The lady they found didn't realize how much she and Iris resembled each other not until she was handed a mirror and saw herself properly for the first time in what felt like lifetimes.
They had given her a name ,Zara maybe it was because of how she held her head high and she did everything elegantly that made the name suitable.They also gave her clothes and she looked more lively.
Her hair was midnight black , thick and long. Iris's was a deep red it was dyed ,a stage each teenager passed,but it looked good on her gave her this fiery look. Their faces were nearly identical. The only difference was in the eyes.
Zara's eyes were a haunting violet. Iris's shifted from bluish to purple depending on the light. But otherwise? They could've been carved from the same soul.
Supper was quiet at first. The air thick with curiosity and the weight of too many unanswered questions. Sean, cautious as ever, sat beside Iris, whose voice hadn't returned to full strength yet .Zara sat across from them, still reserved like someone trying to remember how to be human.
They invited Rohan to join them.
He arrived late, wearing a skeptical expression and holding his phone as if he might need to escape at any second. But the moment he laid eyes on Zara and Iris sitting side by side, his jaw nearly dropped.
"Bloody hell," he muttered. "You weren't joking."
He stared, eyes flicking between them trying to process the uncanny resemblance.
Still, his face twisted with something close to unease. "I'm sorry, but this is… weird. Like, weird weird."
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Sean said, trying to ease the tension.
"I think I have," Rohan muttered, half under his breath. Then louder, "Or at least, something out of legend."
He pulled up a seat, shaking his head slowly. "You two are identical. I mean, not just family-similar. Identical. Except for the hair and… the vibe. She"—he pointed at Zara—"has this royalty thing going on. And you"he pointed at Iris"look like someone who shops and reads tarot on TikTok."
Iris gave a small, tired smile. "Fair."
Rohan leaned forward now, all trace of sarcasm melting. "Look, I wasn't gonna say anything. I thought it was just a story. Something locals pass down. But seeing her. I think I need to tell you what I heard."
"Zara"Iris said .Rohan who was interrupted"What?"
"Her name is Zara,"Sean clarified and Rohan nodded
They then all leaned in slightly to hear what he had to say."There's an old legend in Rajasthan — not the usual ghost story. This one's different. It's about a woman with violet eyes who came from another land. She was beautiful and powerful. Some say she was buried alive others say she vanished into the earth herself. But what they all say is this: she brought with her loss and curses and that she destroyed the kingdom that welcomed her ,and hence the burying alive and in a temple to ward off curses"
Sean blinked. "What? "And then let out a laugh"Unbelievable, really Rohan?"
Iris also shook her head and let out a smile.
Rohan cleared his throat,now offended ."I know how it sounds. But its the truth according to what was passed down the destruction she brought soon ended after she was cut off from the rest of the world."
Zara who was still there looked confused and almost offended for being regarded as a witch.
"By the way according to your Legends or myths does it say anything about a necklace" Sean said with a hint of mockery, almost rolling his eyes.
Rohan raised a brow "What necklace?"
"This assignment was about looking for some sort of necklace,Mr Jones say's its very valuable." Sean said as he took out his phone to show him the sketch of the necklace.
"How valuable are we talking?"Rohan asked
"Hundreds of millions in dollars,"Iris chimed in.
"That means we're going back either tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,"Iris added and Sean sighed.