We walked the remaining distance in silence. I let out another gasp when we were half a metre away, shocked at how big it was. It looked as though it could caress the skies, it's paws as large as a van.

The boys picked up their weapons as they walked and, in turn, I tightened my hold on the hilt of the double sword. If this was truly where the key of Mars was, then there could be danger lurking.

Like, Anouke.

I shook the dark thought out of my head as we moved closer, coming to a halt when there was nothing around but the statue.

"Where would it be?" I whispered and Emut shook his head as we looked around.

"State your purpose."

We all stilled, looking up to the source of the eerie female voice yet only the blank face of the statue looked back at us. We looked around in confusion then before Emut stepped forward, clearing his throat.

"We wish for the Miftah of Mars." He answered, his voice steady and I thanked the lucky stars it wasn't me speaking. There was a small silence before the voice spoke again.

"Is it but greed that brings you to my throne?" The voice asked, the sound of it like a musical whisper and I shuddered at the sound.

Emut shook his head, placing his sword back in its sheath.

"Rather, we're here to protect it from the greed of others." He answered in a firm tone. There was a long silence before the voice spoke again.

"I will grant you that which you desire." The voice spoke finally and my eyebrows furrowed at its words. Even more so, when the ground gave out between its feet, revealing a sandy staircase into the darkness.

It was too easy.

Emut looked to the staircase with a frown before looking up to the face of the Sphinx, a thoughtful look on his face.

"No." He said simply and Maya let out a small sound of protest.

"No?" The voice asked in an almost smug manner.

Emut nodded, confirming his answer.

"You're the guard of the stone. I don't expect you to give it so easily." He explained and the voice let out a small eerie laugh that echoed through the desert.

"Those who think with their greed become so blinded by themselves that they refuse to acknowledge the dangers. Well done, child." The voice praised in an almost detached manner.

Emut nodded at this, his hand instinctively resting against the hilt of his weapon.

"So, what must one do to attain the key?" He asked tepidly and I waited with bated breath. Ayla squeezed my hand as we waited.

"You can have the key, so long as you answer me this." The voice began and we waited for its question. It spoke again, but this time slowly so as to let us take it in.

"From the child who was born on a mountain of gold;

From the creatures whose names were written in old.

If you wish to live to see tomorrow

Then let me drink your crystal sorrows.

Then feed me more of what you need to function,

A shade of berries that oozes seduction.

A drop of corruption and a drop of innocence,

Only with both of your acts of beneficence.

Only then can you achieve,

The key that you so desperately need."

The voice finished with a small lilt before repeating its words and I listened as they sunk in. I looked around and the confusion was evident.

Letting out a sigh, Emut looked on in confusion before opening his mouth to speak yet before he could, Demir pulled him back with an arm roughly.

"Don't say a word." He muttered to which Emut frowned. Demir looked to the statue before looking back at Emut.

"The Sphinx has been known as the teller of riddles of which many a man have met their death. If you get the answer wrong, the Sphinx is said to scorch your soul, using the power gifted by Ra." He explained, keeping a tight grip on Emut as he continued.

"Your next words will be the answer, so don't say a word." He instructed.

Emut looked to the Sphinx for a minute before nodding at Demir, but didn't speak. Instead, Demir turned to look to Ayla.

"Take us back for now. We'll think of the answer then." He instructed, doing his job as the second in command.

Ayla nodded quietly before reaching her hands out and closing her eyes.

"Hold on to something."

********************

I let out a small sigh as I sat in the small vegetation patch that Bomani owned. I had discovered it yesterday, before breakfast and, now, with the emergence of my powers along with the sphinx's riddle, I felt it was a good place to think.

Looking to my palms, I thought to the red liquid and how I felt its power. With this power came the sense of danger.

I could feel how the red liquid could easily drain me of my energy if it wished to. The thought of when it almost had done when I healed Demir came to mind and I clenched my eyes shut.

Bomani had said I commanded it yet I felt as though it commanded me. It burned me to the touch and held my life force in its hands. Whenever I used it, the power was in control.

"Hanna?" I heard the deep voice, turning to smile at Emut as he walked through, a large pail of water in his hand.

"Hey, Emut, what are you doing here?" I asked, brushing my hair behind my ears and Emut gestured behind him, causing his bicep to flex.

"I was grabbing water for the baths from the well. I saw you here when I passed." He explained to which I nodded, making him put the pail down as he neared, his golden gaze on me.

"What's wrong?" He questioned, crouching to look at me as I sat and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"How can you tell I was upset?" I questioned curiously and he smiled slightly, shaking his head.

"I think I've gotten too used to your smile." He answered to which I slapped at his arm with a laugh before nodding slowly, looking down.

"Yeah, well, I guess I'm kind of down." I admitted to which he raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak and I smiled sadly before looking to my palms.

"I'm scared to use my powers. When I use it on myself, it's fine, but when I use it on someone else, I feel like I can't control it. My power is relentless in healing and it takes away from me for this... I'm scared of what it can do to me." I answered, ending with a whisper. I felt slightly embarrassed to make such a pathetic admission, but if Emut found it ridiculous, he didn't show it.

Instead, he let out a sigh, dipping slightly so he could look at my eyes.

"You need to stop doubting yourself." He instructed and I let out a huff at his words.

"It's not like I want to doubt myself. It's just too difficult." I answered weakly, putting my face into my hands with a groan, making Emut laugh slightly.

I felt a tug at my arm and Emut was standing me up. I made a noise of protest, but he was relentless, so I stood up, allowing him to take me towards the vegetation patch.

"Put your hands against that cabbage." He instructed and I looked to him in confusion to which he sighed, seemingly displeased with my questioning.

At this, I bent to a crouch, placing my hands against the cabbage. It was slightly tattered and eaten away by pests.

"What now?" I asked with a sigh, letting out a sound of surprise when Emut placed his hands over mine, covering them completely. The warmth emanating from them made me feel lighter inside as I looked to him in question. He glanced to me then from his position next to me.

"Use your powers." He muttered, not taking his eyes off mine and I shook my head to which he pressed against my hands.

"I'm here, aren't I?' He comforted me, his voice a gentle lull and I nodded before closing my eyes and thinking of the door.

"Open your eyes, Hanna." I heard the gentle instruction to his voice and frowned.

"I can't, this is the only way I can do it." I explained to which he tutted slightly.

"And how do you know that?" He challenged, making me blank. I let out a shaky breath before opening my eyes and he smiled at this.

"Don't close your eyes and remove yourself from the situation. You need to be present." He explained, his eyes tracing my face and I nodded nervously.

"Keep your eyes on me, Hanna." He instructed and I did as he said, thinking to the door, but keeping my eyes open. It flowed down to my hands, but this time it felt more gentle as though I was more aware of what was happening with my eyes open.

I broke eye contact then, looking to the cabbage and watching its leaves nourish themselves as well as the cabbage grow in size. I could feel the pulse from Emut's hands and allowed the red liquid to touch at him, making him take a breath.

I looked to him then, feeling the liquid travel up his muscled arms; I could even sense the subtle flexing of his arm and he tightened his hold over my hands.

"Now, make it stop." He murmured, looking to me and I could feel it touching against his shoulders that ached from the toil of his day.

"What if I can't?" I whispered back, sensing the power's need to heal. Emut shook his head at this.

"You can because it belongs to you." He said sternly and I processed his words with a nod before hardening my resolve.

As though it was occurring in reverse, the liquid travelled back to his hands, to the cabbage and back to the depths of my mind. I let out a gasp as it did, falling back slightly, but Emut steadied me with a grip on my arm.

I was slightly weak, but not as weak as I had been yesterday and I smiled at Emut who seemingly understood my plight. I looked to my palms again, but this time with a more optimistic mindset.

It was mine and mine alone.

****************

"Hanna, can you see up my nose?" Ayla asked through giggles as I lay on her lap and I nodded, laughing to which Maya groaned.

"I'm dealing with infants." She muttered and I kicked at her with my leg to which she pinched my thigh.

"Don't be jealous that we can be carefree, Maya." Ayla said breezily, pushing her hair behind her shoulder and I nodded in agreement to which Maya snorted.

"I don't feel ridiculous commoner emotions like jealousy or love. They're merely a distraction." She explained and I sat up, leaning against her.

"Oh so you don't feel love for us?" I asked to which she faltered slightly.

"Shut up." She muttered hurriedly. Ayla let out a giggle at this before leaning forward and onto Maya's other side.

"Yeah, Maya, don't you love us?" She said with a pout and Maya pushed at our heads, making us let out cries of protest.

"The love I feel for you is a different matter altogether." She finally relented and Ayla and I let out a small squeal, poking her side.

"Oh so you do love us!" I teased in a sing-song voice, making Ayla join in and Maya to slap at our hands that poked at her.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of loud conversation from the main entrance and we all looked to each other in worry before running over towards the entrance.

It was coming from the dining hall and only when we neared, did I realise it was the sound of cheering. I slowed my steps as we entered, looking around at the scene. Demir was leaning his palms against the table, with Emut sat on the table and Abrax clapping his hand against Demir's back.

I looked cautiously to the strange scene as I neared.

"Guys? Are you okay?" I asked carefully, halting in my steps as they turned to us, their smiles not dying down.

They looked back to each other then as though they were sharing an inside secret before Abrax clapped Demir's back again and he turned to look at us, his hair in his grey eyes as he spoke.

"We know the answer to the riddle."