章 14: What was left behind
"Ruelle, isn't it stunning?!" Caroline's voice rose in excitement as her reflection in the mirror gleamed with the promise of the future in her ivory gown.
Ruelle, standing in the seamstress' shop, smiled softly. She watched her sister fondly, a warmth filling her voice as she responded, "You look beautiful, Caroline. Truly."
"Miss Caroline, if you would just hold still for a moment," Mrs. Seymour warned gently, adjusting pins with practiced precision. "The dress won't fit right if you keep moving."
"Oh, pardon me, Mrs. Seymour. I just can't help it!" Caroline's laughter filled the shop.
The seamstress glanced at Ruelle with an observant eye and remarked, "It looks like life at Sexton has been kind to you, Miss Ruelle."
Ruelle's smile tightened ever so slightly. "It is certainly a world of its own," she admitted. She then made a request, her tone hesitant. "Mrs. Seymour, do you think I could borrow some wool threads you no longer have any use for?"
Mrs. Seymour nodded warmly. "Of course, dear. There's plenty in the backroom."
As the conversation about the architecture of Sexton continued, Caroline, who had been watching Ruelle's reflection in the mirror rather than listening, interrupted impatiently, "Mrs. Seymour, the veil? You promised it would be ready," she added, brushing aside their conversation as if swatting at an insignificant fly.
After spending three more hours in the seamstress' shop, assisting Caroline with wedding preparations, Ruelle finally embarked on her journey back to Sexton. Clutching the coins for the local carriage fare, she navigated through the village's cobblestone streets.
Upon arriving, she stepped down from the carriage, her breath misting in the cool afternoon air.
Before Ruelle could cross the heart of Sexton, she spotted someone—Lucian, perched on the parapet next to a towering pillar.
Her footsteps slowed.
One of his legs hung lazily over the edge, the other bent in repose, supporting the weight of his quiet contemplation. His attention seemed to be absorbed by the pages of the book in his hands. His form was elegant, almost deliberate in its nonchalance, and as if he were the place's rightful owner. There was a cool detachment around him, yet he exuded an intense presence.
Other girls caught sight of him as they passed, their eyes instinctively drawn to him, as if he were the embodiment of their daydreams, yet he remained beyond their reach.
Ruelle watched from a distance as the vampiress who had previously harassed her made her way over to where Lucian sat. Alanna sidled up to him with fluid grace.
"Lucian, you vanished from the soiree last night. I was hoping you'd stay a bit longer," she teased, her tone light yet carrying a suggestive undertone.
Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned a page of the book resting on his knee, its importance clearly outweighing her social pleasantries. "I don't recall committing to such trivial festivities," he replied, his tone clipped, discouraging any further conversation.
Undeterred, Alanna leaned in. "I just thought you might have preferred... better company for the evening. So many of the Elites left early," she placed one hand near him. "We had some Groundlings over—it was a wonderful hunting game. You would have liked it. The audacity of these humans to be walking these grounds. I was thinking of inviting you to…" she continued to chatter.
Before Lucian could respond, his eyes shifted beyond the vampiress where Ruelle moved through the courtyard, her golden hair catching the late afternoon light as she walked with her eyes fixed downward.
Ruelle felt the unrelenting gaze of unseen eyes upon her, unsure to which owner it belonged to.
Lucian's irritation, previously only simmering, transformed into a piercing glare as he shifted his focus back to the vampiress. With a swift motion, he closed the book and placed it sharply on the parapet, near where her hand lingered, prompting her to withdraw immediately.
"Perhaps it's your persistence that drives people away," Lucian remarked, with obvious annoyance.
The vampiress blinked, her confidence wavering under the weight of his unexpected intensity. Her posture faltered, and a nervous edge crept into her laughter, diluting her former bravado with uncertainty. "Oh, Lucian, I didn't mean to—" she stammered.
Lucian's eyes, cold as steel, effectively silenced her protest. "You are wasting my time now. Leave," he snapped.
Alanna recoiled, quickly regaining her composure and offering a tight smile, her earlier bravado now tempered by caution. "Enjoy the daylight," she murmured before retreating hastily.
Ruelle, witnessing this exchange, couldn't help but feel a wave of wariness wash over her as she neared the area where Lucian sat. She tried to pass by unnoticed, repeating to herself, Just keep walking. Don't look at him. Don't look at him, she mentally chanted.
However, despite her best efforts to avoid him, Ruelle's eyes involuntarily drifted toward Lucian, as if drawn by an invisible thread. The moment their gazes locked, a chill ran through her. His stare was intense and calculating, as though it could strip away her every defence.
Lucian's voice cut through the silence, smooth but edged with an unmistakable bite. "If I recall correctly, weren't you leaving Sexton?"
Ruelle halted mid-step, her heart stuttering at the cold reminder of their last conversation. The memory of her own naive confidence in leaving Sexton now stung.
"I tried," she said softly, her voice a fraction quieter than she intended. She didn't elaborate—because he knew the reality.
In one fluid motion, Ruelle saw Lucian jump from the parapet, landing in front of her with a predatory grace. His presence loomed over her, causing her heart to leap into her throat. As his body straightened, it seemed to loom over her once more. His gaze was steady, and the weight of his scrutiny made her fidget. She took a tentative step backwards.
He then stepped aside, moving past her with a dismissive air, as though the conversation held no further interest for him. Yet, just as Ruelle thought the encounter had ended, his words cut through the silence like the coldest winter chill.
"You don't belong here."
Ruelle's cheeks flushed at the harshness of his words.
She shook her head, resolving not to let his words deter her from her goal of improving life for herself and her family. Just because he looked down on her didn't mean she lacked the power to effect change.
When she turned, she noticed Lucian had disappeared from the corridor.
"Ruelle! You're back!" Hailey exclaimed cheerfully as she and Kevin approached Ruelle, before quickly wrapping her in a warm hug.
"Hailey," Ruelle responded, her voice lifting. "Hello, Kevin."
"Are you okay?" Kevin asked Ruelle with concern. "I saw Lucian walk past you…"
"Did he say something?" Hailey asked as she pulled away from the hug.
"It was nothing. I'm fine," she said, forcing a smile, but her voice wavered slightly.
Kevin lowered his voice, as if even speaking any Elite's name aloud might draw unwanted attention. "Since I started working for the Elites, I have come to hear stories—things he's done. Apparently, even other vampires keep their distance from him and try not to offend him."
Turning curious, Ruelle asked, "What has he done?"
"He's killed a handful of people, and from what I hear, it was a bloody mess," Kevin replied with a grim expression.
Killed people...? Ruelle slightly paled at it. She wondered if it was the truth or if it was a rumour that had been glorified.
At night, Ruelle gathered the soft, dark wool and threads from the seamstress and slipped into an empty classroom. It felt safer, quieter—a sanctuary where other students wouldn't disturb her at this late hour. Lighting a lantern, she settled onto a bench and began her work. The quiet room was filled with the rhythmic click-click of her knitting needles.
The following evening, Ruelle mirrored the routine she had come to know, diligently continuing to knit the scarf while her friends went off to serve the Elites. Life for the Groundlings, those who couldn't afford the privileges at Sexton, was an unending challenge, conditioned to know their place within the societal hierarchy, but she focused on her own small rebellion, determined to carve out a path for herself.
Yet, Ruelle was unaware that, along with crafting her path, she also unwittingly had the talent of carving her own grave.
"You will be split into two teams," Mr. Jinxy began explaining while standing in front of the maze on one afternoon. "The object of today's game is to find a white flower. One team is tasked with finding it, while the other is supposed to stop them. The game ends when either the flower is brought to me at the other end of the maze or if the opposing team forces all players to the ground."
"What do you mean 'to the ground'?" asked a sceptical student.
Ruelle's eyes moved across the field, watching the senior Elite students practicing their weapon skills and combat within the forest's perimeter. Their movements were precise and intimidating.
Mr. Jinxy's smile was smooth yet disconcerting. "Either unable to rise and move or unconscious," he clarified, his words sending a ripple of discomfort through the humans. "And looks like Ms. Belmont is ready to throw some stakes," he said impressed, looking at her hands.
Ruelle had subconsciously been stretching her fingers, sore from hours of needlework. Everyone's eyes were quick to notice her hands, gathering a few smirks from the vampires of her class and she quickly dropped her hands to her side.
The teams were announced, and to Ruelle's surprise, she found herself on the side tasked with hunting down the other students, while Hailey and Kevin ended up on the opposing team.
"Team Stake, the defenders will have a head start of sixty seconds. Your time starts now!" Mr. Jinxy proclaimed, sounding the horn that signalled the beginning of the game. The sharp blast echoed through the place, further igniting the atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.
Ruelle stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched Hailey and Kevin disappear into the labyrinth's winding paths, acutely aware that they were now the targets of the game.
"Time to hunt, Groundling. Take the stake with you," an Elite vampiress instructed her with a smirk, amusement dancing in her eyes as she stepped into the maze with the others.
With shaky hands, Ruelle picked up the stake, steeling herself before entering the maze. The towering hedges loomed above her, their height casting shadows that danced around her with every rustle of the leaves. Each turn made her stomach twist with apprehension, fearing that someone might leap out from around the corner at any moment.
"AHHH!"
Suddenly, a girl's piercing scream echoed through the maze, sending an icy chill down her spine. The sound was followed by another scream, amplifying the suffocating tension in the air.
As Ruelle pressed on, she caught sight of an Elite student from the opposing team. Clutching the stake tightly in her hand, she followed him deep into the maze, only to find herself at a dead end.
The vampire leaned casually against the hedges, a smirk playing on his lips. "Groundlings are such simpletons," he taunted, blocking her only escape route. Not familiar with the maze, this was bound to happen…
Ruelle turned swiftly, realising she had nowhere to go. "Aren't you going to look for the flower?" She demanded, masking her fear with bravado. And why did it look like he wanted to stake her?
He grinned wider, revealing his gleaming fangs in a way that made her heart race even faster. "I thought it was time for a little snack," he said, his tone dripping with mischief.
"It is rude to eat when a class is ongoing," Ruelle replied defiantly, holding her ground as the vampire advanced toward her with a predatory grace.
Panic surged within her; having never stabbed anything before, she found herself frozen, uncertain of where to strike. What if she accidentally killed a vampire? This game was proving to be far more complicated than it appeared. Doubts flickered in her mind, and she briefly considered giving up and failing this class altogether.
Not knowing what else to do, she quickly ducked to the side and grabbed a handful of loose mud from the ground. Seeing the vampire reach for her, she acted on instinct, blowing the gritty substance directly into his eyes.
"What the fuck?!" he shouted, stumbling back in surprise, momentarily blinded and disoriented. Ruelle seized the opportunity, her heart racing as she bolted past him.
In a frantic attempt to escape, Ruelle collided with June, who was sprinting away from a vampiress while screaming at the top of her lungs. Seizing the moment, Ruelle instinctively pushed the young lady to the ground.
"I am down! I am down!" June shouted, not realising it was Ruelle as she faced the ground.
"You're really good at this, aren't you?" one of Ruelle's teammates said, a bat gripped tightly in her hand. A mix of admiration and amusement lit her eyes. "I'll keep an eye on her."
Relieved to have a moment to breathe, Ruelle was more than happy to leave June behind, her mind still racing from her earlier encounter with the vampire. However, just ten minutes later, she found herself cursing the vampires' agility as he suddenly appeared in her path.
"Oh dear God…" Ruelle gasped, panic flooding her system.
"I wasn't expecting that," the vampire sneered, rubbing his eyes where spots of mud still stained his face. "But you've got some skills. This time, you're going down!" He jumped into the air, aiming to tackle her.
Before Ruelle could react, something whistled through the air with a sharpness that made her freeze. An arrow suddenly struck the vampire in the leg, sending him tumbling to the ground in a painful gasp. Another arrow appeared, almost grazing the vampire's neck.
Who was firing arrows randomly in the maze?! Ruelle wondered, her heart racing as she took a few steps back, before running away from the scene.
Five minutes later, the horn sounded, signalling the end of the game. Though it wasn't a long game, Ruelle was exhausted, and she sat on the ground for a minute.
"Good game, everyone! The flower has been retrieved successfully," Mr. Jinxy announced with enthusiasm, clapping his hands together. "Wounded students, head to the infirmary. Class dismissed."
Ruelle accompanied her friends to the infirmary. Hailey limped slightly, her face scrunched up in pain from a twisted ankle, while Kevin had a bruise on his forehead. Lucky for her, she had only scraped her elbow.
After dinner, Ruelle assisted Hailey to her room, the day's fatigue settling heavily on both of them.
"I feel like I fought a war," Hailey groaned, her expression sullen. "Or tempted death. Their idea of a game is…"
"Careful," Ruelle said as they entered the room, guiding Hailey to sit on her side of the bed. "Is there anything you need?"
Hailey opened her mouth to respond, but her gaze shifted to Ruelle's neck. A frown creased her brow as she asked, "Did you remove your chain before the game?"
"No. Why?" Ruelle replied, but even as the words left her lips, she instinctively raised her hand to her neck, only to find the familiar weight of her mother's locket missing. Her eyes widened in alarm, and a wave of panic washed over her.
The thought of losing the one item that connected her to her mother filled Ruelle with dread. Her breath quickened as she whispered, "It must have come off while we were in the maze…!"
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