Lina couldn't move.
She just stood there, staring at Adrian, her heart beating so fast it hurt. The wind moved softly around them, and the sound of the river filled the silence between them, but everything felt unreal.
A girl who died 170 years ago… and she looks like me?
"This is not possible," Lina said finally, her voice shaking. "You're lying. This is some kind of joke."
Adrian didn't smile. He didn't move. He just looked at her with serious eyes.
"I wish I was lying," he said quietly.
Lina stepped back. "No. Vampires don't exist. Werewolves don't exist. Girls don't come back from the dead looking like someone else. This is crazy."
"I know how it sounds," Adrian said. "I didn't believe it either… the first time I saw you."
"The first time?" Lina repeated. "You mean at school?"
Adrian shook his head slowly. "No. I saw you before that."
Lina felt a cold feeling in her stomach. "When?"
"The night you arrived in Moonridge," he said. "You were standing in front of your house, looking at the forest. You looked exactly like her. Same face. Same eyes. Same expression."
Lina didn't know what to say.
"Who was she?" Lina asked after a moment. "The girl from 170 years ago."
Adrian looked at the river again, like he was seeing something from the past.
"Her name was Elena," he said softly.
Lina felt a strange feeling when she heard that name. Like a memory she didn't remember.
"She lived in this town a long time ago," Adrian continued. "Back then, Moonridge was a small village. Very quiet. Very… human."
"And you?" Lina asked. "You were already a vampire?"
Adrian nodded. "Yes. Lucas and I… we were turned in 1862."
Lina tried to understand. "You mean you're more than 170 years old?"
"Yes."
Lina laughed a little, but it was a nervous laugh. "Okay. Sure. Why not? Vampires, werewolves, 170 years… maybe tomorrow you'll tell me ghosts are real too."
Adrian didn't laugh.
"They are," he said.
Lina stopped laughing.
"I'm joking," Adrian said after a few seconds, and for the first time, he smiled a little.
Lina looked at him. "This is not funny."
"I know," he said. "But if I don't laugh sometimes, I remember too much."
"Remember what?" Lina asked quietly.
Adrian looked at her again. "Elena."
They sat near the bridge, and Adrian started telling the story.
"Lucas and I met Elena in the summer of 1862," he said. "She was new in town. Beautiful, kind, brave… and very curious. She asked a lot of questions. Just like you."
Lina listened carefully, not saying anything.
"We tried to stay away from her," Adrian continued. "It was safer for her. But Lucas… Lucas never listens. He talked to her first. And after that… everything changed."
"What do you mean?" Lina asked.
Adrian sighed. "We both fell in love with her."
Lina felt her chest tighten a little when she heard that.
"But Elena didn't know what we were," Adrian said. "She just thought we were two strange brothers."
"Brothers?" Lina asked.
"It was easier to say that," Adrian replied.
"What happened to her?" Lina asked.
Adrian was silent for a long moment.
"She died," he said finally.
"How?" Lina asked softly.
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Because of us."
The wind blew stronger, and Lina felt cold again.
"There were werewolves in the forest even back then," Adrian said. "One night, Elena followed Lucas into the forest. She wanted to know his secret. She saw him… feeding."
Lina remembered the blood on Adrian's lips and felt sick.
"She was scared," Adrian continued. "But she didn't run. She said she still loved him. She said she wanted to help him."
Lina whispered, "She loved Lucas…"
Adrian nodded slowly. "Yes. But she loved me too."
Lina looked at him, surprised.
"She couldn't choose," Adrian said. "And that destroyed everything."
"What happened the night she died?" Lina asked.
Adrian closed his eyes for a moment, like the memory hurt.
"There was a fight," he said. "Vampires and werewolves. Elena was there. She tried to stop it. She tried to protect us."He paused."But a werewolf attacked her."
Lina covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh my God…"
"I killed the werewolf," Adrian said. "But it was too late. She was dying."
Lina felt tears in her eyes, even if she didn't know why.
"She looked at me," Adrian continued softly. "And she said, 'In another life… maybe we can be happy.' And then she died."
The world felt very quiet.
"And now you're here," Adrian said, looking at Lina. "Same face. Same eyes. Same voice. Lina… you are her reincarnation. I'm sure of it."
"No," Lina said immediately. "No, I'm not. I'm not some dead girl from the past. I'm me. I'm Lina."
"Maybe," Adrian said. "But Lucas… when he sees you, he doesn't see Lina."
"What do you mean?" Lina asked.
"He sees Elena," Adrian replied. "And Lucas never forgot her. Never."
Lina felt fear again. "You said I'm in danger because of Lucas."
Adrian nodded. "Lucas loved Elena more than anything. When she died… he changed. He became more dangerous. More violent. If he believes that you are Elena…"
"He will never let me go," Lina finished.
"Yes," Adrian said.
Lina stood up and started walking, trying to think.
"This is too much," she said. "This is crazy. I came to this town for a new life, and now you're telling me I'm a dead girl from the 19th century and two vampires are in love with me?"
"When you say it like that, it sounds bad," Adrian said.
"It sounds bad?" Lina repeated. "It is bad!"
Adrian stood up too. "Lina, listen to me. I'm trying to protect you."
"From Lucas? Or from you?" Lina asked.
Adrian looked hurt by that question.
"I would never hurt you," he said quietly.
"You drink blood," Lina said.
Adrian didn't reply.
"You're a monster," Lina continued, but her voice was not strong anymore.
Adrian looked at her for a long moment, then said:
"Yes. I am. And that's why you should stay away from me."
Lina felt something strange in her chest when he said that.
"Then why did you save me?" she asked.
Adrian looked at her and said softly:
"Because I already lost you once. I'm not going to lose you again."
Lina didn't know what to say.
Suddenly, they heard a voice behind them.
"That's a beautiful story, Adrian. Very romantic."
They turned around.
Lucas was standing there, leaning against a tree, smiling.
"How long were you there?" Adrian asked coldly.
"Long enough," Lucas said. Then he looked at Lina. "So… he told you about Elena."
Lina didn't move.
Lucas walked slowly toward her. "Do you know what I think?" he said.
Lina's heart was beating fast again. "What?"
Lucas stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes.
"I think fate brought you back to me," he said softly.
Adrian moved He quickly placed himself between them. "Stay away from her."
Lucas smiled. "You can't protect her forever."
Lucas looked at Lina again and said:
"You may call yourself Lina… but I know who you really are."
Lina felt fear. "I'm not Elena."
Lucas leaned closer and whispered:
"We'll see."