The cold stone walls of the abandoned castle echoed with the rhythm of Pandora’s footsteps as she walked through the empty halls. A faint trail of smoke rose from the end of her long, pitch-black cloak, the soft glow of infernal light swirling around her fingers like an elegant dance. Pandora’s blood was thick with darkness—an inheritance she couldn’t escape. She was the daughter of Lucifer Morningstar, and the weight of his legacy had burdened her from the day she was born.

The castle had once been a place of grandeur, filled with infernal lords and ladies. Now, it was just an empty shell, its halls deserted, save for the occasional whisper of wind that slipped through the broken windows. Still, the air here thrummed with power—Pandora could feel it, a pulsing reminder of her birthright, one that called to her like a siren song.

She made her way to the grand chamber where her father and his most trusted ally, Madame Satan, often convened. As Pandora entered, she found her father sitting upon his dark throne, his molten eyes studying her with that eternal, calculating gaze. Lucifer Morningstar never seemed to age—his black wings folded neatly behind him, and his form was as imposing as ever. His presence was enough to bend reality itself.

“Pandora,” he spoke her name with an unsettling softness. “What is it that brings you here today?”

Pandora hesitated, a fleeting wave of doubt flickering across her usually cold expression. She had inherited much from him, but not all. Unlike her father, who was ruthless and terrifying, Pandora found herself constantly torn between the power she craved and the gnawing emptiness that seemed to haunt her at every turn. But she could never show weakness—not to him. She had learned that lesson well.

“I have heard that Mal is leaving for Auradon,” Pandora replied, her voice smooth and calculated, though a twinge of bitterness tinged the words. “A power vacuum has been created.”

Lucifer’s eyes narrowed, his interest piqued. “And what do you plan to do with it?”

Pandora’s lips curled into a smile—cold, calculating, and yet there was something else beneath the surface, something darker, more desperate. “I intend to fill it. I believe I can form an alliance with Uma. Together, we could seize control of the Isle of the Lost, leaving the others scrambling for power.”

Lucifer regarded her for a moment, as though weighing her words. “Uma, hm? A cunning choice. But you will need more than a pirate queen to take control. You need someone who understands the true nature of power.” His voice dropped an octave, and Pandora could feel the weight of his words as they landed in the air. “Are you certain you’re ready for what that entails, my daughter?”

Pandora straightened, meeting her father’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “I am ready. I will not be a shadow to anyone, not even to you, Father. I will carve my own path, and no one—no one—will stand in my way.”

Madame Satan, who had been sitting in the corner of the room, rose from her chair. Her presence was always unsettling, her beauty wrapped in darkness and seduction. “Lucifer,” she said, her voice silky as it slithered through the air. “You cannot expect Pandora to remain beneath your wing forever. She is her own creature now. She’ll do what she must to ensure her reign.”

Lucifer turned his molten gaze on her, but Pandora could feel the unspoken tension between the two. Madame Satan had always been a constant presence, a temptation wrapped in mystery. Pandora had often wondered if her mother’s allegiance was ever truly to Lucifer, or if she simply played her part for her own selfish gain.

Pandora took a breath, suppressing the tightness in her chest as she glanced toward her mother. “I don’t need your approval, either of you. I’ve already decided.”

Her father remained silent, but his expression softened, just slightly. It was a rare moment of something close to approval, and Pandora savored it. “You may not need us, Pandora, but do not forget who you are. The blood that flows through your veins is more than just power—it is domination. You cannot simply hope to control the Isle. You must crush any who oppose you, and that includes Uma.”

Pandora’s thoughts sharpened. She had no illusions about Uma—she knew the pirate queen would never bow to anyone, especially not a daughter of Lucifer. But that didn’t matter. Pandora was prepared to twist the world around her, to manipulate Uma and anyone else who got in her way.

“If Uma is too much of a challenge,” Pandora said, “then I’ll break her.”

Lucifer’s smile was slow and knowing. “Good. That is the mindset of a ruler.”

Madame Satan tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “You should remember that power comes with its own price, Pandora. Sometimes, the cost is more than you’re willing to pay.”

Pandora turned sharply toward her mother, her eyes narrowing. “I know what I’m doing, Mother. You don’t need to remind me of the cost.”

A strained silence fell over the room before Lucifer spoke again, his voice low and commanding. “What is it you truly desire, Pandora?”

Pandora hesitated, the question sinking deeper than she wanted to admit. She didn’t want to answer it—she knew the truth, but it was something she had buried beneath layers of ambition and control. She longed for power, yes, but more than that, she longed to be seen, to be respected, to step out from the shadow of her father and create something of her own.

“I want to rule,” Pandora replied, her voice steady. “And I will. No one will ever ignore me again.”

Lucifer’s expression softened, as though he was proud. “Then go, my daughter. Show the world who you are.”

Pandora gave him a curt nod, her heart racing with the weight of her decision. She turned to leave, but before she did, she glanced back at Madame Satan, her gaze cold. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll handle things my way. The Isle will be mine.”

Madame Satan’s lips curled into a smirk. “We shall see, Pandora. We shall see.”

As Pandora stepped out into the bleak light of the Moors, she felt the weight of her decision settle around her. There was no turning back now. She had chosen her path, and there would be no room for failure.

She would align herself with Uma, take control of the Isle, and no one—not even her father—could stand in her way.