An unworldly growl from the gates made Amneris and Leo jumped back, Leo unsheathing his gladii and Amneris holding her dagger in front of her. A white haze appeared in the arch, the sign of someone crossing over to the world of the living and the undead. The haze slowly took on a humanoid shape as a deep voice rumbled through the portal which now shimmered in waves before them. “How many times must I tell you to not call me that?” it asked.

“Until we both die and stay dead,” Amneris replied, sheathing her dagger as their guide appeared in front of them. He did not look like much: messy black hair like he had just rolled out of bed, dark eyes that looked like they could swallow one’s soul, and dark skin. He wore all black, that and his appearance making him look like a normal teenager.

Amneris nodded at her General who sheathed his swords as he stared at their guide. “Hades?”

Both the boy and Amneris blinked, breaking into laughter a moment later. “Wrong civilisation, Le,” Amneris aid. “This is Yinepu. I believe he is more commonly known as Anubis today.”

“Wait.” Leo was obviously confused, making the two gods laugh harder. “I thought he could only appear in places of death.”

Amneris knocked on the stone arch, her laughter having calmed down. “It’s a portal to the Underworld. Of course, this is a place of death.” She faced the god who – like herself – had managed to get control of his laughter. “If it’s not too much to ask, can you take us to Kauket?”

“Of course, I can,” he said, crossing his arms. “Why should I?”

“You having one of those millennia?”

“Topanga.”

“You’re no fun today,” she teased, sticking her tongue out at the god of death who returned the gesture. “We need to borrow something from her.”

Anubis narrowed his dark eyes. “You need to borrow something . . . from Kauket?”

“Yep.”

“Were you not dead, I would ask if you had a death wish.”

“I know.”

The god glanced towards Leo who shrugged helplessly and shook his head. “You’ve been with Topanga for how long now?”

“About four thousand years,” Leo answered.

“Ever wish you stayed dead?”

A pile of snow appeared on the god’s head. “Oops,” Amneris said with a smirk as he gave her an accusing glare after shaking the snow off. “My power has been acting up lately. Shit happens.”

“If you two are done playing,” Leo interrupted at the sight of Anubis plotting his revenge and Amneris planning her next move, “We really need to get to Nyx.”

A wave of the god’s hand and the portal open. “Make sure she does not come to me sooner than she has to,” Anubis told Leo firmly. “I already have to deal with her sooner rather than later and would like to enjoy some peace before that happens since it is coming up quite fast.” A flash of light and the boy became a jackal. The pair watched as he ran into the distance, not wanting to be near the portal any longer than he had to be.

“What do you think he meant ‘it is coming up quite fast’?” Leo asked.

Amneris hardly heard him, the only question ripping through her mind. Am I going there sometime soon? She shook her head. It was probably just an empty threat from the snow. Even so . . . She took a deep breath, giving her General a reassuring smile. “It’ll be fine. Let’s go!”

* * * * * * * *

Amneris found herself floating in absolute darkness. She could not see the ground beneath her. It could have been above her for all she knew. Even with the glow she was giving off – Why am I even glowing? – the only thing she could see was Leo floating beside her and also glowing. She held her hand out to her General who took it gratefully. Together, they floated forward, unsure of where they were going. Amneris felt a presence appear behind her. Leo’s swearing as he turned to see what it was only confirmed her thoughts. She spun, seeing the faint outline of a glistening palace. The Mansion of Night. A place where nightmares became reality. She shivered at the thought.

“Okay,” Leo murmured. “We found the Mansion. Where’s Nox?”

“I am here,” a voice behind them boomed.

Amneris cringed at the sound of the goddess’ voice. “You just had to ask.”

They faced the found, both of them freezing at the sight of the goddess. She was at least forty feet tall and seemed to have no physical form, instead being made of mist, ash and smoke. When she became momentarily physical, she was quite beautiful in the way that the night is. Her skin was an extremely dark purple. Her face was almost impossible to see, save for the bright white of her glowing eyes and her short, shimmering black hair floating around her like a cloud. She wore a pure black dress which was mixed with the appearance of a nebula. It was as though a galaxy was being created on her. She had misty black wings that had stars on them, similar to Amneris’ own, though the shape was quite different.

The sight of the goddess was enough to make someone back down in fear, even another god. That was the power of a primordial deity. Yes, this goddess was one of the first born and certainly one of the strongest. The night was eternal, after all.

“You dare trespass on my territory?” the goddess boomed once again.

Amneris shook herself out of her fear. It’s just the effect of Kauket’s power, she assured herself, squeezing Leo’s hand so he also understood. Amneris cleared her throat. “Kauket . . . Nox . . . Nott . . . Nyx . . . whatever name you want to use. We have come her for a crystal sold to you. It’s about yea big –” she held her hands like she was holding a soccer ball “– and has pure sunlight in it. See, it was originally the Light-Bender’s crystal and they kinda want it back.”

Kauket bent down until her massive face was in front of them, her starlight bangle earrings dangling as parts of her vanished and reformed. She gave her two visitors a long look. “You look familiar.”

Amneris backed away slightly, pulling Leo with her. “Yes, ma’am. We met a few millennia back. You wanted to give me some of your power and make me immortal.” Hopefully, if she remembers me, she won’t try to destroy us. Even her mind did not believe that.

A sideways smile appeared on the goddess’ lips. “Amneris Topanga.” A laugh. “Yes, I remember you. Such a young child.” She shrunk down until she was their size, though her form kept vanishing and reappearing. “I see someone else managed to win you over since you did not take my offer.”

“Believe me,” Amneris started nervously, “It was not my choice.”

“You are here for the crystal?”

“Yes.”

“Why.”

Amneris turned to Leo who gave her an encouraging look. Why can’t he do the talking? She was more than half tempted to tell him to piss off so she could stay on the goddess’ good side. As much as she loved a good fight, Kauket was not one to be messed with. “We need to so a woman named Tara doesn’t destroy the multiverse. No one would survive.”

“I would.” Pride filled the goddess’ voice. “I have existed since the beginning of time. I will be there long after this world has ended and the next one begins.”

“She’s got a point,” Leo muttered.

Amneris looked between the goddess and her general. She smiled as she pulled Leo aside. “Could you excuse us for a moment?” They moved before there was a response. Amneris shoved her partner roughly. “What are you doing?”

“Agreeing with the scary goddess?”

“You’re not helping.”

“Well, she would be perfectly fine if the multiverse gets destroyed. Reborn, yes, but still very much alive and probably just as feared.” He crossed his arms in front of him. “I don’t know how you’re going to convince her to hand over the crystal.”

She sighed, rubbing her head. “I don’t know either. It’s not like we can just ask her for it –”

“But you said –”

“And you believed me?”

Leo opened his mouth to answer, only to close it a moment later and nod. “Good point. So, what do we do?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“You’re the Queen?”

“You’re the ideas guy!”

Leo raised a hand to his head, a clear sign of annoyance. “I’ve never had to deal with a primordial deity before.”

“You convinced Jupiter not to kill me.”

“That was different,” he hissed. “Jupiter is big-headed. Tell him something he wants to hear, and he forgives and forgets.”

A frustrated groan from Amneris as she turned back to the goddess who was watching them closely. Taking a deep breath, she returned and spoke. “What do we have to do to get the crystal?”

A sigh from the goddess. “Had you just told me it was stolen . . .” She vanished, returning seconds later with the crystal in her hands. She tossed it to Amneris. “Hemera gave it to me. I have been looking for a reason to get rid of it since she did.”

Amneris frowned at the crystal, surprised at how willingly it had been handed over. “No catch?”

“No.”

Huh. “Thank you.”

Kauket gave the pair a dark smile. “When Hemera asks where it went during our next family dinner – should one take place – I will tell her you stole it.”

“Fair enough.”

The goddess of the night and darkness waved a hand. Wind barrelled into Amneris and Leo, catching them off guard. They went flying into the darkness, Kauket’s voice following them as they flew. “Leave my domain.”

* * * * * * * *

With a cry, Amneris and Leo landed in the snow next to the stone arch they had stepped through what felt like hours ago. A jackal was resting on a stone ledge above them. It raised its head at the sight of the two immortals. Spitting out snow, Amneris held the crystal up to the jackal. It huffed, jumping down and going through the arch. It became nothing but a shadow before vanishing entirely. Fuck you, too.

Midra ran towards them, having seen them fall from the sky. She hauled Amneris to her feet before pulling Leo out of the pile of powder he had fallen into. Amneris tossed the crystal to the woman who ran off, presumably to the Council of Elders.

Leo sighed from behind. “Well, that could have gone a lot worse.” He suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth as Amneris groaned. “I said that out loud?”

“Yes. Yes, you did.” She unsheathed her dagger. “Let’s see what villain of the week shows up this time.”

A voice from behind them made the pair spin. “I was wondering when you would get back.”

“Oh, joy,” he muttered, palming his gladii. “It’s Tara’s errand boy.”

“Leo,” Amneris laughed, a smirk appearing on her lips. “Be nice to Liam.”

The walnut-haired man stepped closer to the pair, his eyes glistening with hate. “Is this how you treat your students.”

“Tara was my student, genius. You never came along until she left.”

“That is true.” The Terpolite unsheathed a hunting night from his belt, casually tossing it between his hands. “My mistress wishes for me to inform you that we have two more of the items. The guards who were there . . .” He trailed off, closing his eyes. “Such a joyous battle.” His form begun to fade. “She wishes you luck.”

When his form completely faded, Amneris and Leo exchanged glances. “That could be a problem,” Leo said.

“Yeah,” Amneris agreed.

After Midra came and handed Amneris a golden box, the two women embraced. Once goodbyes were exchanged, Amneris and Leo zapped back to Lyriumia, Kayla hurrying off to get those who had remained on the homeworld after they explained what had happened on Erstonia. They waited in the lounge room for everyone to come back, Amneris kicking her feet onto the low-lying table between the lounges as her Court, along with Colt, entered the room and sat. She spoke and the room went quiet. “The race is on now.”