THE MOONLIGHT CURSE

he previous night.Had it all been a dream?The memory of her encounter with the old woman, Draven’s enigmatic warning, and the inexplicable transformation flooded back, dispelling any notion of it bei

oman caught Lena’s attention. She was strikingly beautiful, with long, flowing hair the color of midnight and eyes as blue as the summer sky. There was a certain air of grace about her, a quiet confidence that drew Lena in.“Who’s that?” Lena whispered to Draven, nodding towards the woman.“That’s Elara,” Draven replied, his voice tinged with a hint of caution. “She’s… well, let’s just say she’s someone you should be cautious around.”Lena frowned, intrigued by Draven’s cryptic words. There was something about Elara that sparked a sense of familiarity, a nagging feeling that she couldn’t quite shake.As if sensing Lena’s gaze, Elara looked up, her eyes meeting Lena’s with a curious intensity. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they studied each other, two strangers connected by an invisible thread.“Should we go say hello?” Lena asked, breaking the spell.Draven hesitated, casting a wary glance towards Elara. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea…”But before he could protest further, Lena was already making her way towards the table, a determined glint in her eyes.“Elara, is it?” Lena said, offering a tentative smile as she approached.Elara’s lips curved into a smile, a glimmer of mischief dancing in her eyes. “That’s right. And you must be the new arrival everyone’s been talking about.”Lena nodded, a sense of curiosity mingling with apprehension. “I’m Lena. This is Draven.”Draven offered a polite nod, his expression guarded.“It’s nice to meet you both,” Elara said, her voice smooth as silk. “I couldn’t help but notice that we share a striking resemblance, Lena. It’s almost uncanny.”“That's actually so true” said Draven as chuckled lightly.Lena’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of their resemblance, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place. There was more to Elara than met the eye, and Lena was determined to uncover the truth.But for now, she would play along, hiding her suspicions behind a polite smile.“It’s… interesting, isn’t it?” Lena replied, careful not to reveal too much.Elara’s smile wid