Loveless Dreams

Ray

The only possible explanation for Leslie's behaviour was that she didn't realise what she'd just done. She'd sent Lilly straight off to dance with Vincent.

"What's going on?" He whispered to her, a slightly mocking tone in his voice, "I thought you didn't like me!"

"I don't." She growled back, seeming highly defensive. "I just don't want to see you getting any enjoyment out of this."

They continued to revolve around each other, with Ray noting that if nothing else, she was an excellent dancer. He leaned in close, "You do know who you sent away, though, don't you?" He pointed subtly over her shoulder, and she turned her head slightly to seeLilly ad Vincent engaged in a dance mirroring their own. Ray couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for Leslie. "I don't know if there's anything I can do for you now without arousing Lilly's suspicion..."

He knew she was about to ask him to do just that. He also knew that he couldn't say no. How many people - myself included - am I going to have to hurt tonight to make her realise that there's nothing I wouldn't do for her, short of becoming Tainted? he was truly on the back foot here. When he'd first decided that he wanted to go to the ball with her, he'd been planning to convince her, as he'd promised, that dreams were better than nightmares. And with that, that he was better than Vincent. But now...he realised with a start that he could still try that. What a fool he'd been once again!

Before she could ask him to do something horrible to Lilly, he spoke, "Why do you love Vincent, anyway? Why do you love him, and why do you love causing pain?"

*Thanks Billy haha this storybook is making me think about Leslie's answers....which is why it takes me a lifetime to post *

Leslie~

The whole idea spun my mind in circles. Dance with Ray for the sole reason of...or is there a reason at all? Face it, Leslie. You're down right jealous. You absolutely fancy the idea of a man falling for you because its never happened before. You're a sorrowful witch who's in love with someone who doesn't care at all for you.

Ray's hands were at my waist, and mine at his shoulder. I couldn't help but feel the slight tingle his fingers made and how his shoulder's sway back and forth. Lilly was dancing with my infatuation, gazing into Vincent's raven black eyes, which revealed no emotion at all. Lilly's eyes on the other hand were full of excitement and adoration. Her dress moved sychroniously (sp) with her feet movement, back and forth, like a pendulum in a tall grandfather clock. Vincent looked regal and composed, simply enjoying the moment, a crooked smile plastered on his handsome face.

Why did she get everything? Was I a truly worthless being just sent here to live on Somnium Mundus to just.....struggle? Leslie, you're such a human. Always on an emotional roller coaster, never truly making up your mind.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I barely noticed the man right in front of me.

"Why do you love Vincent, anyway? Why do you love him, and why do you love causing pain?" Ray asked, in an almost desperate voice.

Look at me! I'm such a horrible person. I can't control my anger, my love, my fear. I can't even get Vincent to look at me and I love him because we're polar opposites. He has something I will never have. The ability to block emotions out. Causing pain is just a coping mechanism. So other people can feel what I feel....

That's what I wanted to say but didn't. Instead, a river of tears started flowing down my face, and I broke away from Ray's grasp, briskly walking out of the ballroom.

*Lilly*

I watched Leslie walk quickly out of the ballroom. I looked back at Ray and seeing him standing there, looking sad and rejected, I felt a twinge of... sympathy?

I looked back at Vincent who was looking into my eyes. "What is the matter now, Lilly?" he asked, leaning down closer to my face, making me blush. "It's just...Ray, he..." I looked back over at him. I just couldn't find the words.

He laughed softly, still twirling me around the ballroom floor. "You look so beautiful when you don't know what to say."

I looked away. Ever since I told him why Leslie and I were fighting, I just had a feeling, that I couldn't trust him one hundred percent. There was something is his eyes, something maniacal that made me not want to believe him. When I turned back to look at him, he was smiling. "You don't trust me." he stated.

Damn, how does he do that?

When I cocked an eyebrow at him, his smile got wider. "I see it in those bright green eyes that you don't. You are hard to read, Lilly, but this emotion is so strong in you that it shows in your eyes." He leaned down to my ear. "How can I make you trust me?" he whispered.

Tears came to my eyes. "I don't know if you can." I whispered back.

"What is in your past that makes you so untrusting?" he asked, leading me off the floor.

I looked at him. "That's a story for another day."

Becca

I watched as Leslie walked swiftly out of the ballroom in tears. I bit my lip. This was a completely different side of her. A boy chased after her. Both didn't see me. I was concealed behind the bushes. Poor Leslie. Poor boy. Didn't he know she was obsessed with Vincent. I pursed my lips. Look at how much pain he could cause in just one night.

I stood up. It was time I finally met this Vincent. I mean truely met him. I couldn't believe how angry I was with this man. He may be the 'King' of Nightmares, but I never had felt this upset...with anyone.

I straightened my dress that had started to wrinkle due to the fact that I had been sitting on the little bench. I took in a deep breath and turned to face another.

Ray

Seeing Leslie run away from everything facing her in that ballroom was one of the most shocking experiences of his life. Everything I thoughti knew about her...It was all wrong?

He hurried out of the ballroom after her, feeling terrible for bringing all her pain to the fore. He'd thought she was going to make him hurt just about everyone standing in between her and Vincent. Instead, he'd only hurt her.

He didn't look to see if anyone else was outside, not particularly caring. He just stumbled blindly through the darkness in pursuit of Leslie.

He rounded a bend in the path she'd taken through Vincent's overgrown gardens to find her standing right in front of him, glaring at him through her tears and clearly trying to compose herself. "Wh-why..." she stammered, half angry and half sobbing, unable to get anything more out without breaking into fresh tears.

Ray blinked. What was she asking? Why was he doing this? "I care too much about you, Leslie." He gave her a sad smile, "It's going to take you a lot more than that to get rid of me."

He realised a bare moment too late that she would probably think that he was making some kind of joke at her expense, and that his words would probably only send her into further tears. But he'd meant every word of it.

*Awwwwwwww *sniffles* I'm getting all teary eyed reading this!*

Leslie~

It was pitch dark in Somnium Mundus. If it weren't for me crying, you could have heard crickets chirping. The cool air gave me goosebumbs and freezing marble bench below me sent me chills. Between all the sniffles, I could still smell the beautiful flowers around me. After awhile, Ray sat next to me on the bench, waiting for me to respond.

"Why do you care about me? How could you care about me?" I murmured.

**Aww, it's okay, JC. I'm sure it'll turn out for the best. Although, I'm torn between whether or not it should...**

Ray

He was seeing a whole new side to Leslie now. A side that was completely terrified, one that hated how the cards had fallen for her. She had a feeling of hopelessness, that no matter what she did, she would never be happy, would never feel anything but pain in her life. Ray knew that feeling, he'd had the same one earlier that day.

Ray pondered putting an arm around her, but only for a moment. He didn't know how she'd react, sndeven if she did just fall into his arms, he didn't want to be the rebound guy.

"How could you care about me?" She was whispering.

He shrugged, "I was asking myself the same question just before the dance. I've been asking myself that question for as long as I have cared about you. At the start, I think it was just because you're beautiful and I just let an idle daydream get out of hand."

Ray glanced sideways at her, "But I think some part of me saw through all your bluster and everything and realised that deep down, you're a good person, and you've just been twisted out of shape by the fact that no one seems to care about your dreams. But I do, Leslie. Even if I don't fit in to them."

*hmmmmm good question. As much as I am fascinated by sad endings, I think this should be a happy one. But anyway this is seriously the only storybook where I have to think about what my character is going to say....probably because Leslie is so friggin wishy washy. *

LaReina, I'm gonna bring you in, okay?

*Lilly*

As I stood there with Vincent, the Dream creator that ruined my nightmare, Becca, marched up to him and said, "May I talk with you, now?"

He bowed and said of course, and walked away with her, leaving me alone to struggle with my inner demons. I decided to go and take a walk in the large gardens by myself, to just think. I walked by myself for a while, but then I started to hear footsteps following me. I turned around and saw a figure sticking to the shadows. "You can come out now. I've heard you."

A man emerged from the shadows and I had to admit that he was pretty good looking. He was also smiling. "I see I can't fool you." he said, bowing deeply from the waist. "My name's Lupus." he said, holding out his hand.

"As in wolf?" I asked, surprised. He grinned wider.

"So, you know Latin?"

"Not really." I replied with a blush. "Just a little."

"What's your name?" he asked me, his hand still out. I put mine in his cautiously.

"I'm Lilly." I said, my eyes going wide as he raised my hand to his lips. He kissed my fingers softly, making me shiver involuntary.

"A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." he murmured before straightening up again. "So, what are you doing out here all by your lonesome?" he asked, leaning up against a big oak tree.

"Just walking, getting fresh..." I stopped. "Are you petting a squirrel?"

"Indeed." he replied with a laugh. "This is Chipper, my best and only friend." The squirrel, called Chipper, perched on his head and it looked so ridiculous that I couldn't help but giggle. Lupus smiled at me. "You are very pretty when you laugh." he said, getting closer to me. I decided that I was tired of standing and went over to a patch of grass that was bathed in moonlight to lay down. He laid down beside me. "It is a beautiful night." he said.

Indeed it was. The stars twinkled brightly in the sky and a soft warm breeze travel through the air, teasing my hair. A large full moon crowded the sky, demanding it's own space and casting a soft glow over everything, making the garden look like an enchanted land.

We just laid there side by side for a little while. He behaved himself, not touching me, so I didn't mind too much, but the feeling of closeness was something that I hadn't had in so long.

I finally looked over at him. "You aren't tainted, are you?" I asked softly.

"No, thankfully not." He smiled. "But you are."

I looked at him puzzled. "How did you know?" I asked.

"You don't have the innocent light in your eyes that my kind do." he said seriously. "You've seen so much, none of it good." took my hand, almost hesitantly. "All of your kind have been hurt in ways that I couldn't even begin to imagine. Who hurt you?" he asked, his eyes wide with wonder.

I looked away from those eyes. "I really don't want to talk about it." I whispered, taking my hand out of his and sitting up.

He nodded. "I get it. You don't trust me."

This guy was very intuitive.

I looked back at him. "I don't really trust anyone." I said. He opened his mouth to say something, but a butterfly flew past us and caught his attention. He got up and chased after it. I watched him as he chased the butterfly. He made me jealous, jealous that I couldn't be like him, have the innocence that he had. I had that innocence one, but it was gone, along with the girl who I once was.

Becca

I don't know what it was but today I just felt...different. I felt brave.

"May I have a word with you?" I asked Vincent, not exactly making my voice rude, but also not making it freindly. He bowed and smiled slightly.

"Of course." I strode out of the ball and back into the garden beconin gfor him to follow.

"Now as you probably know I am a dream creator," I said. Vincent smiled and interrupted me.

"Oh yes Becca, I know all about you and the fact that you're changing my nightmares, but I'll let you continue anyway," he replied calmly. I inclined my head, trying to look taller. My silver hair danced around my face. I narrowed my violet-brown eyes.

"Oh I'm sure you have you're ways of finding out everything. After all, you are a...King," I spat out sarcastically. I stepped closer to him. "But you know what. I really don't like nightmares. In fact, I think I'll continue to create more dreams from them. I actually enjoy it and I will do it." He looked down at me amused. I could care less. I was so angry tonight. I didn't care if he was the 'king' of nightmares. I didn't care if he could kill me without a second thought. I didn't care about any of that. I just wanted him to know that I hated him and I would do anything in my power to change what he was doing.

Thanks Alice! (Reserved)

Leslie~

"You don't fit in them alright." I smirked, rubbing my eyes. My mask was already off and I transported Moses to my arms. His soft fur cuddled my cheek.

"You're too happy." I said, softly.

*Not the best, I know....I can't think of anything.*

Ray

I'm too happy? He thought, Leslie...if only you knew. He smiled, though, "Thankyou. But are your dreams really so sad?"

She nodded. He looked seriously at her, "Then you're not dreaming for enough."

Leslie looked up, seeming a little surprised. As if she'd believed that dreams that were little more than nightmares were the only things she could have. No. She thinks that nightmares are all she should have, because she's afraid of dreaming for something she thinks is impossible.

"What do you mean?" She asked, bewildered.

"I mean," he said, laying a hand on her shoulder, "That you need to be happy, the way you think I am. I don't know why you love Vincent, but if you don't think that being with him will make you happy, then it's not really love anyway." He paused for a moment, "Why can't you let your dreams have a little sunshine in them?"

Vincent

He looked at the girl who stared up at him, anger flashing in her eyes. "Oh I'm sure you have you're ways of finding out everything. After all, you are a...King," She spat out sarcastically. She stepped closer to him and he felt his heart skip a beat, surely for no reason at all. "But you know what. I really don't like nightmares. In fact, I think I'll continue to create more dreams from them. I actually enjoy it and I will do it."

Vincent looked down at her. She looked infuriated, pure hate was eminating off of her. Truly was he that dispicable? Was he that evil that he deserved such malice? He did not understand why she was acting like this, but he could not help feeling a stab at his heart. "Ah, I would indeed have to ask you to stop. Because you might not have noticed, but my whole existence is based on these 'nightmares' you call them. If there is no longer any left, then I too shall be gone from this world."

"You think that will phase me. I hate you. Your existence is a plague to this world and surely this world would be better with you gone." The words settled themselves into silence. He stood there, looking down on her feeling himself wishing to disappear this instant and to go away. If his existence wasn't wanted, then he would disappear, and stay away forever, never to return. He meant nothing to everybody. He was something to be feared, to be used as a threat. He was despised and he could not take it any longer at this point. After years of inflicted pain, never ceasing, you would expect someone to break beyond saving. And truly he was.

"Aye, you will stop." Vincent said in nearly a whisper, watching her with his clear blue eyes. "If you do not, then your powers will be mine. No more nightmares will turn to dreams unchecked. Your words don't phase me. My domain shall not be tampered with." And with that Vincent left her sight to wander through the rest of the garden to dwell in times past.

But again that moment would not happen. He spotted her standing there, tears falling down her checks gently. Leslie had tried to wipe the tears away but it was futile. Her mask was hanging from around her neck askew. Ray was standing there, obviously trying to stop her tears, probably speaking words of endearing love. Stepping closer, Vincent heard a fragment of their conversation.

"I mean," Ray said, laying a hand on her shoulder, "That you need to be happy, the way you think I am. I don't know why you love Vincent, but if you don't think that being with him will make you happy, then it's not really love anyway." He paused for a moment, "Why can't you let your dreams have a little sunshine in them?"

Ray's heart was beating a beat he had not heard in a long time but it was familiar. That same beat had once been conducted in his chest, but that was a long time ago, and certainly it would never happen. That boy Ray loved her, and what seemed as love purely. He cared for her, even though Leslie's emotions flared and got in the way of everything. He loved in a way that Vincent never would be able to.

Vincent walked towards them, both of them turning to look at him in surprise. He would not smile, he would not cry either. A new heart beat in his own chest and it was barely recognizable for himself.

Jealousy.

"She can't let sunshine in them for truly sunshine is a lie. It masks the darkness of the night, spreading false hopes and assumtions. There is no room for sunshine in our world for surely we no longer wish to put up with lies." The words came out sharp and angered. Certainly, niether of them has seen him this distraught but he did not care. "Love is a stupid thing. It breaks peoples hearts and leaves them in shambles. What is the point in that stupid emotion? All it does is bring pain." Vincent stared at them, his eyes revealing his own misery. "You two can fall in love, wander off into the world of lies and ectasy just to come back crawling here, tormented and wrecked. There is never happy endings in this world. Do not think there ever will be."

Vincent's wings stretched from his back expanding to a large size. He did not wish to be here any longer. He did not wish to be anywhere any longer. He did not wish to exist at all.

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

Sorry, Ray and JC. I had to ruin the moment. xD

~Incognito

**Incog, I'm going to start up something we discussed prior that you might find interesting. A quick plot addition if thats alright **

Joshua

He hadn't expected Becca to speak to Vincent alone let alone at all. In fact, he had been so flabbergasted by the encounter that he didn't speak up at all but just stood there, watching like a frightened boy. Not a man who had lived for more then a millenia or two. He grimaced.

When Vincent had finally disappeared, he made his move towards Becca. Slowly of course for she looked terribly infuriated, but he did move. When he came close, he put his hand on her shoulder gently before she spun around, eyes alight in fury.

"That damn Vincent! I ought to..." Her eyes stared up into his briefly before she dropped the sentence entirely, mouth agape. "Your eyes..."

Joshua stared down at her, confused before turning around, another wave of regret hitting him.

"Why are your eyes the exact same colour as Vincent's? In fact... why is your hair colour the same crimson as William's?"

The question had set him off guard but he hunched his shoulders in defeat. No one had ever questioned this fact. In fact, no one had ever really looked hard enough at him to realise these specific traits but now that she had, the cat truly seemed out of the bag in that sense.

"If you must know..." He finally got the courage to turn towards her again but his voice was still shaky and unreliable. "I am William's one and only apprentice."

"Apprentice?" She seemed a little stunned by this.

"Yes, apprentice," he tilted his head lower. "I... well you see, many of my years of life were spent under the constant survellance of both William and Vincent. Vincent and William were inseparable in that sense, always balancing eachother out like yin and yang. Everything good and pure was William. Everything harsh and unwanted was Vincent."

"I... why are you telling me this?"

"Because without one, the other cannot exist," He could feel the air leaving his lungs. "There is no day without night and no night without day. No light without darkness, no love without hate. You say you hate Vincent and yet without Vincent there was no William and without William, Vincent no longer believes he exists. I am but merely a replacement. An apprentice that was made in the likeliness of both William and Vincent in case one was to ever fall."

"So you means to say..."

"I am but merely a creation, and replacement for Vincent so he may know that he is still alive," Joshua smirked weakly. "Still breathing some may say. I may not be a king, and I may not be William, but without me Vincent will forget he ever existed. Will believe that there is no purpose for him... at least that was what William had wished but as it had become known, I am but a sparse replacement. I am not William and in that I cannot be what Vincent needs me to be."

~~

**So hows that for a plot addition Incog?**