The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Apart from the grave and the card that he had left for her, she didn't know how else to feel his presence, to know he was still around. It was strange, thought Beth to herself. Raphael was an archangel, yet his body was buried here. She wondered if it was still here or if it had disappeared without a trace as he was back in Heaven.

'Elizabeth.'

She heard a whisper of murmur, and she looked around the place, wondering if she was dreaming or if someone apart from her was present here.

Turning back to look at the grave, she said, "I didn't bring you flowers." She hadn't brought him any flowers last time either.

Back in Heaven, Raphael leaned forward towards the vessel, watching her stand in front of the grave where his body once used to be but had turned to dust once the top lid had been closed. He had been in the living world only for his punishment, and now that it was over, he had returned to Heaven.

Unable to resist calling her name, it had slipped out of his lips to reach the living world and to her.

"Stupid little girl," he muttered under his breath as he watched her speak to his empty grave. "You already have the flower with you," he said to her even though she couldn't hear him anymore.

When he was still part of the living world, he had asked her to bring him flowers. And though she didn't have any flower in her hands, there was one in her crystal pendant that was tied with a chain around her neck.

"Wish, Beth," said Raphael looking at her.

Before he had been sent to the living world, he had never guessed that he would end up getting attached to a troublesome human, who was now a werewolf.

He tapped his finger against the vessel as if hoping it would cause an effect where she was, but only wind breezed through, and he heard someone click their tongue behind him.

"Seems like she hasn't made her wish yet," commented Uriel.

The archangel came to stand next to Raphael to look at the mortal, "She is a pretty one. Oh, she's praying for you, how kind of her. She must be praying for you to be doing well in Heaven."

Raphael's lips set themselves in a thin line. He wondered if this was going to end up one-sided love, and he couldn't help but wonder as she had returned to Devon, she would pick her life the way it was while he wouldn't be there.

"I am sure you regret having an awful looking appearance when you were in the living world," commented Uriel, who was having more fun than he was supposed to. With the balance of the living world disturbed, Heaven had been affected, and the archangels seemed to be busy in other things recently.

"She will wish for me," Raphael was confident in not giving up on her.

The way they had started had been odd, but he believed she would. If what he believed was wrong, Beth would have thrown or lost the card long back. It was because when she was in the land of Warrings, Beth had once lost the card while walking in the forest. But she had gone back to the forest, searching for it the entire three hours before finding it and taking it back with her.

Uriel placed his hand on Raphael's shoulder, "It will be good if it happens, but if it doesn't...be careful."

Back in the living world, Beth stood in front of the grave for a few more minutes, wondering what Raphael might be doing right now. He must be busy with his angel duties, she thought in her mind.

A sigh escaped her lips. Turning around, she started to walk back to the carriage that waited for her. The sky had turned orange and red, and by the time she had reached the front of the castle, the sky had turned dark in a matter of a few minutes.

Her coachman was unloading her trunks from the back of the carriage while she walked up the stairs. Reaching the end of the stairs, she caught sight of her sister, who was followed by her husband. Seemed like old habits were hard to let go, thought Beth to herself. A smile came to form on her lips on seeing the baby bump.

"Bethie!" Madeline greeted with a wide smile on seeing her.

"You look good, Maddie. I am so happy for you," Beth complimented her over the glow her sister had.

Madeline was soon to come and put her hand around Beth, "I am so glad that you came. I was hoping you would."

"I couldn't miss the arrival of the little one," replied Beth, rubbing her sister's back and at the same time, her eyes met the King's eyes. Someone who had daunted her many times in the past. "Greetings to the King," she bowed her head when she pulled away from her sister.

"It is good to see you, Elizabeth. Madeline couldn't stop speaking on how she wanted you to be next to her." To this, Madeline nodded her head. "You smell like a cemetery," he noted.

Beth didn't know Calhoun would give her away like that, and she cleared her throat, "I paid a visit before coming here."

One side of Calhoun's lips pulled up, and he gave her a nod, "Your room has already been prepared, the maid will take you there. I believe Madeline would like to stay next to you. I will go take a look at the reports quickly in the court room and come back," he leaned forward to kiss his wife. Before he could leave, though, he turned to Beth and said, "Welcome back to Devon."

Turning to her sister, she saw Madeline beamin in happiness.

Beth wondered if, by this, it meant that she had been completely forgiven.