Part one
TIGERS & DRAGONS

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Breath in. Breath out. 

Again. 

Breath in. Breath out. 

Kaya lay on her bed, her eyes closed, and whispered to herself in a gentle, soothing voice. She urged her racing heart to slow down and her breathing to deepen as she fought against the fiery sensation that surged from within her. It was a familiar feeling, one she experienced every full moon. Yet, despite her attempts to remain calm, her muscles tightened in response to the tempting heat that emanated from the depths of her being.

As she lay there, drenched in sweat, Kaya scolded herself for her irrational fear. She knew that there was nothing to be afraid of, that this was a natural occurrence. But still, her heart raced, and she struggled to relax. With a determined focus, she tried to distract her mind by focusing on the details of her surroundings - the softness of the sheets beneath her, the sound of the wind outside, and the faint glow of the moon through her window. But even the constant whispered prayers in her head, coming from her folks, couldn't distract the pain. 

She struggled to draw in air, her chest heaving with each labored breath. The heat emanating from her body was intense, causing beads of sweat to break out across her forehead and trickle down her face. Even the thin blanket covering her felt suffocating, and she kicked it away, desperate for relief. Her hair, once a shining, snowy white, now lay plastered to her skin, the strands sticky and tangled with sweat. 

"This is getting worse, " she mumbled through gritted teeth. The young woman felt a rising frustration as a sharp pain crawled up her back. She attempted to rub the affected area, but her arms were too short to reach her shoulder blades where the pain was most intense. Kaya lowered herself onto the ground, her knees and hands pressing into the hard surface as the whispering in her head got louder and louder and the sharp pain erupted. She winced as her back protested the awkward position, feeling an ache that was almost unusual in its intensity. Determinedly, she extended her fingers and dug her nails into the dark wooden floor, carving scratches.

"Young lady…? " With a creak, the heavy wooden door swung open, revealing Liana, the housemaid, standing in the doorway. As soon as her eyes fell upon her young lady, who was lying on the floor, writhing in pain, a look of shock and concern quickly spread across the older woman’s face. Liana kneeled next to Kaya, combing her sticky hair aside to get a better view, but the old maid was horrified at the sight of her young lady's glowing eyes. 

"It hurts so much," Kaya let out a scream of agony. "Please ease the pain, " Kaya Aurora, the elegant, always strong young lady, had a voice that was typically soothing and calm. However, now it was low and almost demonic, filled with an urgency that was quite unusual. Her words were repeated in an almost trance-like state, as if she couldn't control herself any longer. "I can't take it anymore, please!" she begged, her voice filled with anguish.

Liana's heart pounded as she dashed out of the room, her feet slapping against the cold, stone floor. She navigated the dimly lit hallways with practiced ease, her breath coming in short gasps as she finally burst into the main hall. Without slowing down, she passed the castle's west wing and continued to the chamber of the high lady.

The massive wooden door loomed before her, and she pounded on it with an urgency born of worry. "High lady... Your daughter," she called out desperately, her voice echoing through the silent hall. "The young lady isn't feeling well!"

As the door creaked open, it revealed the presence of a tall and elegant woman - the High Lady Esira Aurora. Her long, jet-black hair was intricately braided to one side and glistened with a blueish sheen under the moonlight. Her hazel eyes furrowed in worry as she exhaled a soft breath, muttering to herself, "Not again."

The maiden spoke in a hushed tone, her voice quivering with fear. "I'm sorry to trouble you, high lady, but I must confess that I was quite scared," she said cautiously.

Esira strode purposefully alongside her maiden. The maiden she had known since she was a teen. Liana was always a part of the castle and one of the most trusted persons of the family, Aurora—quick steps echoing on the cold stone floor. "Proceed!" she demanded, her voice ringing out with determination.

The older woman's voice trembled with fear as she recounted what she had witnessed. "I saw the young lady's eyes," she said, "and they were not just red, but blood red. It was as if the very essence of terror had taken hold of her soul."

Esira remained utterly still, not even a twitch in her expression as she spoke with a firm tone, "I must insist that you do not utter a single word of this to anyone." "Not even to my husband, the high lord!"

Liana expressed her assent by gently nodding her head and bowing it slightly downward in agreement. The moment they entered the main hall, Kaya's piercing screams echoed through the entire room, making it impossible to miss.

“Ahhhhhhhhhrgh.”

“MAKE IT STOP!”

The imposing figure of the High Lady stepped inside the room, her gaze commanding authority. With a subtle gesture, she closed the door, leaving her maiden Liana waiting outside the chambers of Kaya. Liana could sense the weight of the moment as she stood there, her head bowed in deference to the High Lady's wishes. The silence was almost palpable, broken only by the muffled sounds of voices and groans from inside.

Esira rushed to her daughter's side, her heart pounding with worry. Kneeling, she gently wrapped her long, silky navy blue nightgown around Kaya's tiny body, holding her close. "It's alright, my Angel," she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. "Mommy is here for you." As she spoke, Esira hummed a familiar melody, one that had comforted Kaya since she was a baby. The High Lady had sung this lullaby to both of her children, a sweet, lilting tune that now filled the room with a sense of calm.

The young lady was shaking, but she stopped screaming in pain. The sound of her mother's lullaby almost magically affected Kaya. As the gentle melody enveloped her, all the weariness and pain from the long night slowly dissipated. Kaya lay cradled in the arms of her beloved mother, the High Lady of Anthropos, the city that was once a mighty kingdom in the human world. The steady rhythm of her mother's voice and the warmth of her embrace brought a deep sense of peace, and Kaya drifted into a peaceful slumber.

The room was utterly silent except for the faint sound of breathing. The moonlight illuminated the young lady's chamber in a blue-whitish hue, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. One could almost hear a pin drop as the stillness and calmness of the night enveloped the room.

Liana approached the door with a sense of trepidation, her heart pounding in her chest. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should knock or wait for her High Lady to call out to her. After a brief moment of indecision, she knocked, hoping she wouldn't disturb the room's occupants.

When there was no response, she took a deep breath and pushed the door open, peeking her head inside cautiously. Her High Lady was lying on the bed, her eyes closed, and her breathing slow and even. Beside her, her daughter was nestled against her, her face relaxed and peaceful.

Liana felt a wave of relief wash over her as she stepped inside, taking care not to make any noise. The room was bathed in a soft, warm light that made her feel instantly at ease. The bed was covered in a fluffy white duvet, and several pillows were scattered around, each in a different shade of blue.

As she approached the bed, Liana noticed the vase of dried flowers on the nightstand; Kaya got them from someone she cherished and couldn't throw them away, and since then, they remained. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight of the two women lying together, so peaceful and serene.

After a moment, Liana realized that her High Lady was awake and looked at her with a small smile. She motioned for Liana to come closer, and as she did, she felt gratitude and contentment wash over her.

"I am sorry for disturbing your sleep, my Lady."

Esira's lips curled into a serene smile as she turned towards her maiden, who seemed worried about something. "Don't worry about that," she said reassuringly. "I wasn't fully asleep." The High Lady gracefully rose from the bed and approached Kaya, intending to cover her with another blanket. But as she leaned forward, something caught her eye. Esira paused, her gaze lingering on the spot momentarily before turning back to Liana. "You may rest now," she said, her voice gentle and grateful. "Thank you for your hard work." With a nod of her head, Liana left the room, her curiosity unvoiced.

The High Lady's heart sank as she laid eyes on her daughter's back. The once smooth and unblemished skin was covered in dried blood, and the scratches marred the surface were deep and angry. But it was the feathers on Kaya's shoulder blades that genuinely shocked her. The fine white down seemed out of place against the backdrop of Kaya's perfectly untouched, delicate skin.

Upon closer inspection, the High Lady's fears were confirmed - the feathers were growing out of Kaya's shoulders, and the skin underneath was torn open as if in protest against this unnatural occurrence. The sight was fascinating yet terrifying, and the High Lady couldn't help but wonder what it all meant.

Esira watched in amazement as her daughter's feathered wings began to shed, leaving a trail of delicate white feathers floating to the ground. With a sense of wonder, she reached out to touch them, but as soon as her fingers made contact, the feathers disintegrated into dust, disappearing into the air.

But that was not the most astounding sight she witnessed that night. It was when her daughter's torn and opened skin suddenly healed before her eyes as if the wounds had never existed. Esira couldn't help but feel confused at her daughter's magical powers.

"What in the world is happening?” She whispered. 

Esira had always known that her daughter, Kaya, possessed something special. She knew about the voices in her daughter's head—prayers from their people.  Kaya’s duty was to recite their prayers to the spirits when daytime shifted to the darkness, and nighttime greeted the human world. As a priestess, Kaya's abilities were primarily focused on healing others, like any other priestess' power, but what Esira witnessed tonight was beyond anything she had ever seen… The raw power emanating from Kaya was palpable, and it was clear that this was not just innocent magic. There had to be something darker and more mysterious going on. 

__"And they were not just red, but blood red. It was as if the very essence of terror had taken hold of her soul."__

Esira couldn't believe what she had heard earlier. Her maid, Liana, had spoken words that sent shivers down her spine. Esira's gaze shifted to her sleeping daughter, and she mumbled in disbelief, "It can't be..." The air was thick with tension as she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. 

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