Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 96: The Door That Closed

Mrs. Belmont found it rather strange that the earrings were difficult to remove. She called, "Ruelle, help your sister remove it."

Dizzy, that was how Ruelle felt right now. She heard her mother’s distant voice as she came back to the present. Finding words, she replied slowly, "I don’t know how. I never wore them."

"Not even once?" Caroline found it amusing and she touched the diamond earrings.

"Be quiet, Caroline. What is going on, Ruelle?" Mrs. Belmont could sense something to be wrong. She noticed how Ruelle looked frozen.

Ruelle didn’t know how to break the news. She felt fear creep into her chest as she could already feel the blame falling on her. But she tried explaining,

"I don’t think they will come off on their own. We might need to involve Sexton for its help. I think these earrings form a contract between Sexton and the one who wears them."

As if finally dawning in her mind, Caroline’s smile faltered and she asked, "What contract?"

"Slave contract," Ruelle revealed as her stomach sank. The room then fell eerily quiet.

Caroline let out a laugh and asked, "Tell me you are joking, Ruelle." But Ruelle shook her head.

anger. She questioned, "You are telling

building in her mother’s

aware of what it could do. The earrings are given to the human

them in Mother’s room!" Caroline looked livid.

pale as a ghost. She placed her hand on her chest. "You bring nothing but misfortune.

to calm her voice and asked, "Why did you take them out of my trunk? If you hadn’t taken them, or if she

exclaimed in disbelief. "Look at what you have done to your sister! Oh dear God, what are we going to do

voice rose in nervousness and she started to sweat. "Surely Sexton knows how to remove them!" She suddenly rushed toward Ruelle and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Tell

the wounds her father had inflicted on her. She pushed her sister away and stumbled back.

him to appear. "He will talk to the

"This is all because of you. I never should have sent that letter. Bringing you home was

had just stayed at Sexton like you were supposed to, none of this would have happened. I don’t know

her chest. Her breath shuddered as she tried to gather her thoughts,

bought to cut fruit how is it my fault when someone chooses to wound another with it?" Her voice trembling but steady. "If these had been ordinary

said coldly as if she had made up her mind. "Leave

aback by this and tried to

woman she had called mother all her life.

Mrs. Belmont replied, crossing her