The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Helena watched Calhoun looking at her, his words resonating in her mind. Even without any solid evidence, she knew that the current King of Devon had killed the previous King and Queen to attain the throne. But, there was always more to what met the eye when it came to Calhoun Hawthrone.

"Who do you think killed the girl?" she questioned Calhoun, "I heard that you were close to Issac Barnes. You should have been quite familiar with his daughter Catherine."

"Catherina, yes," agreed Calhoun, "I even made sure to convince her father with whom she wanted to marry. James Heathcliff."

"I would have never pegged you to be the helping kind," commented Helena and Calhoun's lips twitched.

"You would be rather surprised that I am a giver," replied Calhoun. A giver of death, he thought to himself.

"I wouldn't doubt," said Helena, looking at Calhoun through her monocle and picking up his expressions, "It looks more than coincidence to find people dead in the same house. Not to forget, Lady Catherine was going to get married to Mr. Heathcliff, wasn't she?"

Calhoun nodded his head, "It is unfortunate, that Catherine died before she could get married. Dying at a young age is a pity," he responded before looking at the direction where Theodore had gone.

"Do you know who might have killed her?" It would be strange if Calhoun wasn't aware of who killed the girl and the other two people, thought Helena in her mind.

"If I told you wouldn't you doubt me more, which you already do," hummed Calhoun, a crinkle of smile appeared on his lips, "Mr. Douglas who is now imprisoned, he has listed out some names of his customers. One among them is Mr. Barnes himself, who purchases weapons from this person."

"You are telling me Mr. Barnes orchestrated his daughter's death? Was it to frame Mr. Heathcliff?" a frown came to settle on Helena's face, "Here I thought he loved his daughter."

"Oh, he does. So much that he didn't want her getting married into a family who was poor in stature compared to his own family," Calhoun's voice was nonchalant, and it barely raised or fell in its tone, "Charmire is already working on it, so why don't you let him do his job?"

"If I believed people would do their job, I wouldn't be here. People are as corrupt as one can find," she looked at Calhoun, "Why don't we take a visit to the place where the deaths took place?" she proposed, and Calhoun happily obliged without having an issue with it.

Helena ran her hands across the walls of the house when they reached Heathcliff's residence, "It reeks of blood here," she muttered under her breath. Looking around, she bent down to pick something from the corner of the kitchen, "Did the magistrate or someone in the neighbourhood confirm if Mr. Heathcliff owns a pet?"

"Why do you ask?" inquired Calhoun, walking towards the woman to see her holding a piece of bristle which was grey and green that looked like it belonged to a dog or a wolf. Calhoun didn't have to question as he already knew that it belonged to James, which he had possibly shedded during his transformation.

"I will take this with with me to see what information I can get. Didn't you tell that there have been werewolves? If they are there, I will need to talk to Sebastian about it. The Warring's have not been controlling the werewolves. Some rogue werewolves must have escaped," said Helena, "I have arranged a meeting with the Kings and some other men so that some of the issues can be discussed to avoid conflicts."

"Sounds good to me," chimed Calhoun, "I guess that is all that is there in here? I believe that you know your way out from here, Lady Helena." The lady was smart enough to not need any assistance, and he was about to leave when Helena said,

"I know something is going on in here. It would be best if you don't take part in it and stay clear."

Calhoun turned his head to meet Helena's red eyes, "And what is going on in here?" The woman stared at Calhoun. He had the habit of behaving ignorant when in truth, he knew far more things than she or others did. But it was Helena who was in charge of things, not just the High House but through the order which was given in the past.

"I know that you are aware of the existence of the demons. Don't get involved in it," her face held the severe expression that she always wore, and one would always question if the woman ever smiled.

Calhoun only smiled at the woman's naive words, "I will try not to," and he left the house, making his way to the place where Theodore was waiting for him, "Is it done?"

"Yes, milord. There's a water channel that connects the other houses and the well in the village. The water only needs to be blessed, and we will find out. I will go to the other towns and villages nearby," informed Theodore and Calhoun gave a satisfied nod, "I saw her," he was speaking about the High House lady, "What is she doing here?"

"Trying to see for herself if I had any involvement in the recent murders," replied Calhoun with a smile and his fangs peeked out, "I told her to check with Mr. Barnes." They started to head in the direction where the carriage stood.

Calhoun would have loved to play a little longer but unlike Mr. Barnes daughter's wedding which was not going to take place as she was dead, and with James who had disappeared from everyone's sight, Calhoun had no interest in changing the dates of his own wedding with Madeline. There were also other things that were hanging in the air. It would be better to get unnecessary things out of his way so that his time could be utilized where it was important. He was waiting for other demons or fallen angels to show up so that he could send them back underground.

Demons, in general, were supposed to live underground, while the angels were supposed to live in heavens, while the humans, fallen angels, and the vampires were led to live on this earthly land. The issue here was that, with some demons who turned to vampires, some demons started to enter the realm of the living.

"Leave the evidence in his mansion," ordered Calhoun. Before Helena would come to the conclusion that the murder was done by James or a possible werewolf, it was better to have concrete evidence against Mr. Barnes, after all, he was the one who was responsible for his daughter.

In this place, if one knew how to escape and not get caught, killing people was not a big deal. They were vampires who craved and enjoyed blood. Calhoun had killed people for his own amusement and gains. He was aware that he wasn't a good person. His hands were not clean, which was why Helena had come here to check.

As they made their way through the busy street, a woman who was coming in the other direction crashed against Calhoun, and she quickly bowed in apology, "Forgive me, milord!" He looked down at her expressionlessly and walked away, while the woman continued to stand there looking at the King for a few seconds more before she was joined by a man.

"I smell the girl on him," said the woman to the man, both their eyes black in colour.

"The King?" asked the man.

The woman who stood there nodded her head. Her hair red in colour. "I thought I smelt wrong, but I was right. Her scent is strong. She must be spending a lot of time with him, which is why the smell is so potent. Rich in taste."

"We should go get her then-"

"Not now! We are waiting for the word. All of us are waiting for the right time. It has been so many years," the woman's eyes turned pitch black for the kind of creature she belonged to and with another blink of her eyes, it turned back to the human eyes, "The first time I didn't know. But the second time, I wanted to kill her," there was a look of longing in the woman's eyes.

"Let us go let others know, Jennine," the man said before both of them disappeared in the crowd.