Twenty years before returning through time, Victor lay with his eyes closed while listening to Serafall speak. The room remained silent, illuminated only by a small flame on the table, and his mother occupied the chair beside the bed. Her voice was lower than usual, without the firmness she used before soldiers or the impatience she showed whenever someone made a mistake near her.
"There was an incident inside the Valentine Family's main headquarters," Serafall said. "I do not know exactly how it began. By the time I realized what was happening, the werewolves were already inside the walls."
Victor opened his eyes but remained lying down.
"The main headquarters?"
"Yes."
She continued looking at her own hands. There was dried blood between her fingers, even though she had already washed her arms more than once. Victor noticed it but did not ask whose blood it was.
