Odessa
The sun sat in the sky, sending its scorching rays down on the manor. I couldn't bear the heat, so after my bath I slipped into an armless red dress that sat perfectly my body. Marcel got this dress for me and I haven't worn it before today.
I walked out of the room and headed back upstairs to Marcel's mother's room. She was already asleep when I opened the door, so I let her sleep and went straight outside, into the flower house at the back..
The sweet scent of flowers mixed in the air, and I twirled around, admiring all the rare species inside.
"Beautiful…" I muttered as I picked up a basket from the side and occupied myself with picking flowers. I couldn't settle for which one was the best because each one looked better than the next, but after I was done, I pulled out a chair by the desk and placed the basket on the desk.
There were blank papers by the side, and a cup filled with pencils.
I smiled as I picked up a pencil and scribbled some lines on the paper. The last time I drew something was before the mayor saw me as a property to be sold…
The more lines I scribbled, the more it morphed into the flowers I picked. But that wasn't enough. I put the paper away and pulled a blank one again.
This time, I focused all my attention, and my fingers worked fast. I could feel a presence around me, but I didn't lift my head from the paper, and my emotions almost got the best of me as I put all my efforts into the drawing.
I heaved a sigh of relief after I finished the drawing, and the rumbling of thunder outside the flower house jerked me back to reality.
Wasn't the weather hot as hell a while ago?
"I better leave here before someone sees me with these drawings.." I muttered to myself and quickly packed them up, including the basket of flowers I picked.
I turned to leave, and I bumped into Marcel on my way out. If I weren't holding on to the papers tightly, they would have scattered all around like the flowers did.
"What are you doing here?" I asked and immediately regretted it because this place clearly belongs to him.
"My mother asked for you, and I had to search for you… Dahlia said she last saw you entering here," he replied sternly, and I lowered my head.
"I gave the task of taking care of my mother and you're here wandering around in the flower house when you should be by her side.." he pressed further but his voice softened this time.
"I'm sorry for leaving her side, Marcel…" I started. "But when I last checked on her, she was asleep and I didn't want to disturb her. I'll go see what she needs right away," I explained and made to leave, but he tugged at my arm.
"Dahlia already did that, and she needs to rest.." he said, and the sky rumbled again. I saw his eyes on my hands, and I turned the drawings in my direction to block them from his sight.
"I need to get back to my room….. master.." I blurted and avoided his gaze, but he wouldn't let me pass.
"Master?" He said and chuckled. "Since when do you refer to me as your master?" He asked.
"I noticed miss Thana doesn't like the idea of me calling you by your first name… so I don't wish to anger her seeing that she'll be the lady of the house in no time" I replied, still avoiding his eyes.
I could feel his eyes on me, and the tension between us grew stronger. Marcel closed the distance between us and gently grabbed my arm, pulling it up to see the contents of that drawing.
His grip on my arm was gentle, yet so strong that it felt almost impossible for me to pull my arm away from him. I finally let go of the papers and he first saw the flowers.
"You really are talented.." he muttered and flipped the paper over, revealing the second drawing. My heart sank deep into my stomach, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
He smiled with his eyes as he scanned the sketches and slowly looked up at me.
"You really think I have horns?" He asked and I muffled my laughter as I stared at the drawing again. It was a rough sketching of his face and I added horns to his head.
"You weren't supposed to see that.." I replied and pulled it away from him. "Please just let me go. I don't want anyone to start having wild thoughts when they see both of us alone here," I probed, but the sky opened up right before I could leave.
Marcel grinned and folded his arms behind him like he always does.
He pulled a seat out for me and I reluctantly sank my buttocks in it. Staying alone with him was sending several messages to my nerves and my brain. Messages I couldn't control.
"Are you cold?" He asked, and I shook my head even though I was freezing.
I occupied my mind with the flowers around, until lightening struck and thunderbolts echoed in the skies. I slowly opened my eyes and then realized I was holding on to Marcel so tightly like my life depended on it.
He stroked my hair gently, but I immediately pulled myself away from him.
"I don't bite Odessa…" he started, and my brows furrowed. I was irritated already.
"But you have a lover!" I blurted. "One you would lay down your life for, Marcel…"
"And for some reason I feel drawn to you… can't you see?" He shot back, and I clenched my fists.
"You disgust me, Marcel…." I snarled in a low voice. "One minute you're all over my face, and the next minute you're pleading your love and faithfulness to the woman of your dreams…" tears had already welled up in my eyes, and I tossed the papers on the floor, storming out in the rain.
"Odessa!" He called out, but I didn't stop. Not until he grabbed my arm and I yanked it away. "I don't know what I feel for you, Odessa, but I need you to understand that I –"
"That you're in love with Thana and you always will be! I begged you to save me from that mayor, and you promised to keep me safe. I was grateful for the much you did for me, and I was ready to accept my fate as your slave and not your wife…" Warm tears trickled down my face despite the cold showers from the sky.
"But what I can't stand is the fluctuations in your actions, Marcel. You kiss me so passionately, and the turn around to rub your love for Thana in my face and all of a sudden you're back into my own space all over again?" My voice was breaking slowly, but I wasn't done speaking.
"You're making my life miserable–" my lips were shut up with his, and the warmth of his kiss almost made me forget what I was ranting about.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close to his body, and our kiss grew even deeper. I could taste the saltiness of my tears as a soft moan escaped my lips.
I immediately regained control of my mind and pulled myself away.
"You're a horrible human being, Marcel…" I cried and walked back into the manor, clothes drenched and tears flooding down my face.