Thirty Years Later

.....

For thirty years Yelena suffered from the pains of parting with the man she loves. The pain that she never got to say goodbye to him was so great that it sometimes threatened to kill her.

Despite all these Yelena did not lose hopes of finding and reuniting with the man she loves.

With the method she found of saving him, she has been devoting thirty years of her life working and saving lives so she could redeem him.

She has been so hopeful that soon her greatest wish will come true just like legends about the ancient wishing tree says.

Today just like every year Yelena packed very early in the soon, freshen up and got ready to set out for her flight.

Just when she had finished dressing up, a lady in an orange dress entered the room. The lady was surprised to see that Yelena wearing white leather trousers and a jacket had packed and dressed up.

"Boss, don't tell me you are travelling for the woman's anniversary? She wasn't even related to you so why are you doing this...,"

"If you know that I am travelling why bother asking?" Yelena asked as she pushed the luggage close to the brown door.

"Also she might not have been related to me but she was Riley's closest person. Besides, for the period I was a newly turned vampire she taught and took very good care of me. She holds a special place in my heart," Yelena said as she sat on the blue sheet bed.

Although she was damn rich, her apartment was simple. They were not too many decors either in the sitting room or bedroom but those your eyes find is the best of the best.

She did not have a house of her own and this is because she constantly needs to move places.

"I wonder what is this love people constantly talks about that is capable of entrapping so many people. Even you were not spared from this. You have been entrapped by this so-called love for three decades...," Bertina, fondly called Betty by Yelena said as she stare at her boss sitting on the bed.

Her boss is the kindest person of her kind that she has met. Yelena is very beautiful and well endowed no doubts. She is filthy rich and has several companies under her name, although none of her employees knows her real identity.

Despite all these things, her boss hasn't been able to move on from her past. The desire to get back with her past lover was too strong that not even Aunty Caroline or she who had been with her for fifteen years could talk her out of this.

"Boss, don't you think that falling in love all over again is better than waiting for the one whom we are not even sure whether he is alive...

"Hey, girl don't even go there ok because I won't listen to you? I am alive and well today because he paid the ultimate sacrifice. Nothing anyone says or do will make me change my mind about waiting for him," Yelena said firmly, her gaze focused on the lady sitting on the white couch.

"And don't worry because I am sure soon enough you will be able to understand what is this feeling call love that drives even the sanest person insane. You will understand it after finding the one made for you," Yelena said as she stood up and approach where she kept her luggage.

"Let me accompany...,"

"I didn't inform you about my travelling because I didn't plan on taking you with me so stay behind and make sure that the others carry out our pending mission according to how we planned. I will come back after a night ok," Yelena instructed as she opened her bedroom door.

"I will make sure of that. Have a safe trip," Betty said as she followed Yelena out of the room.

Betty followed Yelena downstairs where a car was already waiting for her. She only went back to their apartment after seeing the car drove off.

Yelena boarded a plane to Shanghai, the city where she resided twenty-five years ago before she started her mission in full swing.

Since Aunty Caroline died, she has only visited the city once every year and this is only for her death anniversary.

This is the same reason she is travelling this time around. To tell her as always that she was doing perfectly alright.

After the plane landed in Shanghai, Yelena boarded a taxi to her booked hotel room. Although it was already late in the night in Shanghai, she knew the time zone was different from where she came from so she didn't call Betty to inform her that she had arrived.

Yelena freshens up and lied down feeling optimistic about what lay in stock for her when the day breaks.

Although she went to bed very late, that did not stop her from waking up very early. She showered, dress up and left the hotel looking her best like she was going on a date.

When Yelena reached Aunty Caroline's gravestone she bent and drop the bouquet of tulips.

Just like she always did she stood there and began telling Aunty Caroline all the countries she has been to and how successful her missions has always been.

Yelena stood in her heels for over an hour without showing signs of tiredness.

"Aunty, I am a witness of how much you loved Riley even though he wasn't your son. I also watched how you transferred all that overwhelming love to me when you thought that he had died. I am still carrying out the vow I made to the ancient wishing tree and I believe the tree will carry out his part of the promise too," Yelena said sounding very emotional.

"It's a matter of time I find Riley. Don't worry I will scold him on your behalf and also bring him to see you when I see him," Yelena said with a smile on her face. She continue talking for a few more minutes before she left the graveyard.

She took a stroll around the city getting herself familiar with the changes that had occurred after her last visit. When she decided to stop her strolling it was night.

She dropped by at a club to grab a few drinks. Being in such a crowded place she lost track of time. She was surprised when she realised that it was midnight.

"Darn it! I wonder what is wrong with me!" Yelena remarked as she found her way out of the crowded club.

Fifteen minutes after she left the club, the lady walking on the lonely streets felt the presence of people. Surprisingly when she turned around she could not find anyone.

Though she didn't see anyone, she knew she was been followed so she quickened her pace.

She stopped walking when they got to a lonely street where she was certain people hardly passed by.

"Aren't you guys tired of following me about?" Yelena who has taken her stance said in a cold tone.

After she uttered these words, those who has been following her showed up. They were about ten men in number and all of them wore black outfits.

"All ten of you for only me? I should feel honoured right?" Yelena said as she brought out her small customised pistol and dagger she always carried with her.

Before she could attack the men who has surrounded her, a man in black shirts and trousers came out of nowhere and stood beside her.

Because of the mask he was wearing, she couldn't see his face. She did not know why she suddenly hid the weapons in her hands before he could get a glimpse of them.

"I will protect you," Yelena heard his masculine voice say behind the masks. For some reason, she found his voice familiar. Even his words reminded her of Riley.

Riley has always told her, 'I WILL PROTECT YOU' each time they encounter difficulties.

How come she feels so reassured hearing these words from a stranger she just met?

"If you know that you are powerful then come at me, vampires," The guy standing beside her challenged with his weapons in his hands.

Yelena stood at a corner and watch him fight the ten men.

The way he manipulates the daggers in his hands showed that he was a professional fighter. According to her guess, he must have learned to fight since he was a kid or for so many years.

Even though she hasn't fought with him, Yelena wasn't certain of winning this mysterious man fighting in front of her if the two of them were to fight. She wasn't certain he would win her either.

Since the ten men were not a match for the overbearing man, they ended up turning to ashes after being stabbed in the heart by the cruel man.

He went back to where Yelena stood staring at him.

"Are you ok?" The man behind the mask asked in a worried tone like he wasn't the same man who killed those men coldheartedly some seconds ago.

"Don't be scared because I won't hurt you," The guy said as he took off the mask to reveal his devilishly handsome face.

Yelena whose gaze has been focused on him for a while now took a few steps backwards in shock when she got a glimpse of the man's face.

She did not how to react.

Should she jump up, cry, or scream at the top of her lungs?

She didn't know what to do. Yelena stood there frozen to a spot.

Is this really happening?

She stares at those natural green eyes she could never mistake for any other person. She has stared into those eyes for so many years to mistake them.

The guy stretched to touch her when he saw the sudden change in her reaction. "Are you ok, young lady?" The guy asked looking genuinely worried about her.