In a world where humans and otherworldly creatures coexist, maintaining a fragile peace is a constant battle. The creatures that reside in the underworld and skyheaven are powerful, and only the strongest among them can rule over all the worlds. For...
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Part one TIGERS & DRAGONS
•°•
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.
