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.

Belmont’s eyes had widened and soon shock turned to anger. She questioned, "You are telling me that you brought a hexed piece of

building in her mother’s

earrings are given to the human students. I left them

Caroline looked livid. "I cannot be a

She placed

her even though there was no fault of hers. She tried to calm her voice and asked, "Why did you

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

Caroline’s 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

Caroline’s hand pressed against the wounds her father had inflicted on her. She pushed her sister away and stumbled back. She had no answers. Only the frightening truth that she herself

him to appear. "He will talk to the people of Sexton

"This is all because of you. I never

"If you had just stayed at Sexton like you were supposed to, none of this

were nothing less than a knife driven straight into her chest. Her breath

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 jewels, you would have had no objection at all, Caroline. You would have kept them

you should leave," Mrs. Belmont said coldly as if she had made up her mind. "Leave

by this and tried to speak in

stared at the woman she had called mother all her life. For

her arms. "It is for the