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Rane turned as the two of them left the office. Elffa said nothing, though she seethed silently by her desk, glaring at Sandy hard enough to burn a hole through her chest.
Sandy ignored her however as she took Rane by the arm and helped him stand.
“Are you alright?” She asked, tone soft, eyes pained, as she gently stroked his face. He didn’t know what he looked like right now, but he knew it couldn’t be good.
He offered her a half smile – the other half hurt too much to turn up. “I’m alright.”
She let out a short sigh. “No. But you will be.”
Turning, she glared at Elffa again.
“Well? The cuffs, you daft bimbo. Now.”
“I will claw out your eyes-”
“And I will grab them both in my fist and shove them down your throat, so you choke on them. Undo the cuffs – now.”
Rane couldn’t believe anyone would speak to his mother that way. The two of them glared at each other as though they were equal in power. Sandy didn’t back down.
But Elffa did. With a hiss of disgust, his mother turned to her desk and used the control panel to disengage the magcuffs. They released and broke apart, falling to the ground with a heavy thud. And Sandy was there, gently rubbing his wrists.
“There,” she smiled at him. “Come on. Let’s get you some rest. You need to get to the stadium early tomorrow so you can get all healed up before practice.”
“Sandy, what-”
She silenced him with a single finger to his lips and a smile. “Not now. We’ll have time for all that later.” She turned to Elffa, ice in her eyes again. “Thanks so much for your cooperation, monna. I’m glad we could come to an understanding.”
Elffa snarled. “Get out of my sight, you ugly-”
“Ugh, spare me,” Sandy cut her off again. “Your insults are as basic as your sense of taste.”
Elffa’s feathers were all sticking up. Poofing her body up in her anger. Sandy remained, as she ever was, unimpressed and impassive.
“Come on, Rane,” she said, lacing her fingers through his. “I can’t wait to show you all the changes I’ve made to the room. You’re going to love it.”
Rane had no idea what was happening anymore. He wasn’t entirely convinced that he wasn’t just living out some kind of weird dream.
But he followed. He let Sandy lead him out of his mother’s office and into the halls. Walking through the manor like it was hers. Like she’d done it a hundred times before.
“Sandy, what-”
“In a minute, lover,” she said, smiling at him over his shoulder. “I want some privacy first. I’ll tell you everything then, okay?”
What could he say to that?
She took him back to her wing of the manor, but this time the doors didn’t lock when they slid shut behind them. The rug had been taken away, the broken and stained furniture was all gone, but no one had painted over their ink drawings. They remained in place, a bit dull now that they were dry, but untouched. He was surprised. He thought his mother would get rid of those first.
But before he could contemplate them anymore, Sandy was pulling him into his room. And he blinked, surprised.
All the furniture was gone. The hanging bed, the comfy chairs, the desk, the lamps – all of it had been taken out. Now, all that was left was a bare cushion in the corner with pillows and a blanket to sleep on, as well as Sandy’s luggage she’d brought from Earth. She had pulled out her antique music device and set it on the floor. Beside it was the little silver urn he knew held the ashes of her grandmother. He didn’t understand why Sandy took it around with her, but he didn’t question it either.
Aside from that, there was nothing. She’d removed everything.
“What…?” He looked around confused.
“Nice, right?” She grinned wickedly. “I’m telling you, it was so cathartic to destroy all that stuff. I’ve been looking at new furniture to replace everything, but I wanted to wait for you before I decided. I want to know what you like too.”
She let go of his hand, turning to him with a triumphant grin. One that made his heart skip even as it deepened his confusion. She laughed.
