Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

Chapter 171 - 171: A Visit To The Dungeon

"I will send a word when the clothes are ready and the fittings need to be checked," Noah wiggled his fingers in farewell.Ruelle walked between Lucian and Dane and as they walked past the shops, she doubted she could find something for Lucian here. Not because there wasn't anything worthy but because anything in these shops would cost more than her blood. She didn't want to buy a gift for him with the money he had given her, as it felt wrong.

Having spent more than two hours at the seamstress's shop, the town had woken fully in that time. The number of pureblooded vampires on the streets had increased. Most of the men and women offered a bow every time they walked past the Slater brothers as if acknowledging hierarchy.

Ruelle's eyes then fell on a man who was dragging a woman by a metal chain which was connected to the woman's collar, who stumbled behind him, her feet bare against the cold and her face in distress. She protested,

"I am not a slave! I have been cheated!" she tried to pull away and run, "Let me—"

But the vampire's hold only tightened and he harshly tugged the chain for the woman to almost fall. His hand came next, striking across her cheek. The woman's lips trembled, a small sound escaping that was more animal than human.

"Another word and I will have you crawl," threatened the vampire, who didn't look angry but bored. "Shut up and follow me."

Ruelle's eyes hardened at the sight and her footsteps slowed down. None of the other people around looked bothered by the scene.

"Please—Please—" the bound woman sobbed.

Conflicted, Ruelle's feet subconsciously moved in their direction.

"Don't," Lucian said, his gaze steady. "She belongs to him now."

"Her neck looks like it is going to snap..." Ruelle pointed out, watching the pureblooded vampire harshly drag the woman.

"You know how it works," Lucian responded. "Once she's sold and the exchange is made, unless he chooses to release her himself. Interfering won't change that."

Knowing it didn't make it easier to accept. This was the harsh truth of the world they lived in. Just because she had met the good ones, it didn't mean the worse didn't exist.

"What if something happens to the pureblooded vampire?" Ruelle's question came soft, searching for loopholes. "Will the slave be set free then?"

"If a pureblood dies?" Lucian asked as they continued to walk. "Ownership passes to the one who killed him. If it's a natural death, it goes to his heir."

Like inheriting land, thought Ruelle to herself.

She hadn't realised the intensity of the situation before when Sexton was picking the failing students to end up in the bottom of the barrel, ones who would turn to slaves.

She'd been sheltered and protected, unlike the other humans. Then as if something clicked in her mind, she asked him,

"What would have happened if I failed in the subjects then?"

It wasn't like Lucian was fond of her then, not to mention he had gambled with failing her in the assignment of seduction techniques.

"You wouldn't have failed," Lucian answered, as if it had never been in question. "You were using my books."

"It would have been quite interesting if you had," Dane's amused voice entered.

On another thought, Brother Dane had never said a word about not wearing the earrings. He had never warned her about the contract Sexton bound the groundlings with. Was he waiting for Lucian to make a move?

But what if Lucian's hatred toward humans had been stronger? What if he'd simply let her fall into Sexton's grasp rather than fight for her? Now that she thought about it, it was a miracle... that things had even turned out this way.

They came to stop before a shop that glittered even from the outside. The bell above the door chimed softly as they entered. It was a jewellery shop.

The stones and gems were placed in precise lines, each one showcased like a work of art. Rubies, the colour of fresh blood and sapphires deeper than midnight. The lanterns burned brightly despite the afternoon sun, and the stones sparkled in response.

"Good afternoon," the owner emerged from behind a counter, his smile practised with a bow. "How may I help you today?"

Dane was the one who replied while Ruelle didn't hear the words, her attention captured by the gems. She found herself drawn to a small sculpture near the front. It was a copy of a… scaffold.

"Lucian, what do you think of this one?" Dane's voice called across the shop and Lucian made his way to where the older Slater stood.

Ruelle, who was admiring the sculpture, moved to look at the next design when the door chimed behind her. The customer looked at the gems before he spoke,

"Would you like me to buy them for you?"

She turned to catch sight of a pureblooded vampire in a blue coat, his eyes watching her interestingly.

"No," she responded and took two more steps away from me, creating distance that he immediately tried to close.

"I think they are rather lovely-looking," the man smiled as if her rejection amused him.

"Then you can wear them," Ruelle said, already turning away and heading to where Lucian was.

"I caught you watching them when I was walking past the shop." The man reached out to catch her by the shoulders. "Where are you go—"

Ruelle caught Lucian return back to the room where she was and she smiled when she heard glass shatter behind her. Startled, she turned and saw Peyton holding the man down by his throat on the ground.

"What the hell?!" the man coughed while recovering from the fall.

"Do not touch her," Peyton didn't budge, her fingers wrapping tighter around the man before letting go of him and standing straight.

The pureblooded vampire pushed himself up from the floor. His face twisted with outrage at the action of being handled by someone he deemed beneath him.

"How dare a lowly vampire place your hands on me?" his words dripped with contempt.

Peyton stood unmoved. Ruelle's fingers found the fabric covering her neck and she slowly unwrapped the scarf that had been hiding the soul bond.

"Mr. Wilder," Lucian remarked, approaching them. "You should be certain before reaching for what isn't yours."

Mr. Wilder scoffed, "This human was giving me the eyes and I only continued what she started—"

"I did not look at you," Ruelle interrupted the man. "I was minding my own when he started to talk."

The man opened his mouth to argue but then stopped when his eyes fell on the intricate markings on her neck. Trying to shift the blame back onto her, he continued,

"If she didn't look at me—"

"Choose your next words carefully," Lucian interrupted, his tone dropping. "I don't tolerate that kind of insinuation. Apologise."

The man's jaw worked as if chewing on words he couldn't quite swallow. His lips pursed, white with pressure. He then apologised through gritted teeth, "Sorry about that."

The man quickly turned and headed for the door. The door chimed as it closed, while Lucian watched him, his expression staying unchanged.

"Dane wants to show you something," Lucian said, drawing her attention from the broken glass.

"What happened here?! A thief?" the shopkeeper asked with a bewildered expression after hearing the glass crash and he found the shattered glass before he looked around.

"Mr. Wilder reached for something that wasn't his. It's been dealt with," Lucian remarked.

"Ah, that man again. A month ago he broke my door! I ought to report him!" the shopkeeper grumbled.

"I'll see that it's taken care of," Lucian said. He glanced at Peyton, "She'll assist."

"Thank you, Mr. Slater," the shopkeeper bowed.

Reaching where Dane stood, Ruelle found him turning with something in his palms. It was a necklace made of solitaire diamonds. He smiled and said,

"My betrothal gift to you. Do you like it?"

Ruelle looked taken aback. If she actually wore that necklace around her neck, she would spend every moment terrified of losing it. She replied, "Thank you... But that's a lot..."

"Really? I thought it was little," Dane's response came with mock innocence. Then a grin cracked across his lips and he said, "If you don't take it, it will break my heart."

"Brother Dane has good taste," Ruelle managed a smile, the compliment coming easier than the acceptance. "Thank you."

Dane turned to Peyton and he started, "Do you want to help her wear it or—"

The woman didn't miss a beat. Her fingers found the necklace and she moved behind Ruelle. The clasp clicked and Ruelle felt the cool metal settle against her skin.

"Hmm, it is hard to judge with the soul bond," Dane tilted his head, studying the chain. He turned to Peyton, eyebrows raised in silent question.

The woman stared back at him before replying, "Okay."

Ruelle watched in the mirror as Lucian stepped closer. His hand reached for her neck, and when he touched the markings, the dark patterns faded into her skin as if they'd never existed.

"Excellent choice indeed, Mr. Slater," the shopkeeper praised.

Dane nodded with satisfaction and replied, "We will buy that one." Then, as if unable to resist, he poked, "What do you think, Peyton? Do you want one?"

But Ruelle wasn't paying attention to the exchange. Her eyes had found Lucian's, the diamonds losing their appeal without her noticing.

As if it were time to restore the bond, Lucian's fingertips brushed feather-light against her neck.

His fingertips slid slowly along her skin, tracing the line of her neck as though reacquainting himself with something already his, her breath hitched. The fading markings returned beneath his touch.

But his hand didn't stop there. It hovered, curved at the side of her neck.

Close enough that she could feel the heat and the intent behind it. As though, with the slightest movement, he could close his grip and draw her to him.

"I will get a new box for it," the shopkeeper announced with a slight bow, while Peyton stepped behind Ruelle to unclasp the necklace.

Lucian's hand stilled before he withdrew. He stepped back, the sound of his shoes quiet against the wooden floor as he moved away.

Yet Ruelle felt her skin respond to him. Warmth climbed beneath her skin, only to slip away the moment her gaze met Peyton's in the mirror.

After shopping for a few more things, Dane headed in a different direction while Ruelle, Lucian and Peyton travelled to the courthouse. The ride was shorter than expected and soon the carriage wheels came to a halt.

Ruelle's eyes took in the spires of the courthouse. The corridors outside were open, letting her see people walk with purpose, their voices subdued. Inside, the corridors stretched endlessly beneath vaulted arches, each one repeating the last, drawing the eye forward. So this was where Lucian frequented for work, she thought to herself.

From the opposite side, Ruelle heard footsteps echo in the corridor and soon four men came in view. The men didn't walk past them as one man in the front stopped to greet, who appeared to be in his fifties.

"Mr. Slater, congratulations. I heard you are engaged," the man's red eyes fell on Ruelle. "Is this the bride to be?"

Ruelle bowed her head slightly. "Ruelle Belmont."

"It was quite a surprise to hear the old treaty had been renewed so suddenly," the man spoke, and Ruelle could sense the false smile on his face as it never reached his eyes. "I trust the arrangement serves its purpose this time."

"The terms were reviewed thoroughly by you. I'm sure any concerns have already been raised, Minister Sylvan," Lucian said, his gaze steady.

"Of course," Minister Sylvan said, the smile lingering faintly. His eyes then fell on Minister Carnifex's assistant. "I was under the impression the conditions required her to stay with her family… at least until matters were finalised. Excuse us," and he walked away with the three other men.

Ruelle walked alongside Lucian before asking, "Are all the ministers like that?"

"Some take a greater interest than others," Lucian replied, his tone nonchalant as if unfazed by the earlier minister's words. "Some of the pureblooded vampires want to maintain the current order. They are useful to have here. Even if they're not always agreeable."

"How so?" she asked, turning around the corner.

"Their support doesn't shift when humans or halflings are involved. People protect their own before anything else. Even if it costs a life," Lucian answered her.

Ruelle's lips pursed in thought. She said, "Is that why they are scrutinising the treaty now? But the treaty is meant to change that."

When her eyes met his, Lucian's expression remained unchanged.

"On the surface," he replied, "But beneath, there's no guarantee. It will take years unless every vampire ties with one human. The treaty exists to keep the peace and to keep humans from pushing further."

Leaving the front section behind, they arrived at the back side. She then caught sight of guards standing around the place.

Lucian walked through the opening of the dungeon, and Ruelle followed him.

They walked down the stairs, each step taking them further away from the light outside and her eyes slowly adjusted to the dim lighting below. The passages were narrow, with cells on either side as they walked forward. She could smell the metallic scent which didn't come from the rusted iron bars. The air was slightly damp and she could hear the clinks of chains coming from some of the cells.

When Lucian came to stand before a cell, Ruelle took a deep breath and stopped next to him.

"Ruelle?!" came Caroline's feeble voice, and she quickly sprang to her feet.

Ruelle caught sight of her sister's dishevelled appearance, the previous day's make-up smeared unevenly across her face, the marks of it blurred as though she had rubbed her face more than once.

"How are you doing?" Ruelle asked uncertainly.

And that was enough for tears to well up in Caroline's eyes before she wailed. "I—I don't like it h—here! Please get me out of this place. I didn't ki—ill anyone. I am sorry!!"

'I wish you luck on the day of the auction. Hopefully you're placed somewhere… decent.'

Caroline's words from their last conversation echoed between them.

The younger Belmont stood in clear distress, her gaze darting once to the corner of the cell where a rat now lingered, as though she had not yet shaken off its presence. She had been waiting for Ezekiel or her parents to come and take her out of here. But no one had come until now.

"I don't like it here—please, Ruelle… please get me out. I didn't do anything—I swear I didn't—" Caroline continued sobbing. "They think I killed June…!"

Ruelle's lips pursed. She then heard Lucian question, "Do you remember where you last saw your chain?"

Caroline appeared to look wary of the pureblooded vampire, but she tried to answer.

"It was in the house," Caroline wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I did go out that week as I was arranging a soiree…" and at the thought she began to cry once again, as if unable to digest how things had turned.

"Did anyone else visit…?" Ruelle asked her softly. "Like our parents? Or your husband during the time your chain went missing?"

At the same time, footsteps echoed, and Caroline looked fearful thinking the guard was here to take her to the scaffold. When Ruelle turned, she caught sight of Ezekiel hurriedly making his way towards the cell.