The Descendants of the Ascendance Series - Nessa's POV

Chapter Two

After the meeting and dinner, I decided to take a ride through the 'forsaken forest'. That's the name Jaron had called it when he was a child, so now the three of us - Adelade, Evangeline, and I - call it that. I changed into one of my peasant dresses, so a large gown wouldn't hinder my riding abilities, and made my way to the stables.

After calling out a quick 'hello' to the stable hands, I went to find my horse, a gorgeous Palomino named Jack, in his normal stall. I quickly put his saddle on and expertly swung myself onto his back.

I guided him out of the stables and to the edge of the forest trails.

"C'mon Jackie," I muttered, stroking his mane. "Let's go."

He picked up his speed from a walk to a trot, and eventually to a gallop.

For the first time today, I felt free.

A lot of people think it's easy to be the smart one, but in reality, it's a lot of pressure. I always feel like I have to be perfect and look perfect, and I always need to know the right answer. I always have to have a solution to every problem.

Riding is the only time I can just let go of my problems and just be myself.

A drop of water on my forehead snapped me out of my thoughts.

It had just started raining. I began to turn Jack around when a clap of thunder startled him and he began to buck wildly. Not even thirty feet from us, a huge bolt of lightning struck a tree, terrifying Jack even further. He went wild, bucking and thrashing. In a split second, I felt myself being thrown off his back.

My head hit something cold and hard. Warm blood trickled from where it had hit.

Dots blurred my vision before everything went black.