The Rising Tide Novels & Stories

Rising. Always.

The fresh sea breeze brushed against Serena’s face, carrying the scent of salt that seemed to wash away the lingering weight of Jakarta’s pollution and the bitter memories that had long suffocated her. Aboard a luxurious yacht cutting through the deep blue waters of Labuan Bajo, Serena Zea finally felt truly alive. The vessel glided smoothly, leaving a trail of white foam behind it—just like Serena, who had left the ruins of her past far beyond the horizon.

Trying to rush, and race into the incoming tide. I was riding it as it curled, I was under it smoothly surfing my way under the grand arch of the immense water. I was racing it to the end of the wave. But nature was not on my side that day, I was seconds to late to hit the perfect end when I was quickly sucked into the tide. Another wave had came rolling in from above me. It hit me hard, it drowned me deep under the surface.

The city skyline shimmered under the weight of an impending storm. The tension that had built up between Alexander and Richard was now tangible, the proverbial calm before the full-fledged war. As the evening wore on, Alexander’s penthouse, usually a sanctuary from the outside world, felt increasingly claustrophobic. Every ticking second seemed to amplify the stakes, the threat of everything unraveling just a moment away.

My heart was racing as I mentally prepared myself to face the group—and Neil. The elevator ride down felt like an eternity. I tapped my fingers against the railings, trying to steady my nerves. I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. Beneath the sundress, the blue bikini felt like a glaring secret, and I couldn’t shake the thought that Yvonne could have done this on purpose. She probably wanted to see how far she could push me. When the elevator doors opened, I was greeted by the warm scent of the ocean and the murmur of voices from the lobby. I spotted Austin leaning against a pillar, his easy smile lighting up his face as he waved me over.

“Hey, where are you stumbling off to?” “Jack is taking us out for lunch, so I am off to get some shoes” I told him as I slowly carried on walking. I looked up the stairs and swallowed the lump in my throat. I needed to stop been a wimp and do this. I lifted my left leg and placed it on the first step. “See easy” I told myself as I lifted my right leg and put it on the next step “just keep going till you reach the top, slow and steady wins the race” I kept telling myself as I slowly made my way up the stairs. I finally made it to the top and looked down to see Jack. “I made it” I smiled down at him.

A shiver ran down her spine as her mother finally replied. “There is a bad moon rising,” she murmured, her gaze then turning to the skies. “Bad moon rising,” her mother repeated, her brown eyes looking like they were a thousand miles away. Specks of snow settled against Lucinda’s olive skin as she gazed at the sky and repeated the words that didn’t make any sense to Mara. Growing more worried by the second, Mara approached her mother, hoping to snap her out of her trance. “Mother,” she repeated tentatively, reaching out a hand. When her fingers came into contact with her mother’s shoulder, Lucinda finally snapped her attention to Mara.

Chapter: 59. ***** That morning came like every other, nothing specific, just two friends getting ready for work, Tide was sitting in the kitchen bar, staring at both men get dressed while he causally munched down on his breakfast. Easton is the man after his heart and belly, he would say. Once both men were done turning the house upside down, finally set, they stood before Tide as if awaiting his praise to boost their confidence. "You both look beyond great!" He muttered as he threw the last of his breakfast into his mouth. "I'm going back into the pool." He whispered, a little sad.

I could feel energy waves hitting my body and creating resistance as I made my way to Ida. What in the Faiths was she doing? Gideon and Jordan met us halfway, doubling back as they kept up with me. “Are we under attack?” I shouted to my friend over the loud hum of magic. “I don’t know. Everything was fine until a minor explosion and light burst through the woods. This constant pulse of energy keeps hitting us, and gravity has increased, making it hard for us to move. I don’t know what it is.” “Ida….”

I looked up. Over the distant Ferris wheel—its half‑submerged cars still turning in slow, miserable arcs—new words were burning themselves into the low, misty sky. Not HUD‑clean like the bus announcements; these letters dripped, trailing phosphorescent streaks down through the fog as if they’d been written with neon ink. THE TIDE RISES WITH REGRET. THE MORE YOU LINGER, THE DEEPER YOU SINK. “Cool,” Jax muttered. “Love a metaphor that’s also just… literal murder.”