The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Mr. Barnes stared at the young man who his daughter had feelings for. He observed the man who was young and handsome. But he was a human. Though he was against the idea of his daughter marrying a human, he had agreed because the word came from the King.

But how dare he try to refuse his daughter's hand?! Mr. Barnes had seethed in anger; his pride hurt because of this lowly human. Yet, he sat there with a stoic expression, without offering a smile to James.

James waited for Mr. Barnes to speak, who already knew why Mr. Barnes was here, "It has come to my notice that you and Catherine have been spending a lot of time together. Word has also reached that my daughter is in love with you, and it is why I have planned to accept you as my son-in-law once you get married to Catherine."

James bowed his head, "My apologies, but I have already conveyed my answer about it to Miss Barnes." It was wise not to use her name to make it look like Catherine was not close to him. And he had done the same when she had come to visit him.

"I heard it," replied Mr. Barnes before saying, "I would prefer that you reconsider your answer."

"I am sorry but-"

"I did not ask for reasons, Mr. Heathcliff," interrupted Mr. Barnes, "If you have spent time with my daughter, I believe it was in the intention to marry her because you liked her. Or are you telling me that you want to defame her?" the older man's eyes narrowed looking at James.

Somewhere in the back of James mind, he knew something like this was going to happen, but he had been very clear in his intentions when it came to Lady Catherine. It was true that he had accompanied her, but he had made sure to mention about Madeline in their conversations, to let the lady know that his interest laid somewhere else and not her.

"Pardon me, Mr. Barnes. As spoken to Miss Barnes before, I was with her only as a friend and not with an intention to marry her. It would be only right for you to find another man-Argh!" James struggled when Mr. Barnes caught hold of his neck, squeezing it.

"Listen to me, you filthy little thing," threatened Mr. Barnes, "Do you think you can play around with my daughter's heart? You will marry Catherine, do you hear me?" the vampire squeezed James neck further while the human tried to get Mr. Barnes hand off of his neck.

"L-let g-" James tried to speak.

Mr. Barnes glared at James before letting go of his neck to have James gasp for air, "Do you think it is every day that people like you get to sit in my carriage? To get married into a house like mine. I heard you live with your father. He must be an old man. You would be sad if something happened to him, wouldn't you? I will give you a day more to think about it."

To think that he was getting threatened to marry someone he was not interested in, James glared at the man.

"You can leave," said Mr. Barnes.

The coachman pulled the door open for James to get down, and he did.

When Mr. Barnes returned to his mansion, he went to where his daughter was who had been in anguish since the time she had visited James Heathcliff. She had not eaten, nor did she drink blood that was served to her. She had stopped going out of the mansion and stayed inside her closed room. She was not speaking to anyone because of her broken heart.

"Catherine," Mr. Barnes called his daughter, walking to where she was seated to say, "How is my daughter doing?"

"I am okay, papa," answered Catherine, mustering up a smile on her face.

Mr. Barnes then said, "I heard from your mother that you haven't been eating well," not receiving a response to this, he said, "You don't have to be sad about what happened. I spoke to James on my way back home."

Catherine's eyes slowly moved from the ground to look at her father, "What did you speak?"

"He said he needs two days to reconsider the proposal. Do not worry, dear. Your father will not disappoint you," assured her father, "I am sure he will understand and come to know how fortunate and lucky he is, to be marrying a girl like you."

Catherine frowned, "But he doesn't want to marry me," came her upset words.

"He will come around," he patted her back, "I will see you at dinner," and he left the room.

Catherine saw her father leave the room, closing the door behind him. She finally smiled. A small laugh escaping her lips, "I know papa would not disappoint me," she said to herself. Every person needed a right approach, similar to how she had approached James time after time, to get him to accompany her while making it look like she had no one else to go out with.

Getting up, she walked towards the door and locked the room. Walking around to the other side of the bed, she bent down to pull the maid she had hidden before so that no one would notice. She had dismissed anyone who had tried to enter the room. Bending down, she placed her hand on the maid's neck,

"Looks like there's no more blood to drink," she sighed to stand up, "I am sorry, Magda. I was too hungry, but I couldn't go and eat in the kitchen or dining room. If I didn't, it would have been hard to get father to speak to James. I love him too much. I hope you understand." Catherine was unaware that it was not some stranger from the soiree but the King who had spoken about her feelings for James with her father.

When night arrived, and everyone was fast asleep, Catherine paid one of the servants who worked in her mansion to keep the matter quiet of what she did with one of the maids. Asking the servant to dig the body somewhere in the forest without anyone's knowledge.