Silence had settled over the manor after the shock of the strange force that had thrown the girls backward. Dazed, the three girls slowly picked themselves up, wide-eyed, still shaken by what had just happened.
Cassie, though rattled, was the first to regain her composure. She pulled a crumpled document from her inner pocket and extended it toward Sky and Mel.
— "I was going to show you this before… that thing happened," she said, her voice slightly trembling.
Sky, still wary, snatched the paper and quickly scanned it. Mel stepped closer to read as well.
— "Deed of Ownership – Brookhollow Manor – Owners: Don Carter & Maria Decker," Mel read aloud, incredulous.
An even heavier silence fell upon them.
— "Maria… that's our mother," Sky murmured, her throat tightening.
— "And Don… That's my father," Cassie breathed, frowning. "Do you understand what this means?"
— "That this manor… belongs to both our families," Mel concluded, her eyes lost in the void. "But why has no one ever told us about this?"
Cassie shrugged, equally confused.
— "I was just supposed to move in. I didn't expect to find anyone here."
Before they could delve deeper into their thoughts, a sudden wind rose in the hall. The air vibrated. A radiant light concentrated at a single point between them. Then, in a flash of pure magic, a towering figure appeared in a whisper of energy.
A man who seemed in his thirties, clad in a long black cloak embroidered with gold, stood tall at the center of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes shimmered with a supernatural glow, and his presence commanded respect.
— "Who… who are you?!" Sky stammered, stepping back.
— "I advise you not to panic," he said in a calm yet firm tone.
Mel raised her hands in a futile attempt to defend herself, but nothing happened.
He merely extended his arms. With a snap of his fingers, the three girls were flung against the walls, pinned by an invisible force, unable to move.
— "I'm not here to harm you," he continued. "But what just happened is far too important to delay. I had to speak with you now."
He took a few steps toward the center of the room, contemplating the manor's high arches.
— "Who are you?!" Mel cried out, struggling against the unseen energy restraining her.
— "My name is Alaric Solren, advisor of ancient magic and guardian of the magical currents of this world."
The three girls froze inwardly, trying to grasp the situation.
— "What you just experienced… is no coincidence. It was neither a mere event nor a magical accident," Alaric went on, approaching the center of the hall, where the floor still shimmered with the glow of the mystic triangle.
He raised his hand and conjured an old parchment, its letters glowing like star-ink.
> "It is written in the prophecy:
When the light of three eclipses aligns,
And a soul's breath breaks the chains of blood,
Then shall the Solis Triad be reborn,
To face the shadow returned from beyond night."
Sky whispered, her mouth agape:
— "The Solis… Triad?"
— "Three young girls. Three sparks of the same flame. Born of ancient magical bloodlines. Bound by destiny, beyond mere blood ties. This phenomenon only appears under one condition: three sisters. United by blood… and by magic."
He stopped before Cassie and released her with a simple gesture.
— "You were the first to awaken. Then time answered the second's call. And the spirit of the third screamed in betrayal. What you're feeling is not coincidence. Your powers, your pain, your fates… are bound."
Mel was the next to be freed, followed by Sky. The three of them caught their breath, still disoriented.
Alaric turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Mel's.
— "This manor did not bring you together by chance. Your power just awakened because your meeting was inevitable."
Mel frowned.
— "But… there are only two of us. I mean, two sisters. We're not three."
Alaric slowly turned to Cassie then. A faint, deep smile curved his lips.
— "That's where you're mistaken, Mel. There are indeed three sisters here."
A heavy silence fell. Cassie looked at the other two, confused, her breath short.
Sky murmured:
— "You mean…?"
But Alaric didn't answer right away.
He stepped toward the magical circle on the floor and, with the tip of his fingers, reactivated the golden glow. A perfect triangle briefly shone between the girls. Then, as if drawn into the air, the spell faded.
— "There must be a mistake. Sky and I are sisters, yes. But Cassie, she…"
Alaric interrupted her with a single look.
— "Cassie is your sister. The first. You were born of the same bloodline. This manor did not reunite you by chance."
— "This is only the beginning. The Solis Triad has been born. And you… you're the only ones who can stand against what is coming."
The girls, speechless and overwhelmed, stood frozen, unable to process all the revelations.
— "Rest tonight. I shall return at dawn. And that day… you will choose whether to embrace your destiny, or flee from what awaits."
The door opened on its own, a golden light filtering through the frame. Alaric vanished in a swirl of pale smoke, as suddenly as he had appeared.
The girls remained still, their hearts pounding in their chests.
A silence, heavier than all the others before, settled. Until Mel whispered:
— "Three sisters…?"
Mel shook her head, her face marked by disbelief.
— "There must be a mistake," she murmured, arms crossed. "My mother would never abandon a daughter… not after everything we've been through."
There must be something I didn't understand.
She looked at Cassie, her eyes filled with doubt.
— And I've never seen anything among her belongings that could explain this.
Sky, just as confused, added:
— Maybe we should check again. Go back to the attic, go through her things, there might be something we missed.
The two sisters exchanged a knowing glance, then quickly headed for the stairs, their hurried footsteps echoing through the vastness of the manor. The tension was palpable, and the uncertainty they felt showed clearly on their faces. They still hoped to uncover a clue that could unravel this mystery.
Meanwhile, Cassie stepped into a nearby room. It was an elegant bedroom, well-furnished, with soft and soothing tones. She sat down on the bed, her hands resting on her knees. The silence of the room calmed her slightly, but she couldn't fully relax. Everything was too strange, too sudden.
She kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the floor. The events of the past few hours whirled through her mind, and though a part of her wanted to believe in the prophecy, another, more rational part, urged her to doubt. She questioned the role she was supposed to play here, what others truly expected of her.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps, and the door slowly opened. Alaric entered, silent as a cat, but Cassie noticed him immediately. She didn't turn to face him. She already knew why he was there.
— I'm not blind, Alaric.
Her voice was calm but laced with sarcasm.
— Seems like all of you have a strange habit of slipping into rooms as if you're entitled to invade them without knocking.
Alaric, caught off guard by her remark, gave a faint smile. He stopped in the doorway, his piercing gaze fixed on Cassie.
— I thought you had left, she said with disinterest.
— I'm sorry if I disturbed you, he replied with amused calm, though his voice remained firm and authoritative. But I must stay alert to any threat. A witch like you...
He paused.
— You're an important key in everything that's about to unfold.
Cassie smiled faintly without turning around, still lost in thought.
— And what exactly awaits me, Alaric? A background role in this story? Or maybe a noble sacrifice to save the world, like in the fairy tales?
He took a step forward, but cautiously, as if weighing every move.
— No sacrifice is needed… not yet, he replied slowly. But everything is falling into place. Everything has a price, Cassie.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. Alaric stepped a little closer.
— Prophecies often leave little room for free will, he said, his voice deepening. But you, you have a special power.
He stared at her intensely.
— Perhaps even more powerful than you realize.
Cassie frowned, as if trying to push away a truth she didn't want to face.
Alaric observed her silently, still sitting on the bed with her back turned. He stepped closer, then stopped, hands clasped behind his back.
— You can push me away with words, Cassie, but deep down… you knew.
She said nothing.
— You knew you didn't belong with the Carters. That something felt off. You never truly felt motherly love from Grace… never a sincere look, a real warmth. A part of you has always known the truth was elsewhere.
Cassie froze.
— Even as a child, you felt it. Like an instinct. You'd look at yourself in the mirror and wonder: Why don't I look like them? Why do I feel like a stranger?
A heavy silence filled the room. Then suddenly, she stood up sharply and turned to face him. Her eyes glinted with restrained anger, her jaw clenched.
— Shut up, she hissed, voice low but trembling with intensity. You know nothing about what I felt. You know nothing about me.
Alaric didn't flinch. He stared at her, calm, almost sad.
— I know the truth hurts. But you must face it. Because only by accepting who you really are will you survive what's coming.
Cassie's eyes darkened, almost threatening. A shimmer of magical energy surged through the room. The air grew heavier, charged with tension.
She raised her hand sharply. In an instant, Alaric placed a hand over his chest, his brows furrowing his blood had frozen in his veins. He looked at Cassie, surprised but not afraid.
— Impressive… he murmured, his voice hoarse.
Cassie advanced, threateningly.
— You talk too much, Counselor. And if you want me to listen for another second, you'll start by respecting my boundaries.
Alaric tried to move, but his body seemed partially paralyzed. He struggled, a vein pulsing at his temple.
— You just mastered a forbidden art without even knowing it. Hematic control… very few witches can wield it. And you triggered it by sheer will.
He smiled, genuinely impressed despite the pain.
— You're far more dangerous than I thought.
She finally released her hold, and Alaric slowly caught his breath. He dropped to one knee for a moment, massaging his arm. Then he stood again, a new glimmer of respect in his eyes.
— Your powers have been active for months, he said, surprised.
Cassie didn't answer. She walked out of the room, leaving Alaric unsettled by her abilities.
Upstairs, Mel and Sky continued their search in the attic. They rummaged through boxes, old keepsakes, but nothing seemed to make sense. No clues, no letters, nothing to confirm Cassie's presence in Maria's life.
Mel stopped in front of an old wardrobe. She opened it slowly, hoping to find a hidden clue. But once again, disappointment overtook her.
— I don't get it. Why would our mother hide this? she whispered.
Sky, tired but determined, joined her.
— There has to be something we missed.
She opened another box, her hands trembling as she pulled out an old wooden case. Inside… nothing. Nothing that could explain Cassie being their sister.
Mel and Sky gave up the attic search, their arms empty, eyes tired.
— Still nothing, Sky sighed. Not a single trace of another girl… no birth certificate, no letters, nothing.
Downstairs, Cassie calmly tied her shoelaces, coat on, ready to leave the manor.
— Where are you going? Mel asked, seeing her approach the door.
— For some air, Cassie replied without turning.
— Anyway, I don't think you're searching in the right place.
— What do you mean? Sky asked, confused.
— Maybe the answers aren't in the boxes… but in the walls. Did you think of a secret compartment?
Sky and Mel froze. Before they could answer, Cassie opened the door.
— Good luck, she said over her shoulder, then vanished into the courtyard.
Sky exchanged a look with Mel.
— Maybe she's not wrong… What if we check mom's room?
— No use, Mel replied wearily. We already emptied that room after she died. We cleaned everything, sorted it, gave stuff away. Trust me, if there were something, we would've found it.
— Still… worth a try. I'll go check.
Sky's phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen.
— It's Ricky… she sighed. I have to take this. Go on without me, I'll catch up.
— The Ricky? The one who cheated on you? You still talk to him? Mel asked, disgusted.
— I know… it's complicated. And he knows about my powers, so better to keep him close.
Mel nodded and headed up alone.
In their mother's room, everything was still perfectly tidy, like a frozen sanctuary. Mel stood still for a moment, memories rising like a quiet tide. Then she walked to the wardrobe. A strange sensation passed through her.
— She used to do this… she murmured.
She closed her eyes, reached out, and slowly caressed the wood, searching… there. A tiny bump, almost invisible. She pressed it. Click.
A panel slid open, revealing a secret drawer. Inside, a digital code lock.
Mel held her breath.
— Okay… here we go.
She tried her mother's birthdate. Error.
— The wedding date? she muttered.
Error.
— Maybe my birthday… she was really sentimental, she said with a small smile.
Error.
A red light lit up.
— Great… two attempts left.
A faint hiss came from the furniture, followed by a mechanical hum.
The security system was activating.
Mel stepped back slightly, a bead of sweat running down her temple.
— I can't screw this up…
With trembling hands, Mel grabbed her phone and called Sky. She put it on speaker and tried another combo: Sky's birthday.
Error.
The red light blinked faster. A sharp beep echoed, followed by a heavy click. The floor trembled slightly. Then suddenly, a high-pitched hiss. The compartment had triggered a more serious mechanism.
— No… no, no, no… Mel whispered, backing away.
The room seemed to close in around her. The windows locked with a metallic sound. A steel curtain slid behind the door, sealing it. The air thickened. Every breath became a struggle.
— Sky, I screwed up! Mel cried. I'm locked in! I can't breathe!
Downstairs, Sky had just hung up with Ricky when the call came in. She sprinted upstairs, yelling:
— MEL?!
She tried to open the door—nothing. She banged on it, pounded, screamed.
— MEL, TALK TO ME!
— The code… Mel gasped. I've got one try left. There's a countdown! I see the seconds… it's speeding up!
Sky felt panic rise in her. She placed her hands on the door and shut her eyes.
— Calm down, Sky… you have a power now. You have a power.
She inhaled deeply, trying to sense Mel on the other side. To project something. She focused on their bond. Their mother. Mel's fear. But… nothing.
No reaction. No wave. The metal stayed cold and sealed.
— It's not working… dammit, why isn't it working?!
— I think… something's blocking our powers… I tried too, and it didn't work, Mel said, dropping the phone from her trembling hands.
Inside, Mel sank to her knees, eyes locked on the screen. Three minutes left.
— I have to find the right code… just one…
She whispered:
— Come on, Mom… give me a sign.