Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 70: Two Inches More

Though the room gleamed with chandeliers and carried the weight of people with higher status, Ruelle felt like a lizard on the wall. People talked and laughed while her gaze moved over dark hair and straight shoulders. But never the one she was searching for.

Across the floor, Dane stood at the centre like a burning lantern inviting moths. He moved with easy grace through greetings and stories, a laugh given here, a lowered voice there, letting each woman feel chosen without promising himself to anyone.

"Why is a young and beautiful lady standing alone?"

Ruelle turned and found a man in his mid-fifties standing next to her. He wore a dark maroon coat with badges on his shoulders. When he raised his hand, she caught an old signet ring on his finger.

"I don't believe we have met," the man observed, his voice warm but his eyes assessing her. "Minister Maverick Griswold."

Nervous at the mention of a minister, Ruelle blurted the first name that came to her mind, "Alanna Beckett," she offered, bowing quickly.

"Hm, a Beckett. I can't quite place the name," Minister Griswold hummed, his eyes scanning her features before they briefly paused at her neck.

He snapped his fingers. Suddenly a servant came with a tray. With a gentle flick of his wrist, he dismissed the servant after taking two glasses and giving her one.

"So how do you know Mr. Dane Slater? Through your father's business? Or your own?" he questioned with curious eyes.

Ruelle had already told a lie. Would another hurt? However, what if this man sought out for her father?

"I am his student. At Sexton," she answered.

"Ah—Sexton." Something like approval sharpened in the minister's eyes as if he were pleased listening to her position and his eyes moved to her ears. "Mr. Dane is generous with invitations."

Ruelle lifted the glass, letting the wine touch her lips, then lowered it. When the minister's gaze slid to Dane, she quickly tilted the glass so that a little wine spilled into the plant next to her.

The minister lifted his glass and his gaze returned to her. Taking a sip, he mused,

"I ought to pay Headmaster Oak a visit to speak about the promising students." The smile Minister Griswold offered made Ruelle uncomfortable and she wanted to leave. "Would you be free to… show a corner or two when I visit?"

"I will be busy with my classes," Ruelle politely replied. "It is the faculty who greet visitors. I am sure the headmaster will see that your tour is enjoyable. Pardon me," she bowed, beginning to walk away.

Behind her, Minister Griswold called after her, "I'll see you soon."

Ruelle set the glass down and hurried out of there. She didn't look back. She slipped into the cooler corridor, a shiver running down her spine from what the minister's words meant.

She had once believed that the rumours from Sexton had only come from bored mouths. Sexton lent students to those with higher status that opened doors where humans could earn easily. Her position could be levelled up if she were willing to pay the price.

The corridor was long and deserted. She finally caught a figure that stood ahead. She called softly,

"Excuse me? Could you tell me the way—"

When the person turned, she recognised the young man she had seen in the Sexton corridors with Lady Angelina Ravencroft. He carried a tray with a single drink.

"I—do you know how to get to the garden?" Ruelle questioned him.

"You're far from it, milady. This side is the kitchen," he answered her, before continuing, "I am on my way there. I am Oliver Torres."

"Ruelle—"

"Belmont," he finished with a polite smile. "Sexton has a way of making names travel. Shall we?"

Once they began walking away from there, Ruelle glanced at the young man. There was a faint limp with the way he walked, and she wondered if his shoes bothered him. Her eyes then fell on the dark leather collar with a small ring set at the front as if waiting for a chain. Not wanting to be impolite, she looked away.

"How are you enjoying the celebration so far?" he asked.

"It's lovely. I am learning walls aren't as safe as they look," Ruelle muttered the last words before asking him, "How about you? It's a comfort to see a fellow human." She hadn't expected to run into him here.

"The comfort's mutual," he agreed. "Lady Angelina Ravencroft is Lord Azriel's niece. Slater and Ravencroft are kin to each other. Lady Angelina prefers her drink a certain way, so—" he tipped the tray a fraction "—errand in hand."

They continued to walk through the corridors, turning left and right through empty passages. Ruelle then asked, "May I ask something?"

"What is it?"

"Is it true you came to work for the lady because you failed two subjects?"

Oliver stared ahead of them, and he took a moment before he answered, "Yes." Then he continued, "Though it wasn't because I was terrible at studying. I failed to appear. My ankles were broken. An Elite took offense in something I said."

Ruelle's eyes widened and she looked at his legs, "I am sorry that happened…"

"They've healed now. It has been two years since then," he explained, looking at her worried expression. "We humans have very little choice."

She had never imagined such a thing could happen to stop a human from passing—yet with each day at Sexton, the whispers of danger only increased.

She hadn't forgotten the earrings that vanished during the test and reappeared after she failed. If Lucian wanted to truly ruin her, there were simpler ways. All he had to do was turn the key from outside the room door. She truly could not read him and she sighed, letting the thought go.

At the corridor's end, Oliver paused. "Take the next left. The doors to the garden will be on your right."

returned it and continued towards the place where the guests had gathered,

light around the place. The soft sound of water filled the area near the fountain. When a breeze moved

into her mind and she shook her head to get rid of it. Without thinking, her fingers reached for her mother's

she thought. Better that than cross paths with the minister again. Earlier, she wanted to ask Dane to leave, but he

forward, she placed her palms on the edge of the fountain and saw her reflection staring back

must be cleaning this often," she murmured, staring beyond her reflection. The light from the lanterns made the surface appear like liquid gold. When she leaned further,

long balconies of the mansion, Lucian stood with his coat resting on his shoulders rather than worn. The coat sleeves

were focused on the young woman who stood next to

felt something slide from her collarbone. Plink! The surface of the water turned

"No…!" Her eyes widened.

water. The chill climbed up her wrist, moving to her elbow and

depth? All the movement from her and the water falling from the statues had pushed the chain away from her—moving towards the darker rim of

he noticed her lean further, a quiet breath left his

more inches, and you

comb the water through her fingers until she heard voices come from the

the woman laughed, her

duty. But I found a very interesting piece this evening

breathing quickened, which was swallowed by the fountain. Her hand paused when she heard the man's voice. It belonged to the minister she met before and

or just take your mind

tightened Ruelle's lips, and she pulled

steady. He watched the small shift in Ruelle's shoulders. His dark red

Ruelle took a step away from the fountain, Lucian's

air. The very next moment, the flames inside the lanterns that were hanging in the garden went out,

absence of light caused her vision to go

companion gasped, "What happened? It seems

minister looked around and said, "It is strange indeed," Before he could sharpen his vision, the woman

the woman urged. "How

Once her vision adjusted, she turned back to the basin. She should get her chain before someone else would come, she thought. She leaned back, this time moving an inch further with her heels raising off

balanced on the surface of the railing without its owner

tried to reach farther, while

then she heard another splash

next to her, his eyes on the water. She caught a few dark strands at his brow lifting with the breeze

her chain and at the same time she retrieved her hand by her side. She wanted to tell

get into the basin, didn't you?" His eyes met her brown ones, and she gave him a

palm. A bead of water slid from his knuckle and struck the flat pendant.

teeth and pressed. When she glanced up, her cheeks turned warm from Lucian watching her little mend. She slipped the chain back over the pearls, letting the pendant vanish beneath her

stood up. "Are you not meant to

pursed and she answered, "I thought I would get some air and admire the

drawled, meaning

hear the voices of two servants discussing relighting the

her dress soaked in water, she wanted to dry it before joining the celebration

look at

feet," Lucian remarked—then, after a pause

with the iron bars holding the glass panes. Vines had grown and travelled up over the roof. Inside, a handful of lamps

picked up the scent of flowers. She stood still, a little dazed at the

to the next one, before she stopped at an inky-blue flower with petals outlined in

where. Was it in one of the books? She tried remembering the name and breathed,

flinched at her touch. If not for Dane's invitation, she wouldn't be here at all. The thought made her question on why he had offered to give her a ride. Because someone like

way, she noticed a few of the dark lanterns

retraced her steps back, she found Lucian sitting on the same bench. His eyes were closed and his head tilted back. The relit lanterns threw

with the tour?" she heard Lucian ask. He opened his eyes as

Ruelle breathed. "I—have never come across anything

father built it for my mother. Before their marriage," he stated, his gaze shifting to the

surprise, because she couldn't have guessed Lord Azriel to be a

days like these made the Slaters miss the lady more than usual, and she couldn't help but watch

been a lovely person for the lord to build it," Ruelle ventured softly, and a faint smile appeared on his

Then, almost idly, he added, "Most humans who come from Sexton spend their evenings clinging to sleeves and skirts, chasing favours.

head tilting. He was correct that individuals in her situation would have seized

is a night of celebration," Ruelle answered thoughtfully. "I don't want to trouble people when they are

his voice calm and controlled. He crossed one knee over the other, fingertips idly tapping the edge of the bench. "For

be

cut in gently, which didn't feel like an interruption. "Most of your kind arrive hungry for a rung up the ladder. People come from poor conditions, and they seek to improve their lives. Especially with every test where students are removed,

a frown. Lucian, who

happens when a person enters an establishment that provides payment upfront before disclosing the repayment terms, including interest. It is how one gets taken advantage of by someone's

it. And with how Lucian

cool

voice wasn't convincing. She lifted her chin. "I'll

Lucian's unbothered words. "But one should know their limitations. Otherwise, those ambitions

She didn't answer.

highest-ranking job a human could gain was being an Elite lady's companion. There was the job of governess, but humans were rarely hired for it. Then there was the

last. "Sexton only takes the unmarried