Page 177 of Hidden Depths

At first glance...

It looked empty.

Just worn brown leather.

Then Ivy enlarged the image.

A faint impression appeared.

Not ink.

Indented writing.

Something that had been written on a sheet of paper resting above the page.

The words had left pressure marks.

Hazel whispered,

"Can anyone read it?"

Ben accepted the camera.

He adjusted the brightness.

Then the contrast.

The faint grooves became clearer.

Not perfect.

But enough.

Ward leaned closer.

"What does it say?"

Ben read slowly.

"'Meet...'"

He paused.

"'...old friend...'"

Another line appeared.

"'...Sea Maiden...'"

Storm's pulse quickened.

There was one final line.

Almost impossible to make out.

Ben tilted the screen toward the light.

His eyes narrowed.