Luxiana SommerisDamien stepped back into my room, filling the quiet space as the door closed behind him. I was already lying in bed, my body draped beneath the soft blanket, though my mind was far from restful. My gaze followed his every move, a blend of anticipation and unease tightening my chest. He didn’t speak immediately, and I waited, holding onto the silence like a thread that might snap.“So, who was it?” I finally asked, my voice trembling just enough to betray my nerves. A part of me dreaded his answer—dreaded the possibility of half-truths or secrets he might choose to keep.“It was Lilith,” he murmured, his tone steady but low as if her name alone might summon her presence. He moved toward the edge of the bed and sat down, his weight dipping the mattress slightly. “She wanted to know how we were doing. Probably hoping to catch us... doing something she could twist into her narrative.”His words settled in the air like a thick mist, and I nodded slowly, chewing on my lip
Luxiana SommerisSurprisingly, Anton hadn’t bothered me, even when our paths crossed throughout the day. It was unusual, given his persistent nature, but I welcomed the quiet. Margaret, however, noticed my silence and bombarded me with questions. She asked repeatedly why I seemed so withdrawn, but I brushed her off with a shake of my head and refused to engage.By the time the clock struck the end of our shift, I was eager to escape the day’s tension. I left the office first, hoping to avoid any further interactions. Anton caught up to me just when I thought I was in the clear.“Xiana, can we go have that coffee now?” His voice was soft yet insistent, and he gently caught my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.I sighed deeply, turning to face him. “Anton, I’m not sure this is the best time,” I said, biting my lower lip. “I have some research to finish.”“But… could we, just this once, make time for it today?” he asked, his voice almost pleading. “I promise I won’t bother you after this.
Luxiana SommerisAs I got ready for bed, I couldn’t shake Anton’s confession from my mind. It clung to me like a shadow, but the thought of Damien pulled me in a different direction—one heavier and more complicated.Last night, we didn’t get to cuddle that much or I don’t know if we have reached his quota because of what happened.Will he explain to them that the walkers came to distract us? But I remember he told me he couldn’t tell that the walkers kept attacking my realm.It would raise suspicions, but I am sure…Lilith is someone he can’t fool again. I sighed, sinking into my bed and letting the day's exhaustion weigh me down. Closing my eyes, I willed myself into sleep, knowing I’d find myself in the dream realm soon enough.When I opened my eyes, the familiar glow of my dreamscape surrounded me, but something was missing. Damien wasn’t here.“I must be early,” I mumbled, pacing the room to calm my nerves. But as I moved toward the door, a flicker of movement caught my eye. Peeri
Luxiana SommerisWhen we returned to my room, a wave of nervousness settled over me. My heart raced as uncertainty crept in, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the Walkers might still be lingering. I glanced at Damien, hoping for reassurance but reluctant to voice my fears aloud. The thought of him dealing with more danger made my chest tighten.“No one’s here, stop worrying. They can’t stay long in this realm,” Damien said, his voice calm yet firm. His words eased the tension in my shoulders, and I let out a sigh of relief.“Can I stay long in this realm? Like never come back in the real realm?” I asked, curiosity lacing my tone as my gaze flicked to his.He turned to me, his stormy blue eyes serious. “You can, but it would take a toll on your body in the real world. Staying here too long will weaken you.”His warning made my stomach drop, but my concern shifted as I noticed his injuries again. His stance was steady, but I could see the strain in his movements, the cuts and bruis
Luxiana Sommeris“Do you have feelings for me, Xiana?” Damien’s voice broke the silence, low and deliberate, making it impossible to avoid his gaze any longer.I tried to steady my breathing, keeping my eyes on the ground. “Why would you think that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.I can’t let him know, not now. I am sure this is not the best time to tell him how I feel, I don’t want to lose him.He shrugged a casual gesture that didn’t match the intensity in his eyes. Before I could look away, he gently tilted my chin up so I couldn’t escape him.“Just curious,” he said softly, his thumb brushing against my jaw. “Do you have someone you’re interested in?”The question caught me off guard. I blinked at him, trying to process what he was asking. “Maybe,” I replied, forcing myself to keep my tone light, even playful.His hand fell away as he leaned back slightly, nodding as if my answer meant something he wasn’t ready to share.“More handsome than me?” he asked, a teasing smil
Luxiana SommerisI could feel his heat through the thin fabric, his teasing presence so close that it left me trembling again. The barrier of my underwear felt like the only thing tethering me to reality, keeping me from giving in completely to the ache building between us.He groaned softly, his grip on my hips tightening as his body stilled against mine. Moments later, I felt his release soaking through the fabric, warm and intimate in a way that made my heart race. He rested his forehead against mine, his breathing heavy but steady, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.“Damn, Xiana,” he said, his voice husky and low. “You’re driving me crazy. I can’t stop thinking about you.”His words lingered in the air, wrapping around me like an unspoken promise, a secret I hadn’t realized I wanted to hear. Did he mean every word he said to me, or was it just something to pull me closer?We lay side by side, skin against skin, the silence stretching between us. Naked and unguarded
Damien“She’s been gone for two nights. Two fucking nights!” I yelled, my voice ringing through Lilith’s throne room. The white flames on the torches lining the walls flared with my anger, casting jagged shadows across the black stone.“And you think that’s my problem?” Lilith replied lazily, not even bothering to look up from where she was filing her nails.“I’m trying to have a serious conversation here, Lilith,” I said, forcing myself to stay calm. “No human can go two days without sleep. Something’s wrong—something must’ve happened to her.”She finally paused, tilting her head like she was considering my words. “Relax. Maybe she got into some kind of accident or…” Lilith trailed off, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “Oh, right. If she so much as closed her eyes, you’d see her, wouldn’t you?”“That’s what makes it so strange!” I snapped, raking a hand through my hair. “Her dreamscape is normal—no interruptions, no signs of distress. But if she hasn’t slept in two days…” I traile
Luxiana SommerisI’d been locked here for days, but now I understood why Morpheus had wiped out our entire bloodline. He knew exactly how powerful Oneiromancers could be.I didn’t need Damien to explain it, and I didn’t need my grandmother’s journal to spell it out for me. Morpheus had made it obvious. He was afraid—terrified of what I could do. Why else would he keep me locked up and guard me himself? That fear was something I could use, but first, I had to figure out how.I leaned back against the cold, rough bars forcing myself to take slow breaths. My hands stung, raw, and bleeding from where I’d clawed at the bars earlier. I’d been so close to losing it, but somehow, I managed to stop myself from destroying the cage. Not that I could’ve, anyway.A few hours ago, I’d tried to use my powers, but they barely flickered to life. Weak. Pathetic. I didn’t have enough strength, and this place—the heavy air, the oppressive energy—was suffocating me. But I couldn’t give up. I had to get
Luxiana SommerisThe streets buzzed with life, a mixture of hurried footsteps, distant chatter, and the occasional car honk filling the air. The sun was warm against my skin, casting golden hues over the city buildings, making the windows glisten like scattered diamonds.Damien walked beside me unhurriedly, his fingers still loosely laced with mine. He didn’t seem overwhelmed by the liveliness of the city, but rather, fascinated by it. His gaze flickered from storefronts to passing pedestrians, his lips occasionally parting as if he wanted to ask something but decided against it.I watched him from the corner of my eye, curiosity gnawing at me. He looked at everything with quiet awe—that reminded me of how different we were.“What do you think about the city? Do you like it?” I finally asked, nudging him slightly with my shoulder.He hummed, a thoughtful sound. “It’s lively,” he admitted. “There’s a certain… warmth to it.”I let out a soft laugh before pulling him toward a street ve
Luxiana Sommeris“So, this is where you work?” Damien mused as we came to a stop outside the city library. His stormy blue eyes scanned the grand structure before us, his lips curving into an intrigued smile. “It’s huge.”I followed his gaze, taking in the towering stone building I had come to know so well. The carved pillars, the intricate arched windows, and the massive double doors leading inside stood proudly, a testament to the history within. The early morning light bathed the library in a golden hue, and a soft breeze rustled the trees lining the sidewalk, carrying the faint scent of old books and fresh ink.“Yeah, this is the city library,” I said, my voice laced with fondness. “We have one of the largest collections in the country—almost every book you could imagine.” I inhaled deeply, already able to picture the familiar rows of bookshelves, the worn wooden tables, and the quiet rustle of pages turning.Damien tilted his head slightly, amused. “You really love this place.”
Luxiana SommerisWhen I woke up the following day, my entire body ached in ways I had never experienced before. A deep soreness settled into my muscles, making even the simple act of shifting beneath the sheets feel challenging. It was as if every fiber of my being remembered Damien’s touch, his kisses, the way his hands had explored me so thoroughly that now, even the ghost of his touch made me shiver.I blinked a few times, my vision adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. A quiet, heavy stillness surrounded me, one that immediately told me something was missing. My eyes roamed the room, taking in the familiar details—the books stacked haphazardly on my nightstand, the thin trail of moonlight still lingering from the early hours of dawn, the faint imprint on the pillow beside me.But he was gone. A strange hollowness settled in my chest. I had known, logically, that he wouldn’t be able to stay forever. My power had limits, after all. No matter how bad
Luxiana SommerisThe first thing I felt was the cool caress of air against my skin, followed by the soft, familiar texture of sheets beneath my fingertips. My head was heavy, my limbs sluggish, as though I had been pulled from the depths of an ocean, weighed down by something unseen. My breath came slow, shallow, as the remnants of a dream clung to me like mist, refusing to let go.I forced my eyes open, my vision hazy before the world sharpened into focus. The dim glow of my bedside lamp bathed the room in warm light. My room. The waking world. I was back.For a fleeting moment, dread settled in my chest like a stone. Had I failed? Had I woken up alone, everything I had fought for slipping through my fingers like sand? My pulse pounded in my ears, an unbearable silence stretching between the seconds. But then, I heard breathing.Deep, steady, but it was not mine. My body went rigid. I turned my head, my heartbeat slamming against my ribs.And there he was. Damien lay beside me, his
Luxiana SommerisAfter our conversation, we spent what felt like hours wrapped in each other's arms, basking in the warmth of our bare skin pressed together, as if trying to memorize every inch of each other. Now, we lay entangled on the bed, fingers lazily intertwined, tracing invisible patterns against each other’s skin. It was a quiet, intimate moment, yet my mind refused to settle.Despite the lingering worries swirling inside me—the uncertainty of what lay ahead, the weight of everything we had been through—one thought anchored itself in my mind, unwavering and insistent. It had been there for days, waiting for the right moment to surface. And now, with Damien beside me, his presence as tangible as the rise and fall of my breath, I finally allowed myself to give voice to it.I swallowed, pushing past the sudden tightness in my throat. “Damien?” I murmured, my voice softer than I intended.His gaze flickered to mine immediately, the deep crimson of his eyes glowing faintly in th
Luxiana SommerisThe next day at work, I was relieved that everything was peaceful. The steady rhythm of the library, the faint rustling of pages, and the quiet hum of the computers created a familiar sense of calm. There were no unexpected disruptions, no sudden chaos—just the usual serenity that made this place feel like a sanctuary.And yet, a lingering sense of disappointment tugged at me. I had hoped to see Damien in the realm last night, even if only for a brief moment. It wasn’t unusual for us to miss each other sometimes, but I couldn’t help feeling a little let down. He better make it up to me later.Shaking off my thoughts, I forced myself to focus on work. I had responsibilities here, and I wasn’t about to let my personal feelings distract me. I immersed myself in checking the book rental schedules, my eyes scanning the due dates and borrower names with precision.So engrossed was I in my task that I didn’t notice someone staring at me until I felt the weight of their ga
Luxiana SommerisWhen we finally stumbled upon a coffee shop, we stepped inside, relieved to find the warmth of the café embracing us. The air carried the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, mingling with the faint scent of vanilla and cinnamon. The place wasn’t crowded—hardly anyone was here, which wasn’t surprising considering it was nearly midnight.Soft, ambient music played in the background, a gentle piano melody that filled the otherwise quiet space. Dim yellow lights bathed the wooden tables in a golden glow, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere. A few customers sat scattered around, some engrossed in their laptops, others lost in their own world, sipping their drinks silently.Anton and I approached the counter, placing our orders. The barista, a tired-looking young woman with a ponytail, worked swiftly, her movements practiced as she poured steamed milk into a cup and drizzled caramel over the foam. Moments later, she handed me my caramel macchiato, its warmth seeping in
Luxiana SommerisWe placed our orders, choosing our drinks first before adding an assortment of savory pastries to the list. The café was warm, filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and buttery baked goods. The soft hum of conversation blended with the occasional clink of porcelain cups and the low whirr of the espresso machine.As we waited, I found myself watching Anton. There was something about him—an odd sense of detachment, as if he were present in body but not entirely in spirit. He smiled politely while speaking to Margaret, his voice even, his posture relaxed, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all a carefully crafted façade.He didn’t seem distressed by the situation—the fact that his new workplace was barely functioning without its employees, the fact that people had died. Or maybe, I considered, he was doing his best to cope, forcing normalcy upon himself to keep from unraveling.Margaret, on the other hand, didn’t seem to share his calm exterior
Luxiana SommerisI arrived at work that morning feeling surprisingly refreshed. The events of last night in the dream realm had been exhilarating—an experience so vivid and thrilling that I wanted to relive it over and over again.After grabbing a quick breakfast, I headed straight to the library, only to find a group of employees gathered in hushed murmurs around something. Their expressions ranged from shock to deep concern.Curious, I stepped closer. “What’s going on?” I asked, tilting my head as I tried to peek over their shoulders. “Did something happen?”One of the senior staff members, Sir Davis, turned to me with a grim expression. “Oh, Luxiana, you need to see this,” he said, handing me a tablet. “It’s about the company Anton transferred to. Most of their employees were found dead—victims of severe nightmares. The survivors have been hospitalized.”My breath caught in my throat. “What?” I gasped, “Is Anton okay?” Without waiting for an answer, I pushed my way forward to see f