Bastian
Chapter 175 - Sanctuary of My Heart

✧Sanctuary of My Heart✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Bastian laid Odette down upon the dry straw in the corner of the mill. He then proceeded to remove all the soaked items, starting with the picnic blanket that was wrapped around her, it had done nothing to protect her from the rain. Her shoes came off and he poured out the water pooling at the bottom. He sit between her legs then lifted her skirt to unhook the garter belt. Realising what he was doing, Odette quickly pushed down her skirts.

   “No, I will do it,” she said.

   “Stay still,” Bastian said, snatching the skirts out of her hand and returning his attention to removing her stockings. He inspected her ankle like a jeweller inspecting a priceless diamond. It didn’t look broken.  He quickly tied Odette’s ankles using a handkerchief from his pocket.

 “You’ll be fine, though I wouldn’t risk walking on it for a while.”  Bastian turned his attention to removing the other stocking, but Odette shoved his shoulder again. Bastian paused and looked at Odette, her bright red face caught his eye. She didn’t say anything to him and wrung out the hem of her skirt. He then realised the exposed nature of her thin, reedy legs and the depth held within her skirt. He felt his heat rise and became overly aware of her scent mixed with the fresh rain.

   Bastian stood up and backed away politely, brushing his lank hair out of his face. “Wait here, I’ll run back home and get some dry clothes for you.”

Odette, who was hastily adjusting the hem of her skirt, looked up at him in surprise. “There’s no need for that, we can cuddle up in the hay…”

   “No, Odette, you stay here, keep warm, I’ll be back in a moment.”

   Even before Bastian made it to the door, he heard footsteps approaching. “I think someone’s coming,” he said and Odette flushed with more embarrassment.

  “Sshh” Bastian put a finger to his lips and went up to the small window beside the door. It was a large, burly man in a long, deep raincoat. He was pulling a cart. He must be the farmer who owns the mill.

   “What do we do?” Odette said, fright evident in her face. Suddenly, the pain in her ankle returned, causing her to lose balance. Bastian came over and helped her before a tower of baled hay fell on their head. He hugged her tightly, then flung himself onto the straw-covered floor. The water wheel became a dirty mess. Before they could do anything, the farmer entered the mill. They rolled over and hid behind a collapsed haystack. 

“You damn rats! They made chaos again!  Why today! ” the farmer muttered angrily and  Odette felt her pulse race, scared they would be caught out. “Bloody rain, always when I have the most work to do.” he threw away the straw he had brought in his cart then started smoking. 

Bastian lay in the hay, his arms wrapped around Odette, holding her close. She could feel his warmth radiate from his body and she could feel his heart beating a slow, calm rhythm compared to her racing beat. 

“…Odette.” In a low whisper, Bastian held her more tightly. They lay still to avoid collapsing the haystack. Odette became quiet as she understood their situation and a wave of relief washed over him. His eyelids fell shut, releasing a ragged sigh of tension.

  Every time the farmer’s feet shuffled across the floor, Odette feared they would be caught, but it never happened. The farmer moved about, doing his chores, but never came around the hay that obscured them.

   There was the distinct sound of a lighter and the mill quickly filled with the acrid stench of a cigarette. They waited patiently for the farmer to finish his break and once done, the door slammed shut and the farmer was gone. As soon as they were left alone, Odette pushed herself from Bastian.

   She brushed off the hay that was now clinging to her and straightened the hem of her dress and tidied her hair. When she looked over at Bastian, he was still laying in the hay, eyes closed. Now that she was away from him, she could feel her body getting colder and colder. She wanted to go home, get a hot bath and put on some fresh, dry clothes.

   “Don’t bother,” Bastian said as she hobbled over to the door.

   She ignored him and continued to the door, he heard him get up and follow her and she felt fear wash over her. Was he going to do something to her? Was this her plan all along? Overcome with panic, Odette scrambled for the door and tried to fling it open, but it didn’t budge. Bastian came over her and tried to pushed it as well.

He let out a sigh.

“Stop it, Odette. It’s locked.” 

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

   Gradually the rain did subside. Bastian stood by the window, looking out at the grey, gloomy world.  “When the rain stops, the farmer will most likely return.”

  “How do you know that?” 

   Bastian waved a hand at a fresh pile of hay dumped in the middle of the mill, as if it would explain anything..

  “Odette, just leave it…” His eyes widened when he saw Odette limping and in tears.

Odette had whittled away the hours by keeping herself busy in the only manner she knew how, by cleaning up the mill. Bastian had told her not to bother several times, but Odette ignored him. Now, there was no work for the farmer to return to.

   “Are you quite finished?” Bastian said,  

“No,” Odette snapped, sweeping more vigorously.

“Will this make any difference?” Bastian took the broom from Odette, knowing she was using it as an excuse to avoid being alone with him. If he didn’t take it, she might even stir up the dusty floor. He had held back earlier, but now his patience was wearing thin.

“Give it back.”

“The farmer will be back soon, so what’s the point of you doing this madness?”

 Odette let out a frustrated grunt. “You know, this is why I never wanted to see you again.” She glared at Bastian with her reddened eyes and rosy cheeks. She had tried to hold back from saying harsh words.

   She had wanted these few days to become a good memory for them both. In a couple days, he would be gone forever and she would hopefully never see him again. Was it so much that their final parting was a good one, it would benefit the both of them. And this only deepened her resentment towards him for intruding into the sanctuary of her heart.

She knew this man wasn’t doing anything wrong  and it was unfair to blame him in this way. , but she couldn’t help but feel antagonised. The anger was mostly from disappointment in herself. She couldn’t turn away from him, who had suddenly appeared, though she should have suspected he would show up, he always did.

She accepted his ridiculous offer, and she was doing something she couldn’t understand.  She knew it was her choice and thus her responsibility, but it was difficult to control her emotions.

   “I came all the way out there, I started to feel better about myself, but here you are again, trying to ruin my life, why?”  Odette cried out, struggling to hold back tears, she wanted to stamp her foot in frustration, but the ankle was sore and felt swollen. 

The cousins took shelter in a watermill cottage just outside town. Rumors would undoubtedly spread. When a farmer came, they shouldn’t have hidden and just explained they were simply escaping the rain. But now they were trapped, uncertain of what excuse to give. Even in the midst of all this, she couldn’t forgive herself for succumbing such animalistic desires.

“Should I quash the rumors that you’re a woman obsessed with your cousin?” Bastian asked her with a hint of sarcasm, as he looked at her.

“What are you going to do now?” Odette tried to hold back her tears.

   Bastian gave her a hurt look, which was quickly replaced with something of scorn. He put down the broom and marched to the door like he was going to walk through it, but stopped just short and tried to put his foot through it instead. He was trying to kick the door down. Every forceful kick from him made the water mill quiver. The sound made Odette anxious and frightful. The whole building shook like it was going to collapse.

   It took a few tries, but eventually Bastian was able to burst threw it when he threw his whole body into shouldering it open. Falling thru the doorway, Bastian looked around to make sure no one was about. The road was still empty.

   Bastian turned back to the mill and looked at Odette with a flat expression as he slipped a thick stack of money under a stone to pay for the damages.

   “If you could have done that all along, why did you wait until now?” Odette said, her quivering voice carried through the wind and rain.

   “I guess I was underestimating myself,” Bastian approached her, holding the basket one last time. He’d rather face her disdain than give up at that moment.  “Even if you hate me, bear with it. There isn’t much left now.”  he said coldly, extending his polite hands.

“Shall we go then, sister?”

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