Shadow of the past

LA, California, October 8th 2018, 12:02 AM

"Happy Birthday to you!" People chanted to the celebrant, looking very happy and pleased at the smiling birthday girl, little did they know that her smile had a shadow. "Blow your candles and don't forget to make a wish!" the woman uon her right said with excitment. The girl nods she then blew her candle, as the flame on the candle disappeared more cheers could be heard. She swiftly made her way to the bar as she sat down on one of the leathered chairs, letting everyone enjoy their time "One Martini please" she ordered nonchalantly, her smile from earlier vanished thinking to herself "I wish this would end now...".

She starts drinking, bringing the glass to her full lips, as she felt a familiar presence behind her, "I know you're behind me Anica" she said in a bored tone, the redhead just laughed "How did you know it was me without even looking? One Cosmo please", the raven haired girl just smirked "Well that's for me to know and for you to never find out" she said cockily. "Oh come on Mei, that was so corny" Anica retorted, the raven haired girl just shrugged at her retort.

Mei didn't really like being in a crowded place, it makes her uncomfortable for some reason, even though she has to deal with more then just a small crowd like that on a daily basis. She brought her half emptied glass to her lips again, drinking her sorrows away. Sorrows that she keeps secret behind her smiles and laughs, sorrows that had been hunting her for thousands of years now.

"Mei are you listening to me?" Anica asked worried, the raven haired girl just flashed a faint smile as well as an awkward laugh "Sorry, what was it you were saying again?" she replied apologetically while placing a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her red headed friend sighed at her response as she stared at her own drink "Lately you seem really deep in thoughts, are you not having fun?" Anica asked with sadness in her tone, Mei's eyes grew big as she looked at her friend, she then smiled while poking the redhead's nose "Ding Dong! God you always get emotional for everything, I always have fun when I'm with you, silly red!" she joked, they both laughed at each other, again a shadow appearing behind her smiles and laugh.

"Ok but really Mei, you're 26 now and still no boyfriends, I just don't understand you're like gorgeous! You're a successful model, with a degree, you also came from money" Anica explained while Mei thought "Lies, all lies...", her friend continued "men lining up for you! And yet you turn them all down, I mean you turned down lots of bachelor even the best of the best", again Mei thought "but they're nothing compared to him", Anica swooned "Nicolai Petrova... I really don't get it how could you turn down even him! Ok you have standards but like no one ever turned him down like ever!" Mei placed her chin on her hand "Not my type? and I mean there's a first time for everything right?" she said in a bored tone, she then thought "Nicolai Petrova, also living a lie... an old friend nontheless"

A man comes up to the red hair, carefully placing his arm on her shoulder "So birthday girl how does it feel to be 26? Feeling old yet" He teased, Mei just smiled awkwardly as Anica elbowed him on the stomach, making an annoyed face "Shut up Nick! Ignore him Mei he's just an idiot" she said, "Hey you married this idiot" he stated in a pain laugh, Anica just shrugged at his remark. Mei smiled at the two remembering that she also had a lover once, "ok you two-" she suddenly stopped talking as she felt a familiar soul, a tear streaming down her face as she started looking through the crowd of people partying but she didn't see the face she was looking for.

Mei felt a sudden ache in her chest "Well guys thanks for the party but I have to go..." she said, Anica looked at her with sadness in her grey eyes, the redhead really wanted to party with her friend "Now? but the party just started, can't you just stay a bit longer?" she pleaded, Mei smiled at her friend, gave her a hug and told her "I really appreciate what you've done, thank you, but I have to go, I'll call you tomorrow morning", Anica just pouted at Mei's Answer "Fine, you better call me ok?" she retorted.

Mei smiled at her remark as she said her goodbyes to everyone still looking for that person she felt earlier. When she made it out of the night club, she couldn't feel it anymore so she rode on her motorcycle home thinking "Is he back?" as she felt butterflies in her stomach, a sudden memory came to her mind.

South East China, two thousand years ago

*Stomp**Stomp**Stomp*, small footsteps could be heard from miles away, that night the forest was dead silent and the blue moon was up high in the sky, the moonlight showing the way to the young boy running for his life, running bear foot, running through the pain, letting but only soft cries. He came to a abrupt halt when he reached to a river covered in mist, he then sat on one of the rocks staring at his foot covered in mud and blood. His mouth was dry from all that running "water..." he faintly said.

He stood up to walk near the water he then dropped to his knees and drank the water from the river as if it was the first time he drank in days, letting the cool fluid flow down his throat. He looked up realising that the mist has lifted for him to see a girl with long pearly white hair and skin as white as snow sitting on the giant rock in the middle of the river, staring at the blue moon.

The boy was mesmerised by the girl's beauty it was as if she was shining, he then wiped he mouth as he stood up and stared at her until she turned her head to face him, she seemed to be much older than him but in a matter of seconds she became younger appearing as if she was the same age as the boy. She stood up and started to walk on water towards the boy, her long hair covering most of her body. The boy was astonished by her wondering "How does she do that", he then hears a sweet silky voice "Magic of course", it was coming form her.

He looked at her in shocked "How-", a soft laugh escaped her mouth "ah little boys are the best", she stopped walking when she was at arms length, then stared into his dark eyes "A pure soul..." she mutters, the boy was taken aback when he noticed that her eyes, one was as blue as the moon and the other as green as jade. His amazed face turned into a frown "little boy? but you're a little girl, do you know who you're talking to?" he said as he crossed his arms, the girl took a step closer while sniffing the air "I smell royalty, son of Emperor Xiao? And if this form bothers you I can turn myself into an older woman" she teased, the boy was startled by her retort, his face turning red looking away from her.

Another sweet laugh escaped her lips "Alright, alright, I'll stop, why were you running son of Emperor Xiao?" she asked nonchalantly, he was about to answer when he felt a sharp pain on his bleeding foot. The girl looked at his foot "You're hurt... Come with me" she took his hand directed him to the river, as soon as his foot was in the water the pain flew away, the water of the river started to glow as fireflies appeared in the scenery, the moon shining bright as ever.

The girl looked at the moon with a smile on her face "So he's the one...", her hand still in his, the boy felt something, something he never felt before, it felt good... "M-My name is Kye, what's yours?" he asked as their eyes met, "Mei" she answered sweetly, her face inches away from his, as her lips touched his forehead, "The night is almost over... I need to go... but we shall meet again..." Suddenly his eyelids became heavy, as he fell asleep in her arms. Mei, pleased with the young boy, caressed his cheek "My love..."

Present day, LA, California, Mei's penthouse

She opened the door only to be greeted by her chow chow's bark "Hello little Pu", she greeted as she petted him. She then headed to the showers, undressed herself revealing her chinese dragon tattoo on her back as well as the rest of her body, showered herself, her hair turning pearly white, her eyes turning to their original colours. Noticing her hair, she then remembered "Blue moon tonight huh".

Once she was done, she walked to her room naked and sat on her bed where she had the best view of the moon. "This time I'll make it right Kye... I'll find you" she muttered as she layed on her bed and fell into deep slumber.

South East China, two thousand years ago,Twenty years after their encounter

"No! This is preposterous! I don't want to marry that woman she is evil!" Kye yelled in anger at his mother "Kye you need to understand that joining Lin's family to ours will be beneficial for all of us, even the zodiacs agreed! You shall marry her, or you will bring shame to our family!" she retorted, Kye didn't want to hear it so he walked as fast as he could to the stables "Where are you going!" she asked in disbelief, "Outside, don't you dare follow me mother" he ordered as he mounted his stallion and went as far as he could from the palace.

It was dark, he couldn't see where he was going, he then recognised a path, so he followed it until he reached to a familiar river. The mist unveiling the sleeping woman on the rock, she opened her eyes. For him it was as if it was yesterday, the same pearly white hair, skin as white as snow, blue moon and jade, this time in a more mature body, appearing as the same age as Kye. As soon as she saw him, a smile started to form on her lips, she walked up to him, coming into a halt once they were a few inches away. Kye's heart was pounding the same feeling he had the last time he saw her.

Mei's smile grew even bigger "I can hear your heart you know?" she pointed out cockily, placing her thumb on his lips "I told you we'd meet again...". Her lips almost touching his "My love" she whispered before taking a step back and analysing him, strong jaw, dark mysterious eyes, well built body, she hummed at the sight "I see you grew beautifully my love, I remembered when you were just a little boy scared of a naked girl, are you scared of me now?" she asked huskily, Kye gulped at her question while thinking "she really is something else"

*RIIIIING*

Present day, LA, California, Mei's penthouse, 7:05 AM

Mei stopped the alarm, making her phone fall on the floor as she groaned "Shit..." Mei muttered. She stood up as she put her robe on, her hair was back to raven and her eyes back to brown, "I'm hungry", Pu came running to her as soon as she came out of her room, "I know you're hungry too" she said with tiredness in her voice. She poured Pu's food in his bowl then took out leftover pizza from 3 days ago, placing a slice on a plate then inside the microwave.

Suddenly she hears the front door opened, Mei recognised the smell so she didn't really care. "I'm in the kitchen Naya" she said loudly, taking her pizza slice out of the microwave. "Ok you have a photoshoot in 3 hours for an important brand, we have to get you ready in an hour- What are you eating!?" she asked pointing at the pizza in Mei's hand "Pizza" Mei said innocently, Naya took the pizza from her hand then threw it in the trash.

Mei pouted at her actions "Why did you do that?" she asked in a childlike manner, "As your manager I'm suppose to help you be on your best shape and be the best model in the country-" she explained in a "as a matter of fact" tone, "yeah, yeah, yadi-yadi-yadah and all that jazz but did you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and pizza had all the nutrients I need, tomato, cheese, bread and a bit of meat, isn't that like the typical healthy breakfast in another form?" she said in a more annoying "as a matter of fact" tone, she doesn't like it when people dictate what she has to do and not do.

Naya just shrugged as she gathered her hair on her left shoulder "Do whatever you like, I prepared your clothes for the day, now go to your room you have an hour" she said while checking her phone, Mei nodded "Oh and by the way Mei, your father called he wants to meet you tonight for family dinner" Mei just smiled.

LA, California, October 8th 1992, the hospital,

"I'm so excited for this one to come out" the asian woman with the big baby belly, "You'll be a great mother" said the nurse, "Thank you" the pregnant woman answered. Mei was behind the door, ready to bring the tray of food to another patient, she could feel something was wrong with the baby, "You know my husband and I had been trying for 4 years for this, she will be our first child" the pregnant woman said, suddenly she felt a sudden pain, putting her hands on her belly "My water broke... but it's too early, like two months too early" she said, the nurse hurried "ok breathe I'm bringing you to the labor room".

Mei moved away from the door and made her way to the patient's room she's suppose to feed, thinking "the baby won't make it", she felt something was wrong from the very beginning, and she had the urge to do something, she didn't want that woman to be heartbroken, once she was done with her task she went to the labor room, she just stood behind the door again, sensing four people inside, the midwife, a nurse, the pregnant woman and her husband, she then felt another presence, the baby but it was different, it was living but it was very weak "it won't survive a week" Mei thought.

The nurse took the baby to bring it to the nursery, Mei followed as she overheard the nurses say "How unfortunate..." one said, "I know right? And it's a beautiful baby too, what a shame" the other said as she put the baby down in the incubator. The two nurses made their way out as Mei made her way in, she looked at the baby, the name tag said 'Mei Adeline Montgomery', she could feel it was on the verge of death, "Mei huh... Talk about fate" she said sadly as she caressed the baby's cheek lightly "Once you're ready to leave this body, I'll replace you, your parents have been waiting for so long, and knowing that this is another failure they'll split up, but don't worry I'll take good care of them on your behalf" Mei said as she walked out.

Four days later, Mei sensed something, so she quickly went to the nursery, the baby didn't have any life in it anymore, she sensed it the moment she entered the room, Mei looked for the surveillance cameras, and with a flick of a hand she turned them off, "I have a 5 minutes window before security comes in" she stated as she put her hand on the baby's head, and just like that the body disappeared into thin air leaving only pink cherry blossom leaves "I hope you're happy up there... Mother I'm leaving her in your care", Mei then closed her eyes as she felt herself shrink until she took the form of a newborn, and at that moment nurses came rushing in. "Oh my goodness! How did you end up on the floor? Let's get you cleaned up"

And like that Mei became Mei Adeline Montgomery, even in the form of a newborn she had all the memories, and the mentality of an adult, but in order for everything to work out she had to pretend like she was a new person, a real baby, a real toddler, a real teen.

Present day, LA, California,

"Mei the driver's here let's go" Naya said before they made their way to the van. In the car, Mei had her eyes on the windows wondering "How does he look like? Is he still the same?" She closed her eyes then fell asleep with Kye in her thoughts. Forty Five minutes later they arrived to destination, a very modern building, when they walked inside everything was neat and clean, the walls were white which gave off this futuristic vibe to the place. As they walked further inside there were photography studios, models, photographers, actors, actresses, even A-listers.

"This is studio 4, the changing room is just the room across, the photographer should be inside the studio" the staff member said as he walked away. "Mei go get ready I'll talk to the photographer" she ordered, Mei just followed with a shrug.

Thirty minutes later, "Ok all done!" The makeup artist said, Mei smiled as she answered "Thank you, it's beautiful", Naya came in with her tablet "No honey, you're beautiful, makeup only works if the model is gorgeous" she stated in a serious tone. Mei stood up, checked herself out in the mirror, her tatoo on her back was covered up, she then thought "I want this day to end so I can look for him", feeling underdressed in the lingerie and sky high heels she was wearing, she had a feeling, a feeling that something was going to happen however she didn't know if it was good or bad.

As she walked inside studio 4 she felt an ache in her chest, the same one she felt the night before, she hurried inside to look for him, she looked to her right while walking straight ahead thinking "Where is he?", she came into a sudden halt when she bumped and fell on someone. Her face buried into somebodies neck, an annoyed expression on her face "Watch whe-" Sparks everywhere, she felt butterflies, she looked at the person in front of her and it was like time stopped, the two stared at each others eyes, tears forming in her eyes, her lips opeing to say something and only one word came out "Kye..."

TO BE CONTINUED