A stranger had broken into her room. Though frightened, Audrey forced herself to stay calm and snatched up a charm sealed with Spirituality from her bedside. She was about to shout and summon her family's bodyguards.
Before she could speak, her intuition warned her that making too much noise would have terrible, irreversible consequences.
She glanced instinctively at Susie. Her golden retriever remained on guard, but she, too, was holding back a bark.
Just then, the figure hidden beneath a black robe lowered her voice. "Miss Audrey, it's me... And please, don't make too much noise..."
A woman? And that voice sounds familiar... As the thought crossed Audrey's mind, the figure stepped out of the shadows and pulled back her hood, letting waist-length black hair spill down her back.
"Escalante Osisleika?" Audrey recognized her at once. She was Escalante of the Psychology Alchemists, ostensibly a Psychiatrist but actually only a Telepathist.
And I'm already preparing to advance to Hypnotist!
Audrey sighed with relief, but her gaze suddenly caught on a suitcase by Escalante's feet.
She had "read" a few "thoughts" from the suitcase. It found her appearance very appealing and seemed to want to tear off her "packaging," wash her clean, and eat her slowly...
I'm glad it thinks I'm pretty... But what does it mean by "eat"? Ugh! I don't need a compliment from a suitcase!
The pressure of a predator higher up the food chain made Audrey tense again. She dared not look at the suitcase any longer and asked in a low voice:
"Miss Escalante, could you explain why you're in my room at this hour?"
"Good evening, Miss Audrey." Baby-faced Escalante lifted her skirt in a curtsy before saying awkwardly, "I'm sorry to disturb you so late... But I came to ask for help!"
"Help?" Audrey