Timeless Hearts

Chapter 3: The Journey Begins

The morning broke with a muted glow, the pale winter sun casting long shadows across Ravenshire Manor. Emma stood by her window, the chill seeping through the glass as she watched the flurry of activity in the courtyard below. Horses were saddled, supplies loaded into carriages, and servants scurried about, their breaths visible in the frosty air.

She hadn’t slept much, her mind too restless with the weight of Alexander’s revelations and the uncertain journey ahead. Yet despite the exhaustion, a spark of anticipation burned within her. This wasn’t just about returning to her own time anymore—this was about uncovering the mysteries of the Timepiece, of Alexander, and perhaps even of herself.

A knock at her door startled her.

"Miss Cole," a maid called softly. "The Duke awaits you in the hall."

Emma thanked her and quickly donned the riding cloak the staff had provided, its dark green fabric lined with fur. It was heavier than anything she was used to, but it was necessary for the biting cold outside. She tied her hair back and hurried downstairs, where Alexander was waiting with his usual air of quiet authority.

"Ready?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over her with a mix of assessment and something she couldn’t quite name.

"As I’ll ever be," she replied, her chin lifting in defiance of her nerves.

Alexander’s lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile before he gestured for her to follow. They stepped outside, the cold air biting at Emma’s cheeks. A sleek black carriage awaited them, its ornate design a testament to the Duke’s wealth.

As they climbed inside, Emma couldn’t help but notice the tension in Alexander’s posture. He sat across from her, his expression unreadable as the carriage jolted into motion.

"Where exactly are we going?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"To see an old ally," Alexander replied, his tone clipped. "He may be eccentric, but his knowledge of the Timepiece surpasses my own. If anyone can help us, it’s him."

"And this ally of yours—can we trust him?"

Alexander’s jaw tightened. "We don’t have much of a choice."

The vague response did little to ease Emma’s concerns, but she decided not to press further. Instead, she turned her attention to the countryside passing by, its rolling hills blanketed in snow. The quiet beauty of it all felt like a world apart from the chaos of her own time.

Tell me something," she said after a while, breaking the silence. "If the Timepiece is so dangerous, why keep it hidden away instead of destroying it?"

Alexander’s gaze shifted to her, his dark eyes sharp. "Destroying it isn’t as simple as you might think. The Timepiece isn’t just a relic—it’s tied to the very fabric of time itself. To destroy it would risk unraveling everything."

Emma frowned. "Everything? Like... reality?"

He nodded. "Precisely. It’s why those who seek it must be stopped. Their ambition blinds them to the consequences of their actions."

"Sounds like you’ve had personal experience with that," she murmured, recalling his earlier story.

Alexander’s expression darkened, but he didn’t respond.

The hours stretched on, the steady rhythm of the carriage wheels lulling Emma into a state of drowsy contemplation. Just as she began to nod off, the carriage came to an abrupt halt, jerking her awake.

"What’s happening?" she asked, sitting up.

Alexander peered out the window, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of the sword at his side.

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice low but firm.

Emma bristled. "Like hell I will. If there’s trouble, I want to know what we’re dealing with."

Before Alexander could argue, Emma had already opened the carriage door and stepped outside.

The scene before her sent a chill down her spine. A group of men, their faces obscured by scarves, stood in the middle of the road. They were armed, their crude weapons gleaming in the pale sunlight.

"Highwaymen," Alexander muttered, his hand tightening on his sword.

One of the men stepped forward, his voice rough. "Hand over your valuables, and no one gets hurt."

Alexander stepped in front of Emma, his posture radiating calm authority. "You’re making a mistake," he said evenly.

The man sneered. "The only mistake here is thinking you can talk your way out of this."

Emma’s heart pounded as the tension thickened. She glanced at Alexander, who remained unfazed, his hand steady on his weapon.

"Stay behind me," he murmured to her.

But before the situation could escalate further, a sudden c***k of thunder echoed through the air, though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The highwaymen froze, their expressions turning to confusion and then fear as a strange, shimmering light appeared behind the carriage.

Emma’s breath caught. The light was familiar—too familiar.

"The Timepiece," she whispered.

Alexander’s head whipped around. "What are you talking about?"

But before Emma could explain, the light intensified, its glow enveloping them both. In the next instant, the world tilted, and Emma felt herself falling—through time, through space, through something she couldn’t comprehend.

When she finally opened her eyes, the snowy landscape was gone. They were somewhere else entirely, and the look on Alexander’s face told her one thing: they were no longer in 1825.