Amara – Reunion

Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Seeing that they are silent, I spoke again sternly to Ash, Luca, and Zoe.

"I understand that you have your reasons, but violence will not be tolerated. I thought that Fynn taught you the rules on how to let out the steam without causing havoc. If you have grudges and you are unable to talk it out, you should settle things in a match with witnesses around. What you did was impulsive, and it threatens to disrupt the harmony. This is supposed to be a few days of fun and relaxing. How is anyone going to relax if the two of you want to rip each other's throats? Do you want to go home and the first thing everyone talks about is how the two of you were fighting?"

I realized that I'm not talking only about Ash and Luca, but about Duke and Lazarus as well.

But Duke and Lazarus are not kids in my care and I can't scold them nor I feel responsible for them. With these three is different.

"Now that you cooled off, can you work it out among yourself, or do you need me to interfere?"

I had a feeling that I'm talking with three statues. What the heck happened?

At least they all had this silent agreement not to talk. But if I don't know the cause, how will I know how to react to it?

So far, how much I know, these three got along well. If there were any spats between them, Fynn and his guys handled it without alerting me. This was my first time to see them fighting and I had no idea what to do.

I didn't want to do anything rashly.

I needed time to think and maybe talk to Lazarus.

"Luca, Ash, I will instruct the maids to set up separate bedrooms for you. You are not to leave your room until breakfast. Is that clear?"

Luca and Ash both nodded. Well, at least I got some response.

"Zoe, you will stay in your current room until breakfast and you are not allowed to talk about this with other girls."

Zoe responded with a stiff nod.

"I can't find the words to explain how disappointed I am." I was upset that they fought, and it hurt me that no one was willing to provide an explanation.

Ah, parenting is hard.

"Zoe, go to your room right now. Ash and Luca, you are to wait in the living room until maids tell you that your rooms are ready. Don't talk to each other, don't look at each other, if you even breathe at each other I will send you packing right that instant." I waved at the door. "Go now."

They dragged their feet on their way out and I asked Lazarus to go with Ash and Luca and watch over them so that they don't start fighting while they wait for the maids to prepare their rooms.

The rooms were clean, and it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to put the fresh bed sheets on and bring a few fresh towels.

After I finished talking to the maids and instructing them to prepare bedrooms for Luca and Ash on the opposite ends of the villa, I found Duke and Cristina standing in the hallway in front of the study room.

"Go ahead…", I heard Duke say to Cristina and I looked at him questionably.

"She wants to talk to you."

I smiled at Duke gratefully. I understood that he spoke with Cristina, and it seems that she has something to say to me in private. I hoped that it will cast some light on this headache-inducing incident.

Duke waved, indicating that he will leave so that I can talk to Cristina, and I appreciated that he is so considerate.

"Yes?", I asked after closing the door of the study.

"It's not Luca's fault.", Cristina said.

I really didn't care whose fault it was. I was confident that each of them has their own version, but I was curious what she will say. I gestured to Cristina to sit on the sofa, and I sat next to her.

"I will need more than that. How about you start from the beginning?"

Cristina took a deep breath and stared at her feet while talking. "Luca and I were teammates, and we were walking when we heard ambiguous noises. We went to investigate. I thought that maybe it's an animal or someone got hurt but then we saw Ash and Zoe…" Cristina's voice dropped to a whisper and I could see that she blushed so fiercely that even her ears were red. "They were on the ground, kissing, and he was on top of her. Zoe's t-shirt was pushed up and Ash was unbuttoning her shorts…"

Somehow, I could see that happening.

Both Ash and Zoe will be eighteen in six months (Zoe in four). Zoe and Ash know each other for a long time, and they are not kids even though I would prefer that they wait a bit longer.

I didn't like the visual that formed in my mind, but… "Why would Luca lose temper over that? Aren't Ash and Zoe dating?"

Cristina pressed her lips into a line and closed her eyes. I could see that she was struggling with this.

"I promise that whatever you say will stay between us. The more I know the better I can understand the situation. I don't want to punish the ones who are not at fault."

"Luca was protecting Zoe."

I frowned as anger and disgust swelled inside me. "Was Ash forcing himself on Zoe?!"

Cristina paled and shook her head frantically. "No, no. It didn't look like it."

"If it didn't look like it, what was it?"

Cristina inhaled forcefully and spoke in a small voice, "Luca said that when they go with Fynn into town, guys only… Ash is flirting with other girls and Luca doesn't approve of how Ash is acting when Zoe is not around. When he saw them in that position, Luca lost it."

It took me a moment to process what Cristina said. "I see."

I thought that knowing what's the cause of the fight will help me figure out how to deal with this, but the reality proved me wrong. It was better to think that all of them are guilty and that they will be punished equally, but now it seems that no one is guilty as each of them acted the way they thought it's best.

Zoe is in love with Ash, and she wants to be with him. I don't know how deep Ash's feelings go, but it's not like he is forcing Zoe to be with him. She is beautiful and willing, and Ash is a teenage boy. And then we have Luca who doesn't want to see his sister hurt.

Damn.

I decided to deal with the girl who looked at me timidly. "Thank you, Cristina, for telling me this. I promise that this will stay between us."

Cristina gave me a tight smile.

"I am glad that Luca has you for a friend." Cristina's eyes widened for a moment and then her smile reflected in her eyes.

"Will you punish him?", Cristina asked.

"If you are in my place, what would you do?"

Cristina looked at me helplessly. I knew that it was not fair to throw that question at her, but I didn't know what to do either.

Well, I didn't want to admit to a sixteen years-old girl that I'm clueless.

"Don't worry, I will not punish him harshly, but he needs to understand that his behavior is not acceptable. What would happen if Drago and I didn't come? How would that fight end?" I could see understanding in Cristina's expression.

"I'm sorry that your scavenger hunt ended early. Now you are not eligible for a prize."

Cristina's eyes widened. "It's not a big deal. Just coming here is a big treat. I don't need more."

I was happy to hear that.

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