Bloodline of Shadows

Chapter 4: 16th B-Day/ The Shadows of the Past

Isla's 16th birthday should have been a day of celebration, but the lingering fear from the night before gnawed at her. She and Tessa had run home from the alley by the park, escaping the strange figure that had been following them, but the encounter left them shaken. Now, standing in the middle of her birthday party, surrounded by friends and family, Isla couldn't fully enjoy the moment.

The living room was adorned with fairy lights, the chocolate cake sat perfectly on the table, and Aunt Seraphina had arranged every detail to be flawless. Yet, Isla felt a disconnect, her mind constantly drifting back to the figure in the park.

"You okay?" Tessa whispered, standing beside her as they both watched their friends laugh and mingle.

"Yeah... just tired," Isla lied, her eyes flicking nervously toward the window.

Tessa frowned but didn't press further. The tension between them was thick, an unspoken acknowledgment of what they had seen. The hooded figure had been too close, too still. And something about the way they had stood made Isla feel like they were being hunted.

As more guests arrived and the house filled with laughter, Isla tried to shake off the unease. For a while, she succeeded. She even managed to laugh at her best friend Hannah's ridiculous stories and join in the group picture by the cake. 

When it was finally time to blow out the candles, Isla stood in front of the cake with Tessa and Aunt Seraphina by her side. The room hushed, waiting for her to make her wish. She closed her eyes, her breath catching in her throat.

She could wish for something simple like acing her exams or getting Lindsay, her bully, off her back but instead, her thoughts drifted to the hooded figure. Who are they? What do they want from us?

Isla wished for safety. For answers. And with that thought, she blew out the candles.

The room erupted into cheers, but Isla's relief was short-lived. The unsettling sensation from the night before still lingered, like a shadow creeping over her shoulder.

Later that evening, after the guests had left and the house had quieted down, Isla and Tessa were finally alone. The birthday decorations still hung around them, but the festive atmosphere had evaporated. They both sat on Isla's bed, exchanging silent looks, each of them waiting for the other to speak.

"We need to talk about last night," Isla finally said, breaking the silence.

Tessa, who had been nervously twirling her necklace, nodded. "I've been thinking about it all day. That figure... it wasn't just some random person."

Isla's heart raced. "You think it was following us? I mean, really following us?"

"I'm sure of it. And it felt... wrong," Tessa whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know why, but I feel like it has something to do with our powers."

"Powers?" Isla frowned. "We don't even know if we have powers, Tess. Weird things happen, yeah, but that's not proof."

Tessa's eyes darkened. "I think I'm seeing the future, Isla. I think those flashes I keep getting like déjà vu they're real. And maybe that figure wants something from us."

Before Isla could respond, the front door creaked open downstairs.

"Is Aunt Seraphina back?" Tessa asked, standing up quickly.

They both rushed down the stairs, but the moment they stepped into the living room, Isla's heart sank. The house was in complete disarray papers scattered across the floor, chairs knocked over, and the scent of something burnt lingering in the air.