Falling Snow

Chapter 1

The sound of rustling filled the halls, carriages lined up in front of the grand door. Inside them, were royalties, lords, generals and the richest business men in the empire, and they were here to watch the most prestige show in the whole land, mainly, they were here to watch her.

Xue was putting her jewelry on, a pair of silver bracelet that shines on her moonlight skin. She wore the head piece that symbolizes her place as the first dancer of the Fei Xian Ge, the house of flying fairies, like she did in the last three years. She put the rouge on her lips, and just a little bit more on the cheek. She stared at the mirror, she had to look absolutely the best, for the powerful guest spend a fortune to come to see her dance, the best in China.

Once she was finished, Xue walked out of her dressing room and went to the backstage. She could hear the music playing from the stage, it was melodious, preparing the guests for the shows. She walked in to the door that lead to the backstage, and was greeted by an older woman.

"Are you ready, Xue, this is the show that we are preparing all year." The older woman asked her in a nervous tone, her eyes locked on to Xue' s face.

"Yes, Madam, I am ready, and I will not let you down." Xue answered. She knew her responsibility, and especially this show, she could not fail, or bad things will happen. Madam, the woman in charge of Fei Xian Ge, made sure of that.

Madam nodded with her stern expression and walked away to over see the setting. Xue just kept on walking, until she was with another group of dancers. They stopped chattering when they saw her, almost all of them turned their heads down and avoided her gazes, it didn't take a genius to tell that they were whispering about her. Only one dancer still kept her head up high, facing her gaze with the same expressing of hatred like she did for the last three years.

"So you finally came, we thought you were sick and won't be able to dance, and we were so worried." Mei said to her in a sweet tone, but everyone could tell that it was fake, just like her smile.

"I wouldn't miss this for anything, you know the importance, Mei." Xue returned the comment. It was true, this show determined their places in the house, and that determined their treatment. Like a wolf pack, no one wanted to be on the bottom.

"Well, of course, if you ever wanted to rest a bit, I am sure I am happy to help you out." Mei said in a sickly voice, Xue knew very well, that she was openly challenging her position as the first dancer.

"You are just dreaming, Mei, we all know that more than half of the income of the house is because of Xue, Madam will never let you take her place." There came Lian, she walked from behind and stood beside Xue. She just finished her performance.

"No one is talking to you, Lian, you are nothing, the lowest dancer. And Xue, mark my word, one day, I will be the best and no one will even remember you!" Mei spatted the words viciously, and she turned around and walked away, along with her group of "friends".

"Don't let her get to you, you are the best, and she can never beat you." Lian patted on Xue's back. In the house with so much backstabbing, Lian might be her only real friends. Despite their difference in status, Lian was always there for her, and she never daggers her in the back.

Xue thought about three years ago, when Mei and her were still best friends. They've grown up together, learned dancing together, and being taken into the house of flying fairies together. They used to do everything together, until she was named the first dancer, and she was left the second. She never thought Mei would hate her, but apparently she was wrong. No matter how many times Xue tried to make peace with Mei, she still hated her, and as time increased, Mei' s hatred and jealousy also increased.

She sighed, but her thoughts were cut short by the voice of Madam. "Xue, get ready, you are on very soon." As Xue walked slowly and solemnly towards the curtain that will lead her to the stage, she could hear the encouragement from Lian, but she could also felt the gaze from Mei that burned her back.

Xue walked out on the curtain. There was a thin veil surrounding the stage, separating her and the rest of the vast audience. Music slowly began, the pentatonic notes sang in harmony. At the same time, candles around the stages lit, spreading light across the whole house, making a shadow silhouette on the silk veil. She had been through this ordeal many times, and she knew the veil would be lifting in a few seconds, and she should start making her moves.

Author's note:

This is my first story, and I am very exited for someone to see, and it is my first idea that I actually carried out. Please comment if you like it, or something you want to change. I am always open to critics. The cover is from a Chinese anima called Qing Shi Ming Yue, the characters I wrote are inspired by the anima's time period, but they are different and original.

Please please comment, even if just to say hi, and please vote if you like it, which is click the star at the end of the chapter and show your support for me. May all the person who read my story have a great day!

The name of the characters were in Chinese, so it might be a little weird to pronounce or see. Here are some explanations:

Xue- snow

Mei- beauty, rose

Lian- lotus flower