Chapter 240 - 240: Shape of a Second Chance

Music Recommendation: Closing the Door - Radwimps

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It was the early hour of noon when Ruelle dragged a small sack through the snowy ground outside the Slaters mansion. Though the weight would have been trivial to her adult self, it was harder for her six-year-old body. The sack was filled with fresh meat, which she intended to take near the forest.

It had been more than a month since the sands of time had been turned backward. In the weeks that followed, Lady Sylvan had been publicly executed in the grand square before the entire town and the horrific massacre that was once destined to break through these lands had been entirely averted before it could even begin.

Since then, Ruelle had spent her days quietly moving between her father's residence and the Slaters' mansion. But not everything had fallen neatly back into place. She and Lucian had combed through the outskirts of the dense winter forest time and time again, searching for the little wolf.

But today, Lucian had gone out along with Lord Azriel an hour ago, and she had decided to look for the little creature.

"Need a hand?" Dane called out warmly from the balcony above, which was enough to make her stop and turn to look at him. Without another word, the pureblooded vampire jumped off the balcony railing and landed with a muffled thud on the ground. "Looking for the pet?"

Ruelle gave him a nod.

"I am bored. Let me join in."

Ruelle gave him a reluctant look, which he picked right away. The phantom memory flashed behind her eyes. The scent of his blood pooling on the dusty floor and his hollow chest. Even though time had shifted, the memory remained carved into her own soul.

"That's alright, Brother Dane," Ruelle replied to him with a smile. "I won't drift too far."

Dane tilted his head slightly as he noticed the guarded look in her eyes. Even though he didn't hold the entire recollection like his brother or the little girl, he had been dreaming of things that he had once lived. He had heard it from Lucian, understanding how things had transpired and he placed his hand on the little girl's head and remarked,

"If we ever had to live through what we did before, I would not regret whatever choice I made."

Ruelle's lips parted and she whispered, "You are precious, Brother Dane."

Dane's expression softened before he said, "And so are you. Forgive me for making things hard on you. I should have been vigilant. I don't think you can keep me locked in the house. That's more my kind of thing," he winked before reaching for the meat sack from her. "Give that to me now."

Their boots crunched softly against the packed snow as they made their way past the trees of the forest.

Ruelle pulled her dress's collar up against the biting chill, tucking her chin into the thick, fur-lined coat that Lady Amelia had bought for her. It was heavy and exquisitely tailored, and it resembled the grey knit shawl that Lucian had once gifted her in the past.

The entire rhythm of her new life felt surreal.

Peace was unfamiliar territory to someone like her, who had lived so long in the jaws of grief and terror. After enduring so much, this sudden calm felt dangerously fragile. And if this was a dream, she wished not to wake up from it.

Her father, Carnifex, had completely reorganised his world around her. A man whose reputation once had full attendance in the courthouse had now cleared his schedule every Saturday and Sunday, refusing to step foot near the courthouse just so that he could spend every hour by her side.

At the end of every weekend, her father would escort her to the Slaters' mansion himself, only to arrive promptly at the front steps when it was time to bring her back home, never trusting anyone else with the task and it warmed her heart.

Carnifex was everything Harold had never been.

Where Harold had offered cold disdain, neglect, and harsh words, on the other hand, Carnifex offered her warmth, fierce protection and unconditional praise. Even the simplest thing like her finishing a chapter during her studies was met with her father's proud smile and an affectionate pat on the head, along with gifts.

Lady Amelia was far more understanding, allowing Lucian to spend time with them during those two days, though her father was considerably less welcoming of the arrangement.

On the other side, Lady Irina had grown especially fond of doting on Ruelle. Whether it was making sure her favourite pastries appeared at tea or quietly fussing over whether she had eaten enough or dressed warmly.

But more than anything, the lady loved hearing Ruelle speak about the life that had been erased. Whenever stories of Lucian and Dane surfaced, Irina would listen with an almost childlike delight, asking for every little detail she could remember. Even the most ordinary things seemed to bring her joy or raise her eyebrows.

"You're awfully quiet over there," Dane's voice broke through her thoughts. His eyes skimming through the place. "I heard Carnifex decided a year in the dungeon would do them some good. But I believe he plans to have them there for life."

"That could be possible," Ruelle nodded. Shifting the subject, she asked, "How's your chest doing now?" She had heard from Lucian that Dane occasionally experienced pain.

"It aches now and then," Dane said with an easy smile. "Nothing dramatic enough for you to start planning my funeral again."

When a worried look appeared on her face, he asked apologetically, "Too soon for jokes?"

"It wouldn't be like you not to make light of death, Brother Dane," Ruelle murmured, though the corner of her mouth lifted and a chuckle escaped from his lips.

Ruelle had quietly checked the health of his body and it did feel sound, so she wasn't sure what the issue was. She wondered if it was just the pain from his heart pulled out before, but then again, if that were so, Lady Irina should have shared the same symptoms as her heart had been pulled out too.

She wanted to check with Belladonna, but she would need to build a path for it.

The mirror that was supposed to exist before was not there in the box her mother had left her nor was it present in the Sylvans' mansion. As if it didn't exist in the first place.

"Let us hope to find this wolf because I will have to head back to Sexton once my vacation is up," Dane swung the meat sack in his hand.

"I thought you would skip it." Ruelle craned her neck because of their height difference. Because even though not all of his memories had returned, he remembered what was studied before and was ahead of the others.

"Skipping class so suddenly would draw attention, especially after the execution. Besides, it gives me more time to kill." Dane grinned, and Ruelle couldn't help but feel that he meant those words rather literally. "The plan is to finish out the month and emerge as Sexton's newest prodigy. Lucian will have to follow the same path too before he can take that seat openly. If both of us rise too quickly, even the pureblooded vampire houses will start wondering what the Slaters are planning and we have enough eyes for now."

Dane's hand shot out, catching Ruelle's shoulder. Before she could ask, he brought his finger to his lips, his red eyes fixed intently just ahead.

Ruelle followed his gaze, her brown eyes scanning the frosted underbrush until they landed on a small, energetic ball of fur nestled near a bush. It had its fluffy tail sticking straight up in the air. The little creature gave a hearty yank, successfully wrenching a stubborn twig free from the branches and tumbling backward.

"That's him!" Ruelle whispered in a rush of delight.

"It seems the timeline wasn't too far from the original design," Dane murmured under his breath, his gaze shifting past the snowbank. "But it doesn't look like he is alone, though." He gave a subtle jerk of his chin toward a dense cluster of pines a few yards to the left.

Ruelle's breath hitched. Standing half-concealed next to a bush was a much larger wolf. Its black coat was dirty, matted with mud and melting snow, and its yellow eyes were locked firmly onto the little clearing where the cub was rolling around. It stepped forward with silent, protective grace, coming to a halt directly beside the pup.

"The last time Lucian and I found Zhenya, we waited for a bit, but no one came to look for him," Ruelle whispered as she watched the mother wolf nudge her cub with her snout, sending the little pup stumbling over his twig again.

A bittersweet pang tightened in her chest. In the life before, the mother must have already met a grim end in the wild, leaving Zhenya alone. But here, in this altered world where so many fates had shifted, the cub wasn't an orphan at all, he had a mother fiercely guarding him from the bitter cold.

"Looks like we will be kidnapping the pup from here," she heard Dane murmur, already calculating the angles. "Though it'll be tricky with the mother guarding him like that."

Without waiting for her answer, Dane loosened the sack. His hand reached for the raw meat and he threw it cleanly near a bush which was a few yards away. A second piece of meat landed in the opposite direction, which was a ploy to draw the mother away and create a clear path to snatch the pup. The mother wolf's ears pinned back instantly. Her snout twitched as the fresh scent of blood carried on the cold wind, her body going wary.

Before Dane could make his next move, a small hand gripped the fabric of his dark sleeve.

"Brother Dane," Ruelle said softly. The pureblooded vampire glanced down, slightly startled by the quiet tug. Looking up at him with solemn eyes, she shook her head. "We can't kidnap him."

Dane's brow furrowed. He asked, "Worried that he will miss her?"

"Yes..." Ruelle whispered.

Dane looked at her closely, his sharp features softening as he pieced together the quiet grief lingering behind her eyes. To a vampire like him, a wolf cub was just a wild beast, an animal easily claimed and domesticated. But to Ruelle, looking into that snowy clearing, it was a child being shielded beneath its mother's body.

Across the snow, the mother wolf tore into the meat Dane had tossed, periodically lifting her head to check on the silver-streaked pup, who was busy gnawing at a small corner of the discarded meat.

Ruelle pulled her coat around herself, while her throat tightened. Even though Carnifex adored her now, and Amelia treated her with kindness, nothing could truly erase the silent, hollow ache left by her biological mother's absence. She knew intimately what it was like to grow up in the cold, searching for the ghost of a mother who was never coming back.

She couldn't do that to Zhenya.

Dane let out a quiet, resigned sigh through his nose, though there was no annoyance in it, only an older brother's fond understanding.

"Alright," he said softly, keeping his voice beneath the rustle of the winter wind.

"Can we watch them until they leave?" Ruelle asked him.

"Of course, though I think you would appreciate the view from above better," and he picked her up before jumping on one of the trees and taking a seat on a sturdy branch.

Leaning back against the snow-dusted bark of the tall pine, Ruelle watched the little cub tear into the fresh meat with all the fierce enthusiasm his small body could muster.

Snowflakes had begun to fall from the sky, and they came to cling to the wolf's fur.

The little wolf shook free every time one of the snowflakes came too close to its face. When it finally had its fill, it let out a soft yawn, showing off its tiny teeth and clumsily stumbled against his mother's foreleg. The mother wolf lowered her head, gently licking the stray specks of meat from the pup's snout with a low, rumbling whimper of affection. Then, with a graceful, fluid turn, she began padding deeper into the forest. Soon the little one followed, before completely disappearing from sight.

Ruelle let out a long breath, watching the white plume of her mist drift upward into the canopy.

"How about we go buy some pastries?" Dane asked, lightly bumping his shoulder against hers. "I think we could both use something sweet."

"You know, you eat more sweets than I do, Brother Dane," Ruelle said, a quiet smile gracing her lips.

Dane glanced down at her, the corner of his mouth tugging upward into a teasing grin while amusement danced in his red eyes.

"Sometimes you need to make up for the lack of things," he murmured beneath his breath. The words were faint before Ruelle could hear them.

That evening, by the time Lucian returned, shaking the evening chill from his cloak, he was greeted by the sight of his mother, brother and Ruelle indulging in a feast of pastries.

Lucian came to stand behind Ruelle and when she looked up, he leaned in to kiss her lips.

"Welcome back home," Ruelle smiled, her eyes shining in delight.

"I am back," Lucian hummed, taking a seat next to her.

Lady Irina smiled, looking at the affection the two of them shared. And then heard her eldest remark, "Carnifex almost tripped the last time he was greeted by the sight here. I think it will be quite easy for Lucian if he plans to take the Elder Minister's seat."

"It's good that he isn't aware that they share a room," Lady Irina could only imagine the man's expression. Though she could tell that he did doubt it. His hands were full with a daughter now.

Later that evening, the family physician dropped by to conduct routine examinations on Ruelle, Lucian, and Dane as he had done the last few days. Yet, without fail, the diagnosis remained consistent: that they were all in exceptional health.

At the hour past midnight, Ruelle stirred awake. Her eyes fluttered open in the darkness and her first instinct was to reach for Lucian, but when her hand met only cold, empty linen, she sat up.

Had something disturbed his sleep?

Throwing off the blankets, Ruelle padded barefoot across the carpet and retrieved a candlestick from the nightstand before she stepped out into the corridor. The mansion was bathed in silence, the lanterns gone cold because of the hour.

"Did you need something, Miss Ruelle?"

Maude appeared in front of her. Even in the dead of night, the vampiress looked entirely composed, her posture immaculate, dark hair pulled back into a bun without a single strand out of place.

"Do you know where Lucian is?" Ruelle asked, keeping her voice low so as not to wake the rest of the household.

"The young master is in the backside of the mansion, miss," Maude replied, offering a small bow.

"Thank you, Maude," Ruelle murmured softly.

Ruelle made her way out towards the back of the mansion and she finally found Lucian, who was crouched on the ground.

Suddenly, he looked up, dark eyes finding hers in the moonlight, the guarded edge in his expression giving way to something softer the moment he realised it was her. Without a sound, he pushed himself up from the frozen ground, rising gracefully to his full height.

She asked, "Unable to sleep?"

"No." Lucian glanced briefly toward the darker stretch of grounds behind him before his attention returned completely to her. "There was something I wanted to check."

Ruelle stepped out, making her way to where he stood. "At this hour?"

"Mm." He hummed softly, his hand rising to cup the side of her face. His eyes lowered briefly, noticing the absence of a shawl around her shoulders. "You'll catch a cold." His thumb brushed lightly across her cheek before his gaze returned to hers. "My absence must have startled you. I thought I would be back before you woke."

Was he checking the grounds because he suspected someone might attack the Slater mansion? Ruelle wondered, her brows drawing together. Before she could ask, something suddenly tugged at the hem of her skirt. Startled, she instinctively threw herself into Lucian's arms. He caught her without hesitation, one arm settling securely around her while the other steadied her against his chest. Judging by the faint softness that entered his expression, he seemed more than pleased to keep her there.

Ruelle stiffened, her breath hitching. "Lucian... there's a ghost," she whispered, quickly glancing down at the snow around her, but she found nothing there.

"I think you will like this one," Lucian hummed.

Before she could ask what he meant, she felt another distinct movement beneath the folds of her skirt. The fabric shifted, and a damp, cold snout poked its way through the hem into the open air. A pair of bright eyes blinked up at her, followed immediately by the energetic, rhythmic thump of a fluffy tail.

"That... That's Zhenya!" Ruelle's eyes widened. "Did you kidnap him?" she asked, her voice hushed and troubled.

"I thought it might worry you," Lucian interrupted her spiralling panic. He whistled and from far, a large, dark silhouette padded silently forward into the moonlight. The dirty black coat was the mother wolf, who approached them before stopping beside Lucian's leg. She lowered her head to nudge her wayward pup, who rolled onto his back in the snow, wiggling his paws in sheer contentment.

Ruelle stared in stunned silence. She felt Lucian press his lips against her temple and say, "The stables are warm, and there's more than enough land on the estate. How about having both of them live here?"

She suddenly threw both arms around him, which had Lucian rock back half a step before his arms came around her without hesitation, holding her securely against him. She buried her face against his shoulder and tightened her grip.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You don't need to thank me for wanting you to be happy." She hugged him tightly. Her heart felt too full, too alive.

Not long after, Ruelle and Lucian sat together on the stone steps, watching the mother wolf groom her pup.

For a while, the two wolves remained near the foot of the stairs, gradually won over by the large amount of meat and the promise of a warm stable. Ruelle sat beside Lucian beneath Maude's hastily delivered shawl, watching Zhenya tumble clumsily around his mother's paws until the cold finally drove them indoors.

It was one of those nights that, in the years that followed, settled quietly into memory.

Twelve years passed far more gently than the ones that had come before it.

By then, Ruelle no longer had to crane her neck to look at most people. The little girl who had once divided her week between the Slater estate and her father's residence had grown into a young woman, and she had returned to Sexton the same year and day as before, but this time as an Elite.

She had befriended Kevin, even though Hailey's absence saddened her.

Thankfully so far, there was no trace or sighting of Ezekiel Henley. Lord Azriel and her father had taken upon themselves to comb through the lands, but it was as if the person didn't exist like others.

It had also made her wonder of possibilities that he lived somewhere else with a changed name. But Lucian had assured her that with the man's eyes damaged before his death, the possibility of him returning was low. And even if he did, he wouldn't be able to follow them.

One morning in Sexton, Ruelle was making her way through one of the older wings where a corridor was demolished, she took the path from the back when she caught sight of a man who was covered in leaves and twigs sticking to him because of the gum he had rolled in.

She stopped realising who it was. Of course, this is how they met.

When she cleared her throat, Prince Edward suddenly screamed and she muttered, "You are the only scary-looking thing here..."

"How dare you?" The Elite snapped, immediately turning in another direction as his eyes were closed to notice where she exactly stood. His nose twitched as he sniffed the air, and he declared, "I will have you executed, lowly human!"

In all those years, Ruelle and Lucian hadn't approached the prince, letting time run its course. It was good to see that he hadn't changed and it brought a smile on her lips.

"Ha! Are you frightened? Not so bold now, are you?" He continued stubbornly. "I was—wait, where are you going?!"

Ruelle had already turned away, knowing they would need to get rid of the gum.

"How rude of you! Do you not think you should be helping me? ...wait! I cannot go back inside looking like this," he hissed. "I did try finding a way back in—"

"But you got lost and fell into the booby trap of glue in the forest. And you can't shout because you are worried of disappointing your father, if he will think you are unfit to take his position in the future."

"..." Edward went quiet, as if unsure of how she knew about this.

"I will be back."

When Ruelle was halfway into the building, she ran into Lucian who was with Sawyer, and her eyes brightened. "Lucian!" She called eagerly, and he left Sawyer's side. "Guess who I found? Edward! But he's stuck in the glue."

Lucian was silent for a beat. "Good."

Ruelle blinked. He placed one hand against the small of her back and gently turned her in the direction of her classroom.

"Go to class or you can skip it with me."

A blush formed on Ruelle's cheeks at the mention of skipping class together.

"But…he's stuck," she repeated, looking back towards the end of the corridor. "And the gum has already dried. It might take a while to get all—"

Lucian leaned forward and kissed her right on her lips. When he pulled back, her cheeks burned, and he said, "I prefer him not sticking to you this time. I will get him out."

"Okay," Ruelle nodded without a protest, while trailing right behind him before she paused.

Lucian grabbed the can of oil from the infirmary before they headed in the direction where Edward was. The prince flailed his hands in the air.

"Finally, you are here. I thought you went to create the oil," Edward huffed. And before he could utter another word, Lucian poured the oil right on Edward's head, leading the oil to enter his mouth and he coughed. "What the fuck?!"

"Language. Now close your mouth," Lucian instructed with an aloof expression.

"Who are you? I thought—!" more oil was poured. "Just wait, I am going to have you executed for your insolence! Where the hell did Hermes go?"

"You should wipe your face while the oil is still warm," Lucian threw the container to the ground.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone? Do you know who I am?" Edward flailed his hand, while Ruelle stood near the building with a look of grimace as she noticed the two men banter.

Lucian calmly wiped the oil from his fingers and responded, "Yes. Someone who wants to celebrate early Halloween."

Edward's mouth fell open. "You—"

"Edward!" Hurried footsteps approached behind Ruelle. "I know you didn't want to attend classes, but—why are you looking like that?"

The voice was enough to have Ruelle turn to see the young woman with brown hair that was tied in low pigtails, with her red eyes looking confused.

"Your Highness!" Hermes ran past Ruelle, reaching where the prince was.

Ruelle couldn't stop staring at the young woman.

For twelve years, she had quietly accepted that some people might never return to her life. Yet right now, Hailey stood only a few steps away, alive, and wearing a perplexed expression, entirely unaware that Ruelle had missed her.

Noticing her gaze, Hailey's expression turned into an apologetic one and she whispered,

"Please don't bring this up—I mean what you saw now. My cous—I mean His Highness is sensitive. Things aren't often like this but more organised."

"I wasn't planning to…" Ruelle murmured while trying to wrap her head around that Hailey was related to Edward.

Apparently, the reason why they never heard about Hailey was because she had turned into Edward's relative.

Then after a pause, as if realising, Hailey extended her hand and said, "I am Hailey. The prince's cousin. I am here for a short term. And you are?"

Ruelle took hold of Hailey's hand with a bright smile and replied, "Ruelle."

"It is nice to meet you, Ruelle," Hailey said before glancing uncertainly towards the corridor. "I should probably find my classroom now."

"What class are you in?" Ruelle asked, somewhere fascinated to see Hailey born as a pureblooded vampire.

Hailey raised one finger and said, "First year."

"I'm heading to the first year's class myself. Come with me," Ruelle informed, before glancing at Lucian, whose eyes met hers and he gave a nod.

Ruelle turned back to Hailey and said, "This way."

"You don't mind me sitting with you for lunch later, do you? For some reason, I've never been able to get along with my own kind. Probably because most people start acting awkwardly once they find out who we are. Oh, and you should know Edward—I mean His Highness gets terribly offended if anyone…"

Hailey continued chatting as the two of them walked farther down the corridor, her lively voice gradually fading.

Ruelle walked beside her with a smile that never quite left her lips.

When evening descended, the bitter chill of winter still clung to the stone turrets of Sexton, but the sky above told an entirely different story. High upon the open terrace of the abandoned building, Lucian had used his ability to sweep the heavy, suffocating winter clouds away. Where grey gloom and falling frost should have swallowed the horizon, the sky opened into a breathtaking twilight colour.

Ruelle lightly swung her legs while sitting beside Lucian on the edge of the roof.

"It feels like everything is falling into its place. Hailey still has trouble with the classes and she fell asleep," she murmured before smiling. "It feels just like before, only that she drinks blood now."

And she learned that her friend didn't have any memories or dreams about the past. Which only meant that the ones touched by Lucian's corruption remembered it.

Looking down, she caught sight of Edward and Hermes walking into another building.

"Can't believe that twelve years have passed," and they were peaceful.

"Much shorter than the twelve years I spent without you," Lucian remarked, his gaze resting on her.

Ruelle realised it wasn't twelve but twenty-four years had passed since the first time they had met each other. Leaning closer to him, she said, "Thank you for having faith in me when no one else did, Lucian."

Lucian's gaze remained on her and he replied, "You never gave me a reason not to. They don't see what I do. I prefer it that way."

Ruelle studied him for a moment before the corner of her lips tugged up. She murmured, "You almost sound pleased about that."

"I am."

A soft laugh escaped her. Of course he was.

Ruelle leaned closer until her shoulder rested against his, letting her head settle there as she looked back towards the evening sky.

"Ruelle," he uttered her name.

"Hm?" She wondered what it was, noticing the look of seriousness in his eyes. "What happened?"

"I never said this before, but I haven't forgotten what you gave up when you chose to turn back time." His fingers tightened slightly around hers. "Let us find a way for you to see your mother."

Ruelle shook her head, squeezing his hand back. She responded, "I don't regret my choice. I do wonder about her… but I think we have done enough of changes that I don't want to disturb it anymore. And we met Hailey again. Maybe when the time is right, I will see others…"

From a distance, they caught sight of a familiar-looking carriage that passed through the gates of Sexton before it finally came to a stop. Out stepped her father, wearing a coat that brushed above the cold ground and he fixed his clothes.

It was the time of the weekend.

Lucian turned his hand, threading his long fingers through hers. His grip was firm and warm.

"Ruelle…I have grown terribly selfish. I despise having to share you, even with your father and endure those two days away from you each week. Every second feels like an eternity stolen from me. I don't want to borrow pieces of your time anymore." He brought her knuckles to his lips, kissing them with an agonizing gentleness.

"Marry me, Ruelle. I promise to love you more tomorrow than I do today."

Ruelle's vision blurred with unshed tears, her heart so impossibly full it felt as though it might spill over completely. Her smile softened and she nodded,

"Yes. I'll marry you, Lucian."

Lucian's hand cupped her cheek before sliding into the soft strands of her hair, tilting her face up to his as he closed the last remaining distance, capturing her lips with his own.

The kiss was achingly gentle. His lips moved against hers with quiet reverence, savouring every second as though the world might vanish if he moved too quickly. Ruelle melted into him, her fingers tightening in the fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back, pouring every unspoken promise of the years yet to come into that single, tender touch.

Sitting on the edge of the rooftop, she didn't notice the cold winter wind anymore. Creepers sprouted around the edge of the roof, green and vibrant while blooming little flowers.

He angled her closer, deepening the kiss just slightly as though she were something infinitely precious. When they finally parted, only a soft breath apart, Ruelle let out a small, breathless laugh, her forehead resting against his.

She whispered against his lips, "In this life and every one that follows."

Something softened in Lucian's expression, the faintest smile touching his lips.

"Every one," he promised.