The Crown's Obsession

When Catherine heard about James visiting her, her joy knew no boundaries. She was ecstatic that he had finally returned to her and all her worries had been swept away. Getting ready and making sure she looked pretty, she walked out of her room to meet James in the parlour room where he was waiting for her.

"James!" Catherine exclaimed, dropping the honorifics, "I am so glad to see you here! I have been worried!" James stood up, something he was used to doing as a sign of respect which was when Catherine put her hands around him. But he didn't put his hands around Catherine, not making an effort to hug her.

"I told papa to speak to the King to ask him to clear your name. I knew it wasn't you, and you couldn't have done it!" Catherine had pulled away from James, taking a step back while a hint of blush covered her cheeks, "Forgive me for my forwardness. I wasn't able to contain myself when I saw you."

The vampiress looked at James, making sure he was alright and he indeed was alright. He appeared to be in a good condition, "Where were you all this time? I thought you would come here," said Catherine, a frown appeared on her beautiful face.

James stared at Catherine's innocent face, doubting if what the King said was true. That it was Catherine, who had killed the girl. The way she spoke right now in concern, it was hard to believe how far it was true. But then the King had nothing to gain when it came to his relationship with Catherine. Instead, it would be a loss to the King for jeopardizing their relationship.

From the time, James had first met Catherine she had always been this sweet innocent vampiress who was shy and didn't know how to act around. Sometimes she would turn embarrassed after speaking her mind out.

"I was running away from here," answered James, his voice almost bland and lifeless, "With the blame of the murder on my head, I thought it would be better for me to hide than be caught for something I didn't do. Also, I was mourning for my father's death."

Catherine quickly placed her hand on his, "I am so sorry to hear about your father. I should have been there with you. I am so sorry."

James glanced at the hand that was on his, "I wish I could have spent more time with him."

"I wished that too," said Catherine, a sigh escaping her lips, "I was hoping he would come to live with us. It is truly unfortunate that he isn't here anymore. I already have started to miss him."

James nodded his head, "It is unfortunate. Did you go to visit him?" he asked out of the blue and Catherine looked slightly startled by his question, "To his grave I mean."

Catherine didn't know if she should lie or not because since James' father had passed away, she had not bothered to know where the older man was buried. She had focussed her time on trying to bug her father to find out where James was. She had been angry at the possibility of James leaving Devon and moving to another land. But now that he was here, all her worries had disappeared.

She shook her head, "I didn't. I haven't left home since you disappeared and I have been worried about you," she answered him, "I would love to accompany you if you are going to visit him."

"I am planning to visit him tomorrow evening. Will you be able to come with me?" asked James, and Catherine's face brightened up. Not because she was visiting the grave, but because she would be spending time with James.

"I will be there," she replied before reminding him, "I knew that you would return to me. I hoped you would, therefore, I didn't cancel our wedding." Catherine was glad that James was here, that would mean they would be getting married in three days. She saw James stare at her, and she wondered what he was thinking. "Is everything alright?"

James gave her a nod, offering her a smile, "I was thinking about Miss Layla. It was an unfortunate incident. Her death, I mean. She was a very kind lady, someone who was very polite."

The worry that was on Catherine's face disappeared, "Yes, she was a good person," she agreed, not forgetting the last words of the girl, of how James liked Madeline.

"She was a dear friend of yours, wasn't she? You must have been very upset after finding her head torn. Did you not get angry at me when you heard the news?" asked James testingly.

Catherine shook her head, "I knew it couldn't be you. You are not like that James."

James stood up, "I should get going," he said, but Catherine was not done with admiring James. She had missed him immensely, and she said,

"Please stay a little longer!"

James stepped closer to her, placing his hand on her cheek, "I don't think your father will appreciate my presence here for too long."

"Daddy would never say that. You don't have to w-" James placed his hand on Catherine's mouth.

He didn't say anything but dropped his hand away from her face. Catherine looked entranced by James's presence. He was the man whom she loved and wanted to have. Suddenly, he flinched, and Catherine asked,

"What happened? Did something happen?"

Not understanding what was happening, he felt his bones were breaking again and trying to reform. He could feel the change taking place and the pain shot up through his entire body. He had come here for something but feeling his body changing, he decided to keep it for tomorrow.

He gasped for air, "I think I need to leave," he said, stepping away and making his way back home. The last thing he needed was turning to a werewolf in front of people which could bring him harm.

Back in the castle as the time of supper approached and passed by in silence where people retired back to their rooms with little to no words to exchange with each other, Lucy went to her room to lay down on the cold empty bed. With Samuel gone, where she had informed him that they were no more husband and wife. She wondered if it would work, or how people would perceive her.

But she had done what she had to do.

The first time she had met Samuel, he was not her ideal man. Not because he didn't treat her right in the beginning, but because she had someone else in her heart. Samuel had appeared to be head over heels for her, and now it made her smile in sadness. How could her mother get her married to someone like him? Would her mother have approved of her decision now if she was still alive? The answer to it was no.

'What is wrong with Samuel Greville?' she heard her mother's voice echo from her part, 'He is the perfect man for you, Lucy. He is smart, successful and will look after you well.'

'I am not a pet to be looked af-" SLAP!

'Is this the way you speak to your mother? You will do as I say.'

Lucy turned in her bed, remembering the wounds that had formed on both Samuel and Theodore's face this noon. A few seconds later, she got up from her bed, picking up the lantern that was burning in her room and a box from her cupboard. She then stepped out of her room.

Walking in the quiet corridors of the castle as most of the people had gone to sleep. Reaching the door, she stopped in front of it. Her hands raised itself, but she didn't know if she should knock or leave. She had come here out of spur of thought.

When Samuel had questioned her, she had mentioned Theodore's name out of anger she felt towards the man. But here she was, standing in front of his room. Dropping her hand, she decided to go back to her room, turning away when she heard the door open.

Lucy cursed under her breath. She had stood there too long, doing nothing.

She slowly turned to see Theodore who was in his nightclothes, the bruises still there on his face. Theodore caught sight of the box in her hand and asked,

"Want to come in?"