The VIP dinner at Hell's Kitchen was in full swing, the section buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Evelyn moved through the room, her eyes scanning the tables. She noticed Liam sitting with Lord Whitmore, engaging in what appeared to be casual conversation. Their discreet glance and nod were a silent acknowledgment of their plan.
Lucien, in his guise as Lucienne, was the epitome of charm, moving gracefully among the diners, leaving a trail of captivated guests in his wake. Lyra, with her uncanny ability to adapt her behavior to suit each guest, was efficiently taking orders and entertaining the patrons. Evelyn's task was straightforward: ferry the dishes from the kitchen pass to the tables. Everything was proceeding smoothly, with the entree receiving enthusiastic praise from the diners.
As Evelyn approached a table with the main course, a strange sensation washed over her. The aroma of the ground elf Bolognese hit her like a punch to the gut. Her vision blurred, and a wave of nausea threatened to overwhelm her. She stumbled, clutching the edge of the table for support. Lucien was by her side in an instant, catching her just as she began to faint.
"Evelyn, are you alright?" he asked, his voice a mix of concern and irritation.
"I... I don't know," she whispered, her face pale.
Lucien swiftly guided her to the staff room, making sure she was out of sight. "Stay here and rest," he instructed, his tone firm. "I'll take care of things."
Left alone in the staff room, Evelyn's resolve hardened. She couldn't let this opportunity slip by. She waited until she was sure Victor and Nyssa had stepped out of the kitchen to check on the dining area, then she made her move.
Entering the kitchen, Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest. She frantically searched for proof of Victor's grotesque culinary practices. Her eyes landed on a sight that made her blood run cold: the dismembered head of an elf, its lifeless eyes staring at nothing, positioned next to a meat grinder. The counter was stained with blood, and the macabre sight was enough to turn her stomach.
"Oh my God," she gasped, covering her mouth. The full horror of what she had stumbled upon hit her, and she let out a blood-curdling scream.
She bolted outside, collapsing to her knees as she vomited, the bile burning her throat. As she shakily got to her feet, she sensed a presence behind her. She turned, seeing Lucien standing there, his expression a mixture of disappointment and determination.
"What are you doing, Evelyn?" he asked, his tone deceptively calm.
"I—I know what he's doing!" she stammered, her voice shaking. "He's a monster!"
Lucien sighed, his eyes narrowing. "You weren't supposed to find out like this. Now, I have to deal with you."
Before she could react, Lucien lunged at her. Evelyn fought back, adrenaline surging through her veins. She was well trained in hand-to-hand combat, but he effortlessly dodged her strikes. They grappled fiercely, her strength no match for his supernatural prowess.
"Stay back!" she shouted, throwing whatever she could get her hands on at him.
Lucien caught her wrist mid-swing, twisting it behind her back. She cried out in pain but refused to give up. With a desperate twist, she freed herself and aimed a kick at his midsection. He caught her foot and yanked her off balance, sending her crashing to the ground.
"I'm sorry, Evelyn," he said softly, his eyes glowing with an eerie light. "But you've seen too much."
He pinned her against the wall, using his vampire abilities to begin wiping her memory. Evelyn struggled, her vision blurring, and her thoughts becoming muddled. She felt a strange warmth spreading through her mind, dulling her senses.
"No... please..." she murmured weakly, but it was too late.
Her eyes glazed over, and she slumped into unconsciousness. Lucien caught her, cradling her limp form for a moment before gently laying her on the floor. He stared down at her, conflicted. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Taking a deep breath, he resolved to explain everything to Victor later. For now, he had to get back to the dining room and ensure the night's service continued without further incident.
***
Some hours had passed, and the VIP dinner at Hell's Kitchen concluded without any further complications. The guests left, satisfied and oblivious to the earlier turmoil. The staff gathered in the kitchen, the tension palpable as Lucien began to explain what he had done.
Victor, arms crossed and expression stern, was the first to speak. "Why didn't you just kill her, Lucien? It would've been cleaner."
Lucien met Victor's gaze unflinchingly. "Because she's more useful alive. If she disappeared, it would spark an investigation. We don't need that kind of heat."
Nyssa looked troubled, her brow furrowed. "You wiped all her memories?"
"Yes," Lucien replied. "But I left her personality and skills intact. She's essentially a blank slate with all her knowledge and abilities intact – she can speak, write, work, she just doesn't remember anything about herself. I even left general knowledge about the world intact; my best job, if you ask me." he gloated.
Lyra, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, her tone disapproving. "Isn't that too cruel? She doesn't even know who she is anymore."
Victor sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's harsh, but at least she gets to live. And she's free of her revenge now. She'll never know the pain of losing loved ones again."
Nyssa glanced at Evelyn's unconscious form, her expression softening. "It feels wrong, but I guess we don't have a choice."
Lucien cleared his throat. "You should know the full story. Evelyn wasn't just any employee. She had a personal vendetta against Victor. Her friend Sasha was killed by him—by the Butcher. She infiltrated Hell's Kitchen to get her revenge."
Nyssa's eyes widened in shock. "She was here to kill you, Victor?"
Victor nodded, his expression unreadable. "Or expose me. But now that she doesn't remember any of it, she won't be a threat anymore."
Nyssa still seemed uncomfortable. "But what do we do with her now? How do we explain her sudden memory loss?"
Victor thought for a moment before responding. "We'll have to make up a cover story. Something plausible. We can't just have her wandering around confused."
Lucien nodded. "We need to reacclimate her slowly. We'll say she had an accident, maybe a fall that caused a severe concussion and memory loss. We'll have to guide her, teach her the basics again."
Nyssa shook her head, visibly upset. "This is all too much. I don't know if I can be part of this."
Lyra, however, simply sided with Victor as always. "It's a necessary evil, Nyssa. We have to protect ourselves and the restaurant. Evelyn will be alright in time."
Victor placed a reassuring hand on Nyssa's shoulder. "We'll take care of her. She'll be alright."
Nyssa glanced at Evelyn's unconscious form, her expression softening. "It feels wrong, but I guess we don't have a choice."
Victor looked around at his team, his expression firm. "We'll handle this together. Let's get her to a comfortable place to rest. Tomorrow, we'll start the process of reacclimating her."
The staff agreed, and they carefully moved Evelyn to a quiet room, ensuring she was comfortable. As they prepared to leave her to rest, Victor turned to Lucien.
"You did the right thing, Lucien," he said quietly. "It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do under the circumstances."
Lucien nodded, though his expression remained somber. "I hope so. For her sake, and ours."
With that, the team dispersed, each lost in their thoughts about the events of the night and the uncertain path that lay ahead.