The Crown's Obsession

On the other hand, Odin was scared for himself and the girl. The mere human was challenging his master with questions which didn't happen often. Even if people didn't know who Vladimir was, the humans had always steered clear of the devil.

If it was possible, Vladimir's eyes turned smaller than before, and he spoke through his gritted teeth, "Because I slept in terms of years, and not for a single night. By the time I woke up, she was already dead. My dear innocent daughter. This world doesn't deserve people like her, and I wished that she had killed someone to warrant her soul to go to Hell, instead of Heaven."

How strange that this vampire wanted his daughter to spend her time in Hell and not in Heaven, thought Madeline to herself.

"You didn't do a good job in protecting her. Maybe if you treated her the way she wanted, she would have returned to you," said Madeline, her eyes lowering down and she muttered, "Some of you never do it right." She said, thinking about her angelic father, "Even my father didn't do a good job when it came top protecting me."

"Because he offered your hand in marriage to the King?" humoured Vladimir. Odin who had been waiting for his Master's word to rotate the lever again dropped his hands to his side.

A small smile appeared on Madeline's lips. She shook her head, "He didn't protect me the way he should have protected. And things are not the way it seems to be. If I hadn't met Calhoun again during the time of Hallow, and if I didn't stay in the castle, I think I would be resting in the coffin now, or worse dead."

Wasn't resting in the coffin and being dead one and the same? questioned Vladimir in his mind. Unless the girl was a vampire like him, who enjoyed sleeping in his warm and comfortable coffin.

"What do you mean in the coffin?" inquired Vladimir, "You don't seem to be the type who has done anything bad to end up in the coffin." He looked at her closely, noticing how brown her eyes were without a speck of red colour in them. "Speak. I don't think you will be stepping out of this place. Your secrets will be safe with us." Staying in this lonely castle and away from people who were nosey, it had been long since Vladimir had heard anything interesting.

"My grandparents have tried to put me in the coffin. Making me sleep there," said Madeline carefully.

"Your grandparents must be knowing how good a coffin feels like. Did they have no beds to spare for you?" questioned Vladimir with a chuckle.

"They couldn't kill me, which was why they hoped I would stay put in the coffin," hearing the words come from the human's mouth, Odin was sure that this girl was feeding his Master with bizarre stories.

"Why did they want to kill you? Pity that your own blood wanted you dead," Vladimir tsked. "You do seem a little strange for a human. Something very peculiar yet familiar like I know but I just can't put my finger on. What is it?"

"Will you let me go if I tell you the truth?" Madeline tried to bargain for her life and fingers.

"Foolish creature. You think your little story is more valuable compared to my daughter, who was killed?" Vladimir's words were not a question to Madeline. "Don't try to push your luck."

"Let me help you with it," said Madeline and the vampire stared at her with a blank expression. "Not every retriubition will bring peace to yourself. Sometimes talking it out, and letting your thoughts out with the other person helps. If you do kill me and the King. What if you do not find the peace that you are looking for or the revenge as you spoke of?"

"I will drag the person from Hell and torture again. Don't underestimate my hobby of tormenting, especially when it comes to people who have crossed me," smiled Vladimir. "Odin, you can continue turning the lever!"

"Wait!" Madeline shouted alarmed. "I am a fallen angel."

Vladimir stared at Madeline for a second and said, "Good. And I am the devil." Did he take it as a joke? asked Madeline to herself. Odin looked worried if he should start turning the lever or not as his Master and the girl were still speaking back and forth. "Do you want me to break your limbs, Odin?" on his Master's words, Odin started to turn the lever for it to make a creaking sound.

Realizing her mistake, she quickly corrected at the end second, "Not fallen angel! But a dark angel!" and she felt the pressure on her finger, making her close her eyes in pain.

Vladimir raised his hand for Odin to stop. "What did you say?"

Madeline opened her eyes, her breath ragged because of fear, "I-I am the dark angel..." She didn't know if the vampire understood what she said, but considering how some people knew about her, she hoped he would not break her finger.

"Prove it," said Vladimir. Both of them stared at each other, and Madeline tried to get out of the straps but she only spewed blood from her mouth. "For a dark angel you are weak," he remarked.

Madeline had made use of all her strength in her body to save Lucy's life, but in the end, even that didn't work, and she felt nothing but pain. She saw the vampire turn to have his back faced at her, and he took a couple of steps away from her.

"Do you know what a dark angel means?" she heard Vladimir question her.

If he had heard of the existence of dark angel, it only meant he was aware of it. "The child who was born to Paschar and the human."

Vladimir seemed pleased with her answer, but not satisfied with it. He turned back to face her, watching the human who claimed to be a dark angel, and some of her words made sense now when it came to her being placed in the coffin.

"I am surprised you aren't dead yet," he smiled and Madeline didn't know if his response was a good or a bad thing.