The Crown's Obsession

Her hands turned clammy at the sight of Calhoun getting inside the entrance of the castle, and her head snapped around to look at James, who looked oblivious that danger was approaching both of them.

"What happened?" asked James with a slightly confused look on his face as to why she looked like she saw a ghost now. Since months, James had been trying to court the young maiden, and it was only now that they were alone. They had almost had a moment together, but Madeline had moved away from him to see what was outside the window.

James had fallen for Madeline the first time when they had crashed against each other as she was in a hurry, carrying vegetables in her arms. She had apologized profusely before leaving.

"You need to leave now, James," Madeline informed him to have him look at her with a frown.

"Why? I am not leaving this castle without you," he informed her and Madeline looked at him alarmed.

"I cannot leave the castle without the King's permission." And even if she were going to leave, she would leave alone without putting James life in trouble. But James didn't move from where he stood. Madeline walked towards him and said, "The King has already threatened that if I leave without his consent, it will cause trouble to my family."

She didn't mention the part where the King had spoken about James head being on the sphere. Calhoun had threatened her, and she doubted he would cause immediate harm to her family, especially when he knew how dear they were to her. But then this was Calhoun, would he consider it? He could take advantage of her weakness.

"I will talk to him," declared James who had not met Calhoun. Madeline didn't wish for him to meet the King. Right now to Calhoun, James was just a mere idea in his head. She didn't want James to fall under the King's eyes, at least that is what Madeline wanted not knowing that Calhoun had already seen James during the time of the Hallow.

Madeline shook her head, but James said, "He cannot come in between two people who like each other. He cannot force you against your wishes. A King has to be fair with the way he deals with things. Surely he will understand my words and will let you go."

"No!" Madeline whispered to him when she noticed footsteps on the other side of the door.

Time was ticking and with every second Calhoun was possibly getting closer to the courtroom unless he decided to ask the servants where she was. Madeline had slipped past the maid to end up here. This was not good!

"Don't you want to go back home?" questioned James.

"Of course, I do, but I cannot right now. If we do, he will-"

"Kill me?" asked James fearless by the mention of the King as he appeared to be determined to take her back to the village with him today, "He would do no such thing." There were only two things Madeline could draw here. Either James was a courageous man, or he was ignorant about what King Calhoun was capable of.

Madeline knew that the longer she stayed here in this room with James, the probability of them being caught by someone was going to be more. Her eyes kept darting from James to the door in worry. She then said,

"I wish I could come with you now, but right now," she shook her head sadly, "Right now is not the time. I don't mean to turn you down, but the King is not someone to be messed with, and I say this after living in this castle for a short time. I am thankful and happy to see you, but I need you to leave right now."

James' lips were set in a thin line at Madeline's pleading request. She looked distressed with every second that passed by. After a few seconds, he asked, "Has he done anything to you? You can tell me, Madeline. I will make sure he pays for it. Has he?"

"No."

Madeline shook her head, ignoring the times when Calhoun had brushed the side of her lips with his thumb and had bandaged her leg. She was worried that speaking about it would only make James stay here with her longer.

James then stepped forward to hold both of her hands in his that had turned cold, "I will revisit you. With a better plan." Madeline didn't say no, nor did she say yes because her heart was torn in wanting to leave the castle right this instant and at the same time, she didn't want to be the cause of James being hurt. Noticing her silence, James squeezed her hands, "Please feel free to tell me anything. I will take you away from here. I promise."

He then moved towards the door.

Before opening the door, he turned to see Madeline's innocent face that looked anxious. He offered a smile of encouragement, and Madeline returned it, a small smile coming to form on her lips which disappeared the moment he left the room. Alone in the room, Madeline felt her body turn weak, and she staggered two steps back, her eyes moist and her lips pressed together.

Now that James left, she wondered why she didn't take the opportunity to go with him. Was the King shameless enough to keep her here, if she openly declared that she wanted to be with another man?

Maybe this was her chance of getting out, thought Madeline to herself.

She quickly made her way towards the door, pulling it open, she immediately started to run in the way she had walked in earlier. Knowing the direction of where the entrance was, she took a turn to only stop when she noticed Calhoun's right-hand man, Theodore standing in front of her.

She felt her heart leap in her chest at the sight of the man. Her heart started to beat loudly in her chest to hear Theodore say,

"If I were you, I wouldn't chase after the man, Lady Madeline," he bowed his head to her in respect before lifting it to look at her, pushing the glasses that he wore up to the bridge of his nose.

She saw James who was getting farther and farther away while she stood with the vampire who was loyal to the King, "I was...."

"I know. I won't mention about this to the King knowing it would upset him, but if you chase after the man, I will need to inform him about it," Theodore's words were still polite, only because the woman was dear to Calhoun, "The King has reached the courtroom and will be expecting you by his side. Shall we?"

It wasn't a request and she knew it. Her heart felt like it was sinking in her chest with the distance that grew between her and James who was leaving towards the entrance of the castle.

Madeline had to tear her gaze away from James' back before following Theodore to the courtroom. As expected, Calhoun was already sitting on his throne with his legs crossed and listening to one of the men speak about the dire situation where the humans were rioting over the death of a man.

When she stepped into the courtroom, Calhoun's attention was shifted from the man to look at the girl who had dressed up quite nicely today. She was a girl who stood out in his eyes. Ignoring the man, Calhoun locked eyes with Madeline whose eyes looked slightly dilated and her heart was beating fast.

"I was expecting you to greet me when I returned. Where were you?" demanded Calhoun with his dark eyes not moving away from Madeline even for a second.

"I was in the castle," Madeline replied, willing her heart to be quiet.

Calhoun's eyes narrowed at her words and he stood up from his throne, stepping down to stand in front of her. He could hear her heart running faster than before.

"Why is your heart beating so loud then? Did you try to make another run?" Calhoun lightly joked yet there was the burning question if she did, as he looked at her lower her eyes on the ground. He then asked,

"Or was it something else?"