His father, Jesus, had a position of minor nobility when he was caught stealing Aztec artifacts. He was consequently exiled from Mexico, and relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. he married a woman, Theresa, and soon a child was born, Luis Santiago. When Theresa discovered the secret past of Jesus Sanitago, she seperated from him, taking their son with her. Meanwhile, Jesus had somehow managed to secure another political position in Mexico. Sometime later, Luis's mother died in a terrible fire, which Luis only barely managed to survive.

When Luis came of age, he attended the University of Georgia, intending to study archaeology and anthropology. After graduation, he moved to Mexico City so he could get closer to his father, and so he could study in earnest Aztec Society. However, he could never make an amends with his father. His father eventually started stealing Aztec artifacts again. Luis discovered it by accident when he saw a museum piece on the shelf in his father's home. He managed to get the piece, intending to return it to the Pyramid of Kulkulkan. Luis traveled to the Yucatan and the Pyramid, arriving there around midnight.

It was deja vu, when Luis realized this was exactly like the dream he had been having since childhood. For some reason, he felt drawn to laying down on the clock, just as he had seen in his dream. A dizziness overcame him immediately, and he passed out. Luis woke up in a candlelit chamber, and across from him he saw a strange indian man kneeling, meditating, and praying. The strange man spoke, saying he was Itzcoatl, the last priest of Quetzalcoatl. Itzcoatl began instructing Luis in the ways of his deity, teaching Luis to become the next avatar of Quetzalcoatl.

After what seemed like an eon of teaching, Luis returned back to visit his father, intending to scare his father into returning all the artifacts. It worked apparently, and Luis returned to Atlanta accepting a teaching position at the University of Georgia.