The Stalker

The next day, as promised, Evelyn arrived at Hell's Kitchen with her friend in tow. The newcomer was a beautiful, yet aloof-looking woman with fiery red hair and piercing green eyes. She carried herself with an air of confidence, her demeanor calm and collected as she stepped into the restaurant.

"Victor, Lucien, this is Lyra Stone," Evelyn introduced, gesturing to her friend. "She's here for the VIP waitress position."

Victor and Lucien exchanged a glance, intrigued by the newcomer. "Nice to meet you, Lyra," Victor said, extending a hand in greeting.

Lyra nodded politely, her expression unreadable as she shook Victor's hand. "Likewise," she replied evenly.

As Evelyn led Lyra to the VIP section for the interview, Victor and Lucien observed her closely, curious to see what she would bring to the table.

During the interview, it became apparent that Lyra had no prior experience as a waitress. However, she possessed a unique talent that quickly caught Victor and Lucien's attention.

"I may not have formal experience, but I have a skill that helps me adapt my behavior and speech patterns to suit different situations," Lyra explained, her voice confident but measured.

Intrigued, Victor decided to put her skills to the test. "Show us," he challenged, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Without hesitation, Lyra turned her attention to Victor, her demeanor shifting subtly as she mirrored his composed and professional demeanor. "Of course, Chef. I'm here to learn and contribute in any way I can," she replied, her tone respectful and deferential.

Impressed, Victor nodded in approval before turning to Lucien. "And how about with Lucien?" he prompted, a playful glint in his eye.

Lyra's expression softened as she turned to Lucien, her demeanor becoming more relaxed and playful. "Hey there, handsome. Ready to show me the ropes?" she quipped, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Lucien blinked in surprise before breaking into a grin. "I think I'm going to like you, Lyra," he chuckled, charmed by her adaptability.

As the interview came to a close, Victor and Lucien exchanged a glance, silently in agreement. Despite her lack of experience, there was something about Lyra that resonated with them. With her talent for adaptation and her quick wit, she just might be the perfect addition to the Hell's Kitchen team.

"Okay then," Lucien said. Let's test you at tonight's dinner service. Are you up for it?" he asked Lyra.

"More than up for it, darling," she said teasingly.

True to her word, during service Lyra seamlessly adapted her approach to each guest, charming them with friendly banter and impeccable service. She seemed to anticipate their needs before they even voiced them, effortlessly maneuvering through the intricacies of high-end dining.

Victor and Lucien exchanged impressed glances as they overheard snippets of Lyra's conversations with the VIP guests.

"Thank you, Mr. Ainsworth. It was my pleasure to assist you with that wine pairing," Lyra said with a warm smile, her tone professional yet approachable.

Later, she engaged in light-hearted banter with another guest. "Oh, you simply must try the chef's special tonight, Sir Davis; It's to die for," she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious as she recommended the dish.

Throughout the evening, Lyra's charm and adaptability endeared her to the VIP guests, who praised her professionalism and warmth.

As the last of the diners departed, Victor and Lucien approached Lyra, expressions of admiration on their faces.

"Lyra, you were amazing tonight," Victor said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Lucien nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. You handled the VIP section like a pro," he added, a hint of admiration in his tone.

Lyra smiled, grateful for their praise. "Thank you, Chef, Lucien. I'm thrilled to be part of the team," she replied, her confidence shining through.

After the hectic service, Victor pulled Lucien aside and gave him a task. "Lucien, I need you to go to the Mage Guild and do a background check on Lyra," Victor instructed, his tone serious. "Just to be safe."

Lucien nodded, understanding the importance of the task. "Consider it done, Chef," he replied, doing a mocking military salute.

Meanwhile, Victor decided to clear his mind with a hunt. As he walked the dimly lit streets, his senses sharpened, alert for any signs of danger.

Suddenly, he caught sight of an elf pickpocketing a man before disappearing into an alley. Without hesitation, Victor followed, his steps silent as he stalked his prey. In the darkness of the alley, Victor attacked the elf, swiftly dispatching him with a precise strike of his cleaver.

But as he moved to leave, a feeling of unease washed over him. Sensing he was being watched, Victor turned sharply, his gaze scanning the rooftops above.

There, perched on a nearby rooftop, was Lyra, her eyes locked on him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

In a flash, Victor was at her side, his movements blindingly fast. "Wait-" she started, but he knocked her out before she could finish.

Victor looked down at Lyra's unconscious form, then at the elf's body. He knew he couldn't leave any loose ends. Hoisting Lyra over one shoulder and the elf's corpse over the other, he made his way back to Hell's Kitchen.

Back at the restaurant, Victor carefully laid Lyra on a couch in the staff room and stashed the elf's body in the magistone refrigerator. His mind raced with questions and concerns about Lyra, but he pushed them aside for now. First, he needed to deal with the aftermath of his hunt and figure out what to do next.

As he sat in the dimly lit staff room, contemplating his next move, the door creaked open, and Lucien entered, his expression serious. "I've got news about Lyra," he began, walking over to Victor.

"What is it?" Victor asked anxiously.

"She was fired and blacklisted from her position at the Mage Guild." Lucien replied.

Victor's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Lucien took a breath before continuing, a smirk playing on his lips. "She was caught stalking her supervisor."

Victor's face turned ashen. "Stalking?" he repeated, glancing at Lyra's unconscious bidy. "That can't be a coincidence."

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "Hm? What happened there?" he asked, noticing Lyra.

Victor quickly recounted the events of the evening: his hunt, the elf, and Lyra spotting him from the rooftop. "She was watching me," Victor concluded, his voice low and tense.

Lucien's serious demeanor shattered as he burst into laughter, finding the situation far too ironic. "Oh, this is too rich! She gets blacklisted for stalking and then starts stalking you? You can't make this stuff up!"

Victor scowled, not sharing Lucien's amusement. "This isn't funny, Lucien. We need to figure out what to do with her."

Lucien wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "Alright, alright. But you have to admit, it's kind of hilarious."

Victor sighed, rubbing his temples. "What are we going to do? We can't just let her go. She saw too much."

Lucien leaned against the counter, grinning. "We could keep her around, see what she knows. Maybe even use her skills to our advantage."

Victor glanced at Lyra, uncertainty etched on his face. "And if she turns on us?"

Lucien shrugged. "Then we deal with her. But for now, it might be worth keeping her close."

Victor shook his head.

"Alright, let's wake her up."

Lucien's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Finally, some action. I was getting bored."

Victor rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because running a restaurant full of VIPs isn't thrilling enough for you."

Lucien grinned. "Hey, it's not my fault you make it look so easy. Besides, I need some entertainment."

Victor chuckled. "Fine, let's see what our little stalker has to say."