Claimed by the Prince of Darkness

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. 

Ruelle and Hailey hurried to their respective dorms after picking up their keys from Mr. Mortis. Upon reaching her room, Ruelle found it empty—June hadn't arrived yet. The room was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two students, with a bed on each side against the walls, with study desks positioned nearby. The room was stocked with an ample supply of candles to illuminate the space, and a cushioned bed awaited her, dressed in fresh, crisp sheets.

She took the opportunity to unpack her clothes, choosing the side of the room without a window in the hopes this gesture would offer a chance of a fresh start with June, especially given the more pressing concern of navigating a world filled with vampires. Almost an hour later, after finally unpacking, Ruelle felt like she could use a bath. Just then, June arrived, the smile on her face vanishing the moment she saw Ruelle's belongings neatly arranged, while she was yet to do so herself.

"What have you done?!" June exclaimed, frowning at the sight of Ruelle's things occupying the right side of the room. "You can't just unpack and claim that space without consulting me."

"I would have waited, but you weren't here to unpack," Ruelle replied, trying for diplomacy in an attempt to keep the peace. "But don't worry, I left the window side for you—"

"Left it for me? Is this your dormitory, your academy to make offers?" June cut in, raising her eyebrows in disbelief. She added with a hint of annoyance, "I didn't even want the window! You can have it. Move your things to the other side. Hurry up! I'm going to take a bath, and I expect you to sort it out by the time I'm done."

"..." This brat, Ruelle thought to herself. 

The first night was far from easy for Ruelle. The mere thought of someone entering the room and the shadows that danced on the walls kept her awake for a long time. When she finally did manage to fall asleep, it wasn't for long.

When morning arrived, Ruelle forced herself out of bed as she needed to prepare for her classes, which started at eight. To her surprise, the other bed was already empty. After waiting for an hour with no sign of June, she decided to knock on the bathroom door a couple of times. . 

"Ms. Clifford?" she called out, her concern growing. Maybe she fell and hit her head?

"What!" came the sharp response from inside. "Can't you see I am busy?" 

"I can't…" Ruelle muttered, exasperated. Mustering her voice, she insisted, "It's seven o'clock. I need to get ready too!"

"I can hear you. There's no need to shout, geez! I will be out in ten minutes," June replied dismissively. She stepped out only after it was thirty past seven. "Seriously, I couldn't take a relaxing bath with you interrupting me." 

Ruelle had tried to extend an olive branch, but it seemed June Clifford was intent on turning this into a battlefield! 

Anxiety prickled at Ruelle's skin as she hurriedly dressed, her mind racing with the urgency of the moment. As she dashed towards the dining hall, she realised with a sinking feeling that Hailey had already left for class. Her stomach grumbled in protest.

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. 

"This is the way, isn't it?" She wondered aloud. "Please don't let the teacher be strict."

As she hurried along, her eyes caught the sight of a few Halfblood young women heading in the opposite direction. Perhaps Sexton wasn't as daunting as she had thought? The thought flickered momentarily, but the pressing reality of her situation reasserted itself with urgency. She couldn't afford to fall behind in class!

In a fit of nervousness, Ruelle instinctively raised her book to shield her face, attempting to blend into the surroundings as if she were a mere shadow passing through unseen. The last thing she needed was to get entangled with the vampiresses.

And although Ruelle successfully brushed past the young ladies, her hurried pace and the book raised to shield her face led to an unintended consequence. In her frazzled state, she collided sharply with something—or someone—and felt a firm hand grip her arm. 

Ruelle's heart nearly leapt from her ribcage as a low, resonant voice cut through the air. "Honestly, for a human so intent on entangling herself with her own feet, you might as well consider a career in the circus."

For some reason, the voice sounded strangely familiar. When she lowered the book in her hand, her breath caught at the sight of him. It was him, and his dark red eyes glimmered with annoyance. Embarrassment flooded her cheeks as she stammered, "I didn't mean to run into you."

"Of course." His gaze, cold as ice, narrowed. "Do your eyes ever pay heed to where you're walking, or running?"

Ruelle felt frustration flare up within her. "If I had known, I would have taken the opposite direction," she retorted, though his glare only intensified, a storm brewing beneath his calm facade. She gulped, instinctively taking a couple of hurried steps back, feeling the weight of his presence pressing down on her.

"It wasn't a question," he said, his tone low and dripping with disdain.

Ruelle's instinct was to argue that it certainly sounded like one, but the words caught in her throat. After all, he was a vampire—a formidable creature of the night—and she was just a mere human standing helplessly before him. She closed her mouth, feeling small and vulnerable under those piercing eyes. 

"What are you doing here?" Lucian asked, his voice cutting through the air with a sharpness that sent a jolt of anxiety through Ruelle. Although they had only crossed paths a few times, he always made her feel on edge.

"I was heading to my class when you suddenly appeared in front of me," she blurted out, flustered. "I mean, I ended up in front of you."

His glare remained unyielding, intensifying the tension between them. Suddenly, it dawned on her that she needed to get to her class. "I should go!" she exclaimed, the urgency in her voice rising.

"I didn't say you could leave," Lucian responded, his tone deceptively calm, yet laced with an undercurrent of authority.

Ruelle had already turned when she felt his hand grip her skirt, stopping her in her tracks. Her brown eyes widened in shock at his audacity. "L—Let go of me!" Was he planning to drag her away? Or worse, was he going to kill her?

When he didn't release her, desperation overtook her. In a frantic bid to free herself, she spun around abruptly, the momentum causing the glass to slip from her grasp. The orange juice erupted from the glass, splattering across his shirt.

As Ruelle's gaze dropped, she noticed that his hands were not holding her at all. Her eyes widened in horror as she glanced sideways and realised that her skirt had been caught by the wall-mounted light fixture.