Amongst Shadows and Stardust: The Chronicles of Joliyah Miller.

Chapter 2 | A Sizzle Before the Storm.

The early morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows as Joliyah stood at the stove, the sizzle of vegan bacon filling the air. Her mind wandered to the night before, a mix of passion and the lingering unease from her dreams. She heard Brysen's footsteps approaching and turned, offering him a warm smile.

"Good morning, beautiful, " Brysen said, wrapping his arms around her waist and planting a soft kiss on her neck."Last night was incredible. How did you sleep after?"

Joliyah leaned into his embrace, savoring the moment. "I slept okay," she replied, her voice tinged with hesitation. "The dreams came back, though."

Brysen's brow furrowed with concern."The one with the Infinity Stone again?" he asked, his interest piqued. "I've been thinking about that. What do you think it means?"

Joliyah shrugged, turning back to the stove."I wish I knew. It feels important, but I can't figure out why. Especially with this man who is only referred to as HIM in my dreams that I'm apparently willing to die for."

As they sat down to breakfast, Joliyah changed the subject."Don't forget, we have the wedding cake tasting this Saturday. You'll be there, right?"

Brysen's face lit up."Wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't wait to make you Mrs. Harrison."

Joliyah smiled, but her mind was already racing ahead to her day. She had a poetry workshop to prepare for, one of her many entrepreneurial ventures. Despite her challenging past in the foster care system, Joliyah had built a successful life for herself. Her poetry workshops, skincare line, and fashion business were all thriving, a testament to her resilience and ambition.

As Brysen prepared to leave for his JueDrip meeting, Joliyah fell silent, her thoughts turning to her sister Naliah. The upcoming surgery to remove the papillary thyroid
cancerous cysts weighed heavily on her mind. They hadn't seen each other in person for six years, but their bond remained unbreakable.

"Bry," Joliyah said softly,"I've been thinking. I want to move back to Luminara to be with Naliah during her recovery."

Brysen's shoulders tensed visibly. "Jojo, we've talked about this. Are you sure that's the best idea? You left that life behind for a reason."

Joliyah's eyes flashed with determination. "She's my sister, Brysen. We've been through everything together. I need to be there for her."

Brysen sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, baby. I just... I worry about you going back there. Your adoptive mother-"

"This isn't about her," Joliyah interrupted. "It's about Naliah. She's in medical school, fighting cancerous cysts, and I need to be there. You know how close we are."

Brysen nodded, his reluctance clear but his love for Joliyah winning out. "Okay, JoJo. If this is what you need to do, I'm with you. Always."

As Brysen left for his meeting, Joliyah's mind raced with plans. The move to Luminara, AL would be challenging, especially given their history there and the fact they had established and adapted to a new life here in New Orleans, LA. Memories of their adoptive mother's conditional love and the struggle to feel accepted flooded back. But Naliah needed her, and that was all that mattered.

Joliyah busied herself preparing for her poetry workshop, grateful for the distraction. As she organized her materials, she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride in how far she'd come.

Yet, beneath it all, a current of unease persisted. The dreams of the green-eyed man who questioned her about a infinity stone, the impending move to Luminara, Brysen's reluctance - it all swirled together in a complex tapestry of emotions. Joliyah took a deep breath, centering herself. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she would face them with the same determination that had brought her this far.

As she picked up her phone to text Naliah their daily check-in, Joliyah smiled. Soon, she'd be there in person, supporting her sister through her recovery. The road ahead might be uncertain, but with Naliah by her side and Brysen's love supporting her, Joliyah felt ready to face whatever came next.

Meanwhile....

Salim Graywood sat at his desk, the soft glow of the lamp illuminating the detailed sketch of Joliyah's face. His fingers moved deftly across the paper, capturing the curve of her cheek, the sparkle in her eyes that had haunted his dreams for years. The royal blue walls of his loft condo seemed to pulse with the intensity of his focus.

He leaned back, studying the drawing. It was perfect, just like every other sketch he'd done of her. Salim ran a hand over his face, feeling the stubble beneath his fingers. "What are you doing to me, Joliyah?" he muttered.

The dreams had started not long after she'd left Luminara. At first, he'd dismissed them as nothing more than fleeting memories of the girl who'd always kept her distance. But as the years passed, the dreams intensified, becoming more vivid, more real. Now, at 26, Salim found himself obsessed with a woman he barely knew.

He stood, his muscular frame casting a long shadow across the room. In the mirror, he saw what everyone else saw - a powerful man, covered in tattoos, with eyes that could melt hearts or strike fear, depending on his mood. But lately, when he looked at his reflection, all he saw was confusion.

Salim carefully placed the drawing in the black lockbox he kept under his bed. It joined dozens of others, each a testament to his inexplicable connection to Joliyah. As he closed the lid, he felt the familiar sense of peace wash over him. It was a feeling so at odds with the chaos of his daily life that it both comforted and unsettled him.

His phone rang, breaking the silence. Draven's name flashed on the screen.

"Did you find him?" Salim answered, his voice instantly shifting to that of the street boss.

"We got him. He's ready for you," Draven replied.

"Good. Hold him there. I'm on my way." Salim responded.

As Salim prepared to leave, donning his all-black leather outfit, he caught sight of the lockbox. For a moment, he hesitated, torn between the man he was and the man these dreams made him feel he could be.

But the moment passed. He had responsibilities, a legacy to uphold. Dreams of Joliyah, no matter how powerful, had no place in his world. Or so he told himself, even as a part of him yearned for something he couldn't quite name.

Salim stepped out into the night, pushing thoughts of Joliyah to the back of his mind. He had work to do, a reputation to maintain. Yet as he drove through the streets of Luminara, a small voice whispered that perhaps, just perhaps, these dreams were more than mere fantasy. They were a lifeline to a different future, one he hadn't dared to imagine before.

But for now, Salim Graywood, the feared and respected street boss, had business to attend to. The man who dreamed of Joliyah would have to wait.