The Crown's Obsession

Madeline was grateful that Lucy was offering to listen to her, "I am okay."

She didn't want Lucy to be worried as she knew that the vampiress had her own problems right now. Lucy was trying to keep her head up, and preparing herself for the words that would come to reach her once the news would spread about her dissolving her marriage with Samuel. Not to forget, Calhoun had broken the news to Lucy about her parents death.

She would have spoken to Lucy on how she was doing, but with her family here, she decided to bring up the matter later.

Lucy, who had no idea of what was going on with Madeline, said, "I can speak to brother Calhoun if you want," leaning closer as they walked, she said, "I know he has killed people before while drinking their blood."

Madeline stared at Lucy for the words she whispered, "I know some things, so I can help if you want." Madeline shook her head.

"That's okay, Lady Lucy," replied Madeline and Lucy didn't insist further.

"You know whom to seek if you need help, right?" and Madeline smiled. Lucy was genuinely tremendous in offering her kindness, something that even humans didn't do.

When they entered the chapel, Madeline couldn't help but remember what had happened the last time she was here with Calhoun. Her eyes darted to the pipe organ that stood at the front attached to the wall. This place still looked beautiful, light passed through the blue tinted window leaving the shadow of the window on the floor.

"It is indeed stunning," praised Aunt Mary, and Madeline's mother nodded her head in agreement.

"There's so much detail on the walls and the ceiling. The King did a good job," commended her mother.

Lucy smiled hearing the women praise, "There are a lot of other places in the castle that have been remodelled. Though most of the changes have been done at the backside of the castle, which often goes unexplored as not many pass by there," she explained, walking further inside the room, "Do you know how to play the instrument?" asked Lucy, her eyes falling on Madeline and Elizabeth.

"I know how to play it," came Beth's reply. There were some things she was extremely good at, and though she wanted to boast about it, she decided to keep her words to a minimum. She had dragged her feet earlier to have tea with the ladies as she was still not ready to face them. In the corner of her eyes, she felt people looking at her, and in the back of her mind, she could feel herself sinking in embarrassment.

"Would you like to play, Lady Elizabeth?" Lucy asked with a kind smile on her face.

After having a little stroll in the corridors with Lady Lucy, Beth was sure that the vampiress despised her. But here she was, asking her to play. Walking towards the pipe organ, she sat down on the bench before opening the lid, to look down at the black and white keys.

Beth squeezed her fingers before she started to play the keys, the music filling the room. It was a music which she had learned to play in the beginning, and Lady Lucy smiled hearing it, "I remember playing this one," said the vampiress.

Madeline looked at Beth's frame from behind, wondering if things could return to the way they were before. The relationship she had with her sister in the past was a precious one and she didn't want to lose it. There were already enough people who were hard to trust, and she didn't want Beth to be in that list. While she looked at Beth, Madeline felt her aunt's gaze on her. Not shying away, she met her aunt's eyes who offered her a smile.

Beth continued to play when she heard a voice in the room, "What a beautiful piece!" It dropped her concentration where she ended up pressing the keys haphazardly, that left a blurring sound.

"Mr. Sparrow," Lucy greeted the man, who was acquainted with Calhoun, "Were you taking a walk around here?"

"Indeed," replied Raphael, "I was walking by when I heard the sound of the pipe organ and thought to come and see who is playing." His eyes fell on the girl who sat in front of the instrument, not turning back to look at him.

Beth cursed under her breath. She felt like she was being followed by a fly that kept returning every time she thought she had shooed it away. Lady Lucy's warning had been delivered lightly, and it had left her alerted, but this man! He had poked his nose, and after he had left, she had burst into tears.

"Who is this?" asked Aunt Mary to Mrs. Harris, looking at the shabby man in the room.

Madeline was the one to introduce him, "This is Raphael Sparrow. He is a close acquaintance of the King." Raphael bowed his head, and so did Aunt Mary, her eyes on the man who looked out of place. Not because of his clothes, but there was something odd about him which she couldn't point her finger on. "This is my Aunt Mary, my father's sister."

"A pleasure to be acquainted," said Raphael, a smile on his lips and the woman gave him a nod.

"We were here to see the chapel so that Lady Mary and Lady Frances knew where the wedding would be held," informed Lucy, "There are only ten more days left and so much has to be done. I believe they will start decorating this place and get the chairs sorted in here on the last two days before the wedding." Even though Lucy's tone was calm, one could sense the hint of excitement in her voice.

"A lot of us are looking forward to it," Raphael looked at Madeline.

"What do you do for a living, Mr. Sparrow?" asked Aunt Mary, her eyes continuing to look at the man, wondering how the King was acquainted with him.

"I read cards, milady," came the quick response from Raphael.

"Cards? You mean reading to say what luck and bad luck is approaching a person? How interesting," murmured Aunt Mary, "I knew a person who once used to read cards. He went by the name Walter."

Madeline's eyebrows raised subtly. She had heard this name when she had visited her's and Beth's memory. She doubted it was another Walter, and this was the same person whom her grandparents had taken her to, to burn her wings.

"Walter?" asked Raphael, "I am not sure if I know a person who goes by that name and reads cards."

"Of course, he doesn't live here. He used to live somewhere near Carnival's village. He is an excellent card reader. It has been a while since I last got my cards read. Do you have your cards with you?" asked Aunt Mary and Raphael offered the woman a polite smile.

Unable to keep the words to herself, Beth turned to say, "I thought you didn't believe in card reading, Aunt Mary."

Madeline remembered how their aunt used to call it rubbish and waste of time, every time they attended the village fair. "There's no harm in a reading. It's just for entertainment," Aunt Mary laughed heartily. After many hours of not seeing each other in the eyes, Beth and Madeline's eyes met in a silent exchange of thoughts.