Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 147: Caught!

Away from the centre of the fair, the little girl led them along a path between the stalls.

"This is away from the fair," Ruelle said, turning to look behind them. "Your mother would be looking for you there."

"I saw her go this way," the little girl said, pointing at the narrower alley.

"Are you sure?" Hailey asked, who was still holding the girl’s hand.

"Perhaps we should head back and wait for her at the fair," Ruelle suggested. When she turned to look behind her again, she caught sight of two familiar-looking men. They had visited her house the last time she had been there, demanding her father return the money.

"I must say, you’ve grown quite beautifully," the bearded man’s gaze lingering as he stepped closer.

"Where is my payment?"

Ruelle and Hailey heard a woman’s voice come from between them, and their eyes snapped towards the girl who was no longer trembling.

"Idiots," the little girl said, the childish tone gone. "Did you really think I was a child?" Then she pulled her hand free from Hailey’s grip and ran toward the men. The bearded man tossed a coin toward her without looking and she caught it easily before she was gone quickly.

Ruelle’s fingers curled slightly at her side. The men had used this person who looked like a little girl to lure them away from the crowd and others. It was not uncommon for debts to be settled through family, especially daughters. But who had told them she would be here?

"Ruelle... do you know these men?" Hailey asked as they edged backward.

The bearded man chuckled and he answered, "Of course she does. Her fa—"

Ruelle did not let him finish. She seized Hailey’s hand and said, "Run!"

"Catch them!" the man shouted as Ruelle and Hailey gathered their skirts and ran.

Hailey gasped, "Who are they?!"

"Men my father owes," Ruelle replied. "Don’t stop!"

Hailey stumbled slightly. "What do we do now?! They don’t look like they are ready to give up."

"We split."

"What? No—two is better than one! I hope others notice we are gone for a long time. This is a very good time for my rich man to—"

Think, Ruelle told herself. If they could reach the crowd, it would be easier. They had walked mostly straight and hadn’t taken any deviation earlier. As her eyes moved ahead at a narrow turn, cutting to the right.

pulled

their lips. Shouting would be useless. She had to make it back this time without a scratch! For a fleeting moment, she

thought aside, she ran

of the alley, a buff man stepped into their path. The two

the fuck are these women

all thanks to Mr Jinxy, who had made them run at every opportunity with the

asked as they

don’t have anything to stab him with. I

"Good enough," Ruelle said.

lunged forward, throwing herself at the man. But the height difference worked against her. Her hand that

man’s face just as he reached for Hailey. The metal lid struck with a sharp

he could recover, Ruelle

right, they stopped because not far from where they

the bearded man’s voice

moved slightly in front of Ruelle without thinking, and they took the opposite path. "Where is

take long before Hailey’s

She quickly

said,

a sudden force jerked them back as two of

the men said, his voice carrying a

rough shake, the force enough to unsteady their footing. The bearded man stepped forward, his gaze settling on Ruelle with clear displeasure at

you should collect it from him," Ruelle said, her words shortened by her breath as she forced

grip as he tilted it slightly. Ruelle tried to

man said. "I have grown tired of waiting for your father to return,

good price," another man added from behind, his grip still firm on her coat. "Look at her hair... her skin." There was a pause

one side, but the hold on her coat only tightened, the fabric pulling against her throat and dragging her back into place. She lifted her hand and struck blindly toward the man in front of her, but he caught her wrist this time, forcing it down and twisting at her back, making her

letting go

he reached forward, as though to

said the bearded man, his gaze settling on Ruelle with quiet certainty. "We do not damage what we intend to sell. We should

as if remembering, his attention shifted to Hailey. He added, "No matter. We have another

expected anything to go wrong. But neither she nor Hailey could have known what the little girl

fair as well, and a kind stranger had brought her

to sell us," Ruelle warned the man. "If you try to

man chuckled before speaking, "They will go after the ones who buy you. That is, if anyone decides you are worth looking for. We are

lifted his hand and

carriage. We leave