The Crown's Obsession (WN)

"Now if you didn't see what happened, this is Master's grandson. His own blood and flesh, you better pay some respect to him. I mean all respect!" corrected Odin quickly. "My apologies, Master Calhoun," Odin bowed his head.

Madeline didn't know if it was Odin's words or Calhoun's actions, but the creatures who had come to attack them quickly dispersed from there, leaving them alone. She turned to Odin and bowed her head before saying, "Mr. Odin."

MR. ODIN!

Odin felt warm in his cold non-existent heart of his chest. Nobody had ever called him with this much respect, and it made him internally cry in joy, but Odin didn't let it show up on his face. Instead, he wore a respectable face and responded,

"Yes, Lady Madeline, how can I be at your service?"

Madeline looked at Calhoun, and as if they had a conversation by their eyes, Calhoun asked, "Where is Vladimir?"

"Master? Master is taking a bath in his quarters. Would you want me to escort you there?" asked Odin with a polite smile.

"That won't be necessary. We wouldn't want to intrude his time. We were looking for Lady Madeline's sister Lady Elizabeth. We seem to have lost her," Calhoun tested the waters with Odin. Unless Vladimir had mentioned about not letting them leave Hell or about Elizabeth going to explore on her own, Odin could be of good use.

Odin nodded his head diligently, "Of course, Master Calhoun, let me see where the lady is."

By one clap of Odin's hands, a demon appeared carrying a large book in his hand. Odin took it and flipped the pages, going through the entry of the names, before pointing his hand, "Here she is! She is in the Tower of Chains," replied Odin, looking up from the registry to meet Calhoun's gaze.

"Would you be kind enough to lead us there?" asked Madeline.

"Weren't you there?" questioned Odin, wondering why they were asking about the place if they had already walked past it. He then said, "It is your first time, it must be confusing. Let me take you there." He handed the book back to the demon before waving his hand as if he was dusting something in the air.

Back in the Tower of Chains, Beth stood in front of Raphael's cell room. She looked at the iron bars, trying to see if there was a way to get him out of here. Noticing a latch outside the cell room, Beth went to reach out for it, "What are you doing?" he questioned her.

"Trying to get you out of here," said Beth. She didn't want to sacrifice an innocent person so that Raphael could come back to life. She tried to unlock the latch that made creaking sounds before she let him out of there. They could try to have another deal with Vladimir that didn't involve any innocent's life, thought Beth to herself. "I cannot leave you here like this. Not to die," she said to him.

Raphael smiled at Beth's attempts, "I never thought I would see this day where you would come to save me. Not after what happened last time," he said, and Beth frowned, wondering if he was speaking about the time when she had ignored him.

Beth said, "What are you saying? You are the reason why I am all cured now and haven't turned to a werewolf. You gave up your life for me, and it is only right that I try to save yours."

"Does that mean you are willing to give up your life now for mine?" asked Raphael, and for two seconds, Beth thought he was joking, but his face was serious.

Raphael's black eyes stared at Beth, and she softly gulped. Before she could say something, she heard a couple of footsteps echo and from the other side of the broad passage entered Madeline, Calhoun and Odin.

"Beth!" Madeline was relieved to see Beth to be fine, and she saw Raphael next to her sister. As she had seen him dead in the coffin, it felt strange seeing him here now. But then she remembered how she was in the coffin for years, yet back on her feet. "You should have told us something before disappearing like that!" scolded Madeline, giving a stare at Beth. Her feet were quick to move towards Beth, and she came to stand next to her sister.

"Lady Madeline," greeted Raphael, staring at the girl next to Beth. "It has been long since we last saw each other."

Odin had a perplexed expression on his face, and his eyes widened on seeing the door of the cell, wide open.

Madeline noticed Raphael had turned pale, but there was something odd about his appearance, which she couldn't point out. Was it because he had spent his time in Hell?

As the thought crossed Madeline's mind, she heard Calhoun call her, "Madeline! Get away from there!" and at the same time, she noticed the expression on Raphael's face change to something she had never seen before.

Calhoun didn't wait and he used his ability to push the three people away from each other, Raphael to the left side and Madeline and Beth on the right side. Madeline and Beth's crash on the ground was less impactful compared to the strength he used on Raphael. The demon went and crashed right against the opened door before falling on the cold floor.

Raphael smiled before he started to laugh loudly from where he sat. Beth looked confused on what was going on, while Madeline raised her hand, ready to strike if needed. Calhoun, on the other hand, walked near them.

"That's rude of you to throw me off," said Raphael, his gaze shifting to Calhoun. "Is that how you treat a friend?"

Calhoun's eyes held a passive look on his face, "You might be successful in fooling others, but I can see through your facade," he said, snapping his fingers for his power directed towards Raphael.

Soon Raphael's face started to morph into another person's face, "And you are no friend of mine."