Chapter 2: Life Lesson

"Vincent?" He heard his fathers' voice coming from the hallway. Grimoire looked through the window of the room containing his son. The man jupmed slightly and slung open the door. "Vincent!" He ran over to his son and grabbed him up in his arms. Nanda and Hideo had told him what had happened to his wife. "Dad," Vincent said, clinging to his father "Dad, where's mommy?" Grimoire sighed "Mommy... returned to the planet."

Vincent shook his head as if he didn't understand. "Let me explain," his father said "She... that man... who shot her..." he cut off and looked away toward the window "He... killed her... so her body returned to the Lifestream." "Does that mean," the smaller began, tears forming in his eyes again "She- she's not... coming back?" Grimoire shook his head. For the first time, but not the last, in five years, Vincent saw his father cry. "Why?" He asked "Why did you take her?" "Who? Why did who take mommy?" Grimoire looked at his son, brows furrowed as if he was in deep thought. "No one. No one took your was His timing; His plan... it was simply... her time to go." Who's 'He' dad?" His father looked at him lovingly and pointed toward the ceiling. "Oh..."

"Um... Mr. Valentine," began Hideo, "we've got some suspects lined up in the next room. We'll need your son." Grimoire nodded his head and motioned Vincent to follow him. As the three of them walked past the door, Vincent casted his gaze toward the ceiling again. 'Her time... His plan...' Hideo closed the door behind them.