Chapter 1

Dreams

A girl with tan skin and black wavy hair walked up to her and tried to poke her. She rolled her eyes but remained perfectly still.

As the elevator opened, a blond man in a suit walked out and greeted them both. "Good evening. I see that you met Miss Roxanne."

The woman eyed the blond and smirked.

"One strawberry ice cream for her, please." Roxanne said to the cashier. They sat at a small, round table. The chairs were metal and cold. There was a napkin dispenser with a menu attached sitting on the table.

"Stay close, okay? I don't like crowds." The woman gently held Talia by the shoulder, to make sure that she didn't get lost.

"Okay, my turn. I'm a bit rusty bit I should be able to do a decent score." She cracked her knuckles and put her tokens into the machine; once the balls arrived, she took one and winked at Talia.

"I think Owen will love this one." Roxanne chuckled, holding a white bunny plush in her hand. "He kinda reminds me of the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland."

"Weeeeellll...since I'm going to live and work here, I was wondering if maybe we could...know each other better." She gave him a toothy grin, getting closer to the desk and holding out the plush in front of him. "I won this for you at the arcade where I brought Talia."

Owen took the lop-eared rabbit and looked at it. He set it on his desk. "I suppose I could take a small break."

"I knew you would be a good match for her." Owen said.

"I thought you chose me for my beautiful personality." She chuckled.

"Perhaps I chose you for both." He smiled lightly.

Roxanne smiled back, but then became serious all of a sudden. "Promise me something."

"It depends on what you ask." Owen furrowed his brow.

"There will be times when I'll lose control. When I'll risk floating away from the land. Keep me grounded...be my anchor." She gently took his hands into hers.

…

Owen lightly squeezed her hand. "I'll be your anchor. And I'll remind as much you need me to."

"I know you own me nothing. I just work for Xanatos. But you seem an extremely reliable man, and there aren't many out there. You're a rare pearl." She kissed his hand delicately. "A beautiful, rare pearl..."

Her eyes had a shade of pink for a few moments, but it passed quickly. Owen's eyes widened. His cheeks were a light rose.

Roxanne rolled her eyes and picked Talia up like she weighed nothing, carrying her in her own room. She sat on the bed and held her, gently caressing her hair. "I'm sorry Talia. I'm so sorry..."

"Owen... Has anyone ever told you...what beautiful eyes you have?" She purred, straddling the man with natural grace. She caressed the blond's cheek softly.

"Roxanne?" He asked.

"A lovely shade of blue...the same one can see on a cold, winter day..." Her face got closer to his. "Kiss me."

Roxanne smiled and sat on the bed. He followed her lead. She loosened his tie. They kissed and laid in bed together.

"-maybe it's time take off our masks. No more lying." She then looked at him better. "...what are you, Owen?"

… He paused a minute before turning into another man. He had long white hair and wore an orange tunic with covered by a purple toga and dark leggings and boots.

"I'm Puck." He smiled.

"-Why are you even so attracted by- okay, no, I know why you are attracted by me, but...why? I'm a corpse. I'll never be able to give you children. I can't even stay with you during the day."

"-You think that I wouldn't make accommodations for my lover? There are other ways to have children." He reminded her.

Roxanne felt something warm on her tongue. It tasted like books, tea, and clean shirts. She drank greedily. A small voice in the back of her head told her to stop. That this was something important. She licked the wound. Her eyes opened.

Owen was above her. His blond hair was slightly askew and his eyes were refocusing on her. His clothes were wrinkled. Behind him was Talia. Her hair was longer than she remembered. Talia's ears were slightly pointed. She waved, fangs peeking out of her mouth. Owen smiled.

"Welcome back, Roxanne."