The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-420

Calhoun saw how worry started to plague Madeline's mind. To ease her mind, he said,

"Instead of thinking what you are is going to hurt you, claim it to be something that belongs to you. Be proud of it, Maddie, because this thing that is inside you, it utterly and solely belongs to you in every sense. If people are going to hunt you for certain reasons, use those same reasons to hunt them back."

"I don't think I have it in me to kill people," replied Madeline, and Calhoun took hold of her hands.

"I know that you don't. Maybe you don't have to kill the people who are after you but only put them in their rightful coffins. Your grandparents did it, it is just to protect yourself and nothing more or less than that," Calhoun squeezed her hand. "Haven't you heard about the knife having the ability not only to kill to take a life, but also has the ability to cut an apple to feed a person."

"Where did you learn to speak this well?" Madeline had always been curious about how Calhoun was able to twist and turn his words for his advantage. She had never met a person with such skills before.

One side of Calhoun's lips pulled up, and he said, "Have I mentioned before how much I enjoy your compliments that has been very rare in the past?"

Madeline offered him her sweet smile, "You didn't answer my question."

"Hm," responded Calhoun, "When you almost grow up on the streets while listening to people who belittle you and your mother, you end up learning to reply and also turn smart. My mother used to say that even a man, who is under the threat of the axe hanging above his neck can turn his fate with a little bit of luck and using right words to get him out of the situation."

She stared at him for a second, getting lost in those dark red eyes that looked back at her, "Did you ever go through it? An axe close to your neck?"

When Calhoun gave her a nod, a surprised gasp escaped her lips, "When? Why?" she asked.

"It was a long time ago. Those were some good times," as he smiled his eyes crinkled, and Madeline believed only Calhoun could smile at things like this. She wanted to ask more about it, but seeing him covered in blood with a slight amount of rusty smell filled the air around him, she followed him to the bath.

Instead of getting into the grand bath, Calhoun stepped into the bathtub, and Madeline helped him in cleaning his body so that she could remove the tough blood that had dried on his skin.

"Tell me what happened to you," said Madeline while pouring water on his back, using her hand to clean it.

While she continued to remove the blood carefully, she made sure not to press the skin too hard because she didn't know how much it would hurt. It was only a few hours ago when she had touched and traced Calhoun's chest and body with her fingertips that were now covered with marks. She wondered if it would leave scars on his body.

"The demons are making use of the silver bullets that has been forged with some of the elements and holy water. Whatever elements that have been used, the bullets are harmful to vampires and demons. As you can see," he paused to look at his hand that had a curve as one of the bullets had gone straight through the palm of his hand. "Silver and holy water has never been a friend of the creatures like the vampires, werewolves, or demons. We have coated another metal called Maristine on top of the silver utensils, allowing us, vampires, to touch those things. To keep ourselves from harm and quick reaction, some of us wear gloves to protect us."

"You could have died today," whispered Madeline. And with the way his body looked right now, it appeared like the bullets had passed through his body several times.

"When all the bullets had been fired at me, I think for a moment my heart freeze did freeze. But I feel as good as before," said Calhoun, scooping the water in his hand that only splashed out when his hand formed into a fist.

Opening his palm, he noticed how the wound got better and so did the other parts on his body that went back to normal. If it was another demon or a vampire in his place, the person would have died because of the number of bullets that was shot at him, while leaving only a mass of flesh on the ground.

Sometimes it made him think that he was a descendant of an angel as demons didn't have feathers in their wings. He knew the abilities he held were received from his mother and not from his worthless father. He remembered how he had smelt his mother's scent in the village, but when he had gone back to follow the scent, it was long gone.

Madeline finished cleaning Calhoun's back, and she moved to the front, to sit next to him to see him. The wounds on his body were completely healed, and his skin had turned back to the way it was this evening, "I am happy that you are alright."

"And I am happy that you are happy," responded Calhoun.

After finishing his bath, Calhoun changed himself to his nightclothes.

Madeline sat on the bed with her legs crossed and looking at him. He was going through the parchments relating to the court discussions that had took place today that needed his attention. Theodore's attention and focus had been diverted to his half-sister Lucy, since their cousin Ethan had arrived to attend his marriage with Madeline, who was still staying in the castle.

Calhoun internally rolled his eyes for what was going on, but he didn't bother to get into matters that didn't concern him.