Chương 11: Fire in the mountain—Run!
Ruelle clutched the quill in her hand while she sat in class. Despite the passing hour, her mind was shackled to Mr. Mortis's words. She couldn't leave Sexton? The establishment owned them? Was her family aware of this?
After the Antiquity class, which was the study of vampire and human history, the Elites stayed behind while the Groundlings moved on to their next lesson.
"What does S.T stand for?" Ruelle asked as she tightened the ribbon in her hair.
"Maybe Sexton and something staring with T? Or maybe survival tactics," Hailey joked.
When they stepped into the room with the other students, Ruelle noticed that instead of the usual desks and blackboards, the room had benches lining the walls and…a single bed.
Her eyes were drawn to a striking vampiress standing at the centre of the room. She wore a red dress with a white cravat adorning her neck, fastened with a green pin that glinted in the candlelight. Despite the long velvet curtains, there were no windows. Similarly, though hooks adorned the ceiling, no chandeliers hung from them.
"Settle in everyone," the instructor ordered as the rest of the students filed into the room.
One boy, crossing to the front, stumbled, only to be caught by the instructor's swift and steady grip.
"Pardon me!" The boy apologised, who appeared to be fifteen years old.
As the room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the instructor. She leaned in close to the boy's face, creating evident tension in the air. Was she going to kiss a student? The question rippled silently through the room. The boy's lips parted ever so slightly, a mix of anticipation and uncertainty clear on his face.
"It seems we'll be refining some manners in this class, won't we?" The instructor murmured, her voice smooth and assured.
The boy, clearly from a higher social standing despite his human status, flushed and hurriedly moved to the side, embarrassment colouring his cheeks. A soft chuckle escaped the instructor's lips—a playful melody that broke the tension.
"I am Gemma Gilbert, your instructor for Seduction Techniques this year. You may call me Gemma," she announced, her tone professional yet inviting.
Did she hear that correctly? Ruelle asked herself with a frown.
"Se—Seduction?!" stammered one of the Groundlings, their voice thick with shock. The word was nothing less than a taboo, rarely uttered in public.
"This is not supposed to be a subject. Any such activities before marriage are immoral!" One girl exclaimed, her face flushed with exasperation.
Ruelle stood rooted to the spot with a dumbfounded expression. Her gaze drifted to the bed at the back of the room, and her cheeks burnt with embarrassment, mirroring the rest of her classmates' faces.
"Firstly, you Groundlings won't be expected to 'do the deed.' As first years, you'll only be learning to understand the concept," Gemma continued, her tone both authoritative and alluring. "You must be prepared. Our world revolves around three pillars." She raised a hand and began counting them off with deliberate precision. "Power. Wealth. And lastly, sex. Seduction is a delicate dance of restraint and release. When does it truly begin? With a touch, or long before that?"
"What use will this be for someone training to be a guard?" a young man asked sceptically.
Gemma's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Imagine your master or mistress entertains a guest—perhaps even an enemy," she replied, her tone persuasive and smooth. "The skills you will learn here could prove vital for their protection. Should your master or mistress require your… attention, you must be prepared. Moreover, if you aspire to become the spouse of a prince, an earl, or any high-ranking vampire, wouldn't you want their attention focused solely on you?" Her sly smile widened, capturing the interest of the students, especially the girls.
"Remember," she added sternly, "what we practice here remains within these walls. Any misuse or inappropriate actions outside this classroom will have severe consequences for you, Groundlings." Her gaze hardened, emphasising the gravity of her warning.
"That's reassuring, isn't it?" someone in front of Ruelle asked in relief.
"She only mentioned Groundlings and didn't say anything about the Elites," another classmate murmured.
"To ease you into this class, let's begin with an activity. Close your eyes," Gemma ordered, clapping her hands with enthusiasm.
Ruelle apprehensively complied, closing her eyes until Gemma said, "Now, girls, think of the man who first comes to your mind. Boys, picture a girl. Write down their characteristics—"
"Like my father?" A confused voice interrupted.
Before Gemma could respond, another student interjected, "My sister?"
Gemma's eyes widened, a flicker of alarm crossing her face, and she muttered, "No! You have misjudged the intention of this class and we clearly need to establish some boundaries. Very well, let's adjust our approach," she said, recovering her composure and continuing smoothly.
Ruelle's mind raced. She was going to fail this subject—she was certain of it. It was because of the person who had materialised in her mind. Her thoughts swirled in anxious spirals. She had never interacted much with young men her age, let alone thought of them in any romantic way. This was uncharted territory.
When the opportunity of attending Sexton arose, she had known it was a sketchy place. Yet it offered something no other place did: a chance to make money, to earn enough to free herself from the burdens of her family's crushing debt. But never, in all her planning, had she expected to face something like this. The concept of seduction—of using her body to please someone she didn't even know—felt overwhelming, a step too far.
"Do you mind?"
A soft murmur pulled Ruelle abruptly from her swirling thoughts. Standing before her was a young man. He stood a couple of inches taller than her, his demeanour surprisingly calm. "What?" she responded, taken aback by the unexpected intrusion.
"Has everyone found a partner for the class?" Gemma's authoritative voice resonated through the room, commanding attention and momentarily quieting the ambient hum of conversation. "You'll need to pair with someone of the opposite sex," she continued, her instructions as firm as they were clear.
Ruelle glanced around, her gaze settling on Hailey, who was already beside another male student, laughing softly under the dim glow of the classroom candles.
"Unfortunately, my assistant is on leave, so the real classes start in two weeks," Gemma announced as she scanned the room. "Until then, we'll be working on assignments. Your first one is to observe your partner, document their characteristics, and submit your findings to me."
"You weren't moving, so I thought I should ask you. I'm Kevin Reynolds," the young man with black eyes introduced himself with a friendly nod. "I'm—" she began.
"Ruelle Belmont. I know," Kevin blurted before offering a sheepish smile. "I mean, I heard it when they were sorting us into our dorm rooms. If I may ask… how old are you?"
"Eighteen," Ruelle replied, and asking the same, "You?"
"Eighteen myself, though not for much longer. Two months, actually," Kevin confessed, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "I barely made the cut. My goal is to become a high-ranking minister in the royal court." He leaned in conspiratorially, shadows dancing across his face. "But, between you and me, seeing how things are here, I worry I'll end up just another guard." He paused. "What about you?"
Ruelle shrugged, offering an uneasy smile. "I suppose it depends on whether I pass my classes. That'll determine where I end up."
"You will pass just fine! I watched you jotting down notes," Kevin remarked with genuine admiration. "I'm still getting there myself, struggling a bit with spelling."
"If you'd like, I'd be happy to help," Ruelle offered warmly, noticing how Kevin's eyes lit up with her suggestion. She was already helping Hailey, so assisting another human seemed only natural.
"Really? You'd do that?" Ruelle nodded, seeing Kevin's initial anxiousness ease as they continued talking. "That would mean the world to me. I could even pay you with some of the money I will earn here!"
Ruelle shook her head gently, a soft smile playing on her lips. "No need for that."
"Have you gathered enough for library access yet?" Kevin inquired, his curiosity genuine.
"Not yet, but I hope to in time," Ruelle replied with an optimistic smile, a glint of determination in her eyes. Seeing her, Kevin couldn't help but be captivated by her resolve.
When lunch break arrived, Ruelle and Hailey were approaching the dining room, when June bumped her shoulder against Ruelle before walking past her. Ruelle's lips pursed at her childish roommate, watching her smugly flip her hair.
"You should probably try switching rooms," Hailey suggested. "She's like a little gargoyle."
A smile broke across Ruelle's lips and she replied, "Don't let her hear that, else she will be after you too." She then asked, "You think there are still people without roommates?"
"If I have heard it right, plenty of the vampires are," Hailey replied.
Ruelle whispered, "I am not so sure about that." The last thing she needed was to jump from the pan into the fire.
As they entered the room and made their way to their usual table, Ruelle's eyes scanned the room warily. She noticed masks disappearing from the Elites faces, with one such mask dissolving into a faint vapour, revealing Lucian's face beneath it.
Ruelle's heartbeat quickened at the memory of what happened after her bath, and she quickly used Hailey as her shield.
"What? Is it the vampiress??" Hailey asked, ducking her head. "No?" she asked upon seeing Ruelle shake her head.
"It's just that an Elite vampire was in your room earlier today. The one we met last night in the maze," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She glanced cautiously toward the other side of the room, where Lucian sat, his posture rigid as he spoke with his friends.
Hailey's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, Lucian Slater! He is Blake's best friend. He was probably there to see her. I mentioned the whole name change thing, and she just laughed and said he was probably joking."
It didn't seem like he was joking, though, Ruelle thought as she took her seat at the table.
Across the vast dining room, Lucian's gaze was sharp and unwavering. His expression was unreadable, his eyes holding an air of disinterest as he sipped the blood from his glass. Beside him, Sawyer leaned back in his chair, arms draped lazily across the backrest, while Blake sat in front of them with her legs crossed.
"Do you think this year's games will offer any true excitement?" Blake mused, tilting her head slightly, the question hanging lightly between them like an unsolved riddle.
Sawyer considered her words, a sly twist to his lips before responding, "If you ask me, the competition seems lacklustre at best. It's all about which team draws the shortest straw with the least capable player, isn't it?"
"True, but we can't overlook potential surprises," Blake countered, her tone effortlessly smooth. "Remember that Groundling from four years back? The one who turned the tide and rose to become the princess's guard?"
Sawyer nodded, grinning. "Ah, indeed. The teams won't take shape for a few more weeks. Until then, it's all trial runs as names get tossed about. That's part of the charm—the surprise element. Jinxy mentioned we'll be working with the first-year Groundlings. Should be quite the spectacle, right, Lucian?"
"Spectacle? It's nothing more than an exercise in futility," Lucian replied, his words tinged with subtle haughtiness. Sexton thrived on mixing not just classes but students of varied experience. "Perhaps it's amusing watching Sexton peddle the illusion of sociability—a glimmer of hope that never reaches the surface."
Lucian, along with others among the Elites, understood Sexton's true nature and the motives underlying its activities. The humans came seeking equality, yet by the end of the year, they found only harsh truths beneath the academy's shimmering veneer. As for the Groundlings, their efforts were little more than threads of insignificance in the larger weave—one that held little of his concern.
"Also, why did you scare Hailey? The poor girl was trembling last night," the vampiress queried, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"Who?" Lucian's response was coloured with aloof indifference.
Sawyer, his cousin, tilted his head in playful contemplation, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Lucian unsettling someone?" he mused. "Hardly newsworthy. He has a knack for it, after all—be it men or women, Groundlings or Elites, he's—" he paused upon Lucian's glare, only to give him a smile. "I still love you, cousin."
Blake's eyes danced with a soft amusement as she rolled them subtly. "I'm speaking of my roommate. The Groundling." Her words were layered with gentle emphasis.
A fleeting frown ghosted across Lucian's face, vanishing almost as quickly as it appeared.
"Oh, that one!" Sawyer's face lit with recognition, his gaze wandering briefly toward the Groundlings' table. "I recall them from last night. Her friend, though—she's a cutie."
As Sawyer caught the curious gazes of other human girls aimed in his direction, he offered them a small, roguish wave before settling back into his seat. The playful light in his eyes was replaced by a shadow of confusion. He asked, "But why'd you do it, really?"
"Because sometimes a name change is necessary," Lucian remarked, his voice smooth yet tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
When the clock struck three in the afternoon, the first-year students found themselves gathered beside the imposing labyrinthine structure of the maze. Its towering hedges swayed gently with the breeze.
"Good afternoon, class!" came a cheerfully high-pitched voice from behind the vine-laden walls. A vampire emerged, dressed in combat attire, his high boots crunching on the gravel path. "I'm Jinxy Peru, and with me, you'll learn the art of combat in Sexton's revered tradition—The Hunt and Stake. Follow me!"
Hunt and Stake? Like humans hunting the vampires to stake them? Ruelle asked herself. The vampires were allowing them to do that? She found it rather surprising.
Ruelle immediately noted Jinxy's striking eyes, each a different hue—one a chilling blue, the other an intense red—giving him the eerie allure of a turned vampire.
The paths seemed to stretch on forever. The air in the maze was cooler, soaked with the earthy scent of leaves and dew, making Ruelle feel like she was breathing in the very essence of the place. After what felt like an endless journey through the green corridors, they emerged on the far side, leaving the twisting trails behind. Ruelle's gaze was instantly drawn to the cluster of red robes and masks—Elites.
"I have invited the Elite seniors to join us today," Mr. Jinxy announced, his voice carrying over the clearing. "They will be your guides and instructors for this class."
"If it's an invitation, can I leave?" an Elite teased, her voice dripping with audacity, drawing amused snickers from her peers.
"I'll be grading this session on your presence, so it would be wise to reconsider, young lady," Mr. Jinxy countered sharply, fixing her with a steely gaze before addressing the entire group. "Today, you'll learn the art of handling and evading stakes. Each senior will instruct two first years. Off you go!"
"Watch your neck, humans," a vampire whispered menacingly as he cracked his knuckles, narrowing his gaze at some of the Groundlings.
But amidst the tension, Hailey exhaled in relief. "Look! There's Senior Blake!" she exclaimed, gesturing to a familiar figure across the courtyard. "Let's go to her quickly!"
While Ruelle spotted the vampiress Hailey pointed out, her attention was irresistibly drawn to the figure standing next to her—Lucian. The intensity of his presence was magnetic, pulling her focus as if the world suddenly shifted to revolve around him.
Ruelle observed her fellow first-years casting furtive glances toward Lucian, their whispers swirling like leaves on a hesitant breeze. The aura of intimidation that clung to him acted as an invisible barrier, preventing anyone from daring to close the space between them. To her, he was terrifying after their last three encounters!
Ruelle and Hailey aimed their steps toward Blake, but as they neared, their path was intercepted by another senior vampire, Sawyer.
"Hello again!" Sawyer greeted, his voice light and engaging. Yet it was Ruelle upon whom his eyes settled, a playful curiosity lingering in his expression. His gaze was as deliberate as it was friendly.
"Hello," Ruelle replied, her voice carefully measured. She could feel the weight of the vampiresses' scrutiny settling over her.
"Why don't we head over there and practice?" Sawyer proposed smoothly, guiding them before either Ruelle or Hailey could approach their intended instructor. Sawyer's charisma seemed to wrap around them like a spell, gently steering them along as Blake became engrossed with another group of students.
"Let's start by gathering the stakes," he suggested, effortlessly assuming leadership with confident ease. "How are you finding your time at Sexton so far?"
Hailey, catching a note of playfulness in his question, replied with a wry smile, "Very lively." Her tone hinted at the underlying chaos of their experiences, though the subtle sarcasm sailed past Sawyer unnoticed.
He flashed a bright smile, his enthusiasm undimmed. "You'll see—this is just the beginning. Sexton's a place where you'll make many memories."
Ruelle offered a faint smile in response. She doubted a Groundling's and an Elite's experience to be the same.
Though it was only her second day at Sexton, Ruelle couldn't shake the unsettling observation that there were no humans in the final year, and it troubled her. On the other side, the instructor caught Lucian reclined on one of the nearby benches, his legs casually crossed.
"What are you doing here, Lucian?" Mr. Jinxy asked, as the seniors and juniors were supposed to be in the practice area.
"Sitting," Lucian responded with a composed air. "Unless you're counting ghosts as part of your class."
Mr. Jinxy glanced over his shoulder to confirm all students were paired up, a slight frown creasing his features as he realised the oversight. "Ah, well…"
Moments later, a guard approached quietly and murmured something in Mr. Jinxy's ear. The instructor nodded, then called out, "Sawyer! You've been summoned to the head office. Mr. Oak wants to see you."
Ruelle heard Sawyer mutter a curse under his breath before he turned to them. "I'll be back soon!" he said, then disappeared from sight. The void he left was swiftly filled by the imposing presence of Lucian, and Ruelle felt a flutter of unease settle in her stomach as he approached. W—Why was he coming this way?
"You two," Lucian's voice was smooth yet commanding, prompting both girls to straighten instinctively. His dark red eyes swept over them, settling on the stakes they each held. "Drop them."
But instead of releasing the stake, Ruelle's grip tightened around it, as if seeking courage in its weight. "Aren't we supposed to learn how to stake?" she questioned hesitantly.
Lucian studied her with a blank expression that seemed to last a lifetime.
"Hunt and Stake!" Mr. Jinxy announced loudly, pulling everyone's attention. "In the coming weeks, you'll participate in this traditional game, tasked with staking the other team. The team that takes down the most students with stakes and other weapons like arrows or blades will be declared the winner. Don't worry, the game is safe and no one will die."
Safe!? The first-years exchanged wide-eyed glances filled with disbelief.
"It's wise to start running before you learn how to dodge stakes," Lucian continued, his tone calm, belying the alarming nature of his words. "Make a round around the forest in fifteen minutes," he instructed, adding with finality, "Your time starts now."
Ruelle and Hailey quickly dropped their stakes and began to run. They sprinted through the forest, their legs moving as fast as they could manage, nimbly dodging the tree roots protruding from the earth like hidden snares. Despite their relentless pace, the minutes seemed to stretch into eternity.
"How big is this forest?" Hailey gasped, her breaths coming in ragged intervals.
Equally breathless, Ruelle could only shake her head, hair sticking to her damp forehead. "It feels like we've been running forever."
By the time they staggered back to where the other students had gathered, their vision was a blur, the world around them swimming as they blinked away perspiration.
"If you were in the real game, you'd already be dead," Lucian remarked flatly, his voice devoid of any encouragement. His eyes, piercing and cold as a winter night, settled on them with a mix of disdain and disinterest. "Go stand over there."
"The stakes?" Hailey ventured, doubt lacing her words as she glanced around.
"I'll give them to you," Lucian replied in a deadpan tone. It was clear how little he wanted to be involved in this, his expression one of evident reluctance. He seemed like a predator forced into the role of shepherd, his patience threadbare.
Ruelle and Hailey exchanged nervous glances before moving to stand where Lucian had marked two X's on the ground. As her eyes glanced around, she noticed her classmate named Kevin looking her way with concern.
Out of nowhere, Lucian snapped into motion, his arm a blur as he hurled a stake in Hailey's direction. She shrieked, instinctively ducking as the stake thudded into the ground behind her, quivering from the force of the throw.
"Learn to dodge or catch them," Lucian commanded, his voice as cutting as his calculating gaze, watching them as if appraising a pair of hapless prey caught in a hunter's trap. His demeanour made it clear: he viewed humans with as much regard as one might a mundane nuisance, tolerable only out of necessity.
It wasn't that other students had it easy, but they surely had it easier compared to how Ruelle and her friend were faring. She found herself dodging the movements of the stakes like a dance.
Before long, Hailey stumbled to the ground, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "I—I, please, I need water." When Lucian didn't so much as flinch in response, she quickly rolled to the side and darted away, her feet carrying her as fast as her desperation could propel her.
But Ruelle was determined not to retreat.
The earlier events of the morning were still fresh in her mind, spurring a newfound resolve. She steeled herself to face Lucian, even as her insides quivered with fear and anxiety. The stakes flew at her feet, her hands, and her head—a shower of impending danger that demanded her focus and agility, each near miss a taunting whisper of mortality.
"Ruelle! Do you need some water too?" Hailey called out with concern.
Lucian, who had been thrown another stake with a detached intensity, caught the name with a curious flicker in his eyes. He turned to look at the human who had called out before his eyes slowly shifted to look at the woman in front of him.
The stake, already launched in the air, continued its path toward Ruelle. As she had turned her head in response to Hailey's call, in that motion, the stake skimmed past her, slicing through the ribbon that held her hair.
'I met someone. Ruelle Marie Belmont.'
'Ruelle!'
'Also, why did you scare Hailey? The poor girl was trembling last night.'
Lucian stood still, catching the blonde hair cascade down her shoulders, each strand catching and reflecting the light as it framed her face. With her hair let down freely, she looked flustered as she attempted to retrieve her wayward ribbon. Each time she reached for the blue ribbon, the wind playfully sent it fluttering, until she abruptly halted directly in front of him, finally grabbing the ribbon.
This human he had been running into was Ruelle Belmont and this time he was certain it was her, Lucian thought.
And as if repelled by her proximity, Ruelle watched as Lucian stepped back without a word, maintaining the gap dictated by their class and station. The movement carried an air of distaste, as if her nearness was an intrusion he could barely tolerate.
Ruelle's breath hitched under the intensity of his stare. There was something unsettling in those dark red eyes—something that pinned her in place. Realising too late how close she had stood, she opened her mouth to explain when he demanded,
"What are you doing here?"
"The s—stake, you—" she stammered, the words tangling in her mind. "I mean, my ribbon, it…" Her words faltered as his eyes only seemed to narrow at her.
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