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Chapter 821 - Memory Of The Archangel
Music Recommendation: Foolish Once again- Frizzell D'souza
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It took a few days before Beth finally entered the land of Devon from the land of Warrings, and she could already feel the nostalgic feeling hitting her senses. It had been many months since she had last seen her loved ones, and she wondered how much would have changed in that time.
She felt a mixture of emotions within her. On one side, she was excited to see her family, and on the other side, dread filled her. The stain on her had inked for so many years that she knew the backlash she had received from some of the people in the land of Warrings would be nothing.
The hooves of the horses clopped against the forest road while she occasionally heard them neighing.
From the letters that she had received from her sister, who had written to her diligently to make sure she was alright, Beth had come to learn that her parents had moved back to their original house.
The carriage in which Beth was travelling finally reached the village of the East Carswell, and her anxiousness only increased. The carriage pulled itself in front of the house of the Harris' residence with the horses stopping, and the coachman stepped down to open the carriage door for her.
But Beth had already pulled it open, and she stepped down from the carriage.
"Milady, would you like me to bring your luggage into the house?" asked the coachman while watching Beth admire the house from where she once wanted to run away and stay in a mansion.
"Let me check if my parents are here. I don't know if they are here or with my sister now," replied Beth, making her way through the creaking gate and knocked on the door. On receiving no reply, she walked around the house to step into the backyard to see the house's back door was locked too. "We'll be heading to the castle, Trevor," she informed him, returning to stand next to the carriage.
"Alright, milady," the coachman bowed his head.
And while the coachman waited for her to step inside so that he could close the door, one of the villagers who caught sight of the young woman called, "Is that you, Elizabeth?"
Beth turned around, noticing it to be Mrs. Parsley along with her daughter Pauline.
Beth had planned to meet her family before showing her face to others but caught near the carriage. She offered them a bow and a smile.
"Good evening, Mrs. Parsley," greeted Beth.
"Oh my! I cannot believe it is you. Poor you," the woman clicked her tongue. Beth wondered if the word had spread about her being bit by a werewolf. Not that she minded about it now, but she was aware of how the people of Devon didn't welcome werewolves in their territory. It was only the land of Warrings where people were tolerant because it was where the werewolves had originated. "The last I heard you were exiled out of this land for trying to kill the King."
Beth wondered if she would be living with it for the rest of her life, but then it was her fault why people held it against her.
"When did you come back?" asked the woman with false enthusiasm in her voice.
"Only a few minutes ago," Beth replied, and she noticed Mrs. Parsley's daughter, who was two years younger than her, keenly looking at her clothes.
"Is that what people have to wear when they are banished, mama?" the girl whispered, but Beth heard it quite clearly. Things that she had not paid attention to before could now hear as good as an average vampire.
During her training period, Jagger had not gone easy on her. In one of the training periods, she was made to sit in the forest with her eyes closed. Arrows were then fired close to her ears, and she had to catch them with her hands before the arrows would nip the side of her earlobes.
Mrs. Parsley sized Beth up and down before asking the question that her daughter questioned before, "What happened to your clothes? It is really pitiful to see that you are wearing something as dirty as that," the woman shook her head as if a great misfortune had fallen upon Beth. "This is why you shouldn't have felt jealous of your sister. Look at her now, she's the Queen of this land. If they don't get you decent clothes, as everybody knows what you did to the King, I am sure Pauline will be happy to lend you her old clothes."
More than a year ago, when Mrs. Parsley had asked Beth for some of her clothes for her daughter to wear, Beth had outright refused it. It was because Mrs. Parsley could afford clothes. It seemed like the woman was taking her revenge by rubbing salt over the wound. But Beth didn't have any wounds.
Beth offered the woman and her daughter a kind smile, "Thank you for your kind consideration about what I will be wearing. But I don't think I would be able to fit in Pauline's clothes. Especially considering how she's flat in the front unlike me."
Just because she had changed some of the things in her attitude didn't mean she had reformed every little thing about herself.
Hearing Beth's words out in the open while they were on the road, Mrs. Parsley's daughter turned red out of embarrassment.
"H-how dare you talk like that?!" Pauline questioned Beth. "We are being kind to you by offering you my old clothes, when people are talking ill about you."
The smile on Beth's lips slowly slipped away. She said, "I am grateful to your thoughtfulness, but my sister still loves me dearly. And don't think I don't know what you were trying. Try it on someone else and not on me," her eyes turned sharp, and she turned to Trevor, "Let's go now."
When Beth left in the carriage, both the woman and her daughter fumed in anger. "Let her come back. I will make sure to see that she pays for those words!" Mrs. Parsley shouted, looking at the diminishing sight of the carriage.
In the moving carriage, a sigh escaped Beth's lips. Before the carriage could continue its path, she leaned forward and pulled the window aside so that she could speak to the coachman. "Take the right path in the forward."
"Not to the castle?" questioned the coachman.
"It is a small stop," replied Beth and the man obliged to her words.
The carriage pulled in front of the two tall pillars with its gates that had been left open. The name of Hawthrone written with the help of iron rods that were bent and shaped into letters, Beth stepped inside the cemetery.
With the time of evening, the sunlight wasn't as harsh as it was in the afternoon, and the wind was gentle that breezed through the trees that were around the place.
Before leaving Devon, she had come here, and here she was again, back to standing in front of the grave that had Raphael's name written on it.
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Chapter 822 - Memory Of The Archangel II
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.
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Chapter 823 - Fixing
Music Recommendation: Giverny- Remo Anzovino
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"Come on, let's get you to your room," said Madeline, placing her hand on Beth's back.
Beth nodded at her sister's words, following the guards who had picked up her luggage at the carriage and had just walked past where they stood. "How have you been, Maddie?" she asked her sister.
"Absolutely wonderful," smiled her sister. "We are all happy that the baby will be coming out soon. Leave me, how was your journey?"
"It was fairly alright. The distance felt less because of the excitement of wanting to see you all. Where is mother and father?" she asked.
"The last I saw them was with one of the ministers who was keeping them company. Mother has been eagerly waiting for your arrival, she will be very happy to see you, Beth," replied Madeline, placing one hand on top of her baby bump while walking slowly with care.
"Do you need to rest your feet? You don't have to come along with me, Maddie," said Beth, slightly worried on seeing her sister, who looked tired.
Madeline waved her hand at Beth, "I am perfectly fine. You don't have to worry about me, Vlad and mother said it might feel uncomfortable, but there's nothing to worry about."
"Vlad is here?" questioned Beth, and Madeline nodded her head.
"He is. He has been hopping back and forth in and out of the castle. Even stayed around when the physician had come to check my condition," she smiled at the thought. "Cal has already been making sure, reminding me not to do this and that, to make it worse I have the Devil watching my every step."
Beth laughed, hearing this, "I am glad to hear that you are being well taken care of. I have nothing to worry about at all-"
"No!" Madeline stopped walking, "I wanted you to be here. Having people around, everyone plays a different role, Beth. Calhoun is my husband, Vladimir is the grandfather, but you, you are the sister I grew up with." She caught hold of Beth's hands, "You are important to me and don't you forget that."
"I would never do that," Beth smiled at her sister's words.
"If you aren't too tired, let's take a walk," suggested Madeline, pulling Beth to the garden.
Reaching the garden, they sat down on one of the benches while Beth saw Madeline stretch her feet forward.
"Where are the others?" inquired Beth.
"Aunt Monique wrote to Calhoun that she is travelling back to Devon as she was in the West land. Lucy and Theodore will be here soon," answered Madeline, fondly watching Beth. She was seeing her sister after many months, and it felt good to have her here.
"I can hear the heartbeat of the baby growing," stated Beth.
"You didn't tell me how you have been doing," reminded Madeline, and Beth smiled.
"The people of Warrings, are in general a little more rough compared to the people of the other lands, because of how they are treated by the outsiders and what they are. I decided to keep my werewolf abilities," said Beth and Madeline nodded her head. "I met James there."
Even though they had shared many letters between them in these months, Beth had not once mentioned James, and she doubted Calhoun knew about him being there.
Hearing this, Madeline's eyes grew wide. For a second, she was quiet before she asked, "How is he doing there?"
"Much better. When I met him, he was already in control of his werewolf side, he was very helpful," said Beth to Madeline.
"I see, that is good to hear," whispered Madeline, feeling slightly responsible for the way his life had changed.
Beth then said, "You don't have to worry about him, Maddie. It has been many months, and by what I have seen, he has put everything in the past. I was with him, getting trained."
"We should definitely send him a word for your gratitude then," smiled Madeline. "It feels like it has been so long since all those things took place. We all have changed so much, haven't we?"
Beth couldn't agree more to it, "We did. By the way, there was something I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?" Madeline asked Beth to go on.
"Did you hear anything from the archangels? I mean apart from the priest Gabriel."
Madeline pursed her lips before shaking her head, "Gabriel doesn't share any information, and there has been no word from Paschar. Did you go to meet Raphael?" It was because Calhoun had hinted about Beth visiting the cemetery.
"Mm," Beth nodded her head.
"It looks like they are still undergoing the punishment for breaking the rules of Heaven. A few months ago, Vlad had told me that if I prayed wholeheartedly, my wish would reach Heaven and they would be able to hear my thoughts. And though I have done it, I haven't heard anything about it from Gabriel because he behaves as if he doesn't know anything."
"Are you sure it will work?" asked Beth, placing both her arms on the edge of the bench and leaning back.
"Vlad said it would work and it was possible that Paschar would return at the time when the baby comes to this world. As he was a former angel, we can only rely on his information. I did mention it to Gabriel but he does nothing but smile. It is hard to know if it has worked or not. But it is worth a try, right?"
Beth gave it a thought on what Madeline said. A wish that Heaven could grant if the prayer was true, but it wasn't like she hadn't wished for things in the past. When it came to luck, hers sucked more than the others, and she had learned that if she wanted something, she would have to work hard for it.
"I am sure Paschar will be here to meet you and the baby. I doubt the archangels would deny such a request," smiled Beth.
After speaking with each other and catching up with the things that they hadn't written in the letters, both of them stood up and got back inside the castle.
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Chapter 824 - Fixing II
With her trunks in the room, Beth met her parents, who were happy to have her here with them. It was good to be back home, where she felt a feeling of belonging. At the dining table, she noticed that her parents had slowly started to get comfortable around the King, and he was right now feeding Madeline.
While she was having her meal, a sound of crackling fire came to appear next to her, and when she turned around, she was greeted by the old bat.
"Look, who we have here. It is the werewolf," smiled Vladimir, his eyes brightly shining. "How are you doing, Elizabeth? I was planning to visit you, but with the baby that is going to come, time has been scarce."
"I heard. I have been well thank you, Vladimir," answered Beth.
"How was the land of Warrings? Interesting people, aren't they," the Devil asked in a nonchalant tone. "Did you turn into a complete werewolf? It is time for Calhoun to implement new rules."
Madeline nodded her head in agreement. She turned to look at Calhoun and said, "We should make sure Beth doesn't get into trouble if people were to find that she's a werewolf now."
"The High House has already prepared the new rules for all the lands, so it should be fine," replied Calhoun. "You should have already caught wind of it unless you do something else in the High House," he looked at the Devil, as he had heard about Vladimir hanging around the High House.
Beth bowed her head, and she turned to look at Vladimir and said, "A lot of people in the land of Warrings, don't believe about the existence of demons as well as the Devil. The magistrate told me to convey his message to you, that he would like to have tea with you."
"Did he now," replied Vladimir.
"It is similar to the time when people had a hard time digesting the existence of the vampires and the werewolves. Like many other things, people will finally come to understand the truth," stated Calhoun.
"Mortals have always been like that. Though I would love to meet this magistrate," smiled Vladimir.
"I am sure he would appreciate it," replied Beth before getting back to her meal.
When she returned to her room which was spacious and prepared for her sake, Beth went to take a warm bath as the journey had been long and tiresome. While in the bathtub, she had her head leaned back to stare at the ceiling while wondering what to do.
Though her parents had welcomed her, she could still sense the way they treated her. There was a slight awkwardness because of the event that had taken place before she had left the castle. Her hand reached out for the pendant that was around her chain, touching the smooth surface while wondering if her prayer wasn't considered to be wholehearted.
The following day, Beth had left the castle to visit the nearest church, hoping her prayers would reach Heaven faster than praying in the castle.
Using the royal carriage, she arrived at the front of the church and stepped inside to pray.
Beth folded her hands together while kneeling, hoping her words would reach him or any other angel.
"You seem to be in better shape now," came a voice from the side, and Beth opened her eyes to notice one of the archangels, who wore the white uniform of the priest.
Standing up, Beth bowed her head in greeting, "Good morning, Father Gabriel."
"Good morning, Ms. Elizabeth," Gabriel greeted her back.
"I was hoping to meet you," said Beth and Gabriel slightly tilted his head, "I have confessions to make."
With no one else in the church at this hour, Gabriel waved his hand towards the confession box, and she started to walk towards it. Beth didn't know how else to speak to Raphael, but she hoped her words would reach him through Gabriel.
Stepping inside the wooden box, Beth took a seat while holding her hands on her lap. Hearing the rustle and door closing on the other side, she could tell Gabriel had taken a seat too.
"What is it that worries your mind, Ms. Elizabeth?" asked Gabriel as if he didn't know anything about her or the person she wanted to speak about.
Beth's lips parted, wetting it, she said, "I have done bad things in the past, things I am terribly ashamed of now. It makes me worry that my past deeds are catching up to me."
"You have been working on making things better, haven't you?" asked Gabriel.
"I have," whispered Beth, "But I still feel terrible about it. That may be the reason why my prayers have not reached."
A smile appeared on Gabriel's lips that Beth couldn't see because of the wooden separator.
Beth continued, "I have never killed people intentionally. I don't know if it is his punishment or even mine. When I left Devon, I decided to pray and wish to see him after I got into a better condition so that I wouldn't end up hurting him or anyone else again."
"You're too hard on yourself. Maybe Heaven has been busy with work, considering how many people pray. You should pray again, until your prayers are answered," replied Gabriel, his words calm. "You have reformed yourself to be a new person, and it isn't something easy to do."
"But what if my prayers never get answered?" questioned Beth, doubt in her mind.
"God and the angels answer everyone's prayers. Sometimes it is only a matter of patience," said Gabriel and Beth wondered if there was still hope. "And if you still don't find the answer to it, maybe it is time to pray for something else and let the one you are holding on to go."
This was something Beth had been worried about. People spent years hoping and wishing, but nothing came out of it.
"Do you deliver messages, Father Gabriel?" asked Beth.
Gabriel pursed his lips at this. The interaction of a mortal and the angel in Heaven was something that couldn't be passed, but considering how Raphael was most of the time spending his time with the magical vessel, Gabriel doubted he would need to pass anything at all.
"What is it that you would like to tell?"
Gabriel didn't know if the girl had prayed to see Raphael, but sometimes the prayer required more sincerity. He was a little curious about what was going on.
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Chapter 825 - Fixing III
Beth felt a bubble of hope in her chest, and she said,
"I wanted to apologize to him, for the way things were before he left and for taking away his life. Back then, I did not see things clearly as I see it now. Along with my sister, he was one of the people who believed that I could change. Even when I thought I was hideous to look at." She looked down at her hands. Raphael had looked after her even during the time she was in her worst. "I wished...he was here so that I could tell him… I am sorry for causing trouble."
"I am sure he hasn't held it against you. He did good by helping you, Ms. Elizabeth. Whatever happened, it gave out fruitful results, don't you agree?"
She shook her head, "I am not sure about it," whispered Beth.
"I would like to pray directly to you, Archangel Gabriel, for Raphael to be allowed to step back into the living world," she said, turning to look through the divider.
"Unfortunately, that is not how it works, Ms. Elizabeth. Raphael is still undergoing a punishment for breaking some of the rules and I cannot intervene," replied Gabriel and Beth's heart sunk.
"Thank you for listening to me," thanked Beth, and she stepped out of the confession box.
Before she could take her leave, Gabriel said, "Times might be difficult, milady, but like many other things it will pass and you will be able to see the brighter side of it."
Beth bowed her head again before she left the place.
Even Gabriel disappeared from the church on seeing the girl leave, and he entered Heaven to verify something. Something was amiss, and he walked into the building that had the box where the prayers and wishes of scrolls entered from the living world sent by the mortals from the living world.
He placed his hand on the surface of the wooden box, but he didn't find the scroll of wish from Elizabeth.
"Amos," Gabriel called one of the men who worked in here.
"Archangel Gabriel," Amos bowed his head, and he replied, "Are you looking for something?"
"Yes, I want to know when was the last time the mortal named Elizabeth Harris' scroll of prayer or wish entered into the box. You have the records, don't you?" questioned Gabriel.
Amos nodded his head. Stepping away from the desk, he went to the racks where the parchments had been binded and neatly placed in the room.
"Just the time period should do," stated Gabriel while he patiently waited for Amos to fill him in.
"Archangel Gabriel, the last scroll of Elizabeth Harris' prayer that had entered the wish box was a couple of months ago. More than ten months. It was about not wanting to turn into a werewolf, but that was rejected," informed Amon.
Gabriel's eyebrows subtly raised itself, and he tried to confirm, "Nothing after it?"
Amos turned back to face Gabriel and shook his head, "I don't think she made a wish."
"How strange," murmured Gabriel under his breath. Even though it took a while for a wish or a prayer to come true, it should have been collected in the box, but in Elizabeth's case, it wasn't there.
"Is something the matter-" Amos went to question, but Gabriel had disappeared from the room in a blink of an eye. The angel looked at the other angel workers and asked in puzzlement, "Did we make a mistake?"
Gabriel returned to the living world and entered the forest near the mountain of Belmount, which had more traces of the Devil. He waited there for his former brother to arrive.
"I didn't know you were missing me and came to look for me," said Vladimir, appearing there with a curious look on his face.
Gabriel had a pleasant smile on his lips, and he said, "I came here to ask you something."
"Hm? And what might that be that you have come here to the dark side for help?" Vladimir raised his eyebrows.
"The antidote that you had given Elizabeth Harris, I want you to remove your blood from her body," said Gabriel. It took him a while to know what exactly was going on as he tried to backtrack on the events that had occurred over the last few months.
"And why do you think I have to listen to what you or any of the other archangels' words?" questioned Vladimir. "With my blood running through her veins, one day she will be able to turn into a fine demon once she enters the underworld."
"Her wishes are not passing through from the living world because of your blood in her body, Vladimir," pointed Gabriel. "And that is thanks to the Devil's blood."
"How rude," Vladimir's eyes narrowed as they looked at Gabriel. "You dare to say that you blocked my possible messages to Heaven and you ask me for help."
Gabriel's eyebrows furrowed as he didn't want to fight his brother or have another war that would lead to another disruption. It had been only a few months since peace had fallen upon all the people.
Turning around, Vladimir raised his hand, ready to snap his fingers to leave, and Gabriel quickly said, "I will let you spend an hour with Constance." Hearing this, the Devil dropped his hand.
"Just an hour?" questioned Vladimir, clicking his tongue in unhappiness.
"A day," Gabriel gave his word. He knew beforehand if he were to tell a day, the Devil would ask for a week, which was why he started it with an hour. And the Devil removing his blood from a mortal being wasn't difficult for the Devil.
Vladimir didn't say yes or no as he disappeared from there, but the archangel believed it was a yes.
In Hawthrone's castle, Beth was in the kitchen, talking to the cook when the Devil appeared in the middle of nowhere and caught hold of her wrist.
"Come with me, girl," said Vladimir, dragging Beth away from there.
"W-what happened?" Beth asked, startled while keeping up her feet with him as they crossed the corridors to a quieter place.
"Hush child," Vladimir shushed her before stopping and turning around to face her.
Beth didn't know what was going on, but she saw him place his index and middle finger on her forehead. She felt something being pulled out from her, and as Vladimir's hand moved away from her forehead, she caught sight of black threads that he pulled out from her. The black threads crackled before they disappeared in thin air.
"There you go. I have taken my blood out of you and now you are just a part werewolf and part human," said Vladimir.
Beth touched her forehead where she had felt a slight pain, and she looked at Vladimir with a look of surprise on her face. She said, "Thank you."
Noticing how Beth had not figured out like the rest of them, Vladimir rolled his eyes and sighed, "What are you doing here, instead of making a wish? The more time you take, the more time it is going to take to receive."
Wait, what? Asked Beth in her mind.
"Gabriel said your prayers are not reaching and I would like to have your good prayers to reach my great grandchild," said Vladimir.
Beth closed her green eyes, making a wish, and by the time she had opened her eyes, Vladimir had disappeared.
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Chapter 826 - Owner Of The Card
Music Recommendation: Your Majesty- Rupert Gregson
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Another week passed in the living world while Beth waited for something to happen, as this time she knew her wish had finally reached Heaven. But even though her wishes could go through, it didn't mean it would be granted. Some wishes were granted, while most were often rejected, especially when they were related to the Heavenly beings.
"Here let me help you," offered Beth, giving her hand to Madeline and putting her other hand on her sister's back, who was trying to stand from where she sat.
"God, I feel so tired and hot today," complained Madeline when she got on her feet. "I feel like I grew twice my size, but Cal said I look the same," she shook her head, remembering something her husband said.
"Did the physician say that the baby was due next week?" asked Beth, and she slowly let go of her sister's back while staying close next to her.
Calhoun had left Madeline's side an hour ago so that he could attend to the royal court matters on what was going on in Devon. He mostly completed going through the doc.u.ments and signing them when Madeline was taking her naps while sitting in the same room as her.
"Yes, that is what he said. Feels like the days are passing sooner than before, and I wonder if it is because the castle is full with people again. To think that almost a year has passed since we entered the Hawthrone castle," Madeline reminisced the days with a smile on her lips. "And we are still deciding the names for the baby."
"That's alright. You still have time for it," assured Beth.
Through the door, Lucy entered with a tray in her hand.
"You should have asked the maids to get them, Lucy," said Madeline, but Lucy waved her hand before placing the tray of flower tea in the pot.
"That's absolutely fine. I am so used to getting things done by myself with Theo and it has turned out to be a habit now," and saying this, Lucy sat down to pour the tea for herself and to the two young women, who were on the patio. Lucy and Theodore had arrived at the castle four days ago. Now it was just Aunt Monique, who was missing from the castle, but she was already on her way to the castle.
Madeline placed her hands on the baby bump, running them back and forth to feel the roundness while she hummed something.
"It feels so peaceful, doesn't it," said Beth, looking at the grounds of the castle.
"It feels blissful," replied Lucy, bringing the teacups and handing them over to Madeline and Beth before she picked her own and came to stand near the railings. "To think that life was different not just one year but two decades ago. Back then it was hard to dream for a future which was so perfect like this."
"Are you planning for a child too, Lady Lucy?" asked Beth, and the vampiress smiled.
"We thought about having one after everything settles down with the school. I never knew that the renovation work would take this long time," replied Lucy thoughtfully. Back then, she thought it would get ready in two months, but it had taken more than six months. "How about you, Lady Elizabeth? Are you planning to settle down here?"
"Beth is waiting for Raphael's return," chimed Madeline, slowly sipping the tea before bringing it down.
"Is that so," Lucy responded before saying, "Did Gabriel mention anything about them being allowed to come to the living world? I heard from Vlad that some of the wishes get granted after many years, and many get rejected."
Madeline sighed, "I did make a few more wishes to make sure the Heaven's would not forget about it. I don't know when the time will come." As optimistic as Madeline was, she didn't know if Paschar or Raphael would be coming any time soon. At the same time, she didn't want Beth to keep waiting and live the rest of her life all by herself, but then in the end, it was her sister's decision. "How about you, Bethie?"
Beth smiled at her sister's question, "I have sent a fair share of prayers to Heaven."
Somewhere there was hope, and everyone held on to it.
"AH!" came the sudden sound from Madeline, and the teacup slipped from her hand to fall on the floor as Madeline clutched the front of her dress.
Beth's eyes furrowed, and at the same time, she noticed water drops dripping on the floor where Madeline stood.
"I think the baby is coming sooner than the time we expected him to come," Beth's words slipped out of her mouth, supporting Madeline hunched her body out of pain.
"Him?" asked her sister in pain.
Lucy said, "I will go call brother Calhoun and have someone get the midwives at the earliest as possible!" and she quickly left their side to go and inform about Madeline's condition.
Beth continued to hold Madeline's hand, and she felt her sister squeeze her hand because of the discomfort and pain she was experiencing right now. Seeing her sister heave for air, Beth said, "Breath, Maddie. It is going to be fine. The King should be here any moment."
While she was in the land of Warring, she had come to identify the smell pregnant women held around them, which was different when they carried a girl or a boy child with them. Beth had found out the day she had arrived here, but she had decided to keep it to herself.
Madeline felt the contraction and the pain that only continued to increase.
Within less than a minute, Calhoun had appeared through the door, and Beth stepped away so that he could stand beside Madeline.
"You are going to be alright," Calhoun assured Madeline before picking her and carrying her to the room that was being prepared for her to deliver the baby.
The whole castle had gone on alert, and everyone in the castle couldn't help but wait eagerly while the family members reached the front of the room to see Calhoun bring Madeline to the room and place her on the large bed.
"I am right here, my sweet girl. Come on breath for me," whispered Calhoun while sitting next to her on the bed and wiping the sweat forming on her forehead.
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Chapter 827 - Owner Of The Card II
After a few hours of struggle and pain, where Calhoun stayed next to Madeline, offering her words of encouragement, the Queen of Devon later successfully delivered a healthy vampire baby boy.
Soon the family members entered the room and wished the new parents their congratulations while holding the baby in their arms with love and affection.
Beth watched her sister being taken care of by Calhoun as he gently patted her head with love. Unlike in the past, she didn't feel jealous of Madeline anymore, nor did she view the King as a potential husband for herself.
When the baby boy was passed to her by her parents, Beth couldn't help but touch the baby's head as gently as she could while holding its little fingers. She was no more a sister or a daughter. She was now an aunt, and she couldn't help but smile at the baby.
"Look at those hands. My nephew," said Lucy when she had got the opportunity to hold the baby. Like everyone in the room, she was entranced by the baby's presence.
"I want one too, Lucy. On a second thought a dozen of them," Theodore whispered only for her to hear. Lucy's eyes turned wide, and she coughed and cleared her throat.
She knew what Theodore meant. Looking at her brother's child, her heart yearned to have one. With Paschar's magic that had fixed her wounds, it had also given her another chance to have a child of her own. While Vladimir was speaking to the baby and Calhoun, Lucy turned to look at Theodore, and she said, "Tell me when, and we can put the thought into motion," a mischievous smile was on her lips.
"I cannot wait," replied Theodore, leaning to her side and kissing her temple.
While the people in the Hawthrone castle and the whole of Devon celebrated the arrival of the King and the Queen's child up in Heaven, parchments were getting sealed and signed on orders of fulfilling the wishes that the mortals had prayed.
"Did you hear that? The Devil's grandson and the Archangel Paschar's daughter have a child now," said one of the angels to another, who had returned from the living world.
"What is the baby? Is it a demon or an angel?" questioned another angel, who heard this.
"A vampire," answered the first angel. "How strange, to think that it didn't turn like either one of the kind."
"Strange it is," came archangel Ramiel's voice from behind, where the two angels stood to talk. "Stranger that you aren't working on finishing the work as fast as you can. Get back to your work now," he said in a calm voice, and the angels quickly went on their way to complete their tasks.
Seeing the two angels leave, Archangel Ramiel made his way through the garden and towards the tall building by walking past the corridor of light where he found Paschar. Paschar was looking at a painting that hung on the wall.
"Congratulations for having a grandchild," Ramiel wished Paschar and the archangel turned to look at his fellow brother with a smile. "It is fascinating that it is only you and the Devil who have a grandchild and a great grandchild, sharing the same child. The term of your punishment has been over and you are now free to enter the living world, Paschar."
Paschar had been patiently looking forward to this day, and now that it was here, a smile appeared on his lips on hearing the news about his daughter giving birth to her son. But it was the fact that his daughter had kept him in her prayers and wanted to be part of the happiness.
"It is wonderful news," replied Paschar, and he then asked, "What about Raphael?"
Murmurs had been going around about Raphael and Madeline's sister, Elizabeth, whose wish had not appeared in the Heavenly realm.
"It was pulled out two days ago, and I have submitted the girl's wish for approval. He should follow you soon," responded Ramiel. "I worried that he might get too attached to the vessel," he added.
Paschar smiled and said, "Thank you for submitting them, Ramiel."
Raphael was in the garden painting with Constance when the news about Calhoun and Madeline's child had reached his ears. Since the time he had heard Beth's words in the church, he knew the time was near, and he waited. He had been waiting while helping the souls in here, speaking to them.
After a few hours, an angel came looking for him and called him, "Archangel Raphael!"
"What is it?" questioned Raphael, his golden eyes staring at the person.
"It is about the wish, and it has passed its approval. You are now free to go," informed the angel, and Raphael stopped what he was doing. "Archangel Paschar just left to visit the living world."
Raphael brought his hand forward, raising it and a small watch appeared in the palm of his hand, reading the hour of Devon, and he saw it was still noon.
"Would you like me to bring the doc.u.ments that had to be-" the angel was still speaking, but Raphael had disappeared from there, heading to the living world.
In less than a few seconds, Raphael appeared in the Hawthrone's castle. His attire had changed from his angelic robes to one that a person in the living world would wear. He was no more a demon and had come here as an archangel. The fringes of his black hair fell over his forehead, and the backside of his hair shortened.
A light chatter filled in the castle that came from the maids and some of the guests who had arrived to congratulate the King and the Queen.
His appearance was starkly different than the last time he was here, which was why people in the castle thought he was the King's acquaintance. His hairstyle, the clothes he wore, and his gold eyes that now searched for the girl, whom he had come here for.
Walking through the corridors, he finally caught sight of her.
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Chapter 828 - Owner Of The Card III
Musical Recommendation: Foolish Once Again- Frizzell D'Souza
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Raphael watched Beth, who was walking on the other side of the corridor. She seemed to be in deep thought. Her demeanour appeared sweeter than the time he had been looking at her in the magical vessel.
She wore a dark green dress that complimented her eyes, her movements ever so graceful. The months that had passed without meeting each other seemed to have been the longest he had counted. Watching her continue to walk, Raphael started to walk towards her and noticed Lady Lucy, who stood ahead, talking to one of the guests.
Beth bowed her head when Lucy and the man turned to look at her.
"Mr. Harper, this is Lady Elizabeth Harris, the Queen's sister," Lady Lucy introduced her to the man who was with her. "Mr. Harper is from Borris. He has been newly assigned in the High House as well as a minister in the royal court of the King."
"Congratulations on receiving the post, Mr. Harper," Beth wished the man, and the man bowed his head.
"It is a pleasure to acquaint myself with you, Lady Elizabeth. I have heard many praises about your beauty across the land of Devon and they indeed are very true," praised Mr. Harper and Lucy smiled, noticing the interest Mr. Harper openly showed towards Beth.
"You are too kind with your praise, Mr. Harper. It is a pleasure to meet you," Beth's words were polite.
"I heard you were staying in the land of Warrings. It must have been difficult to live in a place like that," commented the man.
At the same time, a maid appeared next to Lucy, "Milady, Lady Monique has arrived."
"Oh, that's good. I was worried about what was taking her this long. Excuse me," Lucy bowed her head and left the place, leaving Beth alone with Mr. Harper.
"It isn't as bad as what people perceive it to be," Beth responded to Mr. Harper's earlier question. "It is a wonderful place once you adjust to it."
Beth noticed the way Mr. Harper looked entranced by her, and she looked away from him for the briefest moment, to look behind her in the direction where Lucy had left.
Raphael couldn't stop staring at Beth right now. From where he stood, there was a sliver of awkwardness in how she behaved as if she wanted to run away from the person who was trying to impress her. The man somewhere reminded him of Calhoun's cousin Markus. Maybe it was because of the attire, he thought to himself.
"Forgive me for my forwardness, milady, but I have never seen someone as beautiful as you. I was wondering if you-" Beth bowed her head,
"Forgive me, but I have somewhere to go. It was good to meet you, Mr. Harper," her words were quick, and she hurriedly left the man's side.
She walked in Raphael's direction where he stood, and he noticed her lips pursed together as she continued to walk past him without sparing a look at him. Raphael smiled at this, and he followed her to her room, his footsteps much slower than hers.
Reaching her room, he said, "I think you have something that is mine."
Startled by the voice, she snapped around to look at him, and her eyes widened in shock.
Beth's lips were parted, half star-struck and half in shock as she didn't know he would be coming here today. She had been praying and hoping to see him, and now that he was here, she couldn't get a single word out of her lips.
His punishment had been lifted, and he was finally able to enter the living world.
Her heart was beating hard, and she finally moved her lips, "You are here." Finally, thought Beth to herself.
Raphael took a couple of steps forward to where she stood, and he said, "Someone wished and prayed for me to come to the living world and the wish was sincere along with the prayers. Paschar and I were granted permission to step into the living world. God is merciful and knows how important love is. Paschar is on his way to meet Madeline and the child."
Of course, the person was her, who had wished for him.
Beth couldn't take her eyes off Raphael, and she seemed to be in a trance. Under those stubble, shaggy hair and rug like a cloak that he wore, who knew this was how he looked. Even his eyes were not black but golden brown.
Seeing Raphael stare at her, Beth then said, "Madeline is resting at the moment."
"He'll wait."
Breaking her gaze away from him, she looked down at the card to notice the plain metal card that previously had the impression of the fool on it wasn't plain anymore. Instead, there was a picture of an angel with golden wings on it.
Looking up, she asked, "Are you here for a short visit?"
Beth didn't know if the archangel had only arrived here to complete the wish and again leave back to Heaven. Raphael's gaze was calm as he stared into her green eyes. He said,
"The last time I was here, I believe I left things unfinished, and I decided to come back here for it," he then stretched his hand as if he was asking for his card to be returned to him.
So it was for the card, thought Beth to herself. She wondered if it was one of his powers which was why it had the ability to change. As happy and thrilled she had been to see him stand in front of her, in her room. The sadness of him having to leave again was something she couldn't stop growing in her chest. With his absence next to her over the last few months, Beth had come to acknowledge his feelings as her own feelings grew, but it seemed like it was too late for it.
Beth raised her hand, which held the card in it. This was the last thing that belonged to him, and she, who had held onto it for so long, had to part with it today.
She saw Raphael reach for the card, and for a second, her heart sunk until his hand caught hold of her wrist and not the card, pulling her into his arms.
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Chapter 829 - 12 Hours EaChapter
Music Recommendation: Nikolai - Martin Phipps
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Beth could feel her heart beating loud and fast. She hadn't unexpected Raphael to pull her for a hug. His arms surrounded her, holding her close, and blood rushed up to her face.
Over the years, Beth had fallen for many men, maybe fallen in love with their wealth would be the right thing to say and then with their looks. And as much as she was trying to pin herself to marry someone of great calibre and status, nobody truly treated her the way she wanted them to treat her.
Though her family cared for her, it wasn't the way she wanted it and not being able to find it inside the house, she had tried to find it outside. But the men who wanted to take her as their wife and the women who envied her because of how she looked never treated her with love and respect. Back then, she had been a young woman who could be swayed by materialistic things, and she had tried to find her happiness in it.
Even Markus had not been able to scratch the surface where Beth had been waiting for someone to knock at the door that she had built.
But with Raphael, it was different. He had broken the door. Was it because he had relentlessly cared for her since the beginning, always hovering over her until he left to Heaven.
Embarrassed with the sudden hug as it was the first time she had come into such close contact with a male, she stepped away from him. Her face was bright red and her eyes wide.
"W-what are you doing?" questioned Beth.
Her heart continued to beat loudly, and she saw Raphael offer her a smile. "For someone who has been under the limelight and showered with affections, who would have guessed that you would turn shy with a simple hug."
Beth's lips trembled while trying to think straight as she didn't know why but her heart felt like it would explode in her chest.
"It is because this is different. It isn't anybody but you," replied Beth in a rushed tone, and one of her hands clutched onto her dress.
"Is that so?" Raphael questioned her, where they had only two steps of gap between them.
Her cheeks looked like berries, and her lips closed and parted very often as if she didn't know what to do. Who knew she could look this adorable. Raphael was well aware of Beth's feeling of how she had felt deprived of love from her grandparents and the protectiveness her parents provided her sister, but not her.
"I wasn't ready for it," whispered Beth. "You took me by surprise."
"My apologies for it, but I would like to ask you to prepare yourself for it," said Raphael, and he closed the gap between them by stepping forward.
Raphael put his arms around Beth, bringing her close to his heart, and this time, Beth didn't move away. But her face did continue to turn bright in shyness.
"Thank you for wishing for me, Beth. I was worried that you might have forgotten me," he said, one of his hands around her back and the other holding the back of her head.
"How could I," it was less of a question as Beth spoke those words. "I thought you would never come back to the living world. I thought you would come only after I turned old and was near my deathbed," she responded to him.
The smile on Raphael's lips widened, and he couldn't help but feel happy right now. He had been counting the days to return to her side, and he had only hoped for her to be alright. Making sure through the vessel that she didn't get into any trouble, but she had done more than better.
Beth had never hugged a man before, and her hands stayed next to her sides while the archangel continued holding her.
"It was the antidote that had Vlad's blood that didn't let my wish go through. If it weren't for that, I would have seen you earlier than now," said Beth. The embrace was warm and everything she had dreamt of having even before she knew he existed. Somewhere, she was glad that she had the time to reform herself while he was away.
"I must say, I am more than impressed with you. You have done well," he praised her.
Beth felt the card that she had been holding on disappear from her hold as it went back to Raphael.
Pulling away from each other, both of them sat next to each other on the edge of the bed.
"With the upliftment of punishment for both me and Paschar, we are not bound with any more punishments. But I believe Michael is working on reinforcing the rules when it comes to the mortals' prayers and wishes, to make sure Vladimir doesn't trick others into wishing things that might harm the people in Heaven," explained Raphael, and Beth who was still red nodded her head.
"Does that mean you can stay here like before?" came Beth's question, a small worry on her face.
"Unfortunately I cannot live in the living world as a demon as I used to be in the past, but I should be freely able to move back and forth between the living world and Heavenly realm," hearing this, Beth nodded her head with relief.
She wasn't going to be a selfish person and wish for many things. Instead, she was going to make use with what she was given. She was more than happy to have Raphael sitting next to her now. It was better than him stuck in Heaven, where she would never get to meet him.
"But that doesn't mean I will not get to stay here," Raphael added in the end.
Hearing this, Beth turned to look straight into his golden-brown eyes, "You will stay in the castle?"
Raphael smiled at the hidden excitement behind Beth's question, "Well, maybe not in the castle but I am going to speak to Gabriel and see if I can take his position of being the priest in the village. I am sure he wouldn't mind, considering how he has been serving as a priest in Devon for years now."
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Chapter 830 - 12 Hours EaChapter II
Beth nodded her head before looking away from him. For a while, she stared at the palm of her hands in the comfortable silence that filled the room.
"There is something I have been wanting to tell you, Raphael," started Beth and Raphael, who had been watching her stare at her palms, nodded his head for her to go on. "I...didn't get to apologize to you before you left the living world. I didn't treat you well and I was rude to you...I hurt you. And those days before I was told who you really were, it was very hard to live with the guilt that I was the reason you died."
She told Raphael the things that she wasn't able to confess in the confession box of the church and the things she hadn't got to tell him before.
"Even after the days that have passed by, I wake up with the memory of your blood on my hands and unable to forgive myself," saying this, Beth's hands clenched into fists. "I wanted to thank you for taking care of me, in my worst time and for believing in me. For risking your life for a person like me," her eyes moistened, blurring her vision.
Raphael had heard bits and part of these before, but he didn't mind hearing it again.
"Why do you think I did it for you, Beth?" he questioned her, placing the hammer on the question.
Beth bit her lip, "Because you like me? You are an archangel who always looks at the best things when it comes to a person?" she added the second question so that she didn't appear to be full of herself.
Without answering the question he had asked her, Raphael asked her another question, "Why aren't you looking at me right now, Beth? You seem to have trouble looking at me."
Beth gulped, hearing the question. Her eyes slowly moved to fall on Raphael's face.
Gabriel was a fairly handsome man, and so was Vlad and Michael. She should have known that every archangel would be handsome, but Raphael's previous homeless image had not left her mind. It was why she was having a hard time meeting his eyes now.
She stared into his golden eyes for a few seconds longer before she blurted, "I-I mean you, you are too handsome."
Raphael couldn't stop the smile that started to spread on his lips by seeing how cute Beth had turned out in his absence. His eyes watched every little expression that came to pass across her face, and he asked, "Don't tell me that your feelings have changed after seeing me like this." His words held a little teaseful tone at the end, but Beth failed to pick it up.
Blood drained out from Beth's face, and she turned pale, and she looked like a puppy as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on it in the night.
Her lips trembled, and her eyes watered, "I never told that," she whispered. Because of her past attitude, she was still being viewed like that, and she asked, "Why would you think that?" her voice suddenly raised while looking in his direction.
Somewhere in her mind,she knew this would be brought up as Raphael had turned to a handsome man. "I-I-" a hiccup escaped from her lips while tears rolled down on her cheeks. "I have been waiting for you to appear in front of me and y-you think I did it because you have turned into a good looking man. I have been hoping to see you for so many many months, w-waiting-"
"Oh my," Raphael moved closer to her and put his arm around her. "I was only joking. I didn't know you would take it this seriously."
"It isn't f-funny!" Beth sniffed before breaking into a mixed emotion of tears.
"It must be my company's influence," murmured Raphael, blaming the other two men, who were his friends in the castle.
Once Beth had stopped sniffling, she pulled away from him, bringing her handkerchief from her dress pocket to dab away her tears and blow her nose, while Raphael watched her endearingly with a smile on his lips.
A few hours passed in the Hawthrone castle, and Paschar, who had been waiting in front of the room for his daughter to wake up, saw the door open, and Calhoun stepped outside.
"I thought I felt two angels step inside the castle earlier," commented Calhoun, seeing Paschar, who was in his archangel angelic form. He was in his white robes, and his long silver hair that was often tied in a ponytail in the past had let down his shoulders and back. "I am sure you want to talk to her, more than me. She's awake," informed Calhoun.
"Thank you, Calhoun," and Paschar stepped inside to see Madeline and the newborn baby.
Knowing it was safe to have Paschar around his beloved ones, Calhoun decided to meet the other angel who had stepped into the castle. Walking through the corridors, he caught sight of the person standing next to Beth near one of the pillars.
"I thought you really died," commented Calhoun, his red eyes staring at his friend.
"It is good to see you again, Calhoun," smiled Raphael, and he stepped forward, and the two men hugged each other before stepping back. "Forgive me for leaving things in such a state."
"It is fine. It isn't like you knew about it. It is good to see that you are back. Poor Beth has been visiting your grave every day hoping to see you," his eyes shifted to his sister-in-law, who turned red.
"I will go see how my sister is doing," murmured Beth, bowing her head, and when she looked at Raphael, he nodded her head for her to go on.
"I will be here," Raphael assured her, offering her a smile, watching her walk away from them.
Calhoun leaned against the pillar, and looking at Beth disappear, "She's changed because of you."
"Some people are redeemable when the right path is shown to them and they are given the opportunity to change," said Raphael, a faint smile continuing to linger on his lips.
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