Gradually, Mia's body started changing. Her body curled into a black ball, tiny paws replaced her hands. Two long ears sprouted on her head and a fluffy tail emerged on her back.
It was past midnight when Mia was stirred awake. Unbeknownst to her, the moment she opened her eyes, the color of her grey eyes changed to green, mirroring just her own.
She stood up, bewildered as she looked at the world around her. Why did everything seem so big? Did the city grow huge while she was asleep?
Mia groaned in annoyance but suddenly.
"Meow…"
Mia froze. Is the kitten still alive? She immediately turned and reached out to dig the soil but in the next moment, her worldview shattered.
She looked at the black paw in disbelief.
'What's happening?'
"Meow… Meow…"
Mia twirled in disbelief, 'What…'
"Meow… Meow…"
Suddenly, her eyes landed on a tiny black kitten, just like the one she buried.
But it took her a moment to realize that she was looking at a broken, discarded mirror.
Her reflection was exactly like that of the kitten she buried, except for the eyes. The eyes were green, just like her own.
Mia laughed inwardly as she thought, 'The stress must have gotten to me. I am hallucinating. I should sleep some more and this dream will be over.'
...
Back to present
...
Killian had meant business while stepping out of his mansion that day. But being stopped by a tiny kitten was not a part of his plan.
He was planning to just take a look but when he looked into the pair of jade green eyes, he was stumped. He did not even realize when he lifted the kitty. Not out of pity, solely out of amusement. The creature had looked at him with such a gaze that was unexplainable, almost like it had intelligence of its own.
And now he found himself sitting in the hospital room, filling in the pet's name: Jade
It was only after he wrote his name did Killian pause. He could hear his assistant, Kevin, gasping behind him.
Even the doctor was frozen in his spot and rightfully so, his name had caused enough havoc since he returned to Azure Country.
But the reaction that moved Killian was of the little black furball perched on his arm. One moment, it was still and perfectly comfortable but in the next second, she whipped around and jumped in the air.
Two seconds later.
Killian looked at the palm-sized furball suspended from his hand, holding the silky tail just firmly in the grip. The pair of jade green eyes dilated as they looked at him.
And there was a flash of something, almost keen to hatred in those eyes.
Killian arched a brow, "Ungrateful."
"Meow meow meow....!"
The kitten slashed her paws around but when those claws scratched empty air, she seemed to have grown more restless, tossing and turning in his grip as she bared her teeth.
"P-President Volkov, it was my oversight for not being able to recognize you... This kitten then..." The doctor stepped forward, stuttered.
"...is a stray," Kevin answered.
Killian restrained the kitten in his hand, restraining it in his palm. And there was something similar to helplessness in that pair of sparkly round eyes before the violent movements stopped out of nowhere.
"Ah, my bad, my bad. I assumed it's your pet. Strays are often a bit violent because of the harsh conditions they are exposed to. And this one is still a kitten, barely a few months old. She needs to be vaccinated," The doctor looked at Killian, trying his very best to please the man, "Following that, we can leave her in one of the shelters associated with our hospitals."
Relieved to hear that, Kevin was about to nod.
But suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped. A chill crept down both the men's spines.
"My pet," Two words left Killian's mouth.
On the verge of crying, Kevin sucked a deep breath and reprimanded the doctor, "Our Young Master already named the kitten. Can't you see who she belongs to and who is her master? How can she be sent to the shelter?"
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
The three men in the room looked in absolute silence at the supposed 'pet' who seemed far from happy with her current title and her current 'master'.
...
Sapphire Mansion.
"Hurry! The Young Master is back!"
"Back? Didn't they say he will be working overtime already?"
"Why would the devil be back so early?"
"Shh! Dumbass, don't let anybody hear you."
Two rows of servants neatly stood in queues in front of the main door.
But after a few minutes of silence, everyone looked at each other, confusion stamped all over their faces.
They all saw the assistant alighting the car but even after a full five minutes, the said 'devil' was nowhere in sight.
"Why is the Young Master not stepping out?"
"Hmm... Could it be that he has changed his mind and wants to go back to work!"
"Hah... Look, he is out."
"What is he holding? Is that..."
As Killian entered the mansion, all the discussions faded into silence and servants bowed to greet him.
At this moment, two breezy words entered their ears, "Make preparations," Killian said.
While the servants looked bewildered, nobody noticed the kitten firmly perched on Killian's arm stiffened, all its fur straightened out as if it got goosebumps.