Love or Duty

Chapter Three

A woman with long brown hair curled up, crying on the floor in a dark and empty room. Her back was leaning against the black wall with a large window. The full moon was in view, with its aerie rays falling on this tiny woman wearing a white flowy dress. She was all alone, and Vivian could feel her heartbreak by looking at the woman.

How many times had she seen this scene before?

This woman sitting in front of her felt so familiar. It felt like she was someone she knew.

A man walked past Vivian and sat down behind the woman. He lifted his head back as if he was leaning his back against hers. Even though the moon shone on his face, Vivian was too far away to see who it was. But she could make out the tears that fell from his face.

Vivian moved forward to get a closer look but was blocked by an invisible wall. She leaned against the wall and started pounding on it.

"Turn around! She's right there," she shouted towards the couple.

She shouted at the couple over and over again, wishing they could hear her. "Please, turn around", she begged, as her tears fell down her cheeks.

Vivian slumped down onto the ground with exhaustion; her vision blurred from crying.  

Out of nowhere, a hand embraced by a warm gold light touched her shoulder. A woman with golden hair, almost god-like aura stood before her. 

"Don't cry, little one!" the woman in gold said in a soft, soothing tone. 

"I promise you, I won't let this happen again," the goddess said.

"Who…what are you?" Vivian asked between shallow breaths as she tried to stop her crying and focus on this beautiful lady.

"We have met before. And we will meet again and again until the end of time." The goddess explained.

Vivian clutched her chest with one arm and started shaking her head, "please leave me alone!" She suddenly shouted at the gold woman.

The goddess flinched from the sudden outburst. 

"It's your fault! Everything is your fault!" Vivian cried.

The goddess reached down to comfort her again, but Vivian pulled away.

"Don't touch me!" She shouted 

—-

"I said don't touch me!"

Sebastian heard Vivian's shout from the room next door as he quickly jumped out of bed and ran to Vivian's room.

Wearing only long trousers, he quickly opened Vivian's door to find Vivian sitting up in bed with both arms wrapped around her body. She was shaking, rocking side to side and crying.

Without any hesitation, he quickly climbed into the bed and pulled Vivian into a protective hold.

"Is it the same dream?" He asked

Vivian leaned into Sebastian well-toned chest and only nodded. Her body relaxed into his embrace.

"I promise you, Vi, nothing will ever hurt you while I'm here," Sebastian said as he continued to hold Vivian in a tight hug.

Vivian didn't say anything, nor did she move. She slowly drifted back to sleep in Sebastian's arms.

Once she was asleep again, Sebastian slowly manoeuvred himself and Vivian to lie down in the bed without letting go of her sleeping body.

He rested his chin on her head and closed his eyes. "I love you, Vi," Sebastian whispered before falling asleep himself.

---

Eight years have passed since Sebastian, Sarah, and Vivian started living together in the Sky mansion. During these years, Vivian and Sarah's relationship developed into a true sisterly bond.  

Vivian and Sebastian's relationship turned from an innocent childhood crush to something a bit more.

Vivian was now 20 years old and quite the beauty. Thick, vibrant, waist-length brown hair and sky blue, bright eyes captivated people as she entered any room. Many men would do anything to hold her hand or even be in her presence. But Vivian Sky was the unattainable dream for all men. Not only was she physically protected by Sky bodyguards wherever she went, she hardly made any appearances in any social gatherings unless the great Philip Sky was in attendance.

You didn't want to be on the wrong side of Philip Sky. He only needed the tiniest excuse to destroy you and your family. No man could even come close to Vivian unless Philip Sky approved. But even if he did agree, how could you compete with Sebastian, the only man allowed to stand by Vivian's side?

Sebastian, now 25, was just as handsome as he was at 17. A bit taller and a lot stronger, he grew into a fine gentleman and a fierce bodyguard with Philip Sky's help and contacts.

-

Vivian woke from her sleep feeling warm. She looked up to see Sebastian shirtless holding her in a loving embrace. She blushed and tried to get up without waking him.

Sebastian felt Vivian's failed attempts to get out of bed, and he let out a chuckle. "you know, I'm fully trained to feel any movement, even when asleep," he stated as he unwrapped his arms from Vivian's body.

Vivian face developed into a brighter shade of red as she realised she couldn't escape him this morning. Sebastian quickly sat up in bed and held Vivian's face between his two hands, and leaned in to kiss her on the lips.

"Good morning, my love," he said as he finished his kiss.

"Tell me, why are you in my bed again?" Vivian asked, red-faced staring with her blue eyes into Sebastian's deep brown ones.

"I heard you shout for help in your sleep," he stated with a cheeky smile.

"I don't believe you." Vivian objected as she tried to pull away from Sebastian. "You are here every morning; it is starting to get annoying," she added.

Sebastian only hummed, "believe what you want. I would never lie to you."

"You know grandfather would never approve of this," Vivian stated, "you have to stop. We have to stop."

"Whether Philip approves or not. I love you." Sebastian said, "one day, you'll let me love you, and you'll love me back just as much."

Vivian wanted to gag at his words. Her face is more flushed than before.

 "Please get out of my room! I need to get ready for class," she said as she pushed him out of bed.

"Okay, okay," Sebastian said, raising his arms in defeat, "I'll let you go now, but I'll be back later and probably tomorrow.."

"Shut up, please go already!" Vivian shouted with her hands over her face.

Sebastian only laughed as he got out of bed. He purposefully stretched slowly in front of Vivian, showing off his incredible toned upper body that Vivian secretly loved.

Vivian having enough of his constant s****l advances, threw a pillow at Sebastian and jumped out of bed to push him out. But her weak legs gave way as she stood far too quickly, and she fell forward into Sebastian's arms. Her face is far too close to Sebastian's for her comfort.

Sebastian smiled cheekily. "So, you wanna kiss?"

---

A young girl with shoulder-length blond hair and hazel, almost gold, eyes raced down the hallway shouting, "Good Morning, Vi!" as she opened the door to Vivian's room.

She paused at the sight of her sister in the arms of a topless Sebastian.

"So, you wanna kiss?" she heard him say.

Both Vivian and Sebastian quickly separated with red faces as they noticed the nine-year-old girl at the door. Vivian turned around to face the window, trying to compose herself. While Sebastian turned to Sarah with arms out open to pick up the young girl, face no longer red.

Vivian cursed to herself. How does he recover so quickly?

"Good morning Sarah," Sebastian said happily.  

If he was disappointed in the turn of events, you couldn't tell. Sarah jumped up into his arms.

"Good morning, Seba," Sarah said cheerily.

"How come you get to sleep with Vi, and I don't?" asked a jealous Sarah.

Sebastian glanced at Vivian, who was still facing the window. He knew she was genuinely embarrassed after getting caught.

He smirked, "Because we are adults. Adults get to sleep together whenever they want." As he watched, Vivian clenched her fists and shook as she struggled to remain calm.

"Oh, so Vi and Seba sometimes sleep with Sam and Michael, and Levi and.." Little Sarah started rattling off the names of the guys that lived in the mansion.

"No! I don't sleep with anyone besides Sebastian," Vivian shouted with a red face.

Sebastian smirked again at Vivian - I got you -

Realising what she just revealed, she turned to face the window again in shame.

I'm going to kill this man.

Sarah was confused. "But that's not fair; I have to let them know they are allowed to sleep with her too since you can."

Sebastian didn't like the sound of that.

"No. You can't tell them," Sebastian said, trying to convince the nine-year-old.

"But I have to," Sarah interjected, "it's unfair you get my sister all to yourself! You have to share!"

"It's really up to your sister who she wants to sleep with," Sebastian tried to explain.

But Sarah wasn't listening. Her demeanour suddenly changed.

"You are not allowed to sleep with her!" She ordered.

Sebastian stared at the little girl in his arms. Vivian turned around at the sudden change in Sarah's voice, confused. She looked at Sebastian and then back at Sarah. There was some silent agreement taking place between the two of them.

"Did you hear me?" Sarah asked

"Yes," replied Sebastian.

---

"Hey! Is this where the party is at?" Came a voice in the hallway.

Vivian was grateful to hear the sound of Sam's voice calling from outside as his flat, blonde, slightly wavy head appeared in her doorway.

Sam was slightly shorter than Sebastian with a wider built body. Sam came to live in the mansion two years after Sarah and Sebastian settled in with the Sky family.

According to Sebastian, Sam and Sebastian went to the same middle school in their hometown of Quilton. Sam skipped a grade, so they were in the same class and became best friends. After graduating middle school, Sam continued his schooling in Quilton, while Sebastian and his family moved to Griffin (the small town outside of Swallow) for work.  

A year after Sebastian starting living in Swallow with Vivian, Sebastian visited Quilton and returned with Sam. Like before, Vivian was suspicious of their relationship. Her grandfather didn't question why Sam was here and agreed to Sebastian's proposal to allow Sam to live in the mansion.

"Sebastian, you should dress more decently before coming into a lady's room," Sam remarked as he entered the room.

"SAM!" Sarah cried out. She freed herself from Sebastian's arms and ran towards Sam.

"I found him trying to kiss my sister," she called out, tugging on his pyjama shirt.

Sam looked at Sebastian for instructions; Sebastian only shrugged.

"Can everybody get out?" Vivian suddenly spoke up. "I need to get ready for breakfast so I can make it to my morning class."

Sam picked up Sarah, "Come, Sarah, let's go down first." He said, "They look like they need some privacy." 

"Do you have school today?" Sarah asked Sam as Sam carried her out of the room.

"Nope!" Replied Sam with a big grin, "Super Mario Kart after breakfast?"

"YES" Sarah cried excitedly down the hall.

Sebastian took a step closer to Vivian and wrapped his arm around her. "I'll get ready too. Let me take you to class?" He asked and kissed her on her neck.

"You need to stop this" Vivian sighed but nodded at his request.

"I'll see you at breakfast," Sebastian said, as he kissed her one more time before reluctantly leaving her room.

Once the door closed, Vivian felt relieved.

-

Once Vivian was dressed and ready with her bags, she exited her room and ran into Levi in the hallway.

"I'm sorry, Levi. I didn't see you there," Vivian said

Levi shrugged, "it's fine; I wasn't looking either."

Vivian noticed he wasn't holding his bag.  

"Levi, where is your bag? We have that presentation in class today, remember?" She asked, confused, "you aren't bailing on us, are you?"

Levi suddenly swore, "s**t!" and ran back to his room to grab his bag.

Vivian shook her head and looked in the direction in which Levi ran. She then tugged her bag on her shoulders before turning around and head towards the dining hall.

Once she reached the dining hall, she could hear Sarah screaming from inside.

I wonder what upset her today? Vivian thought

"I want what Sam is having"

"No, not that one, THAT ONE!"

"The pink drink too."

"That's mine! Leave it alone!

A male voice shouted back, "YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE OTHER PEOPLE'S FOOD SARAH!"

"YES, I CAN" Sarah yelled back.

A familiar voice behind Vivian startled her, "I think I'm gonna pass on breakfast today."

Vivian turned around to see Sebastian.

"Me too," came Levi's voice from behind.

Vivian nodded in agreement. Looking at Sebastian, she asked, "Sebastian, can you also take Levi to the University today?"

Sebastian looked at Levi, "you are studying together?" He questioned.

Levi shrugged, "you can say that."

Sebastian got a bit annoyed; he planned to spend as much time as possible with Vivian before class. Vivian noticed his change in attitude. 

"Quit being jealous!" Vivian said, getting annoyed at Sebastian, "we have a presentation with Hannah and Greg this afternoon. We are going to go over our slides."

"Yea," Levi added in an unenthusiastic voice, "this professor is a real b***h; she always asks questions."

Vivian nodded in agreement. Sebastian sighed in defeat.

"Alright, let's go before this door opens. I'm not dealing with that crazy so early in the morning," Sebastian stated.

Sebastian held his hand out to Vivian. She looked at him and gave him her bag rather than her hand to hold while smirking.

"You can hold this for me; it's rather heavy today," said Vivian laughing and started walking away from him.

"You can hold my hand if you want to hold someone's hand," added Levi before following Vivian.

Sebastian groaned quietly before tagging along.