The wind howled through the dense fog that clung to the hills of Blackthorn Hollow. It was the kind of night when the air was thick with magic, the kind that whispered through the trees, shifting with secrets. The ancient manor that loomed on the outskirts of the village seemed to pulse with a life of its own, its windows glowing faintly beneath the stormy sky.
Inside, Ava Ashford stood at the grand window, staring into the shadows. Her eyes, deep and knowing, drifted over the eerie landscape, though she saw something more than the mist. She saw… fate. It had been calling to her for days now, creeping through her dreams like an insistent whisper, urging her to uncover the truth about her family, about the mansion, and—most importantly—about the twin sister she never knew existed.
She felt her heart beat faster, as though a part of her had always known something was missing. She felt it, even if she couldn't explain it. The connection. The bond.
Knock, knock.
The sound was soft, but it startled her from her trance. Ava turned swiftly, her black dress flowing around her like a shadow. The butler, a thin man with an expression of perpetual worry, stood at the door with a silver tray in hand.
"My lady," he said, his voice low and reverent. "The letter you were expecting has arrived."
Ava took the sealed envelope, her fingers brushing against the smooth wax. The scent of lavender drifted up from it, familiar and unsettling. She had received letters like this before—letters that carried a strange weight. But this one... This one felt different.
Without waiting for the butler to retreat, she tore the seal open and scanned the elegant script:
To Miss Ava Ashford,
The truth you seek lies not in the manor but in the forest. Under the moon, by the ancient stone, you will find your sister. Your destiny awaits.
The words burned into her mind as she stood there, the letter trembling in her hands. A sister? But—how? She had no memory of one, not even a fleeting whisper of another soul connected to hers. But this letter... this message had ignited something deep inside her.
Before she could ponder any further, the doorbell rang—long and urgent.
Ava's pulse quickened as she crossed the room, the echo of the bell vibrating in her chest. She opened the door, expecting the butler. Instead, a stranger stood there. A man, tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark, tailored clothing. His stormy grey eyes locked with hers, and for a moment, the world felt as though it had come to a halt.
He looked at her with recognition, as though he had been expecting this moment.
"I know you," he said quietly, his voice rich with a hint of disbelief.
Ava blinked, confused, her thoughts tangled with the strange emotions the stranger's presence stirred.
"You are Ava Ashford, aren't you?" he pressed, his lips curling into an almost unnoticeable smile.
"I am," she answered, though the words felt foreign on her tongue. "And you are?"
The man's eyes flickered, like a flicker of light caught in the storm. "Lord Alexander Ashford." His voice was steady, but there was something raw beneath it, like he was trying to force calm through a crackling fire. "I was expecting you."
Ava stared at him, her mind racing. Expecting me? How could he have known I'd be here?
Before she could ask, his gaze darkened as something flickered in the distance—something ominous. He stepped forward, taking her hand gently.
"Come with me," he said, his voice low. "We need to leave. It's not safe here."
Ava hesitated, but a strange pull in her chest ur.ged her to trust him. Something about him felt… right, even though every instinct in her screamed to turn away.
Just as she was about to speak, the fog outside shifted, as though parting for something ancient and dangerous. Ava glanced up at Lord Alexander, meeting his gaze, and in that moment, she knew. This was no coincidence. This was destiny.