"HELP!!"
The scream cut through the refined atmosphere like a knife.
The shadows beneath the waitress's feet writhed and twisted, spreading outward in defiance of natural light. Then they began to rise, coalescing into a humanoid shape.
Vespera Ashborn materialized from the darkness itself.
She wore sleek sunglasses despite being indoors and a long dark coat that billowed slightly as she stepped fully into existence. The woman looked like she'd walked straight out of an action film, radiating an aura of absolute authority that made the air itself feel heavier.
Behind her, the shadows parted again to reveal Julia, Naira, and her mother, Lira, all stepping through the portal with varying degrees of comfort. Julia looked the least fazed, somewhat used to Vespera's abruptness. She had been shocked like this multiple times due to having lived in Vespera's home for weeks now, especially because the two women chatted almost every day.
