Bloodline of Shadows

Chapter 1: Shadows of the Past

The bell rang, echoing through the hallways of Willow Creek High, marking the start of another day. Isla Hollow leaned against the row of lockers, her leather jacket adorned with patches, the words "Break the Rules" scrawled in white paint across the back. She had perfected the rebellious look dark jeans, combat boots, and a smirk that dared anyone to challenge her.

"Hey, Isla! Ready for history?" her friend Emily called, rushing down the hall, her backpack bouncing with each step.

Isla shrugged. "History's boring. I'd rather skip and do something fun." She pushed herself off the locker and fell into step beside Emily, a hint of defiance lighting her eyes.

"Fun? Like what? You know Tessa will freak if you get in trouble again," Emily replied, trying to keep up.

"Let her. I'm not worried about it." As the two girls turned the corner, Isla waved goodbye, her eyes scanning the bustling hallway for Tessa. She spotted her sister across the room, surrounded by a few classmates, her auburn hair catching the sunlight. Tessa wore a pastel sweater, her denim skirt fluttering slightly as she laughed, completely at ease in her innocent world.

After their brief glance, Tessa caught Isla's eye and waved enthusiastically, her smile bright. Isla couldn't help but grin back before heading to her history class.

As the teacher droned on about the Civil War, Isla's mind wandered. Thoughts of her parents flickered in her mind. An unshakable weight of uncertainty that had settled in since they vanished without a trace over a year ago. They had promised to call from their business trip, but as the hours stretched into days and then weeks, the silence became deafening.

At lunchtime, Isla joined Tessa at their usual spot outside under a sprawling oak tree. Tessa had just finished her sandwich and was excitedly recounting the details of a new book she'd been reading.

"...and then the girl discovers she has magic! Isn't that cool?" Tessa exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

Isla raised an eyebrow, half-listening. "Yeah, that's great. Just like how Mom and Dad were supposed to call weeks ago." She glanced at her phone, the screen dark and silent. "But they didn't. Not a single word."

Tessa frowned, her smile fading. "Maybe they got busy or lost track of time. You know how work is."

Isla bit her lip, suppressing a wave of frustration. "Busy? They said they'd call. I tried a few times, but it just went straight to voicemail. It's not normal, Tessa. They should've at least checked in."

Before Tessa could respond, the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of their break. The sisters shared a reluctant glance, knowing they had to part ways again for different classes.

After school, the drive home felt heavier than usual. The air inside the car was thick with silence, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine. Isla's mind raced with worry, glancing at Tessa in the passenger seat, who stared out the window, lost in thought.

When they arrived home, the house seemed unusually quiet. Isla's heart raced as she called out, "Mom? Dad?" The echo of her voice bounced back, unanswered.

"Maybe they're just running late," Tessa suggested, her voice trembling slightly as she glanced around.

The next few days dragged on in a haze of anxiety. As the sisters navigated the empty house, they waited three agonizing days before calling the police. The officers arrived, their presence heavy with authority, and Isla stood stiffly beside Tessa as they took their statements, her heart racing.

"Your parents were on a business trip?" one of the officers asked.

"Yes," Isla replied, her voice wavering. "They said they would call."

"And they haven't contacted you since?"

Isla shook her head. The officers exchanged glances, their expressions serious. Days turned into weeks, and as hope faded, Aunt Seraphina took care of the girls since their parents disappeared. 

Now, a year later, Isla and Tessa had settled into Hollow Manor, a grand old house filled with whispers of the past. Aunt Seraphina was an enigmatic woman, her presence both comforting and unsettling. The manor was filled with strange artifacts and old books, each corner telling a story, yet one room remained a mystery.

The sisters had noticed the door at the end of the hallway is always locked, always ignored by Aunt Seraphina. Isla was curious; she often found herself staring at it, wondering what lay behind. Tessa, however, was more cautious, often telling Isla to drop it.

"Isla, she's our aunt. It's her house. Maybe it's just her office or something," Tessa said one evening as they sat in their shared room, the moonlight spilling through the window.

"But don't you ever wonder? It's always locked! What if there's something important in there? Something about Mom and Dad?" Isla replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Or something that's not meant for us to see," Tessa countered, biting her lip. "What if it's dangerous?"

Isla rolled her eyes but felt a twinge of doubt creeping in. "You can't seriously think that."

As the weeks passed, the sisters settled into a routine, but the door remained a constant distraction for Isla. One stormy night, as rain battered the windows, Isla couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The house creaked and groaned, and as she lay in bed, she swore she heard faint whispers coming from behind the locked door.

Unable to resist any longer, Isla slipped out of bed and tiptoed down the hallway. She paused in front of the door, placing her ear against it, her heart pounding. The whispers seemed to call her, a melodic tug that drew her closer.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the hallway, and she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the brass doorknob a look of determination mixed with fear. She hesitated, but curiosity pushed her forward. With trembling fingers, she turned the knob, only to find it locked tight.

Disappointment washed over her. As she stood there, she felt a strange warmth radiating from her hands. Without thinking, she pressed her palm against the door, and to her astonishment, the wood felt oddly warm to the touch, pulsating beneath her skin.

"Isla?" a voice called, breaking her concentration. Tessa emerged from the shadows, her face pale and wide-eyed. "What are you doing?"

"I was just—" Isla started, but the warmth from her hands intensified, and the whispers grew louder, almost urgent.

"Let's just go back to bed. Aunt Seraphina will freak if she finds us out here," Tessa urged, glancing nervously down the hallway.

Isla hesitated, torn between the mystery of the door and her sister's fear. "Fine," she said, pulling away reluctantly. "But I'll be back."

As they returned to their room, Isla couldn't shake the feeling that the door held secrets waiting to be uncovered. And deep down, she sensed that whatever was behind it was connected to the truth about their parents about the world they had once known.

That night, as Isla lay in bed, her mind raced with questions. How could she discover what lay behind the locked door? And why did she feel that strange warmth, as if a part of her was awakening?