even two days after the yacht / nick's past incident happened, seraphine didn't bring it up.

she didn't bring it up over breakfast with everyone.

she didn't bring it up with nick when he tried to bring her to bed that night.

however she did bring it up when darlene pulled her aside to play mini golf, because of course they had a mini golf course.

"look darlene i know i just told you all that but do not tell nick i know about this."

darlene had her golf club slung behind her shoulder like a weapon, her other hand sporting a floral tea cup.

"oh i already knew, nicky's a bit of a coocoo for thinking nessa wouldn't tell you."

seraphine frowned, "you think he knows?" (cue the taylor swift song.)

darla shook her head, "ish, i think he's in denial."

she took another sip out of her tea cup before setting it down on a table nearby. she lined up the golf club and...

smack.

it shoots way out of the mini golf area, and the two watched as it fell off the cliffside, returning to mother nature. darlene didn't seem bothered at all, but upon seeing sera's face, she spoke.

"don't worry, the balls are biodegradable."

of course they were.

"want some?" darla offered, her golf club set down on the floor behind her, forgotten as she hands the tea cup to sera.

seraphine sniffed it, recoiling, "is this vodka??"

"with tea leaves in it!" the other girl said proudly, "my own invention!"

"wow yeah it looks uh...interesting," sera commented, handing the cup back to darla.

the tea cup made its way back to the table in a satisfying clink, and darlene turned back.

"you want my honest opinion?"

seraphine considered it, "well...yeah"

darla looked at her. left right, top bottom, as if assessing if she was ready for pure honesty.

"i think you should leave..."

"what!"

"him i mean," she finished, scratching the back of her neck suspiciously.

"oh..."

"lot's of fish in the sea seraphine, lot's of pretty pretty fish."

"thanks?"

"oh your welcome!"

darlene suddenly looked down at her watch, a rolex plated in rose gold, and her already big doll eyes went even larger somehow.

"oh i have to go!"

"like now?"

she fixed up her hair before clearing her throat, "good game yeah? i'll see you at dinner!" then she sped off, leaving no further explaination for her sudden leave.

seraphine dropped her own golf club, completely unused but a surprisingly a fun object to hold. it felt so safe, like a weapon.

abandoning the golf course too, she walked through the gardens. the moreaus had an insane amount of money, that was clear, but she wondered dearly how much was put into the gardens.

sprawling green fields,

flowers galore,

a orchard with hanging fruits that glistened in the summer heat,

a golf course and hedge maze,

who even needed a hedge maze?? it felt entirely out of place yet so very fitting to the absurd richness of it all.

and somehow seraphine wasn't able to fully enjoy it all, a nagging feeling in her chest made the whole place feel unsettling.

"seraphine!"

in the orchard, or actually standing right outside of the orchard was cassiel, a shy smile playing over his face. instinctively, she walked up to him.

"hey..."

cassiel scratched the back of his head, "you look lost.."

she chuckled, "hard not to be, i'm just looking around."

he fixed his hair, "beautiful isnt it?"

his voice had an accent, british but not quiet and seraphine loved the way it sounded, chills peaking up her spine.

"are you english?"

cassiel looked to her, "scotland originally."

"that's the accent?"

he grinned, but it was nothing like the way nick did. when nick grinned he returned to a child like state, a cunning glint in his eye, playful. when cassiel did it, it was gentle, shy, it made her curious.

"s'pose so"

she looked on at the fruit baskets scattered around his feet. peaches filling up to the top.

"do you...care for the orchard?"

cassiel nodded, his eyes never leaving her in a way that made her stomach flip, "whole garden actually, big job"

seraphine turned to gesture to the rest of the violet shore gardens, "it's beautiful though, you're good at it."

"thank you...mrs moreau."

she laughed, "mrs?"

he looked confused and scared all at once, "oh i just though you and mr. nicholas..."

"just dating," seraphine stated, harsher then expected, "we're just..dating"

"sorry.."

she smiled, "don't be."

cassiel turned around to pick up an unfinished basket, "peach season," he stated, "wendy wants to make pie."

without putting too much thinking, sera offered help, reaching out to pick a half filled basket.

his eyes went wide, "oh miss you don't have to.."

"it's just sera...and don't worry about it."

he smiled, another sweet lipped look on his face, sweeter then the summer peaches surrounding them like captors.

they filled the remaining baskets over small talk, in which seraphine found out more about him. his family all still live in scotland, and his favourite colour was a dark stormy grey.

when they were done, he turned to her, "i have to bring these to the kitchen.."

"i'll help!" she offered, grabbing a full basket before being dragged down by it.

cassiel chuckled, "it's okay.." he reached for the basket, his calloused hand brushing against her pinked one. it was such a thrilling feeling.

"...have a good summer seraphine.."

as he walked away, she was so caught up in watching the way his hair glinted in the sunlight that it didn't even occur to her how odd that was to say.

. . .

later that night when dining with the family, when wendy brought peach pie into the room, the sickly sweet smell instantly pulled her back to cassiel.

even with nick's hand on her thigh, the soft peach melting between her tongue gave her ungodly ideas.

"you okay babe?"

nick turned to her and her eyes went panicked, startled by his sudden words. it was as if he could hear her thoughts.

"yeah uh, this is really good."

he smiled at her before resuming a conversation with aure about finance. even later that night with nick's wine tainted breath on her neck, she had someone else in mind.

him.

kalo's korner !

i should not be this excited to write infedelity guys...

aure content next chapter, and some serious lore?? yayyy.