The Riders, have had to adapt their powers and way of thinking to the modern world. Marnie, the Rider of Famine, is a prime example of this adaptation. As the CEO of a bank, she has used her powers to manipulate the financial well-being of her customers and make her bank one of the most popular in America, despite the fact that many of its customers struggle to make ends meet. In a mostly digital society, Marnie has learned to drain the power of any battery she chooses, make petrol disappear from cars, and even cut off the power supply to electronics that are plugged into wall outlets. These abilities have allowed her to thrive in the modern world and use her powers to her advantage.

Graeme and Warren were in the entertainment room, playing a game of pool. Graeme (Grace’s father), the Rider of Death, was a handsome man, with perfectly combed blonde hair, blue eyes, and a stylish goatee, he looked to be in his thirties but was in fact ninety-four years old. He wore an expensive suit that seemed out of place in the laid-back atmosphere of the room. Warren, the Rider of War, was a tall, muscular man with short-cropped black hair and piercing green eyes. He wore a fitted black t-shirt and jeans, and his arms were covered in tattoos.

Graeme's entertainment room was a bit of an odd mix, with elements of classic gothic, retro eighties, and modern styles all mixed together. It had the latest and greatest sound system, with a turntable hooked into it, and an old-fashioned sofa in the middle of the room. The wallpaper looked like it was from 200 years ago.

As Graeme heard Grace's swear at Marnie's prank, he laughed, ‘It sounds like Marnie actually managed to get her mad. I wonder what she did.’

Graeme leaned against his pool table, watching as Warren lined up his shot. Warren was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army and had more medals than could be believed possible. He was currently winning their game of pool and had a smug grin on his face.

‘No idea,’ Warren responded as he took his shot and sunk another ball, he started lining up the eight ball. "I don't suppose you could kill me, Graeme. I don't like losing bets, especially to Marnie."

"You know we can't kill each other even if we tried," Graeme replied.

Just then, Marnie strutted into the room with a bit of a childish hop in her step. ‘Warren, you lose. Pay up!’ she said joyfully.

‘You're the CEO of a bank, I hardly think you need any more money,’ replied Warren as he tossed a clip of hundred-dollar bills her way.

‘Warren, you're such a tightwad,’ Marnie laughed as she started counting the money. ‘Besides, it's my job to make sure everyone else has nothing. That's the whole point of being the Rider of Famine.’

‘Making sure everyone else has nothing doesn't mean you have to have it yourself,’ said a man as he walked into the room.

‘Stillsey! You're a bit late,’ exclaimed Graeme.

The man, Peter Stills, nodded and made his way over to the bar. He was the fourth Rider, Pestilence, and was a skilled surgeon. With dark skin and short, curly hair, he was often the most level-headed and intelligent of the group. In fact, he was known to outwit Warren in strategic planning on more than one occasion.

‘Sorry guys, I got caught up in surgery,’ Peter said as he poured himself a drink. ‘It's been a busy day at the hospital.’

‘I bet,’ Warren said as he took a shot sinking the eight ball and winning the game. ‘But we're all glad you could make it. How about a game?’

‘Sure,’ Peter replied, setting down his drink and picking up a cue stick. ‘But I have to warn you, I'm not as easy to beat as Graeme.’

Graeme raised an eyebrow, ‘I’m not that bad at pool.’

‘You're not that good at it either,’ said Warren.

'True,’ he responded.

‘So, Warren,’ Peter said as he lined up his shot. ‘What's been going on in the military lately? Anything interesting?’

Warren shrugged. ‘Not much. It's been pretty quiet on the international front. I've mostly been training new recruits and trying to keep the existing soldiers sharp.’

‘And it doesn’t help that it’s not like the days of our ancestors when you could just trick a king or someone to invade another country,’ added Peter as he performed a spectacular opening break.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

‘The best I can do is convince people at a bar to get into a fight,’ responded Warren.

As Warren and Peter continued their game Marnie and Graeme retreated to the bar to discuss Grace.

‘I wish she’d join our little parties one day,’ Graeme said pouring himself a drink.

‘It’s because she knows the second she makes an appearance you’ll try handing over the reigns of Death to her,’ Marnie said as she started making a rather complex cocktail.

‘That girl is destined for greatness.’

‘Yes... But forcing her to be Death when she’s not ready will drive her away.’

‘I know,’ sighed Graeme. ‘She’s a lot like her mother.’

‘Funny... she reminds the rest of us of you,’ Marnie said sincerely as she finished her cocktail.

Graeme gave Marnie a confused look as she began to make another one.

‘I’m pretty sure she likes you more than she likes me,’ said Graeme.

‘Everybody loves me, it’s part of my charm.’

Graeme laughed, though Marnie wasn’t fooled by his fake smile, she could see that he was in pain.

Marnie leaned in and said quietly so that the other two couldn’t hear, ‘Graeme, how long has it been?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘How long has it been since you ended a life?’

‘That’s hardly any of your business.’

‘It is my business, we’re all Riders, and we have to look out for each other.’

Graeme stared at Marnie with a stern face and sighed, ‘it’s been almost six months,’ he said.

Marnie’s eyes widened and said, ‘how have you made it this long? I can barely go a week without doing my job.’

‘My meditation room, when I start to feel the withdrawal symptoms coming on I go in there and meditate, and remind myself that I’m in control,’ he explained.

‘Does Grace know?’ asked Marnie.

‘Definitely not, she doesn’t need to know that.’

‘And yet you want her to take over for you?’ Marnie added.

‘The sooner she takes over, the I can retire and not have to perform my tasks because my body forces me to,’ Graeme said.

‘You just need to give her time,’ Marnie said, sipping her cocktail. ‘She's still young and has so much to learn.’

‘I understand, but I can still try to get her to take over sooner,’ Graeme responded.

Marnie put her face into her palm, and shook her head before muttering to herself, ‘idiot.’

* * *

Grace had retreated to her father’s meditation room to escape the loud music that was blaring through the house. The small room, hidden away from the rest of the house, was no bigger than a double bed. The walls were made entirely of mirrors that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, with no windows and the only source of light coming from a series of ultraviolet ceiling lights.

As she flicked on the lights, Grace saw that her reflection in the mirrors was not her own, but instead the perfect skeleton of a rider with glowing eyes, one green and the other blue, wearing the same clothes as her. The skeleton appeared as if it was made of smooth marble, and it was a sight that she never quite got used to. Under the pure ultraviolet light, the riders appeared in their true form.

Grace jumped in surprise upon seeing herself, though she wasn't afraid of seeing her true form. It still gave her a little shock every time she saw it. She looked down at her hands and saw the marble bones that matched her reflection. "I don't know how dad can do this almost every day," Grace wondered aloud.

Trying to avoid looking at her reflection, she pulled the hood of her hoodie over her head and sat in the corner of the room. But it proved more difficult than she thought. Every time she turned a page of her book, she heard the rustling of her clothes and saw her skeleton hand turning the page. And with every shift in her weight, she'd accidentally catch a glimpse of herself in the mirrors.

After what felt like several hours, Grace finally finished her book. She decided it was probably best to head to bed, otherwise, she'd be tired for school the next day. As she walked up to her room, she noticed it was quite quiet throughout the house. "Either I was in there longer than I thought, or they finished early," she thought.

As she entered her room, she suddenly realized how tired she was. She changed into her pyjamas and was about to jump onto her bed when she saw an envelope sitting on her pillow. She picked up the envelope and opened it. It was no doubt a message from her father; she'd recognize his fancy handwriting anywhere.

Dear Grace,

I'm sorry for getting Marnie to pull that prank on you. I hope you weren't too upset. You remind me a lot of your mother, though the others say you're more like me. I decided to finish the meeting early tonight as I know it's a school night. Have a good day tomorrow.

Love, Dad

Grace smiled as she read the letter. "Thanks, dad," she whispered to herself. She placed the letter on her nightstand, turned off the lights, and climbed into bed. Despite the strange experience in her father's meditation room, she felt a sense of comfort knowing that her father was thinking of her and wishing her a good day tomorrow. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready for the day ahead.

As she lay in bed, she couldn't help but think about the rider she saw in the mirrors, the marble skeleton that was a constant reminder of her destiny. She knew it was something she would have to come to terms with, but for now, she was content to just be a regular teenager.