Ashes and Chains
The girl who saw Victor's expression stiffen felt the air shift.
It wasn't loud.It wasn't explosive.
But it was dangerous.
She instinctively stepped behind Videl, fingers clutching the back of the blonde girl's clothes. Her body trembled—not loudly, not dramatically—but like someone who had learned long ago that drawing attention meant pain.
Videl noticed the tension immediately and moved half a step forward, shielding her without hesitation.
Victor's golden eyes sharpened.
"Val," he said, voice low and steady, "I'll ask again. What did you do?"
He wasn't shouting.
That made it worse.
Videl swallowed. The usual sparkle in her sapphire eyes was dimmed, replaced with guilt and stubborn resolve.
