Chapter Twenty: An Immortal's Love
I am a deity, an immortal being that time cannot ravage. I am powerful, all knowing, all seeing. I used to be cold and calculating in my decisions and had no need for trivial things such as emotions. The only things I was capable of feeling was anger and hatred, the fury so hot I could kill without a second thought. Then a strange human came into my life, at first nothing but a pest that needed to be done away with. For the longest time she dared my anger, spoke with disrespect, and assaulted my being. But, in the process she stirred my spirit like no other.
Her pride and sharp tongue caught me off guard; it was an oddly refreshing change in my solitary life. From there she had me hooked; I was unable to do without her frequent company. Very slowly she managed to melt my cold exterior and peel back each layer of my closely guarded heart. Soon I came to care for this fragile and easily broken creature. Her existence was as fleeting as the wind; it would come and go in the blink of an eye. But I wanted to spend every second with her, to see every smile that she had to give.
Then she whispered those sweet words in a low voice, I felt genuine joy soar through me. When I didn't answer her, still processing this alien feeling, she called me by that name. Irritated beyond belief, I surprised myself when the words flew past my lips. "Do you wish to know my name?" I asked. I imagined Hikari saying my true name with that same dreamy look in her eyes; I very much wanted her to say my name. "I…" her words were choked, as if she needed to force them out. "Yes?" I asked. "I can't." she mumbled.
Pain, vicious in the speed in which it spread, lanced through me. I felt my heart throbbing with that hated pain that came with rejection. With just two words this woman was capable of ripping away my guard and leaving me bare to the raw feelings she inflicted on me. "Why?" I asked. "It's because I love you that I can't." she replied, hiding her eyes behind her hands. "I can't hurt you, one day I will die and you'll be left alone. We… we will both suffer." Those last shaky words sounded distant, echoing in my ears as if they weren't her own. I roughly grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. Her hands left her face in surprise and I could see the tears falling from her brown hues.
"That is not the truth and you know it, tell me why Hikari." One thing this woman did not realize was that I am still an immortal. Even though she was able to make me feel that did not change my true nature, when angered I was capable of anything. Hikari shook herself from my grasp and tried to escape the cage my arms had made around her. I tightened my aura around her, stealing her will from her limbs and forcing her to stay still. "Do not run from me."
My tone was one of steely calm, both lethal and placid depending on her next action. "You claim to love me. Yet here you sit while driving a knife into me, not even bothering to acknowledge that you are doing it? I was right about you humans all along, you are all the same." "No!" She screamed and met my eyes. "We are not all like that!" I smiled, "Then explain why you hurt me so."
He was terrifying. I guess in all this time of seeing his second nature I forgot what he truly was. His smile was one of cold hatred, cruel in the way it contrasted with his beautiful eyes. Even amongst my emotional turmoil I lost myself in those eyes. I loved the way the golden and copper flecks played off the crimson that lighted his iris. But even though he projected anger, I saw the truth behind the glare. What I am doing at this moment is hurting him, I knew then that this must be the smile he wore when he bade farewell to the Goddess long ago. This is what he must have felt before he left.
"Is it so hard for you? If you reject me now, then why have you bothered seeing me every day? Why make me feel just to wound me further? Do you not understand anything; maybe you just enjoy toying with me?" His arms tightened around me and held me in a painful grip. "No… I would never do those things. I don't enjoy hurting you but…" I took a deep breath to steady myself but it didn't work. I was a jumble of nerves and mixed emotions. "If we do this… when I am gone…" I clutched his robes in my fingers and my tears dripped onto the cloth. "When I die you'll lock yourself away again in that dark place, you'll hate living once more."My anguish echoed in my voice. His arms relaxed around me and his chest fell with his relieved sigh. "Is that it?"
"What?" I asked. His power left my limbs and my body was returned to me. I reached up and wiped my eyes with the back of my hands. He gently eased my hands from my eyes and pulled my head down. I could just peek over his shoulder and see the end of his long braid. "What?" I asked into his shoulder. He stroked my hair and rested his cheek against my head. "I do not care for what the Goddess told you. You, Hikari, should not care either. I want you to tell me yourself, what is it you want?" "I couldn't possibly be so selfish!" I protested while trying to push away from him.
"All creatures are selfish are by nature Hikari, even I. Do you know what it is I want? I want you, all of you. I want your life, your heart, and loyalty. But I also want you to be happy Hikari. I want this most of all, so I will not force you. So please, tell me what you want." I shuddered at his words, those arrogant and caring words. He may be a stupid deity who didn't know the first thing about humans, but he sure knew what to say. I wrapped my arms around his back and dug my nails into his robes. The words tumbled in an incoherent mess out of my mouth.
"I can't hear you." He said. "I want to say your name. I want your loyalty and your heart." I sobbed. His laugh echoed in his chest and shook me. "Was that so hard?" "Shut it." I growled. He pulled my back to wipe away my tears, the liquid evaporated from the heat of his aura. "Hikari, when you are sad I am sad. I want you to always be smiling… I sincerely wish this." "Be still my beating heart." I said sarcastically. I felt more than saw his smile. "I even want you to keep that sharp tongue of yours. Hikari, we deities do not normally let mortals know our name. To share it means… sharing a special love. Do you understand this?"
"Yep." I replied. He frowned at my lack of words. "Are you sure you wish to know it?" he asked again. "I'd like to say your name sometime soon please." I said impatiently. He smiled again, creeper. "Thank you, your answer alone makes me happy." Oh you, I thought with a blush. "Someday, when we swear our love for one another, I will tell you." "WHAT? Why not now?" I exclaimed. He leaned in and rested his forehead against mine. "Because I will not tell you until you are truly mine." He said with a mischievous smile. I frowned and leaned back into him. "Possessive aren't you?" I grumbled. His only response was to laugh, oh how I sometimes wanted to punch his pretty face…
Can you imagine a love struck and completely happy fool? That's what I felt like as I pressed my hand to the glyphs and teleported to the base of the mountain. Despite the cold mountain air, my face was still flushed. I pressed my fingers against my lips, swollen from his uh… eager attentions. It was like a hot brand on me and I blushed furiously. One deity down and one to go. With picnic basket in tow I walked toward the Carpenters. Finn was resting in a low tree branch. When I called his name he jumped to attention and fluttered down to meet me. 'Hi!" He chirped. I smiled and planted him on my shoulder. "Hey." I replied.
"Why so happy?" he asked suspiciously. "You'll see soon enough." I replied. Shortly after I was parting the long grass and making my way toward the Harvest Goddess. She was waiting for me, her eyes expectant and calculating. "Hikari?" she asked in a sad voice. I strode up to her and placed the basket on the grass. I then flung my arms around her in a tight hug. "Hikari?" she carefully returned the embrace. "It did not go well." She said. "It's quite the opposite actually." I said while pulling away.
The Goddess's eyebrows lowered in confusion. "Then why come here?" she asked. I smiled and pulled some honey from the basket. She took it hesitantly and watched me with bewildered eyes. "I came to tell you that I love you Goddess. And so does your brother." I said. "And he actually loves me in his own prideful, arrogant, selfish, possessive…" I rambled. "Hikari…" Finn said in warming. "Oh right…" I said with a cough. "Well I came to tell you that I win Goddess. I also came to tell you that even though you don't approve I still want you to be in my life."
"What am I going to tell our red haired spawn when they ask about Auntie Harvest Goddess?" I asked. "Red…haired…spawns?" she asked. I nodded and pushed the honey into her still hands. "Auntie…Harvest…Goddess?" she whispered. I smiled and nodded again. "I'll let you sit on it." I said while turning on my heel and leaving. I laughed all the way, yet again leaving a deity to their bamboozlement.
Now let's fast forward. I am currently harvesting my flowers and I am about to go inside and make them into perfume. The entire time I was walking around like the love struck fool I told you about earlier. And even more good news! Lemon, my over protective and stubborn prize cow, was also hit by cupid. Well that's what I believed when I visited Cain when he called me about Lemon taking liking to one of his bulls. It turned out the opposite. Cain's prize bull, Arthur, had taken a shining to Lemon. But Lemon as it turns out is very hard to please.
When I walked over to check on her I witnessed her kicking poor Roger in the face when he neared her. Roger in kind just followed Lemon around like a lost puppy, not caring that his nose was bleeding from her vicious assault. So Cain had the brilliant idea of lending me his bull. So now Arthur was pestering Lemon as she attempted to graze, glaring at him the entire time with brown eyes. But I couldn't help notice that she kicked him less, and allowed him to come near her without chasing him off. I smiled and headed inside to make the perfume, arms full of Green Bell flowers.
I placed the flowers on my table and walked over to the letter I had received this morning. It was from Phoebe and I opened it. A wedding invitation opened up to me written in elegant script. Tomorrow at ten in the morning huh? I sure had the fancy clothes for it. I placed the letter on my bookshelf and marked my calendar. Tomorrow came faster than expected. When my alarm buzzed I hit the hated thing and groaned. I sat up and swung my legs out of the bed. Finn fell to the floor. "Hey…" he mumbled. "Get up." I hissed. The sprite fluttered into the air slowly. "You're helping me with chores today." I said.
Once we finished I headed inside and pulled on my pink formal gown, Julius picked it out, and I yanked on my black boots. When I mounted Lemon and prepared to leave I heard a pitiful moo. I turned to see a teary eyed Roger. "Oh come on!" I groaned. I met Lemon's eyes and the cow practically begged me to go now. "Sorry Lemon!" I hopped of her back and onto Cherry's. Lemon bellowed in outrage but couldn't beat the horses speed. I rode through town and up to the Church Grounds. I dismounted and told Cherry to stay put. The mare stared at me and lumbered off to chew on some flowers.
I opened the heavy church doors and Perry greeted me. "It's about to start so take your seat." He said. I walked along the pews until I found a little card with my name on it. I smiled as I realized I would be the closest to Phoebe on her special. The ceremony commenced. The music played and the church doors opened wide. Phoebe walked slowly in, clad in a lacey wedding gown that reached her knees and a smile upon her face. Everyone turned and smiled at the blushing bride. As Phoebe passed by I gave her a discreet wink.
Calvin reached out his hand and she took it. Wait a second; where in the hell did her bouquet go? "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Calvin and Phoebe…" Perry said in his best professional voice. After the necessary words Phoebe and Calvin said I do. "Please present the ring made of blue feather to your beloved." Perry said. You can make a ring out of a feather? Calvin placed the blue ring on Phoebe's finger. "I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride!" Perry exclaimed.
Phoebe's hands dropped to her sides as Calvin reached in and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips. When they parted and Phoebe's eyes opened, I witnessed the love she had shine within her. I felt a tight pang as I watched the scene before me. Would the Harvest King gaze at me with that look that Calvin had? Would I be that happy? The thoughts evaporated as I joined everyone in their cheering. We pushed the new couple outside and begin the lengthy process of congratulating. When it was my turn Phoebe took my hands in hers. "Hikari." She said smiling.
"Way to go Phoebe! You finally caught him!" we both giggled at the inside joke. "Make sure to invite me to your wedding!" Phoebe said before leaving to speak to her mother. I smiled and waved. My wedding? Not anytime soon with that idiot. Besides, how do you explain to someone you're in love with a deity? I managed to pull Calvin aside. "Remember, if you do anything to hurt her I'll knife you." I said with an evil smile. Calvin gulped and looked around as if Lemon was in the vicinity. "Lemon will get the leftovers." I said before releasing him. "Alright let's get a photo!" Simon said.
I stood beside Phoebe and smiled for the photo. "Cheese!" everyone yelled. We all headed over to the Brass Bar for the party. While the new couple danced I sat at the bar. "What will it be?" Hayden said with quivering mustache. "Water." I answered. "Oh no you don't!" Owen said as he dropped one burly arm over my shoulders. "We single people are getting good and drunk tonight!" he bellowed while downing the last of his rice cocktail. "Fill her up!" he called to Hayden. "I can't." I protested. "Unless you're spoken for you're going to drink!" He demanded. I glared at him as he ordered a grape cocktail for me. "Drink up." He ordered.
I glared up at him and crossed my arms. "Scared?" he taunted. With a swift movement I grabbed the glass and downed it. "I can outdrink you any day!" I said. Owen laughed and refilled my glass. "Let's see about that!" he challenged. As I rode home, after the very long after party, I staggered as I dismounted Cherry. "I guess I drank too much." I said to the horse, Cherry stared at me blankly. I giggled and stumbled to the house. I might have forgotten to mention that I'm a horrible drunk. All my inhibitions along with my common sense fled under the influence of alcohol. I also tended to be a notorious flirt.
I slipped my key into the lock and struggled with it. "Come on…" I hiccupped. I stepped back and placed my hands on the door. "Open sesame!" I called. The door didn't slide open like I expected. "Funny… it worked in Aladdin…" I giggled. "Hikari?" I looked back to see the Harvest King on the steps behind me. He looked down at me with concern. "Well if it isn't Mr. Fancy Pants!" I exclaimed. He raised an eyebrow in question. I stood on one foot with my hands in the air. "Look at me I'm a bird!" I said while flapping my arms. "What are you…? Hikari!" I lost my balance and fell back into his outstretched arms. "My hero!" I said through fits of laughter. "Have you been drinking?" he asked astonished.
"Pretty and smart." I said. He rolled his eyes and lifted me into his arms. "Wee!" I called. He pushed open my door and kicked it closed. "How did you open that?" I asked. "I'm not drunk." He stated. "Can deities get drunk?" he set me on my bed. "You need to rest until the alcohol fades." He said while pulling my shoes off. "Get changed." He said. He turned to give me privacy and I grabbed his braid. "What the…!" I yanked him back onto my bed and climbed on top of him. "What brings you here?" I asked. "Hikari have you lost your mind?" He growled. "Yep, with Owen's help." I said while playing with the bands on his arms. "Who is this Owen?" he asked in a deadly voice.
His eyes burned in jealous rage. "You have real pretty eyes." I said while leaning in close and peering down at him. It was odd seeing him below me when he always towered over me. "That is irrelevant. Now tell me who this Own is!" he yelled. I ignored him and slipped my hand inside his robe front. I rested my hand on his chest and I felt his heart beat under my palm. His chest rose and fell with his calm breathing. "Hikari…" he said in warning. "I wonder if the rest of you is as pretty as your eyes." I said with an evil smile.