Queen

The chatter in the room became silent as I walked in and I bowed slightly. The crowd did the same in return and they made space as I walked past them to the throne. I noticed the group of district leaders standing near it talking with Dimitri and I walked towards them.

"There's our star of the night," Cain joked. He became the head of the human district in Hell and he took his position quite...seriously. I approached him and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

"We were speaking about the rise of humans in hell," Dimitri said. "Heaven has set some restrictions that a lot of humans on Earth aren't able to surpass. So they're being dumped here."

I sighed in frustration. Heaven always seemed to make my job a lot harder these days. Since the pandemic hit Earth, the upper world had been hands-off. Most likely because they didn't want to deal with the sudden surge of souls.

When I noticed all the beings being denied access to Heaven I created a new one. It was a realm adjacent to Hell that mirrored Earth. A sort of paradise for those good people turned away from Heaven. I saw no better name for the haven besides Xavia.

"Has anyone spoken to Heaven's rulers?" Hades, leader of the demon fraction asked. "They should provide some help since this is their doing."

"I tried to reach out but Felix and Xyla seem more concerned with public image than realm issues," Cain said dryly.

My blood boiled at the mention of their names but I held back my rage. I had larger plans for them in the long run but for that to work, I needed them to be comfortable. Once an overwhelming sense of security enveloped them, hell would strike.

"Xavia still has plenty of space for now," I spoke up. "If there is a need for expansion then I'll handle it."

My eyes met with Hades and he shot me a charming smile. "Dance with me. I'd like to speak to you in private, my Queen."

"Your Queen?" Dimitri asked sweetly with a threatening undertone.

I shot him a warning look and took Hades' outstretched hand. The eyes in the room fell on us as he led me to the middle of the ballroom. He wrapped an arm around my waist and I laid a hand on his shoulder. He moved his lips to my ear and chuckled softly.

"He still doesn't know I'm gay, does he?" He asked.

I looked back to see Dimitri trying to converse with a group of Underworlders but keeping his eyes on us. "You don't really make it that obvious, Hades."

He spun me around and pulled me to him. "Do I need to make out with him or something?"

I laughed and shook my head. "No, but something that would help is if you were to stop flirting with me, right?"

"I'm sure it would help. But I don't like him so this is fun," he said.

"Mhmm. What did you need to talk to me about?" I asked.

"I need you to cut back on the vampire district funds this month," he said quickly. My eyes widened and I looked up at him. "Before you say anything, hear me out. I'm aware vampires need it for blood and daylight spells but us demons are a big part of what keeps things running around here."

"I'm listening," I said.

He dipped me and smiled once again. "I know your boyfriend won't support this but I have plans that I believe you would be interested in."

"What plans?" I asked.

"Give me an appointment," he said smugly. I scoffed at him and looked around. I never meant to make myself too inaccessible but I was a seriously busy woman these days. Mia, who was now my assistant had only recently been able to organize my schedule. "I understand your time is incredibly precious, your highness."

"Then you understand why I won't be able to meet you," I added.

"Even if it will aid in taking over Jeradua and Heaven." My ears perked up at his words and I looked back up at him. "Give me a meeting."

"Fine," I gave in. "Friday at 2:15. My meeting after ours is 2:20 so be prepared and be quick."

The song ended and he pulled away from me and bowed. "Thank you, Queen."

I gave him a small smile and he retreated to the side of the room where his companions were. The music suddenly died down and our attention was turned to the throne where Dimitri was clicking his glass with a fork.

"May I have your attention please," he yelled. Everyone including me looked at him curiously and he grinned down at us all. "Queen, if you could come up here I'd like that."

Everyone's eyes shifted to me and I nervously maneuvered through the large crowd to him. He took my hand and helped me up the steps and turned me to face him.

"These past few months with you have been amazing and I never thought I could be so in love with someone," he said sweetly.

A loud aww echoed through the crowd and his blue eyes momentarily moved away from mine to them. He shook his head and looked back at me again. "I know it's probably soon but I can't help it."

He let go of my hand and dropped down onto his knee and my eyes widened. "Queen, you are my everything. I want to wake up and see that beautiful face of yours every day for the rest of eternity. My happiest, most remarkable moments are in your presence..."

His voice faded away and a smile appeared on my lips. My smile wasn't for him though. It was for the man that was in his position previously. My eyes watered as I remembered Syn stumbling over his words and looking to Xavier for guidance. Dimitri must've thought the tears were for him because he immediately stood up and wiped my cheek.

"I didn't mean to make you cry, baby," he said sweetly with shock sounding in his voice. I wasn't truly surprised that he along with people in the room were stunned by my tears. It's been a long time since I cried. At least in public like this. But I couldn't help it when I thought of Syn.

Dimitri smiled down at me and held up the ring I had just noticed. "Say yes?" I guess I was too occupied with my thoughts to notice he had proposed. I didn't truly know what to say. How could I explain that I was still in love with a ghost?

"I-,"

Before I could give him a response a loud bang erupted from outside and the lights in the palace began flickering. I screamed and fell to the floor as I felt every bone in my body split into tiny fractures piercing my skin.

The floor began rumbling and guests fell to the floor as their screams filled the palace. The ear rupturing sounds of paintings and chandeliers crashing to the ground did nothing to subdue the chaos. The room lights completely shut off and we were all blinded by darkness. The first thing that came to my mind was an attack by Heaven but we would've known if they infiltrated our territory.

My body remained in pain and my healing didn't seem to be working. A bright red light began filling the room and audible gasps escaped the guests. The light returned to the room but when I turned to the crowd, their eyes were on me.

"What?" I said with a grimace as I attempted to sit up.

"Your necklace," Dimitri said as he pointed to my chest. "It's glowing."

I looked down at it and it was indeed a bright red that hadn't occurred since Syn died. As the glow remained, I felt myself getting weaker than I had in years.

My eyes began to flutter and Dimitri along with Xavier and Cain ran to my side. "Queen!" Dimitri yelled as he shook me. I couldn't bring myself to pay attention to his words and I looked up at the ceiling.

"Move!" I heard Bezy, my personal demon yell. His loud giant footsteps thundered as he ran towards me and lifted me from the ground. He was an abandoned demon in hell for some time. Always ostracized for his large ogre-like frame and "cyclops" features. I took him in and he became one of my most loyal guards.

"You be okay, my Queen," he said in his drawled-out voice. I relaxed in his hold as he carried me down the steps. As I drifted away, I heard the dinging of several phones and confused chatter spread across the room.

"The news says it was a meteor!"

"A meteor in Hell?"

"I thought it was an earthquake!"

꧁꧂

I woke up confused and disoriented in my bed. My head throbbed as I sat up and looked around. My eyes landed on Bezy guarding my door and facing my room like some sort of statue.

"What happened?" I asked in confusion.

"You sleep," he said.

"I know that but before I slept what happened? A meteor?"

"News say meteor."

"That's what it was?" I asked. "A meteor has never hit hell."

"It not meteor," he said.

"What is it then?" I asked slowly.

"I call guard tell you. Me not want to see Queen cry," he said as he turned to the door.

"Why would I..."

He pinched his large fingers together to twist open the doorknob before I could finish my question. I was partly thankful for his insistence on bringing someone else in. He was a sweetheart but I could hardly understand him sometimes.

"Jack!" He yelled down the hall. I flinched as his voice echoed down the hall before I heard rushed footsteps.

"Yes?" Jack asked as he walked swiftly into my room. He was one of my guards but he was more specialized in torturing souls in the pit. Which is why I didn't understand why he was in the palace.

"What's going on?" I asked as I stood up.

"Well we have a problem," he said.

"The meteor?" I asked.

Bezy covered his ears and shook his head. "Oh no!" He ran out of the room and I looked at his retreating figure in bewilderment. Jack rubbed the back of his neck and gave me a sympathetic look.

"What is it?" I asked more sternly.

"Let's speak about your health first, my Queen," he urged.

I sighed in defeat and shrugged. "I feel perfectly fine."

"But what happened to you is important. Your bones cracked in the middle of a ballroom and nothing touched you," he said slowly.

"I don't know what happened Jack," I replied. "Can we talk about the meteor now? That's more important."

"It's another clone."

"Excuse me?" I asked as my heart splintered.

"The supposed 'meteor'. It was a clone of Mr. SinClaire again," he said.

I fell weakly to my bed and looked down at the floor. I didn't understand Heaven's fascination with torturing me. They already took everything away from me now they do this. The first time a clone of Syn came, I fell for it and it broke my heart all over again. I was smarter when the others came but it still hurt to see them.

I didn't notice I was crying until my tears rolled down my face. I quickly wiped them and took a deep breath and looked at Jack. "Where is it?"

"We captured it and trapped it in a torture chamber in Hell. What would you like us to do with it? Maybe you'd like to speak with-"

"No," I said quickly. "I don't want to see it. Just get information on why it's here and get rid of it."

"And if it won't speak to us?" He questioned. I looked up at him and he eyed me before giving me a knowing nod. "I'll make it speak."

I didn't doubt that he would. He was one of the best at what he did. I'd say he was almost better than Xavier. I would have gotten Xavier to do it but I'm afraid it would be too emotional for him.

"Okay," I said in a whispered tone.

"What do you want me to do if it still refuses after all my techniques?"

I sighed. "If all else fails, call me."

꧁꧂

Author's Note
💀The way I would've run out of the ball and towards that "meteor"💀

So umm, we know that whole crash thingy was Syn 😏. But Queen thinks it's a clone, and he's about to be tortured or killed? Oop Ig we'll see.

Why do you think her bones broke as soon as the "meteor" hit?👀

This was only the preview still lol. Regular uploads shall begin on the aforementioned date of May 28, 2021. Stay tuned babes❤️.

Also, since this will be a long wait for some of us...maybe we can keep one another company😌.
If you're interested in joining an Instagram GC with us where we can talk about whatever or even the book, drop ur username and I'll make it❤️: