The Crown's Obsession (WN)

"Are you happy now?" gritted Morganna as Vladimir had not just bent but broken her pride.

"Not yet," replied Vladimir. "The same people whom you had manipulated in the past have now been manipulated against you. Let's see," and the Devil looked at the crowd, "Your rightful King Calhoun Hawthrone would be pleased to leave justice in your hands. I leave them at your mercy!"

"W-what?" Laurence asked, shocked, "Y-you said you would lower my punishment!"

Vladimir offered the vampire a smile, "When you were born, your mother must have dropped you. Enjoy your time with them," and he started to leave from the place while leaving the two sinners with the crowd, who had turned wild in anger. Shouting and cursing the two of them before they picked up weapons and stones to beat them up. As Vladimir walked away, he could hear the mother and the son screaming and shouting for help, before it turned to painful cries. Their sins were so deep that they would return to Hell if they died in here, and he would keep another session until he was satisfied.

Before Vladimir could leave the place, he caught sight of someone who seemed very fond of him. Not disappearing or detouring, the Devil continued to walk towards the blonde man with blue eyes.

"What do you think you are doing?" asked the angel.

"I didn't know we were meeting here, Michael," stated Vladimir, the maddening smile returned on his lips.

Michael had a displeased look on his face, "This is not Hell that you involve yourself in things that don't concern you by using people."

"And how do you know it isn't of my concern?" Vladimir raised a single eyebrow. "And it is quite rich coming from the person who kept a relationship with a demoness of this world before breaking it off."

Michael's eyes narrowed, "I did it not because I wanted to initiate a relationship with the woman. It was because I had to make sure that I got to the dark angel first."

Vladimir rolled his eyes, "Of course, what is a few heartbreaks, isn't it? What are you doing here? I don't like being followed, and it makes me uncomfortable."

The angel glared holes into Vladimir's back as the Devil had walked forward and then turned around. The commotion continued in the central market place where Vladimir had left Laurence and Morganna.

Seeing Vladimir ready to disappear from here, Michael said, "Wait! I have come here with a proposal, and you might find it to your liking."

"And what is that?"

"The offer is straightforward, but you need to agree to it. You don't understand the severity of what the dark angel is capable of-"

"Yet you left her by herself until now. Is it because she received her wings back again, and you have confirmed things won't go according to what you all thought?" questioned Vladimir.

Michael gritted his teeth. Every time the angel hoped that the Devil's heart would change that it would return to the way it was in the past. But every time they met, Lucifer's behaviour only worsened. Once upon a time, the Devil was his close confidant, but he had now turned to an eternal enemy.

"Right now the dark angel is only sending people to Heaven and Hell, but the time is not too far when Madeline will kill your very own grandson. And she will send him to a place where nothing exists. He will completely disappear. Is that what you want?" asked Michael. "You should know that we angels do only things that will keep balance with the living and the immortal world."

Vladimir stared at Michael, "Speak directly instead of going in circles."

Michael's eyes moved around the place to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation, and he said, "Madeline's power will only increase as time goes. She is already near to surpassing her father's abilities. And given Paschar's wings and abilities have been reduced in the name of punishment, but it is still a lot in this world. I overheard about what that man said," he jerked his head towards the duo whom Vladimir had brought from Hell, who now was being attacked by the people.

"So you were following me. We need to find you a new hobby," Vladimir commented, amused.

The angel didn't heed to the Devil's distraction. Michael said, "What happened to your daughter was something that should not have happened. I can give you my word that she is safe in Heaven, but there are still traces of disturbance in her mind that comes from this land as if she is not in peace with herself." This caught Vladimir's attention. "I will give your daughter back to you. In a much better condition before she entered Heaven with all her memories intact about you and your grandson. In return, you will hand over the dark angel."

A cunning smile appeared on Vladimir's face as he stared at Michael.

"What you mean to say is me getting on my grandson's bad side and give the girl to you. You and the others already know with me around, it's impossible to get to her, don't you?" smirked the Devil.

"I heard Calhoun loved his mother dearly, and I am sure he would be more than happy to have her back too," stated Michael. "Constance was your blood, your daughter. Madeline is Paschar's daughter, and he might not have been able to be the right father, but it is only right to have her back where she truly belongs. She is not your blood, Lucifer."

"Your offer is very tempting, but I will need time to think about it. Until then," and within a second, Vladimir disappeared, and Michael looked around the place, realizing the Devil had already left.

Vladimir appeared in front of a mansion that was far away from the village he had visited. The mansion was an old one that looked broken and there were no fresh plants or flowers surrounding it as they had all dried up. He made his way through the gates, appearing in front of the door, and knocked on it.

The door was half-opened by a maid, and she asked, "May I help you?" The maid had an apprehensive look on her face.

Vladimir put his best smile on his face, and he bowed his head, "I am Vladimir Lazarus and am here to meet Rosamund Wilmot."

The maid looked behind him to see no carriage or any other officials from the Hawthrone's palace. "She's-"

"I know she's here," the smile on Vladimir's lips was eerie, making the maid nervous.

Since her mistress had been banished from entering the castle or meeting anyone related to the castle. They had no visitors. The King had taken away everything that belonged to the Wilmot's, leaving them in poverty. But Mrs. Wilmot had kept her treasures somewhere in a secret place and had brought this mansion in someone else's name while living in the mansion without anyone's knowledge.

The maid opened the door, and Vladimir stepped in. "Please sit in the drawing room while I let Lady Rosamund know about your visit."