Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 83: Where It Begins

The following morning in Sexton, Ruelle stirred awake on the couch. She rolled onto her side out of habit, only to notice Lucian had already stepped out of the room. There were many days when Lucian left before she woke up, but today it felt like he had left earlier just to avoid her.

"No wonder he despised me," came the muffled words with her face buried in her hands.

Once she got dressed, her hand reached for the scarf, but it paused midair and her fingers curled. Instead, she picked up her books and left the room.

Heading toward the dining hall, Ruelle followed the familiar corridor only to halt when her path was blocked. A rope had been drawn across the passage, guarded by two of Sexton's men.

Hammering echoed off the stone walls, along with the sharp sounds of chisels biting into marble. Dust hung faintly in the air and workers stood on ladders. Looked like the space was being altered, she thought and one of the servants informed her,

"This passage is temporarily closed, miss. You will have to take the outer wing."

Closed? Ruelle frowned. This was the quickest route to the dining hall.

Nevertheless, she responded, "Okay."

She stepped away and turned towards the stone archway that led into the outside path. The wind was quick to greet her, slipping beneath her dress and chilling her skin. The garden stretched ahead and she walked on the gravel pathways. It looked like everyone had already arrived in the dining room and she hurried.

But suddenly something rustled loudly and her footsteps paused.

From the corner of her eye, something moved. At first glance, it looked suspiciously like a porcupine. Then the porcupine suddenly straightened to its full height and a startled gasp escaped Ruelle's lips.

But the porcupine shrieked louder than she did.

"AHHH!!"

It was an Elite student, who turned and Ruelle found herself staring at a young vampire whose hair stood in every possible direction, twigs and thin sticks jutting out, all tangled hopelessly in some sort of sticky substance. Had he not been wearing Sexton's robes, she might have truly mistaken him for some wild thing that had crawled out of a forest cave.

"W–What… what is there?!" he demanded, both annoyed and alarmed.

"I thought you were a porcupine," Ruelle replied honestly, her gaze lingering on the glue that had dripped over his forehead and had sealed his eyes tightly shut.

"How dare you?" The Elite snapped, immediately turning away as if that might salvage his dignity. His nose twitched as he sniffed the air, and he declared, "I will have you executed, lowly human!"

For someone in desperate need of help, he seemed alarmingly enthusiastic about threatening her. Ruelle simply stared at him.

"Ha! Are you frightened? Not so bold now, are you?" He continued stubbornly. "I was—wait, where are you going?!"

Ruelle had already turned away, deciding it was wiser to behave as if she had seen nothing at all. "To have breakfast," she murmured, resuming her steps.

"How rude of you!" he protested, sounding very much like an offended cat. "Do you not think you should be helping me?"

There was something almost childlike in his behaviour and it made Ruelle amused and also pity him. She exhaled softly and pointed out with all the politeness she could manage,

"You intend to execute me. You called me a lowly human. I am sure someone of your higher standing will assist you. Excuse me."

She took another graceful step forward and he stopped her,

"...wait."

Ruelle paused, turning back slowly. "Yes?"

He stood stiffly, his jaw clenched and unclenched before he muttered through his teeth, "I… cannot see."

That much was quite obvious. She then heard him admit, "I need help. This sticky thing fell into my eyes and if I open them, they sting."

"Why didn't you ask for help? Someone would have come," Ruelle stated as she retraced her footsteps back towards him.

"I cannot go back inside looking like this," he hissed. "I did try finding a way back in, but I only got lost! If word spreads that I—" he clicked his tongue, stopping himself. "This is entirely undignified, especially after stepping into a booby trap of glue in the forest…"

So that was what happened. Ruelle observed the mess more closely now. The glue had hardened into a glossy sheen, clinging ruthlessly to his hair and skin.

"The glue seems to be drying. Water might make it worse," she said with her eyebrows furrowed. "Stay right here. I will fetch some oil."

When she returned from the infirmary, a bottle in her hand, his voice immediately rose in impatience. He demanded, "Finally, you are here. I thought you went to create the oil."

you that you

he replied without hesitation, almost proudly. "Why would I need that? You

at him for a moment. "…I am

out blindly, catching her wrist briefly before he abruptly

couldn't help the small smile that touched her lips. She raised the bottle between them. She

pour the oil now. Do not

"Very well."

Ruelle instructed him, but the vampire laughed before

receiving silence in

tangled hair, trickling down the sides of his face. Ruelle carefully worked her fingers through it,

he announced grandly. "You have

tugged free one of the stubborn twigs. Then she asked, "Do you know what

kneel, and begone," he declared,

governess if you have one. Else you will have a short

like my father now," he shook his head in

thought. He then asked,

carefully, unwilling to wound what little pride he had left. "But there is always

most of the twigs, his hair slick and heavy beneath the oil. Her fingers moved cautiously when she brushed his forehead and eyelids, loosening

without falling into a pit. Father will

but dulled now, frayed at the edges, sounding more like a boy who had been scolded one too many times. Then, realising he had

just said from your mind. Instantly! I will behead you," he demanded, mortification rippling through his tone. "This is even more humiliating than the time I fell off a horse when I was

continued to move her fingers to

who win wars stumble in the beginning. Greatness doesn't start by

is

where the pits are," she asked him, and silence fell again as he

situation so he only nodded. She guided him to the fountain. Once they arrived there, he stood there as if waiting for the water

hands work just fine to wash it off,"

to go through this," he muttered but she

under his breath about incompetent architects and treacherous pits. He then bent over the basin and plunged his head beneath

from hair to collar. He fished out for a handkerchief in his trousers but found his pockets empty. He cleared his throat to catch Ruelle's

offered her handkerchief, shaking her

he wiped his face, he grumbled, "Finally. If I had to endure blindness any longer, I would

his voice

thing he

and she said, "The pits are there to catch

nothing less than a painting, with her blonde hair softly tousled and calm brown eyes watching him with patience which had no

had gone

any more pits." She gave

After washing her hands, she headed to the dining room

not buy things they can't afford?" whispered one of

a mere Groundling

filled with thoughts and she didn't hear what was being whispered about her. And in some ways, it was a blessing

the less light in the room. Elites, Halflings, and the Groundlings sat at their respective tables. While the Elites table was filled with laughter and loud conversation, on the other hand, the humans table was quieter, and they stayed within

moved before she could stop

table, Lucian sat among his peers.

longer something collided into

"Ruelle!!"

had attracted attention from other students, including Lucian's. Suddenly aware of the attention she was receiving,

news!" Hailey declared,

morning to you too, Hailey," Ruelle greeted with

Kevin's voice joined. He came to stand next

for a year," Hailey teased, tugging Ruelle toward their table. "Looks

lips opened and closed. He said, "We

Her eyes sparkled in excitement. "Do you know who is here? King Septimus' son—Prince Edward arrived just this morning. Which

which I believe they have. They will think you are aiming for the prince," Kevin remarked dryly, rolling

hand over her heart, as though wounded. "And what of it? You are only bitter because there is no princess

replied, "I suppose

I already—" Kevin began, his voice ending abruptly. Heat crept faintly into his cheeks

delight dancing in her eyes. Ruelle, unaware, tilted her head and asked, "Already…