Page 7

I observe the way his eyes rove over my face, down my body, to my feet wrapped in leather boots that are not mine. Briefly, I glance past him. The waves are creeping in and out, reaching for our ankles like the tendrils of a sea monster testing its reach.

He notices the way my shoulders tense as a wave sloshes onto the shore and pools near our feet. Without comment, he gestures for us to walk further along the shoreline, away from the pull of the surf. I fall into step beside him, quickening my pace, unable to shake the dread sliding along my spine.

This place is beautiful; cliffside, sea, and sky are stitched together in what I would say is an eerily haunting tapestry. Though its beauty might appear merely as a mask, a placeholder for something sinister that lies beneath. There might be a reason why I landed on these shores. It’s a feeling I can’t shake. Even my own body feels out of place now that I’m up and walking.

“This is Dr. Kieran Lazarus,” Daisy whispers in my ear, breath tickling my skin.

Jolted by the unpleasant feeling, I swat at the space she occupies, but when I turn to find her, she’s already bounding toward the water, skipping through sea foam that curls onto the shore.

“Marisa,” I say, returning my attention to the man before me. Mirroring Arik’s gesture, I extend my hand. Dr. Lazarus takes it firmly, his grip cold and steady. “And no, I do not remember anything about how I arrived here. As far as I can tell, I don’t remember most of my life.” The words spill from my mouth more snarky than I intend.

Our gazes hold. A swirl of emotion churns inside me, none of it settled enough to name. Relief. Fear. Gratitude. Again the strange simmering anger. My instincts whisper to proceed with caution unfortunately, circumstances remind me I have no choice but to surrender. I’m stranded here and I need to figure out who tried to kill me before I can get anywhere.

Dr. Lazarus is the one who breaks eye contact first, looking past my shoulder into the dark. The night is so thick I feel I can slice it open and still find nothing but thick darkness behind it.

“I’m just glad to see you’re awake and standing. Not many people can make it out of those waves, especially during a storm,” he says, his voice strained.

“I have to thank you for saving me, but how long have I been…here?” I tilt my chin toward the looming house on the cliffs.

“You had an accident,” he replies, rubbing a hand over his face.

The simple gesture makes him look like sleep has not touched him in a long time.

“What kind of accident?” I ask, careful to keep desperation out of my voice. Maybe he’ll know what Daisy doesn’t.

You nearly lost your life, you can be a little desperate.

We pause beneath a tree that curves above us, its branches woven into a natural archway. Behind us, the sea groans, insistent and taunting.

I plant my feet firmly in the sand and face him, waiting for his answer.

“I’m not sure,” he admits, gaze tilting toward the sky. “You’ve been unconscious for days. We found only your head wound. It’s possible you fell from the cliffs as they are not kind to the careless.” He points to jagged cliffs on the opposite shore from the house.

Careless? I nearly scoff, but refrain.

“We’re in Devil’s Bay, right?” What I really want to know is if Devil’s Bay is a place where people come to dump their demons.

“Yes. The one and only. Be careful while you are here. The terrain is unforgiving, and there are always creatures of the night eager for a meal.” He chuckles.

“It’s kind of you to let me stay here, but I don’t want to impose. You could take me to the nearest hospital. I’m sure I can figure things out from there.” I attempt a small smile, but it feels fake.

“There is no hospital here.” The words leave him too quickly, almost practiced. “I mean—there is not much in the way of reliable care. I have my own doctor here, and this house is safer than any hospital here could be.”

I look away, chewing on the piece of information. What was safe? I didn’t have a baseline to gauge true safety.

“I’m sure you are experiencing some form of memory loss,” he continues. “It may take days, weeks, perhaps longer. For now, you are safe here.”

In my periphery, Daisy spins in the sand, kicking stones into the water. She isn’t fearful of the waves. I for one, didn’t want to be near the sea.

When I meet Dr. Lazarus’s eyes again, there is a small crease between his brow, his focus intense, assessing me, for what, I can’t tell. Could he have seen who tried to kill me?

“I can’t just stay here for free,” I say, squaring my shoulders. “I would be taking advantage of your kindness.”

He moves closer, his hand half lifting as if to take mine, then stopping mid gesture. He drags his fingers through his hair instead, dark strands falling over his forehead. “It would not be honorable to ask a woman in distress to work while she recovers.” His tone is cold, yet it warms the space between us.

My head starts to ache, a pain that settles in the middle of my forehead, and my stomach twists with hunger, the grumble masked by the night’s noises. I allow my arms to relax and rest over my abdomen. “We can revisit it in a few days. I don’t like the feeling of not earning my way,” I insist.

Daisy rejoins us, touching my shoulder as she passes. “I’m going to leave you here,” she says, lightly. “Try not to fall into the sea again.” Before I can say anything she is climbing up the stairs until the dark swallows her whole.