[Evelyne's POV]
After getting yelled at by Mr. Saint-James, we find ourselves inside a diner called The Gilded Raven, which is located in a hidden sub-basement in Soho, accessible only through a narrow alleyway behind an 18th-century clockmaker's shop.
The exterior is just a simple, unmarked black door with a small brass raven knocker. You have to know the password to go in, but Corbin, being Corbin, just snapped his fingers to make the lock turn.
The interior walls are lined with dark teal velvet and polished mahogany. The lighting is low, provided by flickering gas lamps and a neon sign behind the bar that reads: "Eat as if it's your last." There's a mix of 1920s jazz playing in the background, which is a total shocker—given the overall vibe of this joint, I deadass assumed there'd be some punk rock band trashing the place.
Most of the customers are urban bikers wearing matte-black, armored tech-wear and heavy-duty, scuffed "biker-chic" leather jackets with the sleeves hacked off to show tribal tattoos. Their faces are permanently hidden behind full-face, tinted visors and carbon-fiber helmets, making them a faceless, intimidating swarm. Can they even see what's goin' on around 'em with those helmets? They also wear heavy, steel-toed combat boots and tactical gloves with reinforced knuckles, lookin' like they're ready for a riot as much as a ride—your typical biker gang.
There are drug addicts gettin' high, snorting and smoking in the far corner. They're wearing three mismatched, grimy coats over oversized, moth-eaten hoodies. They got those sunken, hollowed-out eyes and gray, papery skin. Honestly, I feel for 'em; it's a rough sight.
There are gambling addicts claiming the center spot, playing poker. They look like they haven't had a good night's sleep since the Queen's Jubilee. They wear faded flat caps, stained tweed blazers with frayed cuffs, and charcoal-colored slacks that are about three sizes too big.
Lastly, there are these guys lookin' like they stepped straight out of a Wattpad Mafia boss trope. They wear heavy charcoal wool overcoats draped over midnight-blue pinstripe suits, paired with massive gold signet rings on their pinky fingers that act as makeshift brass knuckles. Their skin is weathered, with "war-wound" scars hidden under perfectly groomed, slicked-back hair. They have those piercing, cold stares that tell you exactly how many people they've sent to the bottom of the Thames without ever gettin' a drop of blood on their silk ties.
Me and Corbin are sitting in the farthest corner of the room, which I requested because I don't want to get anywhere near these guys—I feel like just breathing makes me a threat to 'em. I think me and Corbin are the only ones out of place here. I scoot closer to him while he's busy inhaling the food he ordered. He didn't even bother to ask if I wanted anything! He basically ordered the full course: Roasted Bone Marrow & Blackberry Compote, a Midnight Wellington, Truffle-Drenched Triple-Cooked Chips, a Black Diamond cocktail, and a "Glass Heart" Tart. Basically, from appetizer down to dessert. This guy is unbelievable—completely ridiculous for a celestial being.
"Are you quite certain we're even allowed in here?" I whispered frantically to Corbin, keeping my eyes on the customers while some occasionally stole angry glances at us. "They look as though they're about to lunge at us with one wrong move!" "Love, they are only curious about you since this is their first time seeing a fresh face—and a woman at that," Corbin comforts me while he's still busy stuffing his face.
"You keep bringing me to such odd places! Are you a former criminal or what-have-you?" I asked, still whispering. He just chuckled and shook his head as if what I said was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.
"A Herald with a criminal offense. That would be hilarious—a cracking joke for the Boss! I'll mention that to him when I see him. I'm sure he'll have a good laugh!" He said while laughing with his mouth full. Disgusting! I glared at him. "Can you not talk while your mouth is full, you muppet?" I yelled. He apologized while laughing and gulped the food down before speaking again.
"Well, it's been years since I came to Earth to live among them. My soul clients are often regulars at the places we visit, so I became a regular as well," he said, genuinely smiling and sighing in satisfaction. It seems like he actually had a good time helping these people. I guess he's alright, despite being arrogant and annoying. "What happened to your soul clients now?" I asked, getting curious.
"Once they've fulfilled their mission—the things they failed to accomplish in their previous lives, or perhaps their punishment if they took their own life, as in your case—they fully inhabit their new body as if they've lived there since birth. They completely forget everything about their past lives, retaining only the memories of their new life. Their own minds create false memories to fill the gaps from before they inhabited the body," Corbin explains, taking a small bite of his dessert.
Hmm... typical reincarnation process, I guess. "What about you? Will they still remember you?" I asked.
"No. They won't. It's as if we never met—those are the rules the Boss made. After the assignment, we must return to the underworld until we're assigned a new soul. We must not speak to them if we ever encounter them on Earth," he explains with a hint of sadness.
I guess working as a Herald is a lonely gig. So, that means I'll eventually forget him too... We've only known each other a few days, but he provides a lot of comfort. I feel safe with him, maybe because he knows the whole situation so I don't feel alone navigating this mess. I smiled, my eyes getting a bit watery while I watched him finish his dessert.
As if he sensed I was staring, he looked up and faced me. "Oh! I'm awfully sorry. I thought you didn't wish to eat!" He apologizes, thinking I wanted his dessert. I just chuckled and shook my head. He just looks at me, totally confused.
Then I saw an old woman holding a glass of Obsidian Martini approaching our table. She was wearing a high-collared obsidian velvet and vintage lace outfit with a bob of mercury-silver hair and gray eyes. She exuded an ageless elegance that smelled of dried lilies and expensive gin.
She stopped in front of us and put the glass down in front of me. "For you, darling. This is on the house," she said, smiling. She speaks with a low, resonant rasp. I smiled back and looked at the glass, hesitating on whether to drink it. Corbin noticed me being unsure. "Oh, right! This is Madame Raven, the owner of this lovely diner!" Corbin introduced her.
I was surprised and quickly apologized. "Terribly sorry, Madame Raven! I'm just not used to these scenes," I said, smiling sheepishly and feeling embarrassed that I'd been suspicious.
"No worries, sweetie! That's completely normal. But don't you fret, you're perfectly safe here. These regulars—if I'm to be transparent—yes, they have criminal offenses in their past, but they've completely repented for their sins. I founded this diner specifically for them, since out there they are still seen as criminals, but here we see them as regular civilians," she explains cheerfully.
I nodded, looking at the regulars in a new light. I see them laughing with each other, clearly having a good time. Those who were stealing glances are actually smiling; some even raised their drinks to welcome me.
"Very well said! And also, if you still don't feel safe..." Corbin trails off and stands up, gesturing for me to do the same.
I just looked at him, confused, and stood up hesitatingly. He grabbed his glass and a spoon, hitting the glass twice to get everyone's attention. "Everyone! May I have a moment, please?" he shouted cheerfully. I stared at him with wide eyes—what is this idiot doing?! Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to us. "I want you all to meet my beautiful friend, Daisy Miller!" He introduced me as Daisy Miller?! Has he lost his mind?!
"Corbin! What the bloody hell?! Everyone knows I'm Evelyne Vane!" I whispered to him frantically.
"Well, not everyone, princess. These regulars don't give a toss about celebrities, so you're safe," he whispered back. That was a massive relief.
Everyone started cheering all of a sudden, chanting my name. Someone even shouted to ask if I was single. "And I know you all good-looking gentlemen here find her attractive, but don't hold out hope—she's actually a lesbian. And she's happily taken," Corbin said, smiling like a proud father. What is he even saying?!
I heard an "aww" ripple through the crowd, everyone looking disappointed but still happy for me. "So, cheers to the lesbians!" Corbin yelled, raising his glass. The crowd followed suit and raised their glasses too. I sighed deeply, facepalmed at how ridiculous this was, and sat back down, feeling defeated.
Corbin sat down chuckling. "Now, they won't bother you anymore," he teased, giving me a wink before taking a sip of his wine. I just rolled my eyes and took a sip of my martini.
"Oh darling, I didn't know you were into ladies! I thought you and Corbin were dating, as this is his first time bringing a woman here," Madame Raven said with a hint of curiosity. I gave Corbin a death glare and turned back to her.
"I'm actually straight—" Corbin cut me off. This absolute clown! "Come on! I would never date the likes of her. I see her as my sister," Corbin said with a smirk.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. As if I'd date this idiot! And how many times do I have to tell him I'm not gay?
"You should date Vanessa, then. I still haven't seen her bringing a man here," Madame Raven teased Corbin. Vanessa?
I raised my eyebrows and looked at Corbin. He just shook his head and chuckled, looking amused. "I'm not your daughter's type. And besides, I'm not allowed to meet her again. I already mentioned the Boss's rules, didn't I?" he said, smiling at her. Boss rules? So, her daughter was a soul client too?! How come Madame Raven is so cool about this?
And she called him 'Corbin,' not 'Alistair'! So that means... "You already knew that he's a Herald?!" I whispered, loud enough for her to hear. She nodded, smiling.
"Yes, dear. I've known him a long time. He's been taking care of my Vanessa and my family for years. In return, he gets a free meal here—his companion included," she explains, looking like she's reminiscing about the first time they met. Corbin smiles back at her.
"You seem remarkably calm about all of this," I said.
"Not in the beginning. I was quite scared at first, love, just like you. But I've been alive long enough to understand that there are still things we have not yet discovered about our world," she said, full of wisdom. I smiled, relieved that besides Corbin, there was another person who knew my situation. It gave me a bit of motivation to keep going.
Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
The cuckoo clock chimed. It's midnight. Madame Raven excused herself to prepare for closing, but she let us stay for a bit. The regulars started to filter out.
"Right then. Now that it's just the two of us, we can focus on our plan for the scandal," Corbin said, going full manager-mode.
"Before handling the scandal, we need to know what happened between Evelyne and Serena—the full story, not just the tabloid rubbish," I suggested. But Corbin clearly hated the idea.
"No. That's the worst idea I've ever heard," he mocked. I just rolled my eyes. "That would take ages, and before you know it, Mr. Saint-James will be tearing up your contract!" he added.
"Then I'll beg Lucian to give us more time?" I tried. I mean, he's Evelyne's boyfriend, right?
"Evelyne might be dating Lucian, but you're forgetting he's also the founder. He can't let his agency have a bad reputation just because he wants to protect his girl!" he emphasized.
Huh. Touché. "So... what do you suggest?" I asked.
"Well, based on the data, filmmakers are doing a lot of romantic movies about same-sex couples lately. I watched a 'Boys Love' film the other day and it was fantastic—rather hot, too!" he said excitedly, reminiscing about the movie. I have no idea why, and I'm definitely not interested in finding out...
I just gave him a deadpan look while he kept talking. "So, it's about these hockey players, and they start off as rivals but become lovers. They're both incredibly fit! Blimey, I can't get over THE SCENE," he said, looking dazed and blushing. I didn't know he was into guys like that. I had to stop him before he got into the details.
"Then, they're inside the locker room, both starkers—" I cut him off. "Okay, that's enough! We are completely off-topic!" I said, sounding annoyed. He looked disappointed. "So, you're saying I should hold a press conference to announce an upcoming 'Girls Love' movie?" I asked.
"Exactly! You tell the press you two were just rehearsing a scene. Oh, and don't forget to mention this to Serena," he agreed excitedly. Don't tell me he actually ships me with Serena...
"So, I'm basically just lying?!" I asked.
"No, you're not. I'll make it happen. I'll pull some strings, so don't you worry," he assured me with a wink. My eyes widened. This can't be happening. I've never assisted in directing a movie about same-sex couples, let alone acted in one. And acting with Serena Windsor, who hates my guts? This is gonna be a total disaster!
"But what if Serena is against the plan?! She looked completely disgusted when Evelyne kissed her," I asked, worried.
"Then don't tell her about the movie yet. Just tell her you'll hold a press conference to publicly apologize and acknowledge your mistakes," he said calmly, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
I sighed, feeling anxious. "I don't know about this. We need a backup plan." "Oh, come off it. Relax! Just trust me. This is a very 'Evelyne Vane' thing to do!" he said, patting my shoulder. "And besides, we haven't time for a backup plan. The clock is ticking. We don't want to anger Mr. Saint-James again; he actually reminds me of the Chairman," he said, acting scared. I just shook my head and agreed.
I hope he's right.
I got back to the penthouse solo while Corbin headed off to see his Boss. As I walked in, I noticed a pair of black Pointed-Toe Chelsea Boots near the entrance. Were those there before? I just ignored it—I was exhausted, but I still needed to find out about Evelyne Vane before talking to Serena. Better to be prepared so I don't have to make some lame-ass excuse again and upset her more.
I went into Evelyne's room, searching through the cabinets and the vanity. I didn't see much that interested me—just a few sex toys, makeup, and nail polish. I checked her closet: nothing but clothes.
I plopped down on the bed and felt something hard hit my head. I felt around and grabbed it. I couldn't believe it—it's Evelyne Vane's phone! Jackpot! It's been here the whole time?! I sat up and tried to open it.
It's got a password... Of course it does. I sighed and dropped it on the bed. There's gotta be something else! Wait, I haven't checked under the bed. I stood up and crouched down, waving my hand around underneath until I hit something solid. I pulled it out. It was a worn-out, dusty brown kraft paper box with a lid. Bingo!
I sat on the floor and opened the box, going through the contents. I saw pictures of Evelyne and Serena back in the day, looking happy. There was even a friendship bracelet with Evelyne's name on it. So they've known each other for a long time? They were best friends.
There were three thick black leather notebooks. I assumed these were Evelyne's journals. I picked one up and opened it. Her clean handwriting was right there—it looked almost exactly like my own. That's weird...
It was dated summer 2015. I guess she's been journaling for a decade. I skimmed through it; she mostly talked about her life in the convent, high school, and her dreams of being an actress. She wanted to be independent the second she turned 18. I didn't expect her to be an orphan. It seems she doesn't know who her real parents are... just like me. I guess we got more in common than I thought.
So, she was raised in a convent. Then how did she turn into such a troublemaker? Maybe if I visit the place, I can find out more. I skimmed further until I saw the name: The Convent of St. Jude. I should definitely pay a visit there after the press conference.
I picked up another journal, dated spring 2018. She was 19 and just left the convent. She talked about moving to London for acting and being a trainee at Prism Entertainment, where she met Serena. She described her as her "ride or die" friend.
Reading through the parts about Serena, it sounded like she actually had feelings for her. Hmm... interesting. I closed that one and grabbed the last journal, dated fall 2025. The recent one.
She's 27 now. She talked about her success and being grateful, but also vented about her fallout with Serena ever since she started dating Lucian Monroe. I noticed a phrase underlined in black pen: 'She will never understand.' Understand what? As I'm trying to figure it out, I suddenly hear a door close outside.
I looked at the doorway, heart pounding. What the hell?! Did someone just break in? Panicking, I dropped the notebook and stood up, slowly walking out of the room. It's dark. I quietly crept to the kitchen to grab a weapon—a rolling pin randomly laying on the table. This'll have to do.
I walked toward where I heard the noise. "W-who's there?!" I yelled. I flicked on the nearest light switch. I saw a red-haired woman about my height in a bathrobe looking shocked. I can recognize that red hair anywhere...
"Serena?!" Before I could finish, I find myself doing a cartwheel through the air. My back and head hit the marble floor hard. Groaning in pain, I clutched my head. Did she just judo-throw me?! Did she work as a cop before she was an actress? How does she know these moves?
"Evelyne?! When did you get home, then?!" Serena asked, looking surprised as she crouched down. I was about to answer when I noticed a vase on top of the bookcase wobbling—it looked like it was about to fall right on her. I think the impact of my body hitting the floor shook the shelf. I suddenly lunged at Serena to move her out of the way.
I caught her by surprise and landed right on top of her. The vase shattered, but nobody got hurt. I'm breathing heavy, looking at Serena. She's breathing hard too, looking shocked. I just realized our faces are so close I can feel her breath. She's bare-faced—I didn't know she looked so innocent without makeup. Her natural beauty is undeniable. We just stared at each other, and neither of us moved. I looked into her hazel eyes and felt my heart racing. I just hope she can't hear it.
Now I understand why Evelyne fell for her...