Following the chilling success of their first collection, Lady Eckland, Glenn Riley, and new collaborator, Bella Darkwood return to guide you through the shadowy corridors of fear with their second compendium, *Whispers In The Dark 2*. These master...
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The gravel crunched under Anita's tires as she pulled up the long driveway, her old hatchback loaded with boxes and plants. Massive oak trees lined the road, their knurled branches reaching toward the overcast sky. Up ahead loomed a magnificent Victorian mansion, tall peaked gables and curved windows gazing down imperiously at her humble vehicle.
Anita parked next to a weathered gardening shed and stepped out, smoothing down her hair as she took in her new home. Ivy crawled up the stone walls of the house and birds fluttered in and out of the eaves. It was quiet here, peaceful. Only the soft hoot of an owl and rustle of leaves broke the silence.
She unloaded her boxes and brought them into the small cottage nestled against the side of the great house. It was cozy and filled with golden afternoon light. Anita set a potted fern on the windowsill and smiled. This would be perfect. A new start, a new life away from the noise and people and stress of the city. Out here she could find stillness, inspiration could take root.
After unpacking the basics, Anita set out to explore the grounds, her boots crunching on the graveled path. The estate covered at least ten acres,much of it elegantly wild in the way of old money. Sculpted hedges lined a formal Italian garden while forests and meadows sprawled at the fringes, untamed.
And then she saw it. Rising behind an unkempt hedge, its glass panes glinting emerald and sapphire in the sunlight. A greenhouse. Anita caught her breath at the sight, a tingling running down her spine. She hurried toward it through the wet grass, heart quickening with anticipation. Up close it was even grander, an arched masterpiece of iron and glass at least fifty feet long. She stepped inside.
"Oh..." Anita turned in a slow circle as she took it all in. Towering palm trees brushed the ceiling, their leaves rustling high above. Bushes laden with unfamiliar scarlet blossoms lined the walls. Rows of potted plants in a rainbow riot of colors filled every corner while vines and orchids dripped from overhead baskets. The air hung heavy with the scent of soil and nectar mingled with the green tang of leaves. It was wildly overgrown yet utterly enchanting. She could feel inspiration stirring just being surrounded by such lush, extravagant life.
As the light began to fade outside Anita finally tore herself away, making a mental list of everything she would need to restore order to her incredible find. Yes, this greenhouse would be the perfect place to work. And somehow she knew that here, among such bountiful green, she would finally find the solace and creativity she had been longing for.
Over the next week Anita devoted every spare moment to the greenhouse. She pruned back the rioting greenery, swept the glassy floor and polished the arched panes till they shone. Every day new discoveries awaited, rare orchids and struggling seedlings tucked away among the burgeoning beds. Each evening she returned to the cottage flushed with joy and accomplishment, her earlier uneasy dreams fading away.
Until the morning Anita awoke to find the hibiscus shriveled and the gardenia drooping limply. She examined the dying plants in dismay. Perhaps a fungus or disease? But they had been perfectly healthy the day before. She combed through the greenhouse meticulously but found no pests or blight to blame. With a frown she disposed of the pitiful flowers and vowed to keep a closer watch.
