Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Misunderstanding blow up!

If looks could kill, Ruelle would be six feet under in the dining room by now. The vampire's glare pierced through her with an intensity that would have silenced anyone else.

The young man who had caught her from falling wore a disarmingly gentle smile. Chuckling softly, he shook his head. "That must have been quite the ordeal. What business could a vampire have possibly wanted with someone as lovely as you?"

Adrenaline surged through her veins, pulsing like a drum in her ears and sending her heart racing. She couldn't help but babble her way out.

"Oh, it was all just a big misunderstanding!" Ruelle exclaimed, waving her hands animatedly. "I meant in the forest, not the market—the forest! Actually, he wasn't that bad. It was entirely my mistake." Her words tumbled out in a rush, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she bowed slightly and hurried to the table where other humans like herself were seated.

Spotting Hailey waving at her from the Groundlings' table, Ruelle felt immediate relief. She quickly plopped down beside her.

"I can't believe you ended up with that Clifford girl," Hailey said after swallowing a mouthful, her tone a mix of disbelief and sympathy.

"Neither can I," Ruelle replied with a nervous chuckle, feeling the weight of her situation pressing down on her. "How about you? Will you be okay?"

Hailey met her gaze with a reassuring nod. "I hope so. It would have been nicer if we shared the same room."

Ruelle felt the same and managed a weak smile. Although a gnawing anxiety clung to her, at least she wouldn't be sharing a room with a vampire. How bad could sharing a room with June Clifford be, right?

After a moment, Hailey nudged Ruelle with her elbow and whispered, "I think they're looking at you..." just as Ruelle was taking a bite of her food. Glancing up, Ruelle noticed a few senior human girls and a few others from the Halfblood table watching her intently.

Her heart began to race anew, a surge of panic washing over her. She swallowed quickly and asked, "Did I miss something?"

"I think it's because you spoke to an Elite," Hailey murmured, her voice dropping to a cautious whisper.

Ruelle felt their stares piercing through her, and her palms grew clammy as she tried to ignore the mounting pressure of their scrutiny. She had unintentionally drawn unwanted attention. Being here felt like a bad dream that she couldn't wake up from. She had never wanted to come to Sexton, but here she was.

In this vampire-dominated world, being human felt like playing a pawn in a game of deception, where choices were mere illusions dancing just out of reach.

On the other side of the room, at the Elites' table, Sawyer, who had caught Ruelle earlier, finished off his glass of blood. "Looks like we have an interesting crop of humans this time," he declared to his friends. "Since we're in our final year, I think it's wise to start making our selections soon."

The vampiress across from him responded, "I'd rather wait. I can only wonder which of them will be shooting stars—burning brightly only to fizzle out."

"Did you see the one with her charming clumsiness, Blake?" Sawyer asked the vampiress.

At that moment, Lucian, the dark-haired vampire seated next to Sawyer, focused intently at the mention of Ruelle. Though his expression remained impassive, a flicker of irritation and annoyance crossed his otherwise composed features.

"The one you've put a bullseye on?" Blake inquired with an amused arch of her brow.

"Bullseye? When?" Sawyer asked, tilting his head in curiosity. "Anyway, I find her amusing. What do you think, Lucian?"

The dark-haired vampire lifted his gaze from his swirling drink. His red eyes, darker than most at the table, carried an icy, penetrating stare and, though silent, his demeanour was heavy with unspoken judgement.

"What do you find so amusing?" Lucian's voice was low and laced with disdain. "Humans are remarkable only in their ability to make fools of themselves. She seems no different."

Sawyer leaned back with a pout. "You're as harsh as ever."

"If you are going to choose one, as a future Duke, your focus should be on their competitiveness and potential rather than merely their appearance." Lucian's words were sharp.

After a while, a soft yet distinct clinking of a knife against a glass echoed from the teachers' table, drawing the students' attention. Ruelle's gaze shifted to a vampire standing at the head of the table, who appeared to be in his fifties. With a short beard and piercing grey eyes, he wore a smile that did little to soothe Ruelle's unease. She sensed that beneath his seemingly pleasant demeanour lay something far more unsettling.

"Settle down, everyone," the man said, holding a glass in his hand. When the students failed to quieten down, he abruptly hurled the glass against the wall, causing a shattering crash that commanded immediate silence. "Much better. It seems we have a batch that responds to action more effectively than words," he remarked with a satisfied smile.

Ruelle tightened her grip on the spoon she held as some of the students jumped in their seats from the unexpected noise.

"My name is Mikhael Oak," he announced, his voice steady and authoritative. "On behalf of my staff, I welcome all returning and new Elites, Halfbloods, and Groundlings. Sexton was established to foster cooperation between vampires and humans, and that is the foundation of what we teach here."

"We aim to guide you through courses designed to help you find your rightful place in our society. Failure to complete them will ensure you remain at the bottom. Your families have been compensated for assisting the vampires, and in return, the vampires will teach you how to navigate the new world order. I hope all of you thrive and have a memorable time here," he concluded.

Neither Mr. Mortis nor Mr. Oak mentioned any rules. Were there none? It felt as if both vampires and humans were left to their own devices, wild and unchecked. This lack of structure and clear guidelines left not just Ruelle, but many others feeling uneasy, while the vampires seemed to smirk knowingly.

Once Mr. Oak left the room, Ruelle couldn't help but agree that her situation didn't look that great. Some of the students began to leave too and as she stood up, her gaze somehow seemed to find the vampire who had just exited the dining room.

Just then, the distant chime of the tower bell echoed through the halls. In one swift motion, she snatched a glass of orange juice, bringing it to her lips for two quick sips. Clutching the glass tightly in her hand, she rushed through the corridor, her footsteps echoing her haste. _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}