Chapter one
I reached out. So slowly and ever so tentatively. My hand found the door knob in a trice. I started to turn it and... Wait. Something was wrong. I turned upon my heels and headed back to the last door. Ah, I'd thought so. Rubbing my finger along the wood I found the message, " Ni ddylai ti agor unrhyw ddrws. Dylai Ti yn syml ewch drwy'r porth bwaog.".
For those of us less antiquated with Welsh, it translates into "Thou should not open any door. Thou should simply head through the archway,". Before we start to ponder on that, let me tell you a bit about myself. My name is Kitty, I'm 13 and I wouldn't even think of calling myself normal. Unlike the other children at Silverglade orphanage, I preferred to spend my time around nature rather then the other children. Not that anyone else minded. I was always the odd one out. Able to speak in both Welsh and Irish, always making tackles comments and...
But can I trust you? I suppose I'll have to tell you this bit as we get to know each other more. But I'm sure there is a question on the tip of your tongue, what am I doing? Well a week ago I was reading through a new paper when I saw:
"12 - 15 year olds wanted to apply to Valedale Academy. Please sent an application letter to:
Fripp, The Stone Circle, Valedale, Jovick"
The oddest thing was only 3 hours after I answered this letter I was asked to come with this beautiful women with red hair. She called herself Miss Sunbeam.
And that was where this all began. Each day a new trial, a new test. Each one not harder, just different. Some knowledge related, some physical and some.. magical? I can't be sure, but I was asked to hold this stick. One that had been carved and it hummed gently in my hands. Another time he lifted his paper white hands and cupped them around my cheeks. His dark, deep, eyes searching my own violet ones.
He is Avalon. I think he is a druid or a monk. He dresses in a long dark robe, inscribed with runes. He speaks so slowly and hoarsely. He scares me, but I am enthralled. I can't turn my head, drop the stick.
Ah, here it is. An archway. I stepped out into the dark night, and there he stood with a small girl. "Well done Kitty of the Stars, you have passed. The other two will join us soon. The moon hasn't yet reached it's highest point, and I think there will be a lightning storm later. Welcome to the newest circle of Soul RIders."
For those of us less antiquated with Welsh, it translates into "Thou should not open any door. Thou should simply head through the archway,". Before we start to ponder on that, let me tell you a bit about myself. My name is Kitty, I'm 13 and I wouldn't even think of calling myself normal. Unlike the other children at Silverglade orphanage, I preferred to spend my time around nature rather then the other children. Not that anyone else minded. I was always the odd one out. Able to speak in both Welsh and Irish, always making tackles comments and...
But can I trust you? I suppose I'll have to tell you this bit as we get to know each other more. But I'm sure there is a question on the tip of your tongue, what am I doing? Well a week ago I was reading through a new paper when I saw:
"12 - 15 year olds wanted to apply to Valedale Academy. Please sent an application letter to:
Fripp, The Stone Circle, Valedale, Jovick"
The oddest thing was only 3 hours after I answered this letter I was asked to come with this beautiful women with red hair. She called herself Miss Sunbeam.
And that was where this all began. Each day a new trial, a new test. Each one not harder, just different. Some knowledge related, some physical and some.. magical? I can't be sure, but I was asked to hold this stick. One that had been carved and it hummed gently in my hands. Another time he lifted his paper white hands and cupped them around my cheeks. His dark, deep, eyes searching my own violet ones.
He is Avalon. I think he is a druid or a monk. He dresses in a long dark robe, inscribed with runes. He speaks so slowly and hoarsely. He scares me, but I am enthralled. I can't turn my head, drop the stick.
Ah, here it is. An archway. I stepped out into the dark night, and there he stood with a small girl. "Well done Kitty of the Stars, you have passed. The other two will join us soon. The moon hasn't yet reached it's highest point, and I think there will be a lightning storm later. Welcome to the newest circle of Soul RIders."
Chapter two
"Kitty wake up" I rolled over in bed, sleep filling every muscle of my body. "Don't you dare go back to sleep Kitty Greenrow".
That's Clary. She was introduced to me last night as "Clary of the Sun". Her flowing deep red hair and green dancing eyes make her one of the pretties people I've seen. Two other girls are in here "Luna of the Moon" and "Ashely of the Lightning". I haven't really met these two yet, but I'm sure I'll get to know them.
"Last night Elizabeth told us to meet down at the paddock, but I'm not sure where that is" Luna said in a worried voice. Her silky blond hair and clear blue eyes, staring unblinkingly.
"Ah, I don't see the darn point in getting up early" Ashely replied in an almost angry voice, black hair tied in a tight not and green - blue eyes. Luna seemed much nicer.
"Well, Ashely, you can stay but you know what I don't want to get on the wrong side of that Avalon" Clary said, her eyes traveling up and down Ashely.
"I agree" I said, I liked Clary and Luna quite a lot. I pulled on my jeans and trainers from yesterday, but we'd all been given a white top which I pulled on over my head, splashed my face with water from a jug, and tied back my hair. All four of us (Ashley grumpily following behind). We stumbled around the forest until we reached a small paddock, the second Avalon saw us he started to talk, not waiting for us to reach him.
"-rning soul riders. I hope you slept well, you have now started something special. You are, in a few years time, to be the guardians of the Island of Jovik. Whether you come from Silverglade orphanage - Kitty, West Cape - Clary, Hillcrest - Ashely and of course Paddock Island - Luna. We will get straight stuck in, you will do a basic energy transferring charm. For every spell you do, you will use energy from your source. As you get more experienced you will use that energy to focus on a goal, but now just summon the inner you. Ashely"
Ashely stumbled forward and looked at him, "Think of the flash of lightning Ashely". She closed her eyes and suddenly she jumped and rubbed her hand, "it stung".
"Good, good," replied Avalon "Luna"
Luna looked hard at a rune of a moon on his robe, she lit up with a beautiful silver light, she rose slightly off the ground and fell.
"Very good Luna of the Moon, very good, Kitty"
My heart jumped. What did I do? What if I couldn't do it. Focus on the lightning he'd said to Ashely. The lightning. So I should focus on the stars. I remembered looking at them once with Abbey, my old friend. We reached out and held hands as the light shone down on us. I felt a slight tingling in my hand...
"Very good Kitty, your past will always help you, Clary" Clary gave me a little smile and stepped forward, I could see the same puzzled expression cross her face as had crossed mine. Then she rose high in the air, shining brightly. It was beautiful.. then she fell.
Down down down, I thought she'd never hit the ground. Avalon was there before I'd even taken a step forward. He picked her up in one swift sweep, and he turned and left, just gone. Ashley ran back down to the village and I fell to the ground in horror. I felt Luna's arm around me, a comforting voice "Just a bit of this Kitty, drink a bit" and I blacked out.
Chapter three
They advanced. Swirling black forms of mass. Closer, closer. Fear bit into me, like a snake bites into its pray. Closer, closer. There was no way out, no short cut, just me. Closer, closer, closer. Energy started to drain from me, and then I felt a billion explosions in my body. Each one prickled and hurt, but not in a bad way. My throat started to burn - and I awoke.
"Kitty, calm down. Kitty, breathe". Elizabeth. My eyes adjusted to a small white-washed room with a bed, a dresser and nothing else.
"It hurts, Elizabeth. It's coming". I could see Elizabeth's eyes momentarily betray a hint of fear before she whipped her head around
"Julie, get Avalon, fast", she turned back to me, "and call Millie and Alicia". I wanted to get up, to run, to break free, but Elizabeth held me down. Two girls - soul riders - came to help her. Then he entered.
Avalon didn't look afraid at the sight of a screaming struggling child. In fact he simply look at Elizabeth and said "Clary is awake now, she is almost fully healed: I did a growth spell on her broken bones. She will need a few days sleep and rest but then she'll be as right as rain."
"Clary! Clary! I need ... to see.... Clary". Each breathe I tried to rise. Avalon did not say a word but he simply placed his hands around my head.
I was speeding through a tunnel of blackness - blackness and blood. Pain and misery. Death and doom. It hurt. How much pain would I endure? Could I endure? And it was over as fast as it had begun. "We opened her mind to the forces, but it looks like evil wants the girl. She is strong which is why it has only got her now. Until I can find a way to block them out, keep her sedated."
"No, let me out, let me out" Millie and Alicia drew back their hands stung. I jumped up, I had to be free of here.
"It's the evil inside her, it doesn't want to go, hold her down" The pulled me back onto the bed, a man ran into the room and threw a firey liquid into my throat.
I screamed as sleep took me.
"Kitty, calm down. Kitty, breathe". Elizabeth. My eyes adjusted to a small white-washed room with a bed, a dresser and nothing else.
"It hurts, Elizabeth. It's coming". I could see Elizabeth's eyes momentarily betray a hint of fear before she whipped her head around
"Julie, get Avalon, fast", she turned back to me, "and call Millie and Alicia". I wanted to get up, to run, to break free, but Elizabeth held me down. Two girls - soul riders - came to help her. Then he entered.
Avalon didn't look afraid at the sight of a screaming struggling child. In fact he simply look at Elizabeth and said "Clary is awake now, she is almost fully healed: I did a growth spell on her broken bones. She will need a few days sleep and rest but then she'll be as right as rain."
"Clary! Clary! I need ... to see.... Clary". Each breathe I tried to rise. Avalon did not say a word but he simply placed his hands around my head.
I was speeding through a tunnel of blackness - blackness and blood. Pain and misery. Death and doom. It hurt. How much pain would I endure? Could I endure? And it was over as fast as it had begun. "We opened her mind to the forces, but it looks like evil wants the girl. She is strong which is why it has only got her now. Until I can find a way to block them out, keep her sedated."
"No, let me out, let me out" Millie and Alicia drew back their hands stung. I jumped up, I had to be free of here.
"It's the evil inside her, it doesn't want to go, hold her down" The pulled me back onto the bed, a man ran into the room and threw a firey liquid into my throat.
I screamed as sleep took me.
Chapter four
I sat cross legged on the floor of the training arena, drawing strange rune-like symbols with my fingers in the dirt. I wasn't allowed to join in as the "evil might awaken". It is increasingly dull just to sit and watch the others, well fail, at magic. My mind now isn't sure if this is the right life for me. Nights spent in a locked room, waking from nightmares of shadows. A normal life? Too much to ask? Well then again, what's normal?
I suppose normal would be at least having friends. I have no friends at the moment. Clary, Luna and Ashley no long talk to me. I suppose they've been told to keep away. Urgg.
I've looked this runic drawings up in the library. They were a language of Linta: a tribe once devoted to good, but now to bad. It turns out only a decedent of the Linta can write these runes. But honestly what do I care about the past? I'm not going to let it effect my future. I shape my life and I can never stand the people who cry and rant whitest not doing anything about it.
"Kitty we are heading down to the stables, remember today is the day of the partnerships" Avalon informs me, "We have decided that having a soul horse may keep the force contained" So it doesn't hurt anyone but me. I found my way through the forest to the stables. I can't even describe the pulling feel of being near a soul horse. Your soul horse. It's like there's another part of you that you didn't know about. It's like your soul is close to you. We are one.
It isn't hard to chose. All four of us have a need to get close to the one. We stumble into the stable (the others ignoring me). "Mavrik" is the one I stop by. I jump over the gate to his stall and pull him into a tight hug. "My human. My child. The one who will guide me", Mavrik's voice in my head. "Yes, yes" I reply. It might seem silly, dramatic, but imagine finding a sister that you haven't seen for years and you love. Only we didn't know we have this horse. Maybe things will turn out okay?
Little did she know, in four hours, it would be a new story for Kitty.
I suppose normal would be at least having friends. I have no friends at the moment. Clary, Luna and Ashley no long talk to me. I suppose they've been told to keep away. Urgg.
I've looked this runic drawings up in the library. They were a language of Linta: a tribe once devoted to good, but now to bad. It turns out only a decedent of the Linta can write these runes. But honestly what do I care about the past? I'm not going to let it effect my future. I shape my life and I can never stand the people who cry and rant whitest not doing anything about it.
"Kitty we are heading down to the stables, remember today is the day of the partnerships" Avalon informs me, "We have decided that having a soul horse may keep the force contained" So it doesn't hurt anyone but me. I found my way through the forest to the stables. I can't even describe the pulling feel of being near a soul horse. Your soul horse. It's like there's another part of you that you didn't know about. It's like your soul is close to you. We are one.
It isn't hard to chose. All four of us have a need to get close to the one. We stumble into the stable (the others ignoring me). "Mavrik" is the one I stop by. I jump over the gate to his stall and pull him into a tight hug. "My human. My child. The one who will guide me", Mavrik's voice in my head. "Yes, yes" I reply. It might seem silly, dramatic, but imagine finding a sister that you haven't seen for years and you love. Only we didn't know we have this horse. Maybe things will turn out okay?
Little did she know, in four hours, it would be a new story for Kitty.
Chapter five
"Here are your horses, you all know how to ride, so ride them, get close to them. But be back before sunset"
I felt my hands grip his mane and we were off! Galloping full speed, swerving trees. I wasn't thinking of my troubles, just the stars flashing before us. The wind in my hair and the feeling of friendship between us.
"Can we go to the hills?" I cried.
Don't speak with your mouth. I hear the reply with my head. Of course I've never seen soul riders talking to their horses, they speak inside their heads. I push myself into my head, letting everything else go, and I hop over to Mavrik's. I think the words: okay.
We can go up to the hills if you want but it is getting close to sunset, we must return.
Return where? A life I hate? A life where people look at you as if you're dirty, infected -
You are not, and you know that. But even I can feel the evil inside you.
Come on let's go up that path.
The further we climbed, the colder it got. My thin hoodie was no longer enough. The snow danced and glistened in the sun light, reflecting the flame of the reddening sky. Here the trees were thin and bare. Until we reached one. It was full of glossy leaves. Under it grew fungi and flowers. Mavrik, it's beautiful!
It's called a Primeval Tree. They are magical life wardens, they all are around Jorvik.
I'll stay here for a bit.
And with that I sat down and started to sketch the beautiful flowers and mushrooms. I didn't notice as the light ebbed away. I didn't notice until something caught my eye. Something cloaked, red, and evil. I mounted on Mavrik and we fled for our lives. Through the forests and the hills. Past the lake and the houses, until we reached the stable.
Go to bed Kitty, before you get-
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? WE'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK! IT'S PAST 10 AND YOU HAVE ONLY JUST GOT BACK. WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED? DON'T EVEN REPLY. GO TO YOUR ROOM AND WE'LL CONTINUE THIS TOMORROW." Elizabeth yelled.
Her horse, Jocker, chased Mavrik into his stable. I padded into my room, and I heard the lock. I sat there, I had no intention of sleeping. I'd left my book at the tree and I wanted to retrieve it.
Stars danced before my eyes, "Wake up Kitty" they called, "Wake uppp". My eyes opened. Stars! Erika! I could use the stars to help me escape. I focused, and let myself slip through space. I was there. I was at the tree. I turned and picked up my note book.
Burning. My wrists were burning together at the back. I screamed, I tried to scream: no sound came out. Silence and blackness.
I felt my hands grip his mane and we were off! Galloping full speed, swerving trees. I wasn't thinking of my troubles, just the stars flashing before us. The wind in my hair and the feeling of friendship between us.
"Can we go to the hills?" I cried.
Don't speak with your mouth. I hear the reply with my head. Of course I've never seen soul riders talking to their horses, they speak inside their heads. I push myself into my head, letting everything else go, and I hop over to Mavrik's. I think the words: okay.
We can go up to the hills if you want but it is getting close to sunset, we must return.
Return where? A life I hate? A life where people look at you as if you're dirty, infected -
You are not, and you know that. But even I can feel the evil inside you.
Come on let's go up that path.
The further we climbed, the colder it got. My thin hoodie was no longer enough. The snow danced and glistened in the sun light, reflecting the flame of the reddening sky. Here the trees were thin and bare. Until we reached one. It was full of glossy leaves. Under it grew fungi and flowers. Mavrik, it's beautiful!
It's called a Primeval Tree. They are magical life wardens, they all are around Jorvik.
I'll stay here for a bit.
And with that I sat down and started to sketch the beautiful flowers and mushrooms. I didn't notice as the light ebbed away. I didn't notice until something caught my eye. Something cloaked, red, and evil. I mounted on Mavrik and we fled for our lives. Through the forests and the hills. Past the lake and the houses, until we reached the stable.
Go to bed Kitty, before you get-
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? WE'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK! IT'S PAST 10 AND YOU HAVE ONLY JUST GOT BACK. WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED? DON'T EVEN REPLY. GO TO YOUR ROOM AND WE'LL CONTINUE THIS TOMORROW." Elizabeth yelled.
Her horse, Jocker, chased Mavrik into his stable. I padded into my room, and I heard the lock. I sat there, I had no intention of sleeping. I'd left my book at the tree and I wanted to retrieve it.
Stars danced before my eyes, "Wake up Kitty" they called, "Wake uppp". My eyes opened. Stars! Erika! I could use the stars to help me escape. I focused, and let myself slip through space. I was there. I was at the tree. I turned and picked up my note book.
Burning. My wrists were burning together at the back. I screamed, I tried to scream: no sound came out. Silence and blackness.
Chapter six
he hard iron of chins cut into my already battered and bruised skin. I knew who these people were, the dark riders, our enemies. I let out one desperate sob into the darkness. One so full of sadness that it could last a full lifetime.
Did I have a full lifetime? What did they want with me? What could I of done? Was it a question of the wrong places at the wrong time, or was it something deeper, darker. Could they know about the evil inside me?
Question after question, but no answers. Just more pain, the constant bite of metal, the deep burning from where they’re magically tied me.
A jolt. And then light. A light so bright, so filling that it dazzled me for a full ten seconds. Squinting while my eyes adjusted, I made out five, six, seven men. 5 guards and three others. One man could only be one person - the leader. Out of the two others, one was a child. A girl with raven hair and dark black eyes. The last was a women, she looked just like the girl, but older, eviler.
“So,” I say, scared into talking, “this is the cleaver part where you tell me your secret plan and then I save myself or get rescued and you fall to some sticky end in the dark pit you once crawled out of. For good always wins”
The women let out a soft eerie laugh. “Good wins just as much, if not less, then bad. Only when good wins they tell everyone the tale, when bad wins we keep it to ourselves.”
The man stood and thundered: “We will not be telling you our plans, Soul Rider. But I will tell you the past. We decided to create two girls, seeing what would happen if we mixed the powers of soul rider with the powers of dark rider. The idea was to take the extreme powers of soul rider and mix it with dark. But both babies, both girls, displayed signs of light. My Boss told me I was kill them, but I couldn’t. I’d spent my life working on these infants. I persuaded him to let you go to the mortals and for me to keep Natalia. But as she aged, she turned dark. You stayed mortal, until now. Maybe I will reveal the plan. You will work for us”
“Never” I cried.
“What Pa hasn’t mentioned is that in about 30 seconds you will fall asleep. You will awake totally obedient to myself, Ma and Pa. You will not remember your former self, your your friends,” the child spat the word “just us, because, in the dark, evil will prevail.”
My head sank, my body sank and my mind gave up to this new one.
Did I have a full lifetime? What did they want with me? What could I of done? Was it a question of the wrong places at the wrong time, or was it something deeper, darker. Could they know about the evil inside me?
Question after question, but no answers. Just more pain, the constant bite of metal, the deep burning from where they’re magically tied me.
A jolt. And then light. A light so bright, so filling that it dazzled me for a full ten seconds. Squinting while my eyes adjusted, I made out five, six, seven men. 5 guards and three others. One man could only be one person - the leader. Out of the two others, one was a child. A girl with raven hair and dark black eyes. The last was a women, she looked just like the girl, but older, eviler.
“So,” I say, scared into talking, “this is the cleaver part where you tell me your secret plan and then I save myself or get rescued and you fall to some sticky end in the dark pit you once crawled out of. For good always wins”
The women let out a soft eerie laugh. “Good wins just as much, if not less, then bad. Only when good wins they tell everyone the tale, when bad wins we keep it to ourselves.”
The man stood and thundered: “We will not be telling you our plans, Soul Rider. But I will tell you the past. We decided to create two girls, seeing what would happen if we mixed the powers of soul rider with the powers of dark rider. The idea was to take the extreme powers of soul rider and mix it with dark. But both babies, both girls, displayed signs of light. My Boss told me I was kill them, but I couldn’t. I’d spent my life working on these infants. I persuaded him to let you go to the mortals and for me to keep Natalia. But as she aged, she turned dark. You stayed mortal, until now. Maybe I will reveal the plan. You will work for us”
“Never” I cried.
“What Pa hasn’t mentioned is that in about 30 seconds you will fall asleep. You will awake totally obedient to myself, Ma and Pa. You will not remember your former self, your your friends,” the child spat the word “just us, because, in the dark, evil will prevail.”
My head sank, my body sank and my mind gave up to this new one.
Chapter seven
“Fripp, I’m getting rather worried. I know she was upset but she doesn’t have anywhere else to go” Elizabeth pleaded.
“What you request of me is not possible. We can’t send a full scale mission after a young trainee. We all die in the end, what difference is it if it’s now, tomorrow or 100 years?”
“It makes all the difference and you know it”
Fripp’s eyes flashed, “I suggest you control your emotions Elizabeth.”
“Fripp, she is, as you know, no normal trainee. There is something I can’t place, that will make her stronger, and with strength comes desire. And we know who desires most,” Avalon said, speaking carefully. Fripp considered this and then said:
“We give her 24 hours, no less, before we look.”
Both Elizabeth and Avalon left to confront the 3 soul riders sitting on the grass by the bubbling river. As they approached the other trainees gathered, ready to listen. “In 24 hours we will begin to look for Kitty” Elizabeth said. Ashley, Luna and Clary exchanged looks.
“Will she come back?” asked Luna.
“Will you force her to train with us?”
“Can you god darn get on with it” For you see, the trainees hadn’t been told about Kitty. All they knew was that after Clary’s accident she’d broken down and hadn’t been joining in lessons, and now she’d run away. Or so it looked.
“Girls listen, this isn’t Kitty’s fault” Elizabeth pleaded. Ashley and Clary got up and walked off, Luna murmured a quick sorry before joining them.
“I thought I’d be her friend” Clary said, “she didn’t visit me once. Just stayed in her room”.
“She just ignored me and wouldn’t speak. If she comes back I heard one of them talking that she’ll have to under go a test. I think it will make her work, whatever it is, I hope it hurts” Ashley cried. Luna looked horrified, but again didn’t speak.
If only they knew what was happening to the child.
“What you request of me is not possible. We can’t send a full scale mission after a young trainee. We all die in the end, what difference is it if it’s now, tomorrow or 100 years?”
“It makes all the difference and you know it”
Fripp’s eyes flashed, “I suggest you control your emotions Elizabeth.”
“Fripp, she is, as you know, no normal trainee. There is something I can’t place, that will make her stronger, and with strength comes desire. And we know who desires most,” Avalon said, speaking carefully. Fripp considered this and then said:
“We give her 24 hours, no less, before we look.”
Both Elizabeth and Avalon left to confront the 3 soul riders sitting on the grass by the bubbling river. As they approached the other trainees gathered, ready to listen. “In 24 hours we will begin to look for Kitty” Elizabeth said. Ashley, Luna and Clary exchanged looks.
“Will she come back?” asked Luna.
“Will you force her to train with us?”
“Can you god darn get on with it” For you see, the trainees hadn’t been told about Kitty. All they knew was that after Clary’s accident she’d broken down and hadn’t been joining in lessons, and now she’d run away. Or so it looked.
“Girls listen, this isn’t Kitty’s fault” Elizabeth pleaded. Ashley and Clary got up and walked off, Luna murmured a quick sorry before joining them.
“I thought I’d be her friend” Clary said, “she didn’t visit me once. Just stayed in her room”.
“She just ignored me and wouldn’t speak. If she comes back I heard one of them talking that she’ll have to under go a test. I think it will make her work, whatever it is, I hope it hurts” Ashley cried. Luna looked horrified, but again didn’t speak.
If only they knew what was happening to the child.
Chapter eight
he two girls stood at the edge of the rig. Their hair, so different in colour, blew out behind them. The seas were dark and unforgiving. The waves crashed; the heavens clashed. Air, wind, rain, sea. A percussion like no other.
Slowly one girl turned her head towards the other. “They’re late” she said.
“Yes” the other agreed “ Spoaks and his men should be punished”.
“Great minds think alive”
Suddenly, a plane revealed it’s self of the platform - cloaking device. The 4 men disembarked and 3 strode to the main building.
“You’re late” The first girl said, her tongue as sharp as her features.
“I’m sorry Ma’am. We were delayed due to the storm”
“Do you have the cargo?”
At that a limp form was brought out of the plane. A horse. A horse in a silvery light. The second girl started. She walked forward as if to touch this strange arrival. But the first girl gave her a look and she lowered her hand, mumbling a “sorry” to her feet.
“Come on let’s go and eat.”
They both hurried inside. As the turned the corner leading to the dinning hall, the second girl slipped.
She fell in slow motion. Before she hit the ground she glowed - silver. She rose up again and landed clean on the slippy metal.
The first girl was livid. Angry. She slapped the second girl around the face saying “Don’t ever use that dirt again - Kitty”.
Slowly one girl turned her head towards the other. “They’re late” she said.
“Yes” the other agreed “ Spoaks and his men should be punished”.
“Great minds think alive”
Suddenly, a plane revealed it’s self of the platform - cloaking device. The 4 men disembarked and 3 strode to the main building.
“You’re late” The first girl said, her tongue as sharp as her features.
“I’m sorry Ma’am. We were delayed due to the storm”
“Do you have the cargo?”
At that a limp form was brought out of the plane. A horse. A horse in a silvery light. The second girl started. She walked forward as if to touch this strange arrival. But the first girl gave her a look and she lowered her hand, mumbling a “sorry” to her feet.
“Come on let’s go and eat.”
They both hurried inside. As the turned the corner leading to the dinning hall, the second girl slipped.
She fell in slow motion. Before she hit the ground she glowed - silver. She rose up again and landed clean on the slippy metal.
The first girl was livid. Angry. She slapped the second girl around the face saying “Don’t ever use that dirt again - Kitty”.
Chapter nine
I watched, as if through a window, the soul riders rush through the base. For the first time in a week, I felt a feeling. Not of fear, nor happiness. But guilt. I wasn’t sure why, but I did. Raven, as I called her, had no guilt. Just a stone face as always.
“Kitty, if they come up here we must fight. If not we stay” she said. Her eyes staring, unblinkingly. I nodded. Hoping she couldn’t see my face, feeling all over it; hoping she couldn’t hear my heart, thumping in my chest.
The next two hours were agony. Filled with shouts of pain. Flashes of light. I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I did. I really did.
Three hours had passed since the beginning on the attack. The fighting had become tried and slow. But they still got to our platform - Raven and I were surrounded.
I lashed out, one hand hitting the spell. It rebounded upon the boy who cast it. I could only reflect the spells, not cast them. Then I saw a wisp of red hair under one hooded head.
I stopped fighting and let the world drift off.
I woke up in the soul rider bunk house. Clary looked at me, red eyed.
“I’m so sorry Kitty. What you must of gone through… I thought you were just lazy. But you were fighting. The other girl is here too, but under lock and key. They managed to remove it from you, because you fought it.”
“Kitty, if they come up here we must fight. If not we stay” she said. Her eyes staring, unblinkingly. I nodded. Hoping she couldn’t see my face, feeling all over it; hoping she couldn’t hear my heart, thumping in my chest.
The next two hours were agony. Filled with shouts of pain. Flashes of light. I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I did. I really did.
Three hours had passed since the beginning on the attack. The fighting had become tried and slow. But they still got to our platform - Raven and I were surrounded.
I lashed out, one hand hitting the spell. It rebounded upon the boy who cast it. I could only reflect the spells, not cast them. Then I saw a wisp of red hair under one hooded head.
I stopped fighting and let the world drift off.
I woke up in the soul rider bunk house. Clary looked at me, red eyed.
“I’m so sorry Kitty. What you must of gone through… I thought you were just lazy. But you were fighting. The other girl is here too, but under lock and key. They managed to remove it from you, because you fought it.”
Chapter ten
The little girl and little boy splashed in the water of the open ocean. I stood there, watching them. My son and daughter. Mark slipped his arm under mine, holding me tight.
“Mummy look I’m a fairy” the girl cried. Running around flapping her arms as if they were wings. “And I’m a naughty Brownie ready to turn your face green” the boy said. Chasing the girl into the water and splashing her.
“One day Kitty you’ll have to tell them. One day they will leave to train, you know Arla is a soul rider and James is a West Hunter.”
“I can’t Mark. Here they are safe”
Both Mark and I had scars to show our work. I had dark lines spiralling up from my wrists to my torso. They showed where the evil had been within me. Mark had a scar running the length of his face.
When I found out that a soul rider’s daughters will be soul riders, I realised that my mother must of been a soul rider too. I searched through all the records for weeks until I finally found one saying “Caren, gave birth to a female, later died”. I traced Caren’s family down to a boy called Alex. Alex’s best friend was a West Hunter called Mark. We fell in love, moved to New Hillcrest and had 2 children (and one on the way).
I settled myself down with Arla and James that night. I told a story:
“I reached out. So slowly and ever so tentatively. My hand found the door knob in a trice. I started to turn it”
“Mummy look I’m a fairy” the girl cried. Running around flapping her arms as if they were wings. “And I’m a naughty Brownie ready to turn your face green” the boy said. Chasing the girl into the water and splashing her.
“One day Kitty you’ll have to tell them. One day they will leave to train, you know Arla is a soul rider and James is a West Hunter.”
“I can’t Mark. Here they are safe”
Both Mark and I had scars to show our work. I had dark lines spiralling up from my wrists to my torso. They showed where the evil had been within me. Mark had a scar running the length of his face.
When I found out that a soul rider’s daughters will be soul riders, I realised that my mother must of been a soul rider too. I searched through all the records for weeks until I finally found one saying “Caren, gave birth to a female, later died”. I traced Caren’s family down to a boy called Alex. Alex’s best friend was a West Hunter called Mark. We fell in love, moved to New Hillcrest and had 2 children (and one on the way).
I settled myself down with Arla and James that night. I told a story:
“I reached out. So slowly and ever so tentatively. My hand found the door knob in a trice. I started to turn it”