Beauty and the Dream Demon

Prologue

Once upon a time in the hidden heart of France, a beautiful young Princess lived in a beautiful castle. Although she had everything her heart desired, the Princess was selfish and unkind.

"Mistress, it's time," a servant told her, showing the time on his pocket watch.

The Princess gave a nod to another servant next to him. They brought the Princess a handheld mirror to show the makeup that had just been put on for her. She taxed the village to fill her castle with the most beautiful objects and her parties with the most beautiful people. The Princess snapped his fingers, telling her maestro to start playing music for the ball she was throwing with the hundreds of handsome men she had invited. The maestro started to play the piano as everyone bowed before the Princess, sitting on her throne.

She stood just as the men started dancing with each other, waiting for the Princess to join them. A Diva next to the Maestro starts to sing as the Princess danced with her guests. But, just as the dance got quicker, two loud bangs came from outside in the pouring rain. A large gust of wind blows the doors open, letting the person outside in and blowing all the candles out. The unexpected intruder kneeled to her, seeking shelter from the bitter storm.

As a gift, she offered the Princess a single rose.

Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Princess turned the woman away.

But she warned her not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within. And when she dismissed her again, the old woman's outward appearance melted away to reveal a beautiful Enchantress. The Princess tried to apologize but it was too late. For she had seen that there was no love in her heart. As punishment, she transformed her into a hideous Dream Demon and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there.

Enraged, the Dream Demon took a sword and slashed the portate of her. Back when she wasn't so ugly.

As days bled into years, the Princess and her servants were forgotten by the world. For the Enchantress had erased all memory of them from the minds of the people they loved. But the rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose. If she could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, she would be doomed to remain a Dream Demon for all time. As the years passed, she fell into despair and lost all hope.

For who could ever learn to love a Dream Demon?