He stared at her eyes glistening and a smile playing upon his mouth. The trees surrounding them had grown darker and the air colder. "Miss Eaves" he bowed low looking upon her in a condescending manner. "You know the rules" he straightened up looking severe. The dress glittered and sparkled in the dimming light. It had snagged on the way but it didn't seem diminished. "A dance with death" she laughed at him. "He can't even follow them himself so why should I play along?" the boys face reddened and creased in anger "I don't think it's for you to decide whether or not to play along" he growled and began to walk toward her. Little tremors of fear began to run down her spine and her foot voluntarily moved backwards to put space between them. White gold hair shone in the dimming sun making his whole figure seem surreal. "I have a choice in everything I do, I've come this far and now I want her back." His face creased into a smile as he mimicked her voice "I want her back! What makes you silly people think that because you want something you can have it? She's gone, dead and gone. Her body isn't even left for you to save. She's gone he took her fairly and there isn't any way for you to get her back. You on the other hand," he picked a flower and spun it between his fingers, "are just like this flower teetering on the brink of life. You need something to cling to or you'll shrivel and die." he took a step towards her frowning, "run" he whispered standing rigid against the night sky. A dim frame began to form behind him and her breath coming in short gasps began to show in puffs of white smoke. She shivered as the air turned from cold to icy in a few short seconds. "Larissa" death stepped forward and a hand from behind pushed her roughly into a bow. He turned to face the boy "Lucien you really are too gentle I don't agree with all of this let them have a chance nonsense it's not your job to be forgiving." the pressure was relieved from her shoulders and she stood up straight again, teeth chattering. "cold are we, well Miss Eaves you should of thought of bringing a coat when you decided to come and call at so late an hour and disturb such a busy schedule, I have souls to collect and here you are expecting a warm welcome. Lets pray you find one when we get back to your ball Cinderella although I don't think you'll find it quite as you expect."
Sound flooded her ears as she looked around. Couples waltzed across the dance floor spinning a hairs breadth from each other but there was something wrong. The banquet tables were wrong there was no food upon them; they were covered in photos instead. Ones she recognised, every photo she had ever taken was strewn across the table. The dancers weren't quite right either; Poppy waltzed past her giggling to her partner and making Lissi jump. She was dead; everyone dancing was someone she had known, someone who had died. She ran to catch her by the sleeve and pull her away, to apologize and hug her. She slid from view flowing away into the distance although the whole of Lissi's body knew the room wasn't big enough for distance. She ran at the dancers but bounced off them although they were made of rubber. Their faces too, they were masked except for the ones she knew, she tugged at a masked figure as it slid past. It slipped easily leaving a blank patch where the mask had been, no eyes or nose just skin. She screamed muffled by the music it sounded little more than a yelp but the dancers slowed and stopped. "You can't reach them" a finger tapped her on the shoulder. "You have to join the dance to reach them", the boy held an arm to her "Lucien" he smiled and bowed. She curtsied taking his hand and shoulder as he put a hand on her waist. The music started again and couples took to the floor. As before the only people without a mask were the ones she knew. The boy, Lucien seemed light on his feet and was easily guided towards Poppy and her partner. "You won't reach her that easily" Lucien smiled "You see there's a time limit of this dance to reach her. No more chances, my grandfather's gone soft in his age, I would not have been so kind even for you" he brushed her hair away from her face. She flinched leaning further away from him. His face creased when he realised her reaction and she found she could no longer guide him. "The men take the lead in dances" he growled pulling her closer to him. Poppy and her partner were further from them now laughing and smiling. "Poppy" she cried "wait im coming, please!" Poppy didn't acknowledge anything but Lucien stiffened "Lissi" he laughed "she can't hear you, stop yelling you're not playing fair now. You're ruining the game." The music was beginning to slow. The lights were dimming, a jolt of realisation rushed through her, and she was going to lose Poppy again if she didn't do something, anything. She lunged, dragging Lucien with her, towards Poppy wrenching her away from the masked figure and the dance floor. Poppy crumpled like a rag doll, growing paler and still, dragging her to the edge of the room Lissi lay her gently onto the floor. "What's happening to her?" She rounded on Lucien who looked arrogant and smug and remarkably handsome in the wavering light. "You didn't play by the rules, so you might have got her body but her soul still belongs to him." He nodded towards a corner where death stood, patiently waiting for her to seek him out. "Have you given up Cinderella?" He smiled waving his hand over where Poppy's body lay. "Would you like to go home?" Lissi grimaced looking at where death and his grandson stood waiting for her to wail and cry and beg to go home. She placed her hands on her hips. "So what exactly do I have to do to get her soul?" She smiled. "Another dance perhaps?"