The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Giverny by Remo Anzovino

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Madeline helped clean the table, while Beth helped their mother in the kitchen. Once they finished cleaning, she ensured that her mother wasn't as jittery as she was when she saw the Devil for the first time, standing in the house. Leaving her mother in Beth's company, Madeline made her way out of there and she started to climb up the stairs, making her way to the room.

Calhoun wasn't in the room, and she only assumed that he was still talking to Vladimir about the words his grandfather uttered during the time of supper. It was hard to understand the Devil because of the amount of cunningness the person possessed, his words laced and wrapped in sweet lies so that the other person would do his biddings. People forgot that the Devil that they feared was once loved. That he was an angel with all the good qualities and dear to God.

It put the question on one's mind on how an angel had tainted himself.

Hearing a rustle behind her, Madeline turned around and saw it was Calhoun who had returned to the room.

Calhoun didn't say anything, but he made his way towards her, his long legs quickly catching up to where she stood. And in one single movement, Calhoun's one hand went to curl around her waist while the other went to hold her chin.

Madeline felt Calhoun's cold lips press against hers and she closed her eyes as he kissed her tenderly, cherishing her in his arms. Madeline kissed him back with the same vigour. When they pulled back, her brown eyes lost itself in his red eyes.

"Are you okay?" asked Madeline, her hand moving up to place on both sides of his face, and she tried to look into his soul through his eyes that looked slightly lost.

"I am always wonderful around you," replied Calhoun, pushing the small baby hairs that was on the sides of her temples. "I just felt the sudden rush to see and hug you." And he took her in his arms.

"I am right here," responded Madeline, her hands going around to hold Calhoun and it made her feel as if she was holding a giant bear that was warm despite its unnerving appearance. They had been away from each other only for a few minutes, and she could feel Calhoun's longing for her through his actions. "You will always find me near you, Cal."

Calhoun hummed in response, holding her close and dear to his heart, "Like always. You are the anchor to my ship, Madeline. The light that I have been looking for in the darkness, and I don't know what I would do without you."

Madeline snuggled closer to Calhoun, "And I don't know what I would have done without you with just me alone in this world," and it was the truth. She would have been in far worse condition than she could ever imagine and maybe even dead. Their relationship had started rocky, and if she could fix things, she would try to go back in time and save both their time.

Pulling away from Calhoun, Madeline confessed her feelings for him, "I love you. Everything else before you has turned pale in comparison to what I feel for you. And I promise to stay right next to you and continue to love you."

Calhoun leaned forward and kissed Madeline's soft lips that were of the same texture as the rose petals, and when she parted her lips, he could taste the rich scent of a rose that enticed him like a bee to never leave the flower alone ever again.

Taking hold of Madeline's hand, Calhoun brought it up to his lips before kissing them as if she was the most precious thing he could ever have in his life. When he had first seen her, he had been obsessed with Madeline, wanting to have her and not wanting anyone to see what he saw. He wanted to monopolize her, and somewhere he was torn with his emotions of how this one woman had the ability to seize his heart.

But somewhere in the middle, he had learned to understand what she wanted, and he did it without letting her go. He knew if he had let Madeline go in the past, he wouldn't be who he was today, and instead, he would be consumed by utter darkness with no way to come out of it.

"I would like to apologize to you, my sweet rose," whispered Calhoun to her. Madeline had a confused expression as she didn't know what he was going to apologize about. "For hurting you in the beginning. I was crazy about you, still am, but in a more rational way."

"I do not hold a grudge over it, Cal. You don't have to feel burdened for that," Madeline traced his jaw with affection. "Whatever happened in the past, it is what has made us today. Every action that was taken and words that were spoken."

Madeline didn't know what Calhoun and Vladimir spoke when they left the dining room, that now had left Calhoun wanting to apologize to her. It wasn't that he hadn't expressed his feelings in the past, but they were usually subtle.

"I know, darling," Calhoun murmured, and before they could spend more time talking to each other, Calhoun turned his head to look at the closed door.

Vladimir walked straight into the room, a smile on his lips, "While both of you make me teary-eyed, I believe you wanted to visit Hell?"

Madeline blushed, wondering how much Vladimir had heard from her and Calhoun's conversation. The next second, Vladimir snapped his fingers, and a black portal appeared in the room.

"Do you promise to keep your word?" questioned Calhoun to the Devil so that the Devil wouldn't feign his memory being lost over what they spoke earlier.

Vladimir raised his hand, "Aye. Both of you will be able to return here whenever you want."

Calhoun was the first one to enter the portal to step into Hell while being followed by Madeline and the last to enter was the Devil.