The city seemed to hold its breath as the storm deepened, washing the streets in sheets of silver rain. Inside Blackwood Tower, the atmosphere was thick with unease. Damian sat at his desk, fingers drumming nervously on the polished surface. The golden ring glowed faintly, as if alive with anticipation.
Ariella paced near the window, her mind swirling with questions. Who—or what—was this curse really? And how did it tie into Damian's family history?
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Damian's assistant, Lydia, stepped in quietly, holding a small envelope sealed with an ornate wax stamp.
"This arrived just now," Lydia said, her eyes wary. "No return address."
Damian broke the seal and pulled out an aged letter written in elegant, looping script.
> "The heart that seeks love will awaken the darkness. Beware the shadows that hunger beneath the Blackwood name."
A chill ran down Ariella's spine.
"Who sent this?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Damian shook his head. "I don't know. But the curse is more than a legend—it's a battle that has haunted my bloodline for generations."
He stood abruptly, the room seeming to darken with his movement.
"We need to find out who—or what—is behind this," he said grimly. "And fast."
Ariella nodded, determination hardening her gaze. "Whatever it takes."
Outside, the storm's fury showed no sign of abating, and in the depths of the city, shadows began to stir.
The game between love and darkness was only beginning.
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