289 Troublesome hearts- Part 3

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Madeline didn't want to tamper Beth's memories. Further, all she wanted was to take a look at what Beth had seen before her memory was replaced. She wondered if there would be consequences, but this was one of the easiest ways to find out what happened that day when their friend had died. If her memory served her right, her grandparents weren't there, and it was just three small children. 

"How do you achieve it?" questioned Madeline, her voice falling.

"I will need to put her in a sleep state. It will be tough to access her memories when she's awake. The mind needs to relax," replied Raphael. He then pulled out a card from his pocket, "Do you mind holding this for me, Lady Madeline." 

Madeline didn't take it immediately, and she stared at the card before her sight shifted to the card reader, "Why?"

A faint smile appeared on Raphael's lips. Though the girl looked naive, she was smart to question before touching the card, "People have a misconception when it comes to demons and angels. Though we are considered to be mythical, people still like to believe that the world is segregated with black and white. Good and evil. That the demons have powers to destroy while the angels are the ones to bless you." 

Raphael continued, "Demons and angels are blessed with abilities. There is good and bad on both sides. I am sure you have experienced it first hand. I just happened to be a person who has the ability of insight. I can look at people through the cards that I carry, that hold a part of me in each of them. The card here," he said, "It is a card of the Fool. A special one which will take the appearance of a person's nearby destiny of who they have become and what awaits in their future."

"Aren't all the cards like that? That tells something about the past, present or future," and she took the card that was offered to her—holding it firmly to take a look at what was there. 

"Consider this to be a card that will give direct answers, milady. What do you see?" Raphael inquired, his eyes curiously looking at Madeline, and he didn't peek at the card. 

For a moment, the card was nothing but blank. She was going to tell him that it was empty when she saw the surface of the card shimmer from left to right.

Staring closer at the card, Madeline noticed intricate lines forming on the surface of the card, moving haphazardly until she saw what had formed itself in there, "It is a person in the boat. Stormy night," said Madeline to Raphael, "Is it bad news?" she asked him. 

Madeline wondered how she was supposed to perceive it. Though it looked like Raphael was trying to encourage her, somewhere she felt as if he was hiding a part of truth so that his words wouldn't disturb the progress of the path she was supposed to walk in. 

"Did you take readings of the King?" inquired Madeline. 

"He doesn't indulge himself in things like reading from the cards. Calhoun has never picked a card out of his own free will," revealed Raphael. This was something that was not to be mentioned to anyone. But seeing Madeline was going to be Calhoun's wife in the future, he decided to drop in a few information. 

"What do you mean free will?" Madeline furrowed her brows. 

Raphael put the card back in his pocket, "I have always given him cards to pick. Unknowingly," he added, and Madeline nodded her head. "He has touched only two cards so far." 

"What reading did he get?" Madeline asked curiously, she keenly waited for Raphael to reveal more about Calhoun. Though Calhoun was transparent when it came to his feelings for her and his family in the castle, Madeline felt that there was still more to who Calhoun was. 

"Will you keep it a secret?" This time it was Raphael who whispered. She was quick to nod her head. "The King's card today turned out to be a blank one. I have come to believe that he is a powerful man, not just figuratively but by who he really is. Not all demons have wings like him. They are more bat-like. Do you know who has feathered wings?"

"Angels," she murmured to see Raphael smile. Madeline looked at him confused, "But he isn't an angel. Do you know about his grandfather?" 

Madeline had only heard from Calhoun about his grandfather, who was still resting in the coffin. But what she didn't understand was when did Calhoun's mother leave her father's side and why. Why live a life as a human would? If there were some people who knew about Calhoun, that was possibly Theodore and Raphael as they seemed closer to him than anyone else. 

Raphael could see the burning question in the lady's eyes. Then he said, "I only know that he is still alive, but I have never got to meet him. Not even the King himself has met him." 

"What do you know about him?" she continued to inquire. 

"If Calhoun is powerful, I can tell you that his grandfather is more powerful because that is where Calhoun received his abilities from. But we don't know what kind of wings he has. If they are bat-like that belongs to demons or if they are feathered wings," Raphael answered her question. Madeline pursed her lips. All this while, she knew nothing about demons and angels, that she was one of them and was also living with some of them. 

"Do you know how to identify who are demons and angels?" 

Raphael shook his head to this, "Unfortunately no. The most I can do is read people through my cards, Lady Madeline. I doubt any of us demons have the ability to identify the demons and angels," pausing for two seconds, Raphael then asked, "I met your relative who has been locked in the dungeon. Did she ever mention anything about it? I think you will get your answers from your own family if you are looking for one." 

Madeline wasn't sure how much her unwilling grandmother would reply to her. She knew her grandmother had the answers, but her grandmother didn't appear to be in a communicating mood. The next was her sister and Madeline herself. 

"I will see what I can do." 

Raphael offered her a polite smile, "Yes, please. I will take your reading tonight. I am sure Calhoun would like to be present when it's happening." Madeline and Raphael had started to walk down the corridor, heading towards the courtroom where Calhoun was supposed to be. "By the way, I have something to ask. Your sister. Is she the brunette one with green eyes?" 

Madeline's eyebrows slightly furrowed and she gave him a nod, "Yes, that's my sister. Why? Have you met her before?" 

"Just today. She has an interesting personality, quite different to you," chimed Raphael, and Madeline wondered in which aspect of her sister he was speaking about. 

She couldn't help but wonder what Raphael meant. Feeling her gaze, Raphael stopped walking, and so did Madeline. "Your sister, how do you see her, milady." 

It was one of the oddest questions Madeline had ever received or asked until now, "She is my sister." As much as there was a rift between her and Beth, there was still a soft corner in Madeline's heart where she would forgive her sister. They grew up together, sharing each other's thoughts. 

"I am aware of it. But how do you feel about your sister?" questioned Raphael, he looked left and right. Madeline did the same, making sure no one was there to listen in on their conversation. 

Pursing her lips while staring into the black eyes of the man, she said, "She might come off to be materialistic, but somewhere deep down, she has a good heart. Someone who gets persuaded easily. When we were young, she would often protect me from the people who liked to bully me."

"Why did that happen?" he tilted his head, curiously looking at her. 

Madeline shrugged her shoulders, "I just remember there were some men, adults who liked to…" this was some part of her memory which she had herself forcibly tried to forget, "Beth was always there to make sure I was alright. She likes to lead." 

"You should know that just because someone likes to lead, they don't often turn to leaders." 

"Are you speaking about her not being the Queen?" Madeline frowned.

"No, not about it. Some are destined to lead, even though they don't show the inherent trait. But that is not what we are speaking about. What happened to those men? Are they still there?" on Raphael's question, Madeline gave it some thought and slowly nodded her head. 

"I guess they are there. I don't think Beth or I remember any of them now. It was long ago." She didn't even want to remember it by mistake. 

"I see," Raphael answered before saying, "I wanted to drop a word of caution to your sister. The path she has chosen will lead to her death." 

Madeline felt her stomach fall over Raphael's words. She had lost her grandfather, and her grandmother would die soon because of the woman's intention to kill her. The last thing Madeline needed was more death. 

"Can you elaborate more about it?" she asked in a whisper. 

"She is a beautiful girl, and I couldn't resist not wanting to see what she would get when touching the card of the Fool. With what I saw, she is walking towards her death. Though I don't think it is out of willingness. Some readings are easy to predict, Lady Madeline." 

Madeline pressed her lips before she asked, "How can I prevent it?" 

"Keep her occupied, and away from people who you think will harm her. But somewhere it makes me worried," Raphael let his thoughts known to Madeline, "I found out that she is going to get married to Markus Wilmot. If you take that into consideration, it would be better if you keep her away from yourself. I am sure you are already aware of the Wilmot's intentions." 

She didn't know how to feel about it. 

Madeline didn't want any harm to befall on her sister, but would Beth try to do something? To help the Wilmot's. 

"I also have another suggestion. If I may?" and Madeline quickly nodded her head for Raphael to continue to speak, "How about I try to divert her myself. It would be a pity to see someone like her, especially when it is your sister to be stepping towards her death." 

Madeline didn't know what Raphael meant, but if it was going to keep her sister Beth away from trouble, then it didn't sound too bad, "Okay." 

"This way, it will be easier to get her readings, too, when it comes to accessing her memories." 

Madeline and Raphael were still speaking when Lady Rosamund arrived from the other corner of the corridor, making her way in their direction. 

Lady Rosamund looked as if she was in a foul mood. The closer she walked towards them, the more prominent did the red lines appear on her face. As Madeline was no more an average human, Lady Rosamund bowed her head, but the same was not offered to the man. 

"What are you doing here, Lady Madeline?" asked Lady Rosamund. 

"I was speaking to Mr. Sparrow. He is the King's acquaintance," Madeline introduced Raphael who bowed at the lady. Lady Rosamund only gauged at the man from top to bottom before her eyes shifted back at Madeline. 

"I was going to meet the King," smiled Lady Rosamund. 

Madeline and Raphael accompanied the vampiress to the court as they were also heading in that direction. When they reached the vast room which had white walls and white marble floor, Madeline saw Calhoun who was seated on his throne. 

On seeing Madeline, Calhoun stretched his hand towards her, and she quietly made her way to his side. 

"What happened to your face, Aunt Rosamund?" Calhoun had a look of curiosity in his eyes as he noticed the red lines that had formed on the vampiress' face. 

Lady Rosamund's face hardened, "The teacup broke in my hand. It must have been a delicate one."

Calhoun heard Madeline's heart skip a beat, but he didn't turn to look at her.

"I guess things in the castle have turned old and needs to be replaced with something that is much sturdier, isn't it," he offered her a smile, "You should have asked the maid to tend to your skin."

"They will heal in good time. I am here to ask you about Lady Madeline's wedding gown. Only fourteen days left and there has been no word about the gown to see if it will fit," came the sharp words from Lady Rosamund. 

"Emilio, Mr. Heathcliff's assistant, will be bringing the gown tomorrow so that Madeline can wear it and see. Shoes and other things have already been ordered to be brought tomorrow," Calhoun let his beloved aunt know about it, a smile plastered on his face. 

"What a lovely and kind aunt I have. Taking care of our wedding, sweet Madeline," Calhoun praised his aunt. Lady Rosamund bowed her head at the compliment.

"I heard something about the tailorman. That he killed someone…" said Lady Rosamund and Calhoun stared at her with the smile still intact on his face. 

"Yes, he is under investigation," Calhoun was already aware that the Wilmot's knew about James Heathcliff being imprisoned in the dungeon. 

At the same time, they heard the sound of quick footsteps from outside, and in came a servant huffing for air and he bowed his head,

"My Lord! The people from the High House are here!"