Tuesday Tales: Writing Wash

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors posting excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry bunch that enjoys reading as much as you do. This week’s word prompt is wash. My excerpt is from a paranormal fantasy in which a goddess occasionally inhabits the body of an archaeological assistant. Read excerpts of the other authors at Tuesday Tales.

Sipping the herbal tea and easing back into the Victorian style armchair, Prue began to relax. The tea’s delectable aroma had told no lies. It tasted as good as it smelled.

The afternoon had been a porcupine ball of stress. First there was the large load to unpack and catalog. Why Mr. Oliver insisted it be done all in one day, she couldn’t fathom. And then he behaved so peculiarly, watching her with the amulet. As if he thought her capable of…what? Stealing it? It’s not like a replica would be worth much, no matter how finely made. A small sigh escaped her lips.

Esther returned from the kitchen with a dainty plate of cookies, placing it on the coffee table.  “Poppyseed almond. One or two won’t interfere with your dinner. I don’t imagine you’ve eaten since the morning. Am I right?” She eased onto a chair across from Prue and lifted her cup and saucer.

Reaching for a cookie, Prue offered a small smile. “See? You already know me better than you think.”

Over the rim of her cup, the elderly woman’s expression appeared unreadable. “Perhaps you’re right, my dear.”

Prue’s gaze swept over the objects in the sitting room. Although the fireplace, wallpaper, and most of the furniture was Victorian, the overall style was eclectic. A matching pair of brightly colored lamps were sleek art deco, whereas a hutch and its treasure of porcelain figurines looked mid-century. The teapot set had a festive, modern vibe, as did some of the artwork scattered at eye level over the walls. Her attention settled on one, a painting of white birds on the seashore. These weren’t the typical seagulls, however, but were doves and swans. They draped and fluttered near the rolling waves, with the sky and sea meeting in misty union. The whole scene was covered in a vivid blue wash. She clenched the wooden knobs of the chair arms.

Esther leaned forward. “You look unsettled. You don’t care for the painting?”

Prue’s eyes darted toward her neighbor and then back to the birds. Shards of ice skated down her spine. The blue had grown darker and more intense. The waves loomed larger. Huge talons of water clutched at the shore. It threatened to encompass the doves and swans. Why did they continue to tumble and play as if it were a normal day? Why didn’t they fly away?

I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt wash. Thanks for stopping by. Return to Tuesday Tales.

Cheers & Happy Reading!

Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance