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.

eyes drifted to

She blinked. "What?"

answer was obvious. "Gemma mentioned you're the only one who failed. She wasn't pleased. Not to mention, people fail later in her subjects, not in

just didn't find the

murmured, "Is

had been a test. But by leaving them unworn, she couldn't help but feel

footstep so soft that for a moment she thought she

into silence. When she turned, the hallway was empty, shadows lying still against the walls. Her fingers tightened on the

her concern,

classroom was quieter with just Ruelle and Leslie sitting at the table. Hailey had been feeling hungry and she had left twenty minutes

quickly," Ruelle scanned the words in Leslie's notebook. "At this rate, you'll be bridging the gap to the top of the class in no

expect this chapter to be so

feeling a faint rumble

room, Ruelle turned toward the dining hall, and noticed Leslie had

"You're not coming?"

to get it," Leslie said, her voice hesitant. Her fingers clutched on her opposite wrist. A quill would

shallow rise of her breath and the way her eyes darted briefly toward

her satchel. "Let us

will?" Leslie blinked

nodded. "Then we

well-lit wing behind, crossing the narrow bridge that joined to another building. Below, darkness pooled like water between the stone walls. The torches grew fewer until there were none at all when they entered the next building, leaving the

attention. Every few paces, she glanced over her shoulder as if needing reassurance

think I've ever been here before," Ruelle said, her voice carrying in the long,

replied quickly as her grip tightened around her opposite wrist again, the small motion catching Ruelle's eye even in the

her head. "You don't look so good." She offered, "If you want we can come back for it in the morning. You can use my

"No… it's fine. The q–quill is

down a corridor and followed it into a room that was connected to two more connecting rooms. The air felt cooler here, with a faint smell of something Ruelle couldn't pinpoint. Her eyes

about the

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

wasn't looking

Ruelle felt her stomach

the barely audible whisper from Leslie's

a second later, the wooden

a pleased voice drawled. "You lowly

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

thought I'd have to break your arm this time for such a simple task," the

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

name!" One of the Halflings barked, stepping forward, only to halt when Alanna lifted

been getting in my way every single time. So far as to go to frame me. Did

her brow furrowing. Her weight shifted subtly, trying to remember

waiting for me to pick up that pendant. People like you always play the naive card—it's how you stole a seat at the Elite table," Alanna looked at Ruelle

mockingly sighed, "This little bitch didn't like following orders, but… finally, she

eyes flicked to Leslie. The young woman's head was bowed, trembling, unable to meet her gaze. Shame clung to her after betraying the kindness she had been

asked me. There was no need for such an

couldn't shrug off the little detail where Alanna thought she was the one who took the pendant. Wasn't it found in the vampiress's bag? Why was she turning it around after all

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

in a clipped voice. "I don't know what you've said or done to have Lucian

should have gone to have dinner

wrong—Lucian, who hadn't returned to their room at night for the last four days, wouldn't even notice if she didn't return tonight. Her fingers curled

This wasn't good.

the doorway like

eye, Alanna regarded the trembling human. A slow, satisfied smirk curved her lips. She let the silence hang just long

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

and Ruelle felt the room grow

curved, but it was the kind of smile

to atone, Ruelle Belmont. Bring her

in her half-red eyes. The pulse in Ruelle's throat thudded so hard she thought they could hear it too. She forced her voice

anything that requires

low, cruel. "You've done plenty. You've crossed lines without even knowing

flicked down—not at the vampire's hand but at the splintered leg of a broken

the Halfling screeched, staggering back and clutching the

waste the opening. She turned and bolted for

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

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