Web Short #2- The Exception (Sweet Burden Series) Pt. 2

Read what happens after the finale, Fateful Echoes (Sweet Burden Series Vol. 3)...

(**SPOILERS**)

Pt. 2

The Exception

(Sweet Burden Series)

Pt. 2

Hitomi tried to put off contacting her father, but Obi remained persistent. Three days passed since Jinx’s arrival, but he left after only a day to go talk to Zeric. Obi told her the basics of Jinx’s story. Basically Sabra used him, keeping him as her lover and when he refused to give her what she wanted she decided to take what she desired in the form of Zeric. Obi didn’t go into much more detail. He seemed okay with what Jinx told him, but she knew he was also occupied with what was going on with her.

During the past few days Hitomi had a few more memory-walking episodes. She went into one of Obi’s memories, one of Sophie’s and two of Kerry’s. She tried to make light of them, but Obi wouldn’t drop the subject. He started practically begging her to contact her father. In truth, Hitomi was scared to find out if darkness could still be inside her.

She lay in bed early in the morning listening to Obi’s rhythmic breathing. Hitomi leaned over and kissed his cheek. He let out a hum, but didn’t wake. Slowly she climbed out of bed and changed into a bathing suit. She felt the need to clear her head and since arriving in the Heavens swimming seemed to be the only way. It was extremely early and the palace grounds were quiet.

Hitomi moved down the steps of the pool and submersed herself. She stayed below the surface for a few moments enjoying the silence before leisurely swimming laps. The water moving across her skin felt like silk and she easily forgot her worries until she suddenly forgot herself.

“Are you alright?” a voice asked. Hitomi shivered and brought her head up. Through blurry eyes, she glimpsed a hand outstretched to her. It was Obi and this was the first time she met him.

“I’ll be fine,” Hitomi mumbled in between sniffles and shudders. She remembered trying to make out who the hand was connected to. She wiped away her tears and saw Obi. His face was hidden in shadows, but she would recognize him anywhere.

“You should get out of this alley,” he pushed his hand closer to her, motioning with his fingers to come with him.

Her former self was initially apprehensive, but now she longed to touch him. She stretched her hand out and placed it in his. She steadied herself on her feet and tightened her grip on her shirt.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he questioned.

She looked down at herself. She had been terrified at the time, but Obi made everything seem to disappear. Her gaze shifted to their hands still clasped together and she nodded. Hitomi lifted her head to see him as he squeezed her hand, but then he quickly let go and turned away from her. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, but this was a memory, not a dream.

“Please don’t leave.” His voice said behind her. Hitomi turned and suddenly she was in her room. Obi was lying on her bed. This memory was when Obi came to her after he was whipped and tortured for failing to kill her.

“You need to get some sleep,” she said.

“I’ll sleep better if you’re here,” he replied.

Her body trembled as she moved back over. “Okay.” She set down the bowl she had in her hands from cleaning his wounds and moved the chair back over to her desk. She sat down and opened her laptop as she heard him moving around in the bed. She listened to it creak as he got comfortable and then it was silent. Hitomi stopped herself from peering over her shoulder to look at him.

“Come here,” he mumbled after a few minutes.

“Obi, go to sleep.” Hitomi remembered feeling so nervous. She knew what he meant at the time, but she was so inexperienced.

“Not until you come here.”

Hitomi turned to him. He was lying on his side facing her and he had scooted back towards the wall. Her heart began racing as she stood up. She recalled how she thought his eyes looked different. They looked warmer. She walked over to the bed and wondered inside how she didn’t fall into his arms.

“Do you need something?” she asked stupidly.

He quietly sighed and closed his eyes. Obi’s hand lazily lay on the empty side of the bed. He lightly patted the mattress. As she pulled back the sheet, it felt as though sparks were hitting all of her nerves even in the memory. She slowly climbed into bed and brought the sheet up over her. She shifted onto her side facing him. How did she not realize she loved him even this early into knowing him?

“Are you warm enough?” she asked.

He nodded his head as his eyes opened. Obi moved his free hand up to where Hitomi had hers tucked under the pillow. Reaching under the pillow, he laid his hand on top of hers. Hitomi wondered if he felt the wave of warmness move over his body when they touched as she did. He watched her as if he was waiting for her to pull away. But she didn’t. She welcomed his touch. He let out a little hum and his eyes closed again.

Hitomi wanted to lay there and watch him forever, but she moved from the bed and as she turned around she was suddenly running through the woods. Her lungs ached from the cold damp air. Her mud covered feet felt numb. She grabbed onto a tree to quickly catch her breath. Hitomi leaned back against the trunk and tried to focus on slowing her gasps. She tilted her head up looking for the sky, but it could not be seen due to thick tree coverage. Her body shuddered violently from the frigid air or maybe it was her desperation. She remembered feeling overwhelming anxiety. She had to find Obi.

She scraped her feet against a patch of moss at the base of the tree trying to clean them off as much as possible. Despite her freezing, a trickle of sweat traveled down the side of her face and she wiped it away. She took a deep breath preparing for another run. She stepped away from the tree swiveling her head from right to left when she saw him walking in her direction.

His head was down and his hands stuffed in his pockets as he unknowingly walked towards her. She took a few steps towards him and stood directly in his sight line. Suddenly his head lifted and his eyes met hers. He stopped for a second as she started forward.

Her heart was ready to burst through her chest as her pace accelerated. His hands slipped out of his pockets as he moved to her. Her mind raced as her steps turned into a jog. Their eyes were fixed on each other as the distance between them shortened. She was almost to him, only a few feet away, when she abruptly stopped. If there was a way to kick her other self she would have, but she knew how nervous she had been.

But Obi did not stop. He stepped up to her, placing his hands on the sides of her face. Obi leaned down pulling her face to his and pressed his lips hard against hers for their first kiss.

His hands moved down grasping at her waist and bringing her closer to him, but now tears were streaming down her cheeks as she moved her hand up to his chest. She could feel the heat of her hand as it started to burn brightly. This was one of the moments she always regretted and having to see it again was painful.

“I’m sorry,” Hitomi whispered against his lips. She pushed her hand hard to his chest and stumbled back, but she couldn’t stop herself. She wanted to lose her voice. She wanted to stop it, but the memory continued. “Obsidian, I release you from your duty as my protector and I, as Goddess of Light, fully remove all protector powers bequeathed upon you.”

Obi jerked as if electricity shot through his entire body. His eyes widened as shock spread across his face and then suddenly he became enraged. He grabbed her arms tightly. “What have you done?”

“I had to release you. I can’t risk you getting hurt again.”

His grip on her intensified as he violently shook his head. “But there’s always a risk. I’m still going to be next to you, bound or not.” His voice got louder. “Don’t you understand that I love you?”

“I know Obi.” She pulled out of his grasp and stepped backwards. “But I can’t be selfish anymore. It was preposterous of me to think that I could become the Goddess of Light, rule the Heavens, and have you all at the same time. It can’t be done.” She now knew it could be done. It was done. They were happily together. Hitomi had to remind herself that these events were in the past, but seeing them again didn’t make it easier. She knew the horrid events that followed too well.

When she blinked her eyes again, Hitomi was kneeling in the snow over Obi’s body as she thought he lay dying. “Please Obi,” Hitomi begged. She dropped her head down onto his chest feeling the wet sticky blood against her face. There was barely any beat to his heart left. “Let me save you.”

“You already did.” He let go of her hands and ran his fingers through her hair. “You let me love you. You made me a better person.” He turned his head glancing back at Guri. “Deiman is still nearby. You need to get her out of here. Please Guri, take her.”

Hitomi lifted her head slightly and looked up at him. He had a slight smirk on his face and tears in the corners of his eyes. She brought her face up to meet his and put her hands on either side of his neck. Lowering her face, she pressed her lips against his. He kissed her back weakly.

“I love you Obi. I love you,” she cried in between kisses.

She felt his hand fall from her hair and suddenly his lips were motionless. Hitomi pulled back looking at him. Even now the memory felt like a fresh wound.

“Obi? Obi!” Hitomi shook him fiercely. She squeezed her eyes shut not wanting to see anymore.

“Hitomi, I…” Obi started breaking the silence as her eyes shot open seeing him in the reflection of the mirror. But at this moment, he was Mattias to her. She had yet to remember their past. He abruptly stopped his words as his eyes traveled over her. “You look so beautiful.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. She recalled wanting to say so many things, but she didn’t know how to express all the feelings bottled up inside her. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her throat. She swallowed and tried again, but this time before she could Obi rushed up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. His body trembled against hers as she melted into his embrace. Her eyes lifted to his as they watched each other in the mirror. The electricity of his touch pulsed through her and instantly warmed her.

He lowered his head and skimmed her shoulder with his lips before pressing them lightly against her neck. “I can’t bring myself to stay away from you,” he whispered.

“I never asked you to.” Her voice came out thick and shaky.

His eyes met hers again in the reflection. “Actually, once upon a time you did but I don’t listen very well.” A smile hinted at the corners of his mouth.

“How are you here?”

“It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m here.” He reached up and moved her hair away from her neck. “We don’t have much time.”

“It’s not safe for you here.”

“I’m not leaving you here. Not again.”

“Mattias, I can’t leave…”

He tightened his grip on her waist. “You’re not going to be able to stop me from taking you out of here. I will throw you over my shoulder and drag you out if I need to. I can’t protect you here.”

“But the Heavens. I can’t leave London in power.”

“Hitomi.” He spun her around to face him tangling the bottom of her dress around her feet. He didn’t give her another chance to protest. Obi gripped her waist and brought his lips to hers. Every ounce of want and need poured out of them. His mouth was firm and slightly rough at first, but when Hitomi wrapped her arms around his neck they softened. His teeth nipped at her lower lip as Hitomi’s fingers moved up his neck pushing into the waves of his hair. A groan vibrated through his throat and he tightened his grip while lifting her from the floor.

When he lowered her to the ground, there was a roar of applause. Hitomi couldn’t stop smiling as Obi kissed her again. Even though there were over a hundred pairs of eyes on them, she felt like they were the only two in the entire world. Their wedding was a breathtaking event marking the beginning of a time of peace.

“As much as I want to keep kissing you right now…” Obi whispered.

“Then don’t stop,” she said. Hitomi recalled wanting to spend the whole day wrapped in his arms, but they were King and Queen of the Heavens. Unfortunately there were expectations, but even so Hitomi wanted to spend a few moments alone with her husband.

Obi laughed and suddenly scooped her up in his arms. “Your wish is my command, my love.” He leaned over kissing her again as he moved down the aisle. Hitomi barely noticed the guests clapping and throwing flower petals. Her smile was wide across her face and she couldn’t stop laughing as he peppered her with kisses.

He carried her away from the crowd moving down the beach. When he let her down, he knelt in front of her and slipped off her shoes.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Getting a little time alone with you before we go to the reception.” Obi took his shoes off as well. He carried their shoes in one hand and took her hand in the other. “Was the wedding everything you ever wished for?”

“Were you there?” she asked slyly.

Obi grinned and nodded.

“Then, yes. It was everything I ever wished for.”

“C’mon.” He pulled on her arm and led her along the water. As they walked along the beach everything became blindingly white. Obi’s hand disappeared and Hitomi spun around in the nothingness.

“Obi?” she called out. Her head turned looking for any sign of him, but then she noticed a small speck of darkness in the distance. She started towards it tentatively, but then she was running. As she neared it, the speck turned into a doorway. There two huge wooden double doors in the middle of oblivion. One of the doors was cracked open and a child stood with their back to her. The little boy was dressed in a white shirt and shorts. He had deep auburn hair that was slightly messy.

“Excuse me?” She knelt down behind him.

The little boy turned to her with his rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes. He smiled and laughed before running through the doorway. The door closed with a deep thud.

“Wait!” She hurried after him, stumbling through the doorway.

Hitomi stepped onto the plush grass as the sun warmed her skin. As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was in the courtyard where she always met Isbian. How was she in the High Court suddenly? She searched for the boy, but he was gone.

She moved over to the ambrosia tree and plucked a fruit from the branches. She thought about all the memories she relived. Every one of them had to do with Obi. What was significant about those memories? It started to worry her when she felt a presence. Turning, she expected to see her father but it wasn’t him. Two beings were watching her as they stood outside one of the rooms. They were both dressed purely in white and watching her with curiosity. She then noticed three other beings emerge from another room. They stopped and watched her as well. Suddenly they were surrounding her sending her nerves racing.

It seemed they did know something she didn’t.

(To Be Continued)