Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 165: A Mother’s Mistake

Caroline was shoved into the cell without warning. She stumbled forward and her hands flew out to hold the damp wall that seemed to swallow light. The lantern outside lit only half the cell and there were no windows. She felt as if she had already stepped one foot into the coffin.

The cell door creaked behind her before it locked. She quickly turned and ran to the front, gripping the iron bars in panic. The officer then spoke,

"There are witnesses who said that you often got into fights with young women. Like Miss Clifford, Miss Mina Hyde, Miss Imogen McKenna and Miss Rosalind Ellis. Did you ever tell them that you were going to bury them?"

Caroline turned pale. She shook her head in desperation, wiping her tear-streaked face.

"No, no! Those were only passing remarks. Everybody gets angry and says things—Y-You must do it too—" Caroline blurted, realising how guilty she sounded, "No, what I meant—"

"You were angry and you got rid of them," the officer interrupted her. "With no one at home, it was easier for you to move. You did leave your house too often."

"No—" Caroline’s hands shook. Her wedding ring caught the dying lantern light. She exclaimed, "Ask the servants! The ones who work in my house!" They would vouch for her. They would tell these officers that she’d been home.

"You dismissed them yourself several weeks ago," the minister sighed.

When the officer turned, Caroline panicked. She asked, "W-Wait, where are you going?" but the footsteps faded. "No... don’t leave me here! I didn’t do it—!"

"SHUT UP!"

The voice exploded from somewhere down the corridor which belonged to a male. He muttered, "Or do you want me to rip your gut out when you are sleeping?"

Caroline bit her lower lip but she didn’t make a sound. What had she done to be punished like this? Were they going to behead her tomorrow?

Far away from the dungeon, Mr. and Mrs. Belmont walked through the corridors with desperation, while Ezekiel had gone to find help through Mr. Helsing. Mrs. Belmont now held the front of her skirt tightly. The rim of her eyes had turned red and swollen by the time she caught sight of a minister’s robes. She quickly ran to the person, calling,

"Sire!" Coming before the person, she pleaded, "Our daughter—Caroline—she has been arrested. Please help her get out!"

Mr. Belmont, who caught up, introduced himself when the minister stared at them, "I am Harold Belmont and this is my wife Megan Belmont. We need to visit our daughter."

The minister’s eyes flickered with recognition and he asked, "Belmont, you say?" His eyebrows rose. "Are you related to Ruelle Belmont?"

Mrs. Belmont’s tears stopped, not knowing why this person was bringing up Ruelle’s name, while Mr. Belmont wondered if word had spread about the treaty. So he quickly nodded, "Yes, she is our elder daughter."

"Is that so?" The person was none other than Minister Griswold, whose tone shifted to something thoughtful.

This was the same Ruelle Belmont who had gotten him beaten. The young woman had caused a lot of inconveniences. Mr. Beckett had been breathing down his neck since this weekend, trying to arrange a marriage with his gap-toothed daughter as compensation for that night’s incident.

have taken your help, because small crimes don’t land a

to do with it!" Mr. Belmont spoke in

to say with that look on your face," Minister Griswold huffed before he murmured, "You look like someone who has murdered people before. We should

Mrs. Belmont’s voice cracked like thin ice under

appear. He muttered, "Come, Megan. Let us go wait at the house for Ezekiel," and he pulled her away from the

after a minute,

the stairs, walking past the weak burning lanterns before he came to stand before

who heard footsteps approaching her cell, quickly came to stand in the front, while rubbing her nose with the back of her sleeve. She caught sight of a man who had grey

Your family must love you a

bars, where she could see his face and he smiled at

personally going to oversee your execution. Make sure the person takes his time with it by asking the axe to go slow

eyes travelled down her body and he murmured, "What a shame." He

from the opposite

in her thirties stepped to the front. Her face was gaunt, but her eyes

be ready to brace for death. Marjorie Hill," the

was hoarse from crying. Cautiously, she asked, "What did you do... to end

So I tried to return the favour." Marjorie’s voice dropped to barely above a

was defensive as she quickly said, "My husband isn’t like that. He’s

but they end up the same, dear. Where

I am sure of it..."

features and inwardly smiled. The young woman looked like she could be of use, especially with her connection

exactly the same as they had left it this morning. Climbing up the stairs, they knocked

a moment, the

a new servant there, who didn’t

the servant didn’t make an effort to follow his words. He asked politely, "May I know who you

his cane would have been, now only finding empty air. He spat, "This is my son-in-law’s residence. The Henleys. I am not

this house now belongs to Mr. Dashwood. The house was bought a week ago. The previous owner said it would be ready today and we moved this morning." The servant looked at the couple before he stepped back and

her knees gave away and

beside her. "Ezekiel must have tried to use the money to help Caroline get out of

fault..." Mrs. Belmont murmured, her hands

If that wretched girl didn’t

to leave their daughter... with Caroline in the

Belmont supported her

on the