Page 27 of Of Mercury and Mist

There was absolutely no movement in the room, not even the fireplace was lit. I had to wonder how often people dreamed of the same locations. Was this common? Dream recollection wasn’t something that usually featured in my life, so I had no idea if it was normal.

My feet hit the floor, and I went in search of shoes. If I was going to be blessed by being awake in a dream, I sure as heck was going to explore further.

There was a closet on the other side of the room, and out loud I said, “Please let there be shoes and a coat in there.” If it worked with monsters, it stood to reason it also would with something as simple as this.

When I opened the door, there were. My surprise was so great over my request being granted it was all I could do but stand there gaping a moment. Clothing hung from a pole suspended across the width and I flicked through gowns and a multitude of coats and other options.

It was as if the wardrobe were personalized to me, with all the dark colors, velvets, and lace. I found a pair of leather boots and slid my feet inside before grabbing a fur-collared, knee-length coat.

I would’ve loved to try on some of the other clothing but who knew when I’d wake up and this would all be torn away? A sense of urgency had me rushing through my motions, eager to drag out the dream as long as possible.

Really, being awake in a dream was the perfect solution for my impulsivity. I could do anything I wanted, without consequences. Live life without restrictions or barriers and just be as crazy as I wanted to be.

It was a dream come true.

I giggled out loud and headed for the door intent on going outside; all while trying to convince myself I didn’t want Micha to show up again.

What faced me wasn’t the moon-soaked expanse I’d envisioned but rather, the inside of a very large house. It looked old, but well-kept, all marble and dark-stained wood with molded ceilings. Two massive chandeliers covered with glass pendants swung from overhead, accompanied by matching wall sconces, evenly spaced along the walls.

It was nighttime, and many of the fixtures were lit, with waxy candles shedding a soft light. Descending the staircase in front of me, I took it all in, marveling at the view.

A set of double doors stood several feet away from the base of the stairs and I hurried to them. I turned the quartz knobs and opened them, before finally stepping outdoors.

There was a beautifully manicured lawn with white, night-blooming flowers and carefully trimmed shrubs and bushes. Multiple statues, molded into fantastical beasts such as dragons and griffins towered above the greenery, some with ivy scaling the marble icons. My eyes watered, stunned by the expansive beauty. The scene was so gorgeous it nearly took my breath away. The place was heaven. My heart ached, wishing it were real, wanting to keep it and stay forever.

To my utter amazement, there were two moons, just as I’d thought I saw the last time. A lightly tinted mist slowly dragged in front of the dual orbs, coloring everything in soft shades of orange, adding to the ambiance. Tentatively, I took a couple steps, not wanting to do anything to risk waking up and being torn away from the magical landscape.

A light breeze stirred my hair, and I moved forward, eyeing the edge of the forest. Everything was quiet and still, other than a gentle breeze. My concern over getting lost was low, since I knew I would wake up somewhere familiar, so I began to follow the path through the gardens, heading in the direction of the trees.

The forest closed around me and knotted roots littered the ground. Branches stirred above me before a trio of crows cawed, breaking the silence, to take off with a frantic beating of their wings. Pausing, I searched for any more movement. The house was now barely visible in the background, and I had to shake myself, remembering my body was safe in my bed, at home.

I loved a challenge and longed for excitement and adventure, but an unsettled feeling began to trickle into my consciousness. For some reason, this suddenly felt all too real.

Dismissing my concerns, I continued on, eyeing as much of my surroundings as I could under the low light. When I came to a fork in the path, I chose to head to the left. The scenery appeared lusher, more inviting, and seemed like it was choosing me, so I followed I’d felt led.

When I rounded a curve, a figure was standing in the center of the path, jarring me from my musing over the pretty landscape. Startled, my first instinct was to turn and head in the other direction to try and get somewhere safe. But for whatever reason, I didn’t.

Even though I knew I was unconscious, my steps remained careful, as I eyed the man. A woman alone in the woods at night was a great setup for a true crime documentary that I had no intention being a part of.

“What are you doing alone in the dark? Where’s your Keeper?” The man demanded. He was in my personal space before I saw him move.

A rock rolled under my boot, and he quickly gripped my elbow, keeping me from falling. He was wearing a long coat with a hood, and his white-blond hair spilled forward from the movement to steady me. He looked like something out of a storybook.

“Keeper? I’m just taking a walk.” I pulled my arm back. “Thank you for the assist.”

He lowered his head covering, revealing a narrow face with prominent cheekbones and deep brown eyes. He was handsome, and looked strong, judging what I could make of his build beneath the cloak.

“May I walk with you?”

The request gave me pause for a moment, considering the direction my dream was trying to take. I’d been intent on perusing the area on my own, not thinking I’d have a tour guide. “Sure. Do you want to tell me a little about this place?”

He held his arm out for me to hold and for lack of anything better to do, I took it. What harm could it do? This could get more interesting than I expected, and I wanted to hear what he had to say.

“I will do that,” he replied, peering down and examining me. He seemed pleased with what he found, judging from the softening of his gaze, and we started down the path.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Samuel. And you are?”

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