Oy! It's me! I'm back! Haha! Pretty sure there's like, only one person who actually reads this story but heck, I continue writing it because I have fun with it. I've been so busy with work, and, well, life. Adulting sucks. Money is tight. But hey, that also won't stop me from having fun and writing this garbage lol. It's almost therapeutic... Oh, btw, I received an anonymous comment on chapter 1 of this story that read, and I quote, "YOUR STORIES ARE PIGSHIT! GO COMMIT SUICIDE!" Hahaha! Who actually says that shit? The funniest/weirdest part was that at the very bottom of the comment they had literally ALL of their contact info: home address, state, zip, 2 phone numbers, and an email. ...What? Aaaanyways, I actually have quite a few chapters done that I'll probably get back to uploading weekly while I work on my other story Free. I REALLY need to finish that one.


Lucy seemed very busy and stressed by the last Wednesday of March. She remained ever vigilant in her attendance to school, but it was obvious that all the paperwork and plans she was going over were something else entirely. The boys watched as Brooke calmly helped her look over some things and organize.

They had gone over to Brooke's after school, curious to find out what had Lucy so stressed, and found the two girls in the kitchen with many papers spread out on the table.

"It's the Blood Ball," Brooke told them.

"I think you've mentioned it before," Kyle thought aloud, "but could you explain?"

"Well, first of all, it has to do with vampires. Real vampires. Not those weird kids at school pretending to be…vampires."

Lucy rolled her eyes and made a disapproving sound, then continued searching through papers.

"You see," Brooke continued. "Vampires are not from the Nether. They're also naturally smug and aggressive. A long time ago, during the renaissance ages for humans, vampires and Nether monsters were sort of fighting for territory and feeding rights in this world. Vampires are naturally from this world, but Nether monsters aren't. However, the ruler of the Nether has first rights to all souls, so… Well, it made things…complicated. Anyways, long story short, my mother and the King of Vampires got together and formed a peace treaty with very strict, but fair conditions and guidelines for both sides to follow. As a sign of peace, and to keep both sides updated on everything that may affect them, the Nether hosts the Blood Ball.

The Blood Ball happens once every four years, when the Nether full moon turns red. It's just a big fancy ball held at the castle where all the vampire clans show up with the king. I also have to go." She sighed.

"You don't like it?" Kenny asked.

"It's not that," she said. "I have to wear a stupid dress!"

"O-Oh!" he stammered.

"Hear that, Kenny?" Darren nudged him. "Imagine Brooke in a pretty dress…probably strapless…"

He already was. He felt his face heating up and shook his head then pushed Darren away. "Fuck off, asshole."

"Vampires can also be rather…touchy to deal with," Lucy added. "They're easily angered by the simplest things, especially if it insults their way of living. Everything has to be perfect!"

"Since she's the royal advisor, Lucy has to deal with most of the planning and preparation," Brooke explained. "She's also the only one I would trust to do so."

"When is the ball?" Kyle asked.

"This Saturday. Why? Do you want to come?"

"Oh, uh, c-can we?"

"Sure."

"Princess," Lucy looked at her. "Are you certain that's a good idea? No offense to the boys, but vampires are not very friendly towards humans." She looked at the boys. "Many Nether monsters might eat humans sometimes, but they can at least be civil and friendly towards them. Vampires are never like that with humans. They simply see them as prey, and sometimes as a nuisance."

"Civil? Like Billi the wendigo?" Darren asked.

"Yes, like – How do you know Billi?"

"He was gonna eat us in the mountains the other night until Charles and Lamar came back. He was pretty cool about it though."

Lucy eyed him questioningly but didn't press the matter any further. "Princess, Francis will need you to go try on your dress tomorrow night. The rest of you will need to visit him as well, unless you have proper formal attire. Oh, and the ball is a masquerade. You don't have to wear a mask, but if any of you show up in unfit clothing –" she leered around at them.

"Wait," Stan said. "Didn't you basically just say that it'd be bad for us to go? You know, humans?"

"Only if they find out…"

"Don't let them," Brooke said. "Lots of monsters can take human forms. For example: Lucy and myself. The only thing that could give you guys away when you're pretending is your soul and your scent. Lucky for you guys, vampires can't see souls, and scent can be masked. We'll just have you guys rubbed down real good with some werewolf fur and you can go with that."

"I don't know…" Kyle said.

"What, Kyle?" Darren said. "Don't you want to dance with Lucy?"

He blushed and quickly checked to make sure that Lucy had not heard him. Luckily, she was too distracted by her papers. "Dude!"

Unlike Lucy, Brooke had heard. "She'll probably be too busy fretting over everything the whole time," she said quietly. "But you can try. I think it'd be good for her to participate for once instead of chaperoning everything."

"What about you, Brooke?" Stan asked. "What will you be doing?"

"Mostly accompanying the vampire king and discussing the year's events…that are relevant to him that is." She sighed. "Unfortunately, it is customary for the Nether's ruler to accept any request for a dance. So – many – dances."

"Hear that?" Darren leaned towards Kenny. "She has to accept a dance request from anyone…no matter who they are."

He shivered then shot him a glare.

"My favorite is Koi's Whisk," Brooke said absently, looking as if she was remembering something fondly.

"That name's familiar," Kyle muttered.

"It's a bit out of place at a renaissance-styled masquerade, considering it's a Japanese song and kind of fast-paced and complex. But it's allowed because it's my favorite. It gets the name from the movements, mimicking the erratic, sudden but graceful movements of two koi swimming together in a small space."

"Personally, I prefer a more traditional waltz. Starlight Waltz is lovely," Lucy said from the table. She was checking things off a list. Once she had finished with it, she looked back up at them all. "You'll all be needing dance lessons. Hopefully you can all retain the lessons before Saturday… I'll have someone go to each of you to give your first lessons tonight at your homes and to go over a list of the scheduled songs."

By Thursday evening, Lucy almost had everything in perfect order until the shiny pygmy dragon known as June Bug suddenly appeared in her shed with Kenny at her side. Lucy was a bit startled at first, giving them an odd look before relaxing and composing herself.

"Ah, it's only you two," she said. "Er, what brings you here?"

"This boy is IMPOSSIBLE," June Bug stated, emphasizing the statement with a stamp of her foot. "I tried last night, and then I tried again to teach him today, but nothing! No progress! I can't understand; how thick do you have to be to be unable to learn a ballroom dance?!"

"Hey!" Kenny was offended.

"It's like trying to teach Mossy Grotto spiders not to bite off people's heads. It just doesn't happen!"

"Come on! I'm not THAT bad! …And what?!"

"I'd have better luck teaching a spider to dance," she muttered.

Lucy sighed deeply. "Well, dancing is not completely necessary…but thank you for trying, I suppose."

The dragon huffed and disappeared with a poof.

Lucy got up from her seat and passed him to unlock the trapdoor in the corner. "I'm assuming you do not have any proper attire?"

"No."

"Very well. Francis can take care of that, no problem. Come along," she called as she descended the stairs.

He followed her down into the darkness, through the green fire-lit room of caged rats, and into the blue room where many piranhas swam in the pool that acted as the floor. He watched curiously as Lucy took something out of her pocket and drank it before handing him another. It was a small bottle of sparkly clear liquid.

"It's Stepping Stone Potion," she said before he could ask. "Simply put, it allows the user to walk on, well, anything. Water or even mid-air. Don't worry, I would never give you something that wasn't proven safe for your consumption."

He took the bottle and uncorked it, staring in at the odd liquid. It had a strange earthy smell. He took a breath then downed the bottle in one gulp, making a face at the gritty texture that had no taste. "It's like drinking wet sand."

"If you say so…" She stepped out over the water.

Kenny got excited seeing her walk across the surface, the water not touching her shoes. It was like she was walking on an invisible pathway. He carefully held one foot out over the water, hesitating a small moment before firmly placing his foot down and feeling as if he had placed it down on a solid floor. He brought his other foot over. "Cool!"

Lucy looked surprised as Kenny suddenly ran past her to the next door. She rolled her eyes at his behavior but was smiling all the same.

As they entered the Oracle Chamber, several stones floating by the door whispered and darted out of the way. A few of them gathered around to follow them as they walked across the room until they reached another door, at which point the stones flew back to their places.

Kenny had almost forgotten that the Oracle Chamber was actually located in the Nether castle. They stepped out of the dim room and into a the familiar white and gold-trimmed hallways of the castle with its red carpet trailing along the center of the floor. He didn't know if this was a hallway he had been in before, but he definitely didn't remember encountering one that was so busy other than the one filled with souls flying around. There were many different monsters bustling up and down the hall, many of them appeared to be servants carrying all manner of things. He caught a brief glimpse of the banshee named Joey flying above the crowd with a chest full of bouncing souls.

"Normally," Lucy explained as they moved through the crowd, "this hallway is relatively empty, but the ballroom is located at the other end, so it's quite busy recently. Come along, the royal tailor's chambers are the opposite way. Don't worry, no one will step on you."

He was relieved to hear that, because he was terribly afraid that the larger monsters like the wendigos and the giant skeleton would surely crush him, but Lucy never steered anyone wrong. Actually, he noticed the monsters would step out of his way, even when he was sure they didn't see him. Most of them were too busy to pay them any mind, but one or two would glance over at Kenny with a surprised look. One young werewolf even hesitated, looking very unsure of something before he was nudged from behind by his superior and forced to keep going. Kenny was particularly bewildered by the ghostly-looking white fox that stopped to bow to him before trotting on its way.

"Come along," Lucy's voice called his attention back.

He hurried after her, turning the corner into another hall that was still rather busy, but significantly less so, then stopped at a very out-of-place door. It was made of dark wood, with studded steel reinforcements and a steel ring for a door handle. The door itself was big, rounded, and it reminded him of something you'd see on a pirate ship.

On the other side of the door was a huge room that Kenny was thoroughly convinced was a whole building crammed into the castle wall. They passed through small aisles of hanging clothes in all colors, shapes, and sizes and came out into another huge dome-shaped room. At the center was an absolutely massive brick-red octopus sitting in a big shallow pool of water completely surrounded by a countertop of some type that his tentacles trailed over to splay out around the room. He had a row of large, yellowed spikes along the center of his head and wore a big monocle and a fancy bowler hat.

"Good evening, Francis," Lucy preformed her signature curtsy.

The monstrous octopus was using the ends of two of his tentacles to carefully stitch a torn sleeve on a tailcoat. He was squinting at it with concentration, but placed it to the side as he heard Lucy speak. It was hard to tell, but Kenny was pretty sure that the octopus was smiling at them, as he appeared rather delighted.

"This is Kenneth," she introduced the boy. "You remember our discussion, yes?"

He made a bouncing motion, as if nodding, still looking very happy.

"Kenneth," Lucy said. "Please step forward and allow Francis to measure you."

"Oh, uh, okay."

Francis stared down at him for a moment then suddenly brought one of his tentacles down and stuck a suction cup to the boy's head and lifted him from the ground and closer to his face. He used another tentacle to shift his monocle, squinting at the boy before taking a third tentacle and, with one quick motion, swept his parka and pants off of him. At first, Kenny wasn't sure what had happened.

"What the heck?!" he said as he was placed back on the floor. He was only wearing underwear and an old off-white muscle shirt that made him look even scrawnier than he already was because it was so loose. "He took my clothes!"

"Well, they were rather puffy," Lucy admitted. "They would cause inaccuracies in measurement. Now, stand up straight and hold still."

He tensed and straightened himself as Francis took a measuring tape and began to measure him all around. Arms, legs, length and width. Shoulders, chest, waist and hips, feet, head, torso, and finally his full-body height. Francis smiled and curled the tip of his tentacle as if to say 'OK' then stretched another tentacle away and pulled over a rack of nice clothes and formal attire.

"Francis made everything you see here," Lucy told Kenny. "These should all fit you, so take your pick and let's see."

"Does he make Brooke's clothes, too?" he asked as he went to examine the selection.

"Yes. He also makes her dresses. He's quite handy for someone who doesn't have hands. Anything you like?"

"I don't know. This?" He pulled out a midnight blue coat with matching pants.

"Rather simple…" Lucy mused. "Francis? Your thoughts?"

The octopus flicked his tentacle.

"He wants you to put it on."

Kenny removed his shirt, replacing it with the nice, crisp black long-sleeve that was within the coat, eyeing Francis as the octopus swept up his old shirt from the floor. He pulled on the pants and coat, buttoning it up as Lucy and Francis examined him critically.

"It would need miniscule adjustments," Lucy remarked. "But it's…so simple."

"Well, it's not like I want to stand out or anything," Kenny muttered.

"I understand, but -"

Francis seemed to have had an idea. He reached over, rummaging through some things, then brought over a dark hooded cape. He slung it around the boy's shoulders, latching it together at the neck with a silver-colored brooch fixed with a polished oval sapphire in the center. He then used another tentacle to bring over a pair of matching boots. As Kenny stepped into the boots, Francis felt around behind himself for something and brought it over as well. He placed the skull-face mask on him then pulled up the hood, patting him on the head and gesturing as if to say 'There!'"

"Hm," Lucy surveyed him. "Yes, that's much better. Your choice of mask is interesting…"

Francis shifted and waved a tentacle.

"True. Well, Kenneth, do you like it?"

He turned to examine himself in a nearby mirror.

"You don't have to wear the mask," Lucy told him.

"No, I like it. Thanks."

Francis was delighted once more and clapped all four pairs of tentacles to applaud.

"Ah, good," Lucy sighed, relieved. "One more thing out of the way."

As Kenny removed the outfit, Francis handed him his old clothes back. However, they appeared clean and mended now. "How – When did you do this?"

Lucy giggled. "Come on, let's be off. Thank you, Francis."

The giant octopus waved to them as they left.

"Hey, Lucy," Kenny asked as they entered the Oracle Chamber. "Why is Koi's Whisk Brooke's favorite?"

"Hm? Well, I believe it's mainly because she enjoys the music itself. Ah, it was also taught to her by Desmond."

"Mm. Okay."

Saturday evening a pygmy dragon escort appeared at each of the boy's homes to have them change and poof them over to Lucy's shed and enter the Nether through the Oracle Chamber. The four of them, plus their escorts, met up in the chamber and were promptly teleported to a set of doors where stood large living gargoyles on either side.

"This is a side entrance," Poppy explained. She had been the one to escort Kenny. "The main entrance still has quite a line right now."

Stan was holding the tiny Puff in the breast of his black coat and stroking him fondly. "How many people can get in?"

"Lots!" Puff squeaked.

"Oh, don't worry about capacity," Pixie smiled. "The ballroom is plenty spacious enough. Everyone just has to check in first."

"But you guys are VIPs," Puff said with an air of pride. "So, we'll handle the check-in stuff for you."

"Where are Lucy and Brooke?" Kyle asked.

"The Princess and her advisor are the FIRST on the scene," Tiger replied. "They're already inside with the King of Vampires. Don't bother them!"

"You are, however, allowed to ask for at least one dance," Poppy added.

The gargoyles glared down at them as they approached then stepped aside to allow them in. The room behind the doors was indeed spacious. It was probably about the size of a large football field, maybe even bigger, and even had a set of stairs on either side that led to large golden-railed balconies. The balconies appeared dimly lit, but the main room itself was bright with glittering lights on fancy golden chandeliers and candelabras. The columns that supported the balconies were wrapped with living vines and white flowers. There were already many people and monsters all around but it was not crowded or overwhelming.

"This is the main floor," Pixie explained over the waltz music that was currently playing from instruments off in the corner that were playing themselves in front of a massive pipe organ. "Everyone mingles and dances here, as you can see. Under the balconies are several tables of food and drinks. If you would like to sit or rest for a bit, then head upstairs to the balconies. They have tables and chairs, and the lighting is less intense. The Princess and the King of Vampires are with their assistants over there."

They followed his pointing claw to see a raised area on the other side of the room where a large white throne was centered. In it sat Brooke, looking lovely and polite with her hands folded neatly on her lap. From what they could see, she was wearing a dark blue ballgown that was well-fitting on her torso and fanned out with layers at the bottom, giving it the look of some kind of dark flower. It was trimmed and laced with black. Somehow, it paired rather well with her large red feathered wings which were out on display, folded comfortably behind her.

On her left was Lucy, wearing a silky blue dress that matched her eyes and complimented her silvery hair, still with her golden necklace around her neck. On Brooke's other side, sitting in an equally fancy chair, was a pompous man in a gray tailcoat and pants with long silver hair and matching white eyes. On his side stood a young man with side-swept blonde hair wearing a similar outfit. Lucy and the blonde-haired man appeared to be surveying everything instead of engaging in the conversation that Brooke and the King were having.

"Wow," Darren stared. "Last time she had to wear a dress she didn't look that content with it."

"Remember," Pixie told them. "Do not allow the vampires to discover that you are humans. The werewolf scent should last through the night, but it would be best not to let any of them too close. And mind what you say, vampires are naturally suspicious and easily offended."

He left with the other pygmy dragons to do service work, leaving the boys to fend for themselves.

"Okay," Stan breathed. "We're surrounded by monsters and predators that feed off of humans… Great."

"Hey," Darren shrugged. "You agreed to come."

Stan and Kyle were not wearing masks but had certainly followed the formal attire rule. Darren, on the other hand, was sporting an outfit and mask similar to that of the phantom from Phantom of the Opera. Many other monsters were not wearing masks, while others did.

"Anyways," Darren said. "My first stop is the food."

Stan and Kyle made to follow him. "Hey, Kenny," Stan said. "You coming with us?"

Kenny was staring distractedly across the room and didn't respond, so he shrugged and left without him. It was only when he caught a glimpse of something white in the corner of his eye that Kenny broke his gaze free. Sitting behind a column and staring directly at him was the ghostly white fox he had seen a few days before. It watched him unblinkingly with solid white eyes.

Kenny tilted his head a little and glanced around before making his way over to the spirit. As he got nearer, its ears pricked and it bowed. Unsure, he bowed back. The fox twitched its tail with amusement and blinked slowly at him.

"You hide your face and cover your scent, but I still recognize you."

He flinched and looked around. The voice seemed to be in his head. "Are…are YOU talking to me?"

It blinked again. "I am. Are you listening?"

"Yes?"

"I recognize your soul. It is like mine."

He suddenly noticed the faint blue tint around the spectral white fox. "Why did you bow to me? Now, and that other time."

It tilted its head. "Why, because you are a prince, of course!"

He almost laughed but caught himself. "I'm not a prince. You're mixing me up with someone else."

It shook its head. "Never! You are a prince. Or…at least, you will be. By title though, and not blood."

"What are you talking about? That's ridiculous."

"What is?"

He jumped and turned to find a tall handsome man beside him. He recognized the human form of Lucy's father, Sith.

"Who are you talking to over here?"

"Huh?" Kenny looked back to find that the fox was gone. "There was… Never mind."

"Seeing spirits?" Sith smiled.

"Am I?"

"Perhaps. Spirit guides, as they are often called, are spectral animals from the Nether that follow a certain person around to look after them. Not everyone has one, and those who do usually never meet theirs. Since you did not know that, I can assume that you are one of the Princess's human friends?"

"Oh, yeah. Kenny."

"Ah, yes, I remember." Sith nodded. "At first, I thought you were a werewolf from my pack. They must have really doused you with his fur."

"Yeah, they made me sit in a barrel of fur for like an hour!"

He laughed. "Well, don't slip up and let that hour go to waste! Say, do you plan to ask the Princess to dance?"

He blushed under his mask and looked away. "I-I don't know. I don't really get the dances. I mean, there's one that I practiced a lot, but I don't think I got it right."

"Mm," Sith nodded. "Lucky for you, with that mask and cover scent, very few will know who you are. So, if you do mess up, it won't matter!"

Despite his gruff appearance, Sith was a rather friendly and cheerful man. Kenny smiled but quickly remembered that he wouldn't be able to see it with the mask. "Thanks," he said.

"Of course!" Sith smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

.

"So," the Vampire King said as he surveyed the crowd. "I hear that you have been taking up residence in the human world."

Brooke refrained from looking at him, but she could tell that he was smiling his smug, false smile. "Yes," she replied with a similar air of mock politeness. "The Nightmares are still a threat, but they have trouble navigating the human world."

"I see…" he side-eyed her. "You've decided to lead them away from the Nether and into my world?"

"The mortal realm does not have a defined owner or ruler," she jabbed indirectly. "So the Nightmares aren't concerned with it."

"Yet," he muttered darkly.

Brooke said nothing but noticed Lucy inhale deeply at his response. "How are the clans?" Brooke turned to look at him now, smiling in a friendly manner.

"They are well," he leaned back and swapped which leg was crossed over the other. "They are prospering better than ever. Would be a shame if Nightmares came and ruined it all, yes?"

"It would be," she continued to smile as she turned her gaze back to the dancing.

She didn't mind vampires, but it was always so uneasy and annoying to deal with their leader, Erin Vault. He was the incarnation of smugness and snide remarks. She much preferred his assistant, because he never spoke. It was difficult to hold back her sarcastic responses, but she managed to do so with great unseen effort. As tiring as the requests for dances were, she was grateful that she could not deny any as it gave her an excuse to get away from him for a while.

.

Stan had gone off to mingle safely around Billi the wendigo as the night wore on, finding him to be highly entertaining and fun, leaving Kyle and Darren at the tables of food. Situated in the center of all the tables was a huge fancy glass bowl of red liquid, from which Darren had just finished his seventh glass.

"You're some odd fellows," a vampire boy just barely taller than them had approached them. "You've been hanging around this spot the whole night."

"Are you British?" Darren asked.

He smirked. "Welsh. And you? You smell like werewolves. What pack are you from?"

"Pack?" Kyle and Darren exchanged worried looks. "Uh," Kyle said. "We're from…the pack that lives in the Woods of No Return."

"Ah," he nodded. "The Misty Wood Pack. So, you must know the Princess's advisor, Lucy?"

"Yeah!" he said. "Uh, y-yeah. She's a…friend."

He eyed them critically. "From the stories I've heard, I always thought beasts like that would only raise offspring with promise. Then again, they're not at all like vampires."

"What do you mean?" Darren asked, feeling offended.

"If you were vampires, you would have been abandoned long ago. It only takes one weakling to bring the entire clan down. I can't believe they let runts like you two leave the forest, much less attend the Blood Ball. Then again, werewolves are nothing like the stories humans tell to frighten their children at night. Just a bunch of big dogs."

"Well," Kyle said. "Then again, werewolves aren't snooty jerks who leave their kids behind for being weak."

"They should," he retorted. "Then perhaps they could actually earn that reputation they hold."

"Yeah," Darren said loudly, sensing Kyle's rising temper. "Well, we gotta go. I, uh, have to pee." He pulled Kyle along. "I really do have to pee," he muttered as they left.

For once, he was relieved to see Charles and Lamar. The brothers were fully out of the ground and balancing platters of snacks atop their heads as they walked around to offer them to guests.

"Heyyyyy!" Lamar said as he noticed them.

"Heeeyyyyyyyy!" Charles said. "Want a cucumber sandwich?"

"Or a chocolate turtle?"

"Uh, later," Darren said but took a turtle anyway. "Where the heck's the bathroom? I drank like seven glasses of that punch and I gotta go!"

"Punch?" Lamar looked confused.

"What punch?" Charles asked.

"The punch over there." He pointed. "In the giant punch bowl."

"Ohhhhhhh," the banshees said together.

"That's not punch," Lamar told him.

"It's not?"

"No!" he smiled. "It's blood!"

"With added sugar!" Charles said.

"Blood?"

"Human blood," Charles nodded a little, careful not to disturb the platter on his head. "We accidentally dropped a whole bag of sugar in it earlier before the party."

"Hm, that explains the coppery aftertaste," Darren said. "Well, now I have to pee AND throw up. Please tell me where the bathroom is."

"Go out the door you came from," Lamar said. "Down the hall, take a left, and the bathroom is the second door on the right."

.

Brooke was more than happy to see someone making their way over to her from the crowd. Erin Vault had just gotten into a long-winded explanation about the human over-population in China, and she was very much uninterested.

"Ah," she interrupted him. "Another requester."

The person stopped at the bottom of the three steps and seemed to hesitate, glancing at the King. Lucy shifted in her seat, looking mildly surprised, then suddenly remembered that Brooke was unaware of who this person was under the skull mask and dark hood. They all watched the newcomer curiously, the Princess looking the most enthused about his arrival.

He stepped halfway up the steps and stopped to bow lowly to the Princess, holding a hand out to her.

Lucy held her breath, looking quite surprised.

"He doesn't speak?" Vault raised an eyebrow.

Brooke surveyed the requester briefly before extending her hand to place it lightly in his, allowing him to gently pull her to her feet and lead her away. She was staring intently at his blue eyes as they stopped on the dancefloor then placed her free hand on his shoulder as he hesitantly pressed a hand to her back and moved closer. She was surprised to hear the beginning of Koi's Whisk starting to play, and even more surprised when the person smoothly pulled her into the fast-paced dance without stumbling.

It was rare that anyone could properly preform the dance, and even rarer that anyone would dare to preform such a complicated waltz with the Princess, considering how everyone liked to stop and watch when the Princess was asked to dance. She did notice him briefly stumble on one of the turns, almost stepping on his own foot. She smiled sweetly at the frightened look in his eyes, which seemed to make him feel better. He did pretty well the rest of the four-minute-long song, which she was very pleased about.

"Why haven't you introduced yourself?" she asked after the song had ended.

There was a hint of worry or fear in the blue eyes.

She glanced back at the raised area where the thrones were; the Vampire King was discussing something with Sith. She turned back to the boy and smiled as she took his hand and began to lead him through the crowd. They exited through a side door, the gargoyles posted on either side merely glancing at them, then hurried down the dark hall. The only light was the red moonlight shining in through the windows.

She stopped at the end of the hall where there was a large set of arch doors with no door handles. Both doors, however, did have a golden lion head baring their fangs and holding large rings. She looked up at them then turned to face the boy.

"I've never let anyone in here," she told him. "Do you want to see?"

He nodded slowly. As far as he knew, she believed him to be a total stranger. So, why was she letting him in to see something she never showed anyone else? He felt odd as she released his hand.

She reached up and used the doorknocker, knocking three times with it. In response, the lion heads' eyes lit up with a golden light and seemed to stare down at them for a moment before the doors slowly opened outward. She sent a quick smile back at him before stepping through the doors.

He followed, finding himself outside in some kind of large garden. The walls were surrounded with beautiful trees like cherry blossom, weeping willow, dogwood, birch, and several other types he couldn't name. There was ankle-high grass and many flowers growing all around from the ground, in pots, or on bushes. In the center of the garden was a large stone fountain that moss was allowed to grow on, and beyond the fountain he could see a wall of rose bushes. Everything was cast with an odd but lovely shade of pale red from the blood moon high above them.

After he had finished gawking at the scene, he hurried to catch up to the Princess who had gone over to the fountain. The water appeared pink in the moonlight, and peering over the edge he could see several large koi swimming slowly in the base. He joined her as she sat on the edge of the base, feeling nervous as she moved closer. There was a noticeable but comfortable heat emanating from her wings.

There was a long silence where they only heard the light splashing of the fountain behind them and the relaxed chirping of crickets hiding somewhere in the grass. "You know," she said after a minute, "I've really never let anyone in here before. Only a few of my servants are allowed to come and tend to the plants and animals. But you seem nice." She was staring out across the garden. "I did think about bringing someone else here. I feel like I've gotten too close to him, though."

He looked at her curiously. He was quite positive that she was talking about him, but he's not sure how that made him feel yet.

"Normally, it'd be fine," she continued. "But I don't want to get him, or anyone else, involved in my problems. You know? I'm already dangerous enough since I can't fully control my powers. Then, there's the whole Nightmare thing. They'll find me eventually. Their king will come back eventually, too. I barely managed to seal him away without getting myself destroyed like my – I'm afraid I'll end up hurting that person either way. Either by my lack of control or by getting myself killed." She looked at her feet. "Then I'd hurt everyone… I don't know what to do."

He wished he had the answer.

There was another long silence before she spoke again. "You know, Kenny, you're a lot cuter without your face covered up."

It took him a moment before he realized what she had said, then he flinched so hard that he almost fell into the fountain before she caught him with a wing. "You knew the whole time?!"

She giggled. "No. Not at first. But I decided to look at your soul while we were dancing. Of course, I recognized it."

"Why didn't you just say so, then?" He removed the mask and pulled his hood down.

"Why didn't you?"

"I…I was scared."

"You don't have to be afraid of me," she said quietly.

"No," he admitted. "But you're afraid. Of a lot of things, it seems."

She hummed and hopped down from the fountain and began to walk away. He followed her over to the wall of roses where she led him through a gap and into a dark thorny maze.

"I'd like to be closer to you," he said quietly.

She stopped suddenly and turned around, wrapping a wing behind him and pulling him close while using the other to block the small beam of red moonlight that was breaking through the thorns. He held his breath. He could just barely make her eyes out in the darkness, the heat from her wings making him feel excited for some reason. He let out a tiny grunt of surprise as he felt her push up against him and slide her hands around his waist; he could feel the tip of her nose lightly touching his.

"How close are you planning on getting before you end up getting hurt?" Her voice was quiet and stern all of a sudden.

"I think I'm already past that point," he breathed shakily. He could not describe the intense mixed feeling of anxiety and ecstasy he was feeling at that moment. He just hoped his body wouldn't give him away. His legs almost gave out beneath him as she ran her hands up his sides, stopping halfway, then planted a long, soft kiss on his cheek that made his heart flutter.

"Then you should go back," she said in his ear before stepping away from him.

He shivered. Perhaps she had meant it to sound colder than it did. However, it only sounded sad and made him want to hold her longer.

.

Darren had just gotten back from the bathroom. It turned out that Charles and Lamar forgot to mention to him that the particular hallway where the bathrooms were located had a tendency to change when you left the bathroom. He ended up wandering, lost, for about an hour before he finally ran into a soul that happily guided him back to the ballroom. He had just reached Kyle at the food tables when Lucy approached them looking flustered.

"Have you seen the Princess anywhere?" she demanded.

"No," he replied. Kyle shook his head. "Why?" Darren asked. "Wasn't she talking with that vampire king?"

"Yes, well, she went to dance with someone and three songs later, she hasn't returned." She glanced around. "You're certain you haven't seen her? What about Kenneth?"

"They're both missing?" Darren smirked. "Okay, calm down. I'll go look for them, so you can relax."

"Relax?!" she looked offended.

"Yes," he said firmly. "I'll find them, I promise. Now, you stay here and chill out." He left, but not before sending Kyle a sly look.

Lucy shifted uncomfortably and continued to glance around. "What is she thinking?" she hissed between her teeth. "Leaving me to entertain the Vampire King. I can barely refrain from telling that pompous fool to stuff it in his –" she cleared her throat and smoothed her dress. "Oh dear."

"Maybe you should relax," Kyle told her as kindly as he could without sounding rude. "Um, have you ever actually…participated in an event? Like, danced or something?"

"I – Well, no. I suppose I have not. But I'm here to make sure things go as planned, not to participate in games and activities."

"Is that a rule or something?"

"Er, well, no…"

"Lucy," he took in a deep breath. "How about, instead of worrying so much, you have some fun for once?" He hesitated then held his hand out. "The next song is Starlight Waltz, right? Do you…want to dance?"

She stared, amazed, at him then looked down at his hand. It was a long moment before she decided and took his hand. "Y-Yes. I would."

He swallowed. "Okay."

The music was lovely and the dance was close. Starting slow, working in a few turns now and then, and ending with a big twirl and pulling back close to each other.

Lucy blushed and looked down. "You…seem to have retained the steps perfectly."

"Honestly, it's the only song I bothered learning the steps to."

She couldn't help but laugh.

He smiled. "Um, Lucy?"

"Yes?"

"I…I like you."

She cocked her head to the side, looking a tad confused. "I like you, too?"

He laughed a little. "Uhm, no, Lucy. I really like you. Like, ever since I met you."

"It hasn't been that long," she tried to hide her reddening face by turning to look at something else.

"I-I know," he said. "I'm just saying. I think you're perfect."

She scoffed. "If only."

He smiled and stepped closer. "You are. Uh, would you…mind if I kissed you?"

"…Not at all."

.

"There you are!" Darren had encountered Brooke and Kenny in one of the halls. "What the hell are you two doing? Lucy about had a heart attack looking for you, Brooke!"

"Sorry," she said. "We were just on our way back."

He narrowed his eyes at them. "What were you doing? Actually, I don't wanna know. I've had the WORST night!"

To be continued…


I laughed a lot re-reading this. Lol. Lots of fluffy cute shit here that makes me laugh. Dunno why that kinda stuff makes me laugh. You should see me when I see it in animes haha