Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 28: The One Person

The wind howled outside the window, its mournful wails echoing through the cracks which increased the anxiety inside the room. Ruelle sat stiffly on the edge of the bed. Her body was tense and her hands trembled slightly as they rested on her lap. As it was night, there was a silence that waited to be disrupted.

Across the room, Hailey paced restlessly, clearly more troubled than Ruelle herself.

"I should go before Blake arrives," Ruelle finally murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

The last thing Ruelle wanted was to intrude further into Hailey’s space, especially when her friend’s Elite roommate could return any moment. Lesson learnt, vampires—no matter what kind—weren’t to be trifled with.

Hailey stopped mid-step, shaking her head furiously. Her voice wavered,

"What? No! Blake’s been at the library for hours. She probably won’t be back for a while. And even if she does, where do you plan on going? They could be hunting for you. Or worse, waiting right around the corner."

Ruelle pressed her shaky hands harder into her lap, trying to still the trembling. She knew Hailey was right. But she couldn’t stay and hide here forever. Sooner or later, Alanna or her lackeys would find her.

Her mind replayed the events from earlier: Alanna’s sneer, the knitting needle piercing flesh, the sickening sight of blood. Oh, the blood... What had she done?

"Maybe we can share the bed," Hailey suggested on a spur, her voice softening as she glanced at the narrow cot designed for Groundlings. It was pitifully small, a reminder of how human students were treated at Sexton compared to their vampire counterparts. Blake’s bed, spacious and luxurious, loomed like a silent reminder of the gap between them and the Elites.

Ruelle smiled faintly, grateful for her friend’s kindness. She replied, "Thank you, Hailey, but I should look for another place."

Where could she go? Complaining to the faculty was out of the question. She hadn’t forgotten how Mr. Mortis had dismissed June’s petty antics without so much as a second glance. The staff didn’t care about Groundlings, and the humans knew it all too well.

It was then that Ezekiel crossed her mind.

glimmer of hope flickered. He was part of the staff, and now that they were family, perhaps he could help. She considered the weight of reaching out

Hailey sighed, rubbing her forehead in tension. "I knew it was a bad idea to confront her earlier!" She dropped onto the bed beside Ruelle, her face drawn with worry. "It is all June’s fault. But maybe they will forget tomorrow. Everything will be fine," she tried to assure, but the uncertainty in her voice was

gaze shifted, falling on Hailey’s hands as she reached for the lantern to lower its flame. Her eyes widened with concern. The skin on

hands, Hailey?" Ruelle asked in a

this? It’s nothing. My fault really... I wasn’t

tightened with guilt. She had been so caught up in her own fears that she had failed to notice Hailey’s suffering. Without thinking,

the best you could. It shouldn’t

what to say?" she asked, her tone lighter. It was because comfort and reassurance were luxuries Ruelle had scarcely known—gifts withheld in her youth,

infirmary to have the herb applied on it,"

Hailey replied with a

again, the doorknob creaked, and both girls jumped in their seats with their hearts racing. The door swung open, revealing Hailey’s Elite roommate,

you’re sitting in the dark?" Blake asked, her voice calm but carrying the weight of someone used to being answered

from the bed, bowing her head quickly. She stammered, "We... we had

she noticed her human roommate wanted to

an Elite. It wasn’t intentional. Alanna came to my room and

her room! Ruelle is in danger!"

Groundlings, she noticed her roommate resembled a hyper squirrel

"It does sound like a problem. Stabbing an Elite isn’t good news, except maybe for Jinxy, who will be ecstatic." She paused, studying Ruelle for a beat longer and said, "Alanna won’t let this go.

be bullied forever. She bit the inside of her cheek, knowing

if she chose to hide and sleep somewhere else, it would still one day result in her crossing paths with at least one more

was the price of survival, but silence came

suggest, Lady

her arms