Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 27: Respect the scarf!

As Ruelle approached, Alanna’s gaze landed on her, the vampiress’s lips curling into a malicious smile. Her lackeys stood on either side of the vampiress, who asked mockingly,

"And what do we have here? Come to apologise? Hoping to grovel your way into our good graces?" She let out a small, dismissive laugh, her eyes glittering with the promise of humiliation.

Ruelle had walked here out of pure rush of adrenaline, but now that she stood before the vampiress, the memory of the bullying flashed in her mind. The thudding in her chest echoed in her ears, but she forced to stay calm. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, the knuckles white from the pressure.

Don’t show fear. You can’t show fear, Ruelle said to herself before saying, "That scarf is mine. Where did you get it?"

For a moment, Alanna simply stared, as though the question itself was beneath her. Then, with a slow and intentional motion, she ran her fingers over the soft fabric.

"This?" she drawled languidly, yet mocking. "I don’t think so. It is a gift I received." Her eyebrows arched in feigned curiosity, daring Ruelle to continue.

June. It was as if the girl continued to fall to new lows she couldn’t imagine one could, thought Ruelle to herself.

Alanna’s smile widened as she took a step forward, closing the distance between them ever so slightly. The crowd around them had grown quiet, watching, waiting. "You’re not about to make a scene, are you? It would be such a pity to see you humiliate yourself here, of all places."

"I don’t think you would want everyone here to know that an Elite such as yourself resorts to stealing from a mere Groundling, Ruelle replied, and she noticed for a split second, the confidence in Alanna’s eyes flickered, her expression hardening into something darker, sharper.

murmured, the word rolling off her tongue with contempt. "Such harsh accusations. It’s hardly worth stealing, don’t you think? But, if you must know, I bought it. Paid well

around them shifted, some whispering among themselves. Alanna was an Elite vampire—but Ruelle had struck a nerve, one the Elite wasn’t

knitting wasn’t much, but she had poured hours of hardwork and time into it. She said, "It’s strange that something with so little worth

side, as if itching to strike. She remarked, "Aren’t you bold today. I could make you disappear with a flick of my

off, Ruelle realised it was time to leave. She said, "I didn’t mean to disrespect you. But

her eyes wide with a feigned innocence. Ruelle glanced at her briefly, then back to Alanna. "Unless, you are perfectly fine with borrowing

pace calm, measured. Each step felt like a victory, her soft-spoken words echoing in the silence she left

too?

through and be fearless,’ Mr. S’ advice echoed in the back of her

the night wore on and the exhaustion from the day weighed heavily on her, Ruelle returned to her room. She pushed the door open, noticing June already seated on her bed, surrounded by books.

to retreat to the bathroom and clear her mind. But as she turned, the door to the bathroom creaked open, and from within, Alanna emerged, her eyes gleaming with malice. Ruelle froze, her breath catching

from the scarf," Alanna said, her voice low and taunting. "So I thought I’d

an instinctive step back, her eyes darting to the door, but June

fear crawling up her

sound that echoed in the small space. "Oh, I can go wherever I please. And June

to say earlier," the vampiress murmured, suddenly shoving Ruelle hard. The impact sent her crashing to the floor, pain rippling up her side. "Oops. How

already advancing, knocking everything off her desk with a single sweep of her