Amongst Shadows and Stardust: The Chronicles of Joliyah Miller.

Chapter 1 | Shadowy Encounter.

Joliyah jolted upright, her heart racing like a wild animal. Sweat-soaked sheets clung to her skin as the stench of rust and decay lingered, a phantom scent from the dream. Those chains, etched with the symbol 1/∞, still seemed to bind her, a constant in the shifting landscape of her nightmares.

At 25, Joliyah knew her own resilience. Petite but fiery, her brown caramel skin glowed with an inner light, her brown eyes holding a world of emotion. Her wild brown, curly Afro framed a face of delicate beauty, yet it was the determination in her gaze that defined her. But it was her dreams that had become her defining feature.

Night after night, she was transported to a forsaken warehouse, a place of danger and magic. The green-eyed man loomed over her, his questions echoing - Where was the Infinity Stone? Yet with each blow, her resolve hardened. She'd never betray him, never yield. And then, the shift. The sound of gunfire, the screams of men, and his voice...he was coming for her.

But every time, the dream ended there, a cliffhanger that left her gasping. Who was he, this savior she'd die to protect? His face remained a mystery, yet a part of her yearned for him as if he were real. As if she'd known him in a life before this one.

Joliyah was a poet, a woman of words and reason. She had no space for magic or fairy tales. Yet the visions persisted, bleeding into her waking life. The symbol, the warehouse, the man... shards of a mirror reflecting a life unknown. It was as if a part of her slumbered, waiting to be unleashed.

With a growl of frustration, Joliyah threw off the cover. Her skin gleamed in the moonlight, her fists clenched as if ready for battle. The dreams were a riddle, and she was determined to be the answer. But as she stood there, a flicker of movement caught her eye. A shadow, tall and imposing, stood just beyond the reach of the moonlight. Her heart stuttered, then raced on. Was this real, or just another vision? And as she took a step forward, the shadow mirrored her, neither advancing or retreating. A sense of curiosity and fear washed over her as she realized that the dreams she had begun experiencing for several months now were only the beginning.

Brysen, Joliyah's fiance stirred in bed, his eyes fluttering open as he sensed Joliyah's absence beside him. He sat up, his muscular form silhouetted in the dim light. His caramel brown skin seemed to glow as he stood, the moonlight caressing his chiseled physique. At 6'1", he cut an impressive figure, his body a testament to dedication and hard work.

As he approached Joliyah by the window, the light fell across the intricate tattoos adorning the left side of his neck. At 27, Brysen exuded a quiet confidence, a perfect blend of gentlemanly charm and an alluring air of mystery.

"Another bad dream, baby?" he asked, his deep voice laced with concern. He wrapped his strong arms around Joliyah's waist, pulling her petite form against his rock-hard abs. Gently, he placed soft kisses along both sides of her neck and shoulders, his lips warm against her skin.

Joliyah turned to him, her sheer silk nightgown flowing down her petite frame. She gazed into his dark brown eyes with a mixture of relief and concern. 'Yes,' she said, her voice trembling slightly. 'I saw a shadow outside the window. It was tall and imposing, and it just stood there, watching me and it was still there.' Brysen's breath caught in his throat. Even after six years, her beauty still stunned him. "Damn, she's so fucking stunning even without makeup," he thought, momentarily distracted by her radiance before refocusing his thoughts.

Brysen's jaw tightened. 'I'm here, baby,' he said, his voice reassuring. 'I won't let anything happen to you.'

Together, they watched the shadow for a few more minutes, but it remained motionless. Finally, Joliyah shivered and turned away from the window.