Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

A Thousand Years Has Passed

Over the next thousand years, Charles placed Isa in a coma-like sleep many times. Each time, it drained him more. The toll on his light was becoming unbearable, and despite everything, he hated doing this to his own flesh and blood.

Eventually, Charles decided to take in another light child, hoping the company would calm Isa’s volatile nature. At first, it worked. Ebony’s presence brought a fleeting sense of peace. But as Ebony absorbed more power, she became increasingly difficult to manage. Now, Charles found himself with two powerful daughters—one that had been his by creation, and another whose soul he could never reclaim. It was too late to undo his decision; Ebony’s soul couldn’t be returned, nor could the body she had stolen.

Sighing, Charles pressed the intercom on his desk, summoning his assistant. Moments later, a young, naive vampire entered the room. Charles always kept his freshlings to himself, but Isa had caught wind of this one, and Charles dared not deny her.

"Sire, you called for me?"

"What’s wrong with my daughter?" Charles asked, his voice low but steady.

"Your daughter, sire? I don’t quite understand the question," the young vampire stammered.

"I can smell her all over you. I can only assume she stopped you on your way here." Charles’s gaze narrowed.

"She is everywhere, sire," the assistant replied, his voice strained. "I can’t do a single task without running into her. Can’t you do something?"

"If you want to keep your life, I suggest you simply agree with her. I cannot die, but believe me, she will find a way to kill me if I don’t comply." Charles’s tone turned grave as he leaned forward. "Sit."

The assistant grumbled but reluctantly slouched into the leather chair across from Charles’s desk. Being in his role as Jace was a dangerous affair. Whenever Isa awoke from her long slumbers, she had a tendency to target the “Jace” of the century for her wrath.

"What can I do for you, sire?" Jace asked, trying to regain his composure.

"I need a school, two schools, actually," Charles replied, rubbing his temples.

"What kind?" Jace asked, raising an eyebrow.

"An expensive human boarding school for Ebony. And a fortified school for Isa. It needs to be top-tier, expensive, and difficult to locate. It must be capable of containing my daughter for an extended period."

Jace nodded slowly, noting the gravity of the request. "Yes, sire."

He rose to leave, but Charles’s tired eyes followed him out, his mind already drifting elsewhere. He longed for peace, for the eternal sleep beside his beloved, when the world was still small and simple.

Back when Charles had been the elder of a small village, two brothers had vied for the rule of humanity. Ra’ah, who brought light, warmth, and crops, was adored by the people. Charles had ruled alongside him, and life had been good. But El’nos, the eldest, had been consumed by jealousy of his brother’s love and support. El’nos brought darkness, famine, and death to the world, hoping to force the humans into submission.

Eventually, El’nos had overthrown Ra’ah, plunging the world into permanent darkness. And Charles? He was cursed with immortality, bound to outlive every human that would ever exist.

This story, as simple as it sounded, had another twist. A third brother, Zuki, had played a key role—though no one remembered his true relation to the others. Zuki had inflated the egos of both Ra’ah and El’nos, causing wars to erupt between them. But the end hadn’t been kind to Zuki. After El’nos claimed his throne, Zuki was chained to the underworld, never to be seen again—or so they thought.

Charles sank deeper into his chair, throwing back a glass of whiskey. He could still remember the ache in his heart when he lost his beloved, when everything changed. But duty had kept him going. Until now, when the pressure from the elders seemed unbearable.

Hours later, Charles glanced up from his ledger to find Jace standing uncomfortably at his desk.

"Yes?" Charles asked, his voice calm but edged with impatience.

"I’ve organized a suitable school, family, and job for Ebony. I also found something that might work for Princess Isa, but it comes with a condition."

Charles frowned, already anticipating trouble. "The condition? What is it?"

"She wants Isa’s unaltered file."

Charles stiffened at the mention of the file. Isa’s unaltered file was something he kept locked away. The thought of his daughter discovering the truth—of her past, of the countless memories he had wiped—was enough to send a cold shiver down his spine.

"Get a car ready," Charles said curtly. "I’ll talk to the headmistress myself."

Jace hesitated. "About that, sire… she’s already here."

Charles’s brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"

The door opened behind Jace, and a teenager stepped into the room with quiet confidence.

"Your Majesty," the girl said, her voice polite but carrying an air of authority. "My name is Ellie Stulner. I believe we’ve met before, formally, when I held a seat on the council. I apologize if my visit inconveniences you, but I knew my condition would require us to speak."

"Not at all, Your Highness," Charles replied, standing to greet her. "Please, sit."

Jace pulled out a chair for Ellie, then quickly excused himself, leaving Charles alone with the woman who held the keys to his daughter's future.

"Why Isa’s unaltered file?" Charles asked, his voice low, barely masking his frustration.

"I’m old, Charles," Ellie replied, her tone no less firm. "The elders are dying. We’re tired, and we want to retire in peace. How long must you keep Ava alive?"

Charles frowned, leaning back in his chair. Ava… the name felt like a distant memory. "Explain."

"The elders believe we’ve left the humans in charge for far too long," Ellie said, her voice soft but resolute. "You have two choices: either let Ava give birth to an heir, or you need to retire her yourself."

Charles’s stomach twisted at the suggestion. "Is this why you’re willing to take her in?"

"I have my orders to follow," Ellie said. "But the choice is yours, Charles. Make it quickly. We will not wait another thousand years in this human world."

Charles felt the weight of the decision bearing down on him. He had lived far too long, watched too many generations pass, and now the elders were finally pressing for an answer. But could he truly make the decision to end his daughter’s life? Or was he destined to keep her in this state of endless sleep, forever?