"How about . . . this?"

Leo leaned over the table to look at the bit of text Maddie pointed to. "Right continent. Wrong era." She rolled her head back with a groan and went back to a pile of books.

"Why are we doing this?" Troy muttered, rubbing his temples. "I hate homework."

"One of these days, you will get the hang of it," Isaiah said, patting him on the shoulder. 

"That will be the day the world ends," Sky muttered, tapping away at a computer. 

Imogene rested her arms on the table with a smile. "Bet he was happy when the Academy closed down."

"Ecstatic," Troy said deadpan. "Why are we doing this?"

Nikki banged her head on the table. "Because there is so little information on the Trials the others will be facing and we won't find anything like this." She jumped up, heading for the door. "I want food. Who wants food? Great. I'll go get some."

"How is it going over there?" Leo asked the open line to Terpola. 

Liam shrugged unhelpfully on-screen. "You'd think we of all people would have something, but no." 

"Did you try to restricted section?"

"Our library doesn't have a -" Liam turned to someone off-screen. "It does? Well check it out!" 

Imogene stretched her arms, jumped to her feet, and moved behind Sky. "What you doing?"

"Running a marathon," he said.

Imogene tugged his hair. "What are you really doing?"

"Finding a way into the files the Council keeps hidden." He leaned back to meet her gaze. "They won't let anyone near these things without proper authority."

Leo eyed them closely. "This . . . thing Sky is doing on the computer . . . It is legal?"

"Yeah," Sky nodded at the same time Imogene said, "Of course."

"I see." Leo picked up the volume in front of him to take it back to the shelf. "Wasn't here. Saw nothing. Couldn't have stopped you if I had."

Imogene have him a half smile. "For the best."

"You know what?" Troy said, pushing himself to his feet. "I can't do this. I'm going to go see if Nikki needs any help."

Maddie whistled as he left. "That boy can not sit still."

Isaiah tilted his head back, closing his eyes. "Wolves never can."

"Men are interesting creatures," Imogene sighed. Maddie nodded her agreement. 

Tara appeared on screen. She handed an open book to Liam, pointing at a certain passage. The two started speaking in hushed voices to each other, either having a conversation or argument. It was hard to tell. By the time Nikki and Troy reappeared with food and drink on trays, Tara spoke.

"Okay, we found something." 

"Please tell me it's something good," Nikki said, flopping onto a chair.

"Depends on your definition of good," she answered. Tara tapped a page on the book between her and Liam. "This power is dark. Very dark. Maybe that sort of thing can be good. I'm not sure."

"Dark power," Sky muttered, still typing.

"What will it do?" Leo asked.

"That's where things get a little vague," Liam said. "Long story short, it says the end of the world. Now, whether that means the end of that planet, galaxy, universe, or all Creation-" He glanced at Tara "-That's what we don't know."

"Aurelia and Nephthys probably do." Maddie rubbed her hands over her face. "I'm with Troy. Why are we doing this? All we're being told is something will be destroyed. Could this possibly get any worse?" 

"Creation," Sky interrupted.

"What?"

He looked up from the screen. "All of Creation will be destroyed."

"Oh, great. It got worse." She flopped next to Nikki.

"Sorry."

Leo took a seat next to Sky. "What have you found?"

He cringed. "Something that means you might want to call Amneris. Right now."

* * * * * * * * 

The others were still sleeping below. Amneris yawned from boredom. Perhaps taking the nightwatch . . . daywatch . . . whatever might not have been her smartest idea. It was nice to have a bit of alone time. A bit of quiet to get her thoughts together.

Her pocket buzzed.

"What?" Amneris said into her phone.

"How's Atlantis?" Nikki asked.

"Dark, dank, depressing. Kinda cool." She folded her legs beneath her. "'Sup?"

"Wish I could see it. The books make it sound so cool."

"Niks. Focus."

"Right." Nikki cleared her throat. "So, this power you're after. According to the records Sky totally convinced the Council to give him access to, it is pretty dark. Like, destroy Creation dark."

"So, an average Friday."

"Pretty much. Uh, hang on a sec. Leo wants to talk."

A shuffling sound was followed by Leo's voice. "Hey, baby sis. How is Atlantis?"

"Ask Nikki," Amneris sighed. "Spill."

"The power is strong enough to destroy Creation, as Nikki already told you. According to the files Sky . . . never mind. The power is in a rift found at the centre of Atlantis. This rift," he continued, as though reading off something, "leads through a few different dimensions. Those are where the Trials take place."

Nikki's voice cut in. "Still working on the details on those!"

"Once the Trials are passed," Leo said, no doubt glaring at Nikki, "This Vessel of Time has to stand on an altar. Their power will be activated and somehow either show or tell a being called the Eternal - who won't be revealed until this moment - where the power is."

"Also still working on those details!"

Amneris nodded. "Would Aurelia and Nephthys be able to reach the power without the Eternal?" she asked. "Considering either myself or Xix will be the Eternal and I don't think they are expecting us to just hand over the power."

"I was thinking that too," Leo said.

"Adding that to the working out the details list, huh?"

"Yeeeeaaah." 

"How did you say Sky got this information."

Sky's distant voice came over the phone. "Your security needs updating. Anyone could hack - I mean stumble upon - all these files the Council totally gave me access to."

"I'll bring it up at our next meeting." Amneris ran a hand through her hair. "This power could end the multiverse, huh? Really hope we get to it before the others."

"You'll do fine," Nikki assured her. "You're not doing this alone."

"Right," Leo agreed. "Not only do you have everyone there, but you have all of us helping. We'll figure this out."

Amneris allowed sparks to dance at her fingertips. "Call me again when you get more info, okay. I'd rather not go into these Trials with the little information we have."

"Can do."

Movement from below caught her attention. The members of her party were slowly waking up. "Good luck." She hung up.

Amneris stood, stretched, and took one final look over the city. Now all that was left to do was pack up the campsite, make their way to the centre of the city with hopefully no trouble, and then get through these mysterious trials. Nothing to worry about. After all, it wasn't like the opposition had already arrived . . . 

* * * * * * * * 

At the centre of the city, Aurelia ran her fingers over the jewel-encrusted golden walls of what used to be the throne room of the castle. It was here. She could sense it. The key was in these gems. She just had to find the right one.

"Can we hurry it up?" Nephthys rolled her head as she lazed on the throne. "I'm bored."

"If I press the wrong one, I could destroy all of us." Aurelia spun on her heel. "You could always go look out for intruders while I find what I'm looking for."

"Nah." Nephthys swung her legs until she sat properly on the throne. She tapped her nails on the metal. "I think I'll just watch. Get a move on, oh Chosen One."

Aurelia sighed but turned back to the wall. Her power hummed as her hand hovered a particular gemstone. She closed her eyes, letting the sensation wash over her. This was the right one. 

Aurelia pressed her hand onto the gemstone. The wall behind the throne opened.

Silver light reflected in Aurelia's eyes. She smiled. "Found you."