A World Not My Own
The scent of jasmine and aged wine still lingered in the air as Isabella struggled to steady her breath. Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs. The grand ballroom, the opulent gowns, the candlelit chandeliers—all of it was impossibly real. But it couldn't be.
She turned in a daze, taking in the room's splendor. Gilded mirrors lined the walls, reflecting the swirling colors of men and women dressed in 18th-century finery. A string quartet played a soft, elegant melody, and laughter rang in the air.
A nightmare? A dream? Or something else entirely?
"Are you quite all right, my lady?"
The voice was deep, smooth, and unmistakably concerned. Isabella's gaze snapped to the man standing before her. Alessandro De Luca. He was exactly as she had imagined—dark, wavy hair that framed his chiseled features, piercing green eyes that held an intensity she couldn't explain, and an air of nobility that set him apart from the crowd.
She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. How was she supposed to explain this? That she had been in the 21st century just moments ago and had somehow fallen into the past?
Alessandro took a step closer, his brow furrowed. "You look as though you've seen a ghost."
Isabella swallowed hard. "I... I must have had too much wine." It was the only explanation she could think of.
He chuckled, his smile both amused and kind. "That would be quite the feat, considering you have not yet had a single sip."
She stiffened. What was she supposed to do? If she was truly in the 18th century, then her modern mannerisms, her speech, everything about her would stand out.
A sharp voice interrupted her thoughts. "Lady Isabella, what are you doing lingering here? Your dance partner awaits."
She turned toward the source of the voice and saw a woman dressed in a resplendent emerald gown, her expression tight with disapproval. Isabella hesitated. Lady Isabella? Was she inhabiting someone else's body?
Alessandro extended his arm toward her. "May I have this dance?"
Her pulse raced. She had no idea how to dance like an 18th-century noblewoman. But she couldn't refuse him—not without drawing suspicion. Slowly, hesitantly, she placed her hand in his.
As they stepped onto the ballroom floor, Alessandro guided her into a graceful waltz. He moved with effortless precision, his grip steady but gentle. Isabella tried to follow his lead, focusing on each step, each turn, but the reality of her situation made it nearly impossible to concentrate.
"You seem... distracted," Alessandro observed, his eyes searching hers.
She forced a smile. "Perhaps it is simply the grandeur of the evening."
"Or perhaps it is something else entirely," he murmured, his gaze lingering on her. "You are different tonight. I cannot quite place it."
Her breath caught. Did he sense something was amiss?
Before she could respond, a sudden dizziness washed over her again. The room spun, colors blurring into one another. Alessandro's grip tightened around her waist, his voice calling her name—
And then, just as suddenly as she had arrived, she was gone.
Isabella gasped, jolting upright. The dim light of her apartment surrounded her once more. The letter and the locket lay beside her on the desk.
"What the hell was that?" she whispered.
Marco burst through the door, his eyes wide with concern. "Isabella, are you okay? You just collapsed!"
She stared at him, trying to process everything. "Marco... I think I just time-traveled."
His face paled. "You hit your head, didn't you?"
"No! I was there, in the past. In his world. I saw Alessandro, I danced with him. Marco, it wasn't just a dream. It was real."
Marco rubbed his temples. "Okay, let's assume for a second that you're not losing your mind. How is this even possible?"
Isabella looked down at the locket in her hand. Its ruby centerpiece gleamed under the soft light. "I think this locket is the key. And if I can go back once... I can go back again."
Marco groaned. "I knew this was going to get complicated."
She grinned. "Then you better keep up, because I have a feeling this is only the beginning."
Prompts for Next Chapters:
Isabella tries to control the time shifts and uncover the locket's secrets.
Alessandro begins to suspect that she is not who she claims to be.
A hidden danger in both past and present threatens to keep them apart.
The truth behind the locket's magic is revealed, forcing Isabella to make an impossible choice.