The blackened crown of horns hovered before her, wreathed in flickering silver fire. The weight of the council's declaration pressed down on the air itself, sealing her fate as the new ruler of this forsaken realm.
Belladonna Evernight. The Demon queen.
The hooded ancients shifted, their glowing sigils pulsing in tandem as the ceremony reached its peak. But they weren't done.
"And as our queen," the one marked by Greed spoke smoothly, a smirk hidden beneath his hood, "we present to you those who may stand beside you in power."
The chamber darkened, the air growing heavy with ancient magic. Seven doors materialized in a perfect circle around the throne, each carved with a different sigil that pulsed with otherworldly light.
'Okay. This is getting ridiculous.'
"The Seven Demon Sovereigns," announced the ancient marked by Pride, his voice reverberating through the chamber. "Bound by covenant to serve the crown since time immemorial."
The first door—emblazoned with a mirror shattered by a dagger—burst open. A cold wind carrying the scent of bitter herbs swept through the chamber.
"Caius Veylor, The Envious Sovereign."
A man of elegant cruelty stepped through, tall and lean with piercing emerald eyes that shimmered like shattered glass. His obsidian-black hair fell in sharp layers, framing a face too perfect to be real—lips curled in a perpetual smirk. He approached the throne and knelt, but his eyes never left Belladonna's face, studying her with calculating intensity.
"My queen," he purred, "what others possess, I shall take for you."
The second door—marked with an endless spiral—swung open silently, releasing a wave of golden light and the rich aroma of exotic spices.
"Vasilis Orias, The Devouring Monarch."
Power wrapped in golden hunger—Vasilis emerged, broad-shouldered and imposing. His molten eyes fixed on Belladonna with an amusement that barely masked bottomless craving. Glimmering tattoos pulsed across his bare chest as he approached, each step heavy with authority.
"My hunger is your weapon," he declared, dropping to one knee beside Caius. "I devour your enemies whole."
Lightning cracked outside as the third door—carved with intertwined serpents—opened to release a cloud of sweet-scented violet mist.
"Xavian Noctis, The Silver Serpent."
Seduction manifest—Xavian glided forward, silver hair flowing like moonlight. Eyes of amethyst lingered on her as he moved with liquid grace. The air around him felt charged, heated. Unlike the others, he approached with open palms.
"My allure breaks kingdoms," he whispered, kneeling. "For you, I shall bend wills without spilling blood."
'Right. Because that's what I need. A walking romance novel with a hypnosis kink.'
The fourth door—etched with golden chains—creaked open, coins and jewels spilling out across the marble floor.
"Lucien Valehart, The Gilded Phantom."
A man of refined wickedness strode through, he had green hair and green eyes gleaming with hidden schemes. With each step, more treasures materialized in his wake—gold, gems, ancient artifacts of power. He offered Belladonna a deep bow.
"Everything of value belongs in your treasury," he said, his voice smooth as velvet. "I collect debts that cannot be paid."
The fifth door—burned and scarred with battle marks—exploded inward with a burst of crimson flames.
"Raziel Ignis, The Crimson Tyrant."
A walking inferno stormed through, scarlet hair wild as his amber eyes swept the room for threats. Muscles taut beneath battle-worn leather, he approached with the confidence of a conqueror. His bow was stiff, military.
"Your enemies are already dead," he growled. "They just don't know it yet."
The sixth door—ornate beyond measure with celestial patterns—simply dissolved into pure light.
"Darius Velmour, The Celestial Tyrant."
A monarch carved from divinity appeared, platinum hair cascading down his back in ruthless perfection. Gold eyes surveyed the chamber as if it were beneath him. His bow was graceful but measured—the gesture of an equal, not a servant.
"Your glory shall eclipse the heavens," he proclaimed. "As is your divine right."
The final door—shrouded in mist and dream-like symbols—slowly faded from view rather than opening.
"Ezra Morpheus, The Sleeping Monarch."
The unreachable dream simply materialized beside the throne, as if he'd always been there. Twilight hair and twilight blue eyes regarded Belladonna with curious detachment. His bow was a fluid, almost lazy motion.
"The realm between worlds bends to your will," he murmured, his voice like distant chimes. "What others call impossible, I make real."
The seven sovereigns formed a perfect semicircle before her throne, each radiating power that made the very air tremble. Their combined presence was overwhelming—a testament to the might now pledged to her service.
The council watched for her reaction, expecting awe, intrigue—perhaps even desire.
Belladonna simply… blinked.
A single thought passed through her mind.
Nope. I don't need them.
She exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose before looking at them with pure, unfiltered exhaustion.
"I don't need them," she said flatly. "Just send me back to Earth."
The silence was deafening.
The Demon Sovereigns—beings of unfathomable power, each worshipped as living legends—stood, stunned, as if struck by divine punishment.
One of the ancients, bearing the sigil of Wisdom, finally managed to stammer, "A-As you wish, my queen…"
He hesitated before opening the portal, murmuring, "You cannot escape what is already written."
A portal, swirling with shadows and fractured starlight, tore open before her.
Belladonna stepped forward without hesitation, sparing the dumbfounded Demon Lords a single backward glance.
"Good luck with your power struggles," she said dryly. "Not my problem."
Before stepping into the portal, she thought, 'I can't escape what is already written? Really what exactly is written? Though i hope They're not going to come after me, are they?'
And with that, she vanished into the portal—leaving behind the most powerful demons in existence completely speechless.
Vasilis blinked, his molten eyes flickering with confusion as he turned to the others. His voice, rich with disbelief, broke the stunned silence.
"Ah… did she just ignore us?"
Beside him, Darius straightened, his celestial radiance flaring slightly as his gold eyes narrowed. His jaw tensed, the weight of his own presence pressing against the chamber.
"Did I not introduce myself properly?" His voice, smooth yet laced with underlying authority, carried the sharp edge of wounded pride. "How dare she ignore me?"
Lucien let out a low chuckle, running a gloved hand through his immaculate hair. "Well, that was unexpected." A gold coin materialized between his fingers, flipping idly as his topaz eyes gleamed with amusement. "I don't think we've ever been dismissed so… casually."
Xavian exhaled a slow breath, shaking his head with something akin to admiration. "It was almost impressive," he mused, tilting his head. "A queen who resists temptation… how rare."
Raziel, arms crossed over his chest, let out a scoff. "Impressive? It was insulting." His amber eyes burned with irritation. "She didn't even acknowledge our strength. She didn't even hesitate." His fingers twitched, itching for a sword that wasn't needed.
Ezra, still half-lost in his own world, let out a quiet, dreamy sigh. "She left without fear," he murmured, voice distant. "Like a passing shadow in a dream." His twilight-blue gaze flickered toward the fading portal. "Perhaps… she will return."
Caius let out a soft chuckle, fingers brushing his jaw. "Or perhaps she'll never come back, and we'll be left wondering what kind of queen we nearly had." His emerald eyes shimmered with something unreadable—curiosity, amusement… something deeper.
Vasilis groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is absurd. We were supposed to have a queen, and instead, she—" He gestured vaguely at the empty space where the portal had been. "Just walked away. Like we were nothing."
Darius clenched his jaw, his divine aura flaring ever so slightly. "That is unacceptable." His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "I refuse to be ignored."
The council, still watching in eerie silence, exchanged glances before the one marked by Greed finally cleared his throat. "Well… that was not in the prophecy."
Another moment of silence stretched between them before Raziel growled, stepping forward. "What now?"
Lucien twirled his coin once more before smirking. "Oh, I imagine this isn't the last we'll see of our queen."
Xavian's lips curled in a knowing smile. "Agreed. A woman who so boldly rejects power? That makes her even more enticing."
Vasilis huffed, crossing his arms. "So what? We just wait for her to come crawling back?"
Ezra gave a slow, lazy blink. "She will return… or we should go find her."
Darius exhaled sharply, his celestial light dimming just slightly. "Then it's settled." His gaze swept over the gathered Sovereigns, unreadable yet firm. "Belladonna Evernight may have left… but she won't ignore us forever."