aced with the day's events. The pendant lay cool against her skin, deceptively ordinary

t concern had been quarterly sale

e kitchen doorway. He carried two steaming mugs, offe

ngers brushed during the exchange, and though no visions came this time, the con

own mug cradled between his hands. "The Order tends to att

l sunrise. "Tell me about my grandmother," she said.

e's a Chronologist - one of the few people who can read time itself, see its patterns and flows." He looked up, meeting her eyes. "It

gift... do

found this safe house without me giving you directions." He set his mug down, leaning forward. "But Eva was special,

ing to something in his words. "That's why she d

ing that changed everything we thought we knew about the ninth life." Adrian's expression grew troubl

that looked old despite its crisp edges. "She left t

It bore no writing, but there was a symbol pressed into the wax

e?" she as

. But first, we need to visit someone. Another a

he odd emphasis in his vo

ially not around people like us. Every choice, every decision, creates branches. Most are small, insignificant. But sometimes..." He ope

Some of the handwriting she recognized as her grandmother's, but o

st lives played out the way they did. Why we kept finding each other, only to be torn apart. She beli

. The handwriting there was different - older, but with flourishes s

studying ancient texts. We had almost three years together

s warmth increased, and suddenly she could smell gas lam

as

hing lamplight as she bent over a text. The sound of

th a gasp. Adrian's hands steadied

move quickly." He closed the ledger, tucking it into a worn leather satchel. "Dawn

nding into darkness. Blue light from Marcus's shop ca

... somewhat relative down there. Best

, their fingers intertw

uraging them forward. They descended together, the stairs seeming

, they found themselves in a circular chamber whose walls were covered in mirrors of varying sizes and

breathed. "I've heard about t

f the chamber. There stood a pedestal, and on it,

arest

the memories are returning. But this time must be different. This time, you need to unders

- knowledge comes with a price. Some truths, once learned, can

e's no going back. Everything will change. But if you walk away now, you might still have

ust be yours.

all m

v

left. But remember - what you see is only one possible future.

trange reflections in the countless mirrors. Lily looked

, have we?" she asked. "In our other

Eva never left us a choice before.

touched the pendant with her free

d Marcus's strange watch begin to tick, the

d softly. "Once we look in those mirro

tary glimpses - moments from their past lives, possible futures, p

w she didn't mean it. "Find somewhere to hide,

ian turned to face her fully. "

light, Lily could see every line of Adrian's face - not just as he was now, but as she had known him across

n agreement. "Whatever's in those mirrors, whatever

turies of love and hope

ripple like disturbed water as they approached. The pendant's

down: "Choose wisely, children of

ndant's pulse, they stepped toward the mirror an