Fire blazed around Madeline as every wood in the building was burning right now, and the atmosphere carried a thick black smoke. She heaved for air, her chest hurting because of the amount of energy she had used tonight. Her eyes started to prickle because of the smoke, and she pushed herself to stand up.
When she tried to flap her wings, that only fanned the existing fire to blaze more.
“Madeline,” a voice came from behind her when she was trying to find a way out.
Her eyes narrowed when she found Paschar standing there, “What are you doing here now?” she asked him.
“I know you are upset with me-“
“Upset doesn’t even cover what I am feeling right now,” Madeline couldn’t believe he had appeared now after everything was over. She had hoped that he would help her out tonight, but instead, he had done nothing.
“I came here to let you know that you don’t have to worry about being hunted anymore. Protection will be given to you-“
“That won’t be necessary,” it was Calhoun who had entered the building through fire.
Paschar had a displeased look on his face on seeing Calhoun. “She is my daughter-“
“I thought Heavenly beings were not supposed to keep any sort of relationship with the earthly beings,” Calhoun’s eyes narrowed. When he was making his way in here, he had been surprised to hear Paschar’s voice. “You don’t have to provide her with your help. I think you have done enough of it and most of us can agree on it.”
Paschar pulled out his trident, and when he tapped on the ground, the fire exhausted itself instantly. “I have already spoken to the Heavens, and we decided that her rightful place is not here, but in Heaven. She’s an angel. She has been summoned, and I am here to take her back.”
Madeline’s jaw fell because of Paschar’s words. Did he understand that it was because of him that she had gone through these many of trouble until now?
“I refuse,” Madeline let her decision known to Paschar, and he frowned. “This is where I was born, and this is where my people are. Not Heaven,” she shook her head.
A light appeared next to Paschar, and Madeline and Calhoun noticed it to be the man named Michael. How ironic that this person had not changed his name, thought Madeline to herself. The man’s blue eyes first fell on Madeline and then on Calhoun, exclaiming in surprise, “I would have never guessed.”
If it was another scenario, the man would have bowed at Calhoun, but with the knowledge about the existence of demons and angels, where it was evident who Calhoun was, and he wasn’t just a vampire King, neither Paschar nor Michael bowed their head at the demon. “Did you know this, Paschar? You have been working with him for two decades.”
Paschar answered, “He never revealed it.”
Michael had a look of wariness in his eyes, and he looked back at the girl. “Madeline, it is time for you to leave this place. You are not supposed to be here.”
“And I said I am not going anywhere,” Madeline took a step closer to Calhoun for shelter.
Paschar was about to say something when Michael raised his hand, and he said, “We understand that you are angry at Paschar, and you have every right to do that, but you need to know that we have rules to follow. Paschar made a mistake, and he’s still trying to make amends. The one rule that we angels have is not to involve ourselves or meddle into the earthly matters unless we are given orders. If Paschar helped you, he would be thrown out of Heaven to never return again.”
Madeline doubted any reasoning would ever suffice to what had happened. “Okay,” she said, brightening Paschar as well as Michael’s eyes.
“Great! You can tell your goodbye’s, and we can leave once you are done with it,” stated Michael. To his words, Madeline blinked at him.
“I meant, I can look past his actions for why he never came to look for me, or why he didn’t take part in the fight. Or how I was left in the coffin for years. But I didn’t agree to come with you to Heaven,” said Madeline.
Michael’s lips set itself in a thin line, “We cannot leave a dark angel in the earthly realm. To assure your safety, it wasn’t just once or twice but I sent the whispers to your aid to make sure you were alright. When you were in the coffin and during your initial days of living in the castle,” he said to her. “I sent my whisperers because your father was concerned and he couldn’t do anything about it. If you had no wings, we would have somehow overlooked the matter, but the point is beyond it.”
“Until you are a dark angel, you will always be a threat to yourself,” Paschar tried to make Madeline understand, “This will never end. The demons and the fallen-angels will always want to kill and make use of you.”
“And I wonder who is to be blamed for it,” was the sarcastic comment from Calhoun.
Michael’s eyes narrowed at Calhoun before looking at Madeline, “What has happened in the past is something that cannot be changed, but the present is something that is in our hands. It would be good not just for you, but also to the people whom you love and care. I heard your sister was abducted. You wouldn’t want that happening again, would you? We are only doing what is best for everyone.”
Michael took a step forward, and Calhoun placed his hand in front of Madeline protectively, “She’s not going anywhere. She’s my wife.”
“A relationship like this is going to bring chaos to the world!” Michael’s white wings appeared on his back, and he brought his trident forward. “We angels are the one who keep balance, and you will do it as you are told or I will smite you if you try to stand between the girl and us from going to Heaven.”
Suddenly fire appeared next to Calhoun and it was Vladimir who had appeared. The fire exhausted from Vladimir’s body, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Lucifer!” Michael said the devil’s name, not expecting him to be here. Paschar took a wary stance.
“Lucy fur is my cat’s name. I am Vladimir,” smiled the devil to show his sharp teeth. “I dare you to take my granddaughter-in-law from my grandson and me. Hell hath seen no fury like the devil’s ire.”
Michael’s eyes fell on Calhoun and then back at Vladimir before he gritted his teeth. His lips twisted in distaste, and he said gingerly,
“Vladimir. Madeline belongs to Heaven and not this place. You know how the rules work, you have been there for eons. An angel is not supposed to live in this world unless being ordered by Heaven.”
Calhoun’s eyes narrowed at the two angels. He said, “You don’t have to worry about her. I will protect her the way I have since the beginning. And if you are telling that she is not supposed to live here, then it doesn’t mean she has to end up in Heaven. She is married to me, and now she belongs to Hell too.”
