Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 100: Table of Fortunes

When night fell, the hour stole colour from the sky over the town of Brackenwell. The streets had turned mostly deserted with lanterns burning along the narrow roads.

Harold Belmont pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked. His footsteps moved quickly as if he had somewhere important to be. He finally arrived at an establishment where one could hear the clatter of coins and chatter.

Straightening his shoulders, Mr. Belmont pushed the door and stepped inside.

"Rough day, Belmont?" one of the regulars called out, eyeing the bruise darkening Harold’s cheek. "Looks like fortune finally hit back."

"Quite literally," another remarked, which had a few men snort.

Mr. Belmont’s mouth tightened and he snapped, "Mind your business. As if you are any better than me," he muttered under his breath.

"Shall I pour you a glass?" asked the owner of the place.

"I don’t need the cheap thing. Bring me something decent," Mr. Belmont said with a wrinkled sneer.

"Of course, only the best. Though you know it needs to be paid up front," the owner informed with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Mr. Belmont shot him a look of pure disdain. Once upon a time, he would have never been spoken to in such a manner. In the past, men used to rise when he entered a room.

He had been a respectable man once who was nearly seated at the courthouse, almost counted among men of importance. Men bowed at him but then the damn war had ruined everything. He was swept aside and was left in a corner of the world that no longer cared for his name.

With a begrudging expression, Mr. Belmont produced a few shillings from his pocket and dropped them into the man’s palm.

"Thank you," the owner bowed and said, "I’ll have your drink brought over."

Mr. Belmont’s eyes drifted across the room as he weighed each man in there, searching for the weakest hands.

Then he noticed a particular table at the back of the room. Unlike the others, where dull copper coins lay in meagre piles, this one gleamed with silver and some pieces of gold.

Now that was a table worthy of him and his hope rose quickly. That was the money that could change his week or month!

Seeing how the three men seated there finished a round of the game, he made his way to the table while his cane clicked lightly against the floor.

"I was so close," one of them complained, tossing his cards onto the table. He watched the other member at the table push the coins before setting them aside. "Another hand and I would have had you."

"Being close to winning doesn’t matter. You still lost, Stuart," the dirty blond man replied with a smirk.

"You were just lucky, Jay," Stuart rolled his eyes.

Mr. Belmont paused beside them, letting his presence announce itself. But when no one paid attention to him, he spoke, "Gentlemen, mind if I join you?"

He rested a hand on the back of an empty chair, already assuming the answer would be yes.

"Do you have the money?" Jay asked, raising his brows as he sized up Mr. Belmont.

"I do," Mr. Belmont replied with confidence.

"Then take a seat. The more the merrier, don’t you agree, gentlemen?" Jay gestured to the empty chair.

Mr. Belmont accepted at once, sitting comfortably in it as if he hadn’t been hit by the debt collectors this morning.

before they were given to each of the four players. Mr. Belmont was

to his left leaned back in his chair with confidence, rearranging

of Mr. Belmont was quick to discard his cards. He scratched his chin and sighed as though

impatient. The only good thing was that this person dropped cards that he needed and it made him

men appeared to have more money than sense. Perfect, Mr. Belmont thought. He would be more than happy to take it

final card, he slid it neatly into his hand

as though I have won this round." He then reached for

"I seem to have

taken a liking to you tonight. Beating me

to agree to Jay when

deal of experience without ever winning," the gentleman looked at his own cards before setting

scowled at the insult and replied, "Pardon me? If you didn’t

with him. "Though

and stated, "Keep

next round of cards was dealt, and when Mr. Belmont won again, he proudly gathered the gleaming pile of coins with obvious satisfaction. Glancing at the

are taking notes. This is what competence looks like when it

He only set his cards down with a stare

chest as luck continued to favour

that had earlier fallen neatly into his favour now

cards down in frustration. It was alright, he convinced himself.

did mention I am good at this," Jay chuckled, turning a gold coin idly between his fingers. "I cannot allow you to take everything. Where would be the joy in

right, he caught the gentleman merely gathering the cards and straightening them with quiet efficiency, as if the loss or gain of coins meant very little to

find myself growing bored as I have been at it for hours. Perhaps it is time

once, unable to hide his dismay. One of his golden geese leaving already? "Surely another round will not

end the same way,"

person on Mr. Belmont’s right suggested. He leaned back in

consider it before nodding. Reaching into his coat, the person produced a heavy pouch and let

"Two hundred gold coins."

fell open and his breath caught, his

night. He could already imagine it. All it required was one fortunate

what Mr. Belmont had observed, out of the three only one of them played

other two men followed suit, placing their

will be just the three of us playing now," the gentleman on Mr. Belmont’s

of backing away now. This was

were only young men playing with their wealth, he thought with scorn. He had spent years at such tables. He understood the

gave Mr. Belmont a friendly pat on the shoulder. "It seems you will have to leave the

anew. Before the cards could be dealt, Mr. Belmont stood

something as

on the table, then. No need to be

cane. "Give me a

drawers. He wondered where he had kept the papers he was looking

he would change his and his family’s fate. And while he looked through, an anxious Mrs. Belmont arrived at the doorway and quickly made her way to her husband. She

is something you must hear. Caroline wore the

like them?" he asked absently, not bothering to look

eyebrows furrowed before she snapped, "Harold, listen to me! Those earrings—they create

triumphantly pulling a

"Harold—"

it later," he said impatiently, giving her the earlier winnings. "Here. Keep these safe. I will return with more." And without