Amneris woke early in the morning, her mind crazy active. She’d remembered something important about a recent inhabitant on Lyriumia. They knew a lot of information about the Terpolites, and their history and mythology. There was every chance they knew something about the Frozen Ones.

The Sun was beginning to rise, a beam of light coming through the curtains. Amneris carefully slipped from her daughter’s bed, making sure not to disturb her sleep, and closed the curtains properly. She went back to the bed and tucked Hathor in, pulling the blanket over her shoulders. Hathor smiled in her sleep.

Amneris slipped from her daughter’s room and into her own. Colt was out cold, having checked on her and Hathy earlier before leaving them to have their “girls’ night”. He showed no sign of being awake as Amneris moved quietly to the wardrobe and slipped into her workout gear. She tossed her hair into a high ponytail and made her way out of the house.

As per usual, Amneris did her normal morning stretches, preparing her body for the long run she was about to complete. She normally did it with Leo and Jay but they were dead to the world. It was pointless to try and wake them up. No one ever could.

A rustling in the trees made her look up. Amneris smiled as her trusted golden wai’u, Aten, stepped from the shadows. His mate, Iris, was close behind. Their daughter, Mandisa, bounded happily to Amneris. She laughed, leaning down to pet the baby wai’u who craved affection. Her tail wagged happily.

Amneris snapped her fingers. A large bag of wai’u treats appeared at her feet. She opened it, pouring the treats out for the three to much on. Aten, Iris and Mandisa immediately went for the food, only stopping in their eating when they remembered to breathe. Amneris gave them all one final pat before starting her usual morning route.

She jogged up the waterfall path, following a river across the grassy plane and down to the path into Lapide. Amneris went past the Palace, following a road into the city and followed it down to the beach. She crossed the river, making her way up the other side of the city.

However, instead of taking the path up to the Palace, Amneris stopped at one house in particular. She knocked on the door. No answer. So, she checked the door. It was unlocked. Amneris shrugged and entered. “Helloooo?” she called.

A dark figure jumped from behind the door, about to attack—p

Amneris grabbed his arm and flipped him to the floor. “Is that any way to treat an old friend?” she asked sweetly.

Kek huffed in frustration. “I thought you were someone else.”

“Clearly. You should really lock your door.” She let him up.

“What brings you here so early in the morning?” Kek asked, leading her to the kitchen.

Amneris sat on his table. “Information.”

“Oh?”

“Ever heard of the Frozen Ones?”

“Of course,” he answered, pulling a bottle from the fridge. “Drink?”

She shook her head. “Not this early. What can you tell me about them?”

“Why should I help you?”

“Do you want Yenari to end?”

He frowned, taking a half-filled glass and sitting across from her. “The Frozen ones are ancient Terpolite Warriors chosen by Acheron himself to protect the Terpolite people. They were placed in crystal sleeping chambers to preserve them for the-Gods-only-know how long. No one knows when they’ll be awakened, only that the time will be right.” Kek swigged a mouthful of his drink. “No one knows how to wake them and only the Silent Guardian can control them. Assuming they decided to follow the new Ruler.”

“Assuming?”

He shrugged. “Can’t truly control people.”

“You would know all about that.” Kek leaned forward. “Are you sure I can’t temp you to a drink?”

“I’m sure. Apparently I need to break the habit.” Amneris snorted, standing. “And Colt thinks I didn’t notice him stealing my wine.”

“How about breakfast?” Kek tried, placing his hand over her own. “It’s been so long.”

“Got plans.” Amneris pulled away from him and begun headed for the doorway. “Thanks for the help. I’ll call if more is needed.”

“Wouldn’t expect any less from you, baby girl.”

“Don’t call me ‘baby girl’,” she yelled over her shoulder.

Amneris begun her usual path again. She went from Kek’s townhouse, up the main road toward the Palace. It was far from uncommon to see her running the route. She waved at the few early morning goers as they passed. They were getting ready to open their stores and businesses for the day. Every Lyriumian businessperson was proud of their work and most enjoyed it.

Amneris raised a hand to her head, rubbing it as it begun pounding. She slowed her pace to a light jog. Strange, she didn’t get headaches often and this definitely wasn’t a headache. Maybe she was just hungry. It wouldn’t be the first time.

It took twenty minutes—longer than it would at her usual pace—for her to reach the Palace’s main entrance. The six guards outside bid her a good morning, which she returned, and let her in. Amneris reminded them to remember to take their lunch breaks, much to the amusement of the six. They sometimes forgot. She’d make sure to have food delivered to them later.

She climbed the main staircase to the level where the main dining room lay. Amneris was surprised to see her adoptive father eating alone. It seemed her Court weren’t the only ones dead to the world. Amneris swiped two remaining pastries and a piece of fruit from the early-morning selection and sat beside her father. She tugged at the band holding her hair up, sighing happily as it fell over her back and shoulders. Then she remembered all the knots that would be in her curls.

“You’re pale,” Lvaane noted.

“Headache,” she said.

“Have you seen Kayla?”

“Heading there next, but I’m pretty sure this is because I’m hungry.”

“I see.”

Lvaane snapped his fingers. A steaming mug of tea appeared in front of Amneris. She breathed in the bitter scent. “Chamomile?” A mouthful confirmed this. “Forgot you grew it.”

“Dear Helia, when was the last time you were in the Palace Gardens?”

The mug of tea suddenly became very interesting.

Amneris hadn’t shaken her headache by the time she got home. Kayla had given her a tonic to take the edge off. It had done its job but the damned thing was still there. There was no way to get rid of it.

When Colt walked into their room, Amneris was laying on her stomach, kicking her legs in the air and had a book in her hands. She’d made sure the curtains were closed and the lights were only bright enough for reading. The slight scent of ginger was in the air – Kayla had suggested trying another tonic.

Colt rubbed her back. “Headache?”

“Yeah,” Amneris sighed. “Just can’t shake it.”

Colt took her book from her hands. “‘Terpolite Myths and Legends’,” he read aloud. He lightly tapped the book’s cover on the top of her head. “This won’t help your headache.”

“I know . . .” She watched as he moved around the room, putting stuff away from the day. “Any chance Tara told you anything useful? You were working with her today, right?”

“That is right and none at all.”

Amneris pushed her face into a pillow and screamed.

Colt took the pillow away. “You are clearly unwell. Why are you still working?”

“I’m not unwell.”

“No, you’re not.”

A defeated sigh. “No, I’m not.”

Colt helped Amneris sit upright. The motion alone made her feel like her skull had been blown out. Again. Gods, what was wrong with her today? She’d been off all morning. Outside of one of her cities being attacked or a hangover, she never felt this bad.

Colt passed Amneris the ginger tonic. “I want you to finish this then go to bed, okay?” She nodded and he kissed her brow. “Back in a moment.”

Amneris watched Colt go into their shared wardrobe as she drank. Maybe she just needed some sleep. That usually got rid of her headaches. Amneris flexed her hand, still feeling the disturbing phantom of Kek touching it earlier. Maybe that’s why she was sick. Maybe she should tell Colt. Amneris put the now-empty mug down. She would tell him. First thing in the morning. When she could think properly.

When Colt came out dressed in loose pants and a hoodie, Amneris was already laying down. She listened to him check the mug was empty before climbing into bed, wrapping his arms around her. She sighed. This would help. Colt always knew how to calm her mind, her pain.

So why wasn’t it working?

Amneris felt her body start shaking. Something was very wrong. It felt like she was on the verge of a panic attack, but there was nothing that could possibly be causing it! She couldn’t stop shaking. Colt felt her distress, stroking a soothing hand down her side. Amneris tried to convince herself she was fine, she was safe, always safe here now her family lived with her.

She tore free from Colt’s arms and ran to the bathroom, almost throwing the door from its hinges in her hurry. She barely made it to the sink before throwing up. This was all wrong. She never got sick like this. Amneris raised a hand to her mouth, pulling back. Her hands were stained gold.

That’s what was wrong.

Amneris looked to her hand. There was the tiniest of marks there, barely the size of a pinprick. No wonder she hadn’t noticed it. She’d been poisoned. Kek had poisoned her. But it wasn’t any random type. No, this was special. She could feel it. It was infused. She had to tell Colt, had to tell him to get Kayla. She needed the blue crystal now.

Amneris took a step forward. The world went dark as she fell.

Kayla jumped as her door was kicked down. Out of habit, she jumped into a defensive position. It vanished in an instant. Colt was carrying the blood-soaked Amneris in is arms.

“What happened?” Kayla asked, ushering him over to her bed.

“I don’t know,” Colt said, obviously panicking as he put Amneris down. “She was fine, then she started complaining about headaches, then started shaking and throwing up, and now . . .” He gestured helplessly at her.

“Hmm.” Kayla turned to her bookshelf, brushing her fingertips over the spines of her books until she found one in particular. She begun flipping through the pages. “Throwing up blood, correct?”

“Yeah.”

Kayla ran a finger down a page. “She’s been poisoned.”

“Poison can’t put her in this state for this long.”

Yes, that was true. There must’ve been more to it. Kayla shut the book and begun examining the body of her Queen. It was far from the first time. She was looking for something in particular, some sign of entry. No doubt whoever had poisoned Amneris had done so subtly. It couldn’t be in the food, she’d spent the day at the Palace, so it had to have been administered directly.

There! A small cut, barely the size of a needle but certainly the correct shape of a small spike on her hand. There was red tissue surrounding it. Strange, that hadn’t been there before. Kayla frowned. Something more, huh? There was only one thing she could think about.

Kayla turned around. Jay was standing in the doorway. “We will be needing rope to move her.”

Jay gaped. “Kay, you know rope won’t—”

“Then get the chains,” she hissed. “We must restrain her until we get to the Palace.”

“What are you two talking about?” Colt asked. “Why do you need to restrain her? She’s out?”

Kayla’s eyes narrowed. “Pray she remains unconscious until we can help her. If not, things won’t be pretty.”