Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 59: Crimson Bloom

Ruelle woke up to the soft, persistent chirp that seeped through the thin walls. Light spilt in through the cracks of the curtain. The fireplace had turned cold.

Her eyes drifted across the room. Lucian was gone. His bed lay neat, and she couldn’t tell if he had stayed away all night or slipped out before she woke up. Her gaze then moved to the floor, where the shattered remains of glassware from last night had disappeared, as if what transpired was only a dream.

Looking at the velvet box sitting on her desk, she reached for it.

"I should have worn them two nights ago..." Ruelle whispered as she stared at the earrings. "I shouldn’t have listened to him."

Thanks to him, she would now fall into the bottom of the student ladder, exposed to scorn and humiliation. She had slapped him... something that still didn’t feel real. That wasn’t her. She didn’t do things like that. Not even when she was angry.

A sudden knock at the door broke her thoughts.

"Ruelle? Are you awake?" Hailey’s voice bubbled through, bright and eager. "We have to head to the river!"

Ruelle pushed off the blanket and tucked the box into her bag before opening the door. She greeted cheerfully, "Good morning, Hailey."

"You haven’t even gotten dressed!" Hailey’s eyes widened as she swept into the room like a gust of spring air. "I took the liberty of checking in after spotting Lucian in the corridor. Now hurry—and don’t forget your bloomers," she added, hiking her dress slightly to reveal the off-white cotton fabric just below her knees.

"Are we getting in the water?" Ruelle asked, walking toward her trunk.

"I thought it was better to be prepared," Hailey said with a grin.

Ruelle pulled out a dress, which was softer and paler than her usual browns and greys. It was pastel pink. Combing her hair, she tied it with a ribbon.

"That won’t do," Hailey declared, shaking her head.

"I think it’s perfectly fine," Ruelle replied, turning to look at her.

Hailey, who had tied half of her hair and let the rest down, waved her hand. "Sit. I’ll fix it."

Ruelle sat as Hailey’s fingers worked. Her golden blonde hair was braided across the crown and pinned delicately, while soft strands were left to hover beside her temples and brush across her forehead.

When she stood and checked her reflection, she asked, "Better?"

"Very," Hailey smiled. "You’re going to knock the breath out of a few lungs today."

Away from the Sexton main buildings’ looming stone walls, Ruelle and Hailey followed the forest path. Dew from the grass beaded on their ankles. Coniferous trees filtered sunlight into soft beams.

Voices drifted ahead, growing louder.

"Everyone’s already started enjoying!" Hailey’s voice bubbled with excitement—until Ruelle stiffened and Hailey’s smile faltered.

"Not everyone," Ruelle murmured, frozen. Six Groundlings—humans—stood with apples perched precariously on their heads, while second-year vampires aimed arrows straight at them. One of the Groundlings flinched as the arrow whipped past, sending a ripple of cruel laughter through the onlookers.

"Bullseye on the trembling one, and you take my carriage," a tall vampire taunted in competition.

comes with horses," his

the bottom of that apple," the vampire

to have an arrow in their head..." Ruelle

said quietly, tugging at Ruelle’s sleeve.

the river. From them hung wide ropes. One adventurous human

into the river one after another, her attention lingered on the water that sparkled in the sun. Laughter

she was unaware of the gazes she had begun to catch.

to stop mid-conversation or halfway through what they were doing. Their gazes held longer on her than usual—drawn by her softened appearance. She looked like spring caught in motion with wind tugging a wisp of hair onto her face. She brushed it away absently, smiling faintly as she observed a boy let go of

fun," Ruelle murmured, her

with skirts hitched slightly, feet dipped in the river, their giggles carrying

a breathless voice behind

God, Kevin!" Hailey squeaked, placing a

wet, his shirt clinging to him like a second skin. His curls were matted down, and water

said, breathless but grinning. "It was either jump or get conscripted into that ridiculous vampire archery game. And

her eyes. "You look

are just jealous," Kevin replied

laughed quietly at

bank when the soft clip-clop of hooves was heard. They turned their heads to look at the horses that emerged from the forest trail. After

composed, but with a tightness in his jaw that betrayed something darker than usual. His eyes sharp as they scanned the river ahead with disinterest. He wore a black cloak that clung to his frame and gloves. And though he stood with the other senior Elites,

horses?" Kevin asked, louder than he

for hunting, Mr.

He stood a few steps away on the riverbank, hands neatly folded behind his back. Ruelle blinked in surprise, as

Ruelle asked, glancing between Ezekiel and the vampires now mounting the

of the forest," Ezekiel explained. "It is a tradition.

pleasant," Ruelle remarked with a slight

how it even plays out," Kevin said, tone curious. "Wouldn’t mind a glimpse of it

want to end up as the biggest catch," Hailey muttered under her breath, shaking her

no formal rule forbidding Groundlings from joining the Elites in these hunts. If you

next time," Kevin

before the vampires and vampiresses mounted their horses, each

horse forward, the forest enveloping him in deeper silence with the wind rushing. The sound of the hooves scattered while Sawyer rode parallel to him while Blake

toward Angelina, voice low. She asked,

to Lucian and she remarked, "I thought he was

nearby bush shook. It only had a rabbit jump out

called

his reins. "What is

going on?" Angelina

a warm-up. We’ll find a bigger one," Sawyer

him. And

replied, remembering what occurred last night. He laughed. "It came as a complete surprise. Last

whistled past Sawyer’s head and thudded into a

in sharply.