Elena woke to the sound of whispering. At first, she thought it was part of a dream, but as she slowly opened her eyes, she realized the voices were real—soft, urgent murmurs drifting through the open window. The air in her room felt colder than usual, and a shiver ran down her spine. She slipped out of bed, her bare feet silent against the floor, and moved cautiously toward the window. Outside, the garden was bathed in pale moonlight, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground. “Elena…” She froze. The whisper wasn’t coming from outside—it was inside her head. “Elena… come to me…” The voice was low and hypnotic, sending a chill through her. It was a voice she recognized, though she wished she didn’t. “Damien,” she whispered, her heart pounding. She glanced around

