Loveless Dreams

Becca

I can't believe it was the night of the ball. Already. My stomach flipped. I knew that Vincent wasn't going to be happy with me. I feared him, but there was no chance in Hell that I was going to let him see that. I was just going to pretend that everything was alright.

Inside I saw Lily. I immediatley grew self conscious. I could see why she was Vincent's favorite. She was beautiful. I had thought I did a decent job, but I would never be beautiful like her. I also noticed that I was one of the only ones who actually decided to wear their hair down. That was fine by me. I wasn't trying to get a headache.

Joshua smiled at me and I smiled back. Though, I know it didn't reach my eyes. It was nice here, but this isn't where I fit in. I wasn't like Lily. I needed jeans and a T-shirt to feel at home. She needed a dress and a castle. I perked up a little. Joshua was bound to make this an interesting night. Then my heart dropped. I rememedered something very important. I couldn't dance.

Leslie~

I created a nightmare consisting of a middle school aged boy getting beat up by a bully, controlled by none other than myself. However, this nightmare revolved around anger more than fear, one of my favorite emotions. It seemed as though the boy didn't care about his physical disadvantage in the quarrel but more upon the basis of the fight. He was angry at the bully for being stupid. Well, stupid by my definition. I've never understood the concept of beating someone up. There's more strategic and less draining ways of revenge. Regardless, the boy was brave. I could see it in his eyes for eyes are of course, the gateway to the soul. Bravery was something I needed at the moment and I needed it badly.

Somehow from when the ball starts (which is in approximatly fifteen minutes) to when the ball ended, I would have to do something to atleast make Vincent feel something about me. I sighed and looked at myself one last time in the mirror. I thought I looked nice. However, I knew once I stepped out into the ballroom, I'd feel like a pig. I'll feel what the girl with the Barbie in my nightmare felt. I got myself a matching gold purse to put Moses in. He was going to come with me somehow.

I hurried out of the room and since I was already late to meeting Ray, I skipped the whole walking ideal (not to mention, I don't want to ruin my dress) and "poofed" myself to our arranged meeting spot.

"C'mon we're late!" I said, not stopping to say hello and tugging him on the shoulder. But I couldn't help but notice between my frustration that Ray looked quite handsome.

*Oh yes, I put Leslie's dress and mask in the DT.*

Ray

He had to sit and wait for a good half an hour before Leslie showed up. When she did, she didn't even bother to say hello or smile at him. Again, he was wondering why he was actually doing this. He didn't get anything out of it, except the very vague possibility that Vincent would break Leslie's heart and she'd turn to him for consolation.

Looking at her, though, he could see that she wasn't entirely happy, despite the fact that she was going to the ball and actually had a date for it. And suddenly, he understood why he was doing this. He wanted to make her happy. Because
maybe if she was, then she'd notice him. He could pick up on many obvious flaws in that plan, notably the fact that she seemed to think she could only be happy with Vincent. At best, Ray could only ever be a consolation prize. But he still wanted to see her smile, the smile she'd given herself while standing in front of the mirror that very afternoon.

He stopped on the path, a sly smile working its way on to his face. Leslie turned around, looking annoyed, "Oh, what now? Aren't we late enough?"

Ray turned his palms upwards in a shrug, "Well, we are late. But I just want to clarify a few things before we go any further. You'd rather be going with Vincent than with me, wouldn't you?"

The look on her face was answer enough for him, and he continued, "But you're going with me because you feel you need a date."

Again, she didn't really need to say anything, but she did anyway, "Ray, please tell me this is going somewhere, and it's not just one of your aimless mind games."

"Indulge me, dearest Leslie." He smiled, "You wish to capture Vincent's attention, but you have to compete with Lilly for it." She rolled her eyes, so far, everything he'd said had been glaringly obvious. Now, however, he was coming to the part he didn't really like. The part that had the potential to tear his heart right out of his chest.

"What if I offered to act as though Lilly was my date, and kept her away from Vincent for the entire night. You could talk to him then. Confess your feelings, put forward that you're not much different to his lost human lover, whatever you want." He gave her a sad smile, standing there, half lit by an old streetlamp, on the cobblestones of the road, "Would that make you happy?"

**Incog, it's time for your big enterance. I wont steal that from you of course, but you better get your butt in here XD.**

Joshua

Joshua was a little surprised and disturbed to find that Vincent had not shown up yet. He was probably going to be 'fashionably late' but still, the thought that Vincent hadnt made his pressence known yet wasnt very endearing in that sense. He always felt as if Vincent was in fact planning something in his darkened mind. A cynical thought, yes, but a truthful thought indeed.

For Vincent was always calculated the easiest way possible to create the most damage while still remaining his upright disposition as if he had done nothing wrong in that sense. Vincent was, in fact, a man of terrible character when it came to balls and happy occassions. For him to be hosting such a things was strange enough especially in the castle of night.

"Care to dance?" He asked Becca, although his mind was still on other things, including the fact that Vincent had yet to make his pressence known.

"Oh...well you see..." She tilted her head down shamefully. "I'm terribly befuddled..."

"What is it?"

"Well... I dont know how..."

Joshua looked at her with a hint of shock and surprise across his face before he started to chuckle softly. A lighthearted chuckle of course, but enough so that Becca tilted her head down even furthur, face red.

"If you dont know how, then let me show you." He put his hands on her waist and lifted her up easily onto the tips of his feet. Her eyes were wide in surprise as he guided her one hand to his shoulder, then grabbed the other with his free hand.

He then started to dance across the floor easily. A smooth, easy step, but dancing nonetheless, with Becca on the tips of his feet, still shocked and bewildered.

"I feel like a child!" She muttered blatantly.

"Thats funny, cause you look more like a beautiful woman then anything else," he whirled her around easily. "Dont be so uptight. Just let loose and have some fun."

~~

Becca

Don't be so uptight? Well that's easy for him to say. He wasn't the one who had to be guided around in order to dance. I was still embarrassed. He seemed to find my discomfort amusing. Well then, I thought angrily, he can just shove that up his...

"See, your doing fine," he smiled. I couldn't help but smile back. It was just contagious and I was actually having a bit of fun. I forgot all about my dress and all the other beautiful girls around me. I was glad I came. Once you got around all the little things, it was pretty fun.

"Yeah. I never thought I would be able to say I could dance," I laughed. Then as quick as we had started it was over.

I saw Leslie standing by the side. She smiled a fake little smile and her eyes danced. I cocked an eyebrow and rolled my eyes. I wasn't afraid of her. I could care less if she threatened me. I did notice, however, that she was very beautiful in her flowing gold gown. It didn't bother me anymore. I prefered to stay away from dresses anyway. Leslie's eyes flashed a little at my rude little show but at that moment I couldn't care less. I was here to have fun. Not fight with her.

*I know, I know, I know. I'm taking forever to post....I'm sorry guys. I promise in the morning I will*

*whines annoyingly* Aw...it seems nobodyis posting. I don't really have anything to say...but don't let this die. (:

I guess I'll take it.

*Lilly*

Vincent took me to his wing of the castle. It was darker than mine.

He took me into a room with a small dining table and sat down. I did the same on the other end.

"So, Lilly, what is going on between you and Leslie?" he asked. I opened my mouth to answer, but before I could, he held up a hand. "Don't bother trying to lie to me. I know when you are."

I swallowed. I guess I had to come out with it. "She entered one of my nightmares and refused to leave peacefully." I said, leaning back in my chair.

"When was this?" he said leaning forward.

"Years ago, when I was still new here."

"Tell me about it." he demanded softly.

I looked into his deep blue eyes. "I was still 'young', not able to control my temper well. I was creating one of my best nightmares, one of the ones that killed."

I got up and looked out the window, the memories all flooding back.

Lightning flashed around me as a man was caught in a vortex of wind and memories. His eyes glazed over as he saw himself killing his family members, one by one, all of them dying a slow painful death. I stood as his dead daughter, half rotted, in front of him, watching as he relived it all. I held out a decayed hand to him. "This is what you did to me, Daddy!" I screamed. "You put me in my grave, now let me put you in yours!"

He screamed as I pushed him back onto the ground to face his grave stone. He was sobbing, begging for forgiveness. "I'm sorry!" she shouted. "I don't know why I did what I did, but I'm so sorry! So, so sorry."

I was about to push him into his grave when I heard laughter behind me. I turned to look and saw Leslie sitting on one of my gravestones, filing her nails while Moses laid beside her. "Is this the best you can do?" she asked. I got angry. I had seen her around the castle before and she always made some sort of snide remark as I walked past. "Get out." I said simply, turning back to the man.

"No, I don't think I will." she said standing up. "I want to show you how to make this a real nightmare."

I turned to her and screamed at her to get out, but she just laughed. "No." she said.

My eyes narrowed and I pushed her hard, making her fall back into a headstone. "I said, get. out."

She was no longer laughing. "How dare you." she said coldly, getting to her feet and slapping me.

I stayed where I was for a moment, before turning my head up to her very slowly. My eyes were completely black as I grew ten feet taller, towering over her. "How dare I?" I shouted, my voice deep and menacing as she cowered away from me. "I'll show you what I dare to do!" I picked her up my the arm and threw her against a giant oak tree, getting satisfaction when I heard her hit the trunk with a thump. She stayed on the ground for a moment, but then her hair snapped up,. She looked feral and crazy as she lunged at me. I dodged her easily an reached into her mind, grabbing out her worst fear. Death.

I quickly cloaked my presence as she turned, looking for me. "Come out come out, wherever you are." she called softly, looking for me. As I changed my image I thought about how stupid it was that her worst fear was death, seeing as how we could never die.

I walked out from behind a tall grave, clutching my scythe in one hand and my rosary in the other. She stopped and her skin paled. "That's so stupid. I know it's you." she said, her voice faltering slightly.

I looked over to the other side of the stone and made myself appear there, looking at her with scared eyes. "That's not me!" The projection said.She looked from the projection to me, fear in her eyes. She screamed as I lunged at her, swinging my scythe, hitting her arm, causing her to bleed. She fell to the ground, clutching her arm and I I bent over to her. "Tell me child." I said, my voice a hoarse whisper. "Do you feel death?"

She shrieked as I grabbed her by the hair and started to drag her to a fresh grave and tossing her in. Shackles that could never be broken wrapped themselves around her as hands of the deceased came up to caress her. As I shoveled dirt into her grave on top of her, I said for her to hear, "Carus quod Omnipotens Deus take meus animus quod servo is tutus in vestri telum. Si Vos reprobo mihi , tunc sic exsisto is , quod tribuo mihi in Lucifer's gelu complexo of eternus torqueo."

Dear and Almighty God, take my soul and keep it safe in your arms. If You reject me, then so be it, and give me into Lucifer's cold embrace of everlasting torment.

Once the grave was filled, I set her little stuffed bear on top of it and left, hearing her screams as I finished the old man's nightmare, accidentally killing him in the process. Later, I ended it, letting her go.

I turned back to Vincent after I told him my story. "She didn't come near me for literally a decade."

Vincent stood up and walked behind me slowly. "You are much more powerful than I thought you were." he said, grabbing my upper arms. I had turned away from him, and my back was once again to him. "You do realize that if I had known about this when it happened, you would've been banished from our land." he said ever so quietly, running his hands up and down my arms slowly.

I kept my face turned from him so he couldn't she how red it was. "Then why don't you just do it now?" I asked him softly.

He leaned down to my ear and whispered softly, "Because I like you to much."

He wasn't being serious. I knew it by the tone of his voice. I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something was going on, something not good.

"Come, the ball awaits." he said, taking my hand and leading me to the door. I left him without saying anything. Halfway between his chambers and the ballroom, I changed into my gown and mask, having a very bad feeling in my stomach.


****
Okay, that was really long. Hopefully, it was enjoyable. Now you know why Lilly and Leslie hate each other so much.

**I have no idea what to do **

Jared

I picked up the flowers, and decided to go pick up Larinda. I knocked on the door and she opened it, as I tried to keep my jaw from falling off.

"You look ravishing. I brought you some flowers for a classic cliche' night." I said holding them out for her. A blush rose to her cheeks as she studied the flowers.

"Irises? How peculiar...a normal man would present red roses. Do you not like roses?" She questioned curiously.

"Of course I like roses, but, it's an overused flower and i decided it was time for change." I explained. I offered a hand and smiled as we walked towards the castle.

"Have you created any interesting dreams recently, Larinda?" I asked wanting to make conversation while we walked to the ball.



Delilah

I got dressed quickly and put my hair up into a ponytail, I had curled my hair earlier. I began my walk towards the castle, hoping I would have a good time.

I opened the castle doors and looked around at all the people.
------
sorry so short!

I know, I know, I know....I lied. I had to think about Leslie's answer.

Leslie~

"Aha, you think you know me so well." I said, raising my eyebrow at Ray's request.

"I have known you for an eternity it seems." Ray said, smiling.

"I see. Well, it would make me happy Ray because you know what? I've disgusted myself by just thinking about going to the ball with you of all people." I said, turning on my heel and poofing myself to the ball.

Once in Vincent's castle ballroom, I put on my mask and went to go find Vincent. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ray rigth behind me.

~Larinda~

"I have, in fact." I smiled at the thought of my most recent dream construction and brought the bouquet that Jared had been kind enough to bestow upon me. His thoughtfulness, not only in the general gift, but in the fact that he'd thought enough to buy me something beyond the cliche' of roses. Roses were beautiful but is was incredibly overused, "And I have discovered that thought is not lost on the human race."

"Oh?"

"Yes, this girl already had a quite sufficient imagination; she'd already created an entire world on only her subconscious. Of course there were some flaws in the details, but it was quite amazing and I was quite aghast." It was in my opinion that humans didn't think as much as they should, too many of them died in the process of their non-thought and that bothered me.

I stopped blabbering and looked at Jared, noticing how he looked. "Incidentally, you look very comely.” The corners of my mouth moved upwards in a smile.

*just trying to bring this back to life even though its death was partly my fault*

Leslie~

I quickly walked over around the ballroom searching for Vincent. I saw Jared and Larinda who were talking. Such a lovely couple, I thought, my mind whirling into another jealous fit. I also saw Becca and Joshua dancing beautifully just a few feet away.

"Have you seen Vincent?" I asked, impatiently to both couples.

*Someone post!*

Everyone! I have returned from my long journey through writer's block! AliceRose, that post surely was epic.
I am hoping everyone is in the ballroom by now or else my foolish plan may be ruined on how you enter. xD

Attention! All of you need to read this post because you don't want to be left out now don't you.

Vincent

He watched them, dancing extravagantly, wearing splendid clothes, abosorbed into their partners fluent movement. Foolish people. In their minds they must be dreaming about true loves and fantasies coming true, but he himself did not wish for that to happen. He did not wish for others to feel the same way in which he had felt. He would never wish that torment on anyone.

Vincent stood on a hidden balcony, unnoticed and unseen by the surrounding world. He would not be seen in this little safe haven until he himself wished to be seen, that moment, he did not think should be now.

With a light flick of his black gloved hand, the lights flickered out. People stopped their movemnets. They all seemed to reach out for the people arround them. Some were even screaming in this dark obscurity. He felt his laugh emmerge. He enjoyed their panic. He enjoyed their alarm. His manaical laughter echoed through the ball, resounding through ever corner, resonating through the whole chamber. Peoples heads turned frantically around them in alarm, trying to find the source of this pandemonium. But he knew they would find nothing.

Elegant light, flourescent and pale, almost gaseous, circled around the room, hauntingly. Some clutched each other in alarm, for they did not know what this glowing circle truly was. No matter how hard they tried to manipulate it, it would not disappear. They could not summon anything. They were at a loss for powers.

Vincent was glowing in this haunted spectacle. What a brilliant preformance they were giving.

From the cirlce of cloudy light emerged unnamed creatures, monsters they truly were. Skeletons, snarling beasts, spiders of unimaginable size, they all were there haunting the ballroom. Shrieks and yells rose almost in a sympony, in perfect harmony, accompanied perfectly by Vincents laugh. The large circle tightened, pressing the bewildered and terrified dreamcreators together.

Thunder then sounded through the night, resounding in the ballroom like a cannon roar. Lightening struck, and soon the rain came pelting down. Every time the lightening would strike, the room would light up, illuminating the monsters skeletal features, or black writhing tentacles, eyes glowing red.

"Heel." Vincent stopped his laughter and spoke loudly. The monsters all flew into the air, as if on puppet strings, and that truly what they were. In the faint light that would show every time the lightening would strike, the glass string could be seen pulling them to the rafters. Their show was done. But not the rest.

Through the opened door black clad people rushed into the room scattering the crowd in a meloncholy waltz, all of them moving in perfect synch. From their graceful movements drew a sad a drawing music, echoing loudly, and filling the room as if it was coming from every direction. It played passionately, the music was heart-renching, and soon was joined by a trickling piano adding to the miserable sonata.

The black clad women danced, all wearing simalar black dresses, black lace and ruffles, the skirts plumming out. Their long black curly hair fell down to their waist and the masks they were were gently encrusted with diamonds and black feathers. The men simple wore black dress pants and a black shirt opened at the top pleasantly. But the alarming thing was that their was clockwork sticking out of their backs, the keys gently turned as the creatures danced and danced.

The crowd had soon settled watching these things take up the ball room, their skin as pale as porcelin. Some of their mouths were sloppily stitched together. Aye, truly they were haunting creatures, and these in particular were Vincent's favourites.

He launched himself off the balcony, stopping and floating in mid air watching the twisted display around him. He strode forward, gliding gently down to the ground, eyes seeming to trail him if they had stopped watching the dancers. As soon as he placed his one toe down on the ground, the dancers and clockwork burst into balck and red feathers, flying up into the air, falling down settling gently on the guests, in their hair and on their clothes.

Vincent tipped his hat to all of them, black wings stretching exuberantly out from behind his back. He outstretched his arms in a light greeting.

"I would like to welcome all of you to my humble abode." With a flourish of his black cane, a beautifully cut ruby topping the handle, he bowed lowly to all the people around him. He felt their astonished gaze. He felts some anger and someone's fear. This was his domain.

---------------------------------------------

Big enough entrance for you? :O Also, Vincent's wardrobe is in the Discussion.

~Incognito

Becca

The king of nightmares was here. The lights went out and people screamed. I looked around confused. I wasn't afraid, but I didn't like this. At all. Someone was playing with us and I suspected that that person was none other than Vincent himself. I rolled my eyes. That was just like him.

Monsters from nightmares appeared. I smiled. Nice, very realistic. I had to hand to to Vincent, he was good at what he does. Then he appeared, wearing bright red. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. I didn't like being this close to him. I raised my chin. Stop it you silly girl, I thought, don't show fear. Fear or love. They both show weakness.

"Welcome to my abode," Vincent said, happily. I smirked. Get a load of him. I rolled my eyes. I was here to have fun adn that's what I was going to do. I turned my back on him. I could feel the hostility rolling around in the room. People didn't like being scared.

I looked at the ground. Someone had stepped on the hem of my dress during all the madness. It was torn a little. I shrugged. It's not like I was ever going to wear this dress again. I fanned myself. It was getting really hot in here. I'm sure Joshua wouldn't notice if I stepped outside a moment. He seemed busy calming another woman down. She had ran sraight into him.

I walked towards the exit and sat on the bench. What a beautiful night it was! There were so many stars and it felt so wonderfully cool. I sighed. It was actually nice here.