POV: Ivy
The oak tree was more than a landmark. It was a glitch in the Matrix.
I stood at the window of the Master Suite, the morning fog rolling off the Atlantic like a thick, grey shroud. From this height, the Vane Estate looked like a king’s crown made of glass and jagged rock. But I wasn't looking at the architecture. I was looking at the shadows.
Every fifteen minutes, the rotating camera on the west terrace hit the trunk of the ancient oak. For exactly three seconds, the lens was blinded by the bark. Three seconds.
It wasn't enough to run. But it was enough to breathe.
The bedroom door hissed open. I didn't turn around. I didn't have to. The air in the room suddenly felt electric, a low-frequency hum that vibrated in my teeth. Silas was here.
He walked into the room, his footst
