Sweet Burden

by K L Ogden

  “Obsidian…” Rediisu started.

  Obi held his hand up for him to stop and he walked into the kitchen area. Regina was busy cleaning up some dishes.

  “I need some answers,” Obi demanded as he crossed his arms.

  “You’ll just have to wait.” She shrugged not even giving him a glance.

  Obi’s eyes narrowed as he moved a few steps towards her. “I saw you last night. I saw you sneak out of the cabin. You know what else happened last night? Your daughter saw you sneak out and she put her life in danger trying to follow you.”

  She stopped what she was doing and her head snapped up looking at him. “What did you see?”

  They stared at each other for a few moments while Obi tried to decide what exactly to say. He could lie and tell her he saw nothing or he could let her know that he saw everything. He was angry at her for not telling Hitomi the truth about anything, but he was also angry because she was the one who put him in the position with Hitomi. He didn’t know what he would do if Hitomi never trusted him again. Knowing he should have just told her everything, he fought with himself all night. He had to continually stop himself from marching into the bedroom and telling Hitomi everything and demanding Regina explain. But he knew there were laws of the worlds and he refused to put Hitomi in jeopardy by breaking them. His own well-being he didn’t care for, but hers he would not risk.

  “Nothing,” he mumbled. “I smelled Hitomi out in the woods and went searching for her. She didn’t see anything either.”

  Regina let out a relieved breath. “Everything will be told tonight.”

  “And then what?” Obi asked. “The Afterworld will not stop trying to kill her.”

  “Obi, there are a lot of things you don’t know.” Regina replied. “There are things I don’t even know. But the most important thing right now is that Hitomi makes it to her 18th birthday.”

  Obi huffed irritated with all the secrets. At least he could be thankful that it was only hours until the truth was told.

  “Guri? Do you want to come help me with the cake?” Regina called out.

  “Sure,” Guri replied. Obi and Regina stood there studying each other until Guri scooted past Obi. “Wow, I feel a bit of tension. Why don’t you both calm down?” Guri glanced at both of them and Obi immediately felt a wave of calm flood his mind.

  “Damn it Guri.” Obi sighed and left the kitchen. He walked into the main room and joined Rediisu on the couch.

  “Trouble in paradise?” he smirked.

  “Shut up. Don’t you have some strippers to go seduce?” Obi shot back. Rediisu’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Well, if you two are done, maybe we can try to figure out who exactly we might be able to get for some added help,” Liam said.

  “We’ve made a list,” Rediisu added.

  “I don’t care.” Obi kicked his feet up onto the coffee table and sank into the couch. He stared at the front door wondering if she would come back inside anytime soon. The weather outside was horrid and he hated her being out there alone.

  “You better start caring.” Rediisu knocked his feet from the coffee table and they hit the floor with a thud.

  Obi sat up and grabbed the list that Liam was holding out to him. He tolerated Liam and Rediisu’s conversation for awhile until he had to find something else to do to occupy his mind. He sat at the dining room table tapping a pen against a blank piece of paper.

  His eyes could have burned a hole in the front door. Hitomi had been outside for hours when the front door opened. Obi immediately perked up as Hitomi walked in. She kept her head down and went straight into the bedroom. The door slammed and Obi dropped his head onto the table.

  “While you’re sitting there being useless, why don’t you set the table for dinner?” Guri commented. Obi turned finding Guri with a pile of plates and silverware. He set them down on the table and went back into the kitchen.

  After the table was set and dinner prepared, everyone sat down around the table, except for Hitomi. There was a deep crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of light as suddenly the electricity went out. Obi was by the table and he rushed over to the bedroom. He yanked the door open finding Hitomi lighting a candle next to the bed.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  “It’s just the power,” she replied. “You can shut the door.” He started to shut the door behind him. “No, I mean you can leave and shut the door.”

  He turned back around to her. “Hitomi, it’s just a little bit longer. I am just as eager to find out everything as you are. But please stop punishing me…”

  “Stop saying it’s just a little bit of time left!” she yelled. “Everyone is keeping something from me and I am so sick of it! Either I am told everything now or I am done. I will be done with everyone and everything.”

  “Hitomi…” Regina moved past Obi into the room. “We’re going to have a nice dinner and then…”

  “No! Not then! Now!” Hitomi interrupted. “Tell me now.”

  Her mother’s voice became sterner. “Hitomi, we’re going to have dinner.”

  Obi watched as Hitomi’s jaw clenched and suddenly her skin became radiated in a faint glow. His eyes widened and he took a step back. Her eyes began to glow a brilliant shade of turquoise and the temperature in the room noticeably got warmer.

  “I’m done waiting.” She pushed past them and ran out of the room. Before Obi even had the opportunity to go after her, she was out the front door. He hurried out of the room to go after her.

  “Obsidian, give her a few minutes,” Rediisu said.

  “Why? You don’t understand Rediisu. You don’t understand because humans have always been play toys to you. I love that girl and I lied to her to protect some secret I don’t even know.” He turned and looked at Hitomi’s mother and then back at Rediisu. “I would do anything for her and all she asked me for was the truth. I couldn’t even do that. I have to go find her. Maybe someday you will understand.”

  “You’d be surprised how much I understand,” Rediisu mumbled. Obi rolled his eyes and took off to go find Hitomi. The rain had become even worse appearing as though he was walking into a waterfall. The sky cracked and grumbled while every few seconds it lit up with violent lightning. The rain made it very difficult to pick up her scent, but he figured if her skin was still illuminated he might have a better chance of finding her while in the air than on foot. He spread his wings and took off up into the sky.

  ****

  Hitomi ran straight ahead away from the cabin. She had no idea where she was going, but she needed out of that place. She was fed up with the situation and wanted no more of it. They could all keep their secrets. She ran as fast as she could, stopping every few minutes to catch her breath. Her clothes were completely drenched and her shoes mud covered. She had only managed to fall a few times and she could feel the scrapes across her knees as her feet squished into the ground.

  Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stopped again to try to get her bearings. It was too dark out and she had no idea where she was going. She was half hoping that Obi would find her, but she was still upset with him. Her head swirled with confusion as she dropped down at the base of a tree. She curled up and buried her head against her knees. A steady stream of water fell against her head as she started to cry. Her body shivered and she felt so alone.

  “Why the tears?” a voice said.

  Hitomi lifted her head searching in the darkness for the voice. “Obi?”

  “No,” the voice answered.

  Suddenly the rain stopped and the area around her became bathed in a golden light. She turned and looked at the edges where the light met the darkness. Outside the barrier of light it was still pouring down. Everything inside the barrier was bright gold and shimmered as if it was being hit by the sun.

  Hitomi stood up and brushed the water off of her. She glanced up at the illuminated barrier as she walked towards the center. “What’s going on?” she mumbled as she wrapped her arms around
her. Her body shook again not only because she was cold, but also in fear.

  “Don’t be afraid,” the voice said.

  “Easy enough for you to say. You’re just a voice.” Her eyes continued to search.

  “But you’ve seen me before.” The voice sounded closer and she quickly turned around. From the wall of sheer gold, a man appeared. He was incredibly bright and she shielded her eyes. She was unable to make out details until the glow began to dim. His hair was shimmering gold and his eyes were bright blue, but looked almost translucent. He was dressed simply in white pants and a white shirt with no shoes on.

  “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 sh
e 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.