Elara's breath caught in her throat. The cobblestone streets, the smells of fresh bread and herbs from the market, the distant chatter of people dressed in clothes from another era—it all felt so real, more real than any dream could ever be. She looked down at her hands, seeing no shimmer, no sign of the strange forces that had pulled her into this world. She was here, truly here.
And Alexander was there, standing a few steps away. His eyes were as she remembered—deep and intense, filled with a strange mixture of longing and sorrow. He seemed frozen in place, as if afraid that one wrong move would break whatever magic had brought them together.
"Elara…" His voice was barely a whisper, yet it echoed through her, filling the space between them.
For a moment, they just stood there, staring at each other across the centuries, two souls bound together by forces neither could fully understand. Then, slowly, Alexander took a step toward her. Elara's heart pounded in her chest, her mind spinning with a thousand questions. How was this possible? How had she crossed time again, and why did it feel more permanent than before?
But before she could voice any of those questions, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence. A figure in a dark cloak emerged from the shadows, his presence chilling the air around them. Elara instinctively stepped closer to Alexander, her instincts screaming that this man—whoever he was—meant danger.
"Isolde," the man sneered, his voice cold and sharp. "You shouldn't have come back."
Alexander moved in front of her, shielding her from the man's gaze. "Stay away from her, Seeker."
Seeker. The word sent a shiver down Elara's spine. She had heard that name before—in her grandmother's warnings, in the whispered legends about the curse. The Seeker was the one who kept the curse alive, the one who hunted the Whitmore women across time, ensuring that their love with Alexander could never fully bloom.
Elara's pulse quickened. She had heard of him, but she never imagined she'd face him.
"You can't stop me, Alexander," the Seeker hissed, stepping closer. "The curse binds you both. You cannot be together, no matter how hard you try. Time will pull you apart again, just as it always has."
Alexander's jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Not this time."
Before Elara could react, Alexander grabbed her hand and pulled her into a narrow alleyway, away from the Seeker's sight. Her mind was racing, her body moving on instinct. They weaved through the winding streets, moving deeper into the heart of the old city, away from the bustling market and into quieter, darker corners.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped, ducking into a hidden courtyard surrounded by ivy-covered walls. Elara's chest heaved as she caught her breath, her heart still pounding from both the chase and the proximity to Alexander.
He turned to her, his expression softening as he cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing across her cheek. "Are you all right?"
Elara nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure how she felt. "Who was that? The Seeker?"
Alexander's face darkened. "He's been hunting us for centuries. Every time we get close—every time you and I find each other—he pulls you back into your time. He's the guardian of the curse. As long as he lives, we'll never be free."
Elara swallowed hard. The weight of his words pressed heavily on her. "So, what now? How do we stop him?"
Alexander hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I don't know if we can. The curse is powerful, older than either of us. But…" He looked up at her again, determination flashing in his eyes. "I won't let him take you from me. Not again."
Elara's heart ached at the desperation in his voice. She wanted to promise him the same, to say they would find a way to break the curse together. But how? Time was against them, the Seeker was relentless, and the curse had already torn them apart so many times before. Could they truly fight the inevitable?
But before she could voice her fears, a strange sensation washed over her—a tugging, as if the air around her was shifting once more. She looked down at her hands and saw the familiar shimmer return, the edges of her world beginning to blur.
"No," she whispered, panic rising in her chest. "It's happening again."
Alexander reached for her, his grip tightening around her wrist as if trying to anchor her in place. "Hold on, Elara. Stay with me."
But the pull was too strong. She felt herself being dragged back, slipping through time, the courtyard fading away as the modern world began to seep back in. She tried to fight it, tried to stay with Alexander, but it was no use. The force pulling her back to her time was relentless.
"Elara!" Alexander's voice echoed in her mind, filled with anguish as he disappeared from sight.
And then, just like that, she was back in the present. The dusty attic of her family's estate surrounded her once more, the familiar scent of old wood and forgotten history filling the air.
Her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor, her heart still racing, her mind spinning. She had been so close. She had seen him, touched him. But now she was back in the present, and the distance between them felt more unbearable than ever.
Tears filled her eyes as she whispered his name. "Alexander…"
Suddenly, there was a creak behind her. Elara spun around, her breath catching in her throat as she saw a new letter lying on the floor—one that hadn't been there before.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for it, knowing, somehow, that this letter was different. It was newer, fresher, as though it had just been written.
She tore it open and read the words, her heart pounding with each line.
"I will find you. No matter the cost."
Her breath hitched, and a flicker of hope ignited in her chest. Alexander was trying to reach her—across time, across the curse. And if he could send this letter, maybe there was a way to break free.
But how? And what would it cost?
To be continued….