The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-479

Madeline and Beth's eyes widened hearing this.

Beth wanted to say something that would be of help, but she could barely think about anything. Instead, her face filled itself in shock, and she stared at Vladimir, not knowing who this person was.

Madeline asked Vladimir, "There are some demons who return to the living even after killing them several times. Why? Why can't he come back?" On hearing this, a spark of hope ignited in Beth's eyes.

"In Hell, demons belong to different levels and status. Though I would like to claim that the entire Hell belongs to me, there are still some parts, which is filled with demons who want to overpower my rule and overthrow me," Vladimir answered Madeline's question.

The older vampire then continued to explain, "Some of the demons, who belongs to higher level they can revive back to life, while some can't. I don't have all the information of what happened during my absence, but things have turned upside down. There has been a shift in power and abilities. Even death, the demon who has appeared here must be because they got hold of another demon's ability. By defeating them."

"The demoness named Jennine, she said Raphael was a higher demon. She was scared to get anywhere close to him," like Beth, Madeline hoped for Raphael to return.

Vladimir's eyes turned passive. He stared at the young angel who held hope in her eyes, "It is usually the higher-level demons who are able to kill the demons who are lower than them. The strongest beats the weak. The demoness about whom you mentioned, she probably had the ability of resurrection, which is why she keeps coming back."

"If she's been troubling you, I can find her soul and torture her in Hell," offered Vladimir. "Odin is waiting for me along with the rest. Some new rules need to be imposed in there. I have some guests waiting for me. I will see you later," and the older vampire disappeared in thin air.

Madeline had hoped they wouldn't see any more death, but it seemed like it was hard to stop it. All these things that was happening, where people were getting hurt and killed was because of her, for who she was.

Now as the angels and the devil were not around, in silence, Madeline couldn't help but question herself if Paschar was right. Would her existence in the living world only invite more death? As she was the dark angel, the demons and the fallen angels would continue to seek her out for obtaining power through her, and for that, she would need to become strong so that no one would ever come to hurt anyone whom she loved and cared about.

Madeline's eyes slowly moved towards Calhoun, meeting his eyes. Calhoun didn't have to ask what she was thinking as he could sense the emotion of turmoil running in her mind.

He noticed the card that had fallen next to Raphael's body, and he picked it up in his hand. Turning it around, he saw it was empty. There was not a single mark on the surface of the white card, leaving it completely blank.

Calhoun stared at the card, knowing which card it was. The cards that Raphael carried were not regular cards, but it was the cards that the card reader had made it himself—pouring not just his ability but also his soul in it. The cards changed by channelling into Raphael's soul, which was why the fool's card Calhoun held right now was purely blank.

Putting it in his pocket, he said, "Let's take him to a place where he can rest in peace."

Madeline turned to Beth who had grown an attachment to the demon she hadn't shown until now. Beth nodded her head without a word coming from her lips. Madeline said,

"I saw a carriage that was next to the building. It must have been brought by one of the demons or the fallen angels. We can use it to ride to the place. And Calhoun will take Mr. Sparrow and wait for us."

Calhoun picked up Raphael, one of the demon's leg dangled loosely.

Being the elder sister, Madeline felt terrible for Raphael's death and the sorrow that Beth felt. She helped Beth to stand up, and before they could leave, she noticed the wound on Raphael's back. It was more than a deep gash as if someone had scooped his back and that someone was Beth herself.

Without saying anything, she started to walk with Beth, moving towards the town with not a single word coming to exchange between them. It took more than an hour for both Madeline and Beth to arrive at the graveyard, and they got down. The graveyard was where Calhoun's mother laid in the cemented coffin, which was near to the castle.

Making their way through the graves, they caught sight of Calhoun, who stood next to an open cemented coffin. While Madeline came to stand next to Calhoun, Beth walked forward to stand next to the coffin where the King had placed the demon in there for him to rest. In silence, Beth stood next to the coffin, staring at Raphael's face. Silent tears didn't stop falling from her eyes, and she wiped them away.

When the rays of the sun started to break through the sky, it was finally time to close the coffin's lid, after offering their peace of prayers.

While Madeline prayed, Calhoun walked next to Beth and said, "Here." He brought his hand forward, holding the fool's card. "I think he would have liked you to have it."

Beth's eyes prickled. Her heart felt heavy, and her lips pressed against each other. Bringing her weak hand to the front, she caught hold of the card that appeared plain. If it was in the past, she would have questioned and commented on how bleak it looked, but right now she knew the importance it carried.

"Thank you," she whispered, running her finger over the smooth surface of the card, and Calhoun gave her a nod.