Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 66

Chapter 66: The Quill’s Price

"You've almost got it," Ruelle said, leaning over to point at the equation. "You just missed a step here—see?"

"Ah… right." Leslie's brows drew together, who sat beside Ruelle. Her hair fell forward as she bent over her book with the quill in her hand. "I forgot."

Right now, three lanterns burnt brightly in the room, their glow spreading across the table. The books laid open along with notes spread out between Ruelle, Hailey, Kevin, and Leslie. The faint rustle of paper and scratch of quills filled the room.

"That's alright," Ruelle assured. "This one is trickier. It's not the formula—it's the amount of ingredient to use that catches people. Once you remember which ingredients use which percentage value, it's straightforward." She slid her notebook toward Leslie. "Here. Copy these down—they'll help."

Leslie's mouth twitched, the ghost of something that might have been gratitude—or hesitation. "Thanks for helping me again."

"Don't think of it like that," Ruelle replied lightly. "It's nicer to work with someone than alone."

"She's right," Hailey added, tapping her quill against her notes with an easy grin. "And you'll see that your results will start climbing fast."

"Still," Leslie murmured, glancing at her hands, "not everyone says yes when you ask. Even Groundlings. People worry they'll be pushed down further…" Her smile was bashful.

"I think there's a place for all of us," Ruelle said, her tone soft but certain. "And it makes no sense not to help each other when we're already the minority here. Hopefully, we'll all get to live better than we do now."

Leslie's nod was small. She brushed her hair back, the motion unguarded enough to pull her sleeve with it—just far enough for Ruelle to catch the faint mark on her wrist. Yellowing at the edges.

Ruelle also noticed how Leslie, even though she was a rank higher, it meant she had a better grasping ability. Yet, when the subject was explained, her classmate's mind felt elsewhere.

When Kevin was talking to Hailey about another subject, Ruelle asked her classmate in a quiet tone, "Is everything okay?"

Leslie blinked, too quickly. "What?"

Ruelle's eyes flicked to Leslie's wrist. The young woman tugged her sleeve down at once. "It's nothing. I just… ran into something last week."

"I see," Ruelle murmured. "Be careful."

Her eyes lingered on Leslie's face, but she didn't press. She knew that answer. She had given it herself often when the bruises on her arms and shoulders had been fresher than her lies.

When the hour grew late, they packed their books and left the room. Moonlight spilt through the high windows, their steps echoing lightly against the stone floor.

"Good night," Kevin wished as he walked off with Hailey.

"Night," Ruelle replied, walking alongside Leslie. Leslie opened her mouth to say something—but a familiar voice came from the other side of the corridor.

"Burning the midnight oil again, Ruelle."

The voice drifted from the far end—light, teasing, with that hint of knowing that never let one forget who the person was. It was Dane. He was wearing a long coat and gloves, as if he were heading out of Sexton for the night. His smile carried a blend of warmth and mischief.

Ruelle bowed her head politely. "Good evening, Mr. S. Are you still on duty?"

"An instructor at Sexton is never off duty," Dane replied, his tone holding a touch of mock-seriousness. His gaze slid past her to Leslie, who dipped a quick bow before excusing herself to get back to her room. "I was making a little stop at the infirmary."

"Was it to check on the senior vampire…?" Ruelle asked.

His eyes gleamed. "Huxley's going to live."

"I meant Lucian," she clarified. "Will he get into trouble for what happened today?"

This had Dane's lips stretch around the corners. He replied,

"Hard to punish a man for defending himself—especially when the other idiot downs a tonic and pulls a dagger to fight like a rabid wolf. They called it self-defence." Dane's smile deepened, but there was something watchful in his eyes. "Better than his first week here. That one ended with a senior in the grave and an emergency committee meeting because that senior was the earl's nephew."

A faint unease curled in Ruelle's chest.

"He knows exactly how far he can go before one becomes a body to clean up." It wasn't that Dane was praising his brother, but he was calm about it, as if he knew it could happen again. Then, as if flipping a switch, his voice warmed. "By the way—congratulations."

"Congratulations…?"

"You passed the test. We should celebrate."

"Thanks. But it wasn't exactly an outstanding result," Ruelle replied with an awkward smile, feeling a little self-conscious.

Dane tilted his head, amusement tugging at his mouth. "If you did better than you did yesterday, that's worth celebrating. Comparing yourself to others only steals the fun out of winning."

"I don't think everyone thinks that…" Ruelle murmured under her breath.

before his eyes drifted to her ears. "No

She blinked. "What?"

said, like the answer was obvious. "Gemma mentioned you're the only one who failed. She

the right moment

"Is that

brushed her ear. The earrings had been a test. But by leaving them unworn, she couldn't

polite nod, where his footsteps thinned as she continued to walk. Somewhere behind her, she heard a footstep so soft that for a moment she thought she was imagining it. However, she heard

lying still against the walls. Her fingers tightened on

see Lucian again. She told herself it wasn't her concern, yet his absence settled in her

evening, the classroom was quieter with just Ruelle and Leslie sitting at the table. Hailey had

words in Leslie's notebook. "At this rate, you'll be bridging the gap to the top of the

smile touched Leslie's lips. "I didn't expect this chapter to be so easy. I understand

to pack her things, feeling a faint rumble

they stepped outside the room, Ruelle turned toward the dining

"You're not coming?"

Leslie said, her voice hesitant. Her fingers clutched on her opposite wrist.

and the way her eyes darted

said, shouldering her satchel. "Let us go

Leslie blinked

Ruelle nodded. "Then

another building. Below, darkness pooled like water between the stone walls. The torches grew

without drawing attention. Every few paces, she glanced over her

Ruelle said, her voice carrying in the long, empty

her grip tightened around her opposite wrist again, the

for it in the morning. You can use my quill until then." Her tone was gentle but steady,

looking back. "No… it's fine. The q–quill

two more connecting rooms. The air felt cooler here, with a faint smell of something Ruelle couldn't pinpoint. Her

slowed. Something about

her attention more was Leslie. The young woman made no attempt to search, her gaze flicking not to the floor or the corners where a quill might have rolled, but toward the doorway ahead. Her hands were clasped in front of her, fingers worrying

wasn't looking for anything. She

felt her

came the barely audible whisper from Leslie's trembling

second later, the wooden flooring creaked at the

drawled. "You

sharply and found Alanna standing in the doorway, red lips curved in satisfaction, her long coat sweeping the floor. Behind her, three Halflings lingered like shadows—two

to break your arm this time for

gaze snapped at Leslie, the realisation striking with cold clarity. She murmured, "It was

Halflings

my way every single time. So far as to go to frame me. Did you think you could get away unscathed?" Alanna asked, her eyes narrowing to

Her weight shifted subtly, trying to remember the

looked at Ruelle as if the Groundling was the dirt on the scrape of her shoe. "What makes you think you can sit where I sit? Where we sit? And stain

bitch didn't like following orders, but…

young woman's head was bowed, trembling, unable to meet her gaze. Shame clung to her after betraying the

speak to me, you could have asked me. There was no need for such an elaborate…plan," Ruelle's

one who took the pendant. Wasn't it

it wasn't. The sound

have come to me?" the vampiress asked in a clipped voice. "I don't know what you've

to have dinner first! Ruelle thought in her

night for the last four days, wouldn't even notice if she didn't return tonight.

This wasn't good.

right?" Leslie's voice was low with hope, her eyes flicking toward the doorway like it was the only source

She let the silence hang just long enough for Leslie's breathing to quicken. Then, with

She didn't waste a heartbeat. Her footsteps hurried across the creaking floor, and she slipped through the doorway without so much as a glance

outside disappeared, and Ruelle felt the room grow smaller,

curved, but it was the kind of smile that promised

you to atone, Ruelle Belmont. Bring her

half-red eyes. The pulse in Ruelle's throat thudded so hard she thought they could hear it too. She forced her voice to stay calm, though it came soft and

haven't done anything that requires

plenty. You've crossed lines

splintered leg of a broken chair by her foot. She quickly snatched the jagged

back and clutching the bleeding

turned and bolted for the connecting

Drag her back here!" Alanna's barked the orders to

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