Matthew’s feathers bristled as he sensed a shift in the air. The flickering candlelight wavered unnaturally, casting distorted shadows against the walls. He turned his sharp eyes toward the edges of the barrier Constantine had set. The dark shapes pressing against it had grown bolder, shifting and writhing like living things.“Oh, hell,” Matthew muttered, hopping from his perch and flapping his wings in alarm. Constantine stirred at the noise, opening her eyes groggily. “What now?” she rasped, rubbing her temple.“The shadows,” Matthew said quickly. “They’re not just lurking anymore—they’re trying to break in.”Constantine shot upright, eyes immediately darting toward the perimeter of the barrier. The shadows clawed and pushed, their darkness seething, pressing harder against the magical boundary as if testing its strength. “Bloody fantastic,” she muttered, grabbing a charm from her pocket. She tightened her grip around it and started murmuring a chant under her breath, but Matthew

Constantine sat cross-legged on the floor of the Dreaming’s quiet library, her fingers lightly resting on her knees, her mind racing as the soft glow of the Rune pulsed faintly on her wrist. The room was still, save for the occasional rustle of parchment as Lucien moved about, gathering old texts that could help with the situation. Lucien stood nearby, watching her closely, her eyes full of concern, but also a deep understanding. “Constantine,” she said gently, her voice carrying across the stillness. “You must try. Meditate with the Rune, try to stabilize it. Let it become a part of you again, but this time with control.”Constantine, still weary from the constant battle of containing the emptiness, glanced at Lucien. “I’ve tried before, Lucien. This thing is more than I can handle.” Her voice was heavy with frustration, a raw edge that was hard to miss.Lucien nodded, taking a slow breath. “I know. But now, you’re not alone. The Dreaming can offer support, as can Morpheus, even fro

Constantine's eyes met Morpheus's, her gaze firm despite the exhaustion that clung to her. She stood tall, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her voice. "Morpheus, I... I don’t think the Rune needs to be locked away in the Void permanently. It doesn’t have to be confined like that forever. But I can’t stay in the waking world all the time either. There needs to be balance.”Morpheus tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable as always, but his dark eyes showed a hint of curiosity. "Explain, Constantine. You suggest the Rune does not belong in the Void, but you also acknowledge the danger of it being in the waking world."Constantine bit her lip, taking a deep breath before continuing. “The Rune is... a part of me now. And I’m part of it. I know it’s dangerous, but it doesn’t need to be sealed away completely. There are places where magic still thrives, where I can keep it safe. The Dreaming, for one. And with the right boundaries, I could visit the Dreaming when I n

Lucien stood in the library of the Dreaming, the soft glow of ancient lanterns casting flickering shadows on the shelves of timeless books. She had been perusing the tomes for hours, but her mind was elsewhere, focused on the delicate situation they now faced. Morpheus had his own battles to fight, with Constantine, the Rune, and the ever-present uncertainty of the balance between the waking world and the Dreaming. Yet there was something else stirring—a change in the waking world that none of them had anticipated. A change that involved Daniel, Morpheus' son. Lucien's brow furrowed as she picked up the enchanted crystal that had been lying on her desk for some time. It was a conduit for messages from the waking world. She didn't use it often, but when she did, it was for matters that required a level of discretion. She needed to speak with Matthew. The raven would be the perfect choice. He could blend into the waking world without raising suspicion, and his loyalty to Morpheus was

Matthew dug his claws into the wooden windowsill, trying to keep his nerves steady as he observed the bizarre spectacle unfolding in Daniel’s room. The air shimmered faintly around the boy’s sleeping form, a silent pulse of energy rippling outward from his unconscious mind. It was subtle—any ordinary person wouldn’t notice it—but to Matthew, it was as clear as day.The creatures Daniel was unknowingly bringing into existence drifted through the dimly lit bedroom. They weren’t shaped like any nightmare Matthew had ever seen before, nor did they resemble the dream constructs Morpheus created. These things were... different. Not quite solid, but not entirely formless either. They flickered, shifting between barely visible outlines and tangible figures as they moved.Matthew tilted his head, watching one particularly tall creature stretch its elongated fingers toward the bedside lamp. Its hand phased through the lampshade, and for a brief moment, the light dimmed as if reacting to its pre