Penny forgot her question and went to the glass. Looking at the stage which she could see clearly, she turned her head to look at the other galleries which were covered in glass which made it difficult to see if there were other guests like them.This was the lower section of the gallery and they were on the second floor. Other open galleries came to be placed at the top and she could catch sight of a couple of people, some of their attires making it obvious that they were pureblooded vampires while some who were dressed decently.
“Do you want to move closer to the stage?” she heard Damien ask her and she quickly shook her head.
“No, this is fine,” her voice came out a little higher than normal. The seats below were mostly empty and there was hardly anyone there.
It made her question how much Damien would have paid to get this gallery. To sit in the normal seating itself cost a lot of money, but the gallery wasn’t something people could afford.
She turned her head around to find Damien talking to one of the women who had previously helped in taking their coats in the area of reception. The woman had brought up a bunch of cut fruits, food for them along with wine and two glasses which now rested along with the binoculars on the table. Next to the table, there was another slab where two quilt-like blankets were placed in which was dark blue in color.
The woman bowed her head and left the room before closing the doors to a click sound leaving both Damien and Penny alone in the room.
“How much does one gallery in here cost?” she asked him in wonderment.
“Depends on the show which is put up here to watch and the timing, and the days. This one was around six hundred gold coins excluding other minor services,” he looked at the food and then back to her.
Six hundred gold coins thought Penny to herself. She hadn’t earned so much herself except for silver coins which were out of the great difficulty of her blood and sweat being spent. It was good to say that one seat here cost as much as an average slave who was bought in the slave market.
“Are you planning to chip in money?” Damien teased her, making her laugh.
“I don’t think I could afford ten percent out of it to chip in, Master Damien,” Penny replied back, an awkward smile forming on her lips. With the options of her working in the council being striked out and also working in the play being striked out again, she wondered if she could herself make any money at all.
“Don’t look so glum. What is mine is yours now. You don’t have to hesitate yourself if you need or want to buy something, mouse,” though somewhere it was soothing to hear it, Penny still wished she could do something. With them being alone and the play which was yet to start as the guests were still being seated in either at the lower level or in the galleries, she decided to put what was running in her mind, “Tell me,” he said after sensing that she wanted to say something.
Penny let go of her hand which she placed on the glass earlier while taking in the view, turning her back to the glass and facing him,
“Do you think it is bad to wish that I want to be equal to you?”
“I don’t think so. We all have ambition and goals. I must say though, I am very flattered to hear that I am the goal point. At the same time, it won’t be easy to be who I am,” came the words out of the narcissist Damien Quinn.
He then said, “I think you are doing much better than I am already. Not everyone takes a leap of faith in what they believe to be true and follow their instincts. Though some don’t turn out good when followed by the gut but it still sticks through what you believe in. You are special, Penelope,” he walked towards her, picking up her hands which were resting on both of her sides, “I think you are more than special and are meant to do great things.”
“You have a lot of faith in me,” a small smile flickered by her lips.
“I do. You are my woman, and I believe you would do everything right. Dummy mouse,” though it wasn’t exactly a compliment, it sounded more of an endearment, “How many white witches can read the books of the vegetable?”
“Alexander.”
“Leave him out. There aren’t others who have been able to crack the code. If it weren’t for you, there would have been so many lives that would have been sacrificed in an instant. Not me, not the council, not anyone but you were the one to pick the scrolls of the blueprint. You are already working hard,” he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hands, “I know your heart goes out for a few things but some things are better to be left alone.”
He was speaking about the theater.
“Maybe we can do an hour’s play,” hearing Penny’s eyes which were cast down suddenly snapped up to look into his eyes.
“Really?” the hope had been bloomed again.
He gave her nod, “An hour or two should not cause any harm but I would decide the time and day. Are you willing to agree to it?”
“Will it be here?”
“Sure,” he answered her back and Penny’s eyes twinkled.
“Will there be people?” she asked him skeptically, her head pulled back to look at him if they were going to have an empty theater.
“We’ll have people. You don’t have to worry about that.” Pulling her hands away from him, Penny put her arms around him, “Thank you!” whispering to him even though there was no one in the room to listen to them.
