Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

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.

in response before his eyes drifted to her ears. "No

She blinked. "What?"

failed. She wasn't pleased. Not to mention, people fail

didn't find the right

murmured, "Is that

by leaving them unworn, she couldn't help

continued to walk. Somewhere behind her, she heard a footstep so soft that for a

was empty, shadows lying still against the walls. Her fingers tightened on the strap of her satchel. This time,

she didn't see Lucian again. She told herself it wasn't her concern, yet his absence settled in her mind like a pebble in a

was quieter with just Ruelle and Leslie sitting at the table. Hailey had been feeling hungry

this rate, you'll be bridging the gap to the top of the class

expect this chapter to be so easy. I understand it better

a

they stepped outside the room, Ruelle turned toward the dining hall, and noticed Leslie

"You're not coming?"

it," Leslie said, her voice hesitant. Her fingers clutched on her opposite wrist. A quill would be nothing to an Elite, but to someone who owned little,

shallow rise of her breath and the way her eyes

shouldering her satchel. "Let us go

will?" Leslie

nodded. "Then

darkness pooled like water between the stone walls. The torches grew

steps quick but cautious, as though she wanted to get somewhere without drawing attention. Every few paces, she glanced over her shoulder as if needing

ever been here before," Ruelle said, her voice carrying in the long, empty hall, footsteps echoing alongside

grip tightened around her opposite wrist

back for it in the

"No… it's fine.

connecting rooms. The air felt cooler here, with a faint smell of something Ruelle couldn't pinpoint. Her eyes moved over the broken furnitures fallen across the floor, the dark stains that

about the place

to the floor or the corners where a quill might have rolled, but toward the

struck Ruelle. Leslie wasn't looking

Ruelle felt her

am sorry," came the barely audible whisper

wooden flooring creaked at

voice drawled. "You

doorway, red lips curved in satisfaction, her long coat sweeping the floor. Behind her, three Halflings lingered like shadows—two of the faces Ruelle knew too

arm this time for such

striking with cold clarity. She murmured, "It was Alanna who hurt

One of the Halflings barked, stepping forward, only to halt when Alanna

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

Her weight shifted subtly, trying to

People like you always play the naive card—it's how you stole a seat at the Elite table," Alanna looked at Ruelle as if the Groundling was the dirt on the scrape of her

little bitch didn't like following orders, but…

eyes flicked to Leslie. The young woman's head was bowed, trembling, unable to meet

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

shrug off the little detail where Alanna thought she was the one who took the pendant. Wasn't it found

soft, almost amused, until it wasn't. The sound cut off, her smile

"I don't know what you've said or done

have dinner

to their room at night for the last four days, wouldn't even notice if she didn't return tonight. Her fingers curled into her palms, nails biting

This wasn't good.

with hope, her eyes flicking toward the doorway like it was the only source of air in the room. "I did what

her eye, Alanna regarded the trembling human. A slow, satisfied smirk curved her lips. She let the silence hang just long enough for Leslie's breathing

washed over Leslie's face. She didn't waste a heartbeat. Her footsteps hurried across the creaking floor, and she slipped

echo of the footsteps outside disappeared, and Ruelle felt the room grow smaller, with everyone's attention now solely on

it was the kind of smile that promised

to atone, Ruelle

thudded so hard she thought they could hear

done anything that requires

was low, cruel. "You've done plenty. You've crossed lines

at the vampire's hand but at the splintered leg of a broken chair by her foot. She quickly snatched the jagged wood and drove

staggering back and clutching

waste the opening. She turned and

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