King of the Abyss: Blood & Light
The Knock
2:17 AM. Evie's fire escape. Rain-misted window.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You stitched up my man Dimitri last week.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I stitch up a lot of people. Who's asking?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
The one whose bullet you didn't report to the police. Clever girl.**
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Smirk😏
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Thinking ...🤔...
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
💭 I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a doctor
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You're Dr. Genevieve Cao. Daughter of Vincent Cao, head of the Serpent Syndicate. My rival.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
That doesn't mean I report to you.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
It means you're useful. Patch me up tonight. Midnight. I'll send the address.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
And if I say no?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
📲[Sent a photo of her apartment building] Lovely view. Be a shame to lose it.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
looks at her phone 📲
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Are you threatening me?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
I'm inviting you. There's a difference.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
What's the difference?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Threats come with fear. Invitations come with choice.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
So I have a choice?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Of course. You can come willingly. Or I can send Dimitri to carry you.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
That's not a choice.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
It's two choices. That's more than most people get from me.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Why me? There are a hundred doctors in this city.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
None of them have your father's blood and your mother's conscience.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
You don't know anything about my mother.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
I know she died saving a stranger. That's the kind of person you are too.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
[Typing...] ...
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Fine. Midnight. Send the address.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
I already did.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
You're impossible.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
And you're in. Welcome to the abyss, Dr. Cao.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
One condition.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You're in no position for conditions.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Then shoot me. Otherwise, listen.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
...Go on.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I don't kill. I fix. You want a torturer? Find someone else.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Noted. You'll only patch up my men. And me.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
And I'm not your prisoner.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You're my guest. With better Wi-Fi.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
That's a prisoner with Wi-Fi.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
See? You're already learning to negotiate. We'll get along fine.
Midnight Patient
[11:58 PM – Evie arrives at the address. A penthouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Blood on the marble floor.]
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I'm here. This place is ridiculous.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You are late 🤨
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
By two minutes.😪
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
In my world, two minutes is a lifetime.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
In my world, patients wait for me. Now where are you?
[Lucian sends a photo: his reflection in a dark window. Shirt off. Bandage already soaked through. Gunshot wound on his left side, just below the ribs. A second graze on his arm.]
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Living room. Don't step on the rug. It's new.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
That's the same rug from your threat photo.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
I have many rugs. Priorities.
[Evie finds him slumped on a leather couch. Blood on his hands. Still smirking.]
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
You're going to bleed out before I even unpack my kit.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Then unpack faster, Doctor.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Lie down. Now.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Bossy.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
It's called competence. Try it sometime.
[She starts working. He watches her with those silver-blue eyes.]
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You're not wearing gloves.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I forgot them in my other hostage situation.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Sarcasm. Cute.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
It's not sarcasm. It's resentment. Now hold still.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Harder, Doctor.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I'm literally pulling a bullet fragment. This is hard.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Men of the Mafia don't cry out so easily.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Men of the Mafia also don't get shot by their own ex-fiancée's men. Or is that just you?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
[His smile freezes] Who told you about Nadia?
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
The bullet. It has her wolf insignia. I'm a doctor, not an idiot.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
[Long pause] ......
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You're more dangerous than I thought.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
And you're more obvious. Now stop talking so I can save your life.
[She finishes stitching. He's quiet for once.]
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Thank you.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Don't thank me. Thank Dimitri. He's the one who gave me your address.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
Dimitri is a traitor.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Dimitri is a gentleman. He also said you'd be difficult. He was right.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I have work tomorrow.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
You work for me now. Tomorrow's schedule is... flexible.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
That's not how employment works.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
It is when I own the hospital.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
You own the hospital?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
I own you. Tonight. Get some sleep. Guest room is down the hall.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
And if I refuse?
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
[Sent a photo: Sasha's apartment building, same angle as Evie's before] Lovely friend you have. Be a shame if someone knocked on her window.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
You wouldn't.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
I wouldn't have to. I'd just send Dimitri. He makes excellent tea. Now sleep, Dr. Cao. Tomorrow, we talk about your new life.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
[Typing...]
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
[Typing...]
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
Fine. But I'm taking the good pillow.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
It's memory foam. I had it imported.
female lead: Dr Evie Cao
I hate you.
Lucian "Lux" Rostov
No, you don't. Goodnight, Light.
Chapter 3: The Giant and the Nurse
[Next morning. Evie wakes up in the penthouse guest room. Her phone is blowing up.]
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
📲
[12 missed calls]
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
GIRL.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
You didn't come home.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
I'm calling the FBI.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
I'm calling the CIA.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
I'm calling the hot mafia king himself if you don't answer.
ad: Dr Evie Cao
I'm alive. Calm down.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
WHERE ARE YOU?
ad: Dr Evie Cao
His penthouse. Long story.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
HIS PENTHOUSE??? Did you sleep with him?
ad: Dr Evie Cao
I stitched a bullet wound. That's not a euphemism.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
It could be.
[A knock on her door. She opens it. Dimitri fills the frame.]
Dimitri Volkov
"Good morning, Dr. Cao. Breakfast is ready."
(via E's text to Sasha later)
ad: Dr Evie Cao
[To Sasha] HE'S HUGE.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
Is that the mafia king?
ad: Dr Evie Cao
No, that's Dimitri. The one with the mother-in-law stabbing.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
The cat guy??
ad: Dr Evie Cao
Yes. He's holding a tray of pancakes. PANCAKES.
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
Marry him.
ad: Dr Evie Cao
He works for Lucian
Sasha Volkov (Dimitri’s sister)
I don't care. pancakes 🥞
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