Chapter 50: Unexpected guest on the list
Mallory watched Lady Violet's face turn red before she turned and left with her servant without another word. The others in the room looked barely bothered. She turned to look at Hadeon, who leaned forward to pick up one of the appetisers and put it in his mouth. 4
When they returned to the couch, another vampire came to speak to him. It was evident that he was popular, while people carefully talked to him as if not wanting to get on his bad side. 2
"Would you care for another glass?" The servant offered her a tray full of drinks.
Mallory picked it up, as it wasn't like she had fangs and could suck people's blood, and there wasn't much to do. Her eyes moved to Hadeon, listening to him catch up with his acquaintances. She was grateful for his gesture of sending Violet out of here. 8
"I need to visit the powder room," Mallory whispered, realising she shouldn't have gulped the cold drink. 8
"Two right and one left," Hadeon replied with his eyes slightly narrowed as if in a quiet warning to stay out of trouble. 15
Mallory offered a short nod before visiting the powder room. The room was empty and heavily perfumed, as if the female guests in the manor had been heavily doused with it. Once she was done with her business in there, she was making her way back to the room, when she heard someone speak from the corridor end she had just passed.
"Can someone smite me? Mallory Winchester." 2
Mallory froze in her footsteps, her hands going cold and her breath heavy as she recognised Kaiser's voice. Her body refused to turn, and she heard footsteps approaching her. She turned on her heel to come face-to-face with the man she despised. 16
"I thought you were already rotting in the ground," Kaiser remarked, because he had left the day she was supposed to be beheaded. "What are you doing here? Did someone turn you?" he asked with a frown before taking a deep whiff of the air. "Doesn't seem like it." 9
Mallory was too stunned to respond, but as his words sank, her eyebrows furrowed. She asked him with disbelief, "You are a vampire…?!" 7
But Kaiser didn't respond to her question, and instead, his eyes fell on her neck. He questioned in confusion, "Is that a collar? You are a slave," a sardonic chuckle escaped his lips. "Perhaps I should have turned you into my slave, you would have enjoyed it."18
"A little late to do that," Hadeon remarked from the other end. "Rude that you don't remember my cross that hangs on her collar." 15
"She's your slave?" Kaiser frowned. 1
Hadeon noticed how Mallory's heart was racing, as if she had just run up and down the stairs. He turned to her and demanded, "What are you doing standing there?" She didn't need to be told twice, and she quickly came to stand behind the pureblooded vampire. 6
"I didn't know you were out of the coffin," Kaiser smiled. "I should let Osiris know."8
"Didn't realise he was still keeping tabs on me. Hmm, perhaps I should throw a grand ball to make my comeback official. Of course, the guest list will be strictly exclusive, so you might not make the cut," Hadeon mused in a low voice, a sly grin creeping onto his lips. Then, with a raised eyebrow, he inquired, "Did you need something from my servant?" 2
"Not right now," Kaiser smiled, and he turned to look at Mallory before smiling at her, "We shall meet again, dear Mallory. For old times sake." When he turned, the smile on his face dropped, and the look in his eyes turned serious, disappearing at the end of the corridor. 10
Hadeon's gaze then shifted to Mallory, whose heart was drumming so loudly that he could hear it. He said, "Don't tell me you fell for his looks with love at first sight. He's hardly a heartthrob."15
Mallory's hand hadn't unclenched and she whispered, "That's him… he's the one who killed my uncle and aunt."5
"Kaiser?" Hadeon raised his eyebrows and saw her nod.
"Baron Kaiser," Mallory replied as she tried to gather herself. All this while, she had told herself that she would take revenge on him, but meeting him like this suddenly had put her off the track. It finally made sense how he had appeared and disappeared in the manor, making everyone believe that she was the killer while he was innocent. "Is he a pureblooded vampire?"
Hadeon let out a chuckle, his voice laced with amusement. "Not even if hell froze over. But he's a vampire, turned by one of the pureblooded vampires. He is Osiris's beloved slave," he explained with a wry smile.13
"Servant?" Mallory asked, confused. "But he's a baron."
Hadeon clicked his tongue in exasperation. "Oh, you silly monkey," he chided. "Didn't I tell you? Human labels are utterly meaningless. Things are never as they seem."3
Anxiety began to kick into her mind with her chest turning stuffy, and Mallory started to see spots when she felt a cold hand placed on her cheek.
"What are you so scared about?" Hadeon questioned her calmly, his golden eyes staring into her sterling blue eyes, which were unsteady. "At this point, you have nothing to lose, because what you had is already stolen. Besides, the only thing a person needs to fear is standing before you." 21
Mallory's breath began to steady as she listened to Hadeon's voice. His cold fingers on her face felt as if they could freeze her heart because of its iciness, and her eyes met his that stared into hers. His face was too close to hers, and she quickly took a step backwards. 2
"It looks like you are finally feeling better. You shouldn't let your heart race like a bird. It makes me excited, hearing the fearful flutter," Hadeon stated as his hand slipped into his pocket and pulled out his cigar case. 5
While Mallory composed her emotions, he placed the last cigar between his teeth and lit the end. After taking a long drag, he blew the smoke into the air before offering the cigar to her. 6
As tempted as she was, she refused. "I am good. Thank you." 10
"Suit yourself," Hadeon shrugged with a wicked gleam in his eyes before putting it back between his lips.
He then hummed, to say, "Kaiser must be looking for the same weapon that you were looking for, which is the reason he tried to annihilate your family that night. But I doubt he's working alone and doing it for Osiris. Someone knows about it, apart from your grandmother. Makes me wonder what circles your grandmother ran in."12
"The one with the serphants?" Mallory pursed her lips.
"Her activities probably run deeper than what you or anyone else has known, monkey," Hadeon murmured before walking towards the window and she followed. "How interesting that you lock horns with the servant, whose master I am not particularly fond of. It is unfortunate that I cannot rip him."9
The rules of the pureblooded vampires, she thought to herself. The same moment, Mallory caught Kaiser climbing inside the carriage and leave the manor as if whatever he had come here for was done.
"You don't have to, Master Hades. This is my fight," Mallory replied, because she would only rest once Kaiser got what he deserved. 5
Hadeon rolled his eyes, "Stupid little monkey, did you forget that you aren't your own person anymore? You are my servant. I am very interested in knowing what this weapon is and can do, that people are trying to seek it. Also, I need to know who thought I should have a change in residence while I slept." 11
"Master Hades… doesn't it worry you?" Mallory asked him with worry.
"That you might die?" Hadeon asked in a casual tone. "I did offer to extend your life by turning."6
She frowned before saying, "Not that. I mean the number of enemies you make as you walk."6
"If only people were wise enough to steer clear of me," Hadeon replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips. His eyes sparkled as he continued, "You see, my dear, when Lucifer crafted me, he selected elements that are far from fear. My soul remains untouched by the woes that plague humanity."8
Mallory wished she knew the elements used when Hadeon was created. Curious, she asked him,
"Have you met the devil?"
"If you want to meet him, all you have to do is ask. Wait, I forgot you were destined to hell. Never mind," Hadeon waved his hand before replying, "I have. After the pureblooded vampires moved to the realm of living, no one has bothered to go back to hell. Not that the devil cares, as we send plenty of souls."
Did that mean that Hadeon and the other pureblooded vampires had access to Hell? Brushing it aside, Mallory asked him, "How do we find out where to find this weapon?" 2
Hadeon's smile broadened, and he remarked, "Simple. We go to Reavermoure." 17
