ã€ŠDream Worldã€‹ Dream World Chapter 1 Date: August / 25^th/ 2021 Location: Loch Haven, N.C. Time: 9:15 p.m. The night feels exceptionally cool for an early August evening. A gentle breeze blows the orchids lined up along the small deck as Iris pulls back the drapes and peers out the window. She sees the full moons'' glowing light shining down on the deserted beach calling to her almost like a beacon. She quickly grabs her light blue nylon jacket and heads out the back door. Every night for the past two weeks someone has been calling to her, but every time she takes a walk along the beach she is always alone. The voice that calls to her while she sleeps is still fresh in her mind. An image of a man vaguely touches at the corner of her mind. She has to force her mind to dig deep to draw his features to the surface. ¡®Soon Iris, we will meet¡¯. She spends an hour each evening on the beach hoping to encounter the one whose deep, rich, and hypnotic voice comes to her only in her dreams. Before stepping inside, Iris gazes up at the shimmering bed of stars. Back in the house, in the warmth of her bed, she dreams of the one that will someday come to her¡. How would one describe this man? Well, if he were a coffee flavor one could call him, ''A Cup of Desire'', with his piercing green eyes, short, dark, wavy hair, and muscles that could have been chiseled from stone. He is always dressed in the finest clothing from a time period Iris doesn¡¯t recognize. He never speaks to her directly, only gazes into her eyes and she hears him as if their minds are linked. His voice is soft but deep. You could almost describe it as a feeling of being caressed. The dream is always the same with the exception that she remembers bits and pieces of what he tells her each time. Iris has come to think of her dreams as a puzzle that she needs to finish to win the ultimate prize.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As Iris rouses from sleep the next morning, she catches herself smiling and a little flushed from her dream. She hesitates a little before climbing out of bed even though she knows that work is calling. If only she could go back to the dream. At work, she stares at the computer screen as her mind drifts back to the stranger in her dreams. ¡®Who is this stranger haunting her dreams? What does he want?¡¯ She wonders. ¡®Is he even real?¡¯ These thoughts occupy her mind throughout the day. Back at home after dinner, Iris sets out for her routine walk along the deserted beach. As she steps out onto the deck a strange feeling overwhelms her. The wind caresses her cheek softly as if a hand is touching it lovingly. ''This night is going to be different,'' she thinks to herself. ''I can feel it.'' To be Continued . . . . Chapter 2 ¡.. After walking for about fifteen minutes, the feeling of being watched suddenly overwhelms Iris. She is not alone. She becomes uneasy, feeling such unease she decides to head back towards the house. As she turns, out of the corner of her eye she sees a man sitting on a fallen tree trunk looking at her, watching her. He is only a few feet away. How had she not noticed him sitting there as she had passed only moments before? Iris wonders to herself. He seems so familiar, but Iris cannot place him in her memory. Only a few moments pass before the man stands and walks towards her. He only stops when he is an arm¡¯s length in front of her. Iris begins to see flashes of events and one thing comes to mind. This is the man from her dreams, but how could it be? Iris ponders this as she looks at the man with interest. Before she has a chance to utter a single word he takes her small hand gently in his and brings it to his lips. The man smiles as he begins to speak in the most alluring Scottish accent Iris has ever heard.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Forgive me if I startled ye. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Liam ¡ Liam O¡¯Connell.¡± Iris stands there mesmerized. Looking at this man with the most alluring green eyes and honey-coated voice not knowing what to say or do. Suddenly as if slapped out of a trance she realizes that he still holds her hand in his strong, but gentle grip. She reluctantly removes her hand as she finds her voice. ¡°I feel that I know you, but at the same time I have no clue who you are.¡± Liam looks away from Iris towards the water whipping at the edge of the shore only a few feet from where they stand. His eyes move back to hers. ¡°Iris, to tell ye the truth ye don¡¯t ken me. We have never met, only in your dreams. It is taking all of my energy and willpower to be here with ye at this moment. I don¡¯t have much time. I need your help. Ye are the only one who can help me now. Pay attention to your dreams.¡± Slowly he begins to fade before her eyes ¡. ¡°Liam? ¡. Liam!¡± Iris looks frantically around the spot where Liam had just stood moments before. It is as if he had never been there at all. The sand is untouched. Not knowing what to do or make of this Iris turns and heads back to the house. As she turns to lock the door behind her she takes one last look out the bay window. A strong urge to sleep suddenly overwhelms her and she heads to her bedroom and falls instantly asleep. To be continued . . . . . . . Chapter 3 ¡.. ¡°Iris, take my hand.¡± As she places her hand in Liam¡¯s they are transported to a place unknown to her. As she takes in her new surroundings she notices that the walls are made of heavy grey stone and the room they now stand in is large with tall ceilings, narrow vertical windows, and scarce of any furnishings except for a mahogany desk of great size compared to desks of today. It is situated in the corner. There are a couple of wooden chairs next to an open fireplace. A cold breeze blows past Iris from the open window that Liam now stands in front of. His broad muscular back turned to her. She waits several minutes before speaking. ¡°Where are we, Liam?¡± Without speaking he motions for her to join him. Iris slowly walks towards the window and takes a place next to him. As she approaches, something outside the window catches her eye. With great effort, Iris draws her eyes from him and looks out the window. She sees the most breathtaking view she has ever seen. Rolling hills of emerald green, trees in abundance as far as the eye can see in one direction, and the rolling surf of the Atlantic hitting the shore just below in the other. She can smell the salty air mixed with the wildflowers that bloom just outside the Castle walls. The air smells so clean and pure that it is almost intoxicating. The only thing that stands out and doesn¡¯t blend in with the surroundings is this strange thing that appears to be some kind of portal of swirling colors of light. It looks as if a rainbow has been caught up in a vortex. Iris doesn¡¯t like the feeling she gets from it, but she also finds it hard to pull her gaze away.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Do you see that?¡± asks Liam." "I do, but what is it? I have never seen anything like it.¡± "I created it to allow me to transfer my energy, but not my physical form from one place to another for a short time. It even allows me to enter dreams, as you have seen already. My first try was when I came to you on the beach at your home." ¡°But you ¡ touched my hand?¡± Iris¡¯s reply is more of a question than an observation. ¡°Yes, and I used most of my energy to make that tiny gesture. I wanted you to see me as a real human being and not just a dream or vision. You are very important Iris." Iris finally draws her eyes away from the portal of swirling color and looks at Liam and sees the worry in his emerald green eyes as he looks down at her. Worry for her... she can feel it emanating off of him, but why? She searches his eyes for answers but finds none. Questions bombard her mind, but she feels unsure if he would even answer any of them. They stand in silence a moment before she speaks. ¡°Why are you coming to me in my dreams and not in person Liam? Why did you choose me?¡± ¡°In due time Iris. I will answer all of your questions, but for now, I need you to rest and be careful. I will come to you again in a few days. Now sleep ¡¡"