Bastian
Chapter 178 - Beautiful Nightmare

✧Beautiful Nightmare✧

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“Thank you for your understanding, Count Xanders, I will see you next Wednesday?” Odette said. Maximin gave his response and Odette hung up the phone. With that last call, all the scheduled lessons had been postponed for the time being.

   Lets stop. She could hear Bastian’s voice as a soft muffled from the other side of the door. He sounded colder than usual. At that moment, Odette realised this moment of reprieve should not be viewed as mere generosity. 

He would undoubtedly keep his promise. Last nights event should giver her enough assurances. Bastian had prepared well enough for a good farewell and now, so should she.

   Odette left the farm house with a polite bow and a thank you for allowing her to use the telephone. Bastian was already waiting for her at the bicycle, parked under a shady tree.

   She didn’t know what she should feel for the man that had so surreptitiously disturbed her peaceful life, only to satisfy his own greedy desires. She resented him for it, but at the same time she was thankful. Thanks to him, she had the chance to conduct a proper break-up. She decided she was going to be as selfish as he was, letting her heart flow with all the pent up feelings that have been building up over the years.

   “Are we heading to Count Xanders this afternoon, to teach…Alma?” Bastian said, trying to recall the name of his little girl.

   “No, I have rearranged all my appointments,” Odette said, getting on the back of the bicycle.

   “Why?”  Bastian said, frowning.

   Odette looked long and hard into his beautiful, cold eyes, a combination of bright blue eyes and long golden eyelashes. “It’s difficult to say, its a personal matter, I suppose.”

   With that poignant response, Bastian laughed. A cheerful and hearty laugh. “I see, than shall I take you home.”

   “Nah, let’s go downtown Rothewein. There is a cafe there that sells the most amazing coffee.”

   “But…”

   “I’ll buy lunch and you can get the coffee,” Odette said, wrapping her arms around Bastian’s waist as she climbed onto the seat.

   Although he looked shocked, Bastian pushed off and started peddling toward Rothewein, leaving the village far behind.

   At every cross road they came to, Odette pointed the way, even though Bastian already knew. The fields of brilliant flowers whizzed by them in a blur of vibrant colours. A train sped by them, making Odette bury her face into Bastian’s spine and she tightened her grip. She looked up at the clear, summer sky, sure of her decisions for the first time in a long time.

   After the nice meal at the coffee shop, she planned to enjoy a foamy coffee and a slice of decedent chocolate cake. It was something she had wanted to do with her husband so long ago in Ratz.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

They rode the bicycle all the way along the winding path from Rothewein and didn’t stop until they were back outside the stone cottage. Odette gracefully removed herself from the bike and adjusted the folds of her brilliant yellow summer dress. It was new and Odette didn’t want to spoil it with creases.

   “Go on ahead, sister,” Bastian moved the luggage to the porch, then headed back to his parked bicycle.

   “Where are you going?” Odette said as he moved away.

   “I have some business I need to take care of, I will be back before dinner, don’t worry.” 

   “How can you have business here of all places?”

   “I can’t really say, it’s top secret,” Bastian said with a sly grin. He got back onto the bike after taking out all their shopping. Odette couldn’t help but chuckle and watch Bastian as he rode away.

   Odette took the groceries inside and reflected on their time in Rothewein. It had been a perfect day. They had lunch at Rothewein’s most famous restaurant and the coffee in the cafe house terrace, which had the best view, would be something she would always remember. Then she went clothes shopping and bought the beautiful summer dress she was now wearing. It was hardly appropriate attire for the country, but she didn’t care.

  After she gathered her thoughts, Odette slipped into comfy clothes and headed to the backyard. She watered the garden and flower beds, doing all the housework she had not had time to do earlier that morning. Turning around, she noticed clothes that seemed freshly washed and hung by Bastian.

Odette gathered the dry laundry and made her way to the room where Bastian was staying.    When she stood in from of his close door, the memory of the other night rushed back to her.

‘What kind of nightmare was tormenting him?’

She turned the doorknob and noticed that everything was still clean and tidy. In a shabby room, there was an old bed and a closet with a broken door. It was to be expected, Bastian was a very organised man. It seemed unnecessary for her to clean anything.

Having folded the laundry, Odette decided to make the bed. It wasn’t until she pulled off the sheets to change them that she noticed a rather large red patch in one corner.

Trace of dried blood.

She stood by the window, staring down at the blood-stained blanket for quite some time. Another memory of the other night suddenly came back to her, flashes of anguished noises and Bastian’s refusal to let her see him.  She knew that it was better not to pry into matters Bastian wanted to keep personal, but she couldn’t help but worry about what had happened that night.

She knew it was better to close her eyes and pretend not to know. However, she chose not to continue the act of being a good wife. Taking the blanket, she returned to the backyard. She meticulously cleaned the stain, being careful not to soak it too much, gave it a good shake, and then hung it on the clothesline.

Odette went back to Bastian’s room, quickly rolled up the pillows and sheets, and pulled out the old mat from under the bed. Then, using all her strength, she dragged it out of the room.

Perhaps what she did might cause Bastian more pain, but she had made up her mind. This was her home, and she had every right to make decisions about it. She had a thought, the business of an uninvited guest was none of hers. 

Firm in her decision, she pushed the mat with all her might, crossing the threshold of the bedroom.

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His bed disappeared. 

To be accurate, his mat and blanket had vanished. He found this only after he returned to his room after dinner. He did not mention it, only Odette could see a deep sense of embarrassment when he he looked around his room. .

   “I’ve moved your bed,” Odette said and Bastian gave her a grim look.

    “On your own?”

   “Don’t worry, I didn’t touch anything.”

   “Why?”

   “You can come and sleep with me tonight, so you can get a decent nights sleep.”

   Bastian was taken aback and laughed as she spoke.  “Look here, Lady Odette…”

   “I don’t want to go through the same thing that you put me through last night,” Odette said, ignoring Bastian’s protests. “Keeping you by my side might not prevent nightmares, but at least you won’t have to worry.”

“Do you even know what you’re talking about?”

“Yes, I know exactly, so you won’t have to worry.”

“I’ll get it back.” Bastian said and got up to leave, but Odette was faster and blocked his way out of the dinning room. “Please step aside.”

   “No, Bastian. You have no right.” Odette stood her ground, pouting sternly at Bastian. “I understand that it might be me that is causing your nightmares, but I won’t apologise, it’s not my fault.”

   “Don’t get pushy, Odette.”

   “If you hate being around me so much, why did you come all the way out here to see me?” Odette said coldly. “Maybe you wish to ease your guilt for the things you did to me, if so, then you have to allow me to handle my feelings my way.”  Bastian stared blankly at the beautiful nightmare before him. Odette’s eyes eyes raged like fierce, blue ocean waves in a tempest. “I will spend the last night with you and if you don’t like that arrangement, then feel free to leave now.”

Bastian let out a long breath. The night had deepened, and outside the window, an all-encompassing darkness blanketed everything.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Bastian was already lying in bed, reading a book. He looked ready for sleep already. When he looked up at her, she turned away quickly and brushed her damp hair. This was her idea, but she felt on edge, while he looked relaxed like the room’s owner. Her worries about what might happen if he chose to leave the house felt useless.

   With a sigh, she sat at her vanity and continued with her bedtime routine. She could see him in the mirror, watched him put down his book and lay his head on the pillow, never taking his eyes from her back.

   Odette checked the tight knot of her gown, suddenly worried about exposing herself to him and then rigorously applied moisturiser to her face. She took a lot longer than usual with the cream and brushing her hair, she was delaying. When she accidentally dropped the lid of the cream, Bastian chuckled and Odette felt a hot flush of embarrassment.

   By the time she was done with brushing her hair dry, Bastian was already asleep. His eyes closed and his chest gently rising and falling. The anxiety melted away and she smiled softly at his calm visage, the floral blanket she had washed pulled up to his chin. Surprisingly,  the flower print suited with him However, she chose to keep it secret, knowing that compliment wouldn’t make him happy.

   She turned off the lights and fumbled her way into bed, the sound of night time critters lulling her to sleep, but she couldn’t get to sleep. She tossed and turned several times, and felt sure that she must have woken Bastian up several times. He had not stirred even once, though, didn’t even move or flinch.

   After an hour or so, Odette had reached the limit of her patience. As soon as she lifted the blankets, Bastian opened his eyes. It made Odette jump and she fell on top of him. He let out a grunt as her weight pressed on his chest.

   She could feel his heart racing as they stared into each others eyes in the gloom of the night, celestial radiance the only source of light. In that moment, she felt like she understood why he had come here. 

Pity, guilt, what was she to him in the past? 

The question that had been on the tip of her tongue ever since he showed up.

   Bastian reached out a hand and Odette felt her own heart race, her cheeks became hot, her lips parted. His hand gripped her shoulder, not firm, but delicate and yet, still strong. With absolutely no effort at all, Bastian pushed Odette off of him.

   Am I just some woman you found detestable, but now only pity?

Tather than through words, Odette asked the question with her kiss, seeking the answer in the warmth of Bastian’s lips.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

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