Page 6 of Surging Reef
Hinges whined, and Ashby’s heart jumped to his throat. Someone was here.
He should’ve moved into a relaxed-looking pose, not sprawled face down on the stone slabs, but now there was notime to move. He was too sluggish to make it quick, so better to remain where he was. Maybe he could surprise whoever was gracing him with a visit. Play dead, then attack when they were close enough.
If it were Naveen, he’d kill him.
He waited.
And waited.
Why wasn’t anyone speaking? By now, Anne would’ve been crooning at him. Belittling him. If she’d sent someone to check on him, they’d be kicking at him.
Then there was a growl in the dark.
Ashby tensed. What the fuck growled like that? It didn’t sound like a person.
“Easy, boy.”
Ashby stiffened only to force his body to relax. He didn’t move, didn’t breathe.
“Wow, this is amazing. Want to go up, see if we can reach the lantern room? I bet you can see to the end of the world from there.”
Was he hallucinating? It was possible, but would he make up a growling monster?
“Come on, bud.”
There was a rustle, but they, whoever was here—real or not—never entered the room he was in. Something close to panic overtook Ashby’s mind as they moved away.
Silence stretched, and he blew out a breath, making sure he was still alive.
Had it all been in his head?
An eternity went by, then something banged above him. He didn’t jump at the sound. It would take energy he didn’t have, but someone was moving around in the lighthouse, and he didn’t think it was Anne. The voice had been male. It didn’t mean it wasn’t one of her guards, of course, but wouldn’t they havechecked on him instead of the lantern room, if it was what they were doing?
He wouldn’t call the feeling growing inside hope, since he wasn’t sure if he was hallucinating or not, but he strained to pick up on any and every sound.
He zoned out. Not intentionally, but when the sounds came closer, he jerked as if he’d woken from a slumber.
They came closer and closer, and then there was another growl.
Chapter 4
Kazimir didn’t know what was up with Pharos. He never growled. Not even when he’d been injured on the side of the road and Kazimir had picked him up had he growled.
“What is it, boy?”
He’d let go of him when they’d reached the bottom floor again, but he was huddling behind Kazimir, growling. His teeth were visible in the dark. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
It was a lovely lighthouse, but there was something off with its energy. He wouldn’t have wanted to live here, and he could picture himself living in almost every lighthouse he entered.
What if it was the ghosts of all those people killed here during the Middle Ages who had come back to haunt it?
“We’re okay, bud.” He spoke in a whisper as he moved his phone around, aiming the flashlight in every possible direction. He shivered. It could be because he was dripping wet and not wearing anything but a wet T-shirt and trunks. He’d put on his shoes before he’d climbed the metal ladder up to the dock area. There was a metal platform, a little rusty from what he could see in the light of his phone and the moon, but magical anyway.
The lantern room had been amazing. He could’ve stood there and looked out over the sea for ages, but Pharos had been restless.
Maybe he was afraid of the dark? Nah, they’d been on nightly excursions before.
He moved through a doorway and took in what looked like an old pantry. Everything inside was in good condition. He’d been to see two hundred fifty-three lighthouses, two hundred fifty-four with this, and apart from those open to tourists, they normally weren’t this well-kept.
