Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Linda Chanda knew that returning to Jorvik so many years later wouldn’t come without her past haunting her. She was only 21 when her entire world, including the Soul Riders, fell apart. The battle that defeated Garnok didn’t come without sacrifices. 

Everybody lost someone that day; the three Dark Riders turned against Erissa, while the Soul Riders betrayed the Keepers of Aideen and lost their fifth sister. They may have saved Jorvik, but the grief pulled them away from each other. 

She was now 26, working as a freelance journalist in the city of Oxford, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Ancient and Modern history. Though she didn’t entirely leave Jorvik behind, she needed a break from all the magic that encompassed her teenage years. She no longer was the Soul Rider of the Moon, one of the island’s saviors, she was just Linda. A girl from Jarlaheim who loved books and history.

Though her peers may have made fun of her for still staying with her aunt anytime she spent some days on the island, Jarlaheim felt like her true home. She was born in Lahore, in the Punjab province of Pakistan, lived most of her childhood in Oxford, then spent her teenage years on the magical island of Jorvik. Her pet cat Misty, who was now considered elderly, accompanied her on all her travels.  “Are you sure you cannot stay longer?” Amal asked, helping Linda carry her suitcase up to her old, purple bedroom. 

Taking in the view of the old city walls, the mandala tapestry above her bed, her old books and colorful decorations, she felt herself become nostalgic. She smiled, “I’ll see what I can do, auntie. I should also visit Jorvik Stables. Herman sent me a text yesterday begging me to visit Meteor.”

“Maybe you should.” Amal shrugged. “I heard the Cloudmill girl’s been taking care of him lately. What was her name again? Alexa?”

“Yes, Alex.”

“Well, I’ve seen her come and go a couple of times.” Amal explained and handed a stack of clean towels to her niece. “She holds riding classes for children, I believe. There’s gossip going around that Herman is planning on retiring and making her the new owner.”

Linda nodded, her thoughts drifting to another point in time. When she was still a teenage girl, Elizabeth Sunbeam told them about the fallen sisterhood. It was so easy for them to think they were unbeatable, but they weren’t. It was fate; each sisterhood suffered a tragic end. Both generations before them lost their Moon sister, whereas the last generation lost their fifth rider. 

Freya .

Reaching for a framed picture on her desk, she forced a bitter smile at the sight of her hugging a pink-haired girl. Right from the beginning, Freya wasn’t the easiest to work with. She came to the island to escape family expectations, but found herself tangled up in a world she never expected. She tried to play for both sides, Dark and Light, while keeping secrets and never particularly letting anyone in. If Freya made her mind up about something, she would do it, without allowing others to lead her. Her stubbornness knew no bounds.

Eventually, that was how she met her end; why she met her end. 

Freya was the reason the Dark Riders allied with the Soul Riders, but also the reason they parted ways from the Keepers. The reason the last fight ended so brutally. Why Guardian’s Dale was destroyed. Why Katja couldn’t return to Icendell. In the eyes of the others, everything was Freya’s fault.

But it was easier to blame a dead girl than acknowledge their own mistakes. Grieving their old lives hurt less that way. 

Still, it wasn’t just the Soul Riders who fell out of touch with each other. 

The Dark Riders were never particularly close, but after Darko had Mr. Sands killed, they knew it was time to reevaluate where they stood. Their only option was to unite with their enemies, even if it meant betraying what they stood for. Yet, after that tragic day, none of them spoke to each other again. 

Sabine and Jay returned to their families, their ordinary lives, and Katja… Well, Katja stayed alone, hoping for help from the island’s fellow, more experienced witches who could give her shelter and potentially teach her how to control her icy powers. Though the three of them would never admit it, they missed each other’s company, occasionally hoping their paths would cross again, even if only for a day, but somehow they never did. 

However, it wasn’t only Linda who spent some time away from the island. 

Jay never had the easiest family life, but moving out for university and being away from all the arguments helped ease their peace of mind. They chose Oxford University without knowing they’d run into a familiar face, but when they happened to share classes with their former enemy, things only escalated from then on. 

Unfortunately, whatever connection it was they shared, didn’t last very long. It wasn’t about compatibility, rather they were both dealing with too much and decided to break it off before it became too serious.

Just days earlier, Linda had received an invitation to the Chettiar family’s gathering intended to celebrate their luxury beauty brand’s 30th anniversary. Though it meant a lot to her, she was nervous. Who thought of sending the invitation and why did they choose her ? She was never an avid party-goer, and most certainly never met Jay’s parents. They were billionaires, their combined wealth making them the richest family in the UK and on Jorvik, Vikram Chettiar having surpassed Sabine’s father as the richest man on the island. 

And yet, despite the family always being the talk of the town, after that last battle, Jay distanced themself from the brand. They stayed in the shadows, almost abandoning their public social media pages. “Well, won’t you unpack?” Amal asked, gesturing at Linda’s large, purple suitcase. She had brought so many books with herself that she was required to pay a baggage fee. “I still have to prepare lunch.”

“My bad, auntie, I got lost in my thoughts as usual.” Linda sighed, taking her bags and throwing them on her bed. “You know, this whole event thing… Why do you think I was invited?”

“I think they want free promo for their brand.” Amal answered. “If you want my opinion, though, they should’ve never brought their company to this island. The average Jorvegian cannot afford such atrocious prices.”

“You could say the same about the Von Blyssens.” 

“Well, I think Eva Von Blyssen is a very respectable woman with a very respectable daughter.” Amal insisted. “I cannot say the same thing about Naira Chettiar. That child of hers is a nightmare fuel. I forgot their name, but you know exactly who I’m talking about.”

Watching her leave, Linda let out a chuckle and shook her head. If one thing was true about her aunt, she had strong opinions about many of Jorvik’s famous individuals and wasn’t scared to express those opinions. She kept up with pop culture, even if she didn’t know everything. Intrigued, Linda pulled out her phone, opening Twitter after abandoning the app years ago, only to search for Jay’s private account she followed years ago. 

Though the account seemed largely inactive, they had about 25 followers, most of which were people from their close circle from university and other inactive accounts. Linda couldn’t help but smile when she saw two familiar names in their comment section. 

@thenameisjay: astrology isn’t a science. fight me
@cloudmill , replying to @thenameisjay: it IS a science because maya said so and my girlfriend is always right.
@thenameisjay replying to @cloudmill: well i have no problem with her believing in it, BUT IT’S NOT. stop being mad at me
@mayadew replying to @thenameisjay: YES IT IS
@thenameisjay replying to @mayadew: you can’t just.. IT’S NOT A SCIENCE STOP YELLING AT ME
@cloudmill replying to @thenameisjay: i think you’re just an ass lmao
@thenameisjay replying to @cloudmill: That’s really hard to hear because I think you’re the epitome of kindness given human form, Cloudmill. 

Linda couldn’t figure out how these three even collided, but the thought of Alex and Maya still being together comforted her. Maybe everything didn’t fall apart, at least not for everyone. 

Feeling the urge to talk to Alex, Linda changed into something more comfortable and headed out to Jorvik Stables. 

Jorvik Stables was where she and Alex both learned to ride. It was the Soul Riders’ favorite hangout spot, where they stalled their horses before missions and a place filled with many beautiful memories. Seeing the many riders and beautifully decorated yard, Linda remembered how much she used to love the Equestrian Festival. Lisa and Anne weren’t big on attending, which made sense considering Sabine never missed a day. And though she may have acted as if she didn’t care about the festivities, there sure was a certain girl who caught her interest enough to stick around. 

After Freya’s death, the entire staff of the stables fell into mourning. Not only did she rent a room there, she took up a part-time job as a stable girl, hoping to save up for a bigger apartment. Herman made sure she’d never be forgotten, commemorating her life by hanging up a picture of her in the courtyard, right beside the entrance to the main building. In loving memory - Freya Westberg. January 16, 1999 - May 21, 2021. A fresh bouquet of flowers lay underneath the memorial, mostly made up of dark pink roses, matching the girl’s unmistakable hair color. 

Linda didn’t even realize how close to the anniversary she had returned. Freya was a good friend, but throughout all those years, she never made the effort to visit her grave and bring her flowers. It was a mistake , she thought. The pain and the memories of losing her may never have subsided, but she didn’t deserve to be forgotten by people she once called her friends. 

Hearing the sound of riding boots clicking on the cobblestone ground, she saw a tall figure approach, interrupting her train of thought. She wore a red tank top tucked into high-waisted beige jodhpurs, black riding boots and a long black braid draped over her muscular shoulder. Though the two made eye contact, she walked right past the former Moon Rider. 

Sabine.

“He’s all tacked up and ready to go, just as you requested.” A familiar voice spoke. Alex had just exited the stable, holding the reins of a black Friesian. He wore a medieval-style bridle, a black and gold dressage saddle, with a red and gold saddle pad. 

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.” Sabine said, stroking her stallion’s neck. “I slept through my alarm and I entirely forgot I was teaching a class today. Wouldn’t want you doing my job instead of me, Cloudmill…”

“Well, lucky you, I know nothing about dressage, so have a safe ride.” Alex muttered, patting Sabine’s thick arms as she headed back towards the stable. “I’m off to do some cleaning. See you later, Rapunzel.”

Rolling her eyes at the nickname, Sabine mounted her stallion and rode towards the dressage arena. Though Sabine’s presence shouldn’t have come as a surprise, her working as an instructor most certainly did. Linda remembered Herman offering her to start her own riding club, but she had no idea how involved she was with everything happening at the stables. Though, now that Dark Core was gone, she needed to find a better way to make money, one that didn’t include exploiting the island’s resources while worshipping an ancient sea monster. 

And of course, Khaan was still hers. 

Sabine had Khaan since she was a young girl and the two of them were inseparable. When he became corrupted, he lost most of his ability to express his feelings and for years, he was nothing but an emotionless robot, practically trapped in his own mind. He was abused, and despite her trying to sweep it all under the rug, Sabine watched it happen. 

In fact, all the Dark Riders did. 

Because it wasn’t just Khaan who fell victim to Dark Core’s corruption, but also Acerbus and Mortifa. And yes, though the other Dark Riders never particularly cared for horses, out of everyone, Sabine as a professional equestrian should’ve known better. 

Taking a deep breath, Linda headed inside the stable. Meteor was stalled in his usual place, right beside Tin-Can. Watching his eyes light up at the sight of Linda, the former Soul Rider felt herself become emotional. No matter how much she tried to deny how lonely she felt without him, it wasn’t hard to realize. She missed going on trail rides and she especially missed competing in show jumping. Though she could’ve taken Meteor to England with her, starbreeds couldn’t survive away from the island for too long. 

“Linda…”

The black-haired girl turned her head, spotting a shocked Alex standing beside the storage room. Unsure how to interpret the girl’s reaction, Linda approached slowly. “Hi!”

Dropping the bag of horse feed in her hands, Alex felt as if her legs were glued to the ground. “W-what are you doing here? I thought…”

“The Chettiars invited me for their brand’s anniversary gala.”

“Oh.”

“My auntie told me you worked here.” Linda continued, pursing her lips. “Since when… I mean, do you also live in Jarlaheim? What happened to Elizabeth's house in Valedale?"

“Maya and I are renting a room here at Jorvik Stables while we work on renovating her family’s farm in The Forgotten Fields.” Alex explained briefly, getting back to work almost as soon as she said the last couple words. “I work as a children’s instructor, while I occasionally do stable work. Gotta get that bag, you know. Either way, I wanted to get as far from the druids as it was possible."

Alex had always been the leader of the Soul Riders. She was the only girl between four brothers, raised by a single mother. In her 26 years of life, she had been through hell and back, causing her to develop somewhat of a cold exterior. Though she hadn’t changed all that much, she did look older than her peers, and to Linda’s surprise, a whole lot more stressed than she expected. “Maybe we could go on a trail ride before I leave for England? All four of us?”

The light brunette raised her head, stopping in her tracks of filling up the horse feeders. “All four of us? Really? You cannot be serious.”

“Is there something I should know about?”

“What makes you think that, after everything that happened five years ago, either of us are looking to reunite?” Alex shook her head, rolling up the sleeves of her grey work hoodie. “You think a little trail ride in the woods will magically fix everything?”

“Okay, now you’re just putting words into my mouth.”

“No, Linda, some of us would actually love to leave our past behind.” Alex said. “We were stuck in a cult for years, exploited by a sect of Druids from the moment we turned sixteen. We saw a girl lose her life right in front of our eyes, because we were reckless and we didn’t take into account the consequences of our actions.”

Linda raised a brow, “But interacting with our former enemies doesn’t remind you of our past, now does it?”

“What are you on about? Sabine’s one of our best instructors, the fuck am I supposed to do?” Alex scoffed, her tone annoyed. “We barely get along, hell, the most we do is go to the gym together. Besides, just so you know, Anne has cut off all contact with me and pretends I don’t exist.”

“And Jay?”

“What about Jay?” She rolled her eyes. “If you’re talking about our Twitter posts, Maya and I met them at a museum last night. They tagged along with us to this random lesbian bar just so someone could drive us home in case we got drunk, which we did. Either way, they made it quite clear they didn’t want to be friends and I respect that.”

“Okay, fine, I’m sorry if it feels like I jumped you, but I don’t understand why we all have to hate each other.”

“I don’t hate anyone,” She shrugged. “I chose to distance myself and that is all. If you want to hang out with me, you are more than welcome to join me at lunch tomorrow. My number’s still the same, so…”

Though Meteor and Tin-Can watched the two carefully, they didn’t interrupt and let them handle the conversation by themselves. In the end, Alex stepped forward and pulled Linda into a hug, acknowledging that deep inside she truly wished they could all be friends again.

On the other side of Jorvik, far from the countryside, Jay was sitting in a family business meeting. The Chettiar family had shares in multiple fashion and beauty companies. Their brand was not only thriving between the upper class Jorvegian population but also all over the world. 

Jay, born into one of the wealthiest families in the world, never lived quite an ordinary life. Their parents had sworn allegiance to Dark Core way before their birth, and as they were unable to naturally conceive a child, Garnok blessed them with one. 

Except there was one condition.  

That child had to be raised as a Dark Rider and called to serve when the situation called for it.

16 years old. That was how young they were when they first stepped foot on the Dark Core oil rig, and after that day, they were met with nothing but abuse, neglect and as a result, trauma that would never stop haunting them. They didn’t get to grow up like other kids, attending school and making friends. They were forced into the modeling industry at a young age and spent most of their days locked away from the outside world, taught to despise everyone and everything that didn’t align with what Garnok wanted. 

Including their true self. 

The meeting had been ongoing for two hours. Jay would’ve loved to spend their free time doing something that actually mattered to them, rather than listening to a presentation about lipstick shades for hours on end. They liked makeup, but when it was all their parents ever talked about, it was starting to get both annoying and uninteresting. 

“Hey,” Jonah, their 11-year-old brother tugged on their shirt sleeve, hoping to get their attention. “How much longer? I think Jasmine might need to be put to bed.”

Jay made a face, leaning forward to check on their two-year-old sister, “Just call the nanny.”

“But you know I’m not allowed to have my phone on weekdays!”

Hearing their mother clear her throat, the two leaned back in their seats, pretending to pay attention. Unfortunately for Jay, they had to do much more than just pretend . “Jay, you’re replacing me as CEO soon and you can’t even pay attention to a basic presentation?”

“Mum, we’ve already gone over this.” They sighed, shaking their head. “Your ideas are fine, I don’t have a problem with the swatches you’ve shown so far, but we should focus on improving the formula, not popping out new products every two weeks.”

“We are not popping out products every two weeks, sweetie.”

“Alright, sure, do you want my opinion?” They raised their brows, getting up and grabbing the remote from their mother, just to click through the presentation. “For a product line that’s supposed to be inspired be a blend of Indian and Jorvegian culture, the packaging ideas couldn’t be more basic. Besides, how do any of these colors remind you of autumn?”

“I…” Naira scoffed, crossing her arms and turning towards her husband. “Any input? Hello?”

The father raised his hands in defense, “Sweetie, I only manage the business side of things, I’m not involved with makeup.”

Jay rolled their eyes, “Dad.”

“Yes, Jay-Jay?”

“I know you don’t want to hurt Mum’s feelings, but you are a terrible liar.” Finally, they took the remote and switched off the presentation. “Also, next time, maybe don’t bring the kids to a meeting. They’re bored, and… we have a nanny for a reason.”

“The nanny is only here when I’m away.” Naira shook her head, “They’re your siblings, yes, but since you don’t have the time to babysit them, and I can’t let them stay alone in their bedrooms, I have to take them with me to meetings. I’m trying to take care of them.”

“Right, because you took such good care of me, didn’t you?.” Jay grinned, their tone sarcastic. At last, they approached their younger sister and lifted her up, carrying her out of the meeting room. 

Seeing Jonah’s saddened expression, they did sort of regret stating their feelings outwardly like that. They grew up listening to their parents argue, so they knew a young child didn’t need that, but they just couldn’t bear seeing their eleven-year-old brother take care of their baby sister. 

It wasn’t fair, and yet, Jay still envied how their younger brother got to grow up.

Unlike with them, Naira didn’t have any fertility problems with her other children and had two successful pregnancies. At some point, the parents made a promise that they would never tell their other younger children about Dark Core or why Jay spent so much time away from home. Unfortunately, this only made the siblings’ relationship more complicated than it needed to be. “Why do you guys always need to argue?” Jonah muttered, passing by their older sibling with an upset expression. “Keep me out of it.”

“I’m sorry, I just have a lot on my plate right now.” Jay muttered. Without saying anything further, they carried Jasmine into the nursery and set her down in the baby cod. 

As they were about to leave, Naira walked inside, pointing at a fluffy pink armchair in the corner of the room, “Sit down.”

Refusing to argue, Jay did as asked, pushing off their black leather Chelsea boots before lifting their legs up on the armchair, “Yes? I’m listening.”

“Look, if you didn’t want to be CEO, you should’ve told me earlier.” Naira began, grabbing a baby bathtub and setting it on the floor beside the sofa. “This shouldn't be… It’s not a punishment.”

“No, I want to be, I just…” They shrugged. “Listen, I am so incredibly grateful that you even considered me, but I haven’t even finished my degree yet and this is all so….”

“Overwhelming?”

“Yeah,”

“Alright, well,” Naira sighed and pursed her lips, “I’m assuming inviting a former enemy to the gala who may or may not have a magical connection with you would only make it more overwhelming?”

Jay’s eyes shot open, “What?” Their tone was serious, almost demanding. “I’m sorry, you did what ?”

“In my defense, she’s an amazing journalist and I want our brand to celebrate South Asian excellence any chance I get. Besides, her parents were your professors at Oxford.”

“So, what, by that logic, should we invite the children of all my professors to this fuckass gala?” They scoffed, seemingly both annoyed and offended. “The Chanda girl is not a business journalist. She reports on archeological finds and history, not beauty influencers and luxury brands. Fuckass Soul Rider who, unfortunately, I managed to form a magical bond with.”

“She’s attending as a guest, not as a journalist.” Naira answered. “Bury the hatchet, Jay. She’s not a Soul Rider anymore, and you’re not a Dark Rider anymore. As for the magical bond… you can't get rid of it.”

“Whatever.”

“Jay…”

“Okay, fine, whatever, I don’t care, I’ll survive.” They muttered with an eye roll. “I'll just avoid her."

The reality was, Jay never necessarily disliked Linda, in fact, the opposite. Even when they were enemies, Linda often caught their eye. She was quiet, far from a fighter, but they loved how well-educated she was and her nerdy, goofy little interests. Even if they made fun of her sometimes.

Linda was everything Jay could’ve wanted, and Jay was everything Linda could've wanted. 

Jay was beautiful, mysterious, cynical but also one of the most intelligent people she had ever met. The first person who understood her love for old classics, ancient libraries and history. 

The two of them seemed like polar opposittes, but in a way, they were are also extremely similar. And yet, despite that, the closest they got to a relationship made both of them panic and want them to get as far from each other as they could. 

Almost like it was easier when their bond was forbidden. 

Before the last battle, Jay would often sneak into Fort Maria, and at some point, Linda just didn’t mind their presence anymore. In fact, every night she secretly hoped they would show up. From stolen glances, hands touching in the dark to flirting and running their hands through each other’s hair… They also helped each other discover abilities of their magic neither of them knew about. 

Abilities they only had in each other’s presence. 

If the Soul Riders and the Keepers knew spending time with Jay was the reason for half of Linda’s sleepless nights, she would’ve been in so much trouble. The same thought ran through her mind when she first kissed Jay, the day before the Dark Ceremony. 

If only they could start all over again… 

Brushing away the thought, Jay rushed out of the nursery, much to their mother’s surprise. 

Whatever was to happen at the gala, they couldn’t allow themself to fall for Linda all over again. They wanted to leave the past behind, as much as it kept haunting them, as much as she showed up within their dreams, anytime she was close, more than enough for them to know there was no getting rid of that idiotic bond. 

And, if it had to happen this way, if there was something more to this, they might as well just let it escalate. 

Chapter Text

It all started with a nightmare.

Though, if she was being honest, she felt like she was sleepwalking. The spiky, wrought iron gates of Pine Hill Mansion towered in front of her. She stood there barefoot, dressed only in her pyjamas, the cold northern wind sending shivers down her spine as she stepped into the overgrown courtyard. 

Linda, a voice called, followed by the deafening giggles of a young child. She knew she should’ve stopped at the front door, but she had no command over her body. Whoever it was that was calling her, clearly had control over her and knew how to manipulate her weaknesses. 

Stepping into the grand hallway, scenes of the last battle replayed in her head. One moment, they were all together, fighting against Darko and Erissa, but with each blow their powers weakened. Pine Hill Mansion was practically falling apart under their feet, making it impossible for them to hide or even escape. Erissa, fueled by pure revenge, was greatly underestimated, overpowering both the Soul Riders and the Dark Riders, betraying Darko last minute when she didn’t need his help anymore.

But there was one small detail even Erissa didn’t take into account. Freya, possessing the powers of each Soul Rider, refused to give in. She fought until her very last breath, each spell draining not only her magic but also her soul. Linda remembered lying on the tiled floor, unable to move, watching as Freya channelled all four circles. She used forbidden spells that the Keepers of Aideen kept locked away for a reason, guarded by the strongest magic not even someone as strong as Erissa could break through. 

Sending a strong blow at the General of Chaos, Erissa’s body slammed into a wall, disappearing into thin air. Freya then passed out, never returning again. She may have defeated Erissa, but with that, her life was also taken from her. 

Looking up towards the broken staircase, Linda saw the ghostly figure of her old friend, her once beautiful blue eyes now a lifeless white. “You failed me.” She spoke, her voice echoing through the building. “You all failed me. I thought we were friends.”

The twenty-six-year-old opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Finally, Freya approached her, cold eyes gazing right into the former Soul Rider’s brown ones. “She’s back and yet you guys made the gigantic mistake of believing the threat was over, going your separate ways while I’m stuck here, suffering, counting down the days until I’ll finally be free from her torture.”

“I don’t understand. Who are you talking about?” 

Then, she heard it again. That eerie, childish giggle that sounded like nails on a chalkboard, and when she turned back, Freya was gone. 

Linda woke up panting, immediately reaching for the cup of water on her nightstand, chugging it down before checking the time on her phone. It was about 9:30 and judging by how quiet the house was, it seemed her aunt had already left for work. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her old dream journal, always stuffed under her pillow in case she needed it. Her last entry was in 2021, a little before the final battle. After she scribbled down a couple of notes, she got up and decided she’d get dressed for the day. 

Bringing her breakfast with herself, she set off to Jorvik Stables, tacking up Meteor for the first time in years. The stallion couldn’t have been happier, and even if they couldn’t return to showjumping just yet, a little trail ride around Jorvik Stables and Paddock Island sounded like a great way to spend some time together. 

Before leading him outside, the laughs of two women caught her off guard, the feed room’s door slamming behind them. Curious, Linda popped her outside, trying to locate the source of the two voices. “Stop laughing, someone will hear us.” One of the women spoke, the footsteps getting closer by the second. Her voice was high-pitched, but melodic and decent to listen to. “Sab, I said stop laughing!”

“You are the only person that can fall inside a feed bin and still make it look graceful.” A familiar deep voice spoke, Linda’s brows shooting up the moment she caught a glimpse of the long black braid and tall motorcycle boots. “Your jodhpurs are all dirty now, though.”

“I hate you,” The previous voice said, Linda peeking outside just enough to see a hand playfully hit Sabine’s muscular arms, hidden under her biker gear. Her face was flushing and someone’s fingers had clearly dug into her hair, making her look a hundred times more attractive.

“You love me.” Sabine smiled, pulling the beautiful blonde into a kiss, the two of them almost stumbling into the hay stack behind them as the taller one lost her balance. “Oh, fuck. Sorry, haven't had my morning cup of coffee yet. I’m barely awake.”

In that second, the blonde turned her head, noticing someone’s head sticking out of one of the stalls, she poked Sabine’s arm with her index finger and pointed at Linda. “Seems we’ve got company.”

Hoping she didn’t make too much of a fool out of herself, the former Soul Rider stepped outside, awkwardly waving at the two as she led Meteor out of his stall. She didn’t know what reaction to expect, but she sure didn’t think Sabine would be the first one to start laughing. “If you see Herman, you didn’t hear any of this, okay? He was searching for me earlier and my shift started thirty minutes ago.”

“Oh, no worries, I won’t tell on you.” Linda nodded, her gaze shifting towards the blonde bombshell beside Sabine, dressed entirely in pink and white, her riding jacket bearing the logo of the Bobcat Girls. “Loretta! I almost didn’t recognize you. Are you guys…?”

“She’s my fiancée.” Loretta said, raising Sabine’s right hand, showing off a gold engagement ring. “I should be in Moorland right now, but someone cannot live without her protein bars and instead of heading back for them, she made me bring them all the way here.”

“Wait, congratulations, I had no idea!” Linda smiled. “Sabine, does that officially make you a Bobcat girl?”

The former Dark Rider rolled her eyes at the comment, Linda referencing how much younger Sabine wanted to join the Bobcats but was constantly rejected by Loretta. “I have my own club and I’m busy managing that.”

“Sab is an honorary member.” Loretta chuckled, intertwining their fingers. “She may not like pink, but she’s a Bobcat girl at heart.”

Sabine snorted, “If you say so.”

Linda left a couple minutes later, leaving the lovebirds to themselves. Knowing she should’ve been preparing for her classes, Sabine rushed to one of the staff dressing rooms, bumping into Alex who was just about to leave and complete certain stable chores that awaited only her. The taller slammed the door, balancing on one leg as she untied her motorcycle boots, fiddling with the keys of her locker and pulling out a pair of designer dressage boots. “Why are you always late?”

“I’m not late, I still have ten minutes.” Sabine muttered, stepping out of her leather gear, revealing a red quarter-zip shirt underneath, worn tucked into her high-waisted black riding pants. “Can you tie my hair up? I’ve got hair ties in the small, bottom pocket of my bag. Fuck, I’m genuinely sweating right now.”

“What were you doing?” Alex rolled her eyes, unzipping Sabine’s bag, an intense cigarette smell hitting her nostrils as soon as she pulled out a red scrunchie. “This stinks, by the way. Also, doesn’t Khaan need to be tacked up? Hello?”

“I know, I’m sorry, Loretta was here and I got distracted.” She answered, sitting down on one of the couches as Alex wrapped her long braid into a low bun. “Plus Linda showed up to go on a trail ride with Meteor, and yeah, I also slept through my alarm again, so that’s my fault.”

“You took on far too many classes.”

“Okay, well, I need the money.” She sighed and slipped on her dressage boots. “Especially now that we’re in the midst of wedding plans, and yes, Lori and I have received plenty of support from our families, but we don’t want them paying for the whole shebang.”

“Why?”

“Because if they pay for it, they want a say in everything.” Sabine grabbed her phone and cigarettes, shoving them inside the pockets of her black utility belt before sliding it onto her hips. “And I just genuinely can’t deal with that right now.”

Alex blinked, confused, “If my parents offered to pay for my wedding, I’d do anything they’d want me to.”

“We just want a simple wedding, no crazy venue, no travel,” She muttered as she strapped on her golden dressage spurs. “I don’t think it’s that hard to comprehend, meanwhile my parents insist we should have two weddings. One in Austria and one in Mexico, because, you know, differences in tradition, whatever.”

“And to that you said?”

“Well, I said no because not everybody can afford a plane ticket on a whim.” She said, “I don’t want two weddings, I want one with the most important people there and I don’t want to exclude my friends, especially not you guys, so…”

“Oh.”

“What?”

“Nothing, I’m just surprised you consider me a friend.” Alex shook her head, careful with her words so she wouldn’t offend Sabine. “I mean, I know we are colleagues and we have long put our animosity behind us, I just thought…”

Sabine raised a brow, “That I don’t like you?”

“It’s stupid, I know.”

“Look, it was all a matter of our circumstances.” Sabine answered, completely nonchalant and unbothered by Alex’s shocked expression. “If it makes you feel better though, no, I definitely don’t hate you.”

Hearing that, Alex let out a chuckle and smiled, “That’s a relief because it’s quite nice having another lesbian around.”

“Aw, it is, isn’t it?” She said, finally heading towards the door. “I need to go now, but if you see Herman, and in case he asks, Lori and I were not making out in the feed room.”

“Noted.”

Jay hated family programs. 

It wasn’t even an exaggeration, they simply knew something would always go south. They loved their parents more than anything, but it was undeniable how terrible their communication was, especially when it came to matters that could’ve been easily solved. Then again, most of the time, their mother was the main culprit. She was stubborn, held her head high and refused any sort of criticism. Jay, too, used to be like that once upon a time, until they got more out into the real world and realized all that sheltering in their childhood didn’t prepare them for anything whatsoever. 

When it came to actual family outgoings, though, Jay couldn’t remember the last time they did something together as a family for the sake of enjoyment. So, when their father offered to spend some time with them and potentially take them somewhere, they jumped at the opportunity, refusing to stay home any longer. Except, what they imagined wasn’t driving an entire hour to the family’s countryside estate in eastern Jorvik. 

“When I said we should hang out, I didn’t mean golfing.” Jay muttered, their expensive black suit most certainly not made for the sunny weather. “Besides, did we have to drive an entire hour just for this? There’s a bigger golf course in Jorvik City.”

“It’s not about the size, it’s about the design, kid.” Their father said, playfully removing Jay’s sunglasses, the younger’s green eyes sending sparks at him in annoyance. “I think golfing is a great father and child activity.”

“Maybe if I was five.”

“Okay, sweetie, how about next time you pick where we’re going, hm?” Vikram smiled and lovingly patted Jay’s back. “Where would you have liked to go?”

“Ugh, I don’t know, we could’ve gone shopping,” They shook their head, shoving their hands into their pants. “Or a museum. Something interesting, not frying myself under the sun.”

“Shopping? You have so many clothes, we just built you a second walk-in wardrobe.” He chuckled, both endeared and flabbergasted as they entered the mansion, Jay immediately sighing in relief at the air conditioning. “And books. Nobody uses our home library other than you.”

“Are you calling me a nerd?”

“You are a nerd.”

“Okay, well I’m a hot nerd.”

“And a very stubborn one at that.” Vikram laughed. Ever since their childhood, Jay never particularly enjoyed leaving their comfort zone. And, of course, modeling from a young age made this so much harder. Though they eventually made the best out of it and ended up enjoying being in the public eye, the family expectations never disappeared. “Maybe afterwards you should take Acerbus on a couple rounds around the estate? I’d love to come with you and ride Apollo.”

“I probably should.” They agreed. “I’ve been thinking of bringing him back to Jorvik City, but it seems he’s happier here.”

“Maybe you’d be happier here, too.”

Jay shrugged, unsure how to respond, “I can’t just move, though. I would if I could, but my penthouse is the farthest I can go without Mum freaking out.”

“You’re twenty-five.”

“Yeah, and I wish she realized that” Without any further words, they ran upstairs, leaving their father alone in the main hall. 

It was true. Naira was hard on Jay and the entire family knew that. Everything Jay ever did was done in mind with how marketable they were to a general audience, their mother turning their coming out story, something so personal, into nothing more than a cash grab opportunity. 

Vikram may have disapproved, but if Naira made up her mind, she was unstoppable. And of course, with Jay also inheriting those exact traits, they ended up butting heads more than once. At that point, it was almost inevitable.

At first, going on a trail ride with Meteor didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Linda missed Jarlaheim, but most importantly, she missed the city’s surrounding nature. She couldn’t count the amount of times her dreams took her to Paddock Island’s gardens or even the magical forest of Greendale. Though on the outside barely anything had changed, seeing the Goldspur twins and the Jarlasson kids all grown up sent her down an emotional rollercoaster. 

Morning trail rides used to be her and Freya’s tradition. Each weekend they would eat breakfast with the Sunfield family who doted on the young girl like she was their own, even if their pigs mysteriously disappeared during each Equestrian Festival. The last time Linda saw them was at the funeral. She couldn’t imagine how the family was doing now, especially considering their version of the truth was nothing more than a gigantic lie. 

The moment she felt the first tears roll down her cheeks, she knew she needed to get moving. Thankfully, Meteor was there to comfort her. “We all miss her.” He said. “It’s just that some people have learned to hide it better.”

“Yeah, I understand.” Linda snuffled, grabbing a napkin from her pants’ pockets. “How about I take you back to the stables, old guy? I think we both need to cool off."

Jarlaheim was the perfect place to spend a hot summer day. The city’s tall old walls and many trees cast shadows over the houses, which were already built to keep the heat out during summers and keep the warmth during the heavy winters. Unfortunately, even Jorvik wasn’t free from the threat of global warming. 

Back at the stables, Alex was more than happy to help and hose Meteor off with some cold water before leading him back inside his stall. “Are you joining us for lunch today?”

“Us?” Linda asked, raising a brow. “I thought it would only be the two of us.”

“No, Sabine’s bringing Loretta and we always have lunch together.” She said, sighing in relief the moment she was free from the heavy western saddle she had been carrying earlier. “At our old place. Bad memories, I know, but Sabine and seafood are inseparable.”

“I wouldn’t call it bad memories.” Linda shrugged. “Besides, Jarlaheim Bay is hands down the best place to eat. It’s more nostalgic, no?”

“To be honest with you, I don’t really like thinking back to our Soul Rider days.” Alex shook her head, finally settling one of the benches inside the stable. “That’s why I don’t keep in contact with the others. I like it better that way.”

Before Linda could say anything, Sabine stormed inside the stables, her long curls free from the tight braid she usually kept them in. “Fuck having fire powers in this weather.” She cussed under her breath, rushing inside the staff’s dressing room. A tan, middle-aged man followed her, approaching Khaan’s stall. 

Both Linda and Alex had seen him before, and even if that hadn’t been the case, everybody knew him. He was none other than Sabine’s very own father. He worked as a breeder and mainly sold Jorvik Friesians, Khaan being just one of the horses born on the family’s estate. Unlike his daughter, he had a much sweeter demeanor and was well-respected by the island’s inhabitants, especially others in similar career paths. Still, he was just as tall and muscular as Sabine, their resemblance undeniable. No wonder some people on the island considered him a heartthrob. “Oh, hey there girls, where did Sabine go?”

“Dressing room,” Alex smiled, pointing towards a wooden door on the left of the stables. “Why’s she so moody? Does she have a show coming up she didn’t tell me about?”

“I don’t know, and yes, dressage this weekend.” Javier said, looking through a stack of documents in his hands. His previously thick accent had changed through the years, making him sound like any other local, upper-class Jorvegian. “Khaan is coming home with us, so she’s probably just upset that she can’t stay in Jarlaheim for a little longer. Jorvik Stables doesn’t have an indoor arena and Khaan’s been quite sensitive to heat ever since, well, you know...”

“Yeah. Understandable.”

“And you must be Linda.” The man noted, pointing his pen towards the dark-haired woman. “Didn’t you defeat Sabine in a show-jumping competition once?”

“Uh, maybe, but she probably doesn’t want to be reminded of that.” Linda chuckled, pursing her lips. “That was a long time ago, though. I could never be on your daughter’s level.”

Finally, Sabine left the dressing room, dressed in a tank top and baggy gym-shorts, her sweaty curls now tied into a quick bun, carrying her multiple other belongings in her backpack, “ Papá , can you take my bike with you? I need it at home with me and you’re here with your van, anyway.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you?”

“No, I can manage.” She sighed, fanning herself with a rolled up equestrian magazine. “I promised Loretta we’d have lunch together here, plus driving to Jorvik City doesn’t sound that bad.”

“Alright, well, let her know we’re excited to have her over for dinner on Saturday, alright?” Javier smiled and opened the Friesian’s stall, leading him out of the stable. Sabine watched them leave, sighing at the thought of Khaan having to endure multiple hours of travel in that heat. Especially considering he was far from immune now.

Linda pursed her lips, “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, it’s…” Sabine shook her head, noticeably worried about something. “My magic’s been sort of all over the place this past week. It could be just the heat, but fire is my thing, you know? I never had an issue with it, yet I literally burnt myself with a hair straightener the other day. That’s never happened to me before.”

“Wait, you’re having issues, too?” Alex threw Sabine a shocked glance. “I’ve been feeling strange, too! I thought it was my anxiety, but last week, when you weren’t here, my magic caused an entire electricity outage in the stables.”

“Oh, how fun.” The dark-haired woman nodded. “It feels incredible having these problems and having absolutely nobody to go to for an explanation.”

Almost as if they expected a wise answer, both Sabine and Alex turned towards Linda, staring at her in silence. The former Soul Rider gulped, “Why are you guys looking at me like that?”

“Any insights?” Alex asked. “Hello? You always knew what to say in situations like this.”

Though Linda knew exactly what they meant, she wasn’t ready to talk about her dream just yet. And of course, bringing Freya up to Sabine would’ve seemed rather inappropriate. “Well, I, um…”

“Well?”

“I’ll be at the Chettiars’ gala tonight.” Linda muttered, practically stuttering through her words. “If you want, I could ask Jay if they’ve been experiencing anything. If I manage to talk to them.”

“That pretentious little asshole won’t say a word.” Sabine scoffed and crossed her arms. “Besides, it’s not like their magic affects them in their daily life, now does it? I haven’t spoken to the rest of the Dark Riders in years and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Alex let out a chuckle, “Or you’re just jealous because they were the most intelligent of your group.”

“Ew, no.”

“I wonder what Katja’s up to.” Alex muttered, her thoughts trailing off. “I heard she lives with Mrs. Holdsworth now.”

“Frankly, I will not be visiting.” Sabine said, and with that, she was out the door immediately, grabbing her pack of cigarettes, heading to the designated smoking area away from the horses and other animals.

Looking at each other, Alex and Linda sighed. New rule: don’t bring up the Dark Riders around Sabine. 

Despite their previous conversation, lunch went quite well, Sabine and Loretta mainly discussing the upcoming dressage show on Saturday. Linda didn’t know how much the blonde had learned about Sabine’s past, but she realized soon enough that Loretta was aware of mostly everything, including Freya. There were zero secrets between the two of them and that certainly contributed positively to their relationship. 

“I remember us having lunch here back in the day.” Linda observed, looking around the small but busy restaurant situated in the heart of Jarlaheim. The group sat in the same place the five Soul Riders used to, tucked away in one of the corners where they could discuss anything to their heart’s desire without being overheard. “Would it be wrong of me to say that I feel somewhat nostalgic?”

“At least you have something to feel nostalgic over.” Sabine muttered, one arm resting around her fiancée’s shoulders. “We Dark Riders never had that kind of bond. In fact, we loathed each other.”

“That’s what happens when you try to fake a sisterhood.”

“Oh, we didn’t try to fake any kind of sisterhood.” She laughed, shaking her head. “There was no sisterhood. We were nothing but coworkers who despised each other, constantly competing to get our boss’ attention.”

Loretta sighed and dug her fork into her salad. “Anytime you talk about your past, I feel like I’m learning information I shouldn’t be allowed to.”

“I mean, you already knew about it when you started dating me.” 

“Well, yeah, Justin and Freya told me.” She muttered, but quickly backtracked knowing how sensitive Sabine was to mentions of her ex-girlfriend. “Whatever, do you guys mind if we change the topic? I don’t think looking back at the past is doing us any good.”

Linda spent the rest of lunch quietly, her dream about Freya repeating in her head, no matter how much she tried to focus on the conversation happening around her. It was only a matter of time until she had another nightmare, but if her only solution of stopping them was leaving Jorvik, would that have meant betraying her friends? What was the right way to open up about this?

Those exact thoughts crossed her mind up in her hotel room in Jorvik City, staring at herself in the bathroom mirror. She had checked in a couple hours after lunch, and only brought one night’s worth of items with herself, ensuring she wouldn’t have to take the bus in the middle of the night. Applying a finishing layer of shiny lipgloss to her brown lips, Linda sighed, her entire body tensing up at the thought of seeing Jay again. 

There was no way they asked for the invitation to be sent, it would’ve made zero sense. They made sure she knew they wanted to have nothing to do with her on multiple occasions, and Linda accepted that. Still, she could only hope that they’d be able to talk, at least for five minutes, so she wouldn’t feel entirely insane. Just thinking about her dream’s potential meaning made her want to throw up. 

Eventually, she slipped on her sparkly, silver high-heels and a matching tulle scarf gently wrapped around her neck, bringing out the color of her lavender, sleeveless, satin gown. “Stay professional, Linda.” She muttered to herself. “It’ll all be over soon.”

Jay arrived in Jorvik City two hours before the gala, only having the time for a quick bath before being sat into a hair-and-makeup chair, with their mother pacing up and down the hallways, rehearsing her speeches. Though they much preferred doing their own makeup, having a makeup artist for official events gave them some time to doze off in their seat, easing their mind before the nerves took over. 

Refusing to dress too formal for the gala, they wore a simple dark suit with subtle emerald embroideries and a white shirt that showed off just enough skin to make them feel like they put enough thought into their outfit. Their usual silver earring dangled in their right ear, paired with multiple matching rings and a necklace. 

They were supposed to be out in the main hall, greeting each guest with their parents, but that was the least of their worries at that moment. In the past, they would simply use duplication magic, allowing them to be in two places at once. But now, their powers had weakened so much after Garnok’s defeat that they just learned to live without them. 

Feeling their small dog brush against their leg, they sighed, moving her to her tiny bed in the corner of their bedroom, right beside the fireplace. “Luna, please, I can’t have hair all over me now.”

The papillon stared at them with a mischievous look, two pink bows decorating her big, butterfly-shaped ears. Jay couldn’t help but chuckle. “Did Mum give you those?” They handed Luna a yellow tennis ball, the dog’s favorite toy ever since she stole it from the nearby park and Jay just let her keep it. “You’ll have to stay here during the gala, okay? Can’t have you run around with so many guests.”

Managing to sneak right out their bedroom door without the dog following, they shut the door and locked it, shoving the key in their pocket. It was only for safety. Luna was too friendly for her own sake and way too clumsy. Seeing the amount of strangers sitting in their living room, they couldn’t help but roll their eyes, wishing they could just plug in their earbuds and disappear into a corner inside the family library. 

And that was when they saw her. 

Linda Chanda, decked out in traditional Pakistani jewelry, her wavy black hair draped over her shoulders and a tight purple gown that hugged her in all the right places. They completely froze, watching as she spoke to their parents with a big smile on her face, accepting a gift box that only the most special guests received. Just as Linda handed the package over to one of the butlers, her eyes caught Jay’s, her face falling the moment she realized who she was looking at. 

Jay simply couldn’t help themselves; Linda was too beautiful.

“Is that your crush?” Jonah interrupted the scene, eyeing his sibling with a confused glance. Pretending they didn’t hear the question, Jay headed down the marble staircase, slipping into the crowd of guests in the living room. 

Linda knew she needed to talk to Jay, but the waiters began offering wine and a couple of other influencers invited her to dance. She didn’t want to be rude and leave out of nowhere, but she excused herself to the bathroom, hoping to find a table she could place her glass of wine on. Noticing Jay leaning against a wall near the other side of the room, Linda tried to make her way towards them, almost tripping over her own feet in the process. 

And of course, just when she was trying to be careful, she tripped over a cable and stumbled right into Jay’s chest, the two knocking their chins together in the process. As if that hadn’t been enough, some of the wine spilled right onto Jay’s expensive white shirt. “Fuck.” She breathed out. “I’m so sorry, I… No, no, no…”

“Oh my fucking God, Linda.” Jay, entirely caught off guard, pulled Linda into the family library and shut the door behind the two of them, “What the hell? Can’t you watch your feet next time?”

“Your family should’ve thought about that before forgetting to put tables around the room.” She scoffed, annoyedly throwing her empty glass into one of the nearby trashcans. “Just change your shirt, what’s the big deal?”

“I have to be up on that fuckass stage, making a speech in about fifteen minutes.” They said, throwing their jacket onto one of the chairs as they hastily unbuttoned their shirt. “How do you expect me to sneak past over a hundred guests like this?”

Linda gulped at the sight of Jay’s naked upper body, pursing her lips, “Dish soap, uh, cold water… Kitchen…” 

Though she quickly turned her back to Jay, she moved her head just a little, catching a glimpse of their faded top surgery scars. Noticing her glance, Jay raised their head, giving Linda a deadpan. “Oh my God, will you at least stop pretending you aren’t staring?”

“I’m sorry, what do you expect me to do?” Linda groaned, feeling like tearing her hair out. She was starting to feel overwhelmed. “This wasn’t supposed to go this way. I need to talk to you about something, and it’s serious, so can we just find a quick solution and then sit down for a conversation?”

“Wait, I’ll call my brother. He’s sort of my go-to in situations like this.” They sighed, pulling out their phone from their pocket. “My parents let him have his phone for today and we share one of our wardrobes, so…”

“Right, of course, you must have multiple.” She rolled her eyes. Walking around the library, Linda was immediately taken aback by the amount of antiques stuffed on each shelf. She wasn’t brave enough to pick up any of them, in fear of breaking something, but she certainly envied the Chettiars for being able to afford books that cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Jorvik Shillings. 

“You know you’re allowed to touch them, right?” Jay said, now sitting on one of the sofas, arms crossed in front of their chest. Linda looked at each row like she had just found treasure, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her favorite classics. “I thought you wanted to talk to me, but it seems to me you’re distracted.”

The older raised a brow, giving Jay a deadpan, “I thought you had fifteen minutes? Shouldn’t you be rehearsing your speech, soon-to-be CEO of Chettiar Beauty?”

“Oh, so you’ve read the articles.”

“Everyone has read the articles,” Linda snickered. Finally, she approached Jay, hopping down beside them on the sofa. “Plus, based on the way your mother has been marketing you, it’s not that hard to guess.”

“Maybe.” Jay chuckled, pursing their lips. “So, will you finally tell me what you’ve been meaning to talk about, or do I have to play a guessing game? You know, I don’t necessarily enjoy that.”

“We should wait until afterwards.” She muttered with a sigh. “It’s long, and besides, it’s about one of my odd dreams again.”

“Odd dreams?”

Hearing knocks on the library door, Jay got up, their little brother sneaking in before they could grasp the shirt from him. “I have told you before, I am not your personal assistant!” Before continuing, Jonah spotted Linda, his eyes going wide in surprise. “So, this is what you’re doing? Seducing beautiful women in your free time? In the library ?”

“Ew, what? No.” Jay made a disgusted face, trying to get Jonah to leave as they grasped their shirt from his hands. “Oh my God, where’d you even learn that word? Get out!”

Linda let out a chuckle and waved at the young boy, “Your sibling and I were just talking.”

“Oh, girl, you have horrible taste.” Jonah shook his head and without saying anything further, he slammed the library door. 

“What the fuck?” Jay muttered under their breath, throwing on their shirt in a matter of seconds. 

“Your brother’s adorable.”

“No, and besides, he thinks I’m a loser, which immediately makes all his opinions invalid.” Seeing Jay’s annoyed expression, Linda laughed, watching as they pulled out their phone and used it as a mirror to get dressed in front of, moving their previous shirt’s emerald cufflinks to the new one before buttoning it up. “Do I look alright?”

“You look more than alright.” She smiled, getting up just to take a look at Jay while they were still adjusting their outfit. “You looked just as gorgeous before, but hey, I think this suit looks better with the black shirt. It gives off a more luxurious vibe, you know, what you like. Maybe you should thank me.”

“Yeah, and hire my brother as my stylist, right?” They joked, their fingers brushing into Linda’s long hair as she walked past them. “Please, though, no drinks for the upcoming hours or stay five feet away from me.” 

“Oh, of course, we don’t want your perfect outfit to get ruined.” Linda said, playfully messing up Jay’s hair with her hands. They may have hairsprayed it perfectly in place, but that didn’t stop her.

“Or yours.” Jay raised a brow and smirked, causing Linda’s face to heat up like she had just run a marathon. They then extended a hand towards Linda, “How’d you feel about being my date for the night? Not romantic, if you don’t want it to be, but we might as well make the best out of whatever magical bond we’ve got going on.”

Immediately, Linda accepted their hand, intertwining their fingers, “No romance is ironic considering we have history .”

“If that’s what you want to call it.”

“You broke it off before it could get real.”

“Which was a mistake.”

“Glad you can admit to that.” The two of them broke eye contact for a split second, but Linda turned towards Jay and gave them a small smile, caressing their knuckles with her thumb. “But I’d love to get to know you better this time around. Start all over again. Maybe we should take it slow without rushing things?”

Jay nodded, “Slow is fine.”

“Alright, then, I’d love to be your date tonight.”

They headed right back outside, Jay immediately ambushed by multiple influencers who asked them a series of uncomfortable and annoying questions. Linda stood back, snacking on some sandwiches as their parents got on stage and waited to make their big announcement. 

She made sure to take videos, documenting everything, and until it was time, she collected her thoughts about her dream, ensuring she wouldn’t miss a detail when talking about it to Jay. They had a long night ahead of themselves and they were both entirely unprepared for it. 

Chapter Text

Jay’s parents knew exactly what they were doing when they assigned them the role of CEO, Linda thought to herself.

The way they carried themself, their mannerisms, their speech… Every inch of their body oozed confidence. Having been raised in the modeling industry, Jay knew how to hide every insecurity or flaw, knowing people would dissect them for the smallest mistake. And, of course, with years of experience, they knew exactly how they wanted to present themself. “I would like to thank my parents for this opportunity. You’ve put so much trust in me and I promise not to disappoint. I truly hope to make you proud.”

After a round of guests congratulating them, Jay finally approached Linda and the two snuck upstairs into their bedroom. Linda was immediately taken aback by the sheer size of their bedroom, the antique furniture, ornate ceiling and the chandelier above their bed. Before she could express her shock, she felt someone pulling on the hem of her dress. Turning her head, she saw the papillon chewing on the fabric, pretending it was her new toy. “No, stop, bad dog!” Linda whisper-shouted, managing to free herself and jump onto Jay’s bed, high enough so that the dog couldn’t reach her. 

“Very sorry about her.” Jay sighed, making a disgusted face as they handed Luna the tennis ball covered in dog saliva. “Ugh, ew, I need to wash my hands.”

Linda chuckled, “What’s her name?”

“Luna.” They said as they walked into their bathroom, undoubtedly two times bigger than Linda’s room. Climbing to the edge of the bed, she peeked inside, her mouth falling open at the sight of the giant, built-in bathtub. She watched as Jay re-applied their brown lip gloss and wiped down the container before they threw it back into their makeup bag. 

“You’re still a neat freak.”

“You must admit, though, it makes me more attractive.” They removed their suit jacket, and after throwing it over their desk chair, they unbuttoned their shirt just enough for some of their chest to show through. “I’m sorry about the dog, but I can’t let her outside during an ongoing event. She’ll knock everything over.”

“No, I don’t mind, she’s super cute.” Linda smiled, watching as Luna settled down in her basket, distracted by the tennis ball. 

“God, I hate parties.” Jay sighed, throwing themself onto the bed, staring at their ceiling before turning towards Linda and brushing their fingers through her curls. “Thanks to you I have an excuse not to be there.”

Linda smiled and climbed closer to Jay, a couple holes forming in her nylons. “I stole this bag of prawn cocktail chips during your speech.”

“Crisps.” They said, immediately digging their hands into the bag and throwing quite a few into their mouth. “They’re crisps.”

“No, they’re chips! The packaging literally says so.”

“Bollocks…” Jay rolled their eyes playfully. “It’s crisps.“

“Bollocks?” Linda spoke in a fake-British accent, finally getting a smile out of Jay. “Oi, mate, crips are great, innit?”

“Linda Chanda is very pretty, innit?” They grinned, winking at Linda the moment they saw her become flustered. 

“You’re very British.”

“And you love it.”

“Fine, you win.” Linda let out a chuckle, reaching for Jay’s hands, silently examining each ring on their fingers. Their nails were painted a beautiful shade of copper, matching their smokey eyeshadow. “You’re very pretty too, Jay.”

“I know.” Hearing the cockiness in their voice, Linda playfully slapped their arm, making them burst into laughter. “What? You stated a pure fact there. I won’t be arguing, love.”

“Ugh, you…” She rolled her eyes as a joke, throwing herself onto bed beside Jay. “Before I get into my dream, have you been experiencing anything weird with your magic recently? If you even used it, that is.”

“My magic’s been sort of weak in recent years, so to be honest with you, I didn’t even try.” They shook their head, leaving out a sigh. “I mean, my thing was illusions, right? I never really made use of that in my daily life, other than duplication magic.”

Linda raised a brow, “Didn’t you trap Concorde’s soul in Pandoria all those years ago?”

“Yeah, but my abilities changed a lot throughout the years.” They shrugged and reached for a stack of napkins on their nightstand, patting off their lips. “Not that I ever truly knew what I could do. We didn’t have teachers, unlike you guys.”

“It’s a shame to be given such powers and then not be taught how to handle them.”

“Not everyone had the privilege of being born a Soul Rider.”

“Can you, maybe, try?” Linda asked, pursing her lips. “Simple duplication magic. It should be easy, right? Just so I can see.”

“Don’t get your hopes up.” Jay muttered. They got up from their bed and began casting a quick spell, their face focused as they created a clone of themselves. With how weak their powers were, the illusion didn’t last for more than two seconds. “Told ya. It’s not working.”

“How long has this been an issue?”

“I don’t know, years.” They shrugged, shoving their hands into the pocket of their slacks. “Unlike with Sabine or Katja, my powers came from Garnok. It’s only natural that they’d fade overtime.”

“Sure, but Sabine and Alex both complained about their powers either being out of control or super weak."

“As in?”

“Sabine burnt herself.” Linda said, her face almost in disbelief as the words came out of her mouth. “The same woman who could walk through fire without any harm coming to her. Then, Alex said she had caused an electric outage a couple days ago.”

Though Jay’s expressions usually weren’t entirely readable, their expression turned rather worried in the matter of a few seconds, “You do realize that’s really bad, right? Like really bad.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t get it.” Jay walked to their desk and pulled out a drawer they usually kept locked, searching for a stack of research papers they had kept hidden for years. “I have done a study on Sabine’s powers before, and they may have been corrupted at some point, but her fire never burnt out. That’s… her source of life. Same as the Soul Riders, just different.”

“Alright, maybe I truly don’t get it.” Linda shook her head and accepted the papers Jay handed to her, her fingers tracing their beautiful drawings and flawless handwriting. After about two minutes of silence, she pursed her lips and sighed, “Does she know about all this?”

“For the most part.” They said and settled in the leather armchair opposite their desk. “She’s had a couple near-death experiences due to Sands pushing her magic to extents it shouldn’t have been. You won’t hear her talking about those, but if her fire is burning out, it’s only a matter of time until she ends up alarmingly weak.”

“Is there anyone we could consult about this?”

“Not that I know of.” Jay shrugged. “I mean, okay, the Keepers probably know, but we former Dark Riders have been banned from entering Valedale Village. Entirely.”

“Soul Riders or Dark Riders, we are all traitors to them.” Linda sighed and bit her lips, her mind racing as she tapped her fingers on her thigh. “Shit, maybe if I consider all this, hearing Erissa’s voice in my dreams seems a lot more concerning.”

Jay’s face froze, “Erissa’s… voice?” 

“I was at Pine Hill Mansion.” She answered, closing her eyes in an effort to remember the details better. This would usually help. “I felt like I was sleepwalking, then I heard a child’s laugh and suddenly Freya was standing in front of me. She said we all failed her and that someone’s back. She said she’s suffering.”

“ How is she suffering? She’s dead. Buried.”

“Sure, but you know how much I believe in ghosts.” Linda insisted and handed the research papers back to Jay, who carefully shoved them back into the drawer. “What if we never truly defeated Erissa?”

“I don’t want to think about that.”

“Me neither.”

Before they could continue the conversation, a loud knock interrupted, “Jay, it’s time for an interview! Can you please come downstairs?”

“In a couple minutes, mum…” Jay muttered, rolling their eyes as they grabbed their jacket. Finally, they turned towards Linda. “Do you want to stay in my room and look at my notes, or should I drive you back to wherever you’re staying? I don’t want to keep you here. The gala is probably boring you, anyway."

“I think it’d be quite rude of me to just disappear in the middle of the gala.” Linda smiled and slipped her shoes on, standing up from Jay’s bed. “I don’t want to seem disrespectful. Your parents invited me so I’d post pictures, and I think they want me to promote the brand. They talked about wanting to support South Asian excellence or whatever.”

“To be fair, I think my mum just wants to set us up.” They laughed, heading back to the bedroom to fix their makeup all over again. “I think she assumes that we understand each other better because of our connection.”

“Which is true.”

“Mhm,” They nodded, pursing their lips to perfect their lipgloss. “I think she’s just worried. Plus, you know, I didn’t care to date anyone after you. I had been on dates, but I didn’t connect with anyone and she’s been trying to get me .”

“Oh,” Linda said. “I mean, I… I had a boyfriend and he cheated on me after a few months.”

“Cheated on?” Jay scoffed, turning back around. “What kind of douchebag would cheat on a woman like you?”

Feeling her cheeks heat up, Linda lowered her head and tried to hide her grin, unsure how to respond. She had long gotten over the breakup, but hearing those words coming from Jay further validated her feelings about the situation. “You don’t understand how much I appreciate you saying that.”

“No, Linda, genuinely,” They said, leaving the bathroom and closing the door behind them. “You are worth so much more than a fuckass weasel who can’t even understand how to treat you right. I mean it. I need you to know that.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “I have definitely understood that.”

Reaching out a hand towards her, Jay urged Linda into a hug and gently brushed their fingers through her hair, “Sometimes people only understand what they had once they’ve lost it. I myself had to learn that lesson.”

“Go to your stupid interview,” Linda said, pulling away, still holding their hand. “We can talk about this another time. You have my socials.”

“Are you forgetting you’re still my date for the night?”

Leaving out a chuckle, Linda shook her head, “Your very introverted date desperately wants some fresh air right now.”

“No worries, anything you need.” They smiled. Before heading out of the bedroom, Linda snapped a selfie of the two of them, posting on her story about reuniting with an old acquaintance. 

Acquaintance.

Not friend, not enemy, and definitely not lover. Nobody, other than her sister, knew anything about the former relationship and she wanted to keep it that way. 

Of course, her feelings towards Jay never truly faded. Magical connections don’t work that way. You don’t pick who you connect with, and you most definitely don’t pick who you fall in love with. It’s all about making things work, finding the right time and respecting each other’s boundaries.

Maybe they had never really made use of that bond. It was scary to think about, but if something or someone was calling them into battle again, everyone had to reunite. Eventually, they would have to open up to the others and explain all the secrets that surrounded them throughout all that rivalry. But if everyone’s powers were weakening, what would happen to her? She wasn’t a fighter. She couldn’t defend herself. Sure, she could dispel illusions and ask to be guided, but none of that would help her in battle. Not if her sisters couldn’t defend her. 

Shaking away her thoughts, Linda gobbled down her second glass of margarita as she sat outside on the patio, her eyes stuck on the full moon’s reflection in the poolwater. “We can’t let history repeat itself.”

Chapter Text

Lisa Peterson had taken a step back from the spotlight a little after Freya’s death. She was grieving, having just lost a friend, she couldn’t concentrate on her music, let alone on performances and fanmeetings. She spent most of her time at Starshine Ranch, helping out her father with everyday tasks and giving young kids music classes. She still released music here and there, but took her time, without pressuring herself too much. 

It was another sunny day on Jorvik. Lisa sat with her guitar in her at-home studio, about to pack away all her equipment when a whispery, cold, feminine voice broke her out of her thoughts. “I need your help.”

Jumping in fear, the former Soul Rider turned her head and sighed, picking up a couple cables so she wouldn’t trip over, “Jeez, Katja, I told you stop barging inside. Ring the doorbell.”

“I’m a witch. I will do as I wish.” The grey haired woman stood in the doorway, her skin paler than snow - almost translucent, even icy. Her dead eyes stared at Lisa with a puzzled expression. Many years may have passed, but Kaja didn’t become any less terrifying. 

Yet, there she was, standing in the same room as the woman she once called her mortal enemy, “Let me guess, my dad let you in?”

“No, your door was open, so I let myself in.” She shrugged. With a simple sigh, she dropped her violin case on the sofa and stepped closer to the redhead. “Holdsworth was away and I needed company. You seemed like a decent option.”

“Um, I would hope so,” Lisa nodded, taking one look at Katja’s clothing. All-black, crop-top, yoga pants and a zip-up sweater, hair falling just below her butt and lips tinted with a hint of red. “We are close.”

Finally, the witch gave her a crooked smile, “You got it.”

“Should I be worried?” 

“I’ve been lacking inspiration for months and I swear,” Katja shook her head, beginning to walk around the room like a frantic person. “Right after you posted that snippet on your Instagram story, I knew I had to come here.”

“And you’re more than welcome to, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t give me a heart attack anytime you show up.” Lisa said and carefully placed her electric guitar onto its stand. “I mean, you could’ve called me?”

“I spent over a hundred years imprisoned in a cage of permafrost. Smartphones aren’t my biggest interest.”

“Of course not,” Having heard the story more times than she could count, Lisa cleared her throat, “Where’s Mortifa, anyway? Didn’t you ride her here?”

“I walked.” She shrugged. “She’s at Moorland Stables. Now, will you finally hear me out?”

“I’m listening, girl.”

“I brainstormed some lyrics, and…” Katja pulled something from her pocket, a piece of paper, winky and crumpled up, her handwriting all over it. “I think we should form a duo.”

“Oh.”

“I know our music seems different at its core, but think about it.” She insisted, watching as Lisa grabbed her note and read through each line with interest. “We could create something incredible. Together.”

“I… Wow, that’s… a lot to consider.” Without saying anything further, the redhead dropped on the sofa and Katja followed her, grabbing onto a Build-a-Bear Elsa plushie. Lisa sighed, “Listen, I’ve grown such a soft spot for you-”

“And so have I!”

Lisa shook her head and chuckled, “It’s hard to imagine you having a soft spot for anything.”

“Okay, I did call you my mortal enemy at some point, but so much time has passed.” Katja said, shaking her head. “You were there for me when my only friends abandoned me. It’s why I trust you so much.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Lisa smiled, her hand caressing Katja’s cold arm through the warm fabric of the girl’s sweatshirt. Though the ice witch had learned a lot about controlling her powers, skin-to-skin contact could still give people frostbite. “It’s just… you’re now classically trained, I make country and rock music… Are you sure you don’t want to go solo?”

“Be honest, who would want me?” She hissed under her breath. “I can’t do live performances, or fanmeetings. I’d have to survive another witch hunt because I accidentally froze someone to death.”

“You’ve made a lot of progress with Holdsworth.”

“Lisa…”

“No, I get it.” The former Soul Rider nodded, thoughts racing as she began to consider Katja’s offer. Maybe it would’ve benefited both of them. “And I agree. We spend so much time together, I don’t see why we couldn’t form a duo.”

Seeing Katja’s usually lifeless eyes light up with hope, Lisa pulled her into a hug, careful so she wouldn’t come into contact with her cold skin. Katja wasn’t a big hugger, but when it came to her friend, or more than a friend at that point, she found letting herself go much easier. 

Their bond was unusual. 

They weren’t magically connected, but they were opposites - Lisa, the healer and Katja, the bringer of death. The Dark Riders, minus Erissa, were all captured after the fatal battle. Sabine and Jay were let go after a couple hours, banned from ever entering Valedale Village or Hollow Woods again. Katja, unfortunately, didn’t have it so easy. She was interrogated for days, spending days in captivity until Mrs. Holdsworth offered to care for her. 

Katja hated being pitied, but she knew if it wasn’t for her, she would’ve never made it out of imprisonment. And after all the former Dark Riders cut contact with her, Lisa came into picture. They spent a lot of time together, traveling, driving Katja to therapy - of course, to someone trustworthy, another witch recommended to her by Mrs. Holdsworth. 

Still, all of that didn’t change her homesickness. She missed Dino Valley, the tribe she grew up in, its endless forests and cold climate. The fact that the entrance had been opened again, but she couldn’t step foot in Valedale Village made her feel like her banishment was neverending. 

There was just no getting used to it.

Linda and Jay didn’t stop talking after the gala. 

The two kept in contact every single day, talking for hours, but it was all kept professional - no romance or flirting, almost as if both of them were afraid to make the first move. Then again, Jay was incredibly busy. They had multiple days throughout the day, choosing to leave their personal phone at home. Out of sight, out of mind. There was no time to worry about magical business when real business decisions had to be made. 

That was why the two decided it’d be better for them to meet face-to-face. 

Jay walked their dog every night, without exception. Luna, who was very much given that name in honor of Linda, loved the outdoors and refused to miss out on the long walks they both so deeply loved. This time around, someone was invited to join them. 

Waiting outside the Chettiar mansion, Linda felt herself startled the exact moment the wrought-iron gates opened and the in-ground lamps lit up the path in front of her. She took her time walking up to the front door, but almost tripped and fell into the fountain in the center of the front yard. She rushed up the stairs, but as soon as she was about to ring the doorbell, the door swung open. “I’m starting to think you will never outgrow your clumsiness. I’m glad I didn’t have to fish you out of the fountain.”

Linda could feel her face heat up in embarrassment, “Good evening to you too, Jay.”

“First time today that someone has addressed me by my name and not as their boss.” Jay rolled their eyes, walking outside with Luna and shutting the entrance behind them. “It actually feels refreshing.”

“What’s it like being CEO?”

“I’m starting to regret my decisions.” They sighed and shoved the keys into their pocket. “I’m only joking, but I’ve never been so exhausted. I’m not sure how long I can keep these daily walks with Luna going.”

Though Linda was listening, she was too distracted seeing Jay in casual clothing, far more dressed down compared to their usual attire. They would always dress formally, expensive, perfectly neat, as someone would imagine an heir of a billionaire family to look like. Though, this time around, there was no tight waistcoat, patterned tie or shiny jewelry. Instead, they wore an oversized hoodie with men’s athletic bermuda shorts and high-rise Nike Air Force 1 sneakers. They were barefaced, their freckled, golden dark skin shining under the outdoor lights. 

It was a rare sight to behold. That one silver earring still dangled in their right ear. And, of course, those emerald eyes… “You’re going to laugh in my face, but this is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen you look.”

“No, I’m getting my lashes done tomorrow and then you can call me beautiful.”

Linda chuckled, “You do know you can say thank you sometimes, right?”

“Thank you, Linda.” Jay said, a playful smirk on their face. “Is that good enough? Or must I give you a 10 page long handwritten letter about how much your words have touched me?”

“Only 10? I thought you’d give me at least 20.”

“Great, well, you’ll get those 20 pages by tomorrow night.” They grinned, eyes traveling to Linda’s lips, a cherry-tinted lip balm on her lips. “Don’t underestimate my writing skills, my moon. I was known for writing some beautiful poetry in my university days.”

“Well then, I’m looking forward to it.” Linda smiled, eyes still locked with Jay, who hadn’t taken their eyes off her since the beginning of their conversation. “I expect it to be Jane Austen quality.”

“You want Jane Austen? You’ll get Jane Austen.”

“I can’t wait.

“Anyway,” They cleared their throat, brushing a hand through their bangs that desperately needed a trim. “Should we get going? Luna is getting impatient.”

“Aren’t your legs cold?”

“Oh, nah, you know, I just wanted to show off my hairy legs.” They joked, the two finally making their way outside the front gate. “On a serious note, though, I’ll be fine. I tend to go on long walks and I don’t get cold easily.”

“Lucky you.” Linda laughed. “I have a jacket, but I’m still freezing. I’m glad the weather’s cooled down, though.”

“My British ass cannot handle heat whatsoever. Jorvik is kind of the sweet spot, I feel.”

“Oh, no, I fully understand.” Linda said, forming her lips into a smile as Luna brushed herself against her legs. “My parents roll their eyes anytime I tell them I can’t handle warm weather whenever we’re in Pakistan. I can’t help it. I love the winter and don’t get a lot of snow over there.”

“Right? I love snow. My parents and I love going to Manali for ski trips."

“Yeah, your entire wardrobe feels so winter themed, it’s almost hard to imagine you in summer clothes.”

“Hey, I have a couple short-sleeved button ups.” They shrugged and made sure the house’s gate was closed entirely before turning to the left, heading towards one of the largest parks in the city. “I have my own style, you know, I like my clothes quite formal. Summer… it’s just not for me, you know?”

Linda chuckled, “You’re one of those fashion over comfort types of people, aren’t you?”

“Listen, I’m a model, people care about what I wear.”

“Jay, you pretty much started modeling as soon as you got out of the womb. I think it’s okay to chill sometimes.” She smiled at them, grasping Jay’s hand as she intertwined their fingers. “It’s okay to go out barefaced, doesn’t have to be in the middle of the night, and a hoodie is just fine.”

“I won’t argue that these sneakers are far more comfortable than my usual high heel Chelsea boots.”

“Right, anyway,” Linda shook her head and began caressing their hand with her thumb. “Do you walk your dog everyday?”

“Oh, yeah, she’ll scratch on the door every night if I don’t take her outside.”

“That’s sweet.” 

Seeing Linda’s hesitant expression, unsure of what to say next, Jay decided to break the ice and address some of the worries she might have been dealing with. “Moon, if you would like to talk about your dreams, you’re more than welcome to. No need to wait for me to ask. That's why I’m here.”

“I know,” The former Soul Rider muttered, “Yes, I should be, but we have so much catching up to do and you’re always busy. I don’t want to seem like I’m only using you for your brains.“

“If this makes you feel better, I don’t interpret the situation as such.”

“Good to know.”

“Is it better if I ask questions?”

“Yes, please.”

“Alright, no worries,” Jay nodded, taking a quick second to gather their thoughts. They had taken a couple notes about Linda’s dream, but some of the details were still unclear. “How sure are you that you were walking through Pine Hill Mansion?”

“There is zero doubt in my mind.” Linda answered and pursed her lips. “The entirety of the last battle replayed in my head. Something or someone was calling me, but I had no control over my body.”

“Huh, interesting.” They said, mind racing. “With all honesty, it sounds like you had a vision. You said you spoke to Freya, right?”

“Yes, and I know you don’t believe in ghosts, but I swear it was her.” 

“I never said I don’t.” They muttered with a chuckle. “Look, I was raised Hindu, so that's what shaped my personal views on mythology. My nan, obsessed with the supernatural, always talked about a creature called the bhut. It’s the ghost of someone who died a violent death. They’re restless because they cannot move on.”

“Go on.”

“This is just my interpretation, but maybe she’s suffering and trying to make contact with you?”

“Yes!” Linda exclaimed, perhaps too loud. There wasn’t anyone else on the street, but if they had been, they would’ve certainly given her a couple stares. “Those were her exact last words to me. I think I forgot to mention that.”

“Right, well,” Jay nodded. “On one hand, she could just be trying to contact you, but given that you mentioned hearing a child’s laugh, I don’t think we can cross out Erissa’s involvement.”

“I have a feeling I know where this is going.”

“We should travel to Pine Hill.” They answered, speaking the exact words Linda was worried to hear. “I know it’s dangerous because my magic doesn’t work anymore, but we have to try. If the situation is really as bad as it seems, we might need to reunite with our respective groups.”

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“And I would.”

“Which is completely valid.”

Just thinking back to their Dark Rider days sent shivers down Jay’s spine, “Coming to the conclusion that I wasn’t conceived like an actual human and wasn’t one for the majority of my life totally didn’t fuck with my self-esteem.”

“Yeah, I know,” Linda said. “I’m sorry.”

Finally, Jay’s lips formed into a smile and they nodded, “Pointing out that I was an alien baby would be a good icebreaker, don’t you think?”

“Whatever.” Linda smiled, rolling her eyes playfully. There wasn’t a time Jay didn’t bring this up in conversation. “Topic change, Jay-Jay. I don’t want to hear about more alien baby stuff.”

“Imagine if someone heard this out of context. They’d think we’re insane.”

“Jorvegians are used to it by now.”

“Bollocks! Bollocks, I’m telling you,” They chuckled, ending up laughing at themself. “I’m not sure that’s even possible. I’ve lived here, for what? Nine years? I’m still not used to all the mess this island has to offer. I don’t think I ever will be.”

“But you like it here, don’t you?”

“Yeah, very much so.” They agreed. “It’s funny. People assume because I grew up in London, I would do anything to get away from the chaos that is Jorvik. Absolutely not. I like it here. It’s the only place I have ever felt accepted for being me.”

“I fully get what you mean.” Linda nodded. “Honestly, I feel the same. Punjab and England will always have a soft spot in my heart, but Jorvik is where I feel the most like myself.”

Jay cocked a brow, “So, why won’t you stay?”

“I already have an apartment in Oxford.” She shrugged, zipping up her sweater as she felt herself become colder. “I love living with my aunt in Jarlaheim, but it’s become too small.”

“Well, move in with me!” Jay offered, without much hesitation. They just wanted to help where they could, and certainly would’ve appreciated some company. “I have a penthouse that I fully own. It’s large enough for you to have some privacy, besides, with those visions you’re having, I think you might need someone to keep you sane.”

“A penthouse?”

“Yeah, it’s on the highest floor of a hotel my uncle owns.” They answered. They spoke as if it was no big deal, but to Linda, it very much so was. “Hotels tend to be busy, but I can reassure you, you won’t hear a thing. There’s a private elevator.”

“Wow, well…” Linda nodded, thoughts racing. “I mean, I could… It’s just, all my stuff is in Oxford and then I have to move out.”

“I would be more than glad to help you with the process.”

“Fine.” She smiled. “Let’s go for it.”

The two of them took the turn towards the park, settling on a bench while Jay allowed Luna to play around, in a specific area designated for dogs. The streets were mostly empty, streetlights on, but the people of Jorvik didn’t enjoy leaving their houses at night. A large majority of the island didn’t use cars and relied on horses or public transport. Of course, Jorvik City was entirely different, but despite the larger traffic, the nights were often silent. It may have been the biggest city on the island, but it was still perfectly safe and the night was perfect for those who wished for some alone time. 

The sound of footsteps cut through the silence, making both of them turn their heads, spotting a tall figure decked out in black and red sportswear. The woman’s long ponytail swooshed in the wind as she jogged through the park, stopping near a tree to catch a breath and drink water. Feeling someone’s gaze on her, she made eye contact with Jay, the latter’s face fell, looking away almost immediately. “Sometimes I forget how small this city is.” 

“Oh,” Linda muttered, pursing her lips. She simply waved at the tall woman. “Hey, Sab!”

“Hi,” The woman said, then showed her water bottle back inside her running belt. Without any further words, she put in her earbuds and hurried away. 

Linda gave Jay a rather worried glance, “Did something happen between the two of you?”

“As in?”

“Animosity… Disagreements…”

“Well, not necessarily,” They shrugged, sighing as they grabbed the ball from their dog’s mouth and threw it again. “It’s far more complicated than that. Sabine needed someone to blame for keeping her at Dark Core and I was the perfect option. Not that she had nothing to blame me for, but I was just as much of a victim as she was.”

“You absolutely were. All of you.”

“She was also my only friend for the longest time,” They bit their lips. “Especially, you know, she was the first person I ever came out to. Now she’s getting married and I’m not even invited to the wedding.”

Linda raised her brows, shocked, “Wait, you knew about the engagement? Was I the only one unaware?”

“Alex told me that night out at the lesbian bar.”

“Oh, well, but…” Linda hesitated, unsure what to say. “Alex thought she wasn’t invited either. Sabine told her just recently that she is and sent out an invitation. I also got one.”

“Look,” Jay shook their head. Though they could’ve gone into more detail, they chose to keep it at minimum. “The last few years we worked at Dark Core, she and I could barely stand each other. She was the favorite, I was treated the worst, so naturally a lot of arguments erupted about that.”

“That’s…”

“I was devastated.” They muttered. “You know, when you learn the only reason you were brought to this Earth was to be used, you kind of don’t want to be here anymore. My purpose was being a Dark Rider, and after Freya died, all hell broke loose.”

“I’m assuming you and Katja wanted to continue fighting for Garnok, but she didn’t?”

“We were inconsiderate. I know that now.”

Seeing them become emotional, Linda wrapped her arms around Jay, pulling them closer as a sign of affection, “We all made some horrible mistakes during that time. It was our way of coping with what had happened.”

“You know, Freya’s grave has fresh flowers every week,” They said, holding back tears as they buried their face in Linda’s chest. “Sabine never forgot about her.”

“I remember being so judgemental when she told me they were dating.”

“Yeah,” Jay formed their lips into a small smile, “Then you saw me and suddenly your whole view changed, huh?”

“It wasn’t that sudden,” Linda giggled, feeling her cheeks warm up, “But I gotta say, when I first faced you after all those years, when you stole Holdsworth’s papers, you most certainly made me question everything I stood for.”

“Good to know I’m so attractive I make people question their religion.”

“Okay, I will admit, I was hoping you would turn to Aideen at one point.” She laughed. It all sounded so ridiculous now. “Then, when I kissed you before the Dark Ceremony, I had clearly gone far from my previous indoctrination. And yes, you are that attractive.”

“Trust, I was still deep in it during the Dark Ceremony.” They said, head still buried in Linda’s chest, just taking in her warmness and sweet perfume. “I never felt guilty for having you around, though. I thought if Sabine could do it, why couldn’t I?”

“You had a point.”

“Yeah, I’m glad you’re back, by the way.” Jay nodded. “I’m sorry I constantly left you on delivered.”

“While liking my posts, too.” Linda smiled, letting go of Jay at last, just to brush her fingers through their bangs. “You’d comment now and then, too. Talk about mixed signals.”

“Trust me, I didn’t know what I was doing, either.”

“I’ve realized.”

“Alright, well then, Pine Hill Mansion tomorrow?” Jay asked, propping their leg up on the bench to tighten their shoelaces. “The NorthLink’s open now, and the village is about three or four hours by car, with stops in between.”

“I was hoping we could take our horses, but I guess it’s much safer this way.” Linda said, but grabbed her phone almost immediately to check the map. “If Erissa really is there, she might think our horses are a threat. Getting them into danger is not a solution.”

In that second, a deep voice interrupted their conversation, “What do you mean Erissa?”

Linda and Jay both jumped, turning towards the source of the voice. It was none other than Sabine towering over them, hands crossed in front of her chest, face fuming in anger. She had clearly overheard their conversation and refused to leave without answers. Jay felt like digging themself a hole, “How much did you overhear?”

“Oh, just everything. I have always had exceptional hearing, you know.” Sabine said, grabbing onto her long hair to tighten her already extremely tight ponytail. Linda couldn’t understand how she managed to keep it so long and luscious, still shining under the park lights, without a dead end in sight. “From you saying I blamed you for my problems and that you weren’t invited to my wedding, which by the way, barely has a guest list yet, to you suddenly talking about Pine Hill Mansion. I need to know what’s going on.”

“Listening in on other people’s conversations is rude.”

“I don’t care, I will not let you go there alone.” She scoffed, eyes fixed on Jay, both threatening and protective. “You cannot, I repeat, cannot defend yourself against Erissa. Neither of you. You’re not fighters.”

“Neither are you, hell, your magic is broken,” Jay clicked their tongue. “I heard it all, Sabine. You burnt yourself. You’re just as useless as any of us.”

“That was a one time incident.” Sabine insisted. “I was the lead general, the most powerful Dark Rider. I hacked that child demon out of that tree with the rúnhammar and I will send her back myself. I don’t care what’s at stake.”

“Okay, no, backtrack, immediately…” Linda couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “The rúnhammar? As in Galloper Thompson’s splitting maul? You had it?”

“The Vala gave it to me. I earned it fair and square. It’s mine now.”

“Suddenly I need to lie down.”

“Is this really what you’re the most worried about right now?” Sabine raised her brows. “If you had any concerns about Erissa returning, you should’ve told me. I can’t believe I had to find out this way.”

Linda sighed, “You can come with us tomorrow, but I swear to Aideen, if you tell Alex anything, we’ll have a problem.”

“It’s not a matter of whether I can or cannot, I would’ve gone either way.”

“Fine, upon one condition.” Jay rolled their eyes. “If you let both of us spend the night at your place tonight, you can come. My parents will get suspicious if I leave early.”

Caught off guard, Linda shook her head, somewhat confused, “Wait, why? I could still go back to Jarlaheim.”

“We need to get going right after sunrise.” The two former Dark Riders said in unison, both scoffing the moment they made eye contact with each other. Linda knew this would eventually become a problem, but tried not to argue. At the end of the day, Sabine was right. They could’ve easily walked right into one of Erissa’s traps. 

They needed her there.

Sabine’s apartment was closer than Linda expected. 

Governor’s Fall was further from where she grew up, but near the Chettiar home, while Jay’s penthouse was in the city’s financial district. Of course, the apartment was nothing short of luxurious, the red and black theme consistent throughout the entire place. A few pink items were also thrown around, possibly belonging to Loretta, but Sabine kept everything in line. Nothing was allowed to look out of place. 

If Linda was being honest, Sabine hadn’t changed that much from her Dark Rider days. Sure, she was far more approachable, and absolutely adored by her students, but she was still just as tough, strict and overconfident as ever. Maybe she allowed her emotional side to show through more than before, but at the end of the day, she was still quite closed off. 

“Y’all can sleep in the guest bedroom,” She said to Linda, as Jay had gone back to their family home to grab a few of their belongings. Without saying much else, Sabine slid a door open, not only showing off her personal gym but allowing Linda to catch a glimpse of the infamous rúnhammar. It was tucked away into a corner, a black belt wrapped around the handle, perhaps so it’d be easier to grip and of course, because it was her own now. 

Linda’s face lit up with excitement, “Can I touch it?”

“If you drop it on your leg, I’m not giving you first aid.” Sabine rolled her eyes, watching as Linda took a couple steps closer and slid her fingers across the metal face, including the carvings. “No mention of this to anyone, by the way. It’s mine.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Linda sighed, backing away immediately. “I just don’t understand why you’d want to keep an artifact that was commissioned by a colonizer to destroy our island’s runestones.”

Giving Linda a deadpan, Sabine scoffed. Annoyed, she grabbed the hammer and placed it inside her gym closet. “It’s not about what it represents, I just think it looks neat.” Finally, she slid the door closed again. With a simple move she yanked her hair tie out of her hair, setting free her knee-length raven curls. “I’ll say this once. If you’re having weird dreams and visions again, for the sake of everyone’s safety, you cannot keep those a secret. Especially not if they are connected to Freya.”

“You’re right, and I apologize. It won’t happen again.” Catching a glimpse of Sabine’s sleeveless Dark Rider jacket on a hanger, Khaan’s bridle with her Dark Rider symbol and the red uniform that probably no longer fit her, Linda pursed her lips. “Is that meant to be a time capsule?”

“Don’t judge me too much.” The tall woman sighed, slamming the closet door shut. “We all need to cope somehow. My symbol is still on my bedroom wall, hidden by a lesbian flag because I’d be too sad to paint over it.”

“No judgement here. That was a big part of your life.”

“I didn’t know you had a fling with Jay, though.” The former Dark Rider said, leaning against the doorframe. “Not that you two don’t make sense, but I heard you didn’t approve of my relationship with Freya, so I didn’t think another Soul Rider would fall for one of us.”

“Each of us have magical counterparts.” Linda explained. “Yours is Anne, except my connection with Jay goes deeper. It was pre-destined.”

“I know. Freya thought that was what we had, but she turned out to be wrong.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Look, she made her choice.” Sabine said, a sigh leaving her lips. “Freya wanted out of this world long before she came to Jorvik. I found her diary, read it and eventually gave it to her parents. We couldn’t have helped her if we tried.”

“Yeah, but…” Linda sighed, hopping onto the black leather sofa. “She showed up in that dream of mine, as a ghost. She said she’s suffering.”

“And you believe that?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure what to believe anymore.”

“I’m not saying it’s impossible, but you cannot fall for everything.” The former Dark Rider scoffed, arms crossed in front of her chest. “Erissa had a way of getting into people’s heads. If she truly is back, we need to be cautious. Her magic knows no boundaries, except the source of it isn’t Garnok anymore.”

The doorbell interrupted the conversation. Sabine walked up to the entrance and upon seeing that it was Jay, she let them inside. They had since then changed their clothes, dressed in a green turtleneck tucked into black slacks, their small waist adorned with a brown YSL belt, the silver buckle matching their earring. They slid off their high-heeled Chelsea boots effortlessly, handing Linda a large shopping bag, “I got you some stuff for tomorrow, assuming you’re not planning on wearing the same things as today.”

“You sure took your time with your outfit.” Sabine clicked her tongue. “What, Jey Chettiar cannot be seen in a hoodie and sneakers?”

“I had dog hair all over me.”

“Hardly, neat freak. You two better not get up to any funny business in the guest bedroom.”

“Why would you even…?” Jay shook their head, but quickly brushed away their annoyance. “Listen, Luna wasn’t happy we went back early and I had to cuddle her until she fell asleep. Also, just to be clear, I have a lash appointment tomorrow evening which I cannot postpone…”

Sabine cut them off, “Yeah, sure, your lashes are truly our biggest priority and not the possibility that we could DIE!” She groaned, heading to her kitchen to pour herself a glass of red wine. “No offense Jay, but I fully understand why Sands never sent you on missions. You have zero clue about safety.”

“I was sent on missions, besides, for half a year I was recovering from top surgery.”

“You were asked to fetch something two times and both times you failed.”

“Oh, right, just like when you were deliberately told to avoid the Soul Riders at the Equestrian Festival, yet you spent your afternoons shagging Freya at the stable’s guesthouse.”

The Fire rider was flabbergasted, “Jesus Christ, Jay, how do you even know any of this?”

“Freya told Linda, duh.”

Linda pursed her lips, “Detail for detail.”

“Okay, well, that was Freya for you.” Sabine scoffed. She pushed two other glasses towards the other two, Jay placing it right back on the counter after one sip. Linda didn’t mind the taste as much. “Do we really need to analyze the choices I made at nineteen? I am literally engaged to the love of my life now. Besides, clearly, you two were getting up to it at Fort Maria, too.”

“We slept together once and that was at my house.” They answered. “That wine tastes disgusting, by the way.”

“That’s not what I meant, but I see the truth does come out one by one, after all.”

“Guys, please, stop this ridiculous act.” Linda said. She was getting tired of the constant arguing and was going to fix their friendship, no matter the cost. “We all had our strengths and weaknesses. Sabine, you were an incredible leader, but Jay kept you grounded. You used to be best friends.”

At last, Sabine agreed, “She’s got a point.”

“I don’t want us to hate each other,” Jay shook their head, voice low. “It’s what Sands and Darko wanted. They didn’t want us to trust each other, so we’d constantly have to be cautious and worry about facing a punishment for not acting right.”

“Hell, I will never defend the druids, but I’m glad Darko’s rotting away in prison.” Sabine said, biting the inside of her cheek as she remembered the day of her interrogation. “I could’ve been in that position, which is honestly extremely terrifying to think about.”

Linda wasn’t sure what to say, “You guys still helped save Jorvik from Garnok. ”

“I’m just glad I barely have magic at this point.” Jay said as they played around with the spice jars on the counter. “I was hoping I could finally live a normal life. I suppose that’ll never happen. I don’t know what I’ll do if the Dark Riders have to reunite again.”

“Let’s not worry about this right now.” Sabine nodded. “We’ll go to Pine Hill tomorrow and Linda, pay close attention to your dreams. Each detail could be a clue."

When the time came to finally settle down and fall asleep, Linda could barely help herself. She cuddled up to Jay’s chest, inhaling their coconut-scented fabric softener. Somehow it calmed her nerves, even if she couldn’t quite fall asleep. 

Instead of the expensive set Linda expected, Jay slept in a faded Oxford University t-shirt and checkered blue pyjama pants that they claimed was so not their color. Still, that was the last thing Linda cared about, especially if she got to hold their hand. They still hadn’t kissed, both worried it would be too quick of a move, especially when they were both equally stressed. “I attended one gala and now I’m in bed with the company’s CEO.” Linda said, glasses on the nightstand as she traced Jay’s collarbones with her free hand. “The jokes write themselves.”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Jay said, running their fingers through Linda’s hair. “It’s not like I bring girls up to my bedroom after every single event. This isn’t even my bedroom.”

“Okay, but do you like me like that?” Linda asked as she propped her head up to make eye contact with theirs. “I mean, I know we said we’re moving slow, but…”

Before she could finish, Jay pressed a quick peck on her lips, “I do like you like that.”

“Oh, okay…” Feeling her heartbeat become faster and faster, her face heated up soon enough, too. Too shy to lean into a proper kiss, she returned the peck and let out an embarrassed chuckle as she pressed her head back into Jay’s chest. “So… I can call you my partner, right? We, sort of, never did that thing.”

Jay nodded, “I think we’re both ready now.”

“Yeah,” Linda’s lips curled into a smile as she let out a sigh of relief. “And I’m thankful that it’s you.”