Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Manipulative intentions

Ruelle soon found herself in the maze with a flickering lantern in her hand. The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth, mingled with something older, more primal, the kind of scent that clung to ancient forests.

Each step was accompanied by the soft crunch of leaves beneath her worn out shoes. Every rustle of nearby bushes, every distant hoot of an owl, sent her heart skittering in her chest. The maze felt different at night—alive, as though it watched her every move. The lantern's glow bounced off the hedge walls, the flickering light warping the shadows, making everything feel closer, more suffocating.

"The chain should be somewhere here," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mind replayed the memory of her earlier collision with June, the moment where she might have lost the locket. But nothing.

Disappointment gripped Ruelle as her fingers brushed the neckline of her dress. She longed for the familiar weight of her mother's chain and locket—the familiar presence that should have rested there, close to her heart.

She crouched once more, her hands sifting through leaves. But what she received was a low growl in the dark, which had her almost dead in her tracks as she froze. W—What was that?!

A rustle softly moved from the other side of the foliage wall, and Ruelle didn't dare to move in fear. Her breath was caught in her throat, eyes darting as the rustle moved closer to her. On the second growl, it had her running through the maze, trying to leave. But the moment she was about to reach the exit, a growl was heard from the front in darkness, having her turn around.

Fear flooded her senses, and before she could think, her legs propelled her forward. She began running, the lantern swaying wildly in her hand, throwing chaotic shadows onto the walls of the maze. The sound of something large moving behind her quickened, its growls sending chills down her spine. The creature was hunting her!

Ruelle continued to run, which felt like an endless maze to the point she was getting familiar with a few foliage in there. Her breath came in ragged gasps, feet stumbling over uneven ground. She turned sharply until she paused and found a corner when the rustling sounds stopped. The world plunged into eerie silence, broken only by her labored breathing.

She glanced around, wide-eyed, searching for any sign of the creature. Her eyes remained fixed on the path, waiting, listening for any sign of movement. Minutes passed—maybe hours. She wasn't sure. The weight of her fear and exhaustion were quick to press down on her.

She tried to stay awake, to remain alert for the creature lurking somewhere in the darkness. But as the silence of the maze deepened, the weight of her exhaustion became too much to fight. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she sank deeper into the foliage.

And before she knew it, she fell asleep.

The first rays of dawn slanted through the twisted branches of the maze, dappling the ground with soft golden light. Ruelle stirred, at the rustle of the ground, the faint sound of footsteps—loud and deliberate.

"Ruelle! I found you!"

Blinking blearily, Ruelle squinted up at the figure looming over her. Hailey's voice broke through the fog of sleep, and Ruelle slowly gathered her bearings, the cold morning air biting at her skin far more sharply than the night before.

"Hailey?" she asked groggily, pulling herself into a sitting position.

"I waited for you, but you never came back and then I fell asleep." Hailey's voice was a mixture of relief and exasperation. "I was worried you'd gotten caught by some vampiress. I had no idea you'd fallen asleep in the maze!"

Ruelle accepted Hailey's outstretched hand, brushing off the leaves from her dress as she stood. "I didn't mean to worry you... I didn't find the locket."

Hailey's expression softened. She placed a hand on Ruelle's shoulder. "Sorry to hear that, Ruelle. Maybe we can look for it after classes?"

Ruelle nodded. Remembering the night before, she couldn't help but look around as they made their way out of the maze in silence.

Miles away, two men sat comfortably in a lavish study, the scent of blood tea filling the air. Across from Ezekiel Henley sat Mr. Lorenzo Helsing, an influential figure in the high court. The room radiated elegance, with its dark polished wood and grand bookshelves lining the walls.

"Weekend, is it?" Lorenzo said, taking a satisfied sip from the delicate porcelain cup. "I'll certainly not miss it. It's fortuitous timing—Count Westerling is passing through, and he may very well be intrigued enough to attend the wedding. If you make the right impression, he might offer you a seat in the court even faster."

Ezekiel leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a pleased smile. "The Belmonts and I would be more than happy to host him and you in our celebration."

Lorenzo nodded approvingly. "True, and I must say, the way you've offered support to the Belmont family—it is admirable. The woman must have been beside herself with worry, to beg you to marry one of her daughters."

Ezekiel lifted his teacup, the warmth spreading through his fingers as much as the satisfaction of weaving this narrative. "I simply couldn't turn a blind eye to their plight," he said softly, playing the role of the benevolent benefactor. "It's only right we help where it's needed most."

Ezekiel didn't believe Lorenzo needed to know that the Belmonts had never begged. He had been the one to offer his hand in marriage to Ruelle—because he wanted her. To the world, he was a saviour. Not to mention, it was also a way to climb the ranks of the court.

As Lorenzo continued speaking, Ezekiel's thoughts drifted to Ruelle. He hadn't spent much time with her, but what he had seen was enough to captivate him. Her beauty was undeniable, her grace subtle yet striking. She was more than just a means to an end—she was the crown jewel of his future.

When he first met the Belmonts, who were in trouble, he could have easily wiped their debt in one transaction. After all, that amount wasn't the issue. But he had chosen not to. He had given just enough to keep them reliant on him, to make it seem like he was scraping together his hard-earned wealth to save them. It kept them grateful and indebted.

"Only a matter of time before you secure your place in the court," Lorenzo mused. "I'll make sure Count Westerling notices how valuable you will be."

Ezekiel reclined deeper into his chair, his gaze distant as he imagined the future he was so close to seizing. Though he smiled warmly, his thoughts were far from noble.

Back in Sexton, the day dragged on in a blur for Ruelle. She sat through her classes, but her mind was elsewhere—constantly drifting back to the missing locket. When lunch finally arrived, she and Hailey hurried through their meal, eager to squeeze in another search of the maze.

On their way, they spotted Lucian, Sawyer, and Blake standing by the corridor, engaged in conversation. The trio cut striking figures, commanding attention even from afar. As they neared, Ruelle overheard Sawyer's voice.

"It was comical how Jinxy got mad about it. Did you return them to the shed?" he asked casually, his tone light and familiar. At that moment, Blake's attention shifted, and she noticed her human roommate and the other human approaching.

"Good afternoon," Hailey said politely, though there was a hint of nervousness in it as she offered a small bow towards Blake and then the others. The vampiress responded with a nod.

Ruelle followed suit, bowing her head in polite respect, offering the gesture to both Blake and Sawyer, who returned her smile warmly.

But then her gaze shifted to Lucian, whose aloof expression set him apart from the others. As if sensing her attention, his gaze snapped towards her, meeting her eyes with a cold, blank stare. His face showed no emotion, no warmth, and for a moment, Ruelle felt the weight of his indifference.

"What?" Lucian's voice cut through the air, low and devoid of any interest, as if questioning why she was standing there in the first place.

Ruelle's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, her and Hailey briskly walking on, eager to leave the daunting atmosphere behind them. After another fruitless search of the maze, they returned to class, each hour dragging by until the day finally ended.

As they were leaving the classroom, a voice called out, "Who's Belmont? Mr. Jinxy wants to see them."

Ruelle's stomach twisted as she made her way to Mr. Jinxy's office, her footsteps feeling heavier with every step. When she entered, she found him sharpening a dagger, his movements casual, as though this was just another normal day.

"You wanted to see me?" Ruelle asked carefully.

Mr. Jinxy didn't even glance up from his task. "Miss Belmont?"

Ruelle nodded.

He pulled open a drawer and retrieved something, extending his hand towards her. The sight of the familiar chain made her heart leap.

"This was found near the entrance of the maze," Mr. Jinxy said mildly, "Had Belmont engraved on it."

"Thank you," Ruelle replied, her voice thick with gratitude as she accepted the locket, holding it as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

Mr. Jinxy waved his hand dismissively. "You're free to go."

She stepped outside, the tension in her chest easing for the first time that day.

"You found it!" Hailey exclaimed when she saw Ruelle at the bottom of the building.

"Mr. Jinxy found it," Ruelle replied with a smile, slipping the chain around her neck. Relief washed over her like a warm wave, lifting the weight from her shoulders.

"It looks like we missed it," Hailey replied, because they had looked at the entrance. "Well, all is well! You looked so sad, it was unbearable to look at you," she teased.

"I am sorry about that," Ruelle replied softly. She hadn't meant to be a downer.

"Don't apologise for it. And for what it's worth, caring that deeply about something is never a bad thing." Hailey smiled. "Did your mother give it to you for your birthday?"

Her fingers hesitated for a moment as the thought of the creature crept back into her mind. The low growl. The sound of leaves rustling behind her. The sense of being watched. She shivered. If it had growled, that meant it could smell her. If it could smell her, it could follow her.