Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

All In A King's Work

Charles was doing his utmost to suppress a yawn. The council meeting had dragged on far longer than anticipated, pushing him to tap his pen rhythmically against his desk. This earned him a few disapproving glances from the councilmen seated beside him. The speaker cast a few irritated looks in his direction, but Charles chose to disregard them. All he wanted was for everyone to leave his house. The council meeting felt unnecessary, and he resented that they had chosen his home as the venue. He had little interest in human issues unless they directly affected his people. So far, discussions had revolved around trivial disputes over land.

The sharp sound of the gavel broke through his daydream.

“Meeting adjourned.”

“Thank the heavens!” he muttered under his breath.

As Charles stood, he watched the councilmen shuffle out of his house in neat and orderly fashion. The moment they departed, an overwhelming silence enveloped the residence, even more pronounced now that both of his daughters had left. Without the assistance of his secretary, he was left to navigate the complexities of council matters on his own.

If it were up to him, his late wife would have been the one attending all the council meetings. Since her passing, he had been forced to assume the role of the face of the courts and the head of his family—a privilege he loathed. Traditionally, the responsibilities would have fallen to Ava, being the eldest, but Charles couldn't bear the thought of her on the throne again, not after what had transpired last time.

With a heavy sigh, Charles retreated to his study and slouched down in his chair, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on him. As he turned to face the small bar on his desk, he noticed that the last drawer was slightly ajar. The study was a locked room, accessible only to him. Curiosity piqued, he slowly opened the drawer and discovered a small key lying atop his files. As he toyed with the key in his palm, he pondered what part of the house it might unlock.

With each memory wipe and assistant swap, the house underwent renovations. The plan was to make Ava believe they had moved every time she made a mistake. It was easier than relocating to a new house or even a different country with each wipe. Charles employed the finest wizards to remodel the house every fifty years or so. Yet, this key didn’t seem to correspond with any of the new rooms. It looked ancient, reminiscent of the Dark Ages.

He glanced at the clock, realizing he had a bit of time before his next appointment. After an hour of searching every room, Charles sank into his chair in defeat, frustration bubbling inside him. Nothing seemed to fit the key, and it was beginning to irritate him. The only door he hadn’t tried yet was the one directly in front of him—the basement door. The basement was strictly off-limits to everyone in the house, and he couldn’t recall the last time anyone had ventured down there. When they were younger, Ava and Zuki had used the basement as their secret hideout. They thought they were clever, but Charles had always known what they were up to.

With a resigned sigh, Charles inserted the key into the lock, surprised when the door swung open with an old creak.

The ancient wooden stairs groaned under his weight as he descended slowly. Reaching up, he tugged on the old string lamp, bringing the dark basement to life with a dim glow. The light flickered uncertainly, illuminating the dust motes swirling in the air. As he stepped further into the basement, a sense of unease washed over him. What secrets lay hidden in the shadows?

He shivered as the dark magic enveloped him, rushing through his bones like a chilling wind. This was definitely strange. This dark magic hadn’t been felt in almost three thousand years—the kind of ancient dark magic that Elnos once wielded, the very type that Raah had forbidden anyone to use during his reign.

The air was thick and oppressive as Charles navigated his way around the cluttered basement, stepping carefully over piles of old books and rickety tables. A faint glow from another small light pulled him toward the back of the room, beckoning him deeper into the shadows. The basement was a crypt of forgotten knowledge, filled with dusty village books and ancient scrolls. Charles couldn’t even recall the last time he had written in a scroll; the weight of magic and history down here had forced him to suppress memories long since buried.

As he approached the table, he noticed that some of the books closer to it appeared to have been opened recently. Charles sat down at the old, worn table and picked up the closest book to him. A frown creased his brow as he recognized his own handwriting. The realization sent a shiver down his spine, deeper than the chill of the dark magic surrounding him. Frowning more intensely, he forgot his previous engagements and began to read.

Amelia, my dearest queen, is soon to give birth. The long-awaited arrival of our dearly newborn is almost upon us. Amelia is happy, as she is aware of the s*x of our unborn child. I had requested that she keep it from me. Our son wanted to know as well, but I forbade it. I do not want more blood on our family’s name.

I fear for the safety of my unborn child. Dion wasted so many lives when he discovered his mother was to give birth to his sibling. Dion, unfortunately, desires to rule the kingdom. Because of his aura status, Amelia refused him the crown. Due to my allegiance with the Great Raah, my aura was placed in the light. Since Amelia was Lord Elnos’ firstborn, her aura emitted darkness.

When Dion was born, Amelia was disappointed. She had hoped for a queen, an heir to carry on our legacy. But when Dion generated his aura, we feared for the life of any future children. This child will be another abomination; I can sense it. If we have a girl, she will wield too much power and destroy everything in her wake. The witches pray for its safe arrival, while the noblemen tremble at what’s to come.

Charles flipped through a few more pages, the words drawing him into a vivid recollection of the past. Ava’s birth, Dion’s m******e, and Amelia’s tragic death all unfolded in his mind as though they had only happened yesterday. His handwriting grew more frantic and messy with each entry, as if he were racing against time to capture every detail.

The letters poured in today, and I tried to read them all hastily. Ava has killed an entire village again, slaughtering men, women, and children without remorse. She is growing stronger, and I fear I may not be able to control her much longer. The spells I once relied upon are failing, and I’m uncertain what will keep her docile.

Charles felt his heart race as he read his own desperate words, the weight of his past pressing heavily on him. Memories flooded back, each one sharper and more painful than the last. The basement, once a refuge of forgotten knowledge, now felt like a tomb of his regrets and fears.

Her demon is uncontainable. Allowing my son to mix her wolf with vampire blood was a monumental mistake. The wolf is out of control now, growing increasingly violent as she ages. Soon, she will return home from the academy. The headmistress, Ellie, mentioned that Ava attempted to resurrect a child today. I must investigate this myself, but it appears the child may survive. God help us all for the creature she is destined to become.

Slamming the book shut, Charles felt a surge of panic coursing through him. He raced back up the creaking stairs, locking the basement door behind him with a firm click. The weight of dread settled heavily on his shoulders as he hurried into his office.

Without hesitation, he pulled the letters from Ellie out of the hidden drawer, his hands trembling. Ava had only recently been sent to the academy, and as far as he knew, she was settling in well. So why did that book describe a future that hadn’t happened yet? The implications of that thought sent a shiver down his spine, intertwining fear with confusion.

He rifled through the letters, searching for any mention of strange occurrences or behaviors that might explain the ominous predictions he had just read. The air felt thick with foreboding, and he could feel the shadows of doubt creeping into his mind. Had he overlooked something vital?

Ellie’s letters had always been straightforward, detailing Ava’s progress and the challenges she faced. But now, with that book’s alarming revelations, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something dark and sinister was brewing. He needed answers—and fast.