Ripping is first from the grasp of the shadowy figure, he stumbled back and gave his surroundings a quick glance. Just like when he stepped into the pod to begin his trial, he found himself in a large empty room with nothing but the strange pod and the man who brought him there.
'What was his name again? Alec Leto, I think? Just who is this guy, and what does he want?'
The shadows around the man faded away, revealing his usual appearance. He stepped closer to Theo, who reflexively raised his hands in defence, but Alec didn't even flinch and proceeded to place his hand on Theo's shoulder, lean in, and whisper.
"Why so hostile, Theo?"
Theodore scoffed.
"If I was anything but in a situation like this, I would think something was seriously wrong with me. "
Alec smirked at his obvious jabs.
"Define situation."
"Well, first I come home to see Maria half dead, we were suddenly transported to the house of a complete psycho, I went through my trial in said psycho's house, and said psycho claims to be my uncle. Is that enough of an explanation for you?"
Unfazed by Theodore's outburst, Alec chuckled.
"Fair enough," he then stepped back and raised his hands in a gesture of peace.
"It's been a few wild days, hasn't it? Why don't you relax?"
Theodore looked to relax slightly, but never lowered his guard and kept his eyes fixed intently on Alec.
"What reason would I have to do that?"
"For one thing, I'm the only family you have."
Theo furrowed his brow in confusion.
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm a bloody orphan, I have no family."
"Is that what you believe?"
"It's what I know!"
"Well, then what you know is a lie."
"A lie?"
"Yes, Theo, a lie. You might not have any living parents, but that doesn't mean all your living family are no more."
Theodore stared at Alec with such intensity and scrutiny that he could burn a hole straight through him.
"Where have you been all my life then?"
"Well, for certain.... reasons, I have been unable to leave this place."
"Why all the secrecy? Why didn't you find some other way to tell me you were not only my uncle, but my only surviving family?"
Alec sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"It's... well... complicated. Theo. Let's just say that my... our family... has a lot of enemies. And keeping you in the dark was the best way I could think to protect you. And to correct your statement, I am not your only surviving family."
"There are others, then?"
"Of course, you've already given me one in fact."
"I have? Who?"
Alec chuckled.
"Who else? Maria, my daughter, and your cousin."
Theo's mouth hung open for a while.
"That's impossible," Theodore said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I would have known something was off if she really was..."
"You would have known something was off if she really was... what Theo? Your cousin? Family? What's so hard to believe about this, Theo?"
Theodore shook his head.
"If she really is family, why has she never even mentioned it after all these years. Not even the slightest hint."
"That's because she was under strict orders not to reveal anything."
"By who?"
"The head of the clan. Me! And I did that because I knew that if anyone suspected she was connected to you, it would put you both in danger. So she took care of you, but still kept her distance, even though it likely pained her to do so."
"But your master plan had a flaw! We, no, she was still put in danger, and nearly lost her life in the process."
"That was an unfortunate situation brought about by your awakening."
Theodore's eyes opened wide.
"How does my awakening have anything to do with her being put in danger?"
Alec stared at Theo for a few brief moments, sighed, turned his back on him, and made his way back up the stairs to the main building. Theo followed closely behind, his mind racing with an unending stream of questions.
He just couldn't bring himself to believe everything he was hearing.
"So what you're saying is my life! My past! Everything I knew about my family was a lie? A carefully constructed facade by what is left of my family to protect me from dangers I had no idea even existed?"
Alec continued down the mazy corridors of the building, continuing to ignore Theo's constant demand for answers.
"Hey! Don't just walk away from me! I deserve an explanation! How does my awakening have anything to do with Maria getting hurt?"
"It has everything to do with all this."
"How does it have anything to do with all this?, No, what is all this?"
Alec stopped at a massive door adorned with gold.
"Your awakening changed everything, Theo. It made you, and anyone close to you, a target."
"But why? What's so special about me? Why would anyone want to hurt me just because I became a herald?"
Alec smirked and chuckled.
"You aren't just some mere herald, Theodore. You are the child of one of the greatest to ever be born."
As he finished his statement, the gold-ornamented door swung open.
Theodore's eyes widened
"What are you talking about? What do you mean, 'the child of one of the greatest to ever be born'?"
Alec stepped through the doorway, gesturing for Theodore to follow. "Come, I'll explain everything inside. It's a long story, and we have a lot to discuss."
Theodore hesitated for a moment, but his curiosity and thirst for answers propelled him forward.