The Crown's Obsession

Madeline looked at the river where the water looked like any other normal water, but when Vladimir used his hand to dip it in the water, she noticed his hand changed from flesh to bones. He wiggled his fingers as if calling the souls that were floating, and he then turned to look to his right. Turning to see what he saw, Madeline noticed a soul floating towards them, and she saw the woman who had golden-blonde hair.

"Is this the person?" questioned Vladimir, and Madeline stared at Marina without a word coming out of her mouth.

"Is s-she dead?" asked Madeline.

"Well, she's in Hell and floating in here. She is very dead," replied Vladimir. Madeline stepped towards him, taking a seat next to him while looking at the woman's hair waving in the water. "Souls like these are the ones that are used to feed the existence of Hell. Every land needs something to feed on so that it can flourish. What happened to her?" he asked Madeline, looking at the woman whose eyes were closed.

"She was killed," whispered Madeline. "By a demoness named Astrate. They were trying to lure Paschar to turn against Heaven."

"Looks like the demons failed," Vladimir harrumphed.

Calhoun who stood behind Madeline, he noticed the resemblance between Madeline and the woman, the colour and texture of their hair were similar, and so were their features. The mysteries that revolved around Madeline twisted only further.

"What does it mean? To be an offspring of a demon and an angel? Is this is why Madeline is a dark angel?" demanded Calhoun. Most of them, including him and Madeline, had come to believe that the reason why Madeline had wings and abilities to kill people was that she was cursed for Paschar's actions, but it wasn't so anymore.

Vladimir turned to look at his grandson from where he sat on his heels.

"I don't think demons and angels have ever tried to live together. I believed you were the first ones, but it seems like it was her parents," Vladimir jerked his head towards Madeline. "She's a demon, how did Paschar not know?" the Devil smiled, wondering if Paschar had been stupid and blind in love. "So what happened?" he inquired with curiosity.

Madeline tried to put her hand into the river, and she noticed the way even her hands turned to bones, the prickly feeling she had been feeling on her skin since she had entered Hell increased and she took her hand back before she could touch her mother.

"I don't think Paschar wanted to get involved with anyone, or even with her. He said something about hunting demons, which was why he came to the living world. The place was in the town where Beth was kidnapped and taken to," explained Madeline.

"Hm, I think I have a vague memory of Paschar when he was sent to the living world," Vladimir said with a thoughtful look on his face as if he was recollecting the past memories.

"It was before I left Heaven. Yes, that's about right. Because he was the first one to leave Heaven and he didn't return for months. There was an uproar about it in Heaven," the Devil chuckled to himself.

"No one fought on his behalf? Is an angel never to have any feelings for anyone?" asked Madeline.

"Heaven has strict rules, dear," stated Vladimir, "If the angel doesn't follow, people turn very, very upset with the angel. The reason things are not strict in Hell is that the underworld is for sinners who cheat, and lie, and do everything immorally."

"It doesn't sound like a good place," Madeline murmured to herself, and she noticed Vladimir offer her a smile.

"Paschar was hard-headed and difficult to persuade. It was one of the reasons why they sent him down to the living world to hunt down some of the demons. No one knew that a human could make Paschar leave Heaven to pursue his life as a mortal. It was before I claimed Hell as my own. The demons were turning humans to another set of demons. The ones you see in the living world are mostly those turned offsprings, while only some original demons still live there," said Vladimir. He then continued, "But now we know she was never a human, but a demon."

"She loved him. I think they both wanted to stay away from the world they came from," said Madeline, her eyes falling back on her mother in the river. "She was too scared to let him know about her being a demon."

"Because she was aware that he would leave her immediately," stated Vladimir. "Angels and demons are arch enemies of each other."

Madeline wondered about it. She wondered if Paschar would have left Marina if she had told him the truth, or would he have continued to love her unconditionally?

"And here you are accepting Madeline with open arms," murmured Calhoun, his eyes not leaving Vladimir.

"Madeline might be an angel, but she's also a part demon. Maybe not as potent as the rest, but she's still the daughter of a demoness, which means she can be turned into a complete demon if guided in the right direction," Vladimir let out his thoughts.

"She's not going to turn into one," Calhoun's words were firm. He knew Vladimir had something up his sleeves. It was why his eyes didn't move away from the old bat.

"Aw, why not?" asked Vladimir, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend time with each other in Hell? Having dinner and torturing people together. I know, for one thing, you will enjoy this place, Calhoun."

"You can rule this place by yourself. If you want to spend time, the gates of the Hawthrone's castle is always open for you," said Calhoun, his eyes glaring at Vladimir.

"That I already know. Mere metal objects like gates and doors cannot stop me," snickered the Devil. "But it would be wise to have Madeline turned to one side, unlike the angels' I won't hound her to come to Hell."

"That's because she will have nowhere to go, but to end up here," deadpanned Calhoun.