Claimed by the Prince of Darkness novel Chapter 94

Chapter 94: The Favoured and the Obedient

Ruelle’s breath caught in her throat and her body refused to move from the fear that had been instilled since she was young. Her father stood over her with the cane in his hand.

"Please," she pleaded, her voice barely audible. "I didn’t do anything wrong."

"How dare you lie after being caught?" Mr. Belmont snapped, his face twisting with fury. "Have you no shame left? Or has it left you after serving those blood-sucking vampires?"

Ruelle flinched at his words, forcing herself to explain to resolve the misunderstanding. She said shakily, "You were the one w—who sent me there. I never asked for it."

Mr. Belmont’s eyes widened in disbelief and questioned, "Are you talking back to me...?"

"I wasn’t," Ruelle answered quickly. "I—I only meant—Father, I truly don’t earn any money there. I—I have been studying hard–I—"

"The lies. You did always associated with the wrong people," he spat.

Her chest tightened and she uttered before she could stop them, "Father, if you hadn’t gambled—"

"What did you just say?" Mr. Belmont asked in a low threatening voice, his eyes darkening and Ruelle swallowed.

"I only meant... perhaps if we were more careful with money—"

"Careful?" he repeated. "You think you can lecture me in my own house? You spend your days living comfortably among vampires and return here to tell me how to manage my affairs?" he demanded. "Who are you to speak to me like that? I put food on the table so you could eat, you useless child!"

"I wasn’t trying to—"

The cane came down at her before she could finish. Pain exploded across her shoulder and ripped a cry from her throat before she could stop it. "After all we have done for you," he shook in anger and raised the cane once again.

Ruelle raised her hands on instinct, trying to shield herself. But the wood hit her fingers and a sickening ache shot through them. She bit down on a sob by closing her mouth tightly.

"Please," she beseeched again, her voice cracked. "I’m sorry... I’m sorry..."

She curled on the floor, more from long-learned habit than fear. The living room felt smaller with every breath she took.

During the whole time, Mrs. Belmont stood silent, disappointment on her face instead of concern towards what was happening before her.

At last Mr. Belmont threw the cane aside with a clatter and said in disdain,

"You are a worthless thing," his voice thick with bitterness. "First you took your mother’s life and then I ended up in poverty. Anything you touch brings nothing but misfortune."

The words hurt more than the blows and Ruelle heard him leave the room. She remained where she was, head pressed to the cold floorboards, her body trembling.

She winced as she was made to stand by her mother, who led her to the bathroom to fix her appearance. She felt the ache as if her muscles were being pulled out and she tightened her mouth to stop herself from whimpering.

"Why couldn’t you just stay quiet?" Mrs. Belmont murmured once they arrived at the front of the bathroom. "You know he doesn’t mean it," she added, not quite meeting Ruelle’s eyes.

Her mother’s words pulled her attention away from the pain. Ruelle lifted her eyes from the floor and met the older woman’s gaze, her lashes heavy with the tears she hadn’t shed.

"Mother..." Ruelle began. Her fingers curled on instinct but she stopped the moment she felt them throb, reminding her not to. "You said Father was asking for me...." She searched her mother’s face and asked, "Was it because of the money?"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify