Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9: A price to pay

Once Ruelle had secured the syllabus, her next destination was Sexton's grand library. She and Hailey made their way up the winding staircase at the far end of the corridor to the designated floor. The corridors were dimly lit with flickering lanterns, casting shadows on the stone walls.

Upon reaching the entrance, Ruelle caught the faint, musty scent of old books wafting through the air, mingling with the slightly damp chill of the library. The quiet ambiance was occasionally punctuated by the distant echo of footsteps on the stone floor.

Two classmates stood whispering to each other with anxious expressions, their voices hushed and tense as Ruelle and Hailey approached the towering double doors. Just as they were about to step inside, a figure emerged to block them. His greasy hair was slicked back, and his spectacles perched precariously on the bridge of his nose.

"And where do you think you're going?" His voice was smooth but laced with contempt, dripping with a superiority that made Ruelle clench her fists reflexively.

"To fetch books for the syllabus listed for our year..." Ruelle replied, holding up the scroll as if showing him evidence that she was a student here. Hailey nodded beside her.

"Did you bring the fee?" he asked, arching a thin eyebrow. The curve of his lips suggested he already knew the answer.

"The fee?" Ruelle echoed, her voice filled with confusion. At her naivety, the man chuckled—the sound was as condescending as it was dismissive.

"Everyone who wants to access the library needs to pay a fee of fifteen shillings," the caretaker explained with a scornful flick of his fingers. "If you don't have it, move aside and don't crowd the entrance."

Ruelle found the demand absurd. Wasn't an academy established for teaching supposed to provide books to read for free? Her heart sank at the thought of failing her classes because of such a barrier.

As an Elite vampiress swept through the doors unhindered, her lofty gaze not even acknowledging them, Hailey asked, "Is it because we're humans?"

"This applies to every student," the caretaker remarked, looking her up and down. "The difference is, the Elites' families have already paid their share, unlike you Groundlings."

"Maybe we can borrow the books from others," Ruelle suggested, a note of desperation creeping into her voice as she tried to grasp at solutions.

But the caretaker was quick to extinguish any hope. "Groundlings are not permitted to leave the library with books. If you wish to do so, it will cost you twenty gold coins," he declared, his words cold and definitive.

"...!" This left the two girls in shock.

The sum was more than their families could conjure up at once. Images flashed through Ruelle's mind—of chains, oppressive shadows, and an endless cycle of submission. Her fingers tightened around the scroll.

To witness the ease with which the privileged glided through life was to understand a devastating truth—the burden of suffering disproportionately weighed upon the shoulders of the less fortunate.

"We don't have the money now, but we could pay after the weekend," Ruelle proposed, her voice wavering yet defiant.

"No," he interjected bluntly, his refusal like a door slamming shut.

"How are we going to study then? Only rely on the classes?" Hailey's eyes brimmed with worry.

"If you want access here, you should start working," came the curt reply from the vampire. "And by work, I mean for the Elites, as they are the ones with the resources. You can ask anyone and they'll tell you the same."

With that, he turned to stop another human student, dismissing their plight as if it were of no consequence. Ruelle's thoughts whirled with uncertainty as she considered their limited options. Sensing a gaze upon her, she turned to glance into the library, her heart quickening as she spotted a silhouette slipping behind a tall rack of books.

"I could ask my roommate if she needs any help. She might have something for us," Hailey suggested.

"That would be helpful," Ruelle said, though doubt tinged her words. Could a vampiress have any work for two humans? "We can also see what others plan to do."

"That sounds like a good idea," Hailey agreed.

During dinner at the Groundlings' table, the air was thick with unease. Ruelle observed her fellow students, their faces painted with worry. Their gazes flickered toward the Elite and Halfbloods' tables, eyes assessing, as if weighing which vampire appeared least intimidating to approach.

To think one's life could get better upon arriving at this place was a folly. The vampires sat at the top pedestal, while the humans sat on the lowest ground.

The human families had either sent their golden child to achieve greatness, or used this as a convenient place to offload the less favoured. It was a cruel system designed to break and mould individuals to serve the needs of vampires.

Over the clinking of silverware, Ruelle overheard June's complaint. "If I knew I'd need money, I would have brought more with me. Now I'm short!"

"Look there! Briony is approaching the Elites' table!" whispered a voice in awe.

"Of course, she's fearless. She's from a higher social standing, unlike us," a boy remarked.

Ruelle, along with the others, turned their eyes towards the spectacle unfolding at the Elites' table—a sea of masked vampires and vampiresses. Just in time, she caught one of the masks changing, allowing the vampiress to eat while the upper half of the mask remained in place. Her eyes widened at the magic.

"You want to work for me?" an Elite vampire with striking grey hair asked, his tone laced with superiority as he regarded the human girl before him.

The girl bowed deeply. "I would be very fortunate to be able to do that."

"If you're so eager to be my servant, who am I to refuse?" said the Elite, a smirk playing on his lips. A glimmer of hope washed over the humans at the Groundling's table, mirrored by the girl's triumphant smile. But then he added, "But I must ensure you're fit for the task."

The exchange sent a shiver through Ruelle, even though she wasn't the one standing before him. The smirk on the vampire's face filled her with dread.

​​The vampire picked up a bowl of soup and deliberately poured its contents onto the floor, causing the girl to instinctively step back. Heads turned, everyone's attention captured by the unfolding drama.

"Clean this. Lick it clean."

Ruelle's lips pressed into a firm line as everyone around her gripped their seats, suspended in a mix of horror.

"I need to know you're worth my money. Remember, you came to me," he taunted.

With no avenue for retreat, the girl knelt, shame blazing on her cheeks as she lowered herself to the ground, the murmurs of her peers rippling through the hall.

"Why aren't the staff intervening?" Ruelle asked, a frown creasing her brow. The indifference around her was unsettling.

A second-year student shrugged. "Why would they intervene? She asked for this herself. Wanted the job and the money. It is better to bow your head now than later," she said dismissively. "You should consider finding work too, or risk falling behind."

The harsh reality of Sexton weighed heavily on Ruelle. It was nothing like her sister Caroline had envisioned. Each new revelation peeled back layers of her ignorance, revealing deeper layers of exploitation and cruelty. In the grand design of power, humans were merely threads, pulled and twisted to form patterns dictated by those above.

After a dinner that left her deeply unsettled, Ruelle returned to her room, her appetite lost to worry. As she placed the scroll on her desk, her roommate June burst through the door, her presence a whirlwind of frustration.

"I can't believe this! I'm here to be a partner of a duke, viscount, or earl—not a servant!" June fumed as she stormed into the room. She stopped, waving a piece of paper furiously. "What's this?"

Ruelle turned and replied, "I don't know."

"You were the only one here, so if you wrote it, that isn't funny," June accused, eyes narrowing.

A sigh escaped from Ruelle's lips, simply because she had other things to think about than write whatever the girl had in her hand. When her eyes fell on her own bed, there lay a folded piece of paper. Frowning, she opened it: 'If you're looking for a job, there's one available. Meet at the edge of the maze at ten.'

June's tone turned dismissive. "Oh, you got it too? I should hurry and take the job."

Where did this come from? Ruelle asked herself, staring at the note.

Before the clock had a chance to strike ten, a cluster of Groundlings convened near the maze, the night air thick with anticipation. They huddled together, voices low and tinged with curiosity, their breath forming tiny clouds in the cool dusk. The soft rustling of leaves merged with their whispers.

Hailey's voice broke through the murmurs, disappointment lacing her words. "I asked Blake if she needed a servant, but she didn't." Her sigh seemed to dissipate into the crisp air. "Do you think the note came from an Elite?"

Inside the twisting paths of the maze, Ruelle and Hailey moved with a silent urgency, their hearts pounding as they navigated the dimly lit labyrinth. The weight of her family's expectations pressed heavily upon Ruelle. As the eldest daughter, she felt a profound sense of obligation to carry out her responsibilities despite the growing urge to flee. But she wasn't ready to undress in front of other people. _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}