Sweet Burden (49 page)

“You. You were the one in the woods and the one in my bedroom,” Hitomi stuttered. “Who are you?”

The beautiful man smiled and moved closer to her. He didn’t make her feel scared. She was surprisingly calm as he flowed towards her with the most amazing grace.

“It’s been so many years since I was able to see you. I didn’t mean to frighten you previously, but I had to see you,” the man said.

“It’s been years since you’ve seen me? I don’t remember you.”

“I’m afraid I had to erase those memories.” He frowned a bit, but then a smile returned. “But you are here now and this memory you will get to keep.” As he moved closer she looked into the blues of his eyes. She swore she was able to see rolling clouds moving through each iris.

“So who are you?” Hitomi asked again.

“Hitomi, I am Isbian.”

Her body stiffened. “Isbian? You mean like, the God of Light, Isbian?”

He chuckled slightly. “Yes.”

“But…but in the stories you were said to be dead.”

“Yes Hitomi, I am dead. But my spirit still roams this world. What do you know about me?”

“I know some. I know you’re the God of Light, ruler of the Heavens…”

“Well, I was. That is until my brother had me killed. Since that day I have been roaming, stuck between worlds. The Heavens are still there, but the opening is sealed. Come, let’s sit down.” He held his hand out to her.

She thought about it for a second, and then rested her hand in his. He moved beside her revealing two benches that were hidden behind him. Both benches appeared to be made of gold with intricate hand-carved designs. He started to lead her over to them as she glanced down at the ground below. There weren’t any tree roots or mud, just lush thick grass and dozens of yellow flowers. Then she realized that suddenly she was dry and she was wearing a flowing white skirt and a white camisole.

“How did you…” she started as she looked over herself.

“Luckily I still have some powers,” he interrupted. “Are you warm enough now?”

She nodded as they reached the benches. She let go of his hand and sat down across from him.

“Hitomi, the Heavens can be restored. The darkness of the Afterworld does not need to rule the world of the living.”

“I’ve already been told this. But I don’t know what it has to do with me.” Hitomi rested her hands in her lap and looked up at him. “I’m nobody.”

“You are
not
‘nobody’. You have special powers. You have powers you don’t even know about yet. And you have the power to restore the Heavens,” Isbian said with authority.

“Me?” she whispered. “All I can do is a little healing.”

“For right now that’s all you might be able to do, but once you turn 18, you will begin to discover all new powers inside you.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” Hitomi questioned. “I thought I couldn’t be told until I was actually 18.”

“I couldn’t bear the turmoil inside you any longer. Besides, I’m already dead. Nothing else much can happen to me.” His grin widened. “But Hitomi, you have the power inside you to open the Heavens and restore balance amongst worlds.”

Her lips began to quiver and she felt herself going pale. Her body filled with anxiety and worry. “I don’t understand. Why me? How am I able to do what you say?”

“Let me tell you a little bit about myself in my own words.” He sat up straight and started. “For centuries my brother, Laebosu and I were able to coexist. We even got along at times. But most of the time, we just dealt with each other knowing that the balance of our two worlds was necessary for all three of the worlds. Hundreds of years ago, Laebosu began to take larger numbers of souls. He started wars and plagues. To try to combat him, I created protectors and angels. My first protectors were actually death gods that sought sanctuary from Laebosu. The fact that his death gods were leaving him and coming to me angered him very much. Suddenly we were constantly at odds. This continued for hundreds of more years. The battling began to exhaust me and I left more of my duties to my advisors. I started spending time in the Living world.” He looked off into the distance. “I would take on a human form and live among humans. Very few knew that I did this, for it made me weak and vulnerable. I began taking some classes at a university to occupy my time when I met the most stunning woman I had ever seen. This woman became my entire world. Unfortunately, I became so occupied with her that I didn’t stay focused on Laebosu. After a year of being with the only woman I have ever loved, I was killed while in human form.”

Hitomi nodded but she was still perplexed. “I don’t understand what this has to do with me.”

He leaned forward and took her hands in his. “Hitomi, dear when I was killed I was leaving the hospital after you had been born. The woman I fell in love with is your mother.”

Hitomi’s eyes widened and her body trembled.

“You are my daughter,” he stated.

Her mouth went dry and she turned away from him. “You’re my father?” she whispered.

“Yes. And once you are 18, you are the rightful ruler of the Heavens. I’m sorry that this was kept from you, but it was not only to protect you but to protect everyone at stake. Someone found out about you though too early, before you could gain all your powers. Very few knew about your existence and your mother was sworn to secrecy.”

“This is crazy. You’re talking crazy.” She pulled her hands from his and stood up. “I’m only a high school student. I can’t rule some other realm or world. I’m just a plain ordinary human.”

“Ah, but you are not human. Well, you are a little human, but you are a princess. You are the Goddess of Light, daughter of Isbian.”

Hitomi swallowed hard and suddenly found it hard to breathe. Did all of this mean that her life as she knew it was over? All of a sudden her future was completely unknown. Her thoughts turned to Obi. “What about Obi?” she mumbled.  

“Obi? Oh, yes, Obsidian. He’s your protector. But he was also previously a death god. What about him?”

“I love him.”

“That is your decision.”

“But can I stay with him?”

“Again, that is your decision. He is bound to you.”

“What if I don’t want any of this? I just want a normal life. I want to go to college and have a job…”

“That you will not be able to do with Obsidian. My dear daughter, your duty is not something you can escape from. If you wish to do human things, you may. But you must also put the welfare of the Heavens before your own personal wishes. I do hope you learn from my mistake.”

Hitomi stood up and looked around her. She needed to go. She knew that Obi would be looking for her and all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him. “I need to go.”

“Hitomi, please…”

“No, I need to go. Obi will be worried.” Hitomi turned and started for the dark forest beyond the golden light.

“Hitomi, please don’t leave yet.” His voice was right behind her and she spun around. He reached up to touch her face but she shied away and closed her eyes.

“I have to get back.” She didn’t feel anything and she opened her eyes back up. The light had completely faded and Isbian was gone. The rain began hitting her skin again and she was back in her sweater, jeans and muddy boots. Hitomi started running again hoping she was going in the direction of the cabin. She needed to find Obi. She needed to tell him everything.

She continued to run realizing she felt lighter on her feet. She wasn’t slipping or tripping. It felt as though she was practically flying and somehow she knew she was going in the right direction. Recognizing the blurry candle lights of the cabin, she cleared the edge of the woods and ran to the porch. Rushing inside the cabin, Rediisu, Liam, Guri and Regina all appeared in the main room.

“Hitomi, thank goodness you’re alright.” Her mother crossed the room and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Yah, I’m fine.”

“You’re soaked and freezing.” Regina squeezed her tighter.

“I said I’m fine…”

“Where’s Obi?” Guri asked stepping forward.

“I don’t know.” Hitomi pulled out of her mother’s grasp. “He’s not here?”

“He went looking for you,” Liam stated.

“I never saw him.” She shook her head.

“He’ll probably be back shortly if he’s following your scent. It will just lead him back to here,” Rediisu commented.

Hitomi nodded. “I’m going to go change.” She eyed her mother for a second and then went into the bedroom. She sat down on the bed and started going over everything in her head. Could she really be the daughter of Isbian? How was she supposed to rule some other realm she knew nothing about? What other powers would she gain? There was so much running through her head when suddenly she jumped as her cell phone rang.

Hitomi peered at it curiously on the nightstand and then reached over and grabbed it. There was no caller id. She flipped it open and put it up to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hitomi, darling, we speak again.”

She immediately recognized the voice on the other end. “Domitori. Just leave me alo…”

“Don’t hang up,” he interrupted. “You aren’t going to want to miss what I have to tell you.”

“What?” she angrily replied. There was some rustling and whispering on the other end of the phone and then a voice.

“Hitomi, don’t do anything he says,” Obi pleaded.

“Obi?” She became overcome with worry and she stopped breathing.

Domitori’s voice returned. “Yup, that’s right. We have Obsidian. So, here’s what you’re going to do. You are not going to let anyone else know what is going on. You are going to leave the cabin and go east, that would be to your right, and walk until you are outside the barrier. If you give yourself over, I won’t kill him. But if you don’t do what I say, I’m going to rip him to pieces and deliver them to you in a box. Do you understand?”

“But how will I know where you are?”

“Hitomi, Hitomi. Don’t worry about that. We’ll find you love. Just get yourself outside the barrier. You have 30 minutes starting…now.” The other end of the phone went dead and Hitomi closed her phone.

“Damn it.” She dropped the phone on the bed and pounded her fist into the mattress. She couldn’t let Obi be killed, but now she also had to think about the Heavens and the Living World. Her new role was already being tested. She squeezed her fists and stood up. Hitomi refused to let Obi be sacrificed.