Chapter 1

It was then that my boyfriend, Brandon Jenner, exclaimed, "You're the top student in our animal training program, Tamara! You've got such a talent for this—every animal you work with follows your orders perfectly. You're the only one fit for the National Day Gala performance!"

I heard the familiar speech just as I regained consciousness from the pain of having my bones crushed by a python.

In the meantime, my classmates gathered around me, looking at me with anticipation and respect. "What kind of animal are you training this time, Tamara? We're all looking forward to your performance! We're counting on you to bring glory to the college!"

I replied indifferently, "I haven't decided yet."

Brandon added urgently, "You have to make sure you're fully prepared since they're picking the performance for the National Day Gala this time around, Tamara."

It was then that Yvonne Quinlan grabbed my arm and said, "You're known as the college's youngest prodigy in animal training, Tamara! Your act will certainly be selected for the National Day Gala. The rest of us are just along for the ride!

"I've been challenging myself lately to train a python, though. I hope you can give me some pointers when you have the chance, Tamara!"

In that instant, the crowd gasped in astonishment.

"You're actually going after a cold-blooded animal like the python? Tamara has handled ferocious animals like lions and tigers, but at least they have some emotion—pythons have none. You're actually planning on training one when the rest of us steer clear of them?"

Yvonne's eyes gleamed with pride. "I may not be as talented as Tamara, but I still want to push myself and give it a try."

In my past life, I was amazed that the normally timid Yvonne was bold enough to handle a python, especially since I was doing the same. I even ended up teaching her the essential techniques for taming them.

In the end, during the National Day Gala auditions, my python suddenly went wild mid-performance and coiled around me, crushing my bones to splinters.

I heard the sound of a whistle piercing the air just as the python was about to swallow me. It then let go of me and slithered over to Yvonne, coiling itself tamely around her waist.

In that moment, my mind reeled in disbelief. I couldn't believe that the python I had used my family's secret treasure and my own heart's blood to nourish and tame took my life to serve Yvonne instead.

Yvonne looked at me with an aggrieved expression and said, "I could let you have the other animals, but pythons are cold-blooded and dangerous if you fail to tame them. You should have heeded my advice, Tamara."

Brandon stepped forward and pointed a finger at me in a rage, snarling, "It was bad enough when you took credit for the animals Yvonne trained, but now you've gone and stolen her python as well, Tamara! You've brought this all on yourself, and you have no one else to blame for it!"