Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Five minutes of mercy

When the horn blew loudly in the air, Ruelle didn’t think twice before digging her heels into the horse’s sides. She clung to the reins while the animal surged forward.

"Go, Ruelle!" She heard Dane cheer for her loudly.

Behind her, some humans managed to spur their horses into motion, but two helplessly struggled, kicking and panicking, as they had never ridden before.

"Tch, looks like we know who is not taking part in the game," Renard clicked his tongue, wearing a smug smile on his lips.

One of the vampiress, whose human hadn’t moved yet, took a nearby whip and smacked it on the horse’s back. This was enough to have the horse surge forward and disappear into the forest.

"Not anymore," the vampiress turned to look at Renard with a half smile.

Ruelle, on the other hand, couldn’t hear the vampires talking anymore as the forest swallowed her whole.

The ground thundered beneath her horse’s hooves, each stride carrying her deeper into the woods. The thicket closed around her like a tightening fist. The vampires had given the humans five minutes to hide before they would begin to hunt them.

She was at a disadvantage, as she wasn’t familiar with these grounds. She tugged the reins, slowing her horse until the pounding hooves softened into a cautious trot. She pulled the pocket watch from her dress, its ticking unnervingly loud.

There were two more minutes before the vampires would tear through the forest. Her hands slightly slipped on the reins, trembling as she turned the horse, eyes darting through the dense trees.

"I need to survive this," Ruelle breathed. Water, her mind whispered.

If she could find running water, it would muffle the sound of her heartbeat and breathing. To a vampire a human’s pulse was as loud as a ticking clock, which would be impossible to hide.

Leaning forward, she whispered to the horse, "Do you know where the stream is?" But the creature merely flicked its ear.

From what she had learned in her village, water always sought the lower ground. Exhaling, she urged the horse forward. The trees blurred past her as she continued to gallop. She was aware that the two minutes must have passed and the hunt for humans had begun.

"If I had known I would end up as a vampire’s carrot, I would never have climbed into the carriage," she thought grimly.

Suddenly, a scream filled with pain tore through the forest, and it raised the hair at the back of Ruelle’s neck. She quickly yanked the reins and steered sharply to the right.

After a few seconds, the air cooled, carrying a faint dampness that pricked her skin. Water. She guided the horse to move, and the chill deepened as they moved ahead. Finally, she caught sight of the narrow stream.

Ruelle exhaled in relief. Standing and waiting here still meant offering herself on a silver platter. She swung off the horse, her boots sinking slightly into the damp earth and she drew the crossbow from her back. Pulling an arrow, she looked around.

If only she knew where the vampires had scattered in the forest. If she could only track Dane’s location, she could slip closer to him and use his presence as a shield. But the woods stretched endlessly around her and every shadow felt like a vampire ready to jump out and attack her.

The same time, the horse decided it was done with the game and bolted out of there.

Ruelle’s mouth fell open. A shout clawed its way up her throat, but she swallowed it down quickly. Calling after the animal would only announce her location. As dread filled her chest, she pressed her forehead against the wooden bow.

She stood no chance against a vampire in her current state. Also this wasn’t Sexton, where the hunters-in-training still fumbled with their strengths. These were efficient night creatures who knew how to hunt.

"What am I going to do now?" she whispered in panic.

Her mind raced as she tried to think of the next strategy. Her gaze then landed on a tree beside her whose trunk was thick, its lower branches stretching high above her head.

There was no time to waste, she thought to herself. She quickly rushed towards the tree and jumped to catch the closest branch. But she fell two inches short. She bit back a curse, scanning the ground until she spotted a decently sized stone. She rolled it close to the tree and stepped onto it.

Catching hold of the branch, she hung for a breathless second before pulling herself up with all the strength she had. She made sure that her foot was steady before she climbed further, not wanting to fall on the ground and break any bones.

A light laugh escaped the young woman’s lips. She asked, "Did I do well, Master Renard?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

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