Chapter 102: Logs That Burned All Night

When Ruelle’s eyes opened, she was met with darkness. She remembered lying down on the bed briefly while the light outside the window had still been pale and the birds had been chirping.

She felt the dull ache bloom back through her shoulders. Her hands felt swollen and stiff, each finger protesting even at the smallest thought of movement.

When she turned on her side, her heart almost jumped out of her chest upon finding herself staring straight into a pair of red eyes.

“What are you—” her voice came out hoarse. She swallowed and tried again. “Mr. S…?”

For a brief, ridiculous moment, she wondered if this was a ghost. The thought made her brow crease faintly as she stared at him.

Dane hummed, evidently amused and leaned back in the chair that was pulled close to her bed. He replied,

“I just returned from a soiree and found the room occupied,” after a pause, he added, “If I’d known you were going to end up like this, I would have spared us the trouble and kidnapped you this morning. Worked well enough last week.”

Ruelle managed a small smile, more out of habit than humour. When she tried to sit upright, pain flared through her shoulder and she wobbled. Dane rose at once, steadying her with his hand at her back until she was properly supported.

“I would have asked how you are doing, but I already have the answer,” the smile on Dane’s lips turned grim. “For now, I am glad you are still breathing. It would have been difficult if you didn’t.”

“I have a roof over my head tonight. It is better than I thought,” Ruelle assured him. She didn’t know how things would have turned if she had managed to go to Sexton to spend the remaining weekend by herself.

“You should stay here until your bruises disappear,” Dane offered and Ruelle looked up to meet his eyes.

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she replied softly.

“Ruelle,” Dane interrupted gently, raising a hand. “You’re welcome here.” He paused, watching her carefully. “You may stay as long as you need. But only if you include me as family.”

Ruelle’s eyes widened in surprise, not knowing why her instructor would go that far. Her lips pursed before she replied, “But you already have one. A very good one…”

“I once had a little sister who followed me everywhere. She found it hard to sleep unless I stayed with her. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time together. I miss her, which is why you can call me Brother Dane.”

“Brother…Dane?” Ruelle repeated, staring at the log of wood next to the fireplace. She had never thought about how it would feel to have a brother. To think he was offering to be her family when she was alone…

Even though Ruelle tried hard not to think about it, her thoughts drifted to her family. She wondered what they were doing now.

She could picture her parents, Caroline and Mr. Henley having a good time while no one spoke a word about her existence. Perhaps they were better without her, she thought to herself.

But what Ruelle did not know was that the Belmont family’s misfortune had not ended with her departure. It had only begun.

Far from the Slaters’ mansion and away from the village of Brackenwell, Mr. and Mrs. Belmont continued to run.

The couple stumbled on a deserted road in their blind attempt to escape. Mr. Belmont staggered, his steps slowing until he stopped altogether.

“How could you—how could you wager our house?!” Mrs. Belmont gasped, fury cutting through her exhaustion. They stood beneath the open night. “We should have taken the carriage.”

“Did you bring the money I gave you?” Mr. Belmont wheezed, his body bent as he fought for air.

Mrs. Belmont’s eyes flashed in annoyance as she turned to him. “I was busy locking and opening the door on your word! Trying to get us out before we were burnt alive thanks to you!” She hit his arm and he yelped.

Soon they heard the sound of distant wheels before a carriage appeared in sight.

Mr. Belmont shouted, “Stop! Stop the carriage!” Mrs. Belmont joined in by waving her hands as the carriage slowed. A man leaned out of the window with a wary expression.

“My husband is injured,” she said quickly. “We need to get home. Please help us!”

After a brief pause, the man decided to give them a ride and an hour later, the carriage halted in front of the Henley residence.

When the door opened, Ezekiel Henley stood at the door. His expression was strained from the evening he had endured, with Caroline’s sobs still ringing in his ears. His eyebrows furrowed and he asked,

“What are you doing here at this hour?”

“Ezekiel, dear,” Mrs. Belmont said politely, already stepping past the threshold, “have a physician summoned. Your father-in-law has broken his hands. Also due to certain… developments, we’ll be staying here,” she continued. “After all, family supports family. Especially in difficult times.”

Mr. Belmont followed close behind, his expression nothing less than that of a thief. Ezekiel remained where he was, watching them enter uninvited. His jaw tightened before a thought surfaced.

“Where is Ruelle?” Ezekiel asked, his tone casual even though he glanced to look for her.

“She will not be coming,” Mr. Belmont clicked his tongue. “Our ties with her have been severed.”

Ezekiel’s eyes widened at those words. What did they mean by that?!

Back in the Slaters’ mansion, most of the lanterns had dimmed and the place had turned quiet. Ruelle was in the room with Dane, giving her company. Right now, she caught him staring at her swollen hands. He asked, “May I?”

Ruelle hesitated before nodding slightly.

He then took her hand to examine it. He let her know, “Maude will help you with whatever you need, so don’t be shy to ask her for help.”

He adjusted her hand slightly, checking another finger, while his fingers rested below her knuckle. He was still looking at her fingers when she sensed a presence at the door.

She lifted her eyes toward the door and found Lucian standing at the doorway. His sleeves were rolled untill his forearms and his dark hair dishevelled, as though he had not bothered to put himself back together. His gaze moved to her hand, which was held by Dane right now.

Something sharp passed through Lucian’s eyes, gone almost as soon as it appeared.

Ruelle’s fingers curled without thinking and only then did Dane seem to realise they were no longer alone.

Dane released her hand carefully, turning towards the door and frowning. He asked, “Did you bathe in cigar smoke?”

Even Ruelle caught the faint scent of the charred wood. It clung to Lucian as he entered, stronger than the smoke in the fireplace. She blurted her thoughts, “I have never seen you smoke.”

Lucian did not answer.

“He does,” Dane said lightly. “Most vampires do. It curbs the urges.” He tilted his head as he explained, “Though I suppose you stopped sometime in the last few months, bec—”

“Dane.”

Dane paused before letting out a chuckle. He then informed them, “I just remembered I needed to check something with Maude. Rest well, Ruelle.”

He rose from the seat, making his way towards the door. As he passed Lucian, he caught the whiff of something else burn. He lowered his voice with a grin and asked, “Did you set people on fire?”

“You may if you want. You should find them outside,” Lucian replied calmly. Dane laughed under his breath before slipping out of the room.

Ruelle watched Lucian make his way towards her.

He stopped close enough that the scent of smoke followed him, clinging to his clothes. His gaze dropped to her hands at once, lingering on the swelling along her fingers. His brows drew together as if weighing something before he instructed her,

“Open your mouth.”

His words caught her off guard. For a moment, she wondered if he intended to check her temperature or her breathing. She obeyed, parting her lips without question.

Lucian pulled a small round and white ball from his pocket and paused for a second before he placed it in her mouth. “It’s a medicine,” he informed, already withdrawing his hand. “I made it so it is safe. It will help dull the pain but it might take a few minutes to take effect.”

He reached for the glass of water at the side table and brought it up, holding it steady near her mouth. “Drink.”

Ruelle hesitated before leaning forward and her lips touched the glass. When she took sips, her eyes met his in silence. Once she was finished, he pulled the glass away from her.

“Thank you,” she murmured. After a moment, she added, “Did you… finish today’s work?”

Lucian set the glass down on the side table before refilling it from the pitcher. The sound of water being poured filled the room. He replied, “It’s half done. The rest can wait.”

He adjusted the pillows and guided her back until the mattress supported her. She let herself sink into it, the dull ache in her hands beginning to soften. She heard him inquire,

“Is there anything that needs to be retrieved from your house?”

“My house…?” Ruelle echoed quietly. “I can’t go there.”

“You don’t have to,” Lucian responded to her. After a brief pause, he added, “But I’ll have someone collect what you need.”

Ruelle gave it some thought. She answered, “There’s a small wooden box. Brownish-red in colour. It is under the bed.” Her voice lowered without her meaning it to. “It belonged to my mother. My biological mother. There are some things inside.”

“Alright.”

“By the way, how did you find me this afternoon?” Ruelle asked, as she had been curious. She noticed her breathing had begun to even out, her thoughts moving more slowly, as if the worries had begun to move away.

“It was because of the shop’s glass walls. I caught sight of you when the carriage was passing,” Lucian answered.

“You must have very sharp eyes,” Ruelle murmured thoughtfully. When she caught Lucian turn, she asked,

“Are you leaving?” Her voice sounded anxious and it had him pause mid-step. “I mean,” she added quickly, the words tumbling now, “if you could stay. Just for a minute more.” She didn’t mean to tire him…

Lucian turned back and responded, “I was going to fetch a blanket. I will stay here until you fall asleep.” He returned moments later with a blanket, unfolding it before draping it over her.

She didn’t know when it happened, but somehow she had grown used to sharing a room with Lucian. Knowing he was still there made the darkness bearable.

Her eyelids began to droop, and she called softly, “Lucian?”

“I’m here.” The answer came at once as though he hadn’t moved since he last spoke.

Her lips pressed against each other for a second before she murmured, “Why didn’t you say anything when I had accused you of failing me?”

The memory brought some unpleasant feelings right now. She had slapped him in the middle of the corridor and he had never retaliated. He could have, but he didn’t.

Silence filled the room for a few seconds, before Lucian spoke,

“I did hide the earrings. You were right to accuse me.”

That wasn’t what she had meant… she thought to herself. Guilt crept into her mind, now knowing he had done it for her benefit. She whispered,

“But why… why didn’t you tell me…?” Her words turning softer at the end. She heard him speak, though the words dissolved before she could hold onto them as she fell asleep.

When morning arrived, Ruelle woke to something warm pressed against her cheek. For a moment she thought it was the blanket until she felt the steady heat beneath the fur. The weight shifted and she smiled as Zhenya lifted its head, its eyes blinking sleepily at her.

“When did you come here?” she murmured, reaching out to scratch behind its ears. The wolf’s tail thumped once in response. “Did you stay with me all night?”

She slowly sat up while the cold tried to creep through the windows.

When she looked around, she noticed Lucian was nowhere to be found in the room. While she failed to notice the logs of wood next to the fireplace were nearly empty as they had burned the entire night.

A faint embarrassment crept over her as she buried her face briefly in the pillow. She had asked him to stay. He must have left after she fell asleep, perhaps shaking his head at her weak self. She exhaled and straightened herself.

“This isn’t good,” she murmured, more to herself than to Zhenya. The wolf tilted its head, listening. “Is it?”

She was grateful for Lucian’s help. He was always there when she needed it and she would remember that. But with the thought came another heavier one.

She realised she was beginning to expect his presence… To reach for it without thinking and that unsettled her. Getting too comfortable was dangerous and she didn’t want to burden him.

Ruelle drew the blanket closer around herself. Perhaps, she thought, once she returned to Sexton, it would be better to move out of the room she shared with Lucian.

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