Vol. 1, Chapter 1 - Swiss Alps

Madeline awoke to the silence of snowfall. Sunlight glinted off the branches of pine trees sagging with snow. The world seemed peaceful and bright. Finally, a moment to myself, she thought.

Tea in hand, she stepped outside to let the bracing cold clear the last fog of sleep. At the foot of the door, half buried in the snow, something caught her eye. A slip of pale lavender parchment, sealed with wax, the initials unfamiliar.

She picked it up. The edges were cold. She hesitated, then broke the seal. The note read only one line: Come find me where the lilies bloom.

The tea went cold in her hands.