The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Jennine's eyes had turned back to hazel eyes, and Beth wasn't sure if she was seeing a ghost. There was no way Jennine could be alive! The small girl had died when she and Madeline were small, and there was no way she could have grown this old! But at the same time, her memory brought in not only the dead girl but also her sister who had her hands covered in blood.

"I was hoping you would come to meet me at my grave, but you forgot me, Beth. I was your dear friend, wasn't I?" asked the woman. Even though the weather was cold, Beth could feel sweat forming on her back out of nervousness. She could feel her head harshly squeezing itself because of the overwhelming memories.

"Y-you cannot be alive," Beth didn't believe in ghosts. Was she being haunted out of nowhere? And was she imagining things?

Jennine smiled at Beth as if she was stupid, "That is so rude of you, Beth. But don't worry, I will forgive you. You are my dear friend! Let's go have a cup of tea. We have so many things to catch up."

Beth took a step back, "I need to go back. Madeline is waiting for me." She turned, ready to sprint away from there with her back facing the woman when she heard Jennine say,

"Ah, yes. Your sweet sister. I cannot believe that bitch is still alive. She always liked to come between you and me, just like how she came between you and that man with whom you were supposed to get married to. I was there when he got executed. All that blood and his handsome face away from his body. She had always stolen things from you," commented Jennine, "I don't think she would mind me having a bite...from you."

When Beth turned, Jennine had disappeared. Her eyes frantically looked around, but Jennine was gone.

"Who was that?" came a familiar voice behind her, and Beth twirled around to see it was Raphael.

"What are you doing here??" asked Beth.

"You didn't think the King would have his future wife and her sister out in the village, unprotected now, did you?" asked Raphael, "I didn't want to disturb your little walk in the streets and decided to keep a distance while keeping an eye. So who was she?"

Beth had a deep frown on her face. She didn't know what to believe and what to think, "S-she was someone Madeline and I knew, when we were small. We thought she was dead." Raphael's eyes slightly narrowed, and he looked around.

"I think it would be best if you and Lady Madeline returned to the castle," he suggested, offering Beth a smile. In a different situation, Beth would have disagreed to his words, but she was in a state of shock, and she walked back to the church along with him.

Madeline, who stood outside the church, noticed Beth walking next to Raphael. "Milady," Raphael offered his greetings.

"Where did you go, Beth? Did you forget something?" questioned Madeline. Seeing how Beth shook her head without uttering any words, Madeline turned worried. "Are you alright?" she asked before looking at Raphael.

"We should head back to the castle," said Raphael. With nothing else to do in the village, Madeline held Beth's arm and got inside the carriage. During the journey back to the castle, Madeline couldn't help but worry that something must have happened with Beth. Raphael had given no explanation, and when they reached the castle, Beth had quickly excused herself to go back to her room.

Seeing Beth's retreating figure, Madeline waited for Raphael to speak, and he said, "The girl is back." And hearing his words, she wondered about whom the card reader was speaking about, "The girl who you both thought was dead."

Madeline sucked in a deep breath. The one person who had died when they were small, it was Jennine.

"Did you see her?" she questioned him.

"I did. When I started to walk where she and your sister was, the woman bolted from there."

Madeline closed her eyes in the realization, that Beth's memories were returning, memories of what happened that day, which meant she also saw her covered in blood. She didn't know what was running in Beth's head right now.

Not a moment later, Calhoun appeared at the top of the stairs. Raphael left her side, walking up the stairs and Madeline followed him. The card reader and the King shared a nod, before Raphael walked past him, leaving Madeline with Calhoun.

Looking at Calhoun, she said, "Beth knows." Worry marred Madeline's face as her sister had been sheltered away from the things that had taken place in the past until now.

"Going outside the castle by yourself is not safe, Maddie," Calhoun lightly reprimanded her, "Not because I don't know that you can protect yourself, but there are a lot of people who want to harm you, and we don't know what kind of ability they have that can overpower you."

Before leaving the castle, Madeline had walked past Theodore with Beth. She believed that the vampire who wore the glasses would have informed Calhoun.

"I don't mean you to live in fear, but until we resolve some of the things, stay by my side where I and my eyes can reach you," said Calhoun. He stepped closer and placed his hand to hold her chin before capturing Madeline's lips with his. Pulling back, he whispered on her lips, "The time when you are not next to me, those are the times that are unbearable. And it seems like there is an addition to the people who want you."

"But I don't want them," she whispered back, and this brought a smile on Calhoun's lips.

"I won't let them take you away from me, my sweet rose," and he hugged her, his hand running on the back of her head.

The smile that was on his lips lowered down, and his eyes turned malicious. It seemed like he was right, the demon who Madeline had killed was not an average demon, and it had its eyes on Madeline for the third time. Calhoun thought to himself, maybe third time is a charm where the demon could be stuffed it into a coffin that would led to hell.