Typically, when I write new stories, I always give two chapters on the day I publish them so here you go.

Winter's Melting: Part Two

Cinder figured to be useful while locked away in her room. She unpacked the most important boxes: toiletries, clothes, one ser of bedsheets just to put on her bed, and her computer to call her friend back home in Artemisia, Iko. As the call is ringing, Cinder throws her clothes in the closet, not really caring if they're not organized and become all wrinkled. She hopes Iko picks up, despite Artemisia being three hours ahead and it's already night time in Commonwealth.

Iko: Cinder!

That distinguishable voice coming from Cinder's computer startled her, causing her to hit her head on one of her closet's shelves. Cinder curses and drops the clothing items she's holding. She runs over to her desk and sits in the chair, facing her friend on the screen.

"Iko!" Cinder exclaims, rubbing the bump that's slowly forming on her head. "I miss you so much!"

Iko: Girl, tell me, how is Commonwealth?!

"Lame!" Cinder responds, shocking Iko on the other end. "Well, I wouldn't really know since all I've really seen is my bedroom."

Iko rests her head on her elbow, waiting for Cinder to continue explaining since she's still lost.

"Levana's throwing a work party downstairs and locked me in my room," Cinder explains.

Iko gasps.

Iko: Why would she do such a thing?

Cinder shrugs. "Honestly, Levana probably thinks that I'm embarrassing which most may find cruel but I'm totally cool with it. I mean, Levana is forcing me to stay away from her. It's a blessing in my eyes."

Iko laughs a little. Then her face perks up with an idea.

Iko: Just sneak out.

"What?" Cinder questions, shocked by that idea. "No."

Iko: C'mon, Cinder, you know how Levana is at parties. She probably already forgot that you exist. Besides, you're in a new town which means new places and new hotties.

Iko winks with a flirty undertone. Cinder rolls her eyes.

"You know what," Cinder says, putting on a pair of running shoes. "I will sneak out but not for the cute boys."

Iko: You go, girl! And you better call me when you get back!

"I will if Levana doesn't kill me."

Cinder ends the video call. She finishes lacing up her shoes before looking around for a way out of her room. The locked door is obviously not an option which only leaves her with the window. Cinder runs over and opens it, seeing that if she were to jump, the worst that would happen is breaking her legs. She looks straight ahead and sees a tree that's nearly at arm's length. Cinder climbs onto her windowsill and launches herself towards the branch, swinging on it. For fear that the branch might break, she quickly shimmies across and down the tree.

"I almost lost my shoe up there..." Cinder mutters before running along the bushes and into the streets.

-o-

Levana lavishly accepts the compliments people give her on her beautiful house and her beautiful self. She glows brightly as she chats with her guests that consist of only Commonwealth's elite and government officials. Being in the political game herself, excellent and memorable first impressions were a must when it comes to being the new politician in town. Given that everyone around her is doing nothing but smiling and laughing all while drinking the finest wine the waiters are serving, Levana knows that she's doing a marvelous job when to comes to throwing a work party.

Then, her eyes open wide when she sees that the guest she's been waiting for finally arrives. She strides gracefully across her living room, picking up a glass of champagne for him and his teenage son whom he brought.

"Ms. Blackburn," he greets, holding out his hands for her.

"Mayor Rikan," Levana replies in the same welcoming manner.

Mayor Rikan of Commonwealth places his hands on Levana's forearms as he leans in forwards to kiss both of her cheeks. Levana puckers her lips as she returns the favor to him and gives him a glass of bubbling champagne.

"I'm sure you remember my son, Kai," Mayor Rikan says, opening an arm towards Kai.

Levana smiles brightly. "How could I forget your handsome son? You look just like your mother, God bless her soul."

Kai smiles bittersweetly at the mention of his mother, keeping his posture straight to avoid wrinkling his maroon shirt. He accepts the glass of champagne and takes a quick sip, quickly brushing his black hair away from his face.

"Thank you, Ms. Blackburn," Kai says. "Welcome to Commonwealth."

"Call me Levana," she says. Levana takes a quick look over her shoulder. "Kai, if you're hungry, I have some appetizers for you to eat. There's a waiter over there with some mini-sliders if that's your interest."

Kai nods as he excuses himself, leaving Levana and his father alone. He could tell that Levana just wanted to get a few private words in with his father. It's not like he minded since they're going to be talking business and he kind of wanted a mini-slider. Levana takes Mayor Rikan's arm and pulls him into the corner of the room where they were still visible to the other guests in attendance but far enough so that nobody could hear what they were about to discuss.

"You look well," Levana says to Mayor Rikan, "extremely well."

"Having you here brings life back into my system," he replies.

Levana grins. "I'm flattered."

He sighs. "I didn't think you would actually make the move out here given how much of a platform you had back in Artemisia."

"You called for help and I answered. Besides, Artemisia only reminds me of everyine who died. I am only here to help you."

"And I am grateful for that." He looks down at his untouched glass of champagne. "How are your girls? Are they somewhere here?"

"Oh, they're upstairs. Winter is easily distressed so all these new faces at once could unnerve her and Cinder is just exhausted."

"Understandable. Will they be attending Lunar Academy with my son?"

"Of course." She smiles a little. "It's only the finest school."

-o-

With her hands shoved in her pockets and her head looking at the ground, Cinder walks down the streets of her new neighborhood. Each house she passes is at least three storeys tall with classic cars in the driveway, a polished lawn and garden, a lavish porch out front, and a well-structured fence keeping it all in. Even in this completely different city, this still looks like the neighborhood they lived in back in Artemisia.

"Hey!" She hears someone call from behind her.

Cinder turns around and sees a boy riding a bike her way. She stops walking as the boy approaches her and stops his bike. He's young and seems to be her age with light brown hair, a square jaw that could cut glass, bright-blue eyes that glow in the dark, and dimples that give her a tempting bad vibe.

"I've never seen you around here before," he says to her.

"What makes you so sure?" Cinder questions, knowing that this boy has never seen her before since she's never been here before.

"For starters, I know all the hot girls in Commonwealth."

"What a coincidence, I know all the assholes in Commonwealth," Cinder says with an eye roll.

The boy laughs a little. "You're making jokes already, I like that. No, but seriously, did you just move here? I remember seeing some moving truck passing my house earlier."

Cinder nods. The boy shifts his position on his bike. They both stand in a bit of silence that was just starting to get awkward, especially since he was cleaned up nicely yet casual which properly represents the neighborhood's prestigious vibe whereas she only dressed in the clothes that weren't dirty.

"I'm Thorne, by the way," he introduces, holding out a hand for her.

"Cinder," she replies, firmly shaking his hand.

"Welcome to Commonwealth." He quickly runs a hand through his hair. "Are you going to be attending Lunar Academy?"

"Yup."

"Nice. I go there too. Hey, we could be friends."

Cinder rolls her eyes again, making Thorne laugh a little. She figures that maybe she could be friends with this Thorne character, despite his first impression for her being that he's a flirtatious asshole.

"Sure, why the stars not," Cinder says.

"That's the spirit!" Thorne exclaims sarcastically, lightly punching her arm. He obviously noticed her (possibly but hopefully not fake) disinterest. "Hey, are you heading anywhere in particular because I know a great place we could go to and get a bite to eat if you're hungry."

Cinder's actually starving but she doesn't want to look desperate in front of a boy like Thorne who would definitely get the idea that she's desperate and hungry for something else (for him in particular). To be fair, he wasn't an ugly boy but just a boy she wouldn't be caught kissing after midnight. Then again, if she were to go somewhere with this Thorne character, she could get to know someone in this new town, see new places, and bring something back for Winter as well.

"I could eat," Cinder says. "Where are we heading?"

"A diner called The Rampion. Sit on my handlebars and we'll bike there. It's not that far."

-o-

Winter wakes up from her slumber. She slowly rises from her mattress and sees the quilt her mother made for her covering her body. Winter tenses up a little but then feels the soft fabric of the blanket between her fingers which calms her body right down. She places the blanket by her side and slowly slides off her bed.

Winter opens her bedroom door and is unaware of Levana's gathering until she's reached the bottom of the staircase and sees everyone in attendance. She looks around and sees them all wearing red, specifically blood red. All of them are holding glasses filled with blood red wine. Winter's brain completely shuts down due to this mind game. When everyone else just sees an unknown girl, whom they assumed to be one of Levana's girls, standing there staring into nothing, they start talking.

Seeing all this blood causes Winter to start crying. Levana storms over but not for the means of comfort.

"Stepmother, everyone is bleeding," Winter sobs, "even you."

"Don't be ridiculous, Winter," Levana says annoyedly. She pulls out a key from her pocket and hands it to Winter. "Go be with Cinder. She's in her room."

Winter nods as she heads back upstairs. She walks down the hallways and stops right in front of Cinder's door. Winter knocks first, just to be polite and not barge in.

"Cinder, it's me," Winter says through the door. "Levana said I could come in so I'm just going to unlock the door, okay?"

So there are Thorne and Kai in the story.

Stay Tuned - Who else will Cinder and Thorne meet at The Rampion? What will happen when Winter unlocks the door?