Aetherias Moon

by Aetherias Moon

I thought I hated him. Vexan danced with a garish woman, her song and clothes like dissonant notes. Vexan wore a simple black suit with an emerald tie which matched his eyes. His strong chin juxtaposed his unruly black hair. I could hear his song swirling in the air. He resonated so other people could hear the melody his heartbeat produced. Everyone had a song in their hearts and sought out the one who harmonized with theirs. Vexan’s heart swung and fell in a beautiful melody.

Mine quietly danced with his.

They waltzed through the shining ballroom, crystals on the chandelier twinkling like treble notes. Music notes swirled in the air, caught on the tides of different songs. Rainbow light poured in through the stained glass windows, depicting famous symphonies.

Vexan’s gaze caught on mine. I didn’t break eye contact. He smirked, and I pushed back my long black curls, a quiet snarl on my face. The man had tormented me since I could walk. Often around as my brother’s friend, he teased me about my dancing or lack of musical prowess. It was small, but he towered over me like he thought it was his place. But his music caressed me; it was soft where he was sharp, warm where he was cold, beautiful where he was…well, frustratingly I had no complaints. 

I bit my lip and stalked towards him. He pulled out of his dance and looked me up and down, a challenge in his eyes. I gazed up at him through my eyelashes.

“Dance with me.” I extended a hand and locked eyes with him. I wouldn’t back down.

Vexan laughed, and his partner scoffed.

“You can’t be entertaining this?” His partner said. My insides coiled in rage, but I stood there patiently. 

Hands sliding away from his dance partner, his smirk turned into a smile that reached his twinkling eyes.

“Sure,” he said, leaving his partner to grumble and stomp away. 

Our hands touched, and my fingers twitched. His music reverberated down to my toes and stuck to parts of my body like tuning oil. 

I hated it.

He cocked his head, and I steeled myself, letting him put his hand on my hip and mine reaching for his shoulder. The band started a drawling song, and I had to hold back a sigh. I wanted it to be a faster song, something to keep us from having to speak as much.

“So, to what do I owe the honor, Leore?” he said.

“I felt like torturing myself today.”

He raised an eyebrow. 

I focused on the dance, making sure I didn’t take a step out of place as we twirled around the ballroom.

“You normally avoid me.”

“For good reason.”

“Are you going to keep being difficult?”

“Are you going to keep being surprisingly reasonable?” 

He chuckled. 

I could feel heat rising in my cheeks. Up close, I could hear the way his soft chuckle lined up with the quiet beats of his soul. The way they matched mine.

“You really know how to hold a grudge.”

“Do I?”

“I messed with you when we were children. It’s been a long time since then.”

“Just last week you snorted when I tripped in the ballet.”

“Wouldn’t anyone?”

I wanted to hit him. Instead, I began to resonate. I let my quiet yet agitated song glide across his skin like an ice skater doing twirls and leaps. He let out a small gasp as his eyes widened. I beamed, seeing his shocked expression. He took it the wrong way.

His lips planted on mine, soft and warm.

I tensed but became intoxicated by the way our lips harmonized. His hand eased from mine, slid across my arm, and down to my hip. My hand moved up to his neck, cupping his chin and feeling the pulse which mirrored mine.

We pulled away from the kiss yet stayed close enough that our breaths mixed. Our hands stayed in place. Electricity crackled wherever he touched. My mind fuzzed, and my lips twinged with a pulsing heat. 

“That’s what you get,” I said.

“Hmm?” he murmured, his emerald eyes warm.

“You bullied me, and now you’re stuck with me.”

“But isn’t that what I always wanted?”

“Liar.” I kissed him again. I didn’t want to listen to him, just to the heart that beat with mine. I certainly didn’t want to listen to the way our harmony became fast and impatient. “This isn’t what either of us wants.”

“Just our hearts.” He chuckled. 

I smiled, but hid it with a kiss.