Xyaene and Na'ii are the two most beautiful and revered courtesans in the Imperial City, property of the Emperor. It is believed that he will eventually choose one to be his bride, and they are bitter rivals, full of loathing. Unknown to most, their rivalry is all in vain; the Emperor is a fool, who believes he has discovered the secret to eternal life, and is unconcered with choosing a bride or siring an heir.

Na'ii is a street child. Her colours are rich scarlets and crimsons, flecked with orange and gold. She is a little older than Xyaene, and growing up in the slums of the Imperial City she quickly learnt that her looks and charm could get her out of trouble when she was caught thieving. She moved on to prostitution at the age of eleven, working in a whorehouse at age fourteen. At nineteen, she robbed the establishment, taking the earnings for the entire month. This was just enough to disguise herself in the finest silks and royal garments; with not enough left for a bite to eat, she found employment as an Imperial courtesan, slowly rising over the next ten years to become the legendary palace beauty and safest bet for the Emperor's bride-to-be, living up to her namesake, Na'ii (phoenix).

Until Xyaene arrived.

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This portrait was done in little over three hours. I'd originally intended to spend a lot longer on it but from the very start it was a complete disaster - it looked nothing like Na'ii as I had pictured her (the trouble with finally trying to draw the first character you ever invented) and I decided to scribble on it for a little while before trashing it. Suprisingly enough though, since I just didn't care what it looked like, it actually started to take shape to what I was was trying to achieve, and I finished it rather quickly.

The blood smears are alluding to the not-so-pleasant end both of the ladies eventually come to...