Chapter 1

Este and I decided to ride home since our older sisters were enjoying themselves with friends of neighbouring nobility and we were clearly spoiling their fun since we were not yet 18. Once a year our parents all go to stay in the lake chalets on Riverdance Lake to 'build and maintain social relations'. It was actually just an excuse for a drinking get-together. Kind of what my sister Anneke was now doing with her friends. Part of the reason I got 'shooed' away was because I spoke my mind. Este was bored anyway and wanted to go home. Our paths would separate halfway home.

It wasn't like Este and I were friends anymore, we tolerated each other. She was weird. Meaning she bleached her hair white, had a funny cut and studs through the bridge of her nose as well as both cheeks. And a dragon tattoo on her left shoulder. If I hadn't known better I would thought her a biker chick or something (not that I've ever seen her on a bike – it just seems like it, especially when she wears her denim jacket). I didn't have a problem with that, but the fact that she treated me like I was stupid even though we were actually born in the same month of the same year. She had very intense blue eyes, and smooth facial features. She had a lot going for her. I saw the guys checking her out until her sister gave them a what-for. I had curly auburn hair that didn't want to stay straight no matter how much I straightened it with a hair-straightener and hazel coloured eyes. Nothing spectacular, and I didn't like to focus attention on myself so I would usually end up wearing a beanie and chunky jacket because I didn't want to have Anneke's guy friends staring at my boobs – perverts! Este had no problem flaunting herself. Always wore tight t-shirts under hear denim jacket that showed off some cleavage. Maybe I was jealous of her popularity and audacity? I'd not even had a boyfriend yet, but I often hear that she broke up with so-and-so.

Perhaps she thought me dumb because I normally didn't say much. I just never knew what to talk to her about. It wasn't like I could compare 'boyfriend notes' or anything like that. Este loved talking and easily became the centre of attention at any gathering. Perhaps the dagger stares her sister was giving her made her want to leave. We were only allowed to come because our older sisters are supposed to be 'looking after' us while our parents are out, which usually was for about a week. They seemed relieved when we said we'd go home.

Riding on horseback was the best way to get around in these parts as the roads easily became overgrown and was difficult to maintain for car traffic. I loved riding, it was so liberating to feel the wind in my hair and throw all my worries away for a bit. Denuska was my 16th birthday present from my parents. His breed was of unknown origin, but it was his beauty and strength that caught my father's eye. His coat was a beautiful dark-brown colour and black mane and tail. We 'clicked' right from the start and I've spent hours with him, talking to him like he was my best friend – since I didn't have any real friends I considered close. I realised Este was already on her horse and quickly got into the saddle as well. She didn't talk to me as we rode, instead she switched on her mp3 player and was humming along to a Blue October song. I very much wanted to leave her behind, but Anneke made me promise I'd ride with her up to where our roads split. It was so embarrassing, even my sister treated me like a kid. Este jokingly said that she didn't mind 'baby-sitting' to look cool, but I knew it annoyed her. Denuska snorted as if he knew what I felt and was trying to comfort me. I patted him lightly on the neck in response.

We rode for a while at a slower pace than I would have liked. Not much farther now! I thought. Just then I realised that the road no longer looked familiar...

"Este?" I asked, but she was pretending she couldn't hear me.

"Este!"

"What?" she asked annoyed.

"I think we are lost!"

"You don't know what you are talking about, we've been going straight all this way and it's the right way. We'll get to the stupid split just now then you can go play "I got lost" by yourself."

I followed Este in silence. This place is definitely unfamiliar, Denushka was thinking the same as I could feel his movements was more tense than usual and his ears kept flicking forward and backward as if he was listening out for something. Just then we heard the sound of riders coming.

"That was a short party," Este said as she took out her earphones and looked over her shoulder. Could it be them? Just then we caught a glimpse of the riders. They wore dark cloaks. These riders didn't look friendly from what I could tell. Something seemed very off about our surroundings...

"We've crossed into the unmarked lands!" I exclaimed. There was a large piece of land that up to this day was not detailed on any map because it was considered cursed. GPS' went crazy on it, almost like what happens with the Bermuda triangle. It once supposedly belonged to a royal family which hasn't been seen or heard of for many years. Rumors had it that the monsters of the unmarked lands invaded and killed them. The path we took home did pass nearby one of the borders, but should not have brought us into contact with the unmarked lands. This was bad...

"Yah!" Este yelled and kicked her horse and set off on a gallop. What was she doing?! She didn't even know what direction she was riding in!

"Este!" I called out to her, but she was ignoring me. I chased after her. The best chance of survival would be to stick together. Denushka had no trouble catching up to her horse, a pretty Palomino. It seemed like the riders were chasing after us. We reached a split in the road, but it wasn't the one we were looking for.

"What do we do?" Este asked in a panicked voice. Her horse was trembling and whinnying nervously. Denushka also pranced a bit, but was silent. We didn't have much time to make a choice. I looked at both directions. The one seemed to go into a dark forest... definitely NOT going that way.

"This way!" I said and set off on the other road. After a short while I realised that Este didn't follow me, but continued on the dark road... stubborn as always! Then I saw two riders closing in on me. They split up so they are chasing after both of us... I nudged Denushka and we flew over a small river. Eventually I came to a fence, like the ones you usually find around paddocks. It was a dead-end. There was no way else to go... Just then Denushka grunted and then by himself set off and charged the fence.