❝wonder like you drown oceans.❞
CASSANDRA USED TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, but one day, her parents bring back a box of magical objects that used to belong to a warrior princess. With her natural curiosity, Cassandra went through the objects and they...
WONDER i. HOME SWEET HOME ❝GOODBYE, MAINE. HELLO, NEW YORK.❞
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HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN MAINE, Cassandra Dalton had grown accustomed to the cold. Still, the young blonde shivered with her head against the window as her music blared through her earbuds. Her gaze was fixated on her father, Nathan, as she watched him speak to his older brother several feet from the car. Cassandra didn't know her Uncle Sam as well as her parents did, considering they had cut contact with him after an expedition had gone wrong. She never had all the details and it had been such a long time ago, she didn't care enough to ask. Though, in their time of need, Sam had shown up and that was enough for Cassandra to know he was a good man. Their gaze turned to her, causing a sigh to leave her lips. She tried to focus on the music, but she could feel her heart race as the two men approached the car.
Her father tapped on the window, causing Cassandra to roll down the window and the brisk winter air welcomed her first. She took out one of her earbuds, waiting for her father to speak. "Cassie?" Nathan started, bending down to lean against the door frame to get a better look at her. He glanced back at the three-story apartment complex behind him. "So, what do you think?"
"It's... different," Cassandra mumbled, leaning out to examine the brick building they would call their home for the next couple of months. Some of the lights were on and she could see silhouettes of people as they silently watched from their windows, but she didn't blame people for being curious. She missed the house they owned back in Maine, the house she had lived in all her life, but her father had to sell it after... everything. But, she didn't want to give up on New York without giving it a chance first.
"It's alright," Sam chuckled, leaning against the car as he kept his gaze on the building. Being closer, Cassandra could catch whiffs of cigarette smoke and cologne. Under his jacket, she could see tattoos peeking out and it made her realize how different he was from her father. "You can say it sucks because it does."
"Sam..." Nathan sighed, placing a hand on his hip as he shook his head. At that moment, it was difficult to tell that Sam was older than Nathan. Her father used to be more playful and was never seen without a smile, but that was when her mother, Elena, was still with them. He turned his attention back to Cassandra, giving her an apologetic smile. But, it didn't reach his eyes ━━ none of his smiles did anymore. "It's only temporary, baby. Once we get settled, I'll look for something better, alright?"
"New York grows on you," Sam chuckled, digging into the pocket of his denim jacket before he pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He offered one to Nathan, but he declined. Cassandra half expected him to offer her one, wanting to be the 'cool' uncle but he only tucked them away. "It'll take some getting used to, considering you lived in a manor back in Maine."
Nathan scoffed, shaking his head. "It wasn't a manor, Sam."
"It sure looked like one compared to the shithole I live in," Sam laughed, taking another drag of his cigarette. Cassandra could feel the tension brewing between them, but neither one of them wanted to step into uncharted territory.
