The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Julia by Reeder

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"Wow," said Lucy, listening to what Calhoun said about his visit to Hell. She looked in awe as well as in shock, "I would have never thought that a place like Hell exists."

"If Heaven exists so does Hell," said Theodore who stood against the wall while Calhoun and Lucy were sitting down and speaking. When Calhoun looked at him, Theodore pushed his glasses up his nose.

"I thought you were going to acquire the signatures from Duke Arlington," Calhoun gave a pointed look at Theodore who bowed his head.

"The ministers were still working on the drafts when I last checked," replied Theodore.

"They finished it before the gathering was complete. I have put my seal on the papers so that you can fasten the process," stated Calhoun. He noticed the way Theodore looked reluctant to leave the room. It made his lips twist into a smile, but he hid it, keeping his facial expression to be passive. It seemed like Theodore was guarding Lucy's room like a hawk in the thought that someone would come and steal her away. It didn't need a genius to know that, that someone was his cousin Ethan. "Go on," he nudged Theodore through his words, who couldn't refuse but bow his head.

Calhoun noticed the little glance that Theodore passed at Lucy before he left the room. Lucy stared at Theodore's back, a look of longing filling her eyes, and it vanished quickly when Calhoun turned back to look at her.

"What?" asked Lucy with an innocent expression on her face.

Calhoun lightly rolled his eyes, "I never said anything," he shrugged his shoulders. "I spoke to the physician, and he said you should drink only fresh blood. It will help in recovering your lost strength much more quickly."

Lucy pursed her lips, and she then smiled, "I am all better now. My wounds are all healed too."

"So I have heard, but it would be better if you follow what the physician prescribed," replied Calhoun. His hand reached out for the jug of blood that was placed on the table to refill Lucy's glass. "He is someone who specializes with the injuries received by demons." And he raised the jug to take a sip from it, and said, "Stale already."

The vampiress smiled further at Calhoun's words and gesture.

There was a time in the past when Calhoun walked past her as if she didn't exist, but then he behaved like that with everyone. People were automatically ignored by him. In the past, after speaking his mind out, he often breezed from there, that ended up with her grandmother or mother having their blood pressure increase in anger and annoyance.

Lucy couldn't help but think how time had changed. If someone had questioned her about Calhoun in the past, she would have never believed that he and she would be sitting in the room with him worrying about her health.

"You can have my rabbits until you feel better," offered Calhoun and Lucy blinked twice.

"I am fine, brother Calhoun. Do you think Mr. Vladimir will show up in the castle soon?" questioned Lucy, slightly worried.

"Hopefully not, I see the damn Salvette Mortem lurking in and around the castle. At this rate, I might as well make it clean the floors and dust the walls, so that I make use of its extra presence in the castle," murmured Calhoun, and this had Lucy chuckle.

Lucy wasn't able to see the creature before, but after she had died and returned to life thanks to Madeline's healing abilities, she couldn't unsee the creature of death. She had come across it yesterday, and oddly, it didn't scare her. Instead, she found it interesting and had gone following it last night until it finally disappeared from her sight.

Calhoun reminded himself to let Madeline run her spells and try to put an invisible wall to prevent demons and angels, but then who knew how reliable Paschar's book was, he thought to himself.

When Lucy placed her hand on his hand, she said, "Thank you, brother Calhoun. If it weren't for you, I doubt I would be standing here where I am today. If you didn't exist, my life would have turned worse than any place in Hell."

Calhoun gave her a nod, and before they could exchange any more words, both Calhoun and Lucy's ears picked on the footsteps that approached the door, and their cousin Ethan appeared.

"My King," bowed Ethan and then at Lucy.

"Well, I am glad that you are here, Ethan. I am sure you wouldn't mind giving my sister company," stated Calhoun, getting up from the chair.

Without a second of hesitation Ethan bowed his head, "Of course, milord. It would be my pleasure."

Calhoun smiled brightly at Ethan and he then turned to Lucy. "I will see you at dinner," Lucy offered her respect to Calhoun by bowing her head. He stepped out of the room with the smile still stuck on his face. It seemed like some people in the castle needed a push and Ethan seemed to be the right kind of push one required.

He made his way to the gallery where he had stacked some of his mother's books. Reaching the place, he opened the cupboard and pulled the parchments that had drawings and wordings written in there. His mother was not a full-fledged demon like him or her father Vladimir, but she still had taken a keen interest in the demon world.

Madeline saw Beth off to her room, where Beth had decided to pack her clothes and other belongings. She had left her sister's room with a heavy heart and went in search of Calhoun. Though Madeline wanted Beth to be safe and happy, where no harm would come to befall on her, she also had to do the right thing for her sister.

None of them knew what Vladimir or the angels had in their minds. But if there was one thing she was sure about, it was that neither would harm her or the people whom she cared for directly.

The angels were supposed to be fair and not hurt anyone in the living world unless the person turned to a direct threat. And the Devil, he was Calhoun's grandfather. Anything that would upset Madeline would upset Calhoun, and he wouldn't be happy about it.

'At first, I thought I would go to the North, but I don't think how good of an idea it is when I have demon blood now running in my veins,' said Beth to Madeline, back in the guest room. 'I need some time for myself, and maybe before I leave, I will see mama and papa.'

'Are you sure about it?' asked Madeline, and Beth nodded her head.

'I think so…' Beth had then smiled, 'The moment I reach there, I will write to you and let you know that I am safe.'

After recollecting their conversations, Madeline believed it was probably for the best. As much as she loved and cared for Beth, it wasn't safe for Beth to be more involved in what was going around her.

Searching for Calhoun through the castle, she found him in the gallery room, standing there with parchments that were spread on the table with candles lit brightly on the stand.