The forgotten

paying him a visit

As she hurried down the street after Damon, Elowen's mind raced. She didn't know where they were going, or what Damon had in mind, but she trusted him. He had been right about Lorien, and she knew that he was her only hope.

Damon led her to his motorcycle, which was parked a few blocks away in a dimly lit side street. He revved the engine, the sound echoing in the night.

"Get on," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "We're going to pay Lorien a visit."

Elowen hesitated for a moment, then climbed onto the back of the motorcycle, wrapping her arms around Damon's waist. A strange wave of unease washed over her. Going back to Lorien's mansion felt...wrong. For a week, a lifetime ago, she'd been trapped there, a guest in name only. She knew the layout of the place, the chill in certain corridors, the oppressive silence of the library.

She held on tight as he sped off into the darkness.

They rode for what seemed like hours, eventually arriving at a secluded mansion on the outskirts of town. The house was surrounded by high walls and security cameras, a clear indication of the kind of power and influence that Lorien wielded.

Damon pulled up to the gate and killed the engine. "This is where Lorien lives," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "We need to find a way inside."

Elowen looked at the imposing mansion, her heart pounding in her chest. "Are you crazy?" she said. "We can't just break into his house! We'll get arrested!"

Damon smirked. "We're not going to break in," he said

"We're going to sneak in. I know a few tricks that might come in handy."

He dismounted the motorcycle and pulled a small lock-picking kit out of his pocket. "I used to be a locksmith before I got mixed up with Lorien," he explained. "I can get us through that gate in a matter of minutes."

Elowen watched in amazement as Damon expertly picked the lock on the gate. In a matter of minutes, they were inside the grounds of Lorien's mansion, hidden in the shadows of the trees. The familiarity of the grounds sent a shiver down her spine. She remembered the oppressive silence of the gardens, the way the moonlight seemed to magnify the shadows.

"Okay," Damon whispered, "now we need to find some evidence that links Lorien to the drugs at the restaurant. Something that will prove Mrs. Marta's innocence."

Elowen nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "I know where his office is," she said, remembering her brief stay in the mansion. "It's on the west wing, near the library."

They crept through the manicured gardens, staying close to the shadows. Elowen led the way, navigating the familiar paths with a mixture of dread and determination. The mansion loomed before them, its windows glowing with warm light, masking the darkness within. She knew that Lorien was probably inside, surrounded by his cronies, celebrating his victory over Mrs. Marta.

They hugged the walls of the house, carefully making their way to a side entrance that Elowen remembered from her time there. Damon pulled out his lock-picking kit again and went to work on the door.

"This might take a while," he said, his brow furrowed in concentration. "This lock is more sophisticated than the one on the gate."

Elowen stood watch, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. She knew that Lorien had security cameras all over the property, and she had a feeling they were being watched. The thought made her skin crawl.

After what seemed like an eternity, Damon finally managed to pick the lock. "We're in," he whispered, pushing the door open a crack.

They slipped inside, finding themselves in a dimly lit service hallway. The sounds of the party were muffled here, but Elowen could still hear the faint strains of music and laughter. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and cigar smoke.

"Okay," Damon whispered. "We need to split up. You search the office. It's on the west wing, like you said. I'll check the security room. It should be near the main entrance. If we can find the security footage from the restaurant, that might be enough to prove Lorien's involvement."

Elowen nodded, her mouth dry with fear. "Be careful," she whispered. "And if you see Lorien, don't confront him. Just get out of there. He'll recognize me." The memory of his cold, calculating eyes sent a shiver down her spine.

Damon gave her a reassuring smile. "You too," he said. "And remember, we're doing this for Mrs. Marta."

With that, they split up, each heading in a different direction, deeper into the heart of Lorien's mansion. Elowen navigated the maze-like hallways with a sense of grim familiarity. She remembered the route to Lorien's office, the way the floorboards creaked in certain spots, the portraits of stern-faced ancestors that lined the walls.

As she approached the office, she could hear voices coming from inside. Her heart pounded in her chest. Was Lorien in there? She pressed her ear against the door, trying to make out what they were saying.

"...everything is going according to plan," a voice said, a voice that Elowen recognized as belonging to one of Lorien's henchmen. " "Marta's Kitchen is finished. The old woman will be out of business in no time."

"Good," another voice responded, a deep, gravelly voice that Elowen immediately recognized as Lorien's. "That restaurant has been a thorn in my side for too long. Now I can finally buy the property and build my casino."

Elowen's blood ran cold. She had known that Lorien was trying to ruin Mrs. Marta, but she hadn't realized that he had a specific motive. He wanted her land!

"What about the girl?" the henchman asked. "Elowen. She seems to be getting suspicious. She might cause trouble."

Lorien chuckled. "Don't worry about her," he said. "She's just a naive little girl. She doesn't know anything about the real world. Besides, I have plans for her. She's more useful to me alive than dead."

Elowen felt a shiver run down her spine. What did Lorien mean by that? What plans did he have for her?

She knew that she couldn't stay there any longer. She had heard enough. She had to get out of there and warn Mrs. Marta.

But as she turned to leave, she accidentally bumped into a nearby table, knocking over a small vase. The vase crashed to the floor, shattering into a million pieces.

The voices inside the office went silent.

"What was that?" Lorien said, his voice sharp and suspicious.

Elowen froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that she had been discovered. There was no escape.

The door to the office swung open, and Lorien stepped out, his eyes narrowed, his face a mask of fury.

"Elowen," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"

Elowen stood frozen, her mind racing, trying to think of a way to escape. "I... I was just looking for the restroom," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I got lost."

Lorien raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "The restroom is on the other side of the house," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "What are you really doing here, Elowen?"

Before Elowen could answer, Damon suddenly appeared behind Lorien, grabbing him in a chokehold.

"Run, Elowen!" Damon yelled, his voice strained. "Get out of here!"

Elowen didn't hesitate. She turned and fled, running as fast as she could down the hallway. She could hear the sounds of a struggle behind her, the grunts and shouts of Damon and Lorien.

She didn't dare look back. She knew that if she got caught, she would be in serious trouble.

As she ran, she tried to remember the way back to the side entrance. But her mind was racing, and she was disoriented. She took a wrong turn and found herself in a different part of the house, a part she didn't recognize.

She wandered through the unfamiliar hallways, her heart pounding in her chest, until she came to a large, ornate room. The room was filled with paintings and sculptures, and the air was thick with the scent of old books and dust.

She realized that she was in the library.

She knew that she should keep running, but she couldn't resist the urge to take a look around. She had always loved books, and she was fascinated by the idea of exploring Lorien's personal library.

She started to browse the shelves, her fingers trailing along the spines of the books. She saw titles on history, philosophy, and art. But then, she noticed something strange.

Hidden behind a row of books, she saw a small, wooden box.

Curiosity piqued, she reached for the box and pulled

it out. It was intricately carved with strange symbols, and it felt heavy in her hands.

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should open it. It was probably something personal, something that Lorien wouldn't want anyone to see. But she couldn't resist the temptation.

She carefully lifted the lid of the box. Inside, she found a stack of old photographs and a small, leather-bound journal.

She picked up one of the photographs. It was a picture of Lorien, but he was much younger, almost unrecognizable. He was standing next to a group of men, all of them wearing military uniforms. In the background, she could see a bombed-out building and a landscape of devastation.

She picked up another photograph. This one showed Lorien standing next to a pile of gold bars. He was smiling, his eyes gleaming with greed.

She picked up the journal and started to read. The journal was written in Lorien's handwriting, and it contained a detailed account of his criminal activities. He wrote about his involvement in drug trafficking, extortion, and even murder. He bragged about how he had manipulated and exploited people for his own gain.

As Elowen read, she felt a surge of anger and disgust. She couldn't believe that she had ever been fooled by this man. He was a monster!

She knew that she had to get this evidence to the police. This was the proof she needed to clear Mrs. Marta's name and bring Lorien to justice.

But as she was about to close the box, she heard a sound behind her. She turned around and saw Lorien standing in the doorway, his face contorted with rage.

"So," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "You found my little secret. I was wondering how long it would take."

Elowen stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that she was in serious trouble.

Lorien took a step closer, his eyes fixed on the box in her hands. "Give me that box, Elowen,"