This place was dark. Completely dark. A metallic tang mixed with the smell of wet dirt and salt. Water moved somewhere nearby. Amneris snapped her fingers. Several orbs of light appeared in the air above them, illuminating the area. The group gasped as they took in the new location. 

They were in a cave made of black stone. It seemed to go on forever. No one could see the end. It disappeared into the darkness. Small crystals jutted out from both stalagmites and stalactites alike, casting rainbows around the cave in the light. But that wasn't the most impressive feature. Inside the cavern was a giant underground lake. It wouldn't be a stretch to assume it was far bigger below the surface. 

A buzzing sound filled the cavern. Amneris fumbled in her pocket for her phone. "What?" She huffed. "Yes, we already dealt with the giant snake. Ema hasn't quite recovered though."

It was true. The Fae woman remained unconscious despite the new environment. Jay was helping Kayla sit her upright. Her eyelids flickered. A good sign if nothing else.

Amneris frowned at what she was hearing. "What do you mean 'Light Eaters'?" Her frown slowly turned to a grimace. She eyed the water. "Ah. Yes. I see."

"What is it?" Colt asked. 

She waved him off. "I'm sure we'll be fine." Her attention returned to the phone. "We'll be careful. Yes, I'm serious . . . okay, okay, I'll try but no promises. I can't predict these things. I'm not a God . . . I know I'm a God. It's a figure of speech." Amneris hung up, muttering something in the Old Language. 

"Anything important?" Jay asked. 

Amneris shrugged. "Le said something about watching out for Light Eaters but has no idea what they are. I'd guess it's in the name. Apparently they don't exist."

"Riiiiiight."

"That would be the day," Zoe agreed. "What does the next stanza say? Of that poem. Prophecy. Whatever."

Xix, having memorised the poem, spoke:
"The eternal wave of light will sing one to sleep
But here in the dark, you must not weep
The test must be faced far in the deep
Or else slumber will be all you keep."

"Not at all ominous," Amneris muttered, pocketing her phone. 

Kayla snapped her fingers. "Our guest is coming around." 

The injured Terpolite man sat up slowly as he looked around. It took him a moment to realise he was no longer in the snake's chamber but now in the next challenge. He eyed the people standing around him, taking in their unfamiliar faces. One in particular stood out.

The man whipped a silver pistol from its holster, aiming at Amneris' face. 

Amneris rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Right. Because that will kill me."

He seemed to consider this, arm lowering slightly though the intent remained. 

"You're welcome, y'know," Amneris said. "For saving your life." 

His mouth opened, closed, and opened again. "Why?"

She shrugged. "I'm not evil." Someone in the room hissed their disagreement. Really, it could have been several someones. There was no way to tell with this echo. Amneris grumbled, "Shut up. We have more important things to worry about."

"Yeah," Jay agreed. "Like what to do with him."

"Tie him up?" Kayla offered.

Hathor hummed. "It's not like he can leave this dimension without passing the test. He's just as trapped as the rest of us."

"Oh joy," Amneris muttered, pushing to her feet. "Now we get to work with the Terpolite with a gun. What could possibly - uh, Zo, what're you doing?"

Zoe was edging her way toward the underground lake, eyes fixed firmly on the water's surface. "I could swear that . . ." She glanced between Amneris and the lake. "That I saw something under the water."

"Best to keep your distance," Amneris said. "I have a feeling those would be the Light Eaters and I'd rather not find out why they're called that."

It wasn't enough. As Amneris turned away to discuss what to do with their recently acquired Terpolite, Zoe found herself looking between her Queen and the lake. Whatever was under the water . . . it was as though it was calling to her. A song in her mind urging her to move closer. Zoe was helpless against its voice. She took a step closer. Another. Another. Until she was at the edge of the lake. Zoe bent slowly, reaching towards the water with her hand. 

Amneris spun around, racing to her. "Fucking hell, Zoe!" 

 It was too late.

Amneris grabbed Zoe's wrist the second she touched the water. 

The lake erupted spectacularly. 

Three beasts leapt from the water. At first glance, they looked like sabre-tooth tigers. Looking closer, where there should have been fur was scales. Their paws were webbed feet. Their tails much like those of a shark. Really, they looked like some Creator had decided to find out what happened if one were to cross a sabre-tooth tiger with a particularly fearsome shark. The outcome was something out of a nightmare. 

The Light Eaters roared. 

Amneris crossed her arms and glared at Zoe, unperturbed by their current situation. "Nice one."

"How was I supposed to know?" she exclaimed. 

"Whatever. Let's just get rid of them."

"That much we can agree on."

Amneris and Zoe channelled their respective powers into their hands. The two unleashed beams of light - one a blinding white, the other two cyan - at the creatures. The three Light Eaters opened their mouths. The attacks were eaten. They cut off their attacks immediately. 

Amneris whacked the side of her head with a dumbfounded smile before turning to Zoe and pointing at one of the creatures. "Light Eaters. I get it now."

"That's great, Amns," Zoe said, taking a step back. "I really think we should run now."

One of the creatures lowered its head to sniff the pair. Its inky black eyes widened. The creature pulled back, raising its head to the roof of the cave, and let out a blood curdling howl. 

The three Light Eaters attacked. 

They went after Zoe first. One tackled her to the ground as the other two stood guard, stopping Amneris from getting any closer. Zoe struggled beneath it, attempting to push the creature enough to wiggle free. It opened its mouth. Zoe cried out as a light left her body, being eaten by the creature. When it vanished, she slumped. 

The creatures went after Amneris. She dodged the first two attacks, the third catching her by surprise from behind. The process was repeated. The victorious Light Eater would steal light from its prey's body while the other two stood guard. 

The process completed, the three turned their attention to the group. As one, they sniffed the air. As one, they howled. 

"Scatter!" Jay yelled.

The group dove apart as the Light Eaters pounced. Having missed their prey the first time, the three growled, heads turning each way as they attempted to regain the scents. The three turned to Colt and Hathor, eyes boring into the pair. 

Colt sighed. "I believe I know who they are after." 

Hathor nodded her agreement nervously. "How are we supposed to beat them?" she asked. "They took out mum no problem!" 

Colt only sighed again. 

"I'm sure we'll think of something," Ema said. She'd woken up to see Zoe's light taken and immediately, with Xix and Colt's help, gone to protect Hathor. 

Xix frowned thoughtfully. "They appear to only want Colt and Hathor. If we can distract them for long enough, they can move deeper into the cave. That might lessen whatever scent the Light Eaters are tracking enough for them to focus on the rest of us so we can take them out."

"Not like we got any better ideas!" Jay called from across the cave. 

Ema spun the blade of a dagger skillfully between her fingers. "You two," she said to Colt and Hathor, "get ready to run the second we attack."

The Light Eaters stalked forward. 

The group leapt into action, Hathor and Colt running the other direction. 

That was when the unexpected happen.

The Light Eaters ran forward only to jump over their attackers. Two of them tackled Colt and Hathor to the ground, the third standing guard as the pair lost their light. 

The three returned their attention to the group. As one, they sniffed. As one, they howled. The charged at the group, leapt over them, and jumped into the water.

The group watched, dumbfounded. 

"Well," Jay said after a moment of silence. "That was a thing."