Each day that we’ve gotten closer to this war I’ve become more and more anxious to the point of actually becoming sick. Chris couldn’t sit back and watch anymore so he put his grievances aside and asked that an irshiust be near me at all times to help keep my anxiety at a more manageable level. It’s actually worked, though now I feel like I’m being babysat. I’ve asked them about this calming effect they have. They explained it’s not something they can control, that it works much like pheromones do. I asked if it works on each other, and they told me no, which is a shame. I wish I had that power and could use it on myself, that would be nice. Then it would at least be one thing I don’t need other people for. It’s not that I hate that I need help… okay, I do sometimes. It’s just... I am some special being created by a God, born to be an Empress and save my people and yet here I am needing babysitters to manage my panic attacks. Some hero. Chris has gone off to do some training with Am

Chris and I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. I guess the bright side about not knowing when war is coming is that you’re not constantly worrying about it, which means you can actually sleep and rest. Today is the day we go to Longsang and the energy around the packhouse is like there is a dark cloud hanging over it. All night Chris and I just watched each other. We didn’t speak. Words weren’t needed. We just stared at each other and took comfort in being together. Chances are we’re going to lose a lot of people and that thought hurts me deeply, but the thought of losing Chris… Setia said the future isn’t written in stone, so I know that just because Oshmin told me I would have children and what their destiny is, doesn’t mean it will happen. I could die and then that future would never come true. A million things could happen, and that uncertainty has Chris and me on edge. We haven’t talked about it; we don’t need to. But I know he’ll fight hard to stay alive for me and I will d

It doesn’t take us long to reach the palace. I can feel panic rising up inside me, but I try to keep my mind focused on the task at hand. I don’t pretend I’m not scared. I don’t pretend standing here doesn’t remind me of what happened inside its walls. I feel all of it, but I won’t be ruled by it. This is my life, and no one gets to decide what I do with it but me. We’re not even standing there a full minute when I hear sounds approaching us from inside the palace and all around us. Qiang, Nuo and I hear them before the others do. The sound of slithering. Suddenly we’re completely surrounded by shifted nagata. Chris automatically moves closer to me. This would probably be a good time to feel intimidated but instead, I feel in awe. To see each of them standing tall in their half snake forms, their bright green reptilian eyes looking at us and all their different scales; I don’t fear them, I feel pride. Yes, right now we are the enemy, and they are here to try and kill us, but these are

We follow Nuo into the palace, weaving down corridors before entering a large, two-levelled throne room, with two large royal seats up on a large platform. A throne room should feel inviting, maybe even opulent, but this feels more like where you come to receive sentencing before being sent to the gallows.Nuo slithers to the centre of the room opening a large trap door, “The dungeons are down here,” she informs us.A see a blur of something just as the trap door snaps back shut with a loud slam. I look and see a young woman, who, for lack of a better word, looks like utter shit. Her hair appears as though she’s been yanking it out at the roots, mascara is streaking her face, her skin is sickly pale, and her eyes are glowing a reptilian green.“Shi…” Nuo breathes looking the woman over with shock. The woman begins shouting something in Mandarin before launching herself at Nuo. Nuo dodges her and wraps her tail around the woman to restrain her. “I’ll handle her, go, and get as many han

Zixin shakes his head in amusement, “You’re supposed to be their saviour? This is just sad.” In a split second, he’s in front of me, and now I know his scent. What’s so strange is that I feel as though I’ve smelt it before. He smells like katsura and ginseng and I can taste it on my tongue. I go to throw a punch, but before I can even lift my arm he has his hand around my neck and is pining me to a tree. He leans in, his nose skimming along my jawline and I feel my muscles locking up. My vision becomes tunnelled, bile is rising up my throat and flashes of that night are replaying in my mind. I can feel him on my skin, and it’s like bugs crawling across my flesh. I’m trying to will my body to move, but it won’t listen to me. It’s like that night all over again, only this time it’s not serpentine crippling me, it’s my own mind. “You see? You can’t fight me. Just give in, it would be so much better if you did,” he leans in, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear, and I have to sw