Echoes of a Name

Evelyn's breath came in sharp gasps as Lucien pulled her from the ruined ballroom, their hurried steps echoing through the still night. The vision of the mysterious woman burned into her mind, her voice a haunting whisper that refused to fade.

"Find me before they do."

Lucien didn't stop until they reached the edge of the estate grounds, hidden beneath the shadows of towering oaks. He turned to her, his golden eyes intense. "Are you all right?"

Evelyn nodded, but her fingers trembled as she reached up to touch her forehead. "She knew me, Lucien. She wanted me to find her. But I don't even know who she is."

Lucien exhaled sharply. "This isn't the first time someone from your past has appeared in strange ways. Whatever's happening, it's getting stronger."

Evelyn swallowed, her throat dry. "She didn't feel like a threat. It was almost as if…" She hesitated, the truth forming on her lips. "As if she was protecting me."

Lucien's expression darkened. "Then we need to figure out why. And who she was."

A gust of wind rustled the leaves above them, carrying with it a whisper so faint Evelyn wasn't sure if she imagined it. But the name that came with it sent chills down her spine.

"Isadora."

Evelyn shivered. "Did you hear that?"

Lucien nodded. "Isadora… Does that name mean anything to you?"

Evelyn closed her eyes, willing her memories to break free. A flicker of warmth, the feeling of a hand in hers, a soft voice humming a lullaby. And then—

Pain. A sharp, searing pain that made her stagger back.

Lucien caught her before she fell. "Evelyn!"

She clutched his arms, gasping. "I… I don't know. But she was important to me."

Lucien's jaw tightened. "Then we have to find her."

A new urgency filled Evelyn's chest. The past was unraveling, and with it, a truth she wasn't sure she was ready for. But there was no turning back now.

She had to find Isadora—before it was too late.