Everyone settled into the grand hall, at the far end of which the old man stood behind his desk, gazing out the window, Leo's eyes scanned the room, taking in the physician, the so-called "President", Liza Tyler, and another girl with long, raven hair and enigmatic black eyes that watched him with a strange intensity.
The silence in the room was broken by the old man's gravelly voice, "So, are you going to tell us who you are? I cannot stop Christopher from blowing your brains out much longer," He gestured to Christopher, whose face was flushed with anger, the veins in his forehead throbbing.
Leo raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, no need for all this hostility, I'm not going to run or try to fight you, I'll be dead in an instant anyway, But I have one question, Old man, are you really Isaac Lumière?"
Before Leo could finish his sentence, a knife whistled past his neck, nicking him slightly. It seemed he had not intended to kill him, Leo clutched his neck and glared at the old man, who was now blazing with fury, "How dare you speak that name here? And how do you know it?"
Confusion rippled through the room, but Leo smiled confidently, "Oh, I didn't realize it was forbidden, Well, I've never known you by any other name."
The old man stared at Leo, his anger laced with curiosity, "What do you mean? Speak quickly."
Leo approached the old man's desk until he was standing right in front of him, "Her dying wish was that I deliver a message to a man named Isaac Lumière," He placed the letter on the desk before him.
"If you are not he, then there is no need to open it, for it is sealed with a blood charm."
A collective gasp filled the room, Letters sealed with blood were the most secret and dangerous of missives, and opening one that was not addressed to you was tantamount to a death sentence, Only a sorcerer of immense power could create such binding spells.
The old man picked up the letter and drew a dagger from his robes, slicing open his thumb. Drops of his blood fell directly onto the seal, and none of the others present dared to make a move to stop him.
He began to read the letter while still standing, but his legs soon gave way beneath him. He collapsed into his chair, his tears flowing freely as he continued to read. The others watched in astonishment.
The man known as "President", Kyle, came forward and placed a hand on the old man's shoulder, "Father, what does it say? I don't understand. Why are you crying?"
The old man looked up at Kyle with crying eyes. "She's your sister, She's your sister."
And he began to read the contents of the letter aloud:
"Dearest Father, How are you? I don't know what to write, but this is what came to mind. It has been a while since I last sent you a secret message, hidden from the king's watchful gaze, I apologize if this is the last you will ever receive from me, Brother, I am sorry for being a terrible sister and for not writing to you as well, And to all the shadow hunters, I hope you are all well, When you read this letter, it will mean that I have passed on, The one who delivers this message to you is my young charge, Leo, Please, look after him and make him strong, I have hidden him well all this time, but now he needs to grow stronger to protect himself, If I am dead, it means I have failed to keep him safe, And lastly, forgive me for ending my final letter with such tragic news, but know that the one you thought to be dead has returned."
As he uttered the last word, the letter burned away to nothing in the air, Their tears dried up instantly, and they exchanged looks of horror and dread, What did she mean by "he has returned"? Leo stood among them, oblivious to their words and their fear.
Suddenly, the old man bellowed, "Get out! All of you!" Leo turned to leave, but the old man ordered him to stay. "You, remain. I have words for you."
Once everyone else had left, silence descended upon the room, A full hour passed before the old man broke it. "I have only one question for you, How did my daughter die?"
"You mean my mother?" Leoreplied.
"Yes, your mother," the old man affirmed.
Leo stood up from his chair, "Sir, your daughter died with honor, She was not murdered, She chose her own end."
"You have now officially become one of the shadow hunters," the old man said before Leo could exit the room.
Leo smiled confidently, "I know, sir " And with that, he left the old man to his grief.