The Only Queen

Chapter One

Present Day - Actual Setting

The Alastair siblings lounged in the VIP section of their most renowned club, Empire, a sprawling expanse of lavish indulgence akin to hell on ice—beautiful, alluring, and sinful.

The music throbbed, the air alive with laughter and whispered conversations, but in the VIP section, a serene bubble of privacy enveloped them. They could feel the pulsating rhythm of the music without being overwhelmed by its noise, a luxury reserved for those in their inner circle.

The ambiance of Empire was opulent, with plush velvet couches inviting guests to sink into luxury, golden accents adding a touch of decadence, and soft, dim lighting casting a seductive spell over the space. It was a haven where temptation lurked in every corner, promising untold pleasures to those daring enough to indulge.

"Shot for shot, b***h?" Lilith quipped, flashing a playful grin at her youngest older brother, Belial, the fourth prince of hell. Her eyes gleamed with relaxed excitement, mischief, and a hint of innocence as she challenged him. Among her siblings, Belial was the one she could engage with on such familiar terms without feeling the weight of expectation or the need to navigate delicate dynamics. She felt comfortable with him, unlike the times she had to dodge a hit from Satan or endure a lecture from Luci.

Belial smirked in response, his dark brown eyes nearly black, gaze drifting towards their older siblings, their matching raven heads engrossed in deep conversation. "I would say yes, but they would disagree," he replied, his tone tinged with amusement.

"I couldn't agree more," Lilith muttered, rolling her similar dark brown eyes. Her eyes seemed lighter, adorned with a thick black ring around the brown irises, a detail often associated with innocence in their upbringing. "I can't handle another one of their endless debates. I need alcohol to survive this shit." Lilith's voice dripped with exasperation and boredom, her patience wearing thin as her older brothers continued their tedious discussion. It felt almost torturous to be subjected to their ongoing deliberations.

"I don't blame you," Belial sighed, shifting closer to his sister to create a more intimate space for their conversation. The plush velvet of the VIP booth enveloped them in comfort as they leaned in, their voices low and hushed to maintain privacy amidst the group. "I'm already on thin ice today. I don't feel like adding fuel to the fire."

Lilith nodded thoughtfully, a mischievous glint flickering in her eyes as she leaned in closer to her brother, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "Honestly, if they would just take the time to meet with this new club owner and discreetly gather information about his connections and intentions, negotiating would be a breeze. They're blind to the opportunities right in front of them."

"Why do you always hold back during these meetings?" Belial questioned, genuine confusion coloring his tone. "In every other aspect of your life, you're a force to be reckoned with. But here, with your family, you remain silent." Belial, the youngest of the four crown princes of hell, embodied the essence of independence and self-sufficiency. He was known as the one without a master, doing what he wanted, when he wanted. Renowned as the wild child of his family, he thrived on his freedom and unpredictability.

"Because I don't run hell, brother. That's Luci's job," Lilith explained with a nonchalant shrug. The dim lighting of the VIP section cast soft shadows across her features, accentuating the slight furrow of her brow. "I can't diminish my own blood's authority. Besides, don't forget I'm still the youngest. Who's going to listen to Little Lilith?" she added with a resigned sigh, her eyes flickering with a mixture of frustration and resignation. Lilith had the patience of a saint when it came to her brothers' incessant bickering, knowing all too well that her input often fell on deaf ears. Sometimes she felt like her only job was to find a husband with a good status and have a child.

Lucifer, seated across from Lilith, exuded an air of regal superiority, his posture rigid and his expression impassive. His piercing dark gaze bore into his siblings, a silent reminder of his dominance within the family hierarchy. He had the final say from years of sacrifice for this family and raising his siblings.

Meanwhile, Satan's face contorted with barely contained anger, his jaw clenched as he struggled to contain his frustration. Leviathan, true to his namesake, observed the scene with a calculating gaze, his dark eyes betraying little emotion as he weighed his brother's proposal.

"I have an idea," Belial announced, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the group. Leaning forward, his eyes alight with anticipation and a touch of mischief, he awaited his siblings' reactions. True to his name, Belial acted on his own desires, heedless of convention or consequence.

"Is that so?" Leviathan's eyebrow arched skeptically, highlighting the sharp angles of his face. His intense gaze shifted between Belial and Lilith, dark eyes gleaming with a blend of curiosity and skepticism. A subtle smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, betraying his amusement at his younger brother's unexpected assertiveness.

Despite his imposing stature, Leviathan sat with a quiet confidence, his broad shoulders and commanding presence evoking a sense of authority over his siblings. Like a serpent coiled and ready to strike, he observed the situation with a silent intensity, biding his time for the opportune moment.

The three elder brothers, with their sharp jawlines and piercing eyes inherited from their mother, reclined in their seats. Arms folded and expressions mirroring one another, they fixed their matching gazes on Belial. Curiosity and irritation intermingled in the depths of their identical eyes, a silent testament to their skepticism about what scheme their younger sibling might concoct this time. The subtle furrows in their brows and the tightness around their lips betrayed their shared sense of caution.

Belial felt like he was staring at a three-headed dragon, each head representing a face of his older brothers' collective skepticism and authority.

Meanwhile, Lilith, sharing the same familial features but with a softer touch, sat frozen in her chair. Her eyes widened in astonishment, her delicate features momentarily betraying her surprise as she too awaited for Belial to continue speaking.

Belial's chuckle cut through the tension like a sharp blade, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he spoke. "Lilith is more than capable of contributing to these decisions," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of playful challenge. "At 23 years old and a senior in college, she's proven herself to be far from a child. Why don't we tap into her insights?" His gaze flickered towards his sister, a silent invitation for her to step into the spotlight and share her thoughts.

Lilith's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation and betrayal crossing her features at Belial's sudden proposal. She shot her brother a sharp glance, her expression hardening as she prepared herself to respond.

"He's right for once. We all started our initiation process at 12. Lilith is a decade past that mark," Satan remarked, his smirk stretching into a malevolent grin. His arms remained crossed over his chest as he leaned back slightly in his seat. His gaze lingered on his younger sister, watching her intently, like a predator waiting for its prey to make a wrong move. There was a twisted satisfaction in his tone, a hint of unhinged wrath simmering beneath the surface as he eagerly awaited any sign of vulnerability from her.