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Chapter 35
Sandy
The manor was the first thing to go.
She and Rane moved out and into a nice apartment in the city the first chance they got. It would take a bit longer to sell the place, and they were probably going to let it go for far less than it was actually worth just to get rid of it faster, but they didn’t actually care.
They chose to live in the city because Sandy wanted a chance to explore. Rane asked if she wouldn’t prefer a more isolated house, and she said she did. A quiet place to retreat to during the winter, when she wanted to be warm and cozy. But for summer, for the game season, she wanted to live in the excitement of the city. She wanted to explore.
They moved in immediately after the championship game. A game that the Eliviers lost. They tried their best, and it definitely wasn’t a devastating loss, but it was still a loss. It was hardly a surprise seeing how they had spent the days leading up to the game either in detainment, under investigation, or frantically flying to try to reach Holotulle in time.
But they took the loss with grace. They celebrated that night in the ringworld capital of the Coalition like they had just won the entire universe. As Sal said, their victory wasn’t in the game, and their prize was much better than just a trophy.
They were looking forward to next season already. They were making plans and schedules like it was their very first time playing in the league. They were excited, and they were all planning together. Rane had inherited the management of the team from Elffa, but he almost immediately turned around and sold it – for practically nothing – to Drevor.
It was a good way to give him a lot of money without directly giving him money. It elevated him from being just a personal assistant, and it kept him close as a friend. He took on the responsibility with the first smile Sandy ever saw on him.
As promised, they were going to make sure he was paid back for his efforts on their behalf. Owning the team alone would make him a wealthy male – the Eliviers were winners, and winners made money. Even getting second place in the Coalition wide league meant that they were among the best of the best. The story that broke about Rane and everything he had been enduring, the truth finally getting out, also brought a lot of attention and sponsors and supporters.
They didn’t win the championship, but they were still victorious.
As for Orza and Kirs, Sandy hadn’t seen them once since she was left in the manor.
She fully intended to keep her promise to help search for their missing brother, but being taken into custody for her own protection meant she hadn’t been able to do so. Drevor, however, had taken her order and seen it to completion.
Someone found a stasis pod deep in the stadium basement, hiding in a storage room behind a bunch of spare chairs, signs, and tools that were never used. They hadn’t opened it, but instead reported it to Drevor who, in turn, told Orza and Kirs.
The two had disappeared from that moment on. No one saw them again, but when someone went to check on the stasis pod, it was to find that it had been opened and emptied. Whoever had been inside was gone now.
However, when Sandy moved into their new apartment, she found a note on one of the counters. It wasn’t signed, and it just said-
‘If you ever need anything, contact us. We’ll give you a good deal’
Sandy didn’t know exactly what they might be able to offer her, but she was pretty sure she would never use the favor. But she was glad that they got away. She hoped they stayed far away. She never wanted to see them again.
Things had changed so drastically and wonderfully. Sandy finally felt like she was living the life her grandmother wanted for her. There was just one thing that she thought would make it better.
“What kind of surprise is it?” Rane asked, smiling at her as she walked, arm-in-arm, with him through the restaurant. It was a nice place, and she was wearing a short, sparkly, pink dress for the occasion, her hair done up nice, braided with a white ribbon down one side. She had a long, silver, feathery boa around her arms, and another, bright blue, feather dangling from one ear. The entire outfit was nearly blinding with its bright colors and sheer ridiculousness. She liked the way she dressed, but she knew that she looked severely out of place. Only Rane’s fame and wealth allowed her to come into a place like this dressed the way she did.
But Rane dressed the same way. He was wearing red today, the feathers of his crest beaded, shining with gold, plucked back into a mohawk style. They both looked good – according to her. But the rest of Levtiram still liked to rib them about their fashion sense. But she had learned to accept it. They were a celebrity couple – dressing odd was basically a requirement on Earth.
“It’s the best kind of surprise,” she said, belly tightening with nerves.
The host led them to a private room. Rane smiled at her, like he was expecting something to happen. It wasn’t an unreasonable expectation, really. Now that they were free, it was go time whenever and wherever they wanted it. They were enjoying each other at every opportunity, and she couldn’t blame him for thinking that was the surprise.
But then they walked into the room, and he looked confused.
The male already inside turned. He was older than Rane, but there wasn’t much physical difference between them. His crest was the same bright blue, though his was pressed tight to his scalp. At his side was a tall, slender female with deep, rich, tan feathers. She briefly glanced at them, but most of her attention was on her mate, watching him carefully as he stared, like a deer in headlights. He knew Rane would be coming but still somehow looked surprised to be face to face with him. Sandy might have laughed if the situation wasn’t so serious.
Rane, for his part, just looked confused.
“Friends of yours?” He asked, looking at Sandy, then back, fixing a polite smile on his face. He might not expect to be introduced to new people, but he wasn’t going to be rude.
She smiled nervously. “Rane, this is Traff.”
“Traff…” He hesitated as something like recognition finally sparked in his eyes.
The older male stepped forward cautiously. “Rane… I…” He struggled to find something to say, but it wasn’t so easy to meet your adult son for the first time.
