Haunted Hydra: Leon & John
Leon's gaze didn't waver as John made a nervous laugh and hand motion. He didn't try to explain that it wasn't deduction skills, but a scent memory that had drawn the correct conclusions. If this was someone from his tribe, then they may already know he'd been turned into a vampire and, if they'd paid attention to the elders, know that vampires had very keen senses.
And if this was someone from his tribe, who he hadn't heard from since before he was turned, then what was he doing here? Did the elders really have the audacity to send a student to St. Margaret's Academy after they'd disowned one of their own and left him in the Academy's care without any support? Ms. Menides surely wouldn't allow it. So what was this?
Then, there it was. The pieces fitting together. Tohquah. His mother's name. That was why this boy looked vaguely familiar. That was why he smelled like he was from the reservation. That was why the school had allowed him to come. Because he was Leon's brother.
What?
A brother. He had a brother. This boy was his brother. Leon's light eyes moved down John's frame, slow and deliberate. His jaw tightened and he became acutely aware of the other people in the foyer who were glancing their way. Word could spread of this quickly. Did he want it to? Did he want other people to know before he'd had time to fully absorb it?
A brother. And his mother had never whispered a word of it. Neither had the elders. Not even when he was preparing to kill again for them. Not even after he'd killed again and had gained the last and most powerful spirit to haunt his every step and permeate his dreams. Not even when he'd lost the fight to hold them back and had almost had his soul physically torn from his body, saved only by the vampire bite of his friend and protector. No word at all had come from the person who should matter most in his life to tell him that he wasn't alone.
Leon thought the days of his family hurting him had been at an end. Apparently they still had one card to play.
Leon's eyes narrowed and fixated on John's. Their eyes were a match in color, something Leon realized with a start. It stalled the growl that had started to form in his throat. A brother. "Brothers. I'm not... I never knew. How... why..." Leon shook his head and closed his eyes. "We can't talk about this here. Come." The command was given, but Leon didn't turn away from John to move towards the stairs. He wasn't quite willing to let him out of his sights yet. Instead, he indicated John should go first.