Light and Dark

Finally...

Dream took a deep breath before entering the throne room. Killer followed behind her. Ink and Blue waited outside. Inside, Nightmare sat on a throne, looking down at the door as Dream entered, his face a mask of calm. Dream looked up at him as the door shut behind her and Killer leant against it, watching.

"Dream," Nightmare said, his tone cold.

"Nightmare," Dream said, her tone mimicking his.

"What brings you to my kingdom?" He asked.

"I'm here to ask you a question," Dream answered, deliberately forcing him to ask.

"And what is that?" No discomfort appeared on his face.

"Have you been taking people from my kingdom?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Finally noticed have you?" She frowned.

"What do you mean?" Nightmare turned to a figure Dream hadn't seen before, a girl dressed in white and black.

"Cross, go get the others." The girl nodded and ran through a side door.

"Cross Jakei?" Dream wondered. "Nightmare-" Nightmare raised a hand for silence. Cross came back with two other girls. One was dressed in a crop top and tight jeans with pink hair and pink eyes. The other had blue and red eyes and a cut across her chest. She wore white clothes and looked downcast.

"Tell me Dream," Nightmare began. "How many of these people do you know the name of?" Dream faltered.

"T-Three. No one would speak," She said.

"Geno, Lust. How long have you been here?" Nightmare asked.

"About a month," They answered at the same time.

"Cross?" He asked. Something soft in his voice alerted her senses but she shook it off.

"Six months," She answered, softly.

"And you're only just now coming to me? What does that tell you?" Dream was lost. He sighed and stood up. "You can stay here as long as you want. Killer can take you to your room." He left the room. Cross following behind. Geno and Lust left after them, leaving Killer and Dream alone.

"Come with me My Queen," Killer said, taking her arm and leading her out of the room. Dream followed behind him. They reached a hallway on the top floor decked with balconies and tall windows looking out onto a garden. "Your room is here," Killer said pointing to a door on his left. "My room is next to yours," He continued, pointing to a door on his right. "It's so I can protect you better." He shrugged. Dream nodded. She stood still, Killer looked at her.

"Dream?" She jumped.

"What?" She looked up at him.

"My Queen you aren't moving." She nodded hastily and stumbled to her room, closing the door behind her.

Error hung upside down by his stings from a balcony, reading. A white-haired figure paced underneath him, not aware of his presence. Suddenly it yelled out.

"Damnit Dream why couldn't you control yourself!" Error looked down.

"There's no way to stop her from falling in love. Let her do as she pleases." Ink looked up.

"Error!"

"I thought you weren't talking to me."

"You were talking to me and..." she hesitated. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that problem she's having with Killer, let her deal with it. Maybe it'll turn out well in the end." Ink bit her lip.

"I don't...want what happened to her last time to happen again." Error dropped from the balcony to land by Ink's side.