Sneak Peek: The Stone Sea - Pulled Into the Abyss
The only sound came from the water droplets falling from my body.
I could almost sense them as they detached themselves and fell to their fate on the board, only to start their arduous journey sliding back to the lake. Alas, only a select few could hope to make it before evaporating in the heat. Though it was going to start cooling soon. The sun was already sinking towards the west, inching its way behind Mt. Badacsony.
And still, not a whisper, a murmur, or chatter from the reeds. Frankly, I’d have settled for a cackle, at this point.
I kneeled and pulled out my water bottle from the rear basket. My grandmother thinks it’s hilarious how thirsty I can get from swimming. In my defense, swimming involves me moving in water, not swallowing it. That’d be called drowning.
I dangled my feet into the lake and debated drying myself, but that would wet the towel, which I wanted to keep dry for later. I also checked my jar filled with my homemade stonerose sunscreen. There wasn’t enough for my whole body, but once I dried, I’d apply it to my shoulders and face, at least.
Movement in the murky emerald water broke me from the immense quandaries of life. I glanced down and a woman stared back at me.
I froze, only to realize that she turned the way I did. A sigh escaped me. For a second there, I had hoped Nóti finally arrived, but it was only my reflection.
I grinned at the strangeness of my distorted face. My skin appeared to be as green as the water instead of my true freckled complexion still holding a hint of my summer tan. And instead of its usual hue, my curls seemed to be a dark shade of emerald green floating around my head.
Except my hair was tightly braided and dripping wet.
I swore.
Strong clammy fingers wrapped around my ankles. I scrambled for purchase. My hands grabbed whatever was nearest and held on for dear life.
The only issue was that my lifelines felt a lot like the familiar round shape of a jar of DIY sunscreen and a soft, fluffy towel.
I slipped off the board into the lake. Waves closed over my head.
As I sank toward the dark depths, I realized three things:
One, my friend did show up after all.
Two, she was pulling me down into the abyss.
Three, I wasn’t sure I could hold my breath long enough to find out why.
This is the end of the sneak peek from Episode 1 of The Stone Sea.
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Still not sure whether The Stone Sea is your kind of bookish adventure?
Find out more about Zalka, the heroine of The Stone Sea, here: UNLEASH THE MAGIC - MEET ZALKA, A HUNGARIAN WITCH!
Read another excerpt here: FOLLOW THE WHISPER OF REEDS!
Or visit one of the magical locations of The Stone Sea here: A LAKE OF LEGENDS AND LORE
