Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 73: Five minutes of mercy

When the horn blew loudly in the air, Ruelle didn't think twice before digging her heels into the horse's sides. She clung to the reins while the animal surged forward.

"Go, Ruelle!" She heard Dane cheer for her loudly.

Behind her, some humans managed to spur their horses into motion, but two helplessly struggled, kicking and panicking, as they had never ridden before.

"Tch, looks like we know who is not taking part in the game," Renard clicked his tongue, wearing a smug smile on his lips.

One of the vampiress, whose human hadn't moved yet, took a nearby whip and smacked it on the horse's back. This was enough to have the horse surge forward and disappear into the forest.

"Not anymore," the vampiress turned to look at Renard with a half smile.

Ruelle, on the other hand, couldn't hear the vampires talking anymore as the forest swallowed her whole.

The ground thundered beneath her horse's hooves, each stride carrying her deeper into the woods. The thicket closed around her like a tightening fist. The vampires had given the humans five minutes to hide before they would begin to hunt them.

She was at a disadvantage, as she wasn't familiar with these grounds. She tugged the reins, slowing her horse until the pounding hooves softened into a cautious trot. She pulled the pocket watch from her dress, its ticking unnervingly loud.

There were two more minutes before the vampires would tear through the forest. Her hands slightly slipped on the reins, trembling as she turned the horse, eyes darting through the dense trees.

"I need to survive this," Ruelle breathed. Water, her mind whispered.

If she could find running water, it would muffle the sound of her heartbeat and breathing. To a vampire a human's pulse was as loud as a ticking clock, which would be impossible to hide.

Leaning forward, she whispered to the horse, "Do you know where the stream is?" But the creature merely flicked its ear.

From what she had learned in her village, water always sought the lower ground. Exhaling, she urged the horse forward. The trees blurred past her as she continued to gallop. She was aware that the two minutes must have passed and the hunt for humans had begun.

I had known I would end up as a vampire's carrot, I

at the back of Ruelle's neck. She quickly

seconds, the air cooled, carrying a faint dampness that pricked her skin. Water. She guided the horse to move, and the chill deepened

here still meant offering herself on a silver platter. She swung off the horse, her boots sinking slightly into the damp earth and she drew the

she could only track Dane's location, she could slip closer to him and use his presence as a shield. But the woods stretched endlessly

decided it was done

quickly. Calling after the animal would only announce her

vampire in her current state. Also this wasn't Sexton, where the hunters-in-training still fumbled with their strengths. These were efficient

do now?" she whispered

she tried to think of the next strategy. Her gaze then landed on a tree beside her whose trunk was thick, its lower branches stretching high above her

But she fell two inches short. She bit back a curse,

up with all the strength she had. She made sure that her foot was steady before she climbed further, not wanting to fall on the

then settled on a thick branch with

towards her family back home.

know how long she had remained on the branch, but after a while, she heard

panting and her face streaked with sweat. The woman's horse was nowhere in sight. The sight made Ruelle's stomach twist. Had all the

a strangled cry and collapsed, clutching her side. For a breath or two, no vampire followed, and whoever had shot her must have moved on to hunt

appeared, "Are you alright??" It was a human, who quickly

who was stunned, finally decided to head down the tree to help the woman. She lowered one foot cautiously

should take out the arrow—wait—where is it?" Confusion seemed

young woman's trembling faded into an eerily calm smile. "No," she

man

air and Ruelle paused, startled. When she looked down, she noticed the woman had driven a stake straight into the

mind racing. Why was a fellow human attacking another

lips. She asked, "Did I do well,