The new morning began with a faint mist draping over the city of Eldrias. Elizabeth sat by her bedroom window, watching the fog, her mind haunted by the events of the previous night. The mysterious man, Seraphim, appeared in her dreams again. His deep, dark eyes held a pain and mystery she couldn't fully understand.
"Why do I feel so bound to him… when we've just met?" she murmured to herself.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Lucas appeared:
"Meet me at the old café… we need to talk."
Elizabeth's heart raced. She felt torn between the pull she felt toward Seraphim and the warmth Lucas had always given her since childhood.
She put on her coat and stepped outside. The cold bit at her skin, but her mind was ablaze with thoughts and questions.
At the old café, Lucas was already waiting. His face was etched with concern, yet a familiar smile lingered.
"Last night… I dreamed of Seraphim again," she began.
Lucas lowered his head, a small tear sliding down his cheek.
"I know… I'm afraid he might take your heart from me. I don't want to lose you again."
Elizabeth fell silent. She could feel the depth of Lucas's love for her, yet in her heart, questions about the blood oath and the lurking mysteries remained.
It seemed that every choice she made now would bind her even closer to a destiny she could never escape.