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.

changed since the last time?" the old

burned while Hailey choked

Blood, breath, skin, fluids. Magic shifts." She leaned closer, her nose brushing

down the wool scarf from her throat, revealing the dark vine-like

soul bond," the woman

you

soft

this is 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 mountains

read it?" Ruelle

"The one who wrote it hated them. Witches were

Ruelle again and touched her neck, "This won’t let you read it. You will need to temporarily let

of her questions could have been answered. Glancing at the book, she asked,

away. "You’ll need the basics. It is plain enough no one has taught

out of the storage room, dragging a still-shocked Hailey behind her. She then asked, "Can I return? If I

instantly. The witch stopped by the kitchen table and shot her a look. "You think people don’t keep an eye?

across every room, Ruelle wondered if the witch realised how suspicious this place looked. She caught the old woman bend

one has

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, someone banged on the door. The three

the door!" came a man’s

kitchen island, grabbing a fistful of salt. In one quick motion, she drew a sharp pattern into the wood

and the rest of the house flickered before they disappeared from

and bare. The old witch remarked, "Took

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.

opened the door and here stood an officer with four guards behind him. The look the witch sent Ruelle and Hailey said enough—if I

house," the officer said, stepping inside without waiting. "Children have gone missing. And

the clean house before his gaze settled on them. The corners of his mouth

what are the mother and

together,"

He began opening cupboards, lifting lids, glancing under tables. "Then what brings

other to gossip?" Hailey tilted her

narrowed as if he knew the patterns. He then jerked his head towards them, speaking to his guards, "Search them. We need to make sure no one is hiding anything and show

fingers tightened around the fabric. She couldn’t let them find the one

child could fit into any of our pockets," Ruelle said, her voice steady. "So there

the children first," he said. "We need to find signs. Clues. Or

hand and snapped for the guards to

stepped forward, Ruelle moved faster. The dagger slipped from beneath her dress into her hand, the blade catching the dim light. She

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

before

true," she said, grabbing the nearest vase and holding it up like a weapon. "Searching women like this is rude. Do you wish to lose your position?" she

paused and one of the guards scoffed at the attempt

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

may want to think twice before laying hands on me," Ruelle replied. "I am the future

friend," Hailey added for support with a

on, "And I am to marry Lucian Slater

as if considering what she said, while the guards, upon the mention of all the names, looked back at their senior. They looked at the woman even more closely this time, noticing the expensive silk that she was draped in but it was the mark on her neck that

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

escaped from the younger women. The

to her chest, "Can you imagine if

back inside. She deadpanned, "You’d be tied to a post in the centre of town. Set on fire

at first but then stopped.

burned plenty of humans for less. Most don’t care what you are. They only care that there’s something to point at."

a small smile spreading on her lips.

shut, Hailey suddenly stuck her hand against it and

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

face fell right