estdeus_innobis | What if all the world you think you know... Is an elaborate dream? (Reply)

(Before the daybreak, Sunday)
(Neither here nor there)

................................................................
I walk into the ballroom arm and arm with Anne. I am in a gown of blood red, yards and yards of silk and crinoline. Anne, in contrast is wearing a black cocktail dress, glove tight and short. We are laughing and pointing out potential lovers as they walk by. How long has it been since Anne and I have been out together? We always had a grand time, even if it was at the tavern flirting with the local farm boys. Why haven't we seen each other? I know there's a reason, but I can't remember it. As we mill about, a dark man with blood-amber eyes comes and takes her hand, pulling her out to the dance floor...

and she should not go with him. I know this but I don't know how. All I am certain of, if she goes with him, I will never see her again. I call out her name and reach for her, but Anne merely gives me a sad smile over her shoulder... and then she is gone. Lost in the throng of people, and I know we will never laugh together again.

I would search for her, call for her, but my hand has been captured and I am being tugged into the waltz. I regain my wits and look up, and smile at Jaime. His return smile is all sunshine and easy, and I know I could be safe here, it would be a happy thing to stay in his arms... but he keeps looking over his shoulder at someone else. Someone with blonde hair and a gentle face. He pulls away, reluctantly, as if not sure if he should go. I smile at him and nod my head, releasing his hand.   I watch him walk away, wistful and a little sad---
But there is no time for sadness, for a lively jig has started, and Lúgh as swept me up, and we're spinning, and laughing, and singing along, and my god! How did I manage to live without his infectious smile and laugh in my life?? He spins me out, and I twirl out on pointed toe in a whirl of skirts--- and he's gone. Not walking away. Just. Gone. And a hollow bell rings in my heart, in my soul, and I know I will never dance with him again.

I want to mourn the loss of him in my soul, but there is no time.   Now the music has changed to a tango, and I am seized one again. Dorian. I grin at him wickedly, and we weave in and out of other dancing couples, all heated smiles rubbing bodies... and this is familiar, and I know where the night will lead, and I know where I stand with Dorian. I reach up, grab his hair and pull his face down to mine to kiss him---
when a low, rumbling growl ripples through the crowd. Dorian looks over to the sound, sneers at whatever I can't see, then looks at me in disgust, and pushes me away, fleeing into the room. I call out his name and try to follow, but now the growling in growing closer, and I know it's coming for me.

I run, run, run... always running from this one, knowing he will catch me. That's part of the game, the fear, the screaming, the excitement. I just about reach the doors of the ballroom when I am grabbed and pulled harshly against the personification of night himself.   Eyes wide, I look up into those dark eyes and wait for what comes next... but it is not what I expect. Gaueko merely grins at me, turns and walks away.

I can only watch him go, feeling oddly upset about the rejection, when a gentle hand touches my shoulder. I turn...
and drown in Lucien's blue eyes. He smiles and bows, and I drop into a curtsey, then we begin to dance. Together we are grace and movement, as if we were meant to dance together forever.   We dance, and I am so in love with him, I always have been, and I could stay in his arms for the rest of my life... But Lucien's smile grows sad, his eyes grow distant, and he pulls away. "Oh Lucien, no, please, please don't go... not you too, please?" I beg, but he backs away, shaking his head, mouthing the worlds 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." before he takes Miao's hand, smiles at her.... and the crowd swallows them as well.

I stand there and stare at the space that Lucien just filled. "Everyone leaves, everyone." I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself.
Gone , gone, all gone...
A flash of black hair though the crowd, a knowing smile and a glint of intense blue eyes... and I feel something akin to desperation spike through me. All gone.... but one. the one who is always there when I need him... the one who understands. I push through the people, searching, looking for him, for My Kent, but he's always just out of reach.... there's always something that's just out of reach with him...

Oh, please, stay with me. Don't leave me too!

(Closed)