Luxiana SommerisA week had passed since the day Todd borrowed a book about incubi and succubi, and I couldn’t help but be curious about what happened to him after all that time had passed.Each time the delicate chime of the wind bells at the entrance broke the stillness, my eyes instinctively darted toward the door, my heart lifting slightly with hope—only to sink back when it wasn’t that guy.There’s a part of me that wants to know how he was doing, whether he had delved into the enigmatic world of succubi, or even, perhaps, accepted one into his life. Did he manage to learn more about their kind? Was he disappointed, or scared? He is experiencing the same thing I have in my dreams at night. It’s rare for me to have someone that close, which is why I can’t stay put. I glanced at the door again when I heard it open, but it was not him again.“Who are you waiting for?”I jumped at Margaret’s voice. She had appeared at my desk with her usual energy, startling me out of my thoughts.
Luxiana SommerisI couldn’t shake Todd and Clarisse from my thoughts when I got home. Their presence lingered in my mind, consuming my attention as though they owed me some unspoken debt. It was odd, this relentless pull I felt toward them, but I couldn’t deny it. I just wanted to help. I wanted to see them at peace, to watch their troubles dissolve, because deep down, I was convinced that whatever had transpired between them was simply a colossal misunderstanding.I couldn’t help but wonder what Todd would do next. He had been so caught up in sharing his excitement, so eager to relive his experiences, that he didn’t realize the pain he’d inflicted on someone else. Words, once spoken, could never be taken back, and I knew that truth would weigh on him. Still, I clung to the hope that Clarisse might find it in herself to confront him, to speak her mind and hear his side of the story. Communication—is what everyone needs to mend a rift, or so I told myself. With a heavy sigh, I pushe
Luxiana SommerisWork had been exhausting, but I felt a quiet satisfaction at the end of the day. A steady stream of students and middle-aged readers had come to the library, eagerly searching for books to immerse themselves in.I’d always assumed that technology would take over even the simple joy of reading. With ebooks and online platforms offering instant access to stories—often for just a handful of coins—it seemed inevitable. Yet, seeing people choose the weight of a book in their hands, cherishing the earthy smell of its pages, and savoring the anticipation of flipping to the next chapter made me undeniably happy. It was as if these readers were keeping something sacred alive, and I was grateful for their quiet rebellion against the digital tide.Todd and Clarisse didn’t come by today, which was unusual. I could only hope they were working things out. I didn’t want to see their friendship end because of what had happened. They deserved to keep the bond they’d nurtured for so
Luxiana SommerisDamien’s words lingered in my mind, stirring thoughts I hadn’t considered before. I had never seen him so serious.The furrow of his brow and the sharp set of his jaw were as if he had transformed into someone I barely recognized. I didn’t even know he could make a face that carried such a heavyweight. like that“Don’t let your thoughts wander to anyone or anything connected to you when you sleep,” he said, his tone low but commanding. “Your powers are still wild, uncontrolled. If you’re not careful, you could put yourself at risk.”His words wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket, dense and inescapable. I tried to absorb what he was saying, to make sense of it, but the more I thought about it, the more muddled everything became. Deep down, I knew he was probably right, but I couldn’t help the lingering confusion that clouded my understanding.“Who would even come after me?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “And how much harm could they possibly inflict?”“Morpheus
Luxiana SommerisThe sound that escaped my lips seemed to ignite something primal within him, a spark that made his actions more deliberate, more fervent. His hands on my breast felt like a mix of warmth and electricity coursing through me, leaving a trail of sensations that made my breath hitch. His touch was a paradox of tenderness and intensity, his movements slow and careful as his fingers brushed against my chest. Yet, with every small sound I involuntarily made—a gasp, a quiet whimper—his pace would shift, his touch growing more confident as if he were searching for the music my body made and craving to hear it over and over again.Damien’s lips never left mine, a connection so consuming that I couldn’t imagine wanting it to end. He did touch me before, but I don’t know why this feels so different.Each kiss was a confession, an unspoken promise that burned through me, making my skin feel alive in ways I’d never experienced before. The pleasure he gave me was raw and consumin
Luxiana Sommeris“Okay, let me get this straight,” Anton said after he sipped his coffee. “You're being visited by a demon—an incubus?”When we arrived at the coffee shop, we ordered our drinks and started talking. His almost calm look surprised me. Anton was looking at me as if trying to process the words I'd shared. It was a look that seemed hard to shake, and I could tell he had more questions racing through his mind than he knew how to ask.I nodded, my gaze steady before putting down my mug. “He's been visiting me for almost a month now.”Anton’s eyes widened, and he set his cup down a little too forcefully. “And you haven't... let him do anything? Aren’t you both suffering because of it?” His question caught me off guard, making me tilt my head in confusion.“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice uncertain. He didn’t seem shocked by what I’d said—perhaps more intrigued—but of course, I hadn't shared the more... intimate details of what Damien and I did in my dreams when he visit
Luxiana Sommeris“Oh, this?” Damien’s voice was nonchalant, but his battered appearance said otherwise. He sauntered toward me, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips despite the bruises marring his sharp features. “I had a little chat with some people in the faction. Let’s say their opinions didn’t sit well with me, so we ended up... settling things physically,” he added.His casual tone didn’t mask the fresh bruises scattered across his arms and neck, the deep hues of purples and blues stark against his pale skin. They were so vivid, so raw, that just looking at them sent a pang of discomfort straight to my chest. The sight made me uneasy—made me hate seeing him like this, though I couldn’t pinpoint why.I wanted to trust his explanation, to take his words at face value, but doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind. My earlier conversation with Anton replayed in my head, his words laced with unease. They had planted a seed of suspicion I couldn’t shake.Was Damien telling the truth?
Luxiana SommerisI couldn’t concentrate on what Damien was telling me about Morpheus. His words seemed to blur into the background as my thoughts fixated on the sensation of his hands against my back—broad, warm, and infinitely skilled in their movement.Those hands. They were good at everything they did, weren’t they? Was there anything Damien couldn’t excel at? The thought frustrated me, yet it was impossible to deny the ease with which he coaxed tension from my muscles. I wanted to tell him to stop, to end this torment of touch that both soothed and unsettled me, but the words never came. Instead, I remained still, hyperaware of the way his fingers worked their magic.As his hands slowly traveled downward, tracing the sides of my torso, I felt the faintest graze near the curve of my chest where my body pressed into the mattress of the bed.My breath hitched, and I bit my lower lip, startled by the wave of pleasure that coursed through me. Was it the warmth of the oil on his hand
Luxiana SommerisAfter the incubus delivered his cryptic message, he vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but unsettling silence. I stood there, rooted in place, unsure of how to process what he had said—unsure of what I was supposed to feel.“For some reason… I don’t want to continue this journey anymore,” Damien murmured with a bitter laugh that held no real amusement. His voice pulled my attention upward, and I found him looking off into the distance, his expression tight with worry.“We don’t have that luxury, Damien,” I replied, my voice steady and resolute despite the turmoil churning inside me. “I have a responsibility to protect both the dream realm and the waking world. I’m the only one who can.”His eyes met mine then, dark and stormy with concern. “But going back there means risking your life,” he said, each word heavy with truth. “If Morpheus really wants you, he’ll find a way to take you. He’s done it before, and now… now he’s stronger, more prepared. You know that.”
Luxiana SommerisThe first light of morning filtered through the seams of the canvas tent, casting a soft golden glow that kissed the curves of our tangled bodies. I stirred first, my eyes fluttering open to the quiet rustling of leaves outside and the low hum of a world slowly waking up. The fire had long since died out, leaving behind the faint scent of smoke and warm skin from shared heat.I shifted slightly, muscles sore in the most satisfying way, and felt Damien’s arms instinctively tighten around me. He was still asleep, lashes resting gently on his cheeks. His hold was protective, possessive in a way that didn’t suffocate—but comforted, like a promise unspoken.I smiled faintly, running my fingers lightly down his back, tracing the fine lines of old scars and new warmth. His skin was hot beneath my touch, his heartbeat steady beneath my palm, grounding me in a reality that still felt like a dream.“You’re awake,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep, eyes still half-closed bu
Luxiana Sommeris“We’ll camp here for the night,” Damien announced after finding a dark cave nestled between two jagged cliffs, its mouth yawning like an endless void. Shadows curled inward, and the further I looked, the more it seemed to stretch forever, as if it led to another world entirely.I glanced around, half-expecting a bear to lumber out from the darkness. The sky beyond the cave was painted in soft shades of pink salmon, slowly fading into lavender as dusk settled. Tiny stars began to blink into view, scattered like diamonds across a deepening canvas.“You can use your power to make a fire,” Damien said, his voice steady as he turned toward the cave’s entrance. “I’ll go gather some firewood.”“No need,” I replied, lifting my hand. “I can summon both the fire and the wood right here. Just stay with me.” I snapped my fingers, and just like that, a gentle flame flickered to life, dancing warmly in the growing chill of evening. He was always right—it really was easier when I
Luxiana SommerisThe moment our eyes fluttered open, reality returned in a soft, quiet rush. The dreamscape faded into the background like mist at dawn, leaving only the stillness of the waking realm. I blinked slowly, grounding myself in my room's familiar surroundings—dimly lit, the air cool and still, and humming faintly with energy. The protective sigils embedded in the walls shimmered for a brief second, reacting to our presence before settling once more into silence.“I’m really back in the waking realm,” Damien muttered under his breath, taking a cautious step forward. His eyes roamed over every corner of the room, calculating and observant. “Whoa… This place has a very distinct kind of barrier. It's not just protective—it's layered. Personalized. Was this your doing?”I nodded, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. There was something oddly satisfying in hearing him notice the effort I had put into securing my space. “Yes, I set it up myself,” I replied, my tone lig
Luxiana SommerisOne of the Dream Walkers disintegrated on the spot, its form unraveling like strands of shadow torn from the edges of a nightmare. The others lunged forward, clawing at the space between us with silent screams, their mouths gaping in distorted fury.I barely dodged in time—one claw scraped across my shoulder, a sudden, searing sting that made the vision in my right eye blur and flicker. But I didn’t hesitate. I countered with another incantation, this one more intricate and delicate, like tracing a sigil into the very air with trembling fingers and unshaken will.The second Walker halted, frozen mid-motion, trapped in a loop of its own making. It began to unravel from within, consumed by the very nightmare it had once fed upon. Its form collapsed inward, swallowed by an echo of its creation.But the last one came faster and smarter.It didn’t strike with claws or fangs. Instead, it reached for my mind, dragging me into a conjured illusion so vivid it felt like reali
Luxiana Sommeris“I have to allow them to do things to him,” Lilith said, her voice quiet but steady, as if trying to cushion the blow about to land. “It’s part of my duty, as queen of this faction.”“But… I thought it was because he crossed into the waking realm that they came to us,” I murmured, the fragments of understanding inside my mind colliding, sharp and disjointed, refusing to fall into place.“That’s part of it,” she acknowledged with a faint nod, her gaze unreadable. “But the truth is—they’ve been watching him for quite some time now. Watching both of you.” She paused then, as if weighing her next words with great care. When she spoke again, each syllable dropped like a stone. “Someday, you two will have to part. Do you think you’ll be able to accept that?”We... have to?The question lodged in my chest like a thorn, buried deep and aching, unmoving. I parted my lips, trying to form words, trying to respond, but nothing came out. My voice had abandoned me.I couldn’t say
Luxiana SommerisThe wind outside had begun to howl, curling against the windows in long, eerie sighs, as though the very air sensed what was coming. It whispered secrets I wasn’t ready to hear, murmuring truths only the night could carry.The remnants of my dream clung to me like a second skin—cold, damp, and far too real. No warmth in the waking world could chase away the chill it left behind. Damien stood quietly at the edge of the room, his broad shoulders tense, his jaw tight. He didn’t have to say anything for me to know he felt it too—that strange pull in the atmosphere, the subtle shift that warned of danger ahead.“You’re sure about this?” he asked again, his voice a low rumble, edged with dread.“I have to be,” I murmured, fingers tightening around the heavy cloak wrapped around my shoulders. It was more for comfort than protection. “No one else can do this.”“She wants me for a reason,” I continued, moistening my lower lip with the edge of my tongue. “I’ll use that. I’ll u
Luxiana Sommeris“W-What happened to you?” I asked, my voice trembling as my eyes scanned him from head to toe. Something about him seemed… incomplete—like pieces were missing, pieces that shouldn't be.Damien caught the way I stared and tried to lighten the atmosphere between us. “Oh, this?” he said casually, gesturing to his arm or what remained of it. “I lost an arm… and a few fingers. But don’t worry, I’m working on growing them back.”“W-What?” I stammered, struggling to wrap my head around his words. “Why would you—was it because you went to the waking realm?” My voice dropped as I slowly began to walk toward him, heart pounding.My teeth sank into my bottom lip as I took in the rest of him. His fingers—some of them were gone. And his limbs… it was like they had only just begun to regenerate, raw and unfinished. My chest ached, and before I knew it, hot tears were streaming down my face without warning or permission.He didn’t say a word. Instead, he stepped forward and pulled
Luxiana SommerisI didn’t go home. Not until Elijah opened his eyes. Something was unsettling about watching someone lie unconscious in a hospital bed—so still, so silent, the steady beeping of machines the only confirmation that life still lingered within them. I stayed by his side, curled into the stiff hospital chair, watching the way his chest rose and fell. I listened to the sterile hum of the fluorescent lights and counted the cracks on the tiled ceiling just to keep myself grounded. I refused to leave. I refused to let him wake up alone.When he finally did, it was slow—his eyes fluttering open like he wasn’t sure if the nightmare had truly ended. And when his gaze landed on me, the dam broke. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks as he reached for me like a drowning man catching hold of a lifeline.“You brought me back,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and shaky. “I was trapped… and it was your voice, your presence… that pulled me out. I came back because of y