Dark Tides

e: Shadows

er arms wrapped around herself against the chill. The wind tugged at her loose sweater, carrying with it the briny scent of the ocean. Her easel

een her sanctuary, a place where the noise of the world couldn't reach her. Bu

unassuming, tucked away from prying eyes, and it had been her safe haven for the past two years.

way of clinging t

lues and grays. If she could just capture a fraction of its vastness, maybe the painting would come alive. P

he sound of

ide was remote-she rarely encountered anyone out here. She turned s

arp features were partially obscured by the shadow of th

tle you," he said, his

tincts telling her to be cauti

of his mouth twitching as if amus

to the edge of her neighbor's estate. She'd seen the sprawling mans

said quickly. "

pted, waving a hand dismissively

. She glanced at the easel behind h

he were trying to unravel her secrets. "I'm Dam

hough Anya couldn't place it. Hesitantly, she t

a Mi

esting the name. "You live in th

she lived? She nodded again, her words caugh

h as I do," he said, his gaze drifting to the ocean.

dressed, his coat tailored and his shoes too polished for the rugged

ing?" he asked, ges

her cheeks flushing. "I'm s

the puzzle instead of the painting. "Sometimes the

ser to home than she cared to admit

hen." He turned, but after a few steps, he paused. "Be ca

ff the sea. Even after he disappeared, the tension in her shoulders remained. Ther

-

She had returned to her cottage and busied herself with cleaning, hoping the r

her old laptop whirring to life as she typed his

and philanthropist. The articles were endless, detailing his ri

ression was the same-calm, composed, and unreadable. There was a c

ly closed the laptop. Her heart raced as she ap

" came a fam

s Sarah Caldwell, the local café owner

overs," Sarah said, holding up a b

ing aside to let her in. "T

on the counter. "You've got to eat,

basket, she glanced around the room. "

e. "What

le say he's planning to restore the old mans

, her thoug

ming; others say he's dangerous." She leaned closer, her voice lowering. "I'd keep my

ds sinking in. She thanked her friend and saw

lights of the Blackwood mansion. For the first time in ye

uldn't shake the feeling that her