Moonlight Chronicles
Chapter 7
Ebony stuck out more than usual. The scars, of course, were glaring. Pink lines cut a sharp contrast through her dark skin, but in even sharper contrast was the dress. Red, multi-layered, flowing silken fabric that showed off the muscles in her back and shoulders. Much care and effort had gone into the makeup adorning her features, and the ruby lipstick both matched and drew focus at the same time. Her hair had been rebraided into fresh cornrows, and the tails dangled by her neck with new crimson beads woven in here and there.
Eyes tracked her as people moved past, but it was…tolerable. Knowing
why she was being stared at made it easier to bear. Really, if it weren’t for the scars and her accruing fame, she might not have looked too out-of-place here. This cavern hosted
Messis Solis, the finest restaurant in Haven; that wasn’t saying much considering the relatively diminutive size of the city, but it was a classy place all the same.
And there, in the middle of all of it, sat Ebony and Yuri.
The wife she didn’t remember, the person she’d once sworn to love and to hold until death did they part, sat across from her at the table. Unlike Ebony, she hadn’t sprung for a dress of fine silks procured from the highest-end shops available. She wore a hand-spun sundress, cleverly made and of soft linens, patterned with blue flowers. Simple earrings and minimal makeup adorned her features. The faintest tan outline marked where a ring had once wrapped around a finger on her left hand; a ring now hanging from a string around Ebony’s neck. Dark brown eyes, black hair – standard features for residents of Haven. Freckles across her nose, a small chin, narrow eyes, a thin face. Features Ebony had fallen in love with, once.
“I’ve never been here before.”
Yuri broke the silence. Ebony picked up on the anxiety in her voice, and she found that comforting. She wasn’t alone here in this uncharted territory. “Not that it’s a bad thing, I love to try new things – we could just never afford a place like this. We were saving up for a nicer cave on an upper level – they’d just finished carving out a new block of apartments, and the rock there wasn’t as damp. We were going to move in a couple months, but then…um.”
Yuri trailed off awkwardly. Ebony rushed in, desperate to keep the conversation from wilting. “Oh, I know the ones! They’re on the same level as the markets, right?”
Yuri smiled, thankful Ebony bailed her out. “Right! We always saw them hauling carts of gravel out of the tunnels while they were digging them out. They had to do it by hand, since dynamite would have caused too much back-pressure. They end up finishing the annex last week, actually.”
“Did you get moved in okay?”
“I didn’t move, actually. They’re a little more expensive, and I can’t afford the rent by myself, so. Um.”
The conversation stalled again. The implication of accusation, as light or unintended as it might have been, cut Ebony like a knife. There was no point in trying to defend herself; obviously she hadn’t
meant to become infected. Yuri hadn’t
meant to make it sound like an accusation. In fact, there’d been no accusation at all. It was the facts as they were, as uncomfortable as they might have been.
Muted conversations echoed oddly off the cavern walls here. Whereas most of the tunnels were of rough-hewn stone, the walls at the
Messis Solis had been painstakingly chiseled by hand. They weren’t smooth, bare rock, but engraved with depictions of happier times. The pillars were adorned with tasteful lines and sweeping spirals, and every spare inch between depictions was crammed with paisley patterns.
“I love your dress.” It was Ebony’s turn to break the silence. It was clumsy, but Yuri gratefully jumped on the tangent.
“Oh, thank you! It’s a few years old, actually. Our – my neighbor sews them by hand. I traded him a few bushels for this one; it took him a week to make it, it’s one of his best. Mary tried to buy it from me, but I told her there was no way!”
“Mary?”
“Other neighbor. She lives with her son, they come over every now and then for dinner. I try not to wear it too often, since I don’t want to wear it out. But when I
do put it on, I get
so many stares, I love it. Obviously it’s not as nice as yours, of course.”
“Oh, this old thing?” Ebony unconsciously brushed a hand over the dress. She’d been doing that a lot. The silk was so smooth it made her palms tingle. “I didn’t know a thing about what I was buying, the clerk helped pick it out.”
“Well, you did a fantastic job. You look
gorgeous.”
“Thanks! I didn’t know what I’d look like. I didn’t know what I’d
like, but this is…I’m really fond of it. If I could wear it all the time, I would.”
“Really? You always said you hated dresses.”
“I did?”
“You preferred trousers, said that all the extra fabric was ‘unnecessary’. You – oh, ha ha – you used to go on these
rants every time I talked about getting a new dress, and now look at you!” Yuri broke into a fit of giggles and Ebony made herself to grin. Her stomach twisted.
“Well, I think I might have changed my mind. Maybe dresses are for me now.”
“Yeah, maybe! We’ll see how long that lasts before you’re back to your usual self. I mean, you’re still wearing your hair the same, even. Those red beads, the corn rows…even your dress is red. It was your favorite color, so not everything has changed, has it?”
More red shifted into the edge of Ebony’s cone of vision, and her eyes flicked immediately to the intrusion. A young dark-haired man wearing the crushed red velvet vest of the
Messis Solis bowed his head respectfully.
“Good evening ladies. My name is Saido, and I’ll be your waiter for this evening.”
Ebony found that she didn’t mind the interruption, even if the conversation had finally been flowing along. She turned to face him fully.
“I’d like to say that we are just
thrilled to have Holy Hunter Ebony Moonblade Ravensblight and her guest with us tonight.”
“Yuri Dice,” Ebony said quickly. “My, um. Wife.”
“Well, we are beyond happy to have you both here, Mrs. Dice. In order to show our appreciation, the
Messis Solis would like to offer you a complimentary dessert with your meal this fine evening. What can I get you both to start off?”
Ebony and Yuri ordered their drinks, and the waiter left them alone once more. And once more, the awkward silence fell over their table. Ebony spent the pause to sneak a look at Yuri. Candle lights provided the only illumination, a far cry from the harsh gas lights which lit the rest of the mines. Glittering crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling on brass chains threw spots of light here and there, and the velvet chairs and crimson tablecloths soaked up the remaining light. A few rays cut through the glow illuminating her pale face, and the flickering lights animated the engraved walls behind her in the most distracting fashion.
“So…’Ebony Moonblade Ravensblight’…”
“I know,” Ebony nearly buried her face in her hands, but stopped at the last second to avoid smudging her makeup. Yuri giggle and traced a fingertip along the edge of her menu, taking her turn to sneak a look at Ebony.
“Does anyone know your
real name is Lot?”
“Well, considering my legal name is now Ebony, it’s not far-fetched to say
that’s my real name, now.”
“Mhm. Did you pick it out yourself, or…?”
“The asylum was – still
is pretty under-funded, and they didn’t really have the paperwork for each and every person there. So when I woke up, they asked me what my name was. I didn’t know, obviously, so they asked me what I wanted to be called.”
“And you picked
Moonblade?”
“Sort of. Most people don’t get to pick their names, so I asked if they had any suggestions.”
“Ah – and they offered –”
“Yep. I didn’t know any better, and the only three names I knew were Crab, Owl, and Fox. Not exactly a standard selection to base my decisions off.”
“So why not change it?”
“I dunno. I’ve kind of gotten used to this one. Plus there’s all the paperwork, and those awful Duke Dreadfuls wouldn’t sell as well…”
“Say no more.” Yuri grinned. Her eyes twinkled as if they were sharing an inside joke. “You’ll always be Lot to me.”
Yuri reached across the table. Her fingers laced with Ebony’s, pale against her dark skin. Ebony –
Lot – smiled back, as it was a socially appropriate response.
The waiter returned soon after with their drinks. Yuri had some fruity white wine, while Lot had a dry red – as Yuri had assured her that she’d love it. Lot ordered the baked cave river bass topped with scallions and herbs, as fish were a rarity this far inland and she’d never tried it. Thankfully, Yuri told her she’d never liked fish, and that she’d be much happier with the cheese-stuffed pasta instead. After all, if they were eating at a high-end restaurant, she should make sure to get something she’d actually enjoy. Lot agreed, and the night continued from there.
After splitting dessert (some creamy iced treat sweetened with honey) they attended a play shown by Haven’s theatre troupe. It was some ancient classical tragedy, which Yuri assured Lot she’d enjoy. After the post-show, and after some gentle urging, Yuri managed to coax Lot down to the lower levels of Haven. Deep down, where the rock became damp and the air humid, to where the underground river carved an eons-old swath through the earth.
Massive brass gears and paddles churned slowly above and through the river. Each turn of the tarnished mechanisms powered the city spiderwebbed through the rock above, pumping fresh air and light like the circadian rhythm of a massive clockwork golem. The system was in disrepair; the river flowed in turbulent spirals over mossy gears lost to the cold rushing water below. Roughly half the mechanisms were still functional, and only thanks to the herculean efforts of the engineers who resuscitated them from decades of disuse. Yuri led Lot down a forgotten passage along the river, which ended in a small ledge overlooking a massive horizontal gear slowly spinning in place. The gear which had meshed with this one had long ago fallen away, and so it continued to spin purposelessly.
“You know,
you were the one who showed me this place,” Yuri called over her shoulder. She gathered up the hem of her sundress and jumped the gap. It wasn’t a difficult leap, but the rush of cold water far below made it a risky one. The slow turn of the gear made Yuri totter for a second before she could steady herself, but once stable she looked back at Lot with a twinkle in her eye.
“Well? Come on!”
Lot hesitated only once, then made the leap herself. She made it easily, unconsciously moving with the gear as she landed. Yuri laughed and took her by the hand. She led them to the edge, and there the two of them sat and let their legs dangle over the water. They stayed there for a few minutes, quietly enjoying the slow carousel. The air down here was cool, far colder than the claustrophobic atmosphere of the main city. It was quiet too, save for the clunk of distant gears and the rush of water below. Lot leaned back on her hands and closed her eyes.
“…well?”
Lot looked over to where Yuri sat. She was watching her intently, eyes trained on Lot with a keen focus.
“I like it,” Lot said after a moment. “I can see why I would have shown you this place. It’s…peaceful.”
“Well, yeah.” Yuri replied, waving her hand dismissively. “But…?”
“…but?”
“But do you…? You know.”
“I assure you, I do not.”
“Do you…remember?”
Ah.
“Almost,” Lot hedged, turning her attention to the clockwork in the background. The gears were all tarnished and molded, save for where they ground against one another ins shiny patches. She turned back to Yuri. “It’s…like trying to remember a dream. I can remember
remembering.”
Yuri frowned. It was the first time she’d frowned the entire night, and Lot felt a pang of regret shoot through her.
“I just thought…this was where we went on our first date. I’m wearing the same dress. My hair is the same. It’s not even familiar?”
“No, it is!” Lot moved to cover Yuri’s hand with her own. “It’s so painfully familiar, but…but it’s
just familiar. I don’t remember it. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay.” Yuri pursed her lips for a moment, then put on a brave smile. “I know, it’s selfish to hope you could remember. I know it can’t be helped. But I thought it might work, so I couldn’t hope but to try.”
“I appreciate that. I do. I really do.” Lot swallowed thickly. Her throat felt like it was closing up.
“But it’s fine. It’s fine! If you never remember, that’s fine. We can make new memories. You always did like trying new things. You’re still Lot.”
“Stop.”
Lot closed her eyes. Her hand squeezed Yuri’s tightly for a moment, then relaxed.
“Please. Stop.” She gathered her strength for a moment, then looked up at Yuri once more. “I’m not Lot.”
“What?” Yuri’s eyes were wide, and at the barest edge sat tears threatening to break. Ebony could see them so clearly, just barely catching the dim rays of light that made their way into the bottom of the cavern.
“I’m not Lot. I was – I
was Lot. But now I’m not. I can’t be Lot if I don’t remember anything about who she was, and telling me what I liked – what I
still like – doesn’t
make me her. This whole night you’ve told me what I like, what I want, what to try. I know you mean well. I know for you, you’ve seen me do all this before. But this is my first time. I’ve never tried fish. I’ve never sampled wines before. Tragedies make me sad, and there’s already too much of that in my life. And maybe Lot never got to try dresses, because I like this one. Yuri, I’ve never got to live Lot’s life. I can only live this one.”
Ebony paused for breath. The damp air made her skin feel clammy, but maybe that was just the anxiety twisting her heart into a knot.
“I
need to live this one. Because I might not get a third.”
Yuri had turned away from her early in the speech. Her black hair, done into waving curls and tumbling down her back, nearly blended into the granite cave walls. If it weren’t for the slowly rotating backdrop, she might have disappeared from view entirely. When she finally spoke, her voice was little more than a croak.
“I think we should get divorced.”
It felt like Ebony had been shot. She held very still, as if the slightest movement might set her off-balance and she’d go tumbling into the rushing waters below.
“Yuri – “
“No, you’re right,” Yuri turned to look back finally, her tears cutting two shining paths down her face. “I love you. I really, really do. I love you so much, Lot. I love you so much it hurts, and I’ve really been trying, but it’s killing me. It kills me you don’t know who I am. And I’ve b-been trying to shortcut that, to help you remember, but you still don’t know anything about me. And that’s not fair to you. It’s not fair that you have a wife you can’t remember. Th-that you’re already bound by that ring around your neck. I can’t k-keep you like that. I th-think we sh-should g-get – should g-get d-d-d- ”
Yuri’s voice broke as she descended into hiccupping sobs. Before she could even process what she was doing, Ebony wrapped her arms around Yuri’s shoulders and pulled her close. Yuri buried her face in the crook of Ebony’s neck and clung on tightly. Ebony could feel her body shaking with each muffled sob.
If she didn’t remember Yuri, why was this breaking her heart?
“Shhh…Yuri, shhhh…it’s okay…” Ebony ran her hand down Yuri’s tumble of black hair instinctively, soothingly. It made her palms tingle.
“
It’s not fair!” Yuri wailed between hiccups. Her voice was difficult to make out, but the words vibrated against Ebony’s skin.
“I know. I know it’s not fair. None of it is.” Ebony squeezed her a little tighter. The walls of the cavern, damp with chill dew and interspersed with decayed machinery, were all she could see. The same scene spun past over and over again as the two of them clung to one another. They stayed like that for a while, until Yuri’s sobs slowed and Ebony found her heart wasn’t so painfully tight. It took Yuri a while, but soon she was breathing easier and clinging to Ebony limply.
“You know, it’s funny,” Yuri managed finally. Her voice was still muffled, but there was an exhaustion to it now. “You used to pet my hair like that all the time.”
“It’s nice.” Ebony whispered. “Silky.”
“Heh heh…you…you always said that, too.”
They lapsed into silence for a minute more. Ebony continued stroking her hair, even after Yuri stopped sobbing. And once more, Yuri broke the silence.
“It’s hard. It’s so hard to believe you’re not Lot.”
“I know.” Ebony went silent for a moment. The world spun leisurely around them, here in their private sanctuary by the river. “I know you married Lot, and not me. You’re right. We’ll get divorced. It’s not fair to either of us. We’ll get divorced, and try this again fresh.”
Yuri pulled back slowly. She didn’t let go, but her dark, wet eyes looked into Ebony’s with confusion. “What?”
“If you’re willing to try things over again. To get to know Ebony, and know she’s not Lot. To do it all over again, from square one, then I am too.”
“And if it doesn’t work?”
“Well. Then at least we tried.”
Author
Topic: Ventures By Moonlight | A Semi-Cooperative Dark Fantasy | Always Recruiting (Read 37443 times)