The Crown's Obsession

When Calhoun arrived in the Grand Hall where Vladimir sat, he hadn't expected to see the familiar faces of the people whom he had thrown in the coffin with little to no remorse for the dead. His eyes and face held no emotions, and they were as blank as an untouched canvas back in the Hawthrone's castle.

"I thought you would love to meet your father, and your grandmother," Vladimir clapped his hands together, his eyes full of delight and amusement.

In the room apart from the living mortals, the Devil and the demon servant, there were three other people who were on the ground, on their knees. Morganna and Laurence had a look of shock on their face, while Markus' eyes fell on Beth, whom he hadn't seen on the day he had been executed in the living world.

Morganna wanted to strangle Calhoun for what he had put her through, but with the series of punishments she had received from the Devil, she didn't dare to utter a word.

"Beth," came the whisper from Markus, looking at green eyes and Beth's face hardened.

"Oh, I forgot you are here," murmured Vladimir and then spoke to the other sinners. "Is there something you want to say before you return to your exclusive rooms?"

Markus smiled at Beth, but she turned her face away from him. For the mistakes she had committed in the castle, Markus had flamed the fire and made her stand against her very own sister.

Laurence pressed his head against the ground and said, "Forgive me! I never meant to hurt you or your mother, Calhoun. I have never mistreated you. I have always put you first. I knew what I did in the past was wrong, but I sent my very own mother to the dungeon!"

Calhoun closed his eyes, a faint smile appeared on his lips, "Is this all you are capable of?" It made Laurence wonder what Calhoun meant. Did his son want more apologies? He would do that! But then Calhoun turned his head to look at Vladimir. The question wasn't for Laurence, but directed at Vladimir.

"Odin," Vladimir called his ever-faithful servant. "It looks like Calhoun is not pleased with the punishments given to these rats." Hearing this, Morganna, who was busy cursing the boy who had sent her here, her eyes widened in terror.

"W-what do you mean by that?!" questioned Morganna.

Madeline looked at the two people she had only seen in the portraits of the castle, and they looked just like that. But the only difference was that the expressions of arrogance and pride had been replaced with fear and dread.

"We did everything you asked! We even told the villagers the truth of what happened and how we are the ones to be blamed! Our name has been sullied-" Laurence words were interrupted by Calhoun.

"Yet you have the audacity to speak right now."

The faint smile disappeared from Calhoun's lips, and he glared at the man who was his father. Making his way to stand in front of the sinners, he stared at the man and the old woman, while ignoring Markus completely.

Madeline, who stood next to Beth, noticed how Calhoun's entire demeanour had changed from calm to something very sinister. It reminded her of the time when Calhoun had cut people's head right in front of her eyes.

Gulping, Morganna said, "We have done everything to make it right-"

"You did? I don't think I got to see it," responded Calhoun. "Anyways I will deal with these people later," and Calhoun turned to Vladimir, "You know why we came here. Don't stall it."

Vladimir grinned widely, and with one snap of his fingers, the sinners disappeared from the room. He ordered Odin, "Make sure they are turned back to flesh before the keepers decide to inflict pain on them."

"Yes, Master!" Odin bowed his head, turning into a bat and flying out of the Grand Hall.

Vladimir then snapped his finger, and a Salvette Mortem appeared next to Madeline, making its way to stand in front of Vladimir, and it bowed its head.

"Do you know all the Salvette Mortems?" questioned Madeline.

"They belong to me, so yes, I do," responded Vladimir.

"There's a Salvette Mortem that is still lurking in the castle. It felt like...it came for me…" said Madeline, looking at the older vampire who stared back at her.

"I heard one of them went missing. Didn't know it came to see you unless it decided to spend its time in the castle, after the hours it spent in there. But then, it could be there, waiting for you to die," came the thoughtful answer from Vladimir. "It won't take your soul away from the living world. Even if you die, I would prefer you to come to Hell, but for that, you must have sinned."

"My mother. I want to meet her," Madeline changed the subject abruptly. She didn't want to be part of Heaven or Hell.

"Of course," said Vladimir, and he got up from the throne-like seat, stepping down. "Follow me," and Vladimir started to walk.

Madeline and the rest followed the Devil and they got down at the lower base of the stone building. The place was dark, and the only thing that kept it bright was the flames coming from the torch. She felt her heart race with every step she took forward, not knowing how her mother was doing. Was her mother being tortured because the tower was called the tower of sins? But strangely the screams lowered down as it only got quieter.

"Where are we?" questioned Madeline.

Vladimir didn't reply right away, but when they reached the ends of the stairs, she noticed the change in the light of the torches compared to the ones that were burning yellow and red flame earlier on the walls. These were blue and purple.

Madeline noticed a river not too far away from them.

"This is the place where the souls reside. A mixture of souls of demons, some who are good and some bad. Demons who were killed by other stronger demons," explained Vladimir before bending down next to the river where souls floated in there. "I heard that your mother was killed by another higher level demon, hence her soul must be somewhere here."