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.

way!" She pulled Hailey with

escaped from their lips. Shouting would be useless. She had to make it back this time without a scratch! For a fleeting moment, she could already picture Lucian’s cold and disapproving

aside, she ran

could reach the end of the alley, a buff man stepped into their path.

are

made them run at every opportunity with the words’A predator

Ruelle asked as

have anything to stab

"Good enough," Ruelle said.

throwing herself at the man. But the height difference worked against her. Her hand that was meant to poke his eyes crashed into his

the lid of a nearby can and swung it across the man’s face just as he reached for Hailey. The metal lid struck with a sharp sound and the man

Ruelle

because not far from where they stood, there was

damn it!" the bearded

Hailey said quickly, though her voice wavered. She moved slightly in front of Ruelle without thinking, and

the ground frozen in ice, it didn’t take long before Hailey’s foot slipped

and she turned back. She quickly reached for her friend, helping

fine... just—" Hailey said,

a sudden force jerked them back as two of the men caught hold of their coats, stopping

men said, his voice carrying a note

harsh and uneven, matching Hailey’s as the men gave them a rough shake, the force enough to unsteady their footing.

was the one who borrowed the money... you should collect it from him," Ruelle said, her

a firm grip as he tilted it slightly. Ruelle tried to pull

are his daughter. And a rather pretty one at that," the man said. "I have grown tired of waiting for your father to return, and I doubt he can, now that the house no longer

price," another man added from behind, his grip still firm on her coat. "Look at her hair... her

body sharply to 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

said before letting go of her arm. "You’ll

he reached forward, as though to grab Ruelle next. The bearded man lifted his

on Ruelle with quiet certainty. "We do not damage what we intend to sell. We should have

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

so many people around them, she had not expected anything to

Caroline had been lost in a fair as well, and a kind stranger had brought her safely back. Ruelle’s fingers

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

if anyone decides

his hand and snapped his

the carriage. We leave at once. Where is