For a good few days, Ridley- reluctant as she was -laid fairly low. Just as she'd been instructed. Because, as headstrong as the blonde was, she'd rather stay alive. And while she was still trying to figure out what made Jason immune to her, she figured it was best to avoid approaching people she didn't know if she could control or not.
Of course.. This was all before the storm set in.
But this wasn't just any storm.. It was a familiar one. One that Ridley Duchannes would know anywhere. As Ethan had long since dubbed it.. This was hurricane Lena.
Exasperatedly, Ridley sighed and shook her head, running a hand through her blonde and pink hair that was quickly getting wet from the sudden downpour. What could it possibly be, now? Sarafine was dead, Lena had been Claimed.. So what could be wrong?
"Ugh. This better not be more bullshit over her dumbass move of Claiming herself.." she muttered, shaking her head. Why did her cousin have to be such a pain?
It took no time at all for Ridley to track down the eye of the storm. Or, rather, the girl with two different colored- one, an electric green, the other, a swirling gold resembling Ridley's -eyes that was the cause of it.
The dark haired girl standing in the middle of the street, wet hair whipping wildly in the wind, was clearly worried out of her mind.. Something that, deep down, worried Rid greatly. Not that it showed. "What the hell are you doin', 'Cuz? I thought you learned to control your--"
"Ridley.. She's back."
"What? Who?"
Lena's lips moved like she was talking, but Ridley couldn't hear her. Whatever she had murmured was drowned out by the wind. "Don't be a drama queen, 'Cuz. I need to--"
"Sarafine. She's back."
There was a long pause, now. Ridley.. Had no idea what to say. What to do. When she'd last seen Sarafine, they hadn't exactly been on the best terms. By that, she meant she'd betrayed Sarafine on countless occasions.. And played a big part in her death. Even the minor betrayals she'd committed had brought her massive punishments..
She had a feeling this would be much worse.
A short conversation- involving Ridley trying to keep her calm and cool facade while Lena explained what happened while Ridley was gone -and a less short drive in Lena's(AKA Macon's, that Lena was borrowing) black hearse later, the two cousins had arrived back in Gatlin.
With, of course, Ethan Wate. Lena's little boy-toy that never left her side. It almost repulsed her how in love the two were. She'd never seen any two people so truly in love before.
But Ridley didn't need love. All she needed was herself.
So, upon returning to the small town, Rid just sighed heavily. "Alright.. Where's Johnny-boy?" she asked the two, gold eyes flickering between them. It was still storming.
"John..? He's probably with L," Ethan replied quietly, shifting awkwardly. Ever since Rid had cast that Furor when Link had cheated on her, he always felt awkward about Liv. Of course, he was also still defensive around John.
"That doesn't help at all, Short Straw. Where are they?"
"I dunno.. Maybe in Uncle Macon's study?" Lena offered. This only made Rid sigh. "You two aren't helpful at all. You know that?"
"Shut it, witch. Lena's doing everything she can, okay?" This.. Almost made Ridley recoil. Almost. She hadn't been called that by Ethan in a long time.. And yet, it still hurt. The brief glare Lena shot him made him realize what he'd just said, and he immediately began apologizing. "..Shit. I'm sorry, Ridley.. I didn't mean to--"
Ridley cut him off with a wave of her hand. "It's whatever, Short Straw. Just don't do it again, or you might find yourself walking off a cliff." It was a joke, but that didn't mean Rid wouldn't do it.
Soon enough, Ethan managed to calm Lena down just enough for the raging storm to turn to the slightest drizzle. With clear annoyance, Rid spun on her heel, slamming the door of the hearse behind her.
"Rid..? Where are you going?" Lena called after, Ethan sheepishly rubbing his arm beside her.
"I needa think," came her simple response. Of course, by 'think', she likely meant stay as far away from Lena and Ethan as possible, for the moment. For starters, Link was almost always with them, and she wanted nothing to do with him. For two, it meant she either was playing a part in Sarafine being brought back.. Or intending to find her on her own.
New location unlocked: Gatlin