Revamped!

[And now, the story of what happened in Artemisia. Here, you will learn more about President Channary Blackburn of Luna, Selene Blackburn, how Selene became Cinder, how Levana married Winter's father, how Jacin and Winter started dating, how Winter got her scars and started losing her mind, and how the Blackburns ended up in Artemisia. Therefore, these are all FLASHBACKS.

It's a big arc that I finished a long time ago so be prepared.] [2020: I couldn't wait to get back to this arc because it's one of my favourites. I love the dynamic Channary and Levana have.]

Burned to Cinder: Part One

Artemisia, the capital of Luna, was on the eastern hemisphere of the Earth. It was a city of endless summers and flourishing opportunity. People were fascinating and fashionable. Life was splendid and glamorous. Everything from the civilians and the landmarks was beautiful. At least, it was on the surface…

Artemisia sounded like a fairytale but behind the enchanted forest, it was a filtered reality. No matter how much of a spin was placed on the stories, the city became a ghost town of sorts, littered with milestones and memories. The city was once full of happily ever after but that stopped being a belief once the wicked witch entered the parliament.

Channary Blackburn, firstborn of the Blackburn dynasty. She was a woman of captivating intellect and beauty, cruelly imprisoned in a poisonous character. She was a gallant woman and very charming, but that made her manipulative. She's ruthless. People could and have told her to jump off a cliff and she wouldn't do it not because of fear but because she wouldn't want to kill herself.

Six years younger is the second Blackburn daughter, Levana Blackburn. She had a wickedly alluring appearance and vibe to her. There was nothing wrong with her looks since she was naturally in better shape than most married women her age. She had no fear of heathens since she had always lived among them. She considered herself to be one of the worst.

Both sisters were the same: dark-haired, dark-eyed, tall and narrow-shouldered, slender, and long-legged. In designer heels, they were over six-feet tall. Their faces looked articulately sculpted with every feature perfectly shaped, symmetrical, and proportioned.

Growing up as a Blackburn, they were taught one thing: to use their glamour to manipulate people to believe their lies were their specialty. That was how their family's status was founded, built, and maintained.

That was what made Channary the President of Luna at such a young age of thirty years old. She won the election by a landslide and although most of Luna didn't want her in office, she got it handed to her and ignored those who opposed. The moment she got power, she used it primarily to advance herself and those who supported her.

Channary made her Cabinet the way she wanted: Levana was her Senior Advisor. She was done her undergrad degree and halfway through law school when Channary pulled her out. Although she got flamed for the nepotism and Levana's youth and inexperience, Channary didn't have one care in the stars about it since she had her power and sister under her control. The remaining members were the wealthiest industrialists, politicians, and most handsome men Luna had to offer. Their qualifications and marital status didn't matter to her. As long as Channary had a selection of fine men to screw around with, she was satisfied in more ways than one.

Luna was destroyed during Channary's rule. She abolished the possibility of re-election since she saw herself to be in power for as long as possible and got rid of all possible opposition parties. The press was heavily censored. She had control of what was being published about her, only the best words of praise were circulated on the surface.

The upper class flourished during her rule, the middle class survived if they behaved, and the lower class fled to the neighbouring countries: The Earthen Union or The European Federation. This status gap caused tensions between the nations and they wanted her out of power, but Channary batted her long lashes and didn't see them as threatening towards her power. Wars were started but their fires died down as fast as they started.

She was the one in charge here and she was for a decade.

-o-

"We had a deal, President Blackburn!"

"The devil makes them all the time," Channary responds with her signature flare.

Channary doesn't even look at the man she's conversing with as she walks down the carpeted hallway in her best stilettos. The poor man trails her large strides, continuing his argument.

"You promised not to administer trade protectionism towards European goods!" He yells at her.

"I have Lunar producers, you imbecile," Channary responds sharply. "How will they thrive with your goods coming into my markets? You're in business so you got to keep moving to make money. If you're so concerned with tariffs and quotas, put some on Lunar goods in your markets. It's not like that would change the inelastic demand for my goods. Now, get out."

"You bitch!"

Channary turns back and to his surprise, her eyes are smirking. "I'm the president, the attitude comes with the job."

The man opens his mouth to fire back a response but gets grabbed by Channary's security and escorted off the premises. Channary huffs as she straightens the wrinkles on her dress and pushes back the free strands on her hair to flow behind her shoulders. She continues walking down the hallway, heading for her office.

"Levana!" Channary calls.

From the next wing, Levana pushes her chair back from her desk with a roll of her eyes. She stands and takes a sip of sparkling water before starting to head over to her older sister. When the dictator calls, it's answer or be executed. That rule didn't need the ten years of Channary's power to solidify.

After spending her entire life with Channary and her transcending bossiness from their childhood mansion to parliament, Levana has grown so used to it that she expected it. Not a day goes by when Channary doesn't yell her name. After their parents died when they were eighteen and sixteen, Channary was in charge of the family and wealth, and now she was in charge of the country. Levana was never free from her older sister's power over her.

The closer she gets, the more Levana smells tyranny and wrath. She should've brought some holy water to drown her sister in.

Levana enters Channary's office to see her sitting on the front of her desk, hunched over and lighting a cigarette. Channary flips her hair as she straightens, puffing smoke as Levana steps closer to her older sister. Her cigarette holder matches her outfit, as always.

"What do you want?" Levana questions. "To be feared?"

"To be wondered at," Channary responds. "This isn't egotism, baby sister, people want to marvel at a leader. It helps that I'm beautiful."

Levana rolls her eyes. "Tell that to your censored approval rating."

"That number is purely subjective."

"What a Blackburn response." Levana grins and Channary does the same as she inhales her cigarette again and puffs out smoke again. "Why am I here? You know I would never smoke. If this is about your trade war with The European Federation, that's why I told you we should be trading with The Earthen Union instead. They have a bigger and more stable economy than The European Federation anyways."

"It's not that," Channary says, standing up. She steps closer to Levana (the smell of smoke now stronger to her).

"Is it militarization? You already have troops up north and -"

"Levana, I'm pregnant."

Levana's jaw drops to the floor. The first thought that came from that reveal is that her monster sister would have a mini monster version of her. As if her life wasn't miserable enough. Levana hopes Channary would never reproduce but it's too late now.

"You'd better tell the father," Levana says. "You know who he is, right?"

Channary raises an expected eyebrow at Levana. Levana sighs disgracefully with a little grin. She expected that.

"Typical…" Levana mutters. "The power of sex, ordinary greed, and power always drive you to your carnal desires. At least you conceived instead of contracting STDs."

"You're overreacting," Channary responds.

"You screw your Cabinet daily!"

"Not daily, it's more like every other day." Channary laughs loudly and obnoxiously. "Handsome men don't stay handsome for long."

Frustrated, Levana takes a calm and steady breath. If she had the habit, she would take a smoke and hope to die before meeting Channary's future baby. She waits for Channary to continue bragging in some way but Channary is expecting her to say something.

"What?" Levana grumbles.

"You're my senior advisor," Channary says, "you tell me what I should do."

Levana raises an eyebrow. "About your baby?"

Channary nods.

Levana doesn't even hesitate. "Abortion?"

Immediately, Channary slaps Levana right across the face with the hand that was holding the lit cigarette. Levana feels her cheek where a small and hopefully not noticeable burn mark resides. She shakes her head and fixes her hair before facing her sister again. Channary takes a fresh inhale of smoke before exhaling it right into Levana's face.

"Don't talk about my baby that way," Channary scolds. "That's your niece. If you weren't my sister, I would've kicked you out myself for those words."

"You've been pregnant for what?! A day?!" Levana yells. "What do you want me to do? Have the press report on it?"

Channary nods. "They can all glorify my child."

"Whatever you're cooking in that oven is no royal or deity."

"Watch your mouth."

"Look at you and your mothering skills already." Levana gives her a sarcastic applause. "You know how Luna will react - your non-supporters will only be ignited. They hate you with a burning passion and now you'll have a baby suckling on your breast. You're putting your baby at risk."

"Again with the overreaction, Levana. My baby will be fine."

"Whatever you say. I'll go tell the reporters about your fascinating news. It'll make you look bad since you're not married or with a man for longer than an orgasm."

Channary puts out her cigarette. "Good enough. A bad idea is better than no idea."

-o-

The next morning and the months to follow, headlines about Channary's pregnancy were reported throughout Luna. The reactions, of course, were mixed. From those who loved and worshipped Channary, they were delighted to hear that she was bringing another version of herself into the world to continue the Blackburn dynasty. Others believed that President Blackburn having a baby might impact Luna positively since her maternal features might bloom into the country. Then, there were the ones who spread the stories and conspiracies about who in the Cabinet was the father.

Channary never took a day off work during her pregnancy nor did she put down the cigarette despite doctors and even Levana telling her to do so for the baby's health. Channary cared for her baby and believed that still being in power during her pregnancy would pass onto the baby. Levana called that fictional and was surprised that her baby didn't miscarry or have any issues for the nine months.

Then, the day came when Channary's water broke and she along with Luna was gifted with the birth of Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn.

[In all honesty, this chapter was so much fun to write. (And so topical as well lol).]