Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

Life is Hell When You Live In Hell

Zuki had lost count of the centuries spent rotting away in the infernal depths of Hell. For a time, he tried to make the most of his miserable existence, turning Hell into a prison for lost souls. But after eons of watching their endless suffering, the monotony dulled him. Torturing souls had long since lost its thrill.

Today, however, was different. It was Seer Day—a day Zuki dreaded but also anticipated. Every time, he hoped for the one thing he could never truly have: an accurate timeline, a true opening, a window through which he could escape Hell and reclaim his place in the human realm. But, despite his countless years of experience, he had learned that seers—creatures born to foresee the future—were as frustrating as they were vague.

He leaned forward, eyeing the trembling demon across from him, his patience hanging by a thread.

"So, you can't give me an accurate date, then?" Zuki's voice was ice-cold, dripping with menace.

The demon seer flinched, shaking its head. "No, my lord. The closest I can say is that it will happen within the next year."

Zuki's gaze narrowed. "You don't even know the year?"

The seer's voice quivered. "It's complicated, my lord."

Zuki's hand twitched, barely able to hold back his frustration. "Well, make it uncomplicated. Or I’ll complicate you."

Without warning, Zuki snapped his fingers, sending the mirror flying toward the demon. The glass shattered upon impact, shards glistening in the dim light. The seer screamed, its body convulsing in fear as it cowered on the floor.

Zuki loomed over it, disgusted by the creature's weak nature. He hated this place, hated being confined here. Hell had once been his domain, but now it was a prison—a place that gnawed away at his very soul. The only solace he could find was in plotting his eventual escape.

The demon seers were supposed to help him find the right moment. They were created to connect the threads of time and allow him to track the Dark Queen’s timeline. But each vision was never precise enough. Each answer was shrouded in ambiguity.

"What are you able to tell me?" Zuki demanded, his voice a low growl.

The demon’s eyes flickered with the remnants of its vision. "The Dark Queen will be at the Royal Academy. I cannot say when, exactly, but I’m certain she will be there."

Zuki's frown deepened. "That's not good enough. Do it again."

The vision replayed, a blur of images that meant little to Zuki. He had already seen such vague glimpses countless times. It wasn’t enough. He needed certainty. He needed to know when—exactly—his opportunity would arrive.

He was growing desperate. If he missed the chance to exploit Ava’s power, he could risk never leaving Hell.

Then, just as he was about to lash out again, something shifted. The seer twitched as another vision erupted in its mind.

"When will this happen?" Zuki's voice was tinged with a new edge of hope.

"I don't know the exact date, my lord," the seer said, trembling. "But it seems to align well with the Dark Queen's timeline."

Zuki's eyes glinted with excitement. "Excellent. Find me a connection to that academy."

The seer nodded quickly, scrambling to comply, eager to escape the wrath that seemed to hover just above its head. Zuki watched it scurry out of the room, a dark grin slowly spreading across his face. Everything was about to fall into place. After all these centuries, he was finally getting closer.

Of course, the original plan had been to drain Ava of her power and use it to escape Hell. But now, with the added possibility of a more direct source of power, Zuki's mind raced with possibilities. He would manipulate Ava into fulfilling his needs—whether she realized it or not.

She was the last Dark Queen, and he, the King of Hell. Together, they could destroy everything. He could burn the world.

Zuki chuckled to himself, the sound reverberating through the silence of the chamber.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of another demon. It had been sent with a message from someone else—someone who had their own stake in the game.

"My lord, your connection," the demon panted, holding out a mirror with a sense of urgency.

Zuki raised an eyebrow, taking the mirror from the demon's trembling hands. As he gazed into it, his face hardened.

"Who is this?" he demanded, his patience thinning.

The reflection in the mirror revealed a familiar face—Ellie Stulner, the headmistress of the Royal Academy. Her eyes blinked back at him, unbothered by the dark magic of the crossroads demon.

"Are you the crossroads demon?" she asked coolly, her voice tinged with both annoyance and boredom. "I've been on hold for a while."

Zuki’s eyes narrowed. "Why have you contacted a crossroads demon? Are you aware of the costs?"

Ellie leaned forward, her expression unreadable. "Yes, I’m aware. I’ve lived too long now, and I just want my son to have a better life."

Zuki c****d his head slightly, intrigued by her words. "What kind of life are we talking about?"

"My son is half-demon, half-vampire," Ellie explained. "I want him to learn how to control his demon side. It’s... dangerous."

Zuki’s lips curled into a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Ah, the Ellie Stulner. It’s always a great pleasure when demons are born. Though your son caused me a lot of grief." He paused, letting the words linger. "I don’t particularly want to help the mother of an abomination, but I need something from you. Something a crossroads demon would never ask for."

Ellie stared at him, silence stretching between them.

"What are you asking for?" she finally asked, her voice measured.

Zuki’s eyes gleamed with cold intent. "Are you familiar with Ava Galliano?"

Ellie’s gaze flickered for a brief moment before she nodded. "Yes."

"I’ve been trying to tap into her timeline for years," Zuki continued. "But that light king of hers has a tight hold on her. I have sources to say that she will end up at your school. I’m not sure when, but it will happen. You need to make sure she’s there."

Ellie’s brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t flinch. "Is that all you need from me?"

Zuki leaned closer to the mirror. "Of course. You’ll need to prepare your son as well. I’ll have a mild demon soul enter his body."

Ellie blinked, slightly taken aback. "Is that safe?"

"Of course," Zuki said smoothly. "He’ll have full control of his own body and mind. The soul will simply guide him. Do we have a deal?"

Ellie hesitated for a moment, her fingers gripping the edge of the mirror. The deal was easy—bring Ava to him, and in return, her son would gain control over his demonic nature. It was simple. It was perfect.

"I accept," Ellie said, her voice hardening. "How long will I have left to live?"

Zuki’s smile was sinister. "Five years."

"Five years?" Ellie echoed in disbelief, her voice breaking.

Zuki’s smile never faltered. "Five years."

Ellie recoiled, but after a long moment of silence, she nodded stiffly. "Fine. You have a deal. What preparations do I need to make?"

"You’ll receive a potion," Zuki replied, his voice as cold as ice. "He must drink it all and stay asleep. It will not look good if he wakes up in the middle of the transfer."

"I understand," Ellie said, her voice tight.

Zuki handed the mirror back to the demon, who had been watching the exchange nervously. "Have the potion prepared and send it over to the vampire queen. Notify me when she replies."

The demon nodded eagerly and scurried off, disappearing into the shadows. Zuki turned, his thoughts already focused on the next steps. The Dark Queen would be his—one way or another.