Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 207: A Residue of Fate

By the time Ruelle and Lucian left the Slater estate, the morning hunt had long since come to an end. Now in the carriage, she sat beside Lucian inside the carriage, while the strange vision still lingered at the back of her mind.

Ruelle could feel Lucian’s eyes that didn’t leave her and her eyes moved to meet his. He didn’t force her to speak, as if giving her time and space to sort her thoughts, and it was something she appreciated about him.

"The witch you lived with in the past... Did she ever try to do something bad?" Ruelle asked him.

"In general she did. Trying to butcher me. Why?" Lucian searched her eyes.

"What I saw earlier in the dream. You said you wanted to kill all the witches," Ruelle began, her fingers resting in her lap. "And I think you meant me too." A slight smile touched her lips, as though it would lighten the subject. "I was only wondering if a witch had ever done something to you before. Something terrible enough to make you lose control."

Lucian replied, "The witch I learnt from passed away a few years ago. I don’t think I’ve ever concerned myself enough with witches to feel that strongly about them."

Ruelle turned her eyes towards him.

"I’ve killed a few," he continued with the same unsettling calmness, "but only when they became a nuisance to the towns or villages they were in. Beyond that, I’ve had little reason to involve myself in their affairs. You’re the only witch I’ve ever involved myself with this deeply."

Then... what had she seen?

Ruelle’s eyebrows drew together as another possibility slowly crept into her thoughts. Could it have been something that hadn’t happened yet? A glimpse of a future still waiting for them?

But almost as quickly as the thought came, she rejected it. No, she knew Lucian. Whatever happened, he wouldn’t simply turn against her. He wasn’t that kind of person, and she trusted him enough to know that much. Which only made the vision all the more confusing. If it wasn’t a memory and it wasn’t the future, was she idly dreaming?

When they finally arrived at Elder Minister Carnifex’s estate, the tall iron gates opened almost immediately after the guards caught sight of whom the carriage belonged to. The vehicle travelled along the path before the carriage eventually slowed to a halt in front of the mansion.

Ruelle looked out of the window. The mansion stood wide and imposing, built from dark stone that appeared almost black against the pale sky. Several pointed spires rose from its roof.

Stepping out of the carriage, Ruelle followed Lucian into the mansion, her eyes wandering across the unfamiliar surroundings as they entered. She had barely begun to take them in when the sharp sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention away.

A woman appeared at the other end of the hall.

Ruelle’s eyes caught the midnight-blue dress that trailed elegantly behind the woman before moving to the person’s face. Her black hair was neatly tied back, revealing a pair of red eyes whose sharpness seemed to have softened with the many years she had lived.

the vampiress greeted pleasantly as she approached

lead. "My apologies for arriving so suddenly,

from Lucian’s expression before she gestured farther into the mansion. "Come inside.

quietly followed, though her gaze lingered

felt a slight sense of dread at the thought of meeting this person on their way here. After all, the woman walking ahead of them was her biological father’s lawfully wedded wife, and Ruelle couldn’t help but wonder if Carnifex had told her about his connection

she led them into the drawing room which was warm.

is complete,"

were seated, a maid stepped into the drawing room and

asked, turning towards Ruelle. "The cook prepared a fresh batch

words. She couldn’t quite imagine anyone living beneath this imposing roof deserving such a title, but

biscuits would be lovely, thank

warm milk and blood tea." The maid bowed

before he appeared at the entrance of the drawing room,

need to attend to," she said, smoothing a

and the door closed behind her. Ruelle’s eyes met her father’s, who wore a grim expression. She wondered if he was wrapped up in work when he was suddenly called out of

about what happened. Are you alright?" Carnifex asked,

physically harmed, though the memory of what she had seen continued to

from them which was near to where she sat. He then asked, "What

Carnifex had gone unusually quiet. She watched the

the ability

him before he answered,

Then...did that mean she had actually

her abruptly from the thought. Ruelle looked up to find his eyes resting directly upon her. "Premonitions aren’t always as straightforward as they appear. Because if

Ruelle began hesitantly, still trying to wrap her thoughts around what

reached for one of the biscuits on the table and took a bite, though there was something absent-minded about the action, as if his thoughts were somewhere

came to see me. By then,

I had seen her in several months. She

teacup she held on

from me," Carnifex continued. His eyes shifted to meet Ruelle’s. "Mira told me that her daughter needed to be protected. That if nothing

her mother had seen her. Perhaps not in the way a mother should have been able to watch her daughter grow, but before Ruelle had even taken her first breath, her mother had already known her. She had seen a future in which her daughter existed