Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 187: Step Aside

As the snowfall grew heavier, it whitened the glass dome above and the guests were eventually led back inside the mansion.

The room they entered was larger than the one before, softer too. Fire burned brightly in the fireplace, filling the air with the smell of burning wood and warm spice. Velvet chairs sat around low tables, and candles flickered against polished walls.

"Do you enjoy playing cards, Mrs. Belmont?" One of the women asked as the others settled around the round table. "Though perhaps cards are less appealing in your household. I heard your husband favours them a little too much."

Ruelle saw the tightness in her stepmother’s smile.

If not for coming along as Ruelle’s chaperone, Mrs. Belmont would have never entered this place or bothered to mingle with these people.

"Ruelle, you should come to the soiree I’m hosting in four days," another vampiress spoke up. At those words, Mrs. Belmont rubbed her forehead as though the thought alone wearied her.

Ruelle smiled politely, "That is kind of you, Mrs. Witherspoon."

Mrs. Witherspoon waved her hand. She said, "You will soon be part of a vampire household. It is better to know the people around you before then. When I first entered society, I struggled terribly. Of course, I doubt you will have such difficulty with Maxine beside you."

Ruelle glanced at Lady Maxine.

"Then I will be in good hands," Ruelle replied, receiving a grin from Lady Maxine.

"Isn’t she lovely?" Lady Maxine said proudly. "Even Olivia has taken to her."

Ruelle smiled faintly at that. One of the older vampiresses from earlier leaned forward. "She is very pretty," the woman said, studying Ruelle openly. "Tell me, Miss Ruelle, do you know how to play the pianoforte?"

Before Ruelle could answer, Mrs. Belmont spoke, "Ruelle plays quite well." Ruelle turned slightly at that. "Why don’t you play for them, dear? The one with the lilacs."

"I don’t believe I know one by that name. Let us hear it," another vampiress said.

And before she knew it, Ruelle was seated at the pianoforte.

Lady Maxine stepped behind her and leaned down. She whispered only for Ruelle’s ears, "You do know how to play, don’t you? Or I can have Angelina faint and distract everyone."

The warmth of being quietly defended made Ruelle’s chest warm. She said softly, "I can manage."

Lady Maxine gave a small nod before returning to the others with a glass in her hand.

In the meantime, Ruelle stretched her fingers once, feeling the stiffness leave them. Then she placed her fingers on the keys before the first notes came softly. The room slowly quieted around her, while she let her eyes fall to the keys and followed the music instead of the people.

It was a song that she had learned for her sister years ago. It was warm and simple, like sunlight after rain. And for a few minutes, the noise in her mind quieted.

When the final note faded in the room, Ruelle looked up to catch several women giving nods.

"That was lovely, Ruelle," Lady Ravencroft said, smiling at her. "I enjoyed it very much. You must sit beside me now. I feel everyone has been stealing you away."

should be grateful you get to see her at all, Mother," Angelina

her mouth twitch. Ruelle left the pianoforte and

plays beautifully," Mrs. Belmont said,

her finger against

the Birds?" Lia

lit up. "That’s the one. Play it for us, Miss Lia.

woman rise without hesitation. Ever since learning that Lia had once been considered as Lucian’s possible bride, her eyes kept returning to

done it all her life. When she began to play, the song rose quickly without pause. The song made

herself holding her

she belonged here. Like she had always belonged

and the others followed. "What a beautiful

control to play that one," one

the room filled with talk again, Hailey leaned toward Ruelle, "Come with

two slipped away toward the powder

Even the walls seemed to glow gold beneath the candlelight, and the mirrors were so clear Ruelle could see every loose strand of hair near her face. The air smelled of rosewater and

herself not long after, muttering

to the basin and washed her hands in warm water. She stood there longer than she needed to, staring at the water, when

Ruelle," Lia said as she stepped up to the

looked at her

are you saying?" the older vampiress scoffed. "You played far better than her. There is no one in that room

stiffened at the

"I would agree. You played wonderfully. It must have taken years to become

Lia

obvious what she was doing. Trying to prick her pride. But she had no

make a better match for Lucian?" the older vampiress questioned her bluntly. "The poor girl has been waiting for him all this time. She has been patient. Proper, unlike

She tried to intervene, "Lady

eyes turned on Ruelle. "She and her mother think they can simply walk in

understand you

snapped, "There is. You can step aside and let Lia take

we should leave," Lia said quickly, stepping closer. She turned to Ruelle and apologised,

right, it wasn’t supposed

woman was hardly difficult compared to what waited for her at home. A soundless exhale slipped

should go and let Elder

frowned. "What? Are you saying that you

wish to marry him. Tell him to choose someone more suitable. Or better yet, tell

was when Hailey stepped out of the stall that Lady Martha shot her a pointed look, as if forgetting why she had entered

forgive me. You should not have had to hear something like that. Not after Lucian has

any of it. The woman hadn’t said those words.

worse," Ruelle said, trying to ease the stiffness between

imagine." Her fingers tightened lightly over her skirt as she added, "But I promise you, nothing happened between Lucian and me. It was several years ago and it fell