The Crown's Obsession (WN)

After she was done with closing up Beth's wounds, Madeline wiped the light sheen of sweat that had formed on her forehead with the back of her hand. Her hands had turned red, and more blood had been spilt down on the pillow. She knew the pain was going to be agonizing when Beth would wake up, but Madeline hoped her sister would survive.

"You should clean your hands," Madeline heard Calhoun's voice, and her head snapped around to see him standing at the door. When he entered the room, she stood up. His eyes fell on Beth's new bandage, and he stated, "You did a good job with it," he praised her.

"Will she die?" Madeline asked in a low voice. She knew Calhoun was far more knowledgeable than anyone she had come across in her life.

"We don't know, Maddie," came the frank answer from Calhoun that had her close her eyes, "If she doesn't heal before the sun sets, then it is possible that the venom is not turning her, but killing her."

"We need to find the cure," she whispered to herself. There was no other way to save Beth. Something hit her mind remembering the conversation she had with Lady Lucy, "Lady Lucy said there are mountains beyond the forest and that is where the cure is expected to be."

"I believe she also mentioned how most people didn't come out alive, when they had tried to cross the forest. And there has been no proof that the cure for a werewolf's bite is somewhere in there," responded Calhoun.

Madeline's eyes lowered. She didn't want people to die while she was trying to save her sister's life. She glanced at Beth, who moved in her bed, groaning softly before turning quiet again. Madeline and Calhoun stepped out of the room so that Beth could continue to sleep, "How did things go in Cossington?"

"Helena and the others arrived at the spot. Luther, Weasley, Reginald no news and Lilith, well, her body was found," said Calhoun, and his thoughts drifted to what had happened in the village before coming here.

'What in the Hell's name is going on here?' demanded Helena by looking at the broken state of the village and the injured people.

Dimitri had a deep frown on his forehead as well as on his lips. "How did the werewolves even enter this place? I thought we had checked for any werewolves in the land before the King's wedding."

Helena's eyes were fierce while they skimmed through her surroundings, and she said, "Get the traces of the werewolves. The scent is still fresh, and if we are quick enough, we will be able to trail the werewolves and their hideout. We don't want more villages tumbling down. What is the count of casualties, who are dead?"

Before the magistrate of the village could answer, Calhoun, interrupted by saying, "Seven."

The magistrate was too scared to speak in the presence of the King, but he cleared his throat to gain the attention of the two people from the High House as the lady glared down at him for interrupting them, while the King looked at him as if he was an insect that was going to be trampled soon.

"M-my apologies, but there are only six dead people. Four in here and one near the tower bell and the other one outside the church," relayed the magistrate.

"You will find the seventh person in the well," stated Calhoun before looking back at Helena, who tore her gaze away from the magistrate to say,

"Where are the rest of the members? Reginald was supposed to be out here helping people, but he has been missing since I arrived. And did someone contact Luther?" Calhoun shrugged his shoulders.

One of the underling men who worked for the High House came running towards Helena to say, "Milady! There's Lady Lilith!" his eyes were wide, and he looked like he was in a shock.

Helena's eyes narrowed, "Lilith is supposed to be on her way to Carnivals village with Weasley."

The man shook his head, "She's dead on the ground."

"What?" asked Helena before everyone made their way around the church. They found Lilith's head smashed to the ground with blood around her, "What in the fucking hell is going on in here? Check her!" ordered Helena that had the underling man flinch before he pulled the body towards them.

"Poor thing, what happened to her?" questioned Calhoun as if he felt sorry for Lilith, whose head had been partly opened because of the impact of the statue against her head. He caught sight of Helena who bent down to have a look at Lilith.

"She doesn't appear to be the person she was this morning," said Helena, confused as to what happened as she knew that Lilith was a demoness and a vampire. But right now, Lilith looked nothing less to a human. "Take her body to the High House and see what has happened to her. And if she is here, where is Weasley?"

"I will try to find him." Dimitri bowed, leaving their side while the other man carried Lilith's body to the High House. Seeing the dead body being taken away, Calhoun couldn't help but think, how dissecting Lilith's body would be of no use now, except for compost for plants. He then looked back at Helena.

Taking the opportunity, Calhoun said, "Don't tell me I didn't inform you that something is up in your High House."

"How did you end up here, my King?" asked Helena, her eyes keenly looked at Calhoun as he had reached the village sooner than she had.

Calhoun didn't break his gaze away from her, and he smiled, "By wings, of course."

Helena gritted her teeth, "This is no time to be joking. I heard that the Queen was here too. With Reginald. Is she alright?" she asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Yes, she's fantastic. She said she was in the church with him, but when the werewolves and the chaos arose, he disappeared," replied Calhoun. "Her sister had minor scratches, but she should be better in no time."