EP 12: DAISY'S CONFEESION

EPISODE 12

'daisy's confession'

"AGAIN," I EXHALED. "I'm so sorry but so incredibly grateful."

Cassandra's returning smile was exhausted yet pretty. I made sure more than Leon's shared body weight was more on my shoulders. For someone who may or may not be actually asleep, Leon fully trusted his entire weight on both of us as we stumbled out of the elevator.

I was not sure if passing out was part of the plan, but it was surely working on whatever Leon concocted.

It was an interesting scene to whoever would see our little trio. Two girls hauling a passed out man, their tight dresses sparkling and the man's head lolling on my shoulder.

"It's not a problem at all," she said, her voice both melodious and breathy. Her smile was watery, her gaze almost unfocused. Upon a closer look, it was undeniable that Cassandra was pretty. But her bones were prominent in a way that was a little worrying, despite such a good stature and how well balanced she is in her heels higher than mine and in a sparkly, skin tight dress to boot. Her cheekbones shined but it was the look in her eyes that made me think.

I didn't know how long I have time with her, but my mind raced with all the possibilities. The directions I could get answers out of her, to prolong our situation.

"It's not everyday you see an old face," she mused. "Especially one like Leon Song."

"How do you know him?"

"A friend of a friend." She tilted her head. Her expression changed. Though it was still obvious she still had substances running through her veins, the way she looked at me was serious. "What about you - sorry, I didn't catch your name."

Better to be safe than sorry. "Sabrina. Sabrina Wright."

She smiled. "I'm Cassandra Bernault. Tell me, Sabrina. What are you and dear Mr. Song here doing in Brighton? If I heard correctly, he was enjoying a peaceful time in the countryside. After the... scandals broke through, I thought he'd stay there forever."

"Well..." Lie. I need a hook. Leon's face lolled on my shoulder again, his breath brushing against my cheek. I had my answer: the best hook is honesty. Exaggerate. Empathise.

What can I connect with Cassandra Bernault? We both adore men that are exemplary in their own rights. To empathise the side of her that adore a man she thought of as a god.

"I convinced him to get out for the weekend. Unfortunately, I think the sudden drinking might've exhausted him out far too quickly into the night." We stopped at the door I was staying at. With Leon who made the arrangements, he had a separate room. But Cassandra didn't need to know that. I took on most of Leon's weight and offered her the keycard.

She eyed it with a notched eyebrow and the two of us with a twitching lip, but she moved on to the door and let us through. I shuffled Leon's weight as best as I could and laid him as gently on my covers without just dropping him and waking him.

Every movement was calculated.

Cassandra watched it all. The slow, almost loving movements of how I tucked Leon in, hinting a small smile here and there, a flutter of fingers over his forehead, his fingers, his hair. I made sure she saw it. That she understood this playacting.

"You love him," she said. I froze then slowly raise my face to her almost smug, satisfactory smile. "I wasn't sure at first. I didn't know if Mr. Song was the type to keep women around. After all he's such a curious man. Apart from his friends, he's not really around everybody."

I shook my head, sitting beside him on the bed, stroking the hair loosened and curled around his face. Angelic. "You wouldn't understand. He's brilliant."

"Mm. But I feel like I do. Did." She corrected herself, sitting on one of the lounge seats, her form bent and gaunt. Her smile was punctured. It was sad and bitter.

Now or never. I tried to look innocent, as innocent as I could muster. "Dominic Prince? The socialite who died?"

Her eyes sharply turned to me, a swirl of emotions raging like a wild fire in her eyes. "How would you know anything about that?"

"Leon said something, in passing once," I pacified. "But... you just seemed so... lost a while ago. We saw you by the table. Leon made a mention but he didn't want to approach you as you may be grieving."

We stared at each other for a while. I could feel her judging whether she should trust me or not. I felt stiffened but I made sure I didn't look that way. That I genuinely knew what she felt like. To lose someone you admire greatly. To lose someone like Leon Song in your life.

That idea sprung a bitter weed in my chest that I blinked. This isn't about that. This isn't about me. But the idea that Leon Song would be erased from my life, dead so suddenly, nearly pulled me to an unstable, watery depths.

It made my heart race and the idea drew out a gaping feeling in my chest. Cassandra saw it. She felt it.

Then she exhaled, her eyes glistening. "You have no possible idea."

"I understand," I said softly. "I can't - " I swallowed the bile in my throat. "I can't even fathom."

She nodded. "Dominic was - is the most magnificent man you could ever possibly imagine to exist. Came straight out of a book, he was. He commandeered a room just by entering it, knew just about everybody and made everyone feel special enough to receive his attention. He was exactly what you wanted him to be - what everyone envied to be. He was sweet and proud and lovely. The first time I met him was at a soiree. He had offered me a dance and I knew I fell in love."

Her soft smile was precious. It changed it her entire face. Through that watery gaze was a child who had dreamt of fairytales and nothing else. Who read the tale of Romeo and Juliet and saw beauty in its ghastly ending. A love that conquered all.

"Of course, my mother did not approve. She said he was still too... mysterious for her taste. That his footing wasn't as 'solid' as all the other young gentlemen she proposed to me. But mystery is part of the charm, isn't it? I retreated my own comments in exchange for knowing that I was going to dedicate my future to him. I couldn't have him now, it's fine. He can play with all the little girls he wants - he is a man after all - and he can dance and kiss that Rottschild woman, but I knew I was going to have him in my future. Until... until..."

She gasped softly, as if the air in her lungs wouldn't give her the words. Tears escaped her. I stood up and offered a tissue, a shoulder, and my best sympathy face.

"It must've been so shocking," I said softly, rubbing her bony back through the sequins of her bright dress. "The news came out of nowhere. Leon fell in despair. That's why I thought the sea and drinks would be good for him. But you... you must've been so devastated."

She nodded, sniffing. "And it was from that party. I couldn't remember most of it. Genevieve was there so I was drinking. She was touching him, laughing at his jokes, giving him looks. Giving me looks like 'he's mine'. So possessive. So insecure. She's old, she is. And she was married once. She didn't love Dominic like I did. I knew. But I couldn't do anything. It was a small party, just close friends and family he adored. Though I don't know why Enzo was there. They never particularly got along, you know? But his grandfather was there. And that good doctor. Dominic wore the most wonderful suit. Had gold buttons. He had cut his hair too. Though I missed the longish, angelic curls. He looked so sweet."

She inhaled quietly, resting her head on my shoulder. "Dominic was talking about so many... so many things that night. Vague things. I think he made Enzo mad again, but he's always mad, Enzo. Anything... anything Dominic said. I was so... so sleepy. Dominic... he came into my room before dinner. He talked to me. Said... said I was like a sweet... sweet flower. Like a... a daisy. I was daisy. He called me... daisy."

She sighed, nearing sleep.

I shifted her in my arm, whispering as I brushed her hair. "Did he do anything? Say anything else?"

She hummed. "Tea... he gave me tea. Odd. But he was... sweet."

"What tea?" I shook her lightly. "Cassandra?"

"She's gone," Leon whispered, sitting upright with a grim smile. "The Prosom will do her good. And it's not as addictive or as dangerous as Ambien. As long as she doesn't drink anymore within the next weeks that is." He shook the powdered plastic and tucked it in safely in his inner sleeves.

"So you were faking it," I murmured, a tiny bit miffed and embarrassed from all the crap I said.

He smiled. "No, no. I did fell asleep at first. Woke up just a few minutes ago."

I rolled my eyes, turning to the sleeping model.

I felt a tiny bit bad, mixing the sleeping drug with her alcohol. But she never noticed her drink being changed. It was almost too easy to point at her drink for the bartender with a giggle, pretending to be just someone fascinated with the elite drinks, then send in an entire round for her table with only one glass with olive - a particular favourite of hers - so that she would pick it among the row of free drinks. The rest of her party would think she was the one who gave them a free round, and she was deaf to their praises and cheers.

It was only a matter of minutes then, to get her attention and to will her to approach us without knowing that she was being coerced and baited.

Leon and I shared her bodyweight, she was pounds lighter than he was, and laid her on the bed carefully. She twisted on the covers, then snuggled into a deeper sleep.

"I don't think we should just let her think someone took advantage of her when she wakes up," I said, frowning. "The CCTV would vouch for two people from the hallway."

"We'll just leave her a note," Leon said. "She'll remember us from the bar if whatever drugs she took beforehand wouldn't impair her memory." He checked her pulse. "But just in case, it's good that you didn't take longer. Best to leave now."

Written the note and out the door, he offered his hand. "Take it. We'll pretend we're drunk and in love for the cameras."

I blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"Just in case. Better to be safe than sorry."

"Fine." I took his hand and he clasped it firmly to his side, pulling my entire arm to the crook of his elbow.

"Now," he whispered to my head. "Your head on my shoulder. And walk softly. Like you're still buzzed."

Leon's room was eight rooms down from my own. "So we're sharing a room, then?"

"I promise I didn't see that coming either."

"Tea," I replied instead. "He gave her tea before dinner."

"Drugged most likely. She couldn't recall most of it. Only parts her brain wanted to remember. Significant things to her. Genevieve, Dominic talking, Dominic making Enzo mad... The tea... It could also be a stronger dosage of THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol. Marijuana you can ingest."

I looked at him. "But that couldn't be that strong for her to forget things."

He turned to me. His eyes were sad and empty. "It would be the kindest drug for her. Dominic adored her like a little sister. He would've asked someone to modify it. He knew his drugs."

"We should ask the rest if they drank tea before dinner."

He exhaled with a nod. Then smiled. "On another news, you did well today."

"Thanks. Nervous as hell, but thanks."

"Not just well but amazingly." He shifted his head so he could lie it on top of mine. "I'm still sleepy. I'll sleep on the floor, it looked softer than Dominic's so - "

" - No." I leaned into him, closing my eyes. "We can just make another pillow fort."

With his soft chuckle, the day came to a close.

Daisy. I opened my eyes. "My mother called me daisy too," I said, recalling a distant memory. Her laughter, her soft smiles. My mother's hands dirtied in soil or in flour. Her hair, a smooth waterfall of light wisps. My little daisy, she'd whisper in my curls. In my cheek.

"Hmm?"

"It meant innocence," I whispered.

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NEXT

EPISODE THIRTEEN

THE LOVER'S SUMMONS

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I was listening to 'Lover' by Taylor Swift as I was writing this, and I feel like, in Cassandra's most inner thoughts, that's the song she would use for her feelings for Dominic. If she ever interpreted it. So I thought you should listen to it after reading this. It's also really good.

- - -

There's also so much drugs in this episode. Pardon me. Here's a reminder - unless the doctor called for it, don't do drugs, children. And unless you aspire to be a shitty ass person - do not, and I repeat, DO NOT DRUG SOMEONE. Consent and decency is everything. Your ancestors did not die for this.

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