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Time passes too quickly. Every dance is shorter than the last. Every note is played a little quicker. One door gets closed only for another to open up. An endless cycle.
Memory after memory. Fight after fight. Always labeled as an odd child, always forced to travel an endless path.
The former had been asked three simple questions as per tradition. The latter hadn’t been given any kind of choice.
Everything was different. Everything was forever changing.
Most of the time, Black Swan was a ghost to the world, wandering from planet to planet as she pleased, most never remembering her. She could show up for important events here and there, she’d collect the most authentic memories and leave without any trace.
And compared to most Memory Keepers, her standards were not inhumanely high. With every place she visited there was at least one thing or one person who caught her attention. More times than not at least one person in every place she visited got to see her because she wanted to find out more. She was particularly curious about those who lacked profound memories. In Black Swan’s eyes, it only made them more interesting.
The solo companion in everyone's lives was meant to be their memories. Memories shaped everything.
Yet for a slim amount of people somehow they lacked the ability to recall what could not lie.
It could seem like a blessing to some having this ability to easily forget. If there was something one didn’t want to remember…well they’d probably already forgotten what it was anyway.
However, Acheron saw it as a curse. The more time advanced the more she forgot. The more she forgot the more she relied on her emotions or her sword. In some cases, powerful memories would get the opportunity to linger around in her mind for longer. But the fate was the same. She’d forget.
It was a useless ability, one she wished she could erase, one that could almost be compared to colors on a painting. At first the colors on the painting are vibrant, full of life and telling a story of their own. Then as time goes by, the colors fade out, the story becomes less and less clear. Occasionally, accidents can happen and a splash of intense color blurs everything else, perhaps even ruins it all. The painting is then changed forever. The faded colors have now completely disappeared. Only new ones can cover up the previous mistake. However, next to such an intense color everything looks pale in comparison. Nothing will ever be the same. Everything is doomed to become colorless. She is doomed to lose everything she holds dear to her.
Acheron poured the disinfectant all over her forearm. A deep wound had broken her skin…a wound that demanded tremendous care but would linger forever like so many of her battle scars that showcased her life story.
She’d handled so much worse in her life but still hissed at the freezing liquid hitting the open wound. She grinded her teeth together, dabbing away the excess disinfectant before she tried to wrap the wound with a bandage. It was a challenge since not only was she alone but everytime she pulled just a little too hard everything came undone. Yet, she needed it to be tight, she needed the bandage to last. Acheron moved her arm in circles assuring herself that the bandage wasn’t cutting any of her blood circulation off, it had happened once at least that’s what she thought…The bandage felt fine so she took care of her mess, before she dragged her feet out of the bathroom towards her room. She knelt before her suitcase and got rewarded with some lovely knee cracks, like twigs being snapped. It was expected of course, she was well aware of what caused her body to slowly but surely decay like a dying flower.
Against her own will Acheron was meant to show her face at a formal event tonight. She didn’t know much about the event except for the fact that it had something to do with dancing. She had no idea why she’d traveled so far but for some reason a dance called her name. And for some reason she answered. Arriving with nothing except the basics of the event: a date, time, address and a dress code.
Was she here for important reasons?
Or was it just to reminisce about something?
“It doesn’t really matter.” She mumbled to no one but herself.
For now all that mattered, her main priority, was to find an effective way to keep that wound of hers hidden. It was on her forearm yet none of the gloves she’d brought were long enough to fully hide it forcing her to either throw on a long sleeve or a jacket. She hated both ideas since it was boiling outside but again she was left without a choice.
She threw half of her clothes around her suitcase digging up the outfit she’d set aside for this particular event. She quickly changed into it before observing herself in the mirror. Everything was…acceptable, everything was according to the dress code. She was good to go if it wasn’t for that wound. It looked so out of place, it was too noticeable against her buttoned shirt, but she didn’t even have a long sleeve version. She’d started to believe she was unprepared when the only jacket she found was her usual flaming one. Acheron couldn’t even tie the button together properly without it wrinkling her shirt and it wasn’t exactly fitting perfectly around her shoulders like when she wore her favorite black camisole. The jacket in itself partially ruined the outfit, making everything look out of place as well as making Acheron beyond uncomfortable. She should just leave the wound out in the open but she wasn’t taking a risk of having to answer people's noisy questions. She couldn’t risk having to explain that . She’d much rather get stared down for wearing a jacket but she was used to it.
On the bright side, it wasn’t too thick of a jacket so maybe she wouldn’t die of heat.
Lights were shimmering everywhere, extravagant dance floors were prepared left, right and center with a few cameras ready to capture everything. An intense violin guided the ambiance of the room and there were certainly plenty of people gathered around. Some were at the bar, others watched performances, others were the performers.
Black Swan was none of the above. She was simply an attendee. She was relaxing by a table, leaning comfortably into her chair with one leg crossed over the other. Of course, she was here for memories so she let her eyes roam around freely. She noted those whom she thought would be worthy of a conversation later, those who may have memories worthy of being collected. The night was still young, there was no need to rush like some of the other memory keeps who had already gotten to work.
“Hi. Sorry?”
Someone interrupted her trail of thought and instantly Black Swan snapped her head back. She could recognize that sharp voice ages away but she hadn’t expected her of all people to be here. Wearing her usual white coat filled with purple flames, dressed in a suit that suited her marvelously, though the jacket hindered her curves and hid her muscles. She was likely hiding a few daggers around considering her sword wasn’t around. A rare instance and Black Swan wondered why…
Black Swan smiled casually, tilting her head to the side in anticipation.
“Have we met before?”
Ah, the usual tricky question, Black Swan thought to herself.
“Perhaps…” Black Swan started, recalling the boundaries they’d set for one another. “Why?”
“I feel like I’ve already met you…I feel something…” Although her voice rang with uncertainty, she didn’t shy away from staring Black Swan in the eyes. “Am I allowed to ask your name?”
“Of course. I’m Black Swan, a Memory Keeper.” That little hint alone should hopefully help her a little. “May I have the honor of knowing yours?”
It’s absolutely impossible for Black Swan to ever forget a single detail about that woman.
“Acheron.”
Black Swan let out a sweet ohh as if surprised. She downed her wine glass - that she’d barely touched until now - in one go before getting up. She wanted to indulge in the conversation but she knew shouldn’t…at least not yet.
“Well Acheron. I would love to chat with you,” Chat with the one who remembers. “but I must meet with others first.” Acheron needs time. “May we chat later? In about an hour or two?”
“Yes. Yes. Of- of course. I’m sorry for disturbing you.”
Acheron stubeled a few steps back, leaving way for Black Swan to pass her as Black Swan couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.
“You did nothing of that sort, sweetheart.”
Oh Black Swan could have sworn lightning flashed in Acheron’s eyes right then and there. She stayed put for exactly two seconds to see if Acheron would say anything or react but much to her demise, nothing happened. Acheron was the one who turned on her heels and left.
Acheron’s heart wanted to jump out of her chest but why?
“Black Swan…” She mumbled.
“Black Swan…” She whispered under her breath.
She knew the woman.
Was Black Swan the reason she was here tonight?
Of course, the one time she was brave enough to leave her sword well hidden in her room she found herself needing it.
She stopped herself in her tracks looking through her phone for the number of her hotel room.
Lesson learnt. Her sword was as dangerous as it was precious.
“Black Swan…”
She’d repeat it until-
If anything Black Swan was surprised that little white lie had worked so easy on Acheron. She’d expected the Acheron to at the very least ask where they’d meet up but not even.
Black Swan didn’t have anyone to go visit so instead she stopped by the bar for another drink. The last one wasn’t as grand as she expected and she needed something to distract herself even if she couldn’t get drunk.
She spotted a fellow lonely Memory Keeper sitting and probably lost in their thoughts. She walked over with her drink asking what they thought of the event.
“It’s not as entertaining as I’d expected.” A fellow admitted, gesturing for Black Swan to sit.
“Really?” She gladly took up the fellow Memory Keeper’s offer and sat down. “I’ve found that many people have a passion for dancing…”
Black Swan couldn’t possibly be referring to those present tonight. She hadn’t collected a single memory so far!
The fellow Memory Keeper scoffed. “The humans do not know the choreography, half are unable to keep up with the rhythm, others are constantly losing their footing. Where is the passion in being a fool?”
The humans were no fools, Black Swan thought to herself. Acheron wasn’t a fool for not knowing how to dance. She was no fool for having given herself the chance to try. If anything she was brave for being willing to learn such a delicate art in contrast to strong art like sword wielding.
Ah of course it was so easy Black Swan to get lost in her thoughts and think of her.
“But the other half who do know how to dance,” Black Swan started, bringing up her new wine glass to hide her smile. “they have an ability to tell a story with each step they take. Everything they do is calculated. From their song choice, to the first, all the way until the last step. Nothing is done accidentally.”
The fellow Memory Keeper rolled their eyes. “Those humans cannot bring interesting memories and that is the reason we are here.”
“Maybe. We dedicate ourselves to collecting memories…whilst others dedicate themselves to their crafts. Those who sacrifice themselves to an art, spend countless hours practicing and perfect it like you would with a sharp-” In the crowd Black Swan spotted her return. Her sword was back by her side and her eyes couldn’t stay focused on a single thing. Black Swan cleared her throat. “The time they spend is not in vain. Every instant they create new memories…”
“Such careless things are not worthy of collection.”
“Some may not be up to your standards but to them…” She’d noticed the moment Acheron spotted her, she noticed how her steps were suddenly hurrying and her Black Swan’s smile only grew. “their craft and those memories are everything.”
Acheron was standing before them now and Black Swan's smile could literally reach her ears.
“Sorry…” Acheron started with Both Black Swan and the fellow Memory Keeper watching her carefully. “I don’t know if you’re with another Memory Keeper or not but I need to talk to you, Black Swan.”
“I am-”
“Go.” The fellow Memory Keeper cut her off. Of course they were rolling their eyes.
“I agree that the memories are not up to my personal standards but they may be enough for Fuli.” She looked Acheron up and down but Acheron only had eyes for Black Swan. “Enjoy her, I have a duty to complete.”
Black Swan hummed in confirmation. She waved the fellow Memory Keeper away even if they didn’t pay mind to her - they never really liked Black Swan’s way of doing things.
She warned Acheron that they were alone once everyone else was out of ear reach. Without any hesitation Acheron grabbed Black Swan’s wrist, dragging her up from her seat and out of the room. The usual reaction even if it was a recipe for disaster to wander around endlessly. Black Swan stopped them in their tracks.
“Before we get lost. Tell me where do you want us to go?”
“I- I don’t know. I want us to talk. I remember you. We’ve had several interactions before, haven’t we?”
“Perhaps…yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me sooner.” Acheron demanded her voice in clear pain as if she’d been betrayed.
Black Swan let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know what you remember but I promised you when we met, if you didn’t instantly remember me, I would give you time. An hour or two.”
“I know…” She whispered slowly, raising up her hand. “and thank you.”
Acheron took a deep breath making her way to the wall and leaned against it. Instead of standing dumbfounded in the middle of a corridor. She forever let her hand rest on the hilt of her sword. It was a lot easier to recall memories in this manner.
“I don’t remember all of our conversations but I remember that we’ve danced…several times together.” Black Swan raised her brow. That was nowhere near enough information compared to last time. She patiently waited for Acheron to reveal more. “We’ve danced several times, in several styles. I’ve also…I think…thought about you, I’ve wanted to see you again but I never reached out…”
Black Swan nodded her head accordingly, she took a step forward when Acheron forcibly pulled her closer by the wrist to let people pass. Black Swan wanted to laugh, the bystanders couldn’t see her, only Acheron could. However, she didn’t make a sound, she wasn’t about to complain about Acheron’s hands now lying on her hip.
“That’s because we’ve told one another that we’d meet randomly. Remember?”
Acheron nodded her head so Black Swan continued on.
“You were worried about forgetting me and I gave you two options. You chose meeting randomly. I won’t reach out to you unnecessarily but if you want us to meet at specific moments I’ll always be honored.”
“I see...” The only word with which Acheorn managed to respond. Neither said anything else. For just a few seconds they both simply indulged in the music playing nearby. “My decision has not changed. I don’t want to hold you back from finding memories.”
“Collecting,” Black Swan swiftly corrected, chuckling at such a familiar answer. “and you could never, sweetheart.”
A reassurance she had thrown Acheron’s way so many times. It never did anything to change Acheron’s mind besides leaving the door open. Black Swan smiled lazily, it was so easy for her to remember every single second they spent together but Acheron could only remember the bigger picture.
“Is there anything else I should remember?” Acheron hesitated. Unfortunately, she knew there was so much missing but was there anything important?
And it was a question that once again Black Swan was too familiar with. Everytime Acheron’s memories failed her, her emotions hadn’t and she’d ask if something important had happened. It was always a tricky question for Black Swan to answer since Acheron said so little about what she did remember versus what she didn’t. Their history wasn’t longer per say but it also couldn’t be summarized in just a few words. Black Swan traced Acheron’s arm, trying to figure out what to say.
Besides the boundraises they’d set - the ones meant mostly for Black Swan - there was nothing specific Acheron should remember.
The same as the last time, Black Swan thought to herself as she opened her mouth to answer only for Acheron to start hissing like a wild snake. And oh too quickly Black Swan snapped her head away. Instinctively she closed her eyes shut and for the briefest of instant was met with a different Acheron. Instinctively she opened her eyes observing Acheron who’d dropped her sword to clutch her arm. The bang that should have echoed around them was so thankfully drowned by the music nearby.
“Are you ok?”
That wild snake wasn’t the Acheron before her. This sweet Acheron wasn’t the one who’d, for lack of a better word, greeted Black Swan in those memories.
“Fine.” Acheron threw back.
With a tone suddenly unnecessarily harsh. A crystal clear indication that she wanted to brush away the subject. A clear indication that everything was not fine. It concerned Black Swan more than it should have. She really shouldn’t worry as much as she did, she should probably take Acheron at her word. She probably shouldn’t be dragging Acheron’s hand away, quietly lifting the sleeve of the jacket. Just enough so she could get a glance at the bandage covering a good part of her forearm.
“What happened?”
Black Swan inquired searching for Acheron’s abyssal eyes but Acheron didn’t dare look up towards her. Her eyes stayed put on the bandage.
“I burnt myself. Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t lie to me, sweetheart that’s not-”
With no warning Acheron replaced her hands on Black Swan’s hips and pulled her so they were only an inch away. And oh so quickly she’d forced Black Swan to bite down on her tongue so as to not let out a yelp.
“I…I missed you.”
Acheron mumbled. Even if just a few minutes ago she couldn’t even recall when exactly they’d met. From the start she’d known for a fact that they had met at least once but the memories were all foggy.
When Black Swan had called her ‘sweetheart’ it was the first thing that ticked her off. Black Swan wasn’t just any other person in Acheron life. She had been and was still very important. So many feared Acheron for various reasons yet thirty seconds into their conversation she was being called such a precious word. But that wasn’t what had lightening everything on like a switch. What blew away all the hazy fog in her mind with wind was, of course, her sword. All she’d done was fidgeted with the hilt before a specific souvenir came flashing. She’d been gripping her sword to the point where her knuckles could have gone white yet there was no enemy. There was no one there besides a certain someone who wasn’t visible to others.
“I’ve missed you too. If we’d have seen each other sooner I wouldn’t have complained.” That hand that had been inspecting Acheron’s bandage now came to cup her face. “I want to know what happened.”
“Later…” Acheron sighed. She closed her eyes for a brief second before lifting them up and there was a lifeless glow in them Black Swan had never seen. “Please…”
She couldn’t bring herself to explain what happened to Black Swan just yet.
Everything was pointing to things getting worse. It was inevitable, of course. All good things must come to an end but couldn’t she enjoy this . Couldn’t least have this .
“Are you-”
“Don’t.” Acheron warned, her voice as cool as ice. “I’ll explain in due time.”
Black Swan nodded her head, brushing the hair that usually hid Acheron’s eye out of her face. She carefully noted how Acheron’s tiny smile when her fingers curled the hair behind her ear. It was barely noticeable but it was there. There were so many things Black Swan could say to her precious Acheron. Every Time they met they spent little time together but everytime she left Black Swan yearning to know more.
She was enchanted by the way Acheron carefully crocked her head to the side, by the way Acheron brough one of her hands to rest in the middle of her back rather than on her hip. She was enchanted by the way Acheron knew exactly what she wanted, starting right where they’d left in the last meeting.
Memories shape people and do not lie but even without them Acheron thrived, managing to be more interesting than anyone else.
Black Swan leaned in closer to Acheron, laying her lips on top of the other for a brief moment before she drew back, watching Acheron’s expression.
Acheron nodded. “I remember this too.”
Oh Black Swan’s smile was nothing except mischievous.
Acheron was a woman of her word. If she said she wasn’t going to forget something, somehow, by who knew what means, she managed to remember.
Apparently that one famous encounter where they’d shared their first kiss, as well as other moments, had truly been carved into Acheron’s mind with that incredibly sharp sword that could cut through any barrier.
So close to Acheron, their lips pressed together she could certainly feel Acheron's heart thundering against her chest, trying as best as she could to pull Black Swan any closer to feel their bodies against one another. She could have savored Acheron for hours on end, that sweet constant taste of peaches never getting old. She could never get enough of Acheron kissing her. Acheron’s lips were beyond soft, her confidence beyond words. Everything about Acheron was- No words could ever do Acheron justice. However, Acheron unfortunately had a thundering heart for she was human and their lips would have no choice but to part from one another. That wasn’t to say that they couldn’t continue pressing their bodies against one as they leaned forehead to forehead.
“Is this how you remembered it?” Black Swan teased.
“Better…better than…what I remembered.” Acheron breathlessly answered, only causing Black Swan’s enchanting smile to grow.
“Good. I plan on making sure you have a memorable experience. Next time you will not need time to remember me.”
Even if on several occasions, Black Swan had made it abundantly clear that she had no issues waiting, Acheron still hated herself for the burdens she caused. There was a lump in her throat, words trying to force their way to the top. She wanted to be given any chance at apologizing again.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” But apparently Black Swan forever read Acheron like an open book. Black Swan forced herself to back herself up and give Acheron a little bit more room to breathe. “If what I said worries you then I should be the one apologizing. It wasn’t meant like that.”
“I know…” Acheron nodded obediently, her words no more than a whisper. “I know…”
She repeated but not to Black Swan. She spoke to no one in particular, looking down at the sword. It felt like she’d been stabbed, it felt like she’d betrayed a whole legacy by dropping it carelessly earlier. She bent down to grab it but Black Swan was faster. Black Swan knelt before Acheron to pick it up, laying it flat in her hands, extending to her knight who graciously took it.
“Thank you.” Acheron placed it back to her side where it would always belong before her eyes shifted towards the door that led to the main ball.
“Do you want to explain to me what happened now or perhaps do you want to return to either of our rooms?”
She gave Acheorn the option of both their rooms but if Acheron chose her she was not going to be the one leading them there. If she chose her room, she’d be obliged to give Black Swan the number and then would be guided back, it was just easier that way.
“The songs playing…that violin reminds me of our first ever dance. Let me go bring my sword back and then…”
And then she would offer Black Swan a dance.
She hadn't practiced one bit since their last dance, she wasn’t even sure she knew how to start a dance. Usually, it was Black Swan who brought her to the dance floor. Usually they were already holding hands, ready for what would happen but tonight Acheron wanted to and would initiate everything.
After they had acted little childrens hurrying to a playground racing back to Acheron’s room. It was a rare instance where they laughed the whole way back and Acheron genuinely smiled, this time anyone who looked at her would be able to see it. They wouldn’t stay in the hotel room for very long. Less than five minutes, to be precise. Just enough time for Acheron to put her sword back in its secured place. She may as well just throw off her jacket if she planned on dancing. Both her sword and jacket were always with her…tonight both could stay behind. If people stared at the bandage then so be it, the only thing that bandaged revealed was that she’d gotten a wound somehow. No one could guess the twisted secret that it was hiding.
The wound needed delicate attention but it was not a wound that needed to be covered to heal. Acheron was the one who was adamant on hiding it.
In the meantime, Black Swan put down her cards on a nearby table. She’d asked Acheron if it was alright since she didn’t need them for the dance and was also too lazy to go back to her own room.
She waited for Acheron by the door afterward.
In such clear lighting…not the dimmed lights of the dance hall that only really shined on the stage or in the darkened corridor where they’d kissed but in Acheron’s room where the light beautifully kissed Black Swan Acheron finally got to appreciate the others true beauty. She managed to recall every way she’d ever described Black Swan in her own mind. She’d forced herself to find a multitude of words to remember her. The only way she could properly remember something was with her emotions. Therefore, long ago she decided to start exploiting her own heart for her own gains. It twisted her own heart to have to stoop down to such measures but Acheron couldn’t care, her heart could cry until it broke - if it hadn’t already - she wouldn’t change her way of doing things.
The amethyst dress Black Swan had decided to wear perfectly fitted her body, it perfectly showed off her curves. She’d removed her veil replacing it with various sort of accessory Acheron didn’t know the name of but she knew it was probably to help keep her hair in its extravagant hairstyle. Black Swan’s dress stopped right before her angles, showing off her stiletto heels that kept her angles in place with various exquisite ribbons. She’d even removed her gloves for the special occasion and replaced them with about a million golden rings. Acheron couldn’t keep her eyes off of her.
“Are you ready?”
Black Swan initiation forced Acheron to stumble on her words.
“Uh…ya…ya um. Give me a second.”
She bolted back to where she’d placed her coat and ripped her own gloves off, alongside all her daggers besides one. She wouldn’t need any of them. Tonight was a night meant for just the two of them.
Before all fades into an endless abyss, they could allow themselves this one night. She ran back to Black Swan just as fast as she’d ran away. Unlike her but she really didn’t want to keep this beauty waiting any longer than necessary - they’d already made such a detour.
“Now I am ready.”
They weren’t on a dance stage yet. They were in Acheron’s lonely room. Nothing special about the place. Except for how no other place would capture Black Swan so effortlessly. Acheron placed one hand behind her own back, she put one foot backwards as if to draw her sword from its scabbard but no instead she offered up her other hand to Black Swan.
“Would you do me the honors of a dance?” Black Swan stood as still as a statue, the only indication that she relished this moment being that flirtatious smile that betrayed her true intentions like there was no tomorrow. “Downstairs, of course.”
Acheron quickly added, causing Black Swan to burst into an easy laughter when she put down her bare palm on Acheron’s. Acheron wanted to flinch at the simple touch, she almost always had gloves stuck to her hand because of how ruined they were and not just from wielding a sword. She laid down her gentle lips on top of the hand for a quick kiss before she wrapped her fingers around Black Swan’s and stepped up. She opened the door for them and let Black Swan past first. However, unfortunately, Acheron also had very little say in who led them back to the dance floor…some things would never change.
Whilst others would.
Acheron was the one who led the dance. Guiding Black Swan through it even if it was awfully clear who out of the two had more experience in dancing.
Black Swan really didn’t mind, if anything this would turn out to be her favorite dance. She loved how Acheron occasionally twirled her around. How Acheron carefully chooses each of their steps trying to find a way to match the music. Even when the music would quicken Acheron’s steps did not. It was a whole different art to dance to one's heart instead of to the music and Acheron was no fool for trying to succeed.
Step after step, they were engulfed by the music, eyes only for each other. The others that danced around, the others that watched their performance, they didn’t matter. There were only two stars on stage tonight, Acheron and Black Swan. Neither a Self-Annihilator nor a Memory Keeper were currently present.
They’d both been left in Acheron’s room.
Acheron had left behind her sword. Black Swan had left behind her cards.
Movement after movement, their bodies become looser, as if they were tipsy. They weren’t and this moment offered so much more than any alcohol ever could. They were dancing till their heart's contents, leaving around new colors, new memories, with every passing note. Nothing could stop them from creating something new from nothing.
They would be lost whilst knowing exactly where they were; dancing until the final note.
Acheron was leading the dance but after the end where she’d thrown Black Swan into an insane sequence of turns - far too lucky such moves didn’t make Black Swan dizzy - and topping it all off with a dip she’d quickly brought Black Swan into a hug.
It was unexpected and Black Swan had a good idea as to why it had happened. She just needed to confirm one thing.
“Let’s take a break and come back.”
She suggested but didn’t push Acheron away. She left such honors alongside getting guided off the stage to Acheron.
They each ordered themselves a refreshing drink before going to find a spot to sit down. Acheron had both an intense bitter drink and a glass of water. She wouldn’t say anything at first, only drinking half of her glass of water in one go. Guiding the dance had been no easy task for her so Black Swan waited. She laid her head up upon her arm and watched. She wasn’t in any rush.
Hours had passed but the night was still young.
“Is your wound alright after the dance?” Black Swan finally spoke up seeing as Acheron had started fidgeting with the tightly crafted bandage.
Acheron nodded. However, she didn’t make a sound nor did she look up.
“It’s not a wound, is it?”
Again Acheron nodded her head.
This ‘wound’ was something else entirely. Only a few people suffered from such a thing because only a few people could dare to see darkness like that in their lives and lived to tell the tale. Acheron wasn’t meant to be one of those people…
“It’s from being an Emanator?”
The question that would confirm everything finally slipped from Black Swan’s lips.
For the third time, Acheron nodded her head.
“I think tonight alone proved how…” She took a deep breath. “how everything is worsening.”
Acheron chuckled somberly to herself before grabbing her strong drink and swallowing it whole. It was a strong bitter alcohol free drink, one that could easily burn someone’s throat as if it was made with alcohol. Acheron didn’t even flinch.
“Since when?” Black Swan asked her slowly.
Acheron had no more taste buds, her memory was weak even for important events and now this . Time was ticking like a bomb.
“I don’t know anymore.”
Half the time she ran on muscle memory now-a-days. Traveling across the world, wielding her sword the same way she had for countless years. She knew there were battles, memories, scripted onto her body rather than her mind and slowly but surely those old battle scars were being blurred with these unnatural, unhealable scars. The Emanator side of herself that almost only broke free when her sword was left out of its scabbard had some and now Acheron was getting them too.
“Just tonight,” Acheron continued whilst Black Swan couldn’t keep her eyes off of her. “it took me longer than it should have. I felt you instantly, with the violin I should have known…”
“Acheron, it’s ok.” Black Swan reassured using her name for once. She reached her hand over the table to place it on top of Acheron’s.
“It’s not…” Acheron breathed deeply. “every time I remember you and we separate ways I worry it’ll be the last time. I have a curse I will never be able to rid myself of.”
Carefully so very carefully Black Swan nodded her head. She slowly raised up a finger into the air.
“One. I’ll never let you forget. So long as you come to me and ask if we have met I will know you have feelings towards me. If you cannot recall the memories I will help you. Is that alright?” Acheron nodded her but her heart unfortunately just wouldn’t relax with that alone. Black Swan raised up another finger. “Two. If at any moment you want us to find a specific time to meet we can.”
“I don’t-”
The same song started playing again, such a familiar song. Fuli only knew Black Swan could hear it so many times before she forcibly stopped it.
“Sweetheart. Let this be as clear as your feelings. You are not a burden. I want you to understand that. I wouldn’t offer you the opportunity to ask me to drop everything if I wasn’t willing to keep my word.”
Acheron tilted her head to the side. She didn’t deserve this. Not with everything that had happened in her past, not with how her body was giving up, slowly but surely. Not with how everything was doomed to end. Black Swan deserved better, she wanted Black Swan to have better. But Black Swan continuously refused to leave her side. Maybe it wasn’t because everything was changing that their relationship was just as doomed.
After what felt like an eternal pause Acheron finally nodded her head asking that later they find a fitting date to meet up again. She was done playing with fire when it came to Black Swan.
“Also…” Black Swan started, taking a deep breath to prepare her next few words. “You may see your lack of memory as a curse and that is absolutely valid but sometimes memories are the also a form of torture.”
She was betraying everything. Black Swan could get herself in so much trouble for uttering such words out loud. She’d paid close attention to make sure they were just the two, faithly watching Acheron’s eyes grow wide like when they’d kiss.
“As a Memory Keeper I do believe that memories are important. They are exquisite but just like anything they have their down side. Without a human body, with an ability to only collect memories and put them in the remembrance…I’m bound to remember what others don’t.”
It’s what would happen with their relationship. Acheron wouldn’t remember. Black Swan would.
Memories could poison Acheron because she never remembers others long enough.
And
Memories could torture Black Swan because she remembers what others don’t.
For this they were on opposite sides. In both cases they had no choice but to let time deteriorate what they wished to treasure most.
The irony was that they’d known this since the start.
Black Swan always knew one day someone would be her own origin.
Acheron always knew one day she would be her own finality.
When one door closes another opens. So finality is just the start of origin and origin is just the start of finaility.
A vicious cycle and they were nearing the end.
Obviously that end wouldn’t be tonight but Acheron’s erosion was evolving quickly and there wouldn’t be many more dances before familiar thunder came tumbling down, shattering everything they’d ever known.
Acheron looked away from her wound, shifting her eyes towards Black Swan. Her eyes were so full of color, they were a beautiful galaxy in contrast to Acheron’s endless abyss.
“For now…” Acheron stood up, extending her hand once more. “Would you allow me another dance, Black Swan?”
She tried to show a flirtatious smile but it was so somber after that just happened.
“I could never deny you a dance, sweetheart.” She gladly took Acheron’s hand and once again led them back to the dance floor.
The start of everything for them. Where Black Swan’s curiosity had nearly cost her her life and now she was about to-
“From my experience…memories I’ve seen that I’ve not necessarily collected. If your skin,” Not the Emanator side of Acheron’s but the one Black Swan had fallen for. “is just starting to crack. You have time. Although it will obviously worsen.”
This dance was different from the last. In this one they just held on another, slow step, no grand moves, neither led, they both just followed the music.
“It doesn’t really matter…” Painstakingly Acheron admitted.
She isn’t what a word for word Nihility Emanator should be, which is why they say she’s an Unwilling Emanator. She sees the reasons but isn’t in absolutely accord with it. She likes an instrument playing the wrong key in a grand piece of music. Everything stays the same even if it’s not perfect.
“You have time.” Black Swan repeated.
Like she’d manage to convince Acheron to say something else with the same words.
The first song ended. Then a second, then a third, then they lost count. They lost themselves in an endless dance until their feets were aching and Acheron was carrying Black Swan back to their room in a bridal carry. Acheron was the one who’d offered so who was Black Swan to turn her down.
She enjoyed their trip back to the room. Pulling Acheron closer the minute her feet hit the ground. Pulling her in for a reward and an unforgettable kiss.
Everything would shatter itself one day like a broken mirror but until then nothing was off limits.
If Black Swan had to uphold her role as a Memory Keeper as well as help Acheron live her life to the fullest - celebrating her successes whilst brushing away unimportant mistakes - then that was exactly what she would do.
Acheron didn’t care what happened to her but just like Acheron had once constantly looked over her shoulder driving Black Swan away from a non-existent danger Black Swan would look over her shoulder, look out for Acheron, until the very end.
Maybe that’s why Acheron was here. Maybe somewhere deep in her mind she knew she had to find Black Swan. Maybe she had to indulge in one last dance before it all went back to-