Beauty and the Immortal: It started with a dig - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: The warning
Mallory didn’t really care if she was part of the royal family or not. All she cared about was knowing about her mother and understanding what happened that had led her to cross paths with her grandmother.

While Morwenna lit one end of the map for it to catch fire and turn into a piece of ash, Mallory turned to Hadeon and asked, “What now?”

“Now we plan to travel to the north,” Hadeon stated with one corner of his lips curling as if it were the most obvious thing to do.

“But your castle here and the duties?” Mallory inquired, as he was the lord of these lands. No man ever left everything behind to travel with a person and she stared into his eyes.

Hadeon stated, “The people who work under me will do their jobs better than ever before. I am sure they are well aware that I wouldn’t think twice before discarding them from not just their jobs but this world.”

The witch on the other side of the room muttered, “And here I was wondering where your chaotic self went.”

“I have to meet some of the people there to see what has been going on during my absence,” Hadeon drawled, looking at Mallory. “Besides, I would like some excitement if there are people I need to send to Hell.”

Mallory was more than thankful for his assistance, knowing it was wiser to take his help than refuse and she said, “Thank you.”

“Do not take Hadeon Van Doren’s help lightly,” Morwenna warned, catching Mallory’s attention. “He collects his debt in timely fashion, and they are the kind that aren’t very nice.”

“Not very polite of you to be badmouthing me,” Hadeon remarked, turning back to the shelves and pulling out a book.

“I would have done it behind your back, but with your hearing skills, it would be pointless,” the witch pursed her lips.

Hadeon flipped the book open, his grin widening as he read. “Well, isn’t this an interesting book you’re writing. I would definitely like a copy of it if you are alive to finish it.”

The witch looked positively annoyed by her things being touched. “Could you leave the glasses in its place?”

But the pureblooded vampire appeared intrigued before placing the glasses on the shelf. “Interesting that you categorise people into animals based on their birth dates. Moon signs. Monkey, what is your birth date?” he asked, turning to Mallory with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Mallory murmured in an apprehensive tone.

Hadeon put on a thoughtful expression and then moved his finger down the page, before exclaiming, “A bear! No wonder,” he then hummed as if nodding at what was written there. “Definitely true with the hidden anger, we should work on it.”

“You don’t even know my date to decide it,” Mallory gave him a pointed look.

“All I had to do was remember the death day of the grave Elisa stood before,” Hadeon replied at how easy it was.

Morwenna then corrected him, “The moon signs are dedicated to vampires and not humans or turned vampires. If that is all the help you needed from me, you can now leave.”

“What’s the hurry?” Hadeon questioned, pushing the book from where he had picked. “We should sit down and chitchat.” Saying that, he pulled a chair and sat down. Was one witch’s tea not sufficient for Hadeon? Mallory asked in her mind.

But then they heard the front door open and there stood a man in his twenties, “Morwenna, I am back—” he paused upon seeing Hadeon and Mallory there. “Who are these people?” he asked.

“My, my, my. Now we know who the owner of the glasses is,” Hadeon’s golden eyes brightened at the sight of the human. He quickly appeared before the man and offered his hand, “I am Hadeon Van Doren. An old friend of Morwenna.”

Before the man could offer his hand to Hadeon, the witch quickly dashed to protectively come stand next to the man, and she informed, “He is a pureblooded vampire.”

Mallory noticed how the witch was worried that the human was exposed to Hadeon. As if he would take advantage of the situation when the time came.

“We should go now,” Mallory proposed to Hadeon. She then turned to look at the witch and said, “Thank you for your help,” and she offered a polite bow before stepping out of the house.

“I guess later then,” Hadeon’s lips curled, and he followed Mallory out of there.

Seeing the couple leave, the man turned to the witch and asked, “Is everything alright? There was no need to be hostile. He seemed alright.”

“Hadeon only appears alright. You don’t know him,” Morwenna murmured, quietly watching the carriage take its leave from the forest. “He isn’t any vampire. When he was made in hell, he was made on purpose.”

Far away from the witch’s house, Mallory, who was sitting next to Hadeon, asked him, “Was that necessary?”

“Well, I offered to stay but you were the one who insisted to—”

“Scaring the witch. Especially after she helped,” Mallory murmured with a frown.

Hadeon feigned a thoughtful expression and replied, “It just fills up my hollow chest, which is when I can feel things better. It is something I can feel in my bones and soothes me. Though she and Elisa were sisters, they weren’t the same, so don’t pour your pity.” His eyes then shifted to look at her while his hands held the reins of the horses. He then said, “Don’t change your opinion of me just because I am willing to offer you my help.”

Mallory frowned at how he said it and she asked him, “Do you not like people seeing you in good light?”

A wicked smile was quick to appear on Hadeon’s lips and he asked, “Looking for something in me, wifey?”

“It was a simple question,” Mallory said, to which Hadeon replied, “So was mine.”

Seeing how Hadeon wasn’t answering her question, she dropped the subject and asked, “When did Cawlin tell you about the king’s sister’s death. The north is far for one to travel. Even for a bird.”

“I have my ways and don’t always have to travel,” Hadeon smiled, and he then said, “I believe with your ability we will be able to arrive at the royal castle faster than one would normally. Though that would be after I am sure you are able to use your abilities well. Apparition is one of the finest skills that would come handy in wars.”

When they arrived back at the castle, Mallory stepped out of the carriage. She asked, “When we meet the royal family, are they not going to be suspicious about me? Hadeon?” She turned around to find that the pureblooded vampire had disappeared from sight. “Where did he go?”

Making her way inside the castle, she realised the book of memories was with Hadeon and was possibly in his room. Going there, she fetched the book and was coming out when she met Ivy right outside.

“Good evening, Ivy,” Mallory greeted the vampiress, who only continued to stare at her without a word. Feeling an air of awkwardness, she decided to return to her room by walking past her, when she heard the woman say,

“You shouldn’t be standing next to Lord Hadeon.”

“Excuse me?” Mallory questioned, unsure if she heard it right.

“Just because Lord Hadeon addressed you as his wife on a whim, it would be better for you, milady not take it seriously. He is a pureblooded vampire, and you are a mere human,” Ivy’s tone was hostile and she continued, “A relationship that wouldn’t deepen more than the surface of water as time wouldn’t allow it.”

Mallory couldn’t help but smile at the vampiress. She replied, “I think you have got it wrong, Hadeon is only doing it out of jest.”

“Calling him by his name,” Ivy murmured, her gaze scrutinising.

“Are you in love with him?” Mallory asked without beating around the bush.

“I would never dare!” the maid exclaimed. Upon hearing footsteps coming from the nearby corridor, the maid gave a look at Mallory, before disappearing from her sight.

Mallory sighed. She hoped Ivy would not repeat what happened this afternoon at the stairs by having her trip. Did the maid not understand Hadeon by now? He thrived on teasing and annoying people. Besides, he had made it abundantly clear that he considered himself incapable of love.