The surroundings of the dream - the waterfall, the soft grass, the tall trees, the animals -became less saturated - fading away. Ben's eyes were on her, flickering calmly. She tried to hit him but he caught her by the wrist, blocking her from striking him. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said with indifference, letting go of her wrist. "You're a very impulsive girl," he stated - he sounded like Ren. Condescending."You should overreact once you hear more on what I have to say."

"Go on then," she gritted her teeth.

"Have you heard about me?" he asked, his voice was low.

"About what?" she put her hands down. They were standing a foot apart now.

"About how Kylo Ren came to be."

"Of course I do. Everyone has. Explain yourself - explain how are you are," she demanded.

Ben bit his lip but didn't let his patience slip. "When I was nineteen, I found my grandfather's mask in the ruins of his last battle. It called me and so I took it home with me. And ever since then, the mask kept calling me -haunting me -

"Why didn't you try to destroy the mask? Why didn't you put it back?"

"Because every time I tried, I would get a scar on my body and it gave me pain that you can't imagine. I didn't realize that the mask was cursed until it was too late."

Her skin tightened.

"That is why Ren has the scars on his face," Ben explained.

"Why do you talk as if you and Ren are two different people?"

"Over time, I was driven to madness. The mask had taken over me - consumed me with thoughts and it took over my body," he frowned. He held up his hands and stared at them. "The darkness took over me and who I am - the goodness in me - became a ghost - a prisoner to my body. Kylo Ren isn't me - he's what the mask had turned him into. I've been trapped inside Ren's mind for ten years. I've been trying to regain control but nothing works - I try to talk to him but he doesn't listen," Ben curled his fingers into fists. His eyes were watering. "For ten years I've been watching what Ren has done to people - what my body has done. It's been killing me that I can't stop it. But I think you can save me," he looked at her. "I was trapped in my own body for so long until you came. You pulled me out of his mind and into this dream state- I've haven't spoken to anyone until you -

"How do I save you?" she asked, her body was tensing. She was examining him - wondering if he was an angel requesting for help or a demon manipulating her.

"You have to convince Ren to burn the mask -

"You said he - I mean you -" she paused. It was complicated and she was becoming overwhelmed. "You said that you tried to, Ben," his name flowed from her mouth with ease. "What makes you think I'll be able to convince him?"

"Isn't it obvious?" he laughed to himself.

"What's obvious?" her eyebrows furrowed.

"He is attracted to you."

Her cheeks grew hot. "No he isn't - how do you know?"

"Well I am close to him," he chuckled.

"He doesn't like me -

Ben smiled to himself, his eyes brightening. "Believe what you want to believe," he said patiently, going along with what she wanted. He knew that Rey was still skeptical and was in denial but it was understandable.

"Well what makes you think it'll work though? His mother and his uncle had tried to burn the mask but the mask didn't burn at all. Many members of the Resistance tried to before they were wiped out. Nothing can destroy it."

"The mask can only be destroyed by two guidelines - you have to convince him to burn the mask. He has to do it willingly. And two, the mask has to be burned with two people that possess the force. It will work because you and him will both burn the mask," he responded, taking her hand into his. He squeezed her hand. "You have it in you," he answered the thoughts in her mind.

"I don't," she snatched her hand away. "I don't have any abilities -

"Yes you do, I sense it in you. It's been in you all this time but you didn't know it."

"This doesn't make sense - I would have known if I had -

"You weren't aware of it and so you never had access to it," he said gently. "And for this work I will have to teach you -

"How do I know if I can trust you - that you're not a demon -

"Do I look like a demon to you?" he asked softly.

"No but it's probably a trick," she countered. "Like you're able to make things appear - able to go into my dreams -

"You brought me here," he said. "Subconsciously you brought me here." He went on his knees and took her hand. Red roses suddenly appeared everywhere, making Rey take in the scent of sweetness. "I won't do anything to hurt you."

She wanted to pull away but she didn't - she was drawn to the warmness of his eyes, his charm. She found herself becoming calm. "How do I know that you're good? How do I know if burning the mask - that something bad doesn't happen? How do I know that you're not just a figment - that you're not just part of the mask?"

"Because I've been protecting you ever since you arrived. Do you sometimes feel a pull?"

Rey moved back but nodded reluctantly.

"And does that feeling go away throughout the day?"

She nodded again.

"The mask has been calling you - it's in the north wing, on the left - ten rooms down. I've been protecting you - giving you dreams like this instead of nightmares it wants to give you." Ben kissed her hand, sending waves of warmth. He stood up. He plucked a red rose and handed it other.

Rey frowned but accepted the rose. She held it, staring at it in shock.

"You have to believe me, Rey. I am him - I was once him. I am the good in him."

"Is there a way you can prove it to me?"

"When you wake up in the morning, Ren will send you four dozen white roses and in the afternoon he will send you a blue dress. When he has dinner with you he'll tell you the meaning of the color of roses he picked - how they represent every color of you. I know this because I have access to his thoughts."

"That doesn't prove anything."

Ben sighed. He was losing his patience with her. "We'll talk more soon, it's time for you to wake up."

Rey woke up then - to the sound of knocking on her door. She opened the door and found Mila handing her four dozen white roses.


Word spread fast about the roses and about her being invited to have dinner with Ren. Mila was a gossiper, whatever Ren had told to her in confidence, she spread the words like fire.

"He's quite fond of you," General Hux said coyly as he approached Rey in the hall.

Rey was on her knees, scrubbing the tile floors. She looked up and saw him standing in front of her. He was looking down at her with a smug look. "Can I help you?" she asked, remaining poised.

"Perhaps the idea wasn't so far fetched after all, servant."

"I'm sorry but you're mistaken, General," she put more pressure into scrubbing the dirt on the floor.

"General Hux," Captain Phasma came after him. She was in her armor with a velvet cape swung around her shoulders. She was a tall woman with broad shoulders and carried herself with pride and dignity. "Are you talking to Kylo Ren's pet again?"

"I'm not his pet," Rey bit out the words as she refrained herself.

General Hux and Captain Phasma both laughed.

"You speak so highly of your leader and friend," Rey scoffed and continued to scrub the floor. "There is nothing going on between me and him. I'm only his servant and nothing else."

"Certainly you must be aware that he doesn't treat any of his other servants the way he does with you," Captain Phasma cooed.

"He only calls his servants when he needs the manor to be taken care of," General Hux added. "Other than that he likes to be alone when he doesn't have work - alone from servants - everyone. But since you came, he requests you. He requests you to be with him and only you. Care to explain?"

She became quiet and stopped cleaning.

They laughed at her as they walked away.


When night came, she returned to her room. She found a wrapped box on top of her bed. Inside the box was a light blue dress. It was a long dress with a modest neckline. It had white loose sleeves that was tight at the wrists and trimmed with dark blue. The bottom of the skirt had blue embroidery - it was a beautiful dress, simple. To her dismay, she put it on - it was much more comfortable than the dress General Hux forced her to wear at least. She was able to breathe. Rey pulled her hair down and brushed it until it shined.

Rey exhaled but went to meet Master Ren. He was already in the dining room, sitting down. He was in his mask still - he had been waiting for her.

"Why did you request me?" she asked the second she closed the door. She walked to him but froze in place when she saw him raise his hand in the air. She heard a locking sound - he had locked the door without moving. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering how powerful he was.

"Sit down," he instructed politely.

She sat on the opposite side of the table. It was a long table and it created distance between them. Rey swallowed hard and looked down, trying to hide her discomfort. There was food on the table waiting for them. She hears something - a sound.

"I like your company," he responded to her answer.

Rey looked up - he had took of his mask now. His eyes are on her and they were darkening by the second. "Thank you for the dress - and the roses," she said quickly. She was stammering - she was nervous.

"You're welcome," Ren smiled slightly. It was rather a smirk than a smile.

She started to eat the second he did. The food was delicious - lemon chicken, honey glazed vegetables, and potatoes but Rey could barely eat. All she could think about was what Hux had told her. She knew several girls in the village that were sold off to be mistresses. Hux's comments were getting to her. "If I may be so bold - why did you give me white roses? You seem like a person to give red roses," she chuckled to herself.

"White roses suit you," Ren responded without a second thought.

"How so?"

"White is every color blended and that means every color suits you. Every color is beautiful on you."

Rey found herself blushing.

Master Ren chuckled to himself. He was amused.

"Do you always have dinner with a servant?" she asked, baiting him. She knew the answer but she wanted to hear it from him.

He took several bites before answering. "No," he said smoothly as if it was nothing. "I only have an interest in you."

"As in what?"

"Perhaps love, I suppose."

Rey gently placed her fork and knife down. She stopped eating. "How do you know it's love you feel for me and not lust?" she was baiting him again. Her tongue was sharp and her mind spoke for her.

Master Ren stopped eating. He stood up and walked towards her. Rey wanted to go away but she didn't. She sat still. She felt his eyes on her but she didn't look at him. She locked her eyes on the wall.

"I'm not that kind of man, if that's what you're insinuating," his voice is hard. His temper was getting to him.

"I didn't say you were," she shot back, her eyes on him. She didn't like it when he intimated her.

"Don't misconstrue my kindness as an ulterior motive," he warned. "If I wanted you out of lust I would have forced myself on you," he was gritting his teeth, his jaw was twitching.

She swallowed hard. "How am I suppose take that?" she snapped, staring at the scars on his face.

"Give me the benefit of the doubt. I will not force myself on you. You don't owe me anything. Don't think of me as a monster. Everyone else already does that."

"I'm sorry -

Ren cupped her cheek. "You're forgiven."

She wanted to swat his hand away but she didn't. She feels him take her by the wrist. He pulled her up and took her to the couch. She sat down beside him and found herself struggling to breathe.

"You have my word. I won't do anything to hurt you. I won't do anything unless you give me consent," his voice was low - there was compassion in his voice. "I have feelings for you but I don't want you to give yourself unless it's by your choice."

She nodded. "What if I don't have any feelings for you? What if I don't return the feelings?" she asked. She could tell he was used to having things given to him.

"Then I'll continue to try to win your affections."


After dinner she went to sleep and returned to the dream state. She found Ben tending to deer. She looked down and found herself holding the red rose he had given her from the last time.

"Do you believe me?" he asked, his focus was on the animals.

Rey walked to him. She sat down and placed the rose down to help him pick out burrs from the deer's fur. "No," she said smugly. "I still don't believe in any of this - in you or Ren but since I'm stuck with the both of you, I'll try to cope."

Ben sighed but smirked. "Then I will continue to convince you otherwise."

"So why did you give me a red rose?" curiosity got the best of her. "What's the meaning behind it?"

Ben picked the rose and snapped the stem off. Gently, he put the rose in her hair. "Love."


a/n: so heads up will move this to M rating.