Soul Riders (Book 1)

by Helena Dahlgren

  She was suddenly aware of someone grabbing her leg. Her riding boot slipped out of her stirrup and she struggled to keep her balance. Her horse galloped faster and faster. At the same time, the grip around her leg grew firmer, tightening like a vice.

  Don’t look down, a voice said suddenly. Whatever you do, don’t look down.

  She couldn’t help herself and looked down. She gasped when she saw the enormous black tentacles wrapped around her leg. They’ve caught me, she thought. She heard her horse scream and then she screamed, too, louder and louder as the suction cups on the tentacles clamped down harder. She was stuck in their grasp, she was never going to break free . . .

  “Lisa! Breakfast!”

  She opened her eyes and saw her dad standing in the doorway wearing an apron. The air was full of the delicious smell of melted butter and fresh coffee.

  Lisa sat up in bed. Even though she’d been asleep for over eight hours, her body still felt like she’d just run a marathon. She gingerly folded back the covers and looked at her legs. No tentacles. Of course there weren’t. What was she thinking?

  A few minutes later she was in the kitchen, but as soon as she sat down to join her dad at the table, he got up with an apologetic gesture.

  She realized he was wearing his work clothes under his apron.

  “I’m so sorry, sweetie, but I have to go in to work today. Boss’s orders, I’m afraid. Apparently I need to get started on that Nox Nucleus project right away. We’ll have to do our tour of the island another day. Soon, okay?”

  What a surprise, Lisa thought to herself. What was it he said again? Everything was going to be different on Jorvik? Yeah, right.

  “All right,” she replied. “See you later.”

  “Make sure you do something fun,” her dad said. “Have a look around.”

  She just nodded.

  He was almost out the door when he turned around. “You’re going over to Jorvik Stables today, right? It would be good for you to meet some friends your own age again. Maybe even be around some horses. I put some money on the counter for you, and a map of the island. But it’s probably easier if you use your phone,” he said with a chuckle. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be back around five and I’m making dinner. I was thinking lasagna. Your favorite.”

  Lasagna was not Lisa’s favorite dish. Not anymore. Lasagna was Isa’s favorite. But she was feeling too sleepy to argue.

  Her dad lingered in the doorway, hesitating. He turned around again, like he wanted to tell her something. But then he turned to leave.

  “See you tonight!” he called on his way out.

  Lisa looked around the kitchen—the empty pizza box, the papers, the clock on the microwave that let her know it was later than she had thought. Through the small window above the sink, she could see a gnarled oak tree with limbs so heavy they were practically tapping on the glass. A small squirrel was making its way up the tree. She heard the sound of a car engine and guessed it was the neighbors across the meadow.

  Her first morning in her new home. She wasn’t quite sure how she had imagined it, but this was certainly not it. Everything felt stiff and hard to adjust to, like when you first put on a new pair of jeans.

  In the end, she finally got up and ate the breakfast her dad had left out on the kitchen island. She spooned some jam on top of her pancakes and topped them off with the fresh blueberries her dad had left in a bowl.

  She idly picked up the free paper sitting on the kitchen table. A gold-colored card fell out of the centerfold. A gust of wind from the open window made the card flutter gently in the air before it landed next to Lisa’s feet. She picked it up and read the text:

  ARE YOU STAR MATERIAL?

  Welcome to The Jorvik Academy for the Performing Arts—where dreams come true and stars are born. We are currently accepting applications for the spring term. Visit our website for more information.

  At the bottom of the ad, which was printed on thick, elegant paper, was a picture of the famous singer Cindy. Lisa had heard her music but had no idea that she was from Jorvik or that she had been a student at the performing arts school here.

  In the picture, the beautiful singer was standing on stage holding a sparkling blue guitar. She looked like a warrior woman with her mouth open mid-song and one fist pumped in the air. Powerful. Determined. Undeniable.

  What would it feel like to captivate an audience like that? Lisa wondered if someone so famous ever got nervous before she stepped out onto stage.

  How do you know when your life is about to change forever? Do you feel it before it happens? Or only afterward? What was this singer’s life like before she became so famous? Lisa’s stomach turned.

  She decided to check out the school’s website. What did she have to lose?

  Maybe this could be something for me, she thought. Something new. Something other than horse-related anxiety and a longing for a home that no longer existed because her mom no longer existed.

  At her last school, she joined the school choir and took a guitar class.

  Her teacher encouraged her to take private lessons, too, but she had never gotten around to setting that up, even though her dad had seemed to think it was a good idea.

  When she found out they were moving to Jorvik, she wasn’t sure what would happen with her music. Would the local school have good music teachers? Would they even offer music classes? She had no idea what to expect.

  Lisa carried her teacup with her into what was going to become her dad’s study. It was a good thing she had nagged him into getting the Wi-Fi up and running the night before.

  She made a few Internet searches and discovered that The Jorvik Academy for the Performing Arts was actually one of the top music schools in the world. A few more clicks indicated that Jorvik seemed to be a hotspot on the international music map. How had she missed that?

  She had been so busy dreading yet another move and her dad had been going on so much about the horses in Jorvik that she hadn’t bothered to do any of her own research. For the first time she felt a tinge of excitement about this new place. Maybe there would be more to this island than she thought.

  The morning sun had risen above the birch trees while Lisa filled out the school’s application form. She wrote a long and passionate essay about singers and songwriters that have been important to her, her favorite songs, and her dreams for the future. She revealed things she’d never dared to tell anyone about, just contemplated in private. Meanwhile, she sang along to Cindy’s most recent album and thought about how amazing it would be to go to the same school as her. Maybe they could even perform together one day?

  Lisa let her daydreams sweep her away. Before long, she was the one on stage. Her acoustic guitar had been exchanged for an electric one.

  Stars, stars, stars in your eyes, she sang, looking straight out into the faceless audience and the empty kitchen. She wrote the song herself last year but had never sung it to anyone.

  The tea in the blue floral cup had gone cold. She walked back into the kitchen to make a fresh cup. While the tea was brewing, she checked the fridge and started making a grocery list. Milk, apple juice, cheese, Greek yogurt with honey, and fruit. She sighed. Could she just write “EVERYTHING” on the list and give to her dad, or did she need to be more specific?

  In the end, she realized she was postponing the unavoidable. She had to go to the stables today and give the saddlebag back to Alex. She’d have to finish her application another day. She returned to the computer and saved the application for later. With butterflies in her stomach and last night’s nightmare running through her body like a dull, thumping baseline, she put her shoes on, checked the map, and unlocked the front door.

  The bike her dad had mentioned was parked in the driveway. It looked brand new, with well-pumped tires and fancy, complicated- looking gears. Lisa strapped Alex’s saddlebag onto the panniers and then sat dow
n on one of the porch steps. An old lady was walking her dog in the meadow. She waved cheerily to Lisa when she spotted her. Lisa waved back and opened Google Maps on her phone. She didn’t want to bother with her dad’s printed map—how old-school could you get?

  The sun was warm. Lisa grabbed her water bottle and then locked the door behind her.

  Okay, she told herself as she stepped back out onto the porch. Now or never.

  She checked the map on her phone one last time to get her bearings, and then she was off. She pedaled just fast enough to keep the unpleasant thoughts at bay. For a while, at least.

  The smell of warm pine needles filled her nose as she rode along the winding roads, trying to remember the way.

  The road got narrower and narrower, becoming more of a path than a road. The surface was bumpy from all the hoof tracks in the mud. She stopped to check her phone again to make sure that she was on the right track.

  It shouldn’t be much farther now.

  5

  Finally—though it still really felt too soon—Lisa was standing outside the intricate wrought iron gates of Jorvik Stables, which were flanked on either side by two rearing, marble horses. From a distance, she could see a few riders in a meadow that began where the stable yard ended. Beyond that, there was a glimpse of forest and, farther still, high mountains against the blue horizon. Behind the stable was the sparkling blue of the sea. It looked like a painting.

  The main stable seemed to be large and well kept, with several paddocks, indoor rings, and stable buildings. It was surrounded by a wall that had been constructed from the same pale-yellow bricks as the buildings. It was far bigger than Lisa’s previous stable.

  She parked her bike in the bike rack. There was someone saddling up in the gravel yard outside the main entrance. Lisa recognized her jacket. The girl turned around—it was Alex. She lit up when she spotted Lisa.

  “Oh, hi, Lisa! You came!” Alex smiled, squinting in the bright sun. “It’s so hot today; do you want something to drink?”

  Alex patted her horse. Before Lisa had time to reply, Alex threw her the reins, “Here, would you hold him? I’ll be right back.”

  Lisa felt like her legs were going to buckle. She was almost afraid to breathe.

  But Tin-Can didn’t seem to care at all that she was there as he suddenly moved over toward the lawn. He was calm but determined. Lisa wished she could be either of those things. She dropped the reins and felt the panic building inside her. What if he bolted?

  Tin-Can stopped and gave Lisa a playful look. She went completely stiff when he suddenly began nuzzling her. She instinctively picked the reins back up and held them loosely in her hands. Her heart was thumping so loudly inside her chest that she thought everyone must be able to hear it: Tin-Can; the mother returning to her car after dropping off a group of excited kids; even Alex, who was now coming back out from the stable with two cans of soda.

  Alex laughed when she spotted Tin-Can. “Don’t mind him! He always does that. Here, I got us some drinks from the vending machine.”

  “Thanks! That’s so nice of you.” Lisa took a sip. “I think I got a bit lost on my way here. Oh, and I almost forgot . . .” She hesitated before handing the saddlebag over to Alex with a small smile. “Did you miss this?”

  “Oh, thank you! I thought it must have fallen off in the woods somewhere. It’s so nice of you to bring it over! You’re staying for a bit, right?”

  Lisa was about to say she unfortunately needed to go home, but Alex happily pressed on.

  “Wait here while I get Herman. He’s the owner of the stables. He can show you all the horses while I exercise this lunatic. Tin-Can goes nuts if he’s not taken out every day.”

  Tin-Can snorted loudly and shook his head impatiently, almost head butting Alex when she leaned forward to adjust the bridle. Lisa could feel herself flinch involuntarily, but Alex just laughed and pulled a bruised apple out of her saddlebag to give to her horse.

  Lisa forced herself to look at Tin-Can. He was actually really pretty, with an unruly forelock and mischievous air. Now that he was looking directly at her, his big brown eyes felt almost . . . human? If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought he was trying to tell her something. That made Lisa feel really uncomfortable, so she looked away.

  “Herman!” Alex hollered in the direction of the open stable door. “We have a guest!”

  A middle-aged man with long, gray hair pulled back into a ponytail and thick sideburns poked his head out.

  He gave them a big smile and came over to say hello. Lisa’s thin hand was enveloped by one of his enormous gloves, marked by years of stable work. His handshake was firm.

  “Nice to meet you! I’m Herman. I own this amazing place. Yep, the whole shebang! Welcome to Jorvik Stables! Sabine, was it?”

  Lisa threw an inquiring glance in Alex’s direction, but she had already mounted Tin-Can and was walking off toward the paddock. Lisa met Herman’s kind, blue eyes.

  “Uh . . . ?” she finally managed to blurt out. “Lisa. My name is Lisa.”

  “Aha. I see. I . . . ” Herman seemed to consider explaining himself for just a second but then changed the subject instead. “You’re new here in Jorvik, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I arrived yesterday,” she replied. A voice inside her screamed that she’d stayed far too long. It was time to go.

  Time to go? another voice whispered inside her. You only just got here!

  “Then let me show you the stables, Lisa. This is actually one of Jorvik’s oldest stables and it has a proud history, let me tell you. Once upon a time, Jorvik Stables used to be the royal stable. It peaked in size during Jon Jarl’s reign in the thirteenth century, but it’s been remodeled and modernized many times since, of course . . .”

  Herman continued to babble on while he led her into the stable, but Lisa had stopped listening. All these unfamiliar impressions had put her senses on high alert. Lisa tread carefully, as if she were walking on eggshells. However, the air was sweet with hay and the warmth emanating off the horses.

  The smell seemed like it was speaking to her: Relax. Come in.

  But her body was having none of this. Lisa had been thrown into those dark corners of her memory she preferred to avoid.

  Mom, saddling her horse for the last time.

  Mom’s long, black hair in a thick plait bouncing as her horse lengthened its stride.

  Mom, whose voice, filled with glittering laughter, calling out for Lisa to keep up: Let’s race to that hill!

  The stable began to sway. Lisa had to lean against a stall to keep from falling down. Then a horse nuzzled her hand. It was too much. Panic raced through every part of her body. She could feel one of her arms tingle as if it were starting to grow numb.

  She had experienced a reaction like this before. She knew what she had to do. Sit down. Breathe. Tell herself it would pass, because it eventually would.

  Except . . .

  Not now. Not here. Not again.

  Where’s the stop button when you need it?

  “I’m sorry,” Lisa mumbled. “I just realized I have somewhere to be. I can come back another time. It was great to meet you. Bye!”

  A confused Herman watched her leave. As Lisa hurried over to her bike, her cheeks flaming red, she almost collided with a tall, broad-shouldered girl riding a muscular, jet-black horse. The rider reigned in her horse, who had none of Tin-Can’s playfulness. She glared at Lisa and it felt like her horse was glaring, too.

  “Watch where you’re going! Khaan doesn’t like strangers. Not one bit.”

  As if emphasizing what his rider had just said, Khaan whinnied. Thick scars covered his muscular body. His eyes looked like two dull pieces of charcoal. His rider turned him around and they broke into a canter as soon as they left the yard. Lisa sank into a squat next to her bike with her head between her knees. She could have sworn
smoke was coming out of the horse’s flared nostrils.

  Just breathe. Breathe.

  Just when she thought this day couldn’t get any worse . . .

  6

  “Ow! Ouch!” Lisa tried her best to avoid the collision, but by the time she looked up and saw the other girl, it was too late. Books and papers flew everywhere, scattering all over the school hallway.

  “Watch where you’re going!”

  “Sorry!” Lisa dove to the floor and started picking up the scattered papers.

  Her whole body felt bruised, as though she had rammed into something steel-plated.

  The other girl didn’t walk off, but also didn’t help Lisa gather her belongings. Lisa thought she recognized the voice that had just yelled at her. The sharp edge to it. When she got up, she could see the face of the girl she ran into—it was the same unpleasant girl from the stables yesterday. The rider of the demon horse. Of course.

  How did this happen?

  Lisa’s morning had not exactly gone according to plan. She had played out a number of scenarios in her head about what her first day of school in Jorvik would be like. Oversleeping hadn’t featured in any of them. And yet, that’s exactly what happened. She must have forgotten to set her clock to Jorvik time.

  She had woken with a start to the sound of a car engine. Tires against gravel, birds singing loudly. It was very bright outside. Too bright.

  Lisa reached for her alarm clock, rubbed her eyes, and stared incredulously at the time. It was 7:20 a.m. She had to be at school in forty minutes. Why hadn’t her dad woken her up before he left for work?

  She jumped out of bed, dashed to the bathroom, and took the shortest shower of her life. No time for breakfast. Was she going to make it by eight?

  And here she was now, in a strange corridor that felt much too long and dark, facing off with the most unpleasant girl in Jorvik. A small group of students had stopped to gawk on their way into a nearby classroom. One of them was Alex, who broke away from the group and walked up to Lisa.