sorry for anyone who walked into those two.” Said trouble whacked her over the head. She hissed at them. “Is it clear or not?”

“It’s clear.” Leo grabbed her hand and pulled her to a door.

It was covered in symbols that took her a moment to recognise as a variation of the Old Language, meaning she could read most of it. She placed a finger on the door and immediately jumped back. She glanced behind her, seeing Leo and Nikki had taken up defensive positions while Colt was sitting beside her. “You know what it said?” he asked her.

She nodded. “It’s got a protection spell covering it. Will take a minute to break.” Amneris placed her hand on the door and hissed. The burning on her hand told her that there was a certain crystal infused into the metal makeup of the door. Fucking scarlet budtorite. The sound of fighting broke out behind her and she sensed Colt go to cover her as someone lashed out. Since no one grabbed her, she figured he stopped whoever it was.

Someone – Colt – grasped her wrist, quickly letting go at the sight of her. A glance down made her see that her arms were covered in glowing cyan symbols. She was using too much of her power to break the seal. She balled her fist and sent it straight through the door, dashing in, gabbing a silver container, and pocketing it as she dashed out. She grasped Colt’s hand, pulling Leo towards her who grabbed Nikki. Amneris turned them all into glowing ball of golden light. They reassembled at the top of the him where the rest of the Court were waiting.

Kayla took one look at them and gaped. “What the heck happened to you?”

Amneris glanced behind them to where majority of the guards were dashing towards them. “Zap now. Talk later.”