Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 189: Ezekiel’s Plan

The bookhouse was unlike anything Ruelle had ever seen.

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary house where a widow lived alone. But inside, it felt like stepping into the inside of someone’s mind.

Every room was filled with books. The walls almost disappeared beneath them, rows upon rows blending into shades of brown, red, green, and black. Some were bound in leather so old the corners had peeled, while others were patched together with thread.

Beneath the scent of lavender that slipped in through the open windows from the garden outside, she picked the smell of old paper.

"She’s the fortune teller we met at the fair, isn’t she?" Hailey whispered, leaning close.

Before Ruelle could answer, the old woman spoke, "What book are you looking for?" Her eyes were sharp despite her age. "The rooms are sorted by what suits them best. Bedrooms hold things on bedsheets, storybooks, and where to find aphrodisiacs," she pointed with her cane. "The kitchen holds books on poisons, teas, and recipes that can heal or kill."

Hailey blinked.

Ruelle stepped toward one of the shelves in the living room, glancing at the titles. None were useful. She asked, "And if it is purely informational?"

"That would be in the storage room. At the back."

Ruelle nodded and headed there. Behind her, Hailey wandered through the shelves, reading aloud under her breath.

"How to Dissolve a Human’s Bones?" Hailey stared at the title in horror. "Is it really what I think it is?" She turned to the old woman with open suspicion. The old woman only stared back at her.

The storage room was colder than the rest of the house. Dust sat thick on everything and the books here were older, their pages yellowed and brittle. Some cracked at the spine when Ruelle opened them.

Instead of waiting for the worst to happen, she had decided to be of help when things would turn dire.

If her father wanted Lucian gone, perhaps there was a way to turn it back on him. Since the night before, she had been turning it over in her mind. A way to keep him from meddling... and prison crossed her mind. A false accusation was something enough to keep him locked until the wedding.

But the treaty tied them all together. The courthouse would not throw him into a dungeon over something small.

That meant she would have to use another approach. Debt collectors.

Her fingers paused on the page. Seeing how he had reacted two days ago at the courthouse, he hadn’t repaid the debt yet.

As Ruelle reached for another book, something beneath the cupboard caught her eye. It was a grey book. She bent down and pulled it out, the dust clinging to her fingers. There was no title on it and when she opened it, every page was blank.

"Did you find it?" The old woman stood at the doorway.

Ruelle looked up. Behind her, Hailey looked pale and was trying to catch her attention, mouthing something without sound and pointing at the old woman.

"Not yet. I’m still looking," Ruelle answered, rising to her feet. She handed the blank book to the old woman. "You can use this for groceries," she said, muttering, "or customers."

The old woman stared at the book in Ruelle’s hand before asking, "You can’t see what’s written in this?"

Ruelle frowned and shook her head.

The old woman then turned to Hailey, whose arms were full, one hand still holding the book on dissolving human bones, the other clutching a twig doll she had picked up. The woman pointed at the blank book.

"And you? Can you read it?"

Hailey stared at the old woman. She abruptly pointed, "We are in a witch’s house! She’s going to turn us into these little dolls and make us sweep her floors forever."

Ruelle instead asked, "What’s written in the book, Hailey?"

Hailey whispered, "Is reading it really more important than running?" She wasn’t ready for herself to enter the witch’s cauldron. She sighed and glanced down at the page. "The way to the mountains of Jillian is through the river crossings. The boats there are old, but the waters are full of silver fish—"

"Why can’t I read it?" Ruelle asked the old woman. She looked down at the page again.

As the old woman fell into thought, Ruelle glanced at Hailey. She replied, "I know, Hailey. I suspected it when we met her at the fair."

The old woman stepped close enough that Ruelle could smell the herbs clinging to her sleeves. Then the woman sniffed like an animal catching a scent.

the old woman muttered. "Did

face burned while Hailey choked beside

meet, things change. Blood, breath, skin, fluids. Magic shifts." She leaned closer, her nose brushing near

Ruelle pulled down the wool scarf from her throat,

bond,"

you mean?"

shut the book with a soft clap. She held

an ordinary book? The one who wrote it is said to have written it as a journal. Secrets not meant to be revealed. One sees

vampires cannot read it?" Ruelle

the witch replied. "The one who wrote it hated them. Witches were hunted because of vampires. They were the first shadow that drew

you read it. You will need to temporarily let it

alive. A lot of her questions could

need the basics. It

a still-shocked Hailey behind her. She then asked, "Can I return? If I need

look. "You think people don’t keep an eye? With deaths piling up and prisoners escaping, every rat

witch realised how suspicious this place looked. She caught the old woman bend beneath one of the kitchen slabs and pulled out a thin book, placing

has the

up the book, adding it to the grey book she had taken from the storage room. She wondered if this would help in keeping the corruption from spiralling. Before she could read the contents inside,

the door!" came a

Her hand swept over the kitchen island, grabbing a fistful of salt. In one quick motion, she drew a sharp pattern into

the kitchen and the rest of the house flickered before they

kitchen looked ordinary and bare. The old witch remarked, "Took me

tensed. It was one thing to be sneaking and a whole different deal to be found in a witch’s house. But then her eyes fell on Ruelle, realising what was spoken. "Should we perhaps

four guards behind him.

to search the house," the officer said, stepping inside

his gaze

are the mother and daughters

together," Hailey said

began opening cupboards, lifting lids,

other to gossip?" Hailey

eyes fell on Hailey, his eyes narrowed as if he knew the patterns. He then jerked his head towards them, speaking to his guards, "Search

two books hidden beneath her coat, Ruelle’s fingers tightened around the fabric. She couldn’t

could fit into any of our pockets," Ruelle said, her voice steady. "So there is no

boldness. He stated, "We do not need to find the children first," he said. "We need to find signs. Clues. Or discover if

snapped for the guards to do

her dress into her hand, the blade catching the dim light. She raised it between them.

are respectable women. You will not touch us without proper warrant.

before

up like a weapon. "Searching women like this is rude.

of the guards scoffed at the attempt

"Are you about to claim you’re some minister’s daughter? What would one be doing in

you may want to think twice before laying hands on me," Ruelle replied. "I am the future daughter-in-law

Prince Edward’s friend," Hailey added for support

marry Lucian Slater under the treaty your

upon the mention of all the names, looked back at their senior. They looked at the woman even more

once, he bowed deeply. "My apologies for my insolence. And that of my guards.

escaped from the younger women. The old witch muttered, "You seem like such a tangled

a hand to her chest, "Can you imagine if they found out what

turned and shuffled back inside. She deadpanned, "You’d be tied to a

first but then stopped. She stated,

of humans for less. Most don’t care what you are. They only care that there’s something to point at." When her eyes moved to Ruelle, her lips were set in a thin line and she then said, "Only return

once, a small smile

Hailey suddenly stuck her hand against it and stopped, "Wait a moment! Did you read my cards

stared at her. Then said flatly, "Yes. Your fate may very well end in a

face fell right