If one stood at the door of Sunrise Palace, it was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Most souls were asleep at the late hour save for a few. One of them was Kora, the Empress' personal maid who stood guard outside her chambers if she was in need of water or wanted to relieve herself. The other was Janice, her hands shaking as she peered at her reflection in a tepid pool of water the bright moon was illuminating.
"What is this?" Janice whimpered to herself, her voice choked in panic and horror. She had awoken in the middle of the night after spending hours tossing and turning restlessly. Sleep had eluded her often for the past few days, her thoughts chaotic and frenzied at every hour of the day. Janice had just thought she was feeling peckish.
