The Enigma of Eros

heavy oak door for nearly ten minutes before finally pushing it open, her heart pounding in a rhythm that felt both alien and familiar. She hadn't

mories to rear their heads and claw at

rs curled unnaturally, as though frozen mid-motion. Isabelle's breath hitched as she stepped forwar

smirk permanently etched into his features. His lips, once so full of vitality, were tinged blue. A

Bell

tall man in a black coat standing in the doorway. He had a lean, athletic bu

tepping into the room with careful p

ment. She cleared her throat. "Yes. The gallery

is tone skeptical. "Assess?

ven considered the possibility of foul play. Julian's life

but her voice

s tone softening slightly. "But since you are

tightened. "I

since you've b

the weight of three years pressed heavily against her

dy. "Yet he sent you this." He held up a folded piece of parchme

sked, her voice bar

eaction. Isabelle unfolded the note, her breath catching as

dows. Only you can bri

direct summons, pulling her back into Julian's orbit d

?" she asked, forcing

drian replied. "Delivered t

Julian's final work stood shrouded in shadow. She stepped past A

lamy, I'm

she interrupted, h

ure-male, chiseled, and bound in chains of gold that shimmered even in the dim light. The expression on his f

murmured, the title slipp

Adrian asked, steppi

ng the canvas. "Julian had been working on this pie

caught her attention. Carved into the wood was a symbol-a

sked, running her fin

n't know yet. Does it

her stomach. The symbol felt familiar, li

well, and he reached out to you on the day of his death. That's not a

mmediately softened. "I mean, I don't know w

ut if you think of anything, you need to tell me. For now, I'll ne

tions. Why had Julian reached out to her? What was the meaning of his cryptic no

lear: Julian had died with secrets, and