Luxiana Sommeris“Looks like someone had a rough night,” came a familiar voice, cutting through the fog of my thoughts. Startled, I looked up to see Anton leaning casually against the counter, his arms crossed and a playful smirk tugging at his lips. His posture was relaxed, but a glint of curiosity in his eyes made it clear he was already forming his own conclusions about my disheveled state.“Good morning to you, Anton,” I said, smiling politely despite the unease within me.“Good morning—and let me guess,” he continued with a teasing lilt, “nothing too intimate happened, judging by that look on your face.”His words were lighthearted, his tone deliberately mischievous, but they hit closer to the truth than I cared to admit. For a moment, I stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or roll my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad,” I replied, organizing the books with deliberate care. “We talked, actually. It felt...like we were getting to know each other. He even asked me questions about myse
Luxiana SommerisDamien nodded thoughtfully, his expression uncharacteristically serious. “Dreams,” he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur, “are mirrors to the soul, reflecting the emotions that dominate both your conscious and subconscious mind.”“Humans rarely linger in one emotion for long, so whatever is strongest within you—fear, desire, sorrow, joy—that’s what the dream realm manifests,” he added.He stepped closer now, his presence casting a gentle shadow over me. His dark eyes locked with mine, and there was an intensity there, a quiet kind of wisdom that reminded me how little I truly understood about his world. “But you,” he continued, his voice softening, “are different. You walk the line between worlds. Your power gives you the ability to shape dreams and mold them into what they need to be. That’s a gift—but also a responsibility.”Damien paused, his gaze flickering to the book still in my hands. “You must be careful, Xiana,” he added, his tone carrying a quiet warn
Luxiana SommerisDamien and I couldn’t continue our conversation because, as soon as those words left his lips, he vanished into thin air, leaving me alone with my thoughts.I’m unsure why he disappeared so abruptly, and his sudden departure gnawed at my mind. I waited, hoping he might return, but before I knew it, the night faded, and the morning light woke me from my restless slumber. Questions swirled in my head—had something happened to him? Was he in danger? And then there were his words, cryptic and unsettling, echoing in my thoughts.What place was I supposed to envision in my dreams using my power? How was I supposed to channel something so abstract? The idea filled me with a nervous energy, teetering between doubt and determination. Could I really do something like this? Perhaps there was no harm in trying, but the weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on my shoulders.“Did he do something to you last night?”I nearly jumped at the voice that suddenly broke through my thoug
Luxiana Sommeris“Oh wow, this place is incredible, Xiana.” I heard Damien say, his voice unusually cheerful and almost sounded like he was in awe.It was a tone I wasn’t accustomed to hearing from him, one that felt oddly out of place but still welcome.I opened my eyes, blinking as the breathtaking scene before us unfolded. We stood at the mountain's peak, surrounded by a sea of towering trees that swayed gently in the cool breeze. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the faint, earthy scent of pine. But the view wasn’t the only thing that stole my breath away. Near the edge of the cliff, bathed in the warm, golden hues of the setting sun, was a picnic mat laid out with meticulous care. The sunlight danced across the horizon, its fiery glow painting the sky in amber, pink, and purple shades. The entire setting felt impossibly romantic like something pulled straight from the depths of a dream. For a moment, I couldn’t help but glance down at my hands, tracing the edges of my fin
Luxiana Sommeris“Earth to Luxiana!” Anton’s voice erupted in my ear, jolting me from my reverie. I blinked rapidly, my surroundings slowly coming into focus—the familiar walls of the office, the faint hum of computers, the scattered papers on my desk. Though I was at work, it felt like I’d been light-years away. Last night’s encounter with Damien lingered in my thoughts, stirring a sensation in the pit of my stomach that I couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it unsettled me all the same. Something about it gnawed at me, leaving me feeling unsteady as if the ground beneath my feet had shifted and I was the last to notice.I couldn’t believe I’d managed to get myself to work in one piece. My mind was a tangled web, every thread leading back to him. Damien. His name echoed in my thoughts like a haunting melody I couldn’t shake.“Xiana? Seriously, what’s going on? Did something bad happen?” Anton’s voice softened, his usual teasing laced with genuine concern.I tore my ga
Luxiana SommerisWe had dinner at this elegant restaurant Margaret had reserved for the occasion. Ten of us were seated around the long rectangular table, each person positioned in a way that made conversation both inviting and a bit daunting for someone like me.Most of the attendees were colleagues I rarely saw in person. Many of them worked from home, handling tasks like accounting and payroll, and visited the library only once or twice a week. One man, quiet and focused, was responsible for the technical side of library operations—a vital but often unseen role.Margaret had also invited our janitor and janitress, a thoughtful gesture to recognize their efforts. They were the ones who ensured that every morning, the library was spotless and welcoming for all of us. Their presence added warmth to the gathering, a reminder of how everyone’s contribution mattered, no matter their role.I knew their names—I'd heard them enough times to commit them to memory—but starting a conversatio
Luxiana Sommeris“Hey, Xiana! Are you okay? You almost fell!” Anton’s voice sliced through the lingering echoes of the vision that still held me captive, dragging me back to the present moment. The warmth of his hand, firm and steady against my waist, anchored me as if tethering me to reality itself.His eyes searched mine, worry etched into the subtle lines of his face. “Can you still walk properly?!” he asked, his voice rising in panic.I didn’t answer right away. My lips parted as if to speak, but the words felt heavy like they would betray me the moment they were spoken aloud. Instead, I let the pause stretch between us, long enough to watch his concern morph into confusion.“You miss her a lot,” I said finally, my voice barely more than a whisper, “But you can’t change or do anything anymore.”Anton froze, his brows drawing together in a knot of bewilderment and unease. “What are you talking about?” he asked.For a moment, I hesitated, still reeling from what I had seen in that
Luxiana SommerisDamien’s laugh pulled me out of my swirling thoughts, “Two glasses? Really? I can’t imagine. That must have been so embarrassing for you.”“Not really,” I replied, brushing off the comment with a small shrug. “But I did decline when Anton offered to take me home.” My words lingered for a moment before I sighed, a deep breath escaping as though it might lighten the weight on my chest. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake Anton from my mind. Something about the way he reacted earlier about what I said kept replaying in my head, like an itch I couldn’t quite reach.“Anton, huh?” Damien’s voice broke through again, his tone light but layered with something I couldn’t quite place. Was it amusement? Curiosity? Perhaps even mockery. “You two seem to be getting pretty close.”I shot him a look, mildly defensive, though I tried to keep my tone even. “Is there a problem with that? We’re working together on the upcoming library event, so we’ve been spending time toget
Luxiana SommerisAs I gathered my things, stuffing my notebook into my bag and adjusting the strap on my shoulder, my eyes flickered to my phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time. Still no response from Anton. A quiet sigh escaped my lips, my thumb hovering over our last conversation, debating whether to send another message when a gentle but sudden tap on my back made me jolt.I turned around, only to be met by Margaret’s knowing smirk. Her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyebrow quirked in playful curiosity.“So,” she began, her voice laced with amusement, “do you have any plans after work? Or are you just going home to daydream about your mysterious boyfriend?”I laughed, shaking my head as I tightened the strap of my bag. “Actually, I want to check up on Anton,” I admitted, my voice softer now. "He went to my house yesterday.”Margaret’s eyes widened dramatically, her mouth parting slightly as though I had just unveiled a long-kept, scandalous secret. Her fingers
Luxiana SommerisI bit the inside of my cheeks, struggling to suppress the laughter still bubbling inside me. But even as we messed around, as the air between us filled with lighthearted banter and the familiar pull of unspoken words, a weight settled deep in my chest.I knew. We both knew.Our time here—this fleeting moment in the waking world—was slipping through our fingers like grains of sand. Reality was calling, tugging insistently at the edges of consciousness, and no matter how much we laughed or tried to fill the air with nonsense and playful bickering, the inevitable truth remained: I would wake up soon without him by my side.For now, though, I let myself forget. I let myself savor the warmth of his touch, the way his fingers lingered just a second too long, like he memorized the feel of my skin beneath his. I let myself get lost in the mischievous gleam in his eyes, in the sound of his voice when he said my name, in the way he acted as if we had all the time in the world
Luxiana SommerisA lot has happened today. The weight of it pressed down on us, thick and unrelenting, even as we sought solace in the small comforts of routine. The warm water of the bath soothed aching muscles, yet my mind remained restless, submerged in the whirlpool of unspoken fears and unanswered questions.I should be thinking about them—the souls lost in their nightmares, the ones I could save if only I tried harder. But all I could think about was him.Damien.The thought of him made my chest tighten with something dangerously close to guilt. Not because I had done something wrong, but because I knew—deep down—that I was being selfish. My abilities weren’t meant for just one person. I could pull countless souls from the brink and bring light to those drowning in darkness.I had done so little for the people of this world. A few saved lives weren’t enough. Not when I had the power to do more. Not when I could be so much more. But how could I give pieces of myself away when,
Luxiana SommerisThe soft crunch of gravel beneath our shoes was the only sound accompanying us as we strolled back home, ice cream cones in hand. The air was warm, carrying the faint scent of rain from earlier in the afternoon, and I found myself humming a lighthearted tune, trying to shake off the remnants of our earlier conversation. The sweetness of the vanilla on my tongue was comforting, melting slowly as I licked at it absentmindedly. Damien walked beside me, quiet but present, the way he always was when he sensed I needed space to think.Just as I turned the corner leading to my house, I caught sight of someone sitting on the porch. The dim glow of the streetlight above barely illuminated their figure, but the familiarity of it made me pause.“Someone’s there…” Damien murmured beside me, his voice low, cautious. I squinted, my steps slowing. My heart gave a small, surprised lurch when I recognized the person. “Anton?” My voice came out barely above a whisper. My grip on my
Luxiana SommerisI trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. The words felt heavy, like they didn’t belong to me. How could I say them with a straight face? Lying to Margaret had been difficult enough, but spinning an entire backstory? That was something else entirely.Margaret wasn’t just my friend—she was my second mother after my grandmother died. She was the one who had taken care of me when grief had threatened to swallow me whole. The one who made sure I ate, who listened to my worries, who reminded me that I wasn’t alone in the world. I owed her honesty. I wanted to tell her the truth. But what truth could I possibly offer?That I met Damien in a dream? That he wasn’t just a man, but an incubus, a creature of the night who existed in the space between reality and slumber?No. That would only confuse her. It would sound absurd—impossible. I pressed my lips together, my fingers tightening around my cup.“Before we knew it, we started looking forward to speaking to each other
Luxiana SommerisThe moment we reached a safe place—a dimly lit café in a quiet alleyway—I finally let out the breath I had been holding. My heart still pounded in my chest, the encounter replaying in my mind like a feverish dream. I placed a cold bottle of water in front of Damien, watching as his hands trembled slightly when he reached for it. “So that was a grim reaper?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. For a grim reaper, he looks painfully normal.Damien ran a hand through his dark, tousled hair, frantically massaging his scalp as if trying to rub away the tension building inside him. His jaw was set tight, and a crease had formed between his brows, making him look more troubled than I had ever seen him before.“Yes,” he exhaled, gripping the bottle but making no move to drink from it. “As I told you, there are risks in bringing me here.”The weight of his words pressed against my chest, but before I could speak, he continued. “We can’t bring death into the waking worl
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