Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

The Transfer

Zuki stared down at the tiny potion bottle in his hand. It seemed innocuous, but he knew its power. One sip, and he would be transported into Austin’s body, leaving behind his own decaying form. This part was always the hardest—the transfer. It was excruciating, the act of abandoning his form for another's, the pain of an unfamiliar body taking control.

He sighed deeply and uncorked the bottle, downing it in one motion. The taste was bitter, foul, but he didn’t care. Lying back, he took one last look at his surroundings, as if memorizing the room in his current form before the transfer began. Then, he let his body succumb to sleep.

When Zuki next opened his eyes, he expected the usual stabbing pain of the transfer. But, strangely, there was nothing. His vision was blurry at first, but he blinked rapidly, willing his sight to sharpen. The first thing he saw was the morning sun, the sunlight harsh through the two-feet high windows.

He groaned, the unfamiliar weight of the body in which he now resided making him feel sluggish. Austin's body, though youthful, felt strange and delicate. The sun burned through the window, an oddly comforting sensation he hadn’t realized he missed until now. He hadn't felt sunlight in centuries. It was a reminder of the human world he had longed to return to.

Zuki pushed himself upright, groaning as he stood. His gaze shifted to Ellie, who had fallen asleep beside the bed. He smirked, amused by her obliviousness. She had no idea the immense power now standing before her.

"Austin, darling, how do you feel?" Ellie’s voice was soft, laced with concern.

"Bloody brilliant," Zuki replied, his voice now mingled with Austin's distinct tone, yet carrying the weight of his demonic presence.

He walked toward the window, letting the sunlight burn into his skin. He hadn’t realized how much he missed it until the warmth soaked into the unfamiliar body. It almost made the pain of the transfer worth it. Almost.

Ellie, groggy from her sleep, slowly rose to her feet. "You should head to your classes, dear. I know you hate it when I pull you from them."

Zuki turned to face her, confused by her calm demeanor. How could she not notice the immense shift in energy standing before her? He knew that once Ava arrived, everything would change, and he needed Ellie to trust him. But this boy's life was a means to an end, and Zuki was willing to sacrifice it, at least temporarily, to gain Ava’s trust.

"What about your end of the bargain?" Zuki asked, raising an eyebrow, his voice laced with authority. "Have you done your part?"

Ellie’s face hardened, her eyes narrowing. "There is nothing I can do for now. She's still asleep."

Zuki’s eyes flickered with annoyance. She still doesn't realize what’s at stake. But for now, he would play along. He needed to stay in this body long enough to make his plans unfold.

"You must notify me at once when there is an update," Zuki insisted, his tone sharp, though still laced with an edge of forced civility.

"Of course, my lord." Ellie replied, though her voice was tinged with a certain reluctance, as though she could feel the tension in the air. "You must live his life in the meantime. Nothing will happen if you happen to burn the place down out of boredom."

One Year Later...

Zuki sat at the edge of his seat, his eyes scanning the crowded cafeteria. The noise was unbearable, the clatter of trays and chatter of students making his skull ache. He had spent a year inside Austin’s body, enduring the boy’s incessant thoughts and complaints. Austin’s demon side was manageable now, but still a constant annoyance. His mind never stopped, always whispering, always pushing.

Zuki groaned internally as his eyes glazed over, focusing on nothing in particular. Winter break had ended, and still no word on Ava’s arrival. He had been waiting for this moment for what felt like centuries. Time was running out. He needed to act fast, but every passing day without her felt like a missed opportunity.

"Austin?"

Zuki broke from his trance, shaking his head. He turned toward the voice, already anticipating what was coming. Ellie stood before him, her face a mixture of joy and relief.

"Mother, did you call for me?" Zuki replied, keeping his tone polite but flat.

"Yes, like for the past five minutes. Come, I have delightful news," Ellie beamed, gesturing for him to follow.

Zuki rolled his eyes, gathering his books and reluctantly following her to her office. He had no patience for the trivialities of this world, but he was playing his part—at least until Ava was here.

"Ava is on her way," Ellie said, her voice almost giddy. "I just returned from a meeting with High King Charles. She should be here within the week."

"A week?" Zuki’s pulse quickened, though he kept his face neutral. "Finally. How is she?"

Ellie paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I didn’t see much of her, but it looked like she had only just been woken."

Zuki’s heart raced. She’s awake. She’s coming. This was it.

"Excellent," Zuki replied, his smile thin but genuine. "Notify me as soon as she arrives. There is so much I must prepare."

Ellie gave him a warm, approving smile. Zuki flashed her one in return before excusing himself, his mind already shifting gears.

As Zuki made his way out of the office, his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a familiar presence. The Dark Mother stepped out from the shadows, her regal aura emanating as she casually leaned against the edge of Ellie’s desk.

"Are my students going to be okay with the both of them on campus together?" Ellie asked, her voice tinged with concern.

The Dark Mother gave a knowing smile, her eyes glinting. "They should be fine. Ava doesn’t kill close to home. Zuki won’t hurt a fly, no matter how hard he pushes you. Or you push him."

Ellie sighed, leaning back in her chair. "What about Austin?"

"Oh, yes. Soul transfers never hurt anyone unless they’re human. He will learn to control everything. Once Zuki leaves him, he will be fine when you go."

Ellie closed her eyes, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She felt the Dark Mother's hand gently pat the top of her head, offering comfort in a way that only the Dark Mother could.

"Don’t you worry, my daughter," she murmured. "Once your soul is free and the world is dark again, you will feel the world in its rightful place."

With those words, the Dark Mother disappeared, leaving Ellie to sit in the quiet stillness of her office.

The next few days were a blur for Zuki. He prepared his body, his room, and his mind. Austin’s incessant thoughts still grated on him, but he had no choice but to endure. He had a purpose, and nothing would deter him from it.

Monday morning arrived, and Zuki trudged into the cafeteria, his mind already distant. The noise was almost unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the chaos of the past year. He moved through the crowd, his gaze scanning the students—until something, someone, caught his eye.

A pair of blue eyes met his across the room.

Zuki’s heart skipped a beat. His pulse quickened, and for a brief moment, everything around him seemed to blur. The crowd parted, making way for her to leave. Zuki’s eyes never left her form as she paused, her gaze flicking to him for a brief second before she vanished from sight.

"She’s here," Zuki whispered to himself.

Finally. Ava had arrived. And everything was about to change.