The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: In Ordina by Tristan Eckerson

.

In the Hawthrone castle, Calhoun was returning back to his room when he caught sight of Madeline, who stood outside her room in the open corridor, looking up at the sky where the moon was visible. He walked to where she was and hearing his footsteps, she turned to look at him.

"You are back," said Madeline, seeing him stop walking when he came near her.

"Where else would I go?" Calhoun teased her, his eyes taking in her blonde hair that was let down, cascading down her shoulders, "Not able to sleep?" he asked.

Madeline was waiting for him as she had not seen him over the time of supper. She was getting used to him being around her, and if there was someone she believed who didn't want to kill her, it was Calhoun.

"You didn't return from the forest soon," Madeline responded, and her words warmed Calhoun's cold heart.

"I had to make sure your grandmother was well-rested. The last thing we need is a haunting woman," he joked to her before continuing to say, "Also something was wrong near the cave."

"The guards?" asked Madeline and saw Calhoun nod.

"Yes. The guards were found dead. All of them who were around the cave," on Calhoun's words, Madeline's eyebrows furrowed.

She said, "They were there before I entered the cave, but when I stepped out, it was like they disappeared." She hadn't realized it right away because of the werewolf that was chasing her that time, too intent to kill her.

"That is because their bodies were found far away from the cave. They are all dead," stated Calhoun and Madeline's eyebrows furrowed even further. Dead? She knew she had some abilities, but she never meant any harm to those guards, and she doubted she was the one to kill them. But what if she was? Her thoughts went to overdrive, "It isn't you," Calhoun said as if reading her thoughts and Madeline looked back at him.

"What do you think happened then?" she questioned him.

Calhoun's lips pursed, "It might be caused by someone who is trying to get to you."

"The first fallen angel?" whispered Madeline.

"There are no scratch marks on the guards, no bloodshed. It looks they are in an eternal sleep." When Calhoun said this, Madeline wondered how he was sure it was the first fallen angel because it could be anyone. He fished something in his trouser pocket, and he pulled something out. Bringing it forward, he opened his palm for her to see a lone white feather.

"A feather that belongs to the angel. Or dark angel," said Madeline. She picked up the feather to feel a jolt run down from her hands and she dropped it immediately, "The first fallen angel," she concluded.

"But if my grandparents are right, then that person should have come to me, isn't it?" questioned Madeline. Why would the first fallen angel leave her as she is, while only knocking the guards down?

"Maybe what your grandparents said was untrue. They probably didn't know the truth, and neither do your parents," answered Calhoun. He turned his body so that he could place both his hands on the edge of the railings, while he looked up at the sky, "Sometimes knowledge that has been passed down can be wrong. Incorrect with details. Because we know you were only defending yourself and the others."

"That doesn't stop me from being volatile, does it?"

"Everyone is volatile. You learn to control it in time, Madeline. I am a person who used to kill a lot of people in the past, but now the count has reduced."

"How did you control it?" asked Madeline, "I don't want to hurt people by mistake."

"You won't," came Calhoun's trusting words, "There's a difference in what you and I do, sweetheart. You kill to protect. I kill for my enjoyment. I don't think you can be worse than me."

Madeline wondered if this was Calhoun's way to cheer her up, "Back in the forest, I think James was somewhere returning to himself. That is before he left the forest."

"Hm, James," Calhoun wondered if James would ever be out of the picture. The man's name didn't bother him as much as it did in the past, but with James turning to a werewolf, things didn't look good. A werewolf's bite could be fatal, and there was no cure. Just like how the cure for a werewolf didn't exist. Except, according to what Madeline said, her grandmother had mentioned about the cure's existence.

Madeline was worried for James. He had gone through a lot for this lifetime, and all she wanted was to save him from turning to a complete werewolf and return to his human form.

"Is there no way to find and bring him back here?" she asked Calhoun.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to have posters of a werewolf called James Heathcliff be placed around the villages or towns," said Calhoun and Madeline's frown deepened, "If what you said is true, he should use his head for once and return to the castle if he's back to his human form." But even Calhoun knew how stupid humans could be. Especially people like James, they were driven by emotions.

Madeline was worried, and she bit her lower lip.

"Let's hope James will return at some point of time after he's done chasing the moon," said Calhoun. Dropping his hands from the railings, he turned to her while letting his left side lean against the railing, "How is your sister? I heard your day has been very eventful." When she gave him a look, he said, "I heard it from Theodore."

It felt like Theodore was the eyes and ears of Calhoun during the King's absence, someone who kept the King well informed on what took place in the castle.

"She's locked herself in the room. Mama asked me what happened that had got Beth upset," said Madeline, her eyes moving to look at the garden that was built inside the King's quarters.

"Did you tell her that your sister was acting like a spoilt little girl throwing tantrums?"

"I told mother to give Beth some time alone so that she can gather herself. I don't know if I was too harsh, but she was testing my patience, and I couldn't resist," Madeline's hand turned to fists.

"You know I can still talk to her," Calhoun let Madeline know that his offer still stood, "One sentence and it will bring her back to the way you want."

With furrowed eyebrows, she asked, "And what is that?"

"Death sentence," came the casual words from him. Madeline was not happy with Beth's behaviour and attitude, but that didn't mean she despised her sister enough that she wished for her death, "You will be quite surprised to see the effect of those words have on people. They make a complete turn of character."

"She will be traumatized," Madeline shook her head. Her grandparents and parents had done enough when it came to manipulating Beth. Madeline didn't want to be like her family.

"Let's see how effective your words and action was towards her," Calhoun hummed. If they weren't sufficient, he would be more than willing to show Beth the way to death so that she could start redeeming herself. His hand went to hold hers when he felt the static and Madeline quickly pulled back her hand from him, "Don't be scared, my love. Give me your hand so that I can hold while I also see what happens." He stretched his hand forward, waiting for her.

The last time when she had felt the static on her fingertips, it had left a cut on Beth's hand. She looked into Calhoun's eyes who didn't look fazed by the static or of the possibility of her hurting him.

Calhoun raised his eyebrows at her, "So scared at the thought of hurting me?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice, "I won't let go. I promise."

Taking a deep breath, Madeline apprehensively placed her hand on Calhoun's hand to feel the static and heat. The last time Calhoun had caught hold of her hand, it had bled, something she was not used to looking at.

"Your skin is burning," Madeline frowned.

"I am too hot," Calhoun ran his tongue over his fang, "See. It isn't bad. Let's see if you can hurt me. Let's go from here."

Without another word, his wings sprouted from his back, and they left the castle.