Echoes Across the Tides: The Tide's Wrath, #4

By Raven Skye

Echoes Across the Tides: The Keeper's Legacy

In a world where the ocean holds ancient secrets and the tides pulse with mysterious power, Harper is thrust into a battle to restore balance to the seas. As the chosen Keeper, Harper must unravel the fragmented Mechanism, a relic that governs the tides' harmony, while confronting the shadowy Order of the Abyss—a group determined to corrupt its power for their own sinister purposes.

Haunted by the mistakes of past Keepers and burdened by the weight of her bond with the tides, Harper's journey takes her to forgotten ruins, storm-wracked seas, and depths teeming with danger. Alongside a loyal but fractured team, she discovers that the Mechanism's restoration comes at an unimaginable cost—a personal sacrifice that will test her courage, loyalty, and resolve.

With the Abyss rising and the Order closing in, Harper must face the ultimate choice: to embrace her destiny as Keeper or risk losing the tides—and the world they sustain—forever.

Echoes Across the Tides: The Keeper's Legacy is a gripping tale of mystery, sacrifice, and resilience, where the power of the sea collides with the strength of the human spirit. Will Harper's bond with the tides save the world, or will it tear her apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven Skye
• Release date: Dec 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798227700353

Book preview

Chapter 1: The Signal from the Deep

The morning air was crisp and salty, the ocean calm after a restless night. Harper stood on the cliffs, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the sun was beginning to rise. Bayside looked peaceful, bathed in the soft light of dawn, but Harper’s mind was anything but calm.

The mysterious email she’d received the night before had left her sleepless. The image of the artifact lingered in her thoughts, its spiral symbol etched in her mind like a brand. She knew that symbol—it was tied to Bayside’s cursed pact, to the Keeper’s legacy, and to the storms that had shaped the town’s history. But what was it doing on a distant shore, and why had someone sent it to her?

Behind her, the faint sound of footsteps drew her attention. Harper turned to see Tommy approaching, his expression as serious as hers.

You called early, Tommy said, his voice low but laced with concern. What’s going on?

Harper handed him her phone, the email already open. This, she said simply.

Tommy read the message, his brow furrowing as he studied the image. The spiral, he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. This is... exactly like the one in the archives. But where did it come from?

That’s the problem, Harper replied. "The email didn’t say. Whoever sent this wanted me to see it, but they didn’t give me much to go on. Just this image and a cryptic line: ‘The tide rises. Look beyond the shore.’"

Tommy stared at the photo for a long moment before glancing up at Harper. Do you think it’s real?

I do, Harper said, her tone firm. And if it is, then this changes everything. This symbol—it’s not just tied to Bayside. There’s something bigger going on here, and I think this artifact is part of it.

Tommy sighed, running a hand through his hair. You’re saying the curse, the pact, all of it—it wasn’t just about Bayside?

Harper nodded. "That’s what it looks like. The question is, how far does this go? And why now? Why is this showing up now?"

Before Tommy could respond, the sound of a boat engine cut through the air. They turned to see a fishing boat pulling into the harbor, its small crew busy unloading crates of freshly caught fish. Harper’s eyes narrowed as she noticed one of the fishermen glancing nervously toward the cliffs where they stood.

Did you see that? Harper asked.

Tommy followed her gaze. Yeah. He looks... uneasy.

Without another word, the two of them made their way down to the harbor. As they approached the docks, the fisherman noticed them and froze, his eyes darting toward the crate he was unloading.

Morning, Harper said, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. Busy day?

The fisherman nodded quickly, avoiding her gaze. Yeah. Got an early start.

Harper glanced at the crate he was handling and noticed something odd—a faint glimmer of metal peeking out from beneath the pile of fish. Her heart skipped a beat.

What’s that? she asked, gesturing toward the crate.

The fisherman’s face paled. Just... just something I found out there, he stammered. Didn’t seem important.

Harper stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. Mind if I take a look?

The fisherman hesitated, but Harper’s determined expression left little room for argument. Reluctantly, he stepped aside, and Harper reached into the crate, pushing the fish aside to reveal a small, rusted device.

It looked like an old navigational tool, its surface etched with strange symbols similar to the ones on the artifact in the email. Harper felt a chill run down her spine as she lifted the device, its weight solid and unnervingly familiar in her hands.

This isn’t just something you found, Harper said, her voice steady but firm. Where did you get this?

The fisherman shifted uncomfortably. A couple miles out, he admitted. I was pulling in the nets, and it got caught. Figured it was junk, but...

But you knew it wasn’t, Harper finished for him.

Tommy leaned in to inspect the device. This has the same markings as the artifact in the email, he said. Harper, this can’t be a coincidence.

It’s not, Harper said, her mind racing. This... this is connected. I don’t know how, but it is. And I think we need to find out where it came from.

The fisherman looked between them nervously. You’re not gonna take it, are you?

Harper met his gaze. We need it, she said simply. Whatever this is, it’s important. And if there’s more of it out there, we have to find it.

The fisherman hesitated but finally nodded, stepping back as Harper carefully wrapped the device in a cloth and tucked it into her bag.

As they walked away from the docks, Tommy glanced at her. What’s the plan?

Harper’s jaw tightened. We start digging. Whoever sent that email knows something, and this artifact— she gestured to her bag —is proof that Bayside isn’t the only place tied to the Keeper’s legacy. If we’re going to get answers, we have to go beyond the town.

Tommy nodded, his expression resolute. Whatever this is, we’ll face it together.

Harper smiled faintly, though her mind was already racing with possibilities. The tides were shifting, and for the first time, she realized just how far their reach might go.

Chapter 2: Secrets Beyond the Shore

The ancient device sat on Harper’s desk, its rusted edges glinting faintly in the soft light of her lamp. Harper leaned over it, her notebook open to a fresh page, jotting down observations about its strange markings. The symbols etched into the metal seemed similar to those she had seen in the Keeper’s journals back in Bayside’s archives, but they were more intricate, more purposeful.

Tommy sat across from her, his arms crossed as he studied the device. Do you think this is from the same group that created the pact? he asked.

Harper nodded slowly. It has to be. The spiral, the waves—it’s all the same. But this is different. It looks like it was made for something specific, like a tool or... a part of something larger.

Tommy frowned. A tool for what? The pact was about control, wasn’t it? Binding the sea to Bayside. What if this is connected to that?

Harper tapped her pen against the notebook, deep in thought. Maybe. But if this is part of the same network, it means the pact wasn’t just about Bayside. It’s bigger than we thought.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw another email from the same untraceable sender. This time, the subject line read: The answers lie where the waves meet the ruins.

Harper opened the email quickly, her pulse racing. The body of the message was just as cryptic as before:

You’ve seen the signs. Follow them to find the truth. The first key was uncovered, but the next waits beyond the shore. The ruins will show the way.

Attached was an image of a map, the lines faded and smudged, but still legible. It depicted a coastline that Harper didn’t recognize, marked with strange symbols and a red circle labeled The Ruins.

She turned the phone toward Tommy. Look at this. Another message. They’re pointing us to some ruins... but this isn’t anywhere near Bayside.

Tommy studied the map, his brow furrowing. This looks like it’s miles away. Near the city. Do you think this is legit, or are they trying to lead us into a trap?

Harper hesitated, but her curiosity won out. If it’s a trap, it’s a very specific one. Whoever this is knows about the spiral, about the pact. They’re not just guessing. They want us to follow the trail.

Tommy leaned back in his chair, his expression serious. Then we follow it. But we’re not walking into this blind.

A few hours later, Harper and Tommy were on the road, heading toward the city where the map indicated the ruins lay. The familiar cliffs and shores of Bayside gave way to urban sprawl and industrial ports, a stark contrast to the quiet isolation of their hometown.

This feels... strange, Tommy admitted as he drove. Like we’re leaving Bayside behind, but the whole thing is still following us.

Harper glanced out the window, her mind racing. The pact might have started in Bayside, but it didn’t end there. If there’s a wider network tied to this, it means we’re part of something much bigger.

They arrived at the location marked on the map just as the sun began to set. The ruins were located on the outskirts of an abandoned industrial complex, surrounded by overgrown grass and rusting fences. The air felt heavy, charged with a strange energy that made Harper’s skin prickle.

This place gives me the creeps, Tommy muttered as they approached the crumbling stone structure.

The ruins were ancient, far older than the surrounding industrial buildings. Weathered carvings adorned the remaining walls, their patterns eerily similar to the symbols on the artifact and the device they had found.

Harper ran her fingers over one of the carvings, her breath catching. It’s the same spiral, she said. The same waves. This place is connected to the pact.

Tommy looked around, his jaw tightening. So whoever sent that email wasn’t lying. But why bring us here?

As if in answer, Harper noticed a faint glimmer on the ground near one of the walls. She knelt down and unearthed a small, metallic object buried in the dirt. It was another piece of the strange device they had found in Bayside, its markings identical.

This is it, Harper said, holding up the object. Another piece of the puzzle.

Before Tommy could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the ruins. They froze, exchanging a tense glance.

Who’s there? Tommy called, his voice firm but cautious.

A shadowy figure emerged from behind one of the walls, their features obscured by the fading light. You’ve found the second key, the figure said, their voice calm but commanding. Good. But you’re far from finished.

Harper stood, her heart racing. Who are you? Are you the one who sent the emails?

The figure stepped closer, revealing themselves to be a man in his fifties with sharp features and piercing eyes. I sent the messages, he confirmed. But I’m not your enemy. I’m here to help you understand what you’ve uncovered.

Tommy stepped forward protectively. Why should we trust you?

The man smiled faintly. Because, like you, I’m a Keeper. Or rather, I was—long ago, before the pact fractured and spread.

Harper’s breath caught. You’re saying the Keeper’s legacy isn’t just in Bayside?

The man nodded. The pact wasn’t confined to one town. It was part of something much larger, something far older than any of us. Bayside was only one point on a map of many. And if you’re here, it means you’re ready to learn the truth.

Tommy narrowed his eyes. What truth?

The man gestured to the device in Harper’s hand. The truth about the spiral. About the pact. And about what’s coming next.

Chapter 3: The Stranger from the City

The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the crumbling walls of the ruins as the man stared at Harper and Tommy, his piercing eyes unnervingly steady. He was tall, his presence commanding despite the weathered edges of his voice and features. A strange mix of authority and mystery hung about him, making it impossible for Harper to look away.

You’re a Keeper? Harper asked cautiously, still clutching the piece of the device she had just unearthed.

I was, the man replied. Before the tides shifted and the network fractured. My name is Elias Marlowe, and if you’ve made it this far, you’re in deeper waters than you realize.

Tommy crossed his arms, his skepticism clear. You’re going to have to do better than cryptic warnings. What’s this ‘network’? And why does it involve Bayside?

Elias sighed, stepping closer and glancing briefly at the piece in Harper’s hand. The network was created centuries ago, long before your town ever existed. It was meant to guide and protect the balance between the land and the sea—a collective of Keepers spread across the globe, each responsible for their region. Bayside’s pact was just one thread in the web. But somewhere along the line, greed corrupted the system. The pact wasn’t supposed to enslave your town. It was twisted into a tool for control.

Harper’s breath hitched. So the pact wasn’t meant to curse Bayside?

No, Elias said, his voice grim. The original pact was designed to maintain harmony, not power. What happened in Bayside was an aberration, a manipulation by those who sought to exploit the sea’s forces for their own gain.

Harper exchanged a glance with Tommy, her mind racing. Why tell us this now? Why not come forward sooner?

Elias’ expression darkened. Because it wasn’t time. Bayside’s curse was self-contained, and as much as I wanted to intervene, the rest of the network had bigger problems. But now, the balance has been disrupted on a much larger scale. That artifact you uncovered on the shore? It’s part of something far more dangerous. And it’s waking up.

The weight of Elias’ words lingered as Harper and Tommy followed him to a small campsite he had set up just beyond the ruins. A portable stove flickered faintly, casting eerie shadows across the dark landscape. Elias poured coffee into tin cups and handed them to Harper and Tommy, his movements deliberate and calm.

You’ll need this, he said, sitting down across from them. The road ahead isn’t going to be easy.

Tommy took a cautious sip, his gaze never leaving Elias. Why don’t you start with what you really want from us?

Elias smirked faintly, his weathered face softening. You’re sharp, I’ll give you that. What I want is simple: I need your help. You’ve already started uncovering the truth, and whether you like it or not, you’re part of this now. The device Harper found in Bayside, and the one you found here, are keys to something called the Abyssal Mechanism.

Harper frowned. The Abyssal Mechanism? What is that?

Elias leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. It’s an ancient device, built to amplify the connection between the Keepers and the tides. It was meant to maintain balance on a global scale. But if reassembled by the wrong hands, it could become a weapon capable of controlling not just the sea, but entire coastlines.

Tommy set down his cup, his jaw tightening. And you think someone’s trying to put it back together?

Elias nodded gravely. I don’t just think—they are. That artifact you saw in the email, the ones you’ve found, they’re pieces of the Mechanism. Someone out there is gathering them, and if they succeed, the consequences will be catastrophic.

Harper’s mind raced. The email, the map, the spiral symbol—all of it was falling into place. But why us? Why send us the email and not someone more... experienced?

Elias gave her a long, searching look. Because you’re connected to Bayside, and Bayside is where it started to unravel. You have access to knowledge and resources the rest of us don’t. And... he hesitated, glancing at Tommy, because you’re the current Keeper.

Tommy stiffened. I didn’t ask for this. I barely survived Bayside’s curse—I’m not exactly eager to dive into a global conspiracy.

Elias’ gaze didn’t waver. You didn’t ask for it, but it doesn’t matter. The sea chose you, and whether you accept it or not, you’re already tied to this. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? The pull, the whispers in the waves. The tides are calling, Keeper. If you don’t act, someone else will—and you might not like their intentions.

The camp fell silent, the distant crash of waves the only sound. Harper could see the conflict in Tommy’s eyes, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm. We’ve faced worse, she said softly. We can do this.

Tommy exhaled slowly, nodding. Fine. Where do we start?

The following morning, Elias led them deeper into the ruins, pointing out markings on the walls that Harper had missed the night before. The