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.

given to each of the four players. Mr. Belmont was

his chair with confidence, rearranging the cards like

to discard his cards. He scratched his

Mr. Belmont increasingly impatient. The only good thing was that this person dropped cards that he

Belmont thought. He would be more than

Mr. Belmont drew his final card, he slid it neatly into his hand and

round." He then reached

seem to have

has taken a liking to you tonight. Beating me is no small feat," Jay remarked to Harold. "You must have

was going to agree to Jay when the person seated on his right

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

replied, "Pardon me? If you didn’t know, experience is

the gentleman agreed with him. "Though the two often

his winning cards and stated, "Keep your wit. I will

won again, he proudly gathered the gleaming pile of coins with obvious satisfaction. Glancing at the

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

sitting on the right did not answer. He only set his cards down with a

Belmont’s chest as luck continued to favour him. Fortune, at

third round, his good fortune wavered. Cards that had earlier fallen neatly into his favour now betrayed him, and

Belmont grumbled, tossing his 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

the cards and straightening them with quiet efficiency, as if the loss or gain of coins meant very little to him. He noticed the person looked well groomed despite the casual disorder of his dark

speak, "Still, I find myself growing bored as I have been at it for hours. Perhaps it is time I retired

asked at once, unable to hide his dismay. One of his golden geese

would only end the same way," Jay replied with a faint

Mr. Belmont’s right suggested. He leaned back in his chair as if he had

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

"Two hundred gold coins."

and his breath caught, his gaze fixed

clear his debts in a single night. He could already imagine it. All it required was one fortunate hand. And fortune, he

observed, out of

followed suit, placing

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

eyes narrowed at the thought of backing away now. This was not recklessness. It was a

with their wealth, he thought with scorn. He had spent years at such tables. He understood the game far better than they did. His mind raced at what to

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

cards could be dealt, Mr. Belmont stood up from his chair

have something

No need

will," Mr. Belmont replied as he picked up his cane. "Give me a few minutes," before leaving

rummaging through drawers. He wondered where he

while he looked through, an anxious Mrs. Belmont arrived at the doorway and quickly made her way to her husband.

have been waiting for you. There is something you must hear. Caroline wore the earrings Ruelle

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

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

Mr. Belmont exclaimed, triumphantly pulling a bundle

"Harold—"

later," he said impatiently, giving her the earlier winnings. "Here. Keep these safe. I will