Beauty and the Immortal: It started with a dig - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Night theatre
Mallory stared at Hadeon, who wore a calm expression as he placed his glass on the side table. She then broke her gaze, saying, “You state the obvious, Hadeon. It is night, so it is going to be a night theatre. It can’t be a day theatre,” she softly huffed.

Hadeon’s lips subtly curled and he asked, “I assume you are interested in it then?”

“Very much so,” Mallory replied, leaning to the side and picking up a platter of fruits. She took a bite, noticing the pureblooded vampire looking at her with an expression she couldn’t quite place. “Back in Reavermoure, theatre isn’t common. There are private shows, but definitely not this grand. Very small stories, but the actors and actresses are brilliant. And unlike most who look down upon actresses, thinking it’s a job of the lowest status, I believe it’s a wonderful one.”

“I doubt there’s a theatre like this anywhere near Reavermoure,” Hadeon hummed, his eyes moving to look at the patrons seated in the box as Mallory spoke.

Mallory looked around too, noticing the well-dressed patrons who appeared to be of high status. A man with dirty grey hair and slightly narrowed eyes caught her attention from the opposite balcony. His gaze lingered on her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable as he smiled at her with a mocking expression.

The man then touched his lips before pointing at her in a suggestive manner. When his hands moved downward, that was it for Mallory.

“Say, Hadeon, would you mind switching seats with me?” Mallory asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Why?” Hadeon asked in a nonchalant tone, having gone back to drinking blood.

“I think you would like the view better. Please,” Mallory requested, her tone more urgent.

Hadeon sighed after a second, noticing her stare. “Alright, let us switch. For the record, you seem to be making me do a lot of things like a wife would with her husband,” he teased, standing up. Mallory gave a brief smile, relieved to change seats and escape the man’s leering gaze.

As Hadeon took Mallory’s initial seat, his eyes finally met those of the man making the inappropriate gesture. The man, upon meeting the pureblooded vampire’s gaze, immediately stopped and fixed his lustful expression.

“The view is something,” Hadeon murmured.

Mallory watched Hadeon closely, curious about what he would do next. To her surprise, the pureblooded vampire brought his glass to his mouth and then ran his tongue from the bottom to the top in a deliberately seductive manner.

“W—What are you doing?” Mallory asked, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Hadeon didn’t stop. He downed the drink in one go, then licked his lips while maintaining eye contact with the man who had tried to misbehave with Mallory. He smiled wide and waved at the man, signalling that he was going to come over. The man’s face turned pale, his expression a mix of shock and disgust, and he quickly got up and left the balcony.

“Just dusting the spider out of the cobweb,” Hadeon said with a playful lilt, turning his attention back to Mallory. “I don’t want your night theatre experience to be ruined. Though you don’t have to worry as the lights will go out soon.”

Hadeon didn’t use violence or any threatening words. A simple, calculated gesture had been enough to send the stranger running. Mallory thanked him, “Thanks. I appreciate it…”

“Anything for the lady. Would you like some wine?” Hadeon raised a bottle and then assured her, “It isn’t blood.”

“A glass of it shouldn’t be too bad,” Mallory replied, grateful for the change in topic. As he poured her a glass, she remarked, “You have been kind to me.”

“It is one of my many amazing traits,” Hadeon said, his smile widening.

The wine wasn’t red but a rich, deep purple. As Mallory sipped it, she hummed in appreciation. “I don’t think I have tasted such high and sweet notes in a wine before,” and at the same time, the candles on the chandeliers went out as if in magic, leaving the place in momentary darkness.

As the chatter of the people died down, silence filled the theatre, bringing a sense of great anticipation. Realising something, Mallory asked, “How did the light in our box go out too?” No one had come by to blow it out.

“Stored magic or perhaps with the help of a witch,” Hadeon replied in a soft voice. He continued, speaking in the darkness, “In this world, some of the tricks are often borrowed from other creatures. It makes things more lively and breathtaking, putting people in awe and making the entire experience something one wouldn’t find out in the open.”

“That’s like saying some things are forbidden,” Mallory stated, and she heard the music beginning to creep into the hall. When the curtains were drawn on the stage, revealing characters, light shed from there, and she turned to look at Hadeon, who wore a slight smile on his lips. She had previously noted how Reavermoure being in the far corner of the lands, it hadn’t been exposed to the world of vampires or other creatures that belonged to this world.

“It is time for the show,” Hadeon announced to her, his eyes briefly meeting hers before he looked back at the stage.

Mallory turned to face the stage, ready to listen and watch the new story, hoping it was one she hadn’t heard before.

A couple of minutes passed since the act between the actors and actresses on the stage had begun. Mallory was too engrossed in the story to notice much else, her hand moving automatically from the plate of fruits to her lips. The set and the costumes were magnificent, and she could only imagine the immense effort that had gone into orchestrating it.

“How can I forget you?! We spent our time planning our future!” the man on the stage exclaimed passionately.

“That was in the past, Marcus. I am now going to be married to someone else… my father has decided it,” the actress responded, her expression tearful.

Mallory clutched the plate she was holding, completely absorbed in the drama unfolding before her. The story had been wonderful so far, and she loved a romance filled with drama. She wondered if the man would leave or elope with her. But then the actress said, “I should go now. I only came here to inform you to forget me.”

The actor caught the woman’s arm on the stage, pulling her into his embrace and demanding, “Do you not love me? Tell me you don’t and I will let you go!”

Mallory’s hand searched for another piece of fruit, but the plate was empty. Suddenly, another plate was brought in front of her, courtesy of Hadeon. She murmured, “Thanks,” before returning her gaze to the stage.

She was just in time to catch the man passionately kissing the woman on the stage. The intensity of the scene made her heart race, and she found herself leaning forward in her seat, completely captivated.

The actor began undressing the woman, her blouse slipping off her shoulders, followed by her skirt dropping to the floor. When the man placed his palm on the naked woman’s breast, a loud moan emitted from her lips, “AHHHH!!”

This was enough for Mallory to jump in her seat. This was moving in a whole different direction!