Read what happens after the finale, Fateful Echoes (Sweet Burden Series Vol. 3)...
(**SPOILERS**)
Pt. 3
The Exception
(Sweet Burden Series)
Pt. 3
“Where’s my father?”
The High Court beings stayed silent, watching her as more
appeared from the rooms encircling the courtyard. While they appeared human,
she knew they weren’t. Each one of them had an ethereal beauty. They were
dressed head to toe in white and continued to watch her as some whispered to
each other.
“Father?” Hitomi
turned around searching for him. “Father?” More beings appeared making her more
anxious. “Isbian!”
“I am here,” his voice sounded.
She turned to find Isbian moving through a group of beings.
He started towards her as the whispering between everyone got louder and more
animated. She looked at him worried, but Isbian seemed at ease and overjoyed to
see her.
“My dear Hitomi.” He rushed over and pulled her into a hug.
“How are you? Are you feeling well?”
“I guess.” She shrugged and glanced around at all the faces watching
them.
“And how’s Obi?”
“He’s well.” Hitomi turned her eyes back to her father.
“Why’s everyone watching us?”
“They’re curious.” He continued to smile and took the fruit
from her.
“About what?”
“You, of course. Some are also big fans of your husband’s.”
At that Hitomi couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sure Obi will be
amused.” It still unnerved her that their lives were viewed as if a reality TV
show.
“It’s been awhile since you last visited. Is there a reason
or did you simply want to say hello?” He stepped back and took her hands.
“Although, you should be resting.”
She didn’t understand the comment, but disregarded it. “I
needed to talk to you about something. Well, Obi’s really the one who’s worried
about it, but…”
“Of course Obi would be worried. That’s natural.”
“So, you know?”
Isbian nodded with a large grin. “I’m not sure how it was
possible, but it happened.”
Hitomi was overly confused by his reaction. How could he be
happy about darkness still residing in her? Was she in a dream? Perhaps this
was a nightmare, but everything felt tangible and real. “I don’t know how you
can be pleased about this. Everything was going so well. Really well. And now we get news like this!”
Isbian dropped her hands seemingly confused by her. “I don’t
understand. I would have thought you’d be overjoyed. I’ll admit, at first, I
was somewhat unnerved. Considering you are so young in human years. But your
mother was the same age and the idea grew on me. Now I couldn’t be happier for
you and Obi.”
She stared at him utterly dumbfounded. Hitomi was done caring
about the three dozen beings now watching them. “What are you talking about my
mom for? I came to ask you about the remnants of Laebosu’s powers inside me,
but somehow you already knew…”
Isbian interrupted her. “Laebosu’s powers? What are you
talking about? You transferred the dark powers to Rediisu.”
“I know,” she replied exasperated. “But I haven’t been
feeling right. My powers seem to be going crazy and…” Hitomi stopped and
frowned. “What were you talking
about?”
Isbian put his hand to his mouth trying to hide his amusement.
“Hitomi.” He looked at her affectionately. “My daughter, the Goddess of Light,
you are the greatest gift I received. But what you don’t know is that you carry
the second greatest gift I could hope for.” Isbian took her hands again.
“Hitomi, you’re pregnant.”
Hitomi’s mouth dropped open and she stumbled back. Her father
held onto her, but she couldn’t focus on him. Pregnant? How could she be
pregnant? She was technically dead, as was Obi. It wasn’t supposed to be
possible.
Her eyes darted in every direction. So many other eyes were
watching her reaction to the news, but she couldn’t concern herself with them.
The news was unimaginable and unforeseen. Her knees went weak and Isbian helped
her kneel on the ground. “But…how…” The shock was causing her mind to reel and
she was unable to find the right words. Part of her was laughing at herself for
not thinking it could happen. Too much of the unfathomable already happened in
her life. “I thought…but, what about what’s been happening to me? My
memory-walking is out of control.”
“You are going through a bit of a change.” Isbian shrugged.
“A bit of a change?” she repeated appalled. “That’s an
understatement. I thought the worst. Obi thought the worst. We thought
something was seriously wrong.”
“Well, perhaps you both need to change your way of thinking.
Especially now with a child to consider.” Her father leaned forward and grabbed
her shoulders. “There’s nothing wrong with you. There is no darkness from
Laebosu inside you. You’re carrying a miracle.”
As if instinctively, Hitomi placed a hand over her stomach
and looked down. “But how? We’re two dead beings.”
“It must have something to do with Obi’s Phoenix status. I
can’t give you the answer you’re wanting. There’s no previous knowledge of a
child being born from the same circumstances. Of course, half-lings are common,
but nothing like this. If you’d like I’ll continue to try to find out. Perhaps
there’s something similar in one of the other worlds.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. There was suddenly too much
to think about. How was she going to tell Obi? Would he think she’d lost her
mind? What would everyone else think? Would it be a boy or a girl? Where would
they put a nursery? Would she be a good mother? Was she ready to be a mother? How was Obi going to handle the news? Obi…
“Obi,” she whispered.
“Hitomi, look at me.”
She lifted her gaze back to her father’s face. He wore a
sincere smile and let go of her. “It’s time for you to go back.”
She noticed the transparency of her skin and realized Obi was
pulling her back to the Heavens. Frantically she tried to think of the
important questions to ask her father. “Please try to find out any information
you can. And do you…” She bit at her lip feeling silly at the one question she
would have time to ask. “Will it be a he or a she?”
Isbian leaned forward before she disappeared. “I think I’ll
leave that as a surprise for you as well. I love you, my Hitomi.”
(To Be Continued)
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