The Crown's Obsession

The archangel Michael, who had appeared today in the mansion and in front of Madeline, he wasn't who he posed to be, and if the Salvette Mortem had not appeared, Madeline would not have realized it. She had met Michael many times before, but today, there was something very odd about his behaviour. Not to forget, when she compared Michael to Paschar and Gabriel, the other two archangels were milder by nature.

"Looks like Vladimir did a good thing by leaving the Salvette Mortem around you even if I don't like the idea of you being dead," said Calhoun. His eyes looked around the room before they settled on the book that Madeline was reading when he had arrived.

"Who do you think would be scared of the creature of death? The archangel Gabriel seemed barely fazed by its presence," and the more she thought about it, the more she couldn't believe how someone had impersonated the archangel Michael and arrived here to meet her.

Who could it be?

Madeline bit her lip in thought before letting it go.

"If angels are not scared of the creatures of death, it leaves only two kinds. One who must be part of the living world, or two, a person from the underworld," stated Calhoun and his eyes slowly narrowed. "Do you remember what you saw in the memories that you glimpsed through your mother? There must have been something?"

Madeline pursed her lips, trying to recollect what she had seen. "There was the demoness named Astrate, but she was killed by Paschar the same day my mother was sent to Hell. Do you think she will be found in Hell?" If her memory served her right, she had met this demoness the day Raphael had died.

"It is a possibility," replied Calhoun.

"Do you think she's the one who came to meet me today?" Madeline found it to be rather strange that the demoness wanted her to go to Heaven. She was the woman who had killed her mother and separated her family—one in Hell, the other in Heaven, and she was in the living world.

"We won't know until we find out from her," responded Calhoun. But then to affirm it, they would have to go to Hell where Vladimir would gladly welcome them with open arms, but he wouldn't let them out. "What did Michael say to you?"

"He wanted me to go with him. He said Heaven, but I doubt that is where he wanted me to come with him," answered Madeline, remembering the way Michael had tried to sway her decision.

"Wonder where the person wanted to take you, if it is not Heaven or Hell. Must be for his own use," murmured Calhoun.

"Wait, I remember the woman named Astrate had mentioned about a demon for whom they were working. He went by the name Darian. That's the name!" The conversation between Astrate and her mother Marina didn't seem hostile. "It felt like Astrate had done a favour on my mother by killing her."

"He must be aware of your powers and the powerhouse you are. He probably has been waiting in shadows for the right opportunity," said Calhoun, and his eyes then went back to look at her brown ones. "He must be a demon before Vladimir took control of Hell and the demons in there."

"I thought the demons came into existence by following Vladimir." Madeline's eyebrows furrowed. This was something she didn't understand even when Gabriel was telling the story.

"There were a few demons who existed even before Vladimir took reign of Hell. They were called the Fiends, and they had tried to revolt against Heaven and tried to use the living world to their advantage. I believe your mother was part of it too, it was how she came in contact with Paschar," explained Calhoun.

That would only mean that the demon who was truly responsible for her mother's death wanted her.

"Do you think we can enter Hell by placing conditions so that Vladimir cannot make us stay there through any trickery?" inquired Madeline.

Calhoun stared at Madeline, and he gave her a nod, "Where's the Salvette Mortem?"

"Must be lurking somewhere in the mansion. Earlier, it was standing in one of the room's balconies," Madeline answered his question. Calhoun left her side, going in search of it, and she followed him. Walking through the corridors and mansion's halls for a while before they finally found the Salvette Mortem who had apparently been trailing right behind them.

"Did you see who the person was who had come to meet Madeline?" Calhoun questioned the Salvette Mortem. Being the Devil's descendant, he had the ability to speak and understand the Salvette Mortems.

The creature with the stag like boney head, it opened its mouth, making a creaking sound as it's jaw moved up and down.

'It was a demon, Master Calhoun,' answered the creature.

"Who was it?" demanded Calhoun.

'Never sensed this person before. I thought there was something very strange about him as he didn't seem the same as the last time,' replied the creature.

A few seconds passed before Calhoun said, "Tell Vladimir I want to speak to him. Right this instance." The creature looked apprehensive, throwing a look at Madeline and Calhoun assured it, "I will be right here with Madeline."

The Salvette Mortem disappeared in a blink of an eye, leaving Calhoun and Madeline alone in the corridor. A fire appeared on the ground within the next few seconds, and Vladimir arrived in the Harris' residence.

"Hello, my dear children. I was waiting for you to invite me," remarked Vladimir, his eyes looking around the walls that surrounded him, and his eyes fell on the couple. "Lovely evening, isn't it? If you wanted to have dinner with me, I could have arranged it in my quarters of Hell."

Vladimir had a wide grin on his face, and he looked at Calhoun with a proud look on his face. Before any of them could say anything more, Mrs. Harris arrived on the other end of the corridor, and without noticing Vladimir, she said,

"Supper has been prepared."