THE REVELATION

Luke's explanation hung in the air, a statement so surreal it bordered on the edges of fantasy and reality. "You know, supernaturals like vampires, werewolves, witches, dragons..." he started, but Lyra couldn't contain her incredulity.

"Woah, wait—you mean to tell me all these exist in real life?" Lyra interrupted, her voice a mixture of astonishment and skepticism. "Do we look like kids or what?"

Luke's response was laced with a calm certainty. "Do we need to state the obvious?" he challenged, his gaze steady.

A moment of silence followed as Lyra processed his words, the absurdity of the conversation warring with the seriousness etched on the faces before her. She remembered then, almost as an afterthought, her own age—a mere 17 years—and how far-fetched the entire situation must seem.

"But still, you don't expect us to believe that these creatures exist and that Mr. Brewer used to work to hunt them down," she finally said, her tone a mix of disbelief and a growing curiosity for the truth behind the incredible claims.

"And what if I disagree to join?" Shana challenges, her stance firm, eyes narrowed in defiance.

Lucian meets her gaze steadily, the weight of his next words hanging heavily in the air. "And what if I told you your father was still alive but was being held captive in vampire territory?"

Shock reverberates through the room at Lucian's revelation. Thalia, caught off guard, looks at him with wide eyes before her composure breaks, tears streaming down her face as she mutters, "It can't be," over and over, a mantra of denial.

Lyra moves to Thalia's side, offering a shoulder to lean on, trying to soothe the sudden surge of grief with gentle words and a comforting presence.

Shana, however, remains focused on Lucian, her initial shock quickly morphing into anger. Just as she's about to lash out, Lucian cuts her off by producing a note, its significance clear in his solemn expression. He hands it to her silently, the action alone speaking volumes.

After Shana takes the letter, still reeling from the implications, Damien steps forward, his voice breaking the tense silence. "I believe this is your father's handwriting?"