Author's Note:
If there seems to be a part there the transition is unclear or confusing, understand that FictionPress doesn't allow asterisks, or large spacing. There are two transitional parts to this chapter, one right after the first, "Embrace your Father," and where it says "No nightmares for Aubrey tonight." Sorry for taking up your time, just didn't want to be confusing. Thank you.

Part two:

"You'll never forget the day you lost your sincerity to power" (But you'll get over it)

Aubrey Kasey stood over his desk, hands on either side, looking down at his work. His gray eyes had bags underneath him, and just standing there he nearly fell asleep. At that point, the floor looked like a good bed for him. But sleep? It wasn't an option. He had to get it finished. He had to work. That was all that mattered right then. And if he went to sleep, what it would matter, he'd still have the nightmares. Nightmares of slithering serpents, sharp teeth and hooks… he couldn't escape them. But if he could, would he want too? That was the question that haunted him daily, whether or not would he give them up. They were his only inspiration, dark as they were. And inspiration in a world where nothing is new under the sun is worth more then then the rarest mineral. It was damn near priceless to him. And he wasn't ready to give up everything he'd gotten in the past fifteen months since the release of The Devil's Playground, he had become more then anyone ever told him he'd ever be. He'd become the newest celebrity on the lineup, his book had gotten on the best selling list, and the royalty checks were growing bigger and bigger. He wasn't prepared to lose it all.

The readers, they demanded everything of him. He had become a god to them, with his fantastic mind altering, make you afraid to sleep horror novel. Aubrey never intended it for it to be horror per say, but he liked the mind altering part. It made him feel as if he was given control of thousands of reader's minds through his one book. They revered him for his new style of writing, his fresh take on the classic "nightmares come to life" scenario. And they demanded that he come out with a new novel. He wanted to oblige to his kind, paying readers wishes, so he made it his top priority that a new book come out.

The nightmares, they kept coming. He filled up two journals of them over a fifteen month time period, and god, were they wearing him out. They had become more disturbing then ever, more realistic and vivid, and at times it felt as if he were literally going mad as rabbits. But he kept writing. It was a gift, the gift of inspiration he kept telling himself, but he just didn't know anymore.

He had two hundred and ninety pages of chilling, complex reading that added another chapter to the life of Cassidy Gale, the man whose nightmares were haunting him at rest, and in life. He really fattened the theory of it all being inside his own head that it was merely a result of insomnia and they were all hallucinations. His piece was entitled Satan's Workshop. He just had to think of an ending, the perfect ending to finish off the sequel. But how easy is it to top a best selling book? That was why movie sequels were usually awful- they didn't think about how to properly top the predecessor. Aubrey eventually decided to add the element of lucid dreaming to the story. That would be the way to write the ending. End it with a battle.

"Cassidy scratched his unshaved face, grimaced and popped his pills. Once again was it the cycle, Amdextrin, three pills, every night for the past year. They did absolute shit to help him against the nightmares, but tonight Cassidy was prepared for them. He wanted them. He finally had his weapon of choice against the demons that lurked inside the cavernous depths of his mind- free will. The pills had a side effect of drowsiness, and he needed that tonight. If it weren't for them, he'd never fall asleep because the opposite of what he wanted always seemed to happen first."

"He laid down on his bed, which would never be comfortable again. On that pillow, on that bed, there were too many nights that he laid there, thrashing around to the events that took place in his head. To many remembrances of death, too much terror. After that night, death was going to take place. Whether it be by pure insanity, by the hand of the Dark Man, or even if Cassidy won, suicide the next day. He would never be the same- the nightmares had ravaged his mind too much. So in about forty minutes, the pills kicked in and he received the chemical's sweet effects, and he began to fade."

"The next thing he knew, he was in bed, like always. He attempted to get up, but the bonds restrained him. He clenched his hand in a tight fist, and as if he held a blade in his hand slashed at the bond on his body, which relieved him of any restraints. He got up and walked around freely. The dream was different, this time. Now, instead of it being simply the Dark Man and him, there were dozens of other figures who had the outline of a human, but had the red eyes of the Dark Man. They didn't feel particularly sinister, but they were all gathering around his bed. He shoved past them to see that they were looking at, to see his own body laying peacefully as if still at rest, or simply dead. The figures were attempting to crawl up on the bed, trying to touch and poke and prod at his body, but there was some sort of barrier keeping them from getting to their goal. Cassidy sensed it weakening though, and he didn't want to know what would happen if they got to it. He walked around, not feeling the same rush of terror he usually felt, until he got to his bathroom. He walked by the mirror, noticed something, and looked back."

"It was him. He was one of them, humanoid with those red eyes. He was one of those creatures, trying to get to his body. Then it hit him. He knew what they were. He knew what he was. And he knew that he couldn't get back until the barrier was down, and then he had only a small time frame to get it done. Cassidy grabbed up at the air as if there was a robe there, and began pulling himself up, until he went through the roof. He crawled up there, and then literally flew to the ground. If he didn't have business to take care of, he would have had a field day. The hissing sound entered his ear, and the sky flashed with red. The clouds were a darker shade, threatening to rain metallic tasting red drops. He didn't want that to happen."

"So he stretched out his arms, looked to the sky and shouted, 'You want me, Dark Man? I'm right here, ripe for the taking you bastard!'"

"There was a forest in the back of Cassidy's plot of land. With every flash of red sky, he could see a figure approaching, like the others but taller, more muscular, and bringing forth much more terror then the others. Cassidy could hear his feet, stomping quietly through the tall grass, until it reached Cassidy. He stood right in front of him, leaned in forward and got right in his face. He had no features, he was purely shadow, teeth and glowing red eyes. He breathed in Cassidy's face, and he could smell his damp, rank breath. He drew back a hand, and swiped it across Cassidy's chest, leaving three bleeding slices. It hurt, but Cassidy tried to conceal it. He leaned in and looked up straight into the Dark Man's eyes.

'You're my child now, young one. Embrace your father.'"

Aubrey got as far as there, and then he collapsed on the desk, falling into the arms of precious daddy rest.

"Hello, Amber." Aubrey said, smiling as he walked in the restaurant. "Sorry I'm late."

"That's just fine," She replied, with an equally meaningless smile. "Are you ready to sit down?"

Aubrey straightened his tie and dusted off his jacket. "I suppose."

"I'll take you to your seat." A young girl told the two, and she led them through the dining hall, menus in hand.

The girl led them to a rather nice table in the back of the restaurant, and they sat down and were handed their menus. The girl gave them a quick smile and wandered off into the midst of tables and people. Amber picked up her menu and peered at it, and began speaking without looking up.

"So, I'm guessing your next book is prepared?" She asked.

"Almost, I have an ending to write and it'll be finished."

"Well you better get done soon," She said dryly. "People are getting restless, they need another hit like The Devil's Playground or they'll be sunk. You better get it done quick."

Aubrey smiled nervously. He had never felt so... stiff and reserved around a girl before, he had felt so open, loose and joyous around Caroline. Here it seemed like joy was on another planet, the way she talked so nonchalantly. She spoke with near no emotion, besides that stuffy formal emotion you get around business partners. He felt uncomfortable, like he just had to keep any indication of happiness away from her or she'd snap.

The waiter came by soon enough, introduced himself and pulled out that tiny notepad that they write on. Amber spoke first.

"I'll take scotch. Leave the bottle." She looked over to Aubrey. "Are you a drinking man, Aubrey?"

"Umm…" He mumbled something incoherent.

"I'll take that as a yes. Please bring two cups, waiter." She commanded with a formal diction. He hustled off to take care of her command.

Amber was not anything short of beautiful, but her personality gave her a sort of quality that Aubrey just couldn't appreciate. He grew a small crush on her when he met her as his editor, but as time went by the stuffiness and formalities grew old. It quickly faded into oblivion, and their relationship remained strictly platonic.

The waiter brought by two cups and a bottle of scotch and left them on the table. Amber poured Aubrey and herself both a glass and she raised it, leaving it in midair for a moment before bringing it to her lips. "To the new book," She said in a voice that threatened some sort of, ANY sort of emotion. But she was good, and she didn't let it slip. "Let us hope that it may it be another best seller" And she brought the scotch to her lips, and drank it down in a single gulp. Aubrey nursed at his with nervousness making his hands and the cup shake slightly, sloshing the alcohol within the cup.

"No, no, no. That's not how you do it." Amber snapped. She put two of her fingers on the bottom of the cup and pushed it up towards his mouth; fighting back Aubrey's slight attempts at protest and making him gulp it all down. He choked for a moment, and cringed at the powerful taste. "Atta boy." She said, actually smiling. She poured herself another, and gulped it down in another gulp.

She had gone through half the bottle before she showed any signs of being tipsy. "I'm such a heavy weight when it comes down to my liquor," She boasted slurring her words a bit. "You haven't even touched your second glass." Aubrey lifted up the glass and cautiously took another sip, not wanting to take in too much for fear of that awful feeling again.

"There, are you about ready to go?" He asked her. She just grinned.

"Damn boy, you're in that much of a hurry? Finish your drink – I'm just about done." She drained the last little drop from the bottom of her glass, and Aubrey in hopes of getting home, gulped his down quickly and stood up.

"Let's go." He told her, and she walked up to him, hooked her arm in his and they walked out, with her leaning on him for support. When they got outside, he walked her over to her car. He reached down to open the car door for her, when she collapsed against him.

"My god, Amber are you alright?"

She giggled, and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I'm obviously a bit drunk. Will you drive me home?" She lay on his shoulder for a minute then lifted her head back up and added, "I'll have sex with yoooou..."

He steadied her and took a step back. "Of course Amber, I'll drive you home, um…" He scratched his head. "Free of charge." She staggered a couple steps his way.

"Nonsense," She told him, giving Aubrey a sultry smile. "I always believe in paying back my debts."

He stared at her for a second. Well, he could use it. It had been awhile since he had… you know, done the deed. He used to maybe have a one night stand ever couple of months, but it had been a long time, what with the depression, the nightmares, and then the sudden up rise in his writing career. He could certainly use a… biological release. He decided to let the celebrity in him take over for a night, which also happened to be his asshole side, and he led her to his car and they drove off.

The restaurant was fifteen minutes away from Aubrey's apartment, but he had no idea where Amber's home was. Once he got to the exit that formed the barrier between the city and suburbia, he turned to ask her where she lived, but she was fast asleep, snoring lightly. He smiled, and continued driving on to his apartment. They reached his place at about one thirty in the morning, and she was out cold. He unbuckled her seat belt, and picked her up wedding style and carried her to his apartment. She muttered incoherently in her sleep, which startled Aubrey the first time he heard it, but he just chuckled and went on, fumbling a bit with his keys at the door, and took her into his bedroom and laid her on his bed very gently, took off her heels and covered her up with his blankets.

"You are such a great guy, Aubrey." She mumbled. "Any girl would be lucky to have a guy like you, someone that doesn't take advantage of a girl when she's drunk." Then she sighed, turned on her side and went back to sleep. He smiled at her complement, went to his closet to pull out a pillow and some sheets and went to go sleep on his couch.

Sometimes being a celebrity didn't mean being an asshole, and Aubrey just wasn't that type of guy in the first place. On his way out of his room, he got a glance of his unfinished story.

"'Come embrace your father…'" The last line had said. He had to finish it; it was his job, his duty.

Ah, screw it, he thought. And he walked out of the room, and set up on the couch. He kicked off his shoes, snuggled under some red striped sheets, and fell asleep before too long.

And this time, he dreamt of better things. No nightmare for Aubrey tonight.

It had been, once again, three days Aubrey had gone without sleep. The nightmares had come back, and those didn't help anymore with his thought process. He worked long and hard, but eventually came up with an ending he felt really did justice to the story. It began with Cassidy, bringing his hands together to form an imaginary claymore…

"'Embrace your father,' The Dark Man said. Cassidy brought a palm over his fist, forming a dream claymore, and raised it high.

'Fuck you.' Cassidy snarled, and then brought down his dream claymore down on the Dark Man's shoulder. He cried out in pain, another white noise sounding thing, and flailed his claws, catching Cassidy's cheek. Cassidy paid no attention to his wound, and brought back down the sword across his chest. Black blood spurted from large slice, splattering on Cassidy's shadowy face. The Dark Man roared.

'How can you do this?'

Cassidy rose the sword high.

'It's real easy when you realize it's just a dream!" Then he swung the sword across The Dark Man's neck, cutting it straight off. The thunder grew louder, and the sky more frequently flashed. His last roar of anger and pain echoed through Cassidy's ears, and it connected with the roar of thunder, making it absolutely deafening, and Cassidy cried out, grabbing at his ears. Madness was falling along with the blood rain. It soaked Cassidy, sinking through his flesh into his heart and brain. He couldn't take it. He ran away to the door, but before he could reach it the Dark Man's children flew from the front of the house, closing in on Cassidy. Cassidy cringed and shouted, not able to do anything besides watch they surround him. To his left, there were there, to his right, in front and in back. He couldn't run, he couldn't hide. He only waits for them to attack. They closed in on him, and Cassidy opened a single eye just as they all raised their hooks, and slammed them down into his burning flesh.

Cassidy woke up with a jolt, his eyes squinting. It was brighter then usual. It wasn't until a bird tweeted in his ear that he was able to comprehend that he was outside.

No…

Cassidy patted down his body, and when he lifted his hand back up he saw that it was covered in blood. 'What? No…' He murmured. He jumped up, and looked down at his body. It was covered in blood, all streaming from over a dozen puncture marks. He gulped, barely able to swallow, and gasping uncontrollably, he screamed out to the heavens. 'NO!'

And his scream mingled with the ringing echo of The Dark Man's laugh throughout the skies."

There it was. About two hundred and ninety five pages of what Aubrey thought were only secondary inspiration… it would never be as good as The Devil's Playground, but it isn't often you can create a best selling sequel to literary genius. He could only cross his fingers and hope for the best.

He met Amber at a local coffee shop at around noon, on a Friday. Not the best day to hand over new work, he thought, but maybe someone would look over it over the weekend. Sure, and maybe Amber would forgive his not finishing. He walked in, ordered a black coffee from the cashier who looked like He-Man, and looked around for a seat.

"Aubrey, I'm over here!" Amber called from a window seat in the back of the shop. He sat down with his coffee and manuscript and smiled at her.

"Yeah, yeah, let's skip the pleasantries. You got the story?"

Aubrey sighed, and slid it over to her side of the table. "There you go."

"Thank you." And she gave him a large, fake smile. Aubrey mumbled another apology and raked his fingers through his hair. She pulled out the manuscript and flipped through it. And Aubrey looked up at her, and her large chest… he remembered her soft creamy skin, and how it felt to have her against him… he could have just said there staring, remembering, all day.

"Aubrey," Amber said, snapping her fingers. "Aubrey, I'm up here!"

Aubrey blinked at looked up at her eyes. They were so much less interesting then what was just a few inches below. "Yes- what?"

She smiled, seriously this time. "You had your chance, mister. Now you'll keep your eyes right here."

He nodded his head, slightly dazed. "Um-hmm…"

"Now drink your coffee, it's getting cold."

"Um-hmm…" He mumbled, his eyes tracking back down. Amber scoffed and stood up, leaving Aubrey to stare at a badly painted wall. He jumped up, shook his head, and smiled at her. She tsk-tsked and spoke again.

"It looks like it's all here. Your readers will be happy to get another book from you."

"I'll bet they will."

"Right, well I better go."

"Alright, talk to you later."

They shook hands; Amber's felt warm and sent a shudder down Aubrey's spine. She grabbed her coffee, and walked out of the coffee shop. Aubrey stood there, not really knowing what to do. He sat back down and sipped at his coffee. Amber was right; it was cold, and nasty. Aubrey sighed and pushed it to the side.

"Oh, my, god!" Came the excited, fan girl voice of a young woman. "Are you Aubrey Kasey?" Aubrey looked up to see her. She was a pretty girl, she had short black hair, bright red lipstick contrasting with her pale skin, and large plastic glasses which Aubrey sensed were simply for style then for actual need. He looked at her up and down; she was very… physically appealing. Aubrey's lips grew into a half smile; he cocked an eyebrow and held out his hand.

"Why yes, I am." He said a tone of arrogance to his voice. Hell, he was going to be a two time best seller; he deserved to be a little arrogant.

She squealed with girlish glee. "Oh my god, I've been dying to meet you! I love your writing so much! When are you publishing another book?"

"I actually just turned it into my editor just now."

Another scream of girlish delight. "That is amazing. I can't wait to read it." She looked at Aubrey for a moment in silence, then fingered the top button of her shirt until she got it unbuttoned. They caught eyes, and she brought her eyebrows up and down in a swift motion.

Aubrey got the drift.

"Say, would you like to come to my house for some tea?" He asked. She smiled.

"I would love that. I was just clocking out, I'll met you outside?"

"Sounds good."

So they met outside and went over to Aubrey's house, where they did everything besides drink tea.