• Chapter One

    All Hallows Eve, a time of celebration and remembrance. Sarah Ann Ripley sighed as she restocked the shelves to her bookstore/cafe. She blew a strand of dirty-blonde hair from pale blue eyes. I need help... the tourists will be swarming in from everywhere. For the past five years, she ran the Pandora’s Box bookstore and cafe. It was fall of course; the leaves had turned shades of gold and red and the air was almost always smelled of apple pie. Century Isle, a small island off the coast of Maine, had been her home for the last twenty-six years next week. She was born in a house on the northern cliffs during the witching hour on Halloween and she was damn proud of it.

    She closed up the shop at sunset and walked to a sleek sliver car. Her gray skirt flowed around long legs as she slid into the driver’s seat. The drive up to her cliffs was calming especially when she had to worry about the tourist rush that was already coming in by the ferries. Once she reached her home, she grabbed a bottle of wine and sat on a bench in the garden that overlooked the cliffs. Storm clouds rumbled over the North Atlantic waters and a breeze wafted around her. Something or someone is coming...

    The ferry ride was hell. This was the only thought running through Max Keaton’s mind as he stepped off the last ferry of the day. Luckily he had just missed the storm. “Speak of the devil,” he muttered as fat rain drops began to spatter on the pavement. He grabbed his luggage and walked into the small town. It was quiet now he noted, people were probably warming themselves at home. Which wasn’t really a bad idea at the moment. Max made his way to the inn wear his reservations had been made. This small island is exactly what he needed, a place to relax without the bothers of city life.

    The morning came more swiftly than Sarah had anticipated. Still, as she did every morning, she stood from the warmth of her bed and padded down to her kitchen to make a pot of tea. Then she went to the cliffs to watch the early morning mist roll over the water. Someone new on the island... came in with the last ferry. She smiled, visitors were interesting to observe at least. Sarah went back inside her home and dressed for the day. She drove down to her shop and greeted the other people who worked there before she went into her office.

    Max stepped out of the inn and sighed, “Beautiful day,” he murmured. He walked down Market Street and smiled. This place seemed almost cut off from the outside world. As he walked the scent of fresh cinnamon rolls led him to the doors of Pandora’s Box. He stepped inside and looked around the book shop for a moment. Books of all genres lined the shelves as well as glass statues of faeries and other mystical creatures. There was a small sitting area by a fireplace and on the coffee table sat a bowl of smooth stones and jagged crystals. Soon the scents from the cafe drew him upstairs. He put on a charming smile and walked up to the teenage red head who was working the counter, “Good morning, may I ask what’s good here?”

    The girl smiled brightly, “Welcome to Pandora’s Box Cafe. I’m Maggie and for this morning I’d recommend the double chocolate chip muffin with either tea or coffee.”

    He smiled and laughed slightly, “I’ll take it with coffee. How much will that be?”

    “Umm two dollars and fifty cents,” the girl said.

    He smiled and gladly exchanged the money for the sinful smelling breakfast. Just as he was about to take a drink of his coffee he saw a vision descend another staircase. She had blonde hair, blue gray eyes and a simple white sundress and flats. He watched as she spoke with Maggie and inwardly gulped as the girl pointed in his direction.

    Sarah smiled and walked over to the man Maggie had pointed out. He was indeed handsome, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes that that seemed almost dangerously observant. “So you are new to the island?”

    Max smiled sheepishly, “Is it that obvious?”

    She shrugged, “I can tell, I’ve lived here my whole life so it’s a simple matter. I’m Sarah Ripley, the owner of Pandora’s Box.”

    He blinked, “Hi, I’m Max, Max Keaton,” he said shaking her hand.

    She sat down the seat opposite of him, “Well this certainly is surprising, to have an author here in my shop. What brings you to Century?”

    Max sighed, “I needed a break from reality,” he said simply.

    “Interesting choice of words, Max, for that is exactly what you will find here.”