One evening, Julian found Sabrina tending to the ancient willows behind her house. The moonlight bathed her in an ethereal glow, and he couldn't help but notice the sadness in her eyes.
"The Whitfield journal," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "You've read it."
Julian nodded, his gaze searching hers. "It's a tragic story. What happened to Lyra? And the curse... is it real?"
Sabrina turned away, her face hidden in the shadows. "Some stories are best left untold, Julian. The past can be a dangerous place."
"But why? What are you trying to protect?" Julian pressed, his curiosity overriding his caution.
Sabrina turned back, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and warning. "I'm trying to protect you. You don't understand the forces at play in this town. The Whitfields... their legacy is more than just history. It's a living presence."