Revamped!

[Typically, when I publish new stories, I always give two chapters 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 set of bedsheets just to put on her bed, and her computer to call her best friend back home in Artemisia, Iko. Thank the stars Levana connected the Wi-Fi before she fell asleep. As the call is ringing, Cinder throws her clothes in the closet, not caring if they're not organized and become all wrinkled. Someone will handle those eventually. She hopes Iko picks up, despite Artemisia being seven hours ahead and it's already night-time in Commonwealth. Cinder did tell Iko she'd call once they got here and it was already overdue.

Homegirl 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!"

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

"Lame!" Cinder responds, shocking Iko on the other end. "Well, I wouldn't know since all I've seen is the house. I wasn't paying attention in the car."

Iko rests her head on her elbow, her blue braids swinging from her high ponytail, waiting for Cinder to continue her story.

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

Iko gasps.

Homegirl Iko: Why would she do such a thing? Didn't you just move in hours ago?

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

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

Homegirl Iko: Sneak out.

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

Homegirl Iko: C'mon, Cinder, you know how Levana is at parties. She already forgot you exist.

"I've never snuck out before."

Homegirl Iko: Because Levana would let you go anywhere at any time. Besides, you're in a new town which means new places and new hotties.

Iko winks with a flirty undertone, perking her shoulders forwards for emphasis. 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. I'm getting food."

Homegirl Iko: You go, girl! And you'd better call me when you get back! I'm not sleeping.

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

Cinder ends the call. She finishes lacing up her shoes before looking around for a way out of her room. The locked door isn't 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 trunk.

"I almost lost my shoe up there…" Cinder mutters before running along the bushes and into the streets. She gets a good look at her house before she goes so she remembers which one is hers.

-o-

Levana lavishly accepts the compliments 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 with their spouses. Being in the political game for her whole life, excellent and memorable first impressions were important when it comes to being the new one in town. Given that everyone around her is smiling and laughing while drinking the finest champagne, Levana knows that she's doing a marvellous hosting job.

Her eyes widen when she sees that the guest she's been waiting for finally arrive. She strides gracefully across her living room, picking up a glass of champagne for him and his teenage son whom he brought. The two men look similar enough to show they were father and son; however, the son has a thinner and taller build with longer hair over his eyes and ears. A good-looking boy who one could tell was refined even outside of professional settings. He seems genuinely interested to be here.

"Ms. Blackburn," the older man 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 to kiss her cheeks. Levana puckers her lips as she returns the favour and hands him a glass of bubbling champagne.

"I'm sure you remember my son, Kai," Mayor Rikan says, opening an arm towards Kai. They haven't met but he was mentioned on the phone and Levana's seen photos in news articles.

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

Kai smiles at the mention of his mother, hiding sadness and keeping his posture straight to avoid wrinkling his maroon shirt. Levana knows from articles that his mother died when he was a young child and his father never remarried. Kai 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 server over there with some mini-sliders if that's your interest."

Kai nods as he excuses himself, leaving Levana with his father. He could tell that Levana wanted to get a few private words in with his father. It's not like he minded since they'll be talking business and he 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. "At least I could pass some work on."

Levana grins. "I'm flattered."

He sighs. "I didn't think you'd make the move out here given how much of a, excuse my phrasing, controversial platform you had back in Artemisia."

"You called and I answered. Besides, Artemisia only reminds me of everyone who died and gave me such controversy. I'm only here to help you and my girls."

"And I'm grateful for that." He looks down at his untouched glass of champagne. "Speaking of, how are your girls? Are they somewhere here? Maybe Kai could meet them."

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

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

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

-o-

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

"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. He makes an effortless approach to be charming that would've worked if Cinder cared enough to swoon.

"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. Population: this boy.

The boy laughs. "You're making jokes already, I like that. No, but seriously, did you move here? I'm in the next neighbourhood and remember seeing a moving truck passing my house earlier."

Cinder nods. The boy shifts his position on his bike, standing with one foot on the ground to balance. They both stand in a bit of silence that was starting to get awkward, especially since he was cleaned up nicely yet casual which properly represents the neighbourhood'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 after opening his arm to show the town off. "Are you 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 a flirtatious nuisance.

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

"That's the spirit!" Thorne exclaims, lightly punching her arm. He noticed her sarcastic disinterest. "Hey, are you heading anywhere specifically because I know a great place we could go to and get a bite to eat if you're hungry."

Cinder's starving but she doesn't want to look desperate in front of a boy like Thorne who would get the idea that she's desperate and hungry for him because she would never be. To be fair, he wasn't ugly 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.

"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 awakens from her slumber. She slowly rises from her mattress and sees the quilt her mother made for her covering her body. Winter tenses a little but feels the soft fabric of the blanket between her fingers which calms her down. She lifts the blanket 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. They're holding glasses filled with blood-red wine. Winter's brain shuts down due to this mind game. She knows it's fake but it feels so, so real. When everyone else 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 annoyed. 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 to be polite.

"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].