The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Sous La Surface by Pontiver Bogross

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Madeline was startled by this sudden contact, and she was about to move away when she heard some gurgling sound coming from the man. Not knowing what was going on, she quickly moved away, stumbling behind towards the wall. She heard James say something that she quite didn't catch.

She felt her blood turn cold, noticing something was wrong with James. His skin started to shed and it looked nothing less to sunburns. He appeared to be in pain as his body hurled on the floor. He was growling, a growl which was similar to a feral growl.

The next time when James and her eyes met, his eyes had changed its colour to gold and yellow. Something was happening to his body and Madeline didn't know what because James's appearance had started to change.

At the same time, Madeline heard voices coming from the other side of the dungeon from where she had entered.

Madeline's eyes turned wide, watching James slowly start to transform from a human to look like an oversized wolf. But this was not how wolves normally looked, not at least how Madox looked. Before she could spend more time thinking and trying to wrap her head around on what was happening, she saw the creature move. She quickly stepped out of the room before it could catch hold of her.

Looking back and forth, she quickly closed the door, her hands shaking as she locked the room. Madeline then ran to find another room to hide in. The footsteps of the guards got louder, and they walked past the room she was in.

Madeline placed her hand on her chest, wanting it to stop beating so loudly. It felt like at any moment it would jump out of her throat.

"Did you hear that sound?" asked one of the guards who had come to check the inside of the dungeon after hearing the loud growls.

"I will check here. You go there," ordered another guard.

What did she just see?! What was happening to James? So many questions were running in her mind, and she could barely keep her head straight. While she hid there, Madeline took note of a folded parchment which was on the ground near her. Bending down, she picked it up and opened the letter to read what was inside it.

'Sir Wilmot,

I have spread the word to the lady and others. The rumour has already leaked about the girl trying to commit suicide, and people are questioning the King's action and behaviour. I have heard that someone has even gone to put in a word to Lady Petronelle. This will bring in more light on the King's rule. I still have a day more before I will be going back to the castle. I will find you more information. Your servant.'

Wilmot?

Madeline didn't get time to dwell too much on the letter as she had to step out of this cell and out of the dungeon. Putting the note in her pocket, she pushed and peered through the gap of the door. She noticed the guards had walked further and into other rooms to check. Grabbing this opportunity, she opened the door and quickly darted towards the exit of the dungeon.

Making her way out, Madeline didn't dawdle around the dungeon, and her feet traced back in the way she had come here. Madeline's eyebrows deepened by thinking what was going on with James. For a moment, she didn't know if she had fallen asleep, and if she was sleepwalking in her dream. James was a human. She knew the man.

What happened to him?!

Turning around in the direction she had come, she looked at the dungeon which she could still see from where she was. She placed her hand on her forehead and huffed for air before running her hand through her hair.

Madeline could feel her heart beating loudly, and she took ten seconds to breath in and out, calming herself before she reached the King's quarters. Removing her shoes and holding it in her hands, she padded on the marble floor.

On her way, she took a glimpse at Calhoun's room to see the lights were not lit. It seemed that he had not returned yet. She had taken as little time as possible during her visit to the dungeon.

Entering her room, Madeline turned and closed the doors.

Madeline tried to adjust her eyes to the lighting as the candles had been blown out. The little light continued to come from the fireplace, and she started to move towards the dressing table when she heard,

"Your bed is cold," spoke a voice in the room that had her eyes go wide in fear. Nervously, she turned around, gulping softly to see a shadow on her bed as if someone laid down there. The man who had been lying down sat up emerging out from the shadows where he had been waiting for her.

Calhoun was here.

Madeline felt a nervous chill run down the back of her spine, seeing the shadow move. It was from the same place where she had placed pillows earlier.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to even her voice when Calhoun's feet touched the ground and he pushed himself up to start walking towards her. His handsome features looked darker than usual because of the lack of light in the room.

"I came to meet you," Calhoun tilted his head, "Where did you go?"

"I went out for a walk," came the quick reply that had him smile, a smile that scared Madeline.

Madeline took a step back when he came close to her. But that didn't stop him from cornering her, and her back hit the wall behind her. She told herself not to be scared. She hadn't done anything wrong by going to the dungeon. Would he consider her taking a stroll in the night as a lie?

Calhoun raised his hand towards her face, and she closed her eyes, scared. She shuddered when his fingers trail down from her temple and her jaw and neck. Her blonde hair had been let down because of the pin she had used to pick on the lock.

"In the middle of the night?" Calhoun's voice lacked surprise, and this made Madeline worry that he knew.