Who: Charlotte.
When: Early morning.
Where: Her basement.

Late in the night Charlotte had started developing a migraine. Eventually she'd given herself a shot, and later, though she had tried with all her might to fight it, she fell into an exhausted sleep. Her mother had stayed awake by herself in their basement hideaway, Valen being at work. When the sun rose and Valen came home, Isadora went upstairs to speak with him.

As Charlotte awoke, she felt... different. The constant buzzing in her head was different, somehow. Changed. Almost... more coherent. She was immediately full of caution; at this point any change could be a bad one. She slowly sat up and looked around the room. She was alone in the basement, but for Anna. Her eyes locked with the dog.

Worry. Something wrong?

Charlotte's eyes went wide. That had been a voice. An actual voice, a coherent thought, a question. She'd never had that before. Anna? Is that your voice?

She felt a wave of surprise coming from Anna as the dog sat up and started wagging her tail. Oh! Anna got up and padded over to Charlotte, stopping in front of her to pant happily. You hear words now, like Mistress did!

Mistress. Mistress would have been Charlotte's grandmother. Oh my God. I've leveled. I must have.

Mistress told me you'd be able to do this someday. Hear surface thoughts. You'll have to try harder with anyone else. But you'll pick up surface thoughts. If you really focus, maybe more.

Why did it not surprise Charlotte at all that her grandmother had prepared her dog for this? If Grandma couldn't teach her herself, she'd see that someone would. As it began to sink in, Charlotte could only grin at Anna. She'd never heard an animal's thoughts as coherent words before. It had always been feelings and images. Now... now she could have an actual conversation with Anna. Anna had a voice. It was rich and warm and sounded very dignified, though with slightly broken English.

Do you remember a lot about Grandma? Your Mistress? Charlotte thought at Anna as she carefully lay back down. Anna curled up next to her and Charlotte scratched behind her ears.

Lower. Ahhh, there. Yes. I have good memory. Mistress was good. Wanted me to take care of you for her. I do as I was told, because she was a good mistress. And you are a good Girl. Not bratty or nosy or rough like other human pups.

Charlotte was oddly touched by Anna saying so. I'm glad I... There wasn't really a word for this sort of thing. Make you proud?

Pride is for cats. You make me pleased.

Ah well. Charlotte supposed that was just as good. Do you think I advanced in earth, too? It never occurred to her for a second that this might be insane, or even a teensy bit odd - for her to be asking a dog questions bordering on advice.

You smell stronger. Anna replied. More cotton, and good, red earth. You smell like the woods.

Charlotte smiled softly, and wondered if it was a change that Herbert would notice. She'd get to see him today too, hopefully. She had to send messages to everyone and make sure they were alright. But right now, Charlotte grinned brightly and kissed Anna on the tip of her nose. She wasn't thinking about the vampire apocalypse at the moment. She was simply happy, and happier than she had been in a very long time.