Chapter 1: New Family
Have Courage & Be Kind. That's what my mother has always taught me. My mother, Ella is the kindest person I have ever known. She never gets angry at me for anything and forgives people easily.
My name is Lana and I have been living with Ella as well as my other family members, my other parents, Miles and Gwen, my wife, Margo, my husband, Miguel, Hobie, Pavitr, Jessica Drew, Uncle Peter, and my grandparents, Rio and Jefferson. We live in a mansion on a farm in the meadow. I am a happy, young girl. My mother gave me the best childhood I could ask for.
The only downside was I had never met my grandmother or my father. My grandmother died from sorrow when Ella was just a kid. My father had to go away to a war when I was born. He had never returned so I assumed he was dead. Ella's father changed after Ella's mother had died but he had hoped for better times. I hoped for better times too.
Mainly because I get abused by my husband, Miguel. Miles does too since we share the same husband. Miguel forced us to marry him a long time ago. I am forced to wear a shock collar and wristbands that shock me whenever I disobey or when I try to take them off. My family has tried everything to help me and Miles but every time we try to leave Miguel threatens to kill us so we have no choice but to stay in the relationship for our lives are at stake. I hope that one day I am able to break free from my husband's abuse.
But for now, I have to endure.
"Lana," Ella said one afternoon.
"Yeah?" I said.
"I know you are going through a hard time right now, sweetie. But no matter what I want you to promise me. Promise me that you will have courage and be kind." Ella said.
"I promise, Mother," I said. Ella smiled at me.
"Good. That's all I ask." Ella said. I hugged Ella, she hugged me back. I walked with her to my grandfather's study. When we sat down I listened as Ella read a story from her book.
"And thence home, and my wife and I singing, to our great content. I know him not. That ends Mr. Pyps for today." Ella said, closing the book. "I do love a happy ending, don't you."
"Yeah!" I said happily.
"They're quite my favorite sort. As well as they should be." Ella said.
"Ella, Lana, I have come to the conclusion that it's time, perhaps... to begin a new chapter." Grandfather said.
"Indeed, father?" Ella said.
"You'll recall that in some time ago in my travels, I made the aquantience of Sir Francis Tremain." Grandfather said.
"Yes." Ella and I said.
"The master of mercer's guide, is he not?" I said.
"His widow. And honorable woman. In his prime life." Grandfather said.
"You're worried about telling me. But you mustn't be. Not if it will lead to your happiness." Ella said.
"Everyone deserves to be happy," I said.
"Yes. Happiness. Do you think I will be allowed one last chance?" Grandfather said.
"Of course I do, Father," Ella said. Ella and I went over to hug him. He wrapped his arms around us.
"She'll merely be your stepmother. And you'll have two lovely sisters to keep you company." Grandfather told us. A new mother and sisters? I wonder what they will be like. I hope they are nice. I excitedly went to my room to prepare for their arrival. I tidied up my room and changed my outfit into a purple dress instead of my usual leggings and t-shirts style. I wanted to make a good first impression.
As I made some last-minute clean-ups, my wife, Margo had entered the room. She looked confused as to what I was doing. "Lana? Honey what are you doing?" Margo asked me.
"Just cleaning up a bit. We're having some new guests over." I said.
"Guests?" Margo said.
"Yeah. Did you hear? Grandfather is getting married again. I'm having a new stepmother and step-sisters. I want to make a good impression on them." I said. Margo looked concerned when I said that. "Margo? What's wrong?" I asked.
"Sweetie. You don't need to go all out just to make a good impression. You just need to be yourself. Have courage and be kind like your mother said." Margo said.
"Thanks, Margo. I love you." I said. I kissed her. She kissed back.
"I love you too," Margo said.
"LANA!" I heard Miguel yell my name.
"Shit. I have to go. I'll talk to you later." I said. I quickly ran out of my room, to meet my husband. He is an impatient man and so I did not want to keep him waiting. I shot some of my web-shooters to go faster. When I got there Miguel was waiting for me with a glare on his face. My father, Miles stood next to him who looked nervous. I was nervous too.
"What took you so long?" Miguel spat.
"I- was just cleaning," I said.
"Hm. Well, we are having some new guests over tonight. I need you two to behave and make a good impression." Miguel said. Miles and I stayed silent out of fear of what he would do to us. Miguel is the exact opposite of Margo. He is very abusive, as well as strict and demanding. We have these stupid rules of his to follow and if we did not then we would be punished.
Miles and I jumped when Miguel slammed his fist on the table. "How many times do I have to tell you?! When I say something, you respond back you hear me?!" Miguel yelled.
"Yes, sir." Miles and I said.
"Good. Now go. And do not disappoint me." Miguel growled. Miles and I retreated to the living room. Tears streamed down my face. See? This is a taste of what I have to go through almost every day. Miles hugged me as I sobbed quietly. I buried my face into his hoodie.
"How much longer do we have to put up with this?" I sobbed.
"I don't know, sweetie. Just hold on a little longer." Miles said softly.
"Miles, Lana, the new arrivals are here now!" Rio called from the hallway. Miles helped me up as I dried my tears.
"Come on. We better go." Miles said. As we waited in the hallway to great the new arrivals, Ella was pacing around and whispering to herself.
"Have courage, be kind."
Ella turned to me when she saw me. "Lana be kind to the guests, okay?" Ella said.
"Okay, Mother," I said. Ella and I ran outside when the guests arrived. The horses were pulling the carriage. Grandfather walked towards them.
"Welcome ladies, welcome!" Grandfather called.
"They're skinny as a broomstick!" I heard one of them say.
"And that stringy hair!" The other one said. I took a good look at them when they stepped out of the wagon. The sisters looked the same except one of them had a yellow dress and one of them had a pink dress.
"You're very nice." The girl in the yellow said. I cringed a bit. They seemed spoiled.
"They look like spoiled brats," I whispered into my parent's ears.
"Yeah." Gwen agreed with me.
"Spoiled brats with Barbie girl dresses!" Pavitr said. I couldn't help but smirk. I snorted out a laugh.
"Lana, hush!" Ella said. She then turned to the girls. "Welcome. I'm so happy to meet you."
"You have such pretty hair." The girl in the pink said as she touched Ella's hair.
"Thank you," Ella said.
"You should have it styled." The girl in the yellow said.
"Oh. I'm sure you're right." Ella said.
"Oooh, I love your dress!" The girl in the pink said to me as she touched my dress. I shifted uncomfortable a bit but smiled.
"Er- thanks," I said. The girls introduced themselves as Anastasia and Drisella. I guess they didn't seem as spoiled as I thought they were so I decided to try to be nice to them.
"Would you like a tour of the house?" Ella asked.
"What did she say?" Drisella said.
"She wants to show us around her farmhouse. She's proud of it." Anastasia said.
"Do they keep animals inside?" Drisella asked. As soon as she said that, a woman with a cat on a leash stepped out of the wagon.
"Charming, how perfectly charming." The woman said. So, this was Lady Tremain huh? Lady Tremain had a green top on with a black skirt. She wore a hat with a cloth that covered her face. She looked mean. I don't know about the others, but I can tell this woman is giving me bad vibes. That's when I felt my spider senses going off. Were they warning me about her?
"Something about her seems off," I said to my family.
"I know. I'm sensing it too." Gwen said.
"Just stay close to us." Uncle Peter said. I nodded. I watched nervously as the woman inspected the house from the outside.
"Lucifer." Said Lady Tremain, pulling her cat closer. The cat did not look like a friendly cat either. Lady Tremain stepped inside the house, smiling to herself. Ella held hands with Grandfather. They smiled excitedly. They did not seem concerned. So for the sake of their happiness, I stayed silent not wanting to worry them. I held Ella's hand tightly as we walked inside the house. Lady Tremain looked around at the objects inside. She turned to Grandfather when she saw him.
"You did not say your daughter and granddaughter was so beautiful." Lady Tremain said.
"Oh, they take after their..." Grandfather stopped for a second.
"Her mother." Lady Tremain finished for him. "Just so."
Soon, we gave them a tour of the house. I was nervous as to what Lady Tremain would think. Of course, the sisters were whining about the house.
"What does Mommy mean? What's so charming about it?" Anastasia whined.
"She's lying. That's just good manners." Drisella said.
"Shut up." Anastasia scoffed.
"How long has your family lived here?" Drisella asked.
"Over 200 years." Grandfather said.
"And in all that time, they had never thought to decorate," Anastasia whined.
"Anastasia. Hush. They'll think you're an earnest." Lady Tremain scolded. After we gave them the house tour, we allowed them to settle in. I am worried. I hope things won't be bad...
Some months have passed since Lady Tremain and the sister's arrival. So far things haven't been as bad as I thought they were going to be. The sisters have been nice to us. Lady Tremain was nice too. Every so often she would host parties in hopes of restoring life and laughter through these hard times. I would often attend the parties, so would Ella.
Ella would often help out at these parties. I would help out too while having some fun at the same time. The only bad thing about these parties was, my husband would often get drunk. Even as he was already drunk enough, he would demand me to get another drink.
"Lana, get me another drink," Miguel ordered in his already drunk state.
"Miguel, I think you had enough..." I stammered, hoping he would listen to reason. I got scared when Miguel slammed his hand on some glass, breaking it and then slapping me across the face so hard that I fell back.
"Lana!" Ella cried.
"Don't talk back to me, woman! Get me another drink or else I swear I will shock you until you can't breathe!" Miguel yelled. With my body trembling, I slowly got up and went to get him another drink. When I returned to Miguel with his drink he took it from me and kissed me.
"There. That's a good girl. Wasn't so hard now, was it?" Miguel said. I nervously shook my head as his hand roamed up my body. "Now go sit down and be ready when I call you again."
I nodded and sat down next to Anastasia and Lady Tremain. Ella walked up to me, placing her hands on my shoulders. I got overwhelmed with this party so Ella and I stepped out, hoping for some quiet time. When we got to the hallway we saw our little friends, Jacqueline, Teddy, Matilda, and Gus-Gus.
"Well, look who's having a little party of their own. Jacqueline, Teddy, Matilda, and greedy Gus-Gus." Ella cooed. I giggled. Gus-Gus as usual was nibbling on some cheese. I find solace in our little friends when I go through hard times. I then heard a low growling in the distance. Oh no. It was that meanie cat, Lucifer. He might as well be the devil since he is literally named after the devil.
"Oh shit," I said as the cat prepared to attack. Lucifer snarled at the poor mice. Gus-Gus dropped his cheese. Ella picked up the cat.
"Just what... Yes, what do you think you're up to, Lucifer? Jacqueline is mine and Lana's guest. And the eating of guests is not allowed." Ella said. Gus-Gus quickly picked up his cheese. Ella set down the cat, pushing him in the opposite direction.
"Go on, now. You have plenty of cat food to keep you happy." Ella said. Ella then turned to the mice. "We ladies must help one another."
"Yep," I said, nodding in agreement. Ella and I decided to visit Grandfather in his study.
"You're missing the party," Ella said.
"Come join us," I said.
"Oh, I imagine it's much like the other ones." Grandfather said. "And I'm leaving first thing girls."
Ella and I looked at each other in shock. Grandfather was hardly back from his last trip. And he was leaving us again.
"But you're... You're hardly back from the last trip. Do you have to go?" Ella pleaded.
"Please stay," I begged.
"It's just for a few months, my darlings." Grandfather assured us. Ella and I sat down at the desk. "What would you like me to bring home from abroad? You know, your sisters... uh, stepsisters have asked for parasols and lace. What will you guys have?" Grandfather asked us. Ella took his hands.
"Bring me the first branch your shoulder has brushed on your journey," Ella said.
"That's a curious request." Grandfather said.
"Well, you'll have to take it with you on your way... and think of me when you look at it. And when you bring it back, it means that you'll be with it. And that's what I really want. For you to come back. No matter what," Ella said. Ella and I went over to hug Grandfather.
"Me too. Can you also bring me the first animal you see to?" I asked.
"Yes, I can. And I will come back. Ella, Lana, while I am away, I want you to be good for your stepmother and stepsisters even though they may be... trying at times." Grandfather said.
"I promise," Ella said.
"I promise too," I said.
"Thank you. I always leave a part of me behind, Ella and Lana. Remember that. And your mother's here too even though you see her not. She's the very heart of this place. And that's why we must cherish this house, always, for her." Grandfather said.
"I miss her. Do you?" Ella asked.
"Very much." Grandfather said. Ella and I hugged him again.
I was sad to see him go again, but this was out of my control. I pray that he keeps his promise and pray that he comes home safely.
A/N: Guess who got eager and decided to start a new story again? Me! I promise I will work on my other two stories as well but I wanted to work on a small project so I can complete something while I work on large projects. Also if you guys are confused as to why Lana has two sets of parents this is a crossover story with Spider-Verse because I love that movie so much and they are different worlds that's why Ella is Lana's mother in the Cinderella universe and why Miles and Gwen are Lana's parents in the Spider-Verse world. Another thing to note is that I do not own any Cinderella or Spider-Verse characters. The only character I own in this story is Lana.
I hope you guys enjoyed reading this first chapter and please, please, please, leave a review I beg you. But please no negative reviews or harsh criticism. I will be posting the next chapter soon.
Thank you.
- GalaxyQueen500