Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Crimson Bloom

Ruelle woke up to the soft, persistent chirp that seeped through the thin walls. Light spilt in through the cracks of the curtain. The fireplace had turned cold.

Her eyes drifted across the room. Lucian was gone. His bed lay neat, and she couldn’t tell if he had stayed away all night or slipped out before she woke up. Her gaze then moved to the floor, where the shattered remains of glassware from last night had disappeared, as if what transpired was only a dream.

Looking at the velvet box sitting on her desk, she reached for it.

"I should have worn them two nights ago..." Ruelle whispered as she stared at the earrings. "I shouldn’t have listened to him."

Thanks to him, she would now fall into the bottom of the student ladder, exposed to scorn and humiliation. She had slapped him... something that still didn’t feel real. That wasn’t her. She didn’t do things like that. Not even when she was angry.

A sudden knock at the door broke her thoughts.

"Ruelle? Are you awake?" Hailey’s voice bubbled through, bright and eager. "We have to head to the river!"

Ruelle pushed off the blanket and tucked the box into her bag before opening the door. She greeted cheerfully, "Good morning, Hailey."

"You haven’t even gotten dressed!" Hailey’s eyes widened as she swept into the room like a gust of spring air. "I took the liberty of checking in after spotting Lucian in the corridor. Now hurry—and don’t forget your bloomers," she added, hiking her dress slightly to reveal the off-white cotton fabric just below her knees.

"Are we getting in the water?" Ruelle asked, walking toward her trunk.

"I thought it was better to be prepared," Hailey said with a grin.

Ruelle pulled out a dress, which was softer and paler than her usual browns and greys. It was pastel pink. Combing her hair, she tied it with a ribbon.

"That won’t do," Hailey declared, shaking her head.

"I think it’s perfectly fine," Ruelle replied, turning to look at her.

Hailey, who had tied half of her hair and let the rest down, waved her hand. "Sit. I’ll fix it."

Ruelle sat as Hailey’s fingers worked. Her golden blonde hair was braided across the crown and pinned delicately, while soft strands were left to hover beside her temples and brush across her forehead.

When she stood and checked her reflection, she asked, "Better?"

"Very," Hailey smiled. "You’re going to knock the breath out of a few lungs today."

Away from the Sexton main buildings’ looming stone walls, Ruelle and Hailey followed the forest path. Dew from the grass beaded on their ankles. Coniferous trees filtered sunlight into soft beams.

Voices drifted ahead, growing louder.

"Everyone’s already started enjoying!" Hailey’s voice bubbled with excitement—until Ruelle stiffened and Hailey’s smile faltered.

"Not everyone," Ruelle murmured, frozen. Six Groundlings—humans—stood with apples perched precariously on their heads, while second-year vampires aimed arrows straight at them. One of the Groundlings flinched as the arrow whipped past, sending a ripple of cruel laughter through the onlookers.

"Bullseye on the trembling one, and you take my carriage," a tall vampire taunted in competition.

"Carriage? I hope it comes with horses," his friend joked.

"If you want the horses, you better aim at the bottom of that apple," the vampire who spoke earlier smirked, turning to the trembling Groundling.

"They’re going to have an arrow in their head..." Ruelle whispered with a frown.

"They volunteered," Hailey said quietly, tugging at Ruelle’s sleeve. "Come on."

They stepped next to an old tree whose thick branches arched over the river. From them hung wide ropes. One adventurous human grabbed a rope and swung high before letting go, plunging with a thunderous splash.

While Ruelle watched the students plunge into the river one after another, her attention lingered on the water that sparkled in the sun. Laughter rippled from the bank, over the surface of the river and echoing off the trees.

Though she was unaware of the gazes she had begun to catch. Male ones especially.

Some of the students seemed to stop mid-conversation or halfway through what they were doing. Their gazes held longer on her than usual—drawn by her softened appearance. She looked like spring caught in motion with wind tugging a wisp of hair onto her face. She brushed it away absently, smiling faintly as she observed a boy let go of the rope and fall into the river with a splash loud enough to rattle the branches.

"That looks like fun," Ruelle murmured, her gaze never leaving the water.

A few girls sat along the bank with skirts hitched slightly, feet dipped in the river, their giggles carrying as softly as wind chimes.

"Oh, it is!" came a breathless voice behind her.

"Oh my God, Kevin!" Hailey squeaked, placing a hand to her chest. "What happened to you?"

Ruelle turned in time to see Kevin dripping wet, his shirt clinging to him like a second skin. His curls were matted down, and water streamed in trails off his arms.

"I couldn’t resist," he said, breathless but grinning. "It was either jump or get conscripted into that ridiculous vampire archery game. And I quite like my head free of arrows."

Hailey rolled her eyes. "You look like a drenched squirrel."

"You are just jealous," Kevin replied with mock offence.

Ruelle laughed quietly at them.

They settled on the grassy bank when the soft clip-clop of hooves was heard. They turned their heads to look at the horses that emerged from the forest trail. After a minute or so, Ruelle’s gaze fell on Lucian.

He stood tall and composed, but with a tightness in his jaw that betrayed something darker than usual. His eyes sharp as they scanned the river ahead with disinterest. He wore a black cloak that clung to his frame and gloves. And though he stood with the other senior Elites, he commanded space quietly.

"What’s with the horses?" Kevin asked, louder than he had intended.

"Those are for hunting, Mr. Reynolds."

The voice belonged to none other than Ezekiel. He stood a few steps away on the riverbank, hands neatly folded behind his back. Ruelle blinked in surprise, as she hadn’t expected instructors to attend today too.

"Hunting?" Ruelle asked, glancing between Ezekiel and the vampires now mounting the horses.

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