Chapter 241: Escape- Part 1

When Madeline and Calhoun returned to the castle, without anyone's notice where Calhoun hid his black wings again, they made their way back inside. It was good to see her grandparents after many months, yet it was unsettling with the thought that her grandmother strongly opposed her marriage to the King. It made Madeline question if her grandparents were living with them here in East Carswell right now, would they agree to send her to the castle like the way her parents did. With the way her grandfather had stood up against Calhoun, the answer would be no. They would not have let her to stay here, and a fight would have started to end with heads rolling on the floor.

Madeline saw her mother talking to her sister Beth in the corridor with a frown on her face until her mother noticed her and Calhoun's presence.

"How was your visit?" asked her mother, "Are they doing well?"

Madeline nodded her head, "Yes, they are doing well. I met both of them. We informed them about the wedding."

"It seems they didn't receive the wedding invitation, mother," said Calhoun to Madeline's mother, "Did the invitation fall short?" he inquired with his head tilting to his side.

After visiting her grandparent's place, it didn't take too much time to understand that her parents had not sent the invitation to her paternal grandparents, knowing they would be disgusted with the idea of their granddaughter marrying a blood-sucking creature.

Mrs. Harris stared at Calhoun, who had asked her a question. If they had visited, the King must already know that she and her husband didn't invite Madeline's grandparents.

"We thought it would be best not to send...Considering they might oppose the marriage with you, my King," Mrs. Harris bowed her head, putting it in a way as if she was making sure that the King would marry Madeline.

Calhoun said, "You don't have to worry about such trivial matters, mother," he stressed on the word 'mother' which Mrs. Harris was still not used to. Every time when the King addressed her as a mother, it made Mrs. Harris think that the man was being sarcastic and was taunting about something that she should be careful about. "You weren't ready to accept our marriage at first, but you have come around now," he smiled at the older woman, who didn't return the smile.

Mrs. Harris had agreed only because Madeline told her that she was trying to accept her fate the way it was. It was possible that her daughter had either tried to fight or maybe she had given up because of the way the King was.

Madeline noticing her mother and Calhoun staring at each other decided to interrupt, "Grandpa said that they would be visiting the castle before the time of the wedding."

Her mother then frowned, "Usually the journey takes up long hours. You returned quickly."

"We have horses that gallop faster than the wind," answered Calhoun and then he turned to Madeline, "I will be going back to the court." The three ladies bowed at the King and Calhoun left the corridor.

Madeline saw Calhoun's retreating figure and at the same time she heard her mother question, "What did they say?" With the King who left, Mrs. Harris didn't see the point to hide her questions from her daughter.

"They are not happy about it. Grandmother said I should break the marriage off before it takes place," replied Madeline in a whisper so that her words would not be heard by someone else, "Grandpa asked Calhoun if he will break it off."

"Do they know who you are marrying to?" asked Beth with a huff, "They should be grateful that the King chose our family. You. People really don't know to appreciate things these days," she shook her head.

Mrs. Harris ignored Beth's words and asked, "Are they alright?"

"Yes, they are fine. The King didn't harm them," replied Madeline to her mother. Madeline doubted Calhoun would harm her family when he knew how much she treasured them. Her mother nodded her head understandingly.

"Let me go and see your father," and with that her mother took her leave, leaving only Madeline and Beth standing now.

Before Beth could leave, Madeline said to her sister, "They shifted Jennine's casket to another cemetery. Did you know that?"

On hearing the deceased girl's name Beth shook her head with a frown, "I didn't hear about it. People get shifted all the time, especially coffins that are old," pausing for a moment, Beth looked at Madeline's face before asking, "Do you have any nightmares?"

Madeline's eyebrows furrowed, "Nightmares?"

"You used to have many when you were young, and some four or five years ago," answered Beth, "You used to see this vampire in your dream, the vampire who tore and killed Jennine. You must have forgotten because of the amount of time that has passed since it happened."

"There was a vampire?" questioned Madeline to her sister. Every time when she tried to remember, Madeline couldn't recollect anything. All she saw was her friend's body, and she had blamed it on her young mind that couldn't grasp fully on what had happened.

Beth frowned, looking at her younger sister, "Who did you think killed Jennine? It was a vampire who killed her. I was there when it happened."

Madeline wondered why she didn't remember it. Speaking about the dead person had almost turned to be a forbidden thing, which was why the matter had never come to light.

"You fell unconscious after seeing the gore. What a delicate thing you were then. Let's not discuss the sad things. Did grandpa stand against the King?" Beth asked in interest.

"He did, and the King said he would still go ahead with the marriage," Madeline answered that made Beth laugh.

"I would have loved to witness the scene," Beth said in between her laugh, "But seriously I don't get why they would oppose your marriage to the King. Did you tell them about me?"

Madeline replied, "No, I didn't."

"That's good," Beth was happy that Madeline had not mentioned about her being wooed by Markus Wilmot, who was a vampire and the King's cousin. "Anyways, Markus said he is taking me to hunt today. Have a good time in the castle."

"Wait, sister!" Madeline called Beth, following her quickly, "Beth!"

Beth, who had walked only a few steps, turned around to find her sister walking towards her in a hurry, "What happened?"

Madeline halted her footsteps when she came to stand in front of Beth, "There is something I wanted to ask you." Her sister's eyes narrowed in suspicion, and then her eyebrows raised in question. Madeline looked around to make sure they were alone. When a maid came to pass by, she only stared at the maid, waiting for her to leave the corridor.

"Are you going to tell me?" asked Beth. With Madeline coming to ask Beth for something, Beth's chin rose along with her nose.

Madeline pressed her lips together, her cheeks turning pink as she tried to conjure the right words. This was something she believed she could only ask her sister as she was the closest person to her. Someone who knew of her secrets, maybe not big ones, but Beth knew Madeline and vice versa, sharing the sisterly bond; even with the underlying rivalry the older daughter of Harris felt.

"I have been w-wondering, how a person tries to feel," Madeline blurted the words that made no sense to Beth.

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"What?" asked Beth in a deep frown, "Do you like the King?" Beth wondered if Madeline, who had been opposing the King earlier, was falling in love which looked like an inevitable thing considering how the man looked and who he was.

"N-no, that's not what I meant," Madeline shook her head. She could feel goosebumps forming on her skin at the thought of what she wanted to convey, that was not coming right, "I mean when you feel something in your body. How do you like-do it?"

Beth looked utterly lost. She wasn't even sure if what Madeline was telling was what her sister wanted her to know,

"How about after I come back from hunting, you can tell me about it?" asked Beth when she noticed Markus who appeared on the opposite side of the corridor. Madeline, who caught the vampire's presence, gave her sister a nod.

"Okay. Be careful during the hunt," said Madeline to Beth who waved at her. Beth appeared to be in a joyful mood. It wasn't hard to understand why, because Beth always wanted to have a life like this.

Madeline wondered if she should stop being worried for her sister's life and where her interest laid. Her sister was a stubborn person, and the more she would try to stop her, the worse it would affect the sisterly affection they held between each other.

Madeline let out a sigh. She hadn't moved from the spot where she had been standing. It wasn't that it was urgent, but Madeline would have loved to have some knowledge which she had claimed in front of Calhoun that she knew about.

Turning around, she started to walk, searching for her parents in the castle. When she was about to cross paths with Lady Lucy,

"Lady Madeline," Lady Lucy greeted her with a bow and Madeline returned it, "I thought you were going to come back during midnight or night. Brother Calhoun's wings must be quick."

Madeline smiled at Lady Lucy's words, "Yes, it's faster than the carriage. Has your day been going well, Lady Lucy?"

The vampiress gave a thoughtful look before giving her a nod, "I think I have. I was accompanying my cousin Lady Sophie and aunt before showing your mother the garden of the castle. I thought she could use some fresh air and enjoy the flowers," said Lady Lucy.

Madeline offered the vampiress another bow, "Thank you for keeping my family company."

"You don't have to thank me. We are going to be family, remember, and you are going to be my sister," upon hearing Lady Lucy's kind words, Madeline couldn't believe that there could be someone so nice as her in the society of vampires. Lucy had a kind heart, and it made Madeline question if it was because she had been sheltered by the previous King and Queen. Such a kind person had ended up with a man who didn't spend much time with her, but outside and away from her, "Let's take a walk, shall we?" proposed Lady Lucy and Madeline readily agreed to it.

"I hope your visit to your grandparent's house was peaceful?" asked Lady Lucy.

"Yes, it was," Madeline responded before remembering the time of breakfast, "You didn't come to have breakfast in the morning. Were you unwell?" She noticed the smile on Lucy's lips falter for two seconds before the vampiress fixed it.

"I was feeling slightly unwell. I didn't sleep much, it must be because of that," lied Lady Lucy and Madeline didn't question her further on it.

Calhoun had said that vampires and vampiress didn't need much sleep. They were born with a trait where their body could function with little sleep, but if what Lady Lucy was saying was true, then it might be something that was bothering her.

But Madeline decided to let Lucy know, "If you ever need someone to talk to, I will be here to listen."

"You're kind, Lady Madeline. I will keep that in mind," Lady Lucy offered her a bright smile again, "I am delighted that brother Calhoun chose you. Contrasting characteristics always settle in well together."

If Madeline was the light, Calhoun was the darkness. They were two different people. She wanted to save people, to keep them safe and happy while Calhoun enjoyed killing people.

Madeline wondered if Lady Lucy had any feelings towards Theodore. It was hard to question because she had noticed how she avoided him like he was an oncoming plague every time when he was near her. Her husband, Samuel Greville, on the other hand, didn't stay too long near her. She wondered why the previous King and Queen got her married to someone who barely stood by her side.

Did Lady Lucy's parents know about her interest in Theodore? Though Madeline wanted to learn more about it, it was rude to intrude into someone's life.

Both the girls stepped out of the castle and headed towards the garden. With the time of the evening approaching, the sunlight wasn't as harsh, and it made the atmosphere much more pleasant. Madeline and Lucy went to take a seat on one of the benches in the garden.

"I am so glad that you have accepted to marry the King, Lady Madeline," came the sudden words from Lady Lucy. This had Madeline turn towards her who was looking at the sky that was turning multicoloured, "I know how hard it gets when you are pushed into something you do not expect. The King can be a brute at times, but he isn't all bad."

Madeline wondered if Lucy would continue to support Calhoun if the vampiress were to know, he was the cause of her parent's death.

"I am also excited to have a kind sister like you," Lucy placed a hand on Madeline's hand that was resting on her lap. She stopped looking at the sky and turned to smile at Madeline before retreating her hand away from Madeline, "When you are part of the royal family, it is very hard to have someone, to be called as close," she then looked away, her eyes looking distant, "Sometimes the people you believe you can count on turn their back against you."

Unable to resist, Madeline asked, "Are you speaking about Theodore?"

Lucy glanced at Madeline before turning back to look at the bushes in front of her. The vampiress nodded, "I guess I am."

Lucy then continued, "I was too young back then. Inexperienced than what I am now," a small laugh escaped from her lips, but it wasn't out of joy, "I hate thinking about the past. I was married away too quickly, and soon then I lost my parents. Everything happened so fast." The vampiress spoke to Madeline, opening her mind and heart because somewhere, she felt Madeline was like her.

Madeline didn't interrupt what Lucy wanted to say, and she continued to listen to her,

"I hate him for dangling me, making me feel things where he had no intention to persure until the end. To stay," Lucy's voice appeared empty and hollow with no emotions in them.

"Does your...husband know about it?" asked Madeline and Lucy nodded her head.

"Secrets that come from the royal family at times don't stay hidden. Most do but some spill out. Samuel was not happy about it," Lucy replied. The vampiress then placed both her hands behind her to lean back, "I don't think any of us can forgive each other. Me with Theo, Samuel with me. We are just bound to do things now."

"The King never spoke anything on it?" asked Madeline out of curiosity.

Lucy's smile widened before turning small,

"Brother Calhoun doesn't get involved in things that don't concern him. It was something between Theodore and me. And Theodore never felt that way. I had hoped or believed that he did, but he didn't. When you are the daughter of the King and the Queen, you only turn to a pawn of trade." Her eyes looked more distant before returning her gaze back the way they were before.

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