Chapter Two-hundred Forty-Seven: Oakhaven Part SIx

Chapter 247

Oakhaven Part Six

Jaxon leaned against the tree trunk by the pathway to the woods, smoking a cigarette and drowning in a sea of thoughts. He inhaled a long drag as he gazed at the evening sky.

He leaned back, the smoke curling around his face like a mask. This whole “bonding” charade Murphy cooked up was a joke, a forced performance of unity that tasted worse than cheap gin. Every time he caught sight of Jordi or heard Ashley’s vapid chatter, his jaw tightened. If it weren’t for Lena—for the way her eyes lit up at the thought of a “nice vacation”—he would have been halfway back to the city by now. He hated Jordi and Ashley more than Fabien, even if what he said about him stung.

The woods, usually a sanctuary, felt suffocatingly heavy tonight. He flicked his ash, watching the embers die out against the sand. This whole setup—the lodge, the mandated “cooperation”—wasn’t just a waste of time; it was an insult to his intelligence. He thought of the circular arguments and the fragile peace that could shatter at a single sideways glance from Jordi.

Being here meant playing a role he’d discarded years ago. Every forced laugh, every stifled comment, felt like a slow erosion of himself. But then he remembered the way Lena had looked, genuinely excited about a simple, quiet retreat, and his jaw unclenched just a fraction. That was the only tether keeping him from walking back to the car and leaving this charade to burn down on its own.

Lena: “Jaxon?”

Hearing her soft call, Jaxon shifted his gaze to see Lena standing right in front of him, her baby pink sundress swaying gently in the wind.

Jaxon: “Hey.”

He replied, offering a gentle smile. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Lena: “Are you okay?”

She asked as she approached him.

Jaxon: “I dunno… Am I?”

He laughed bitterly, taking another drag. She knit her eyebrows.

Lena: “Did Jordi say something to you?”

Jaxon drew a long breath.

Jaxon: “I am sick of him! I am sick of him, sick of his fatass girlfriend, and his pretentious bullshit! I didn’t want to come on this trip! It’s bad enough Fabien is here, but aside from what he said earlier, he is leaving me alone! It’s JORDI! I am sick of him!”

He exclaimed. Lena looked away and pursed her lips.

Lena: “He is overprotective.”

She murmured.

Jaxon: “You’re an adult, not a child.”

He huffed.

Lena: “He has to get used to that.”

She nodded.

She stepped forward, inching closer to him, gazing into his almond brown eyes. He lowered his gaze onto her. He dropped his cigarette, crushing it with the toe of his boot.

Jaxon: “Wanna go for a walk with me?”

He nodded to the path.

Lena: “Sure, I feel safer with you.”

She replied. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest.

Jaxon: “Yeah?”

He smiled and gestured toward the trail, and together they stepped off the manicured edge of the clearing and into the cool, shadowed embrace of the forest. The further they walked, the more the lodge’s oppressive tension seemed to bleed away, replaced by the soft crunch of pine needles and the distant, rhythmic rustle of leaves. Jaxon kept his pace steady, his attention keenly fixed on the way the filtered evening light shone on Lena. The heavy weight in his chest, so knotted with irritation only moments ago, began to loosen, giving way to a quiet, grounding peace that only she seemed capable of pulling from him.

The rhythmic snap of twigs and the steady rustle of ferns beneath his heavy boots and her light sandals announced their progress. What began as a faint murmur in the distance had swelled into a powerful roar, a relentless siren call from the deep woods that Jaxon and Lena could no longer resist as they pushed through the final barrier of thicket.

They came to a halt where the forest yielded, their expressions shifting to pure wonder. In this pocket of the world, the atmosphere felt thick and laden with mist and the sharp, clean fragrance of untamed growth. As the evening sky bruised into a deep violet, a few stray beams of the dying sun pierced the dense ceiling of branches. A single streak of amber caught the uppermost foliage, igniting the leaves in a momentary blaze of copper against the gathering shadows.

Before them, the source of the thunderous vibration revealed itself: a magnificent waterfall. Frothy white currents, looking like churned cream, tumbled over a jagged limestone ledge. The water transitioned into a startling shade of turquoise as it gathered in a basin of shimmering, transparent glass. Looking down, they could trace every contour of the ancient, rounded river stones that lay motionless at the bottom. The spray from the falls offered a chilly, damp kiss against their skin, cutting through the heavy humidity. Within the confines of this secret grotto, the friction of the lodge and the weight of their own histories seemed to evaporate into the mist.

Lena: “Wow…”

She said breathlessly, clasping her hand over her chest.

Lena: “Look at this, Jaxon…”

Jaxon gazed at it and whistled.

Jaxon: “Yeah, isn’t this something?”

He nodded.

Jaxon: “Wanna go for a swim?”

He smirked. Lena’s heart fluttered, and her cheeks flushed red.

Lena: “Right here? You and me?”

She stammered. Jaxon chuckled and nodded, finding it adorable how flustered she was.

Lena’s heart did backflips as Jaxon knelt to unzip his boots, pulling them off alongside his sheer socks. Caught between looking away and watching him, she couldn’t tear her eyes away as he unbuttoned his shirt, keeping his gaze locked onto hers while sliding the fabric past his shoulders. Next came his jeans; he unsnapped them and let them slide down his hips, leaving him standing there in nothing but a black Speedo decorated with flames. Lena drank in his toned form, staring down at his sculpted chest and the dragon tattoo etched across it, before her eyes drifted to the bulge in his Speedo and down to his feet. She had always disliked tattoos, viewing them as tacky, but she found herself admiring how Jaxon’s looked on him.

Jaxon: “Wanna join me?”

He winked. Lena’s heart hammered in her chest. She sheepishly nodded, slipping out of her sandals, unzipping her sundress, dropping it, and letting it pool around her ankles. She wore only a pink bikini. Jaxon bit his bottom lip.

Lena stepped toward the basin, her breath hitching as the warm, turquoise water lapped at her toes. She waded in slowly; the sensation was refreshing, a stark contrast to the stifling air of the lodge. She looked back at Jaxon, her expression a mix of nervousness and exhilaration. Jaxon didn’t hesitate. He waded past her, his gaze intense as he looked toward the falls. Without a word, he climbed the slick, moss-covered rocks bordering the basin until he reached a vantage point high above the churning water. He looked down at her one last time, a playful, daring glint in his eyes, before he coiled his muscles and launched himself into the air. He sliced through the spray, a clean, sharp arc against the violet sky, before disappearing into the deep, churning heart of the pool with a resounding splash that sent ripples radiating outward.

As the spray hit her, Lena shielded her face. Jaxon broke through the surface, his big, teased hair now slicked back completely. He shook the water from his hair. He wiped the moisture from his eyes and swam over to where Lena stood, the water reaching her waist. He reached out, his hand gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead, his touch lingering. Lena shivered.

Jaxon: “You okay?”

He asked, his voice low, a playful smile tugging at his lips. Lena laughed, the sound bright and unburdened, a stark change from the tension they’d left behind. "

Lena: “Yes, I was surprised you made that jump!”

Jaxon let out a soft laugh, pulling her slightly closer, the current swirling around them. The forest felt quiet now, the thunder of the falls becoming a rhythmic, soothing backdrop. For a moment, it was just the two of them, isolated from the rest of the world, and Jaxon realized he hadn’t felt this light in a very long time.

A mischievous glint flickered in Lena’s eyes as she closed the remaining distance between them. Without warning, she lunged forward, her fingers finding the sensitive dip of his waist and digging in with a rapid, fluttering motion. He let out a strangled yelp that quickly spiraled into a roar of genuine, helpless laughter, his entire body jerking in a desperate attempt to escape her playful assault.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

They became a whirlwind of motion in the turquoise basin, sending arcs of crystalline water flying into the air as they splashed and stumbled through the surf. Jaxon was reduced to a breathless, squirming mess under the relentless onslaught of Lena’s tickling. He thrashed his arms, his palms hitting the surface with heavy thuds that rained droplets back down upon them both, but his efforts to defend himself were undermined by the sheer force of his own mirth. His head fell back, his throat baring as he unleashed a boisterous, unrestrained sound that echoed off the limestone cliffs.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHA! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP! LEHEHEHEHEEHEHENA, STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!”

He bellowed, the words barely audible through the rhythmic explosion of his laughter.

Lena finally relented, pulling her hands away with a soft, breathless smile. Jaxon remained doubled over for a moment, gasping for air as he shook his head, his face flushed a deep crimson and his wet hair dripping steadily into the basin. The boisterous echoes of his laughter slowly faded, replaced by the ragged but happy sound of their breathing as the water settled into a gentle ripple around them. Lena gazed at him, her hand coming to rest lightly on his chest, as the profound quiet of the woods returned to claim the grotto once more.

He inhaled sharply as he gazed at her hand resting on his chest. Suddenly, his cheeks flushed red, and she could feel his heart thump in his chest. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Jaxon held her head close and wrapped his arms around her.

~

When the two returned to the lodge, Jaxon walked Lena to her bedroom door, gazing at her for a moment.

Jaxon: “Thanks, Lena. I had a great time.”

He whispered.

Lena: “Me too, Jaxon. Good night.”

She said softly and entered her bedroom.

Jaxon: “Night.”

He smiled and took a deep breath.

He then entered his own bedroom. He shed all of his clothes and climbed into bed fully nude.

Staring up at the dark ceiling, his mind drifted back to the morning, to the jagged edges of his irritation and the sharp, bitter taste of his resentment toward the others. It all seemed so loud then, so insurmountable. But the memory of the cool mist on his skin and the genuine, unburdened weight of Lena’s head against his chest smoothed those rough edges. The frustration hadn't vanished—Jordi was still a prick, and the lodge still felt like a cage—but the perspective had shifted. For the first time since they arrived, the days ahead didn’t look like a sentence to be served, but a price he was more than willing to pay just to keep that quiet peace alive a little longer.

~

The next morning, Tristan sat at the dining room table, elegantly sipping tea while dressed in a light blue button-down shirt, white shorts, and boater shoes. He ate his breakfast of French toast, bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast with delicate care. Seated right beside him, Deimos washed down a substantial meal of sausages, toast, eggs, and bacon with a cup of dark roast coffee. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lena was busy cooking breakfast for everyone, wearing a yellow sundress beneath a heart-shaped apron.

Glancing up toward their bedroom door, Tristan noted Ashley’s absence and spotted Jordi fast asleep on the couch. Meanwhile, Jaxon made his way downstairs, dressed in a short-sleeved black button-down shirt with flames along the hem, a flame-patterned black Speedo, and black flip-flops. He gave a nod of acknowledgment to Tristan and Deimos.

Tristan: “Morning, Jaxon.”

Deimos grumbled something as he thrust toast in his mouth.

Lena: “Hi, Jaxon!”

She said breathlessly as she went to him to place his breakfast before him in ceramic bowls.

Jaxon: “Thank you! This looks delicious!”

He began, as he always did, with the miso soup. Lifting the small ceramic bowl with both hands, he brought it to his lips and inhaled. The steam carried the deeply savory scent of fermented soybean paste and dashi, rich with the ghost of kombu sea-kelp. He took a slow sip, letting the warmth bloom in his chest. A few cubes of silken tofu and a scattering of bright green scallions drifted lazily across the dark broth. It was a gentle awakening for his palate, a liquid embrace.

Setting the bowl down, Jaxon picked up his chopsticks. Next was the rice—the anchor of the meal. It was perfectly steamed, gleaming like a mound of freshly fallen snow. Each grain was distinct, sticky but not mushy, holding its own shape. He lifted a small clump to his mouth. The subtle, clean sweetness of the starch filled his senses, a blank canvas that made everything else on the table possible.

Then, he turned his attention to the centerpiece: the tamagoyaki. It was flawless. He pinched a slice with his chopsticks; it yielded slightly, pillowy and light. When he bit into it, the delicate balance of dashi, a hint of mirin, and a whisper of soy sauce bloomed on his tongue. It was comforting, slightly sweet, and deeply savory all at once.

To break up the richness, Jaxon reached for the tsukemono. The pickles were a vibrant assortment: magenta slices of shibazuke and pale green, crescent-shaped kyuri asazuke. He crunched down on a piece of cucumber. The sharp, bright acidity and the satisfying snap cut through the warmth of the rice and the sweetness of the egg, resetting his palate with a refreshing jolt.

He ate with a deliberate, rhythmic cadence. A bite of rice, a sip of soup, a fragment of golden egg, a crunch of a tart pickle. It was a culinary dance he had practiced thousands of times, yet it never failed to ground him.

When the last grain of rice was gone, he set his chopsticks down on their ceramic rest. He clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.

Jaxon: “Gochisousama deshita.”

Lena beamed at his compliments, looking into what was said after the Japanese had consumed a meal.

Fabien rolled downstairs. He wore a black short-sleeved button-down shirt open to expose his bare chest and torso and green shorts.

Fabien: “Hey, that looks good.”

He drawled to Lena about the traditional Japanese breakfast.

Fabien: “Can I have some?”

Lena nodded and placed it in front of him in ceramic bowls.

Fabien: “Get me a fork and a spoon. I can’t use chopsticks.”

Jaxon rolled his eyes. And I’m the useless one, he thought.

Lena placed a fork and a spoon in front of him.

Fabien didn’t hesitate, plunging his spoon into the miso soup and gulping it down, which made Jaxon wince. He used his fork to shovel large, uneven clumps of rice into his mouth, dropping several grains back into the bowl as he went. He stabbed a piece of the delicate tamagoyaki, tearing it apart rather than savoring its layers, and followed it with a handful of the pickles, chewing with his mouth slightly open.

Fabien: “This is good!”

He muttered between heavy swallows.

Celeste slid down the balustrade. She wore a purple tiger stripe bikini top and jean cut-offs. She strolled over and piled bacon, toast, sausages, eggs, and French toast on her plate. She placed it beside Fabien and sat next to him.

Celeste didn’t bother with subtle refinement. She picked up a strip of bacon, tearing into it with gusto, the salt and smoke satisfying her morning hunger. She washed it down with some sweet tea, a quick bite of French toast, the syrup-soaked bread disappearing almost as quickly as the eggs she shoveled onto her fork. She ate with an efficient, no-nonsense rhythm—energy fueling her next move—a stark contrast to the ceremony Jaxon observed, yet she seemed entirely at ease with the chaotic pile on her plate.

Celeste looked around.

Celeste: “Hey, where’s Ashley?”

She scratched her head.

Jaxon: “On a diet.”

He said dryly. Fabien burst out laughing. Lena turned to him, knitting her brows.

Lena: “Jaxon!”

She chided him.

Jaxon: “What?! She’s not here shoveling food in her fat fucking head!”

He replied in a high-pitched squawk. Fabien howled with laughter. Celeste pursed her lips. Lena looked away from him.

Tristan: “Interestingly, Jordi is absent from this house.”

Jaxon: “GOOD!”

He blurted.

Tristan: “I believe he’s at the Donati lodge.”

He drained his cup of tea.

Jaxon: “Yeah, so in love with Ashley.”

Fabien laughed loudly and slapped his thighs.

Lena untied her apron and threw it down. She marched past Jaxon. Jaxon knit his brows and gently grabbed her arm.

Jaxon: “Don’t go.”

He murmured.

Lena: “I asked you NOT to make fun of them!”

She cried.

Jaxon: “Why do you care anyway?! Look at how Jordi treats me!”

He threw his arms up.

Lena: “And they’re trying to get Jordi to ease up on you! Jordi and Ashley broke up! This is why they’re in their room!”

She exclaimed and embraced herself.

Deimos: “Because Jordi is moving on with someone else.”

He muttered. Tristan heaved a deep sigh.

Fabien: “No shit, Sherlock.”

He snorted.

~

Fabien trailed around the lodge and located the teddy bear Blair had bought for Ashley in a pile of dirt. He knelt to it, picked it up, and dusted it off.

He carried it to the firepit, his lips curling into a brazen smirk. With a careless flick of his wrist, he tossed the bear into the center of the pit, where it landed amidst the blackened remains of last night’s wood. He reached into his pocket, produced a silver lighter, and flicked it. The flame danced a wicked orange against the morning light. He leaned over and touched the fire to the plush fabric. The artificial fur ignited instantly, dancing onto the yellow dress, the smell of melting plastic and synthetic stuffing rising in a foul, acrid plume as the bear’s cheerful expression shriveled and blackened in the heat.

With a sadistic, satisfied smirk etched across his face, Fabien pulled out his Polaroid camera and snapped a picture of the burning bear. As the photo slid out of the device, he grabbed it and flapped it in his hand to speed up the development process. He looked at the picture and burst out laughing.

~

Blair sat on a blanket on the beach. He wore a Superman shirt, orange shorts, a bucket hat, calf socks, and sneakers. He had his arms folded across his chest, pouting.

Fabien approached him with a wave.

Blair: “Go away, ex-friend! I don’t wanna talk to you! If you’re here to ask me for my Spider-Man cards, forget it! Not only did Vanessa’s dumb friends trash them, but only friends can have those! When I come home, I am leaving your Bungle server!”

He whined. Fabien tried not to laugh.

Fabien: “Blair…”

He began and sat by him.

Fabien: “I did what I did to protect you.”

Blair: “HOW?! You ruined my romantic gesture!”

He bawled.

Fabien: “I did it because Jiro blackmailed me. He said if I didn’t puke on you, he would take Ashley away and date her!”

Blair turned to Fabien in shock.

Blair: “You did that just so Jiro wouldn’t take Ashley from me?!”

Fabien nodded, trying not to laugh.

Blair smiled.

Blair: “Okay, Fabien, I take back what I said! I am glad we’re friends again! I won’t leave your server, but I can’t get the Spider-Man cards because Vanessa’s idiot friends trashed them! I am mad that Jiro wanted to steal my Ashley from me!”

He huffed.

Fabien: “That’s not all…”

He presented the photograph of the burning teddy bear that Blair had gifted to Ashley. Blair’s jaw dropped in utter shock, and throwing his head back, he began screaming.

Blair: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! WHO WOULD DO THAT!? I MADE THAT BEAR WITH LOVE! I HAD IT STUFFED TO BE AS FAT AS THEM!!”

He stomped his feet and crashed to the sand, kicking and screaming.

~

Chloe, Minha, and Vanessa were on the beach, keeping their distance from Blair. Vanessa wore a teal swimsuit with a floral pattern, Chloe wore a two-piece neon pink-and-black swimsuit and a headband, and Minha wore a rainbow swimsuit with rainbow-framed sunglasses.

Chloe: “Look at that guy. What a hunk.”

She pointed subtly down the beach at Fabien.

Chloe: “He looks like he just stepped out of a magazine.”

She whispered, her eyes wide.

Chloe: “And that necklace! He has taste.”

Vanessa grinned mischievously.

Vanessa: “Well, Chloe, Minha, go say hi!”

Chloe grabbed her beach ball. Minha followed right behind, slipping her sunglasses down slightly to look over the rims. She fanned herself with the empty cassette case she was holding.

They approached Fabien and Blair.

Chloe: “Oh, who’s that cute guy?”

She exclaimed. Blair pouted. Fabien snorted.

Fabien: “Oh, this is Blair Donati. He’s a super nice guy.”

He nodded. Blair beamed. Chloe shivered. Oh, he has such a sexy accent, she thought.

Blair: “Aw, thanks, Fabien, but I’m not into other guys! I like girls only!”

Fabien laughed.

Fabien: “I never knew that.”

He said dryly. Chloe and Minha gaped at Blair.

Minha and Chloe turned to Fabien, ignoring Blair.

Minha: “I’m Minha, by the way.”

Chloe held the beach ball against her hip.

Chloe: “I’m Chloe. I am great at identifying amazing jewelry. Where did you get that necklace? It matches your eyes perfectly.”

Minha rolled her eyes inwardly at Chloe’s bold approach.

Minha: “We noticed your unique style from down the beach.”

She added, smooth and cool.

Minha: “It’s not often you see a Frenchman with such distinctive pieces. Very striking.”

Fabien chuckled.

Fabien: “This necklace? It’s a gift from my girlfriend, Celeste. She made it for me.”

He lightly touched the central green gem. Chloe leaned in slightly, a confident tilt to her head.

Chloe: “Well, it looks spectacular on you.”

Fabien: “Merci beaucoup, Mademoiselle!”

He replied.

Celeste approached Fabien from behind and embraced him. Minha’s eyes lit up when she saw her.

Minha: “Oooh, who’s she?”

She purred.

Celeste: “Guess who?”

She grinned.

Fabien: “My ladylove?”

He chuckled and turned around to kiss her. Blair looked away and gagged.

Blair: “Oh, get a room, you two!”

He huffed.

Celeste saw Ashley slowly approaching them and embracing themself. Blair stopped pouting and smiled widely when he saw them.

Celeste: “Hey, Ashley, is everything okay?”

Ashley: “Have you guys seen Jordi?”

They asked.

Blair shoved Chloe aside, causing her to crash into the sand.

Chloe: “HEY!!”

Blair thrust the Polaroid of the burning teddy bear in their face.

Ashley: “What are you shoving in my face?”

They groused at Blair.

Blair: “Ashley! I was going to give this to you, but some beatnik burnt this! I had it stuffed to be as fat as you and wanted you to know I love you despite how fat you are! Guys don’t like fat girls, but your fatness doesn’t bother me ‘cause I am nice!”

He exclaimed. Fabien burst out laughing. Celeste blinked and looked up at Fabien. Ashley paused to stare at Blair, trying to process his nonsensical rambling.

Ashley: “Uhhh… What is wrong with you?! You’re NOT nice, Blair; you’re mocking me, and I don’t want this! I don’t love you!”

They cried.

Blair: “NO, I AM NOT MOCKING YOU! I AM NICE! I AM TOO NICE!”

He sank to the sand, sobbing and pounding it. Fabien roared with laughter.

Jordi came out of the lodge with Mattie following him. Jordi wore a khakis button-down shirt open to expose his chest and tummy, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.

Mattie: “Guess what, girls? Our handsome handyman repaired the toilet after Blair clogged it.”

She looked up at Jordi. Ashley bowed their head and looked away from them.

Blair: “The breakfast SUCKED! You ate my Fruit Loops! If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have done that! I wouldn’t flush my breakfast! You also trashed my Spider-Man cards!”

He bawled. Jordi glared at Blair.

Fabien: “Blair, you did nothing wrong. Please never change.”

He laughed.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed above them. They looked up to see a blimp resembling Ashley with Blair singing “Fat Sunflower.” Fabien gaped at it and cackled. Celeste cupped her mouth and pursed her lips. Jordi gaped mutinously at it and then at Blair, who was beaming.

Blair: “I always plan ahead, Ashley!”

Ashley’s jaw dropped, and it was as if they stood frozen in time.

Ashley: “WH-WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A MEAN BULLY! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

They cried and kicked sand towards Blair, storming off up the beach.

Blair: “WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! JORDI IS THAT WAY, ASHLEY!! HE BROKE UP WITH YOU ‘CAUSE YOU’RE FAT!”

Ashley squeezed their eyes shut and fled toward the woods. Jordi’s jaw tightened in anger. Marching over to Blair, he knocked him out with a single punch. Blair hit the sand hard, weeping as he spat out grit.

Jordi watched Ashley go and knit his eyebrows, wondering if he should go after them or leave them be. Mattie put her hand on Jordi’s arm.

Mattie: “Wanna have a volleyball match?”

She smirked. Jordi smiled a bit and nodded.

Jordi: “Sure!”

He kicked off his shoes and smirked at Fabien and Celeste.

Jordi: “Wanna join my team?”

Fabien snorted.

Celeste: “I think we’re gonna explore.”

She snaked her arm around Fabien’s. Fabien smiled down at her.

Fabien: “Yeah, not much of a volleyball player.”

Jordi: “Well, if you two change your minds!”

Fabien: “We won’t! See ya!”

They waved and walked down the beach.

~

Celeste and Fabien ventured into the woods. Celeste leaned her head against his arm.

Fabien: “If you wanted to play volleyball, I wouldn’t have stopped you, babe.”

Celeste: “Volleyball is boring, and it wouldn’t be a fair match.”

Fabien nodded as the two trailed down the path.

The canopy overhead grew denser, filtering the harsh afternoon sun into a soft, dappled green glow. The raucous noise of the surf—and the lingering, shrill echoes of Blair’s outbursts—faded until they were nothing more than a faint memory. Celeste stopped, pulling Fabien gently to a halt, the thick ferns brushing against their legs. She turned to face him, the forest air significantly cooler here than on the exposed sand.

Celeste: “Much better.”

She breathed, reaching up to brush a rogue strand of hair from his face. Fabien smiled, that familiar, slightly arrogant smirk softening into something far more genuine. He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers.

Fabien: “Those girls are exhausting.”

He agreed, his eyes scanning the path ahead.

He pressed a lingering kiss to her temple, his arm tightening around her waist. Here, amidst the towering trunks and the low hum of hidden insects, they pushed through a final, dense curtain of overgrown ferns. The foliage gave way to a sight that stole the breath from their lungs. Before them lay a pristine waterhole fed by a cascading waterfall, its crystal-clear depths shimmering in the secluded light.

Celeste’s eyes widened in pure wonder, her grip on Fabien’s arm tightening as a wave of relief washed over her. The frantic energy of the beach and the suffocating tension of the lodge vanished, replaced by an absolute, holy silence. Fabien let out a long, low whistle.

With a smirk, Celeste turned to face him. Fabien chuckled as if reading her mind, biting his bottom lip as he kicked off his flip-flops. She slipped out of her sandals, unsnapped her jean shorts, and slid them past her hips, while he shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it onto a nearby rock. She took his hand, and the two stepped into the warm, crystal waters.

The water enveloped them, warm and inviting, washing away the lingering heat of the day. Celeste stopped, turning to face him as the water lapped at their waists. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled, golden patterns across their skin. Fabien reached out, his hands settling on her waist to pull her closer until no space remained between them. He looked into her eyes, the usual playfulness in his gaze replaced by a soft, quiet intensity.

Slowly, he leaned in, and their lips met in a passionate, deepening kiss. It was no longer about serenity, but a raw, unfiltered expression of the connection they had been shielding from the world. Her hands tangled into his white hair, pulling him closer as the kiss intensified, matching the sudden, heated rhythm of their racing hearts.

Tracing her hands along the edge of his swim trunks, she pulled them downward. Fabien didn't break their kiss as he assisted her in sliding his trunks completely off. Reaching around her back, he unfastened the tie of her bikini and slid her bikini top away. Celeste broke the kiss to gaze into his emerald eyes.

Celeste moaned in pleasure as Fabien, his heart hammering against his ribs, slid his hand down her bikini bottom and slid his two fingers inside her core.

Celeste: “Oh, Fab!”

She yelped and rocked against his hand.

Allowing the mist from the waterfall to spray over them, he tenderly led her toward a nearby rock. Celeste wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply, moaning into his mouth as he massaged her. Fabien grunted. He slid his fingers out of her.

He gripped her thighs to position her for him to enter. Her back was against the rock as she rested her hand on his nape as the crown of his penis started to enter her feminine core. Celeste’s bottom lip trembled as she shivered, feeling his hardness slowly enter her.

Fabien: “Celeste…”

He whispered in her ear and sucked on her neck as he eased himself inside her.

Her large breasts pressed against his chest. She tilted her hips as he drove into her welcoming heat. She moaned as he filled her. Celeste held onto Fabien as he thrust deep. His rhythm was wild and ferocious. Celeste loved it. She dug her nails into his back as she rocked her hips against him.

He burrowed his head into her neck and nipped at her skin. Celeste let out uneven breaths as she tightened her grip on her man. She wrapped her legs around him. Fabien’s mouth met hers before he licked and kissed all the way down to her breasts. He captured her right nipple with his mouth and teased it with his tongue until the sensations rippled under her skin. Celeste’s gasp mingled with his low groan.

Her core gripped him tightly as he surged deeper. Fabien drove into her. The water splashed with each demanding thrust. Celeste cried out as an orgasm ripped through her, and Fabien shouted as he released a load of hot cum in her.

He collapsed on top of her, panting heavily. She raked her fingers through his damp hair.

Fabien: “I love you.”

He whispered and raised his eyes to meet hers.

Celeste: “I love you, too, Fabien.”

She said softly, tracing her thumb on his cheek.

Leaning back against the rock, Fabien closed his eyes as he slowly withdrew. Celeste leaned her head against his chest, softly tracing her fingernails across his skin. A shiver ran through Fabien as he rested his arms along the stone surface, tilting his head back to shut his eyes once more.

Standing near a tree trunk, Ichiro watched them with intense jealousy and malice, infuriated that another man was with his Green Queen. He was dressed in a crimson pressed shirt, black tie, black pants, black captoe Oxfords, and a lab coat. Clenching his teeth, he fixed a furious glare on Fabien, thinking, “You will pay for this, Mr. Troll,” as his fingers gripped the tree, scraping the bark loose.

He sensed another presence near. Another Etheressum. He quickly turned around and saw nothing. He paused. Someone was there, he thought. I should go before I get caught, he thought and pressed the button in his ear device to teleport away.

Narcisse rose from the bushes. How did he spot me? He wondered. He doesn’t appear to be a hunter, but looks can be deceiving, he thought. And that device? He cupped his chin. Didn’t that fat, worthless piece of shit, Dougal, have one? He mused.

~

Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, Fabien, Jordi, Jaxon, Lena, and Stewart all gathered at the table to eat wings and steak.

Lena: “Where’s Ashley?”

She knitted her eyebrows.

Celeste: “I think they’re up in their room.”

Jaxon: “Yeah, how very like her to miss out on stuffing her face.”

He said dryly. Fabien burst out laughing.

Lena: “Jaxon!”

She snapped. Jordi knitted his eyebrows. Maybe this is my fault, he thought glumly.

Stewart swirled his wine and took a gulp. Tristan gingerly picked at his food.

Fabien: “Don’t like it, Tristan?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “It’s not that, Fabien… Something bad is about to happen. I have a feeling about that.”

He shuddered.

Celeste: “It is ‘cause Ashley’s not here?”

Tristan stroked his ponytail.

Tristan: “That’s one of them.”

~

Lena was clearing the table after dinner, her gaze lingering on the quiet, empty hallway, when a crumpled piece of parchment caught her eye on the floor near the entrance to the living room. Curious, she picked it up, smoothing the edges with her fingertips. It was a note, written in a hurried, jagged script. Her eyes scanned the lines, and her breath hitched as she read the message: “Fabien, meet me at the graveyard in the woods tonight. Don’t be late.” She looked up, her expression tightening with concern as she clutched the note, wondering who had left it and what it could possibly mean for him.

Tristan: “Lena, what is that?”

Fabien leaned against the doorway, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Lena handed the note to Fabien. He took it, and Tristan sauntered over to read it.

Fabien: “I’m not goin’.”

He drawled.

Tristan: “Yes, you are, and we’re following behind.”

He said firmly.

Celeste: “What’s going on?”

She asked.

Tristan: “Someone has requested Fabien’s presence in the forest’s cemetery. Ashley is not here. Something is awry.”

He said, trying to retain his cool as he cupped his chin.

Jaxon: “Do you think this is your weirdo uncle?”

He asked. Tristan sighed and shook his head.

Tristan: “What on Reona would he want with Ashley?”

He asked him, throwing his arms up.

His heart hammered in his chest when he realized that the one person who wants Ashley is someone their enemy is targeting.

Tristan: “We have to go! Ashley is in danger!”

He said hastily.

Fabien: “Oh, Ichiro, huh?”

He snorted. Jaxon went pale as a ghost as his fear soared.

Jaxon: “ICHIRO!? We are NOT going! Let her die!”

He cried. Jordi turned to Jaxon angrily.

Jordi: “FUCK YOU, JAXON! We’re not letting them die! It’s my fault they wandered off! I should have checked on them, but I stayed behind to play volleyball!”

He snapped. Tristan gazed at Jordi.

Tristan: “Jordi, the what-ifs do not matter now. We need to get to Ashley.”

He said resolutely. Jordi hung his head and nodded.

Lena: “Stay safe, okay?”

Lena murmured, offering a soft smile to her big brother. Jordi returned the smile and gently patted her hand. Watching them, Jaxon simply rolled his eyes.