"I'll see you tomorrow," Mary said.
"Yeah, see you." Carmen watched the car speed away, hastened by Mary's libido no doubt, and sighed when she looked upon the miserable motel. Compared to Ashley's home, or any domicile with a modicum of care, it resembled a punishment. How could anyone sleep there? Let alone eat and relax.
On the way to her room, she passed a recently boarded up window. Another room had its door partly destroyed, chips of it lining the cramped walkway. The smell of rot urged her away. Melody couldn't stay here. A child's naivete is fragile, they learned faster than most gave them credit for. She had to protect it, at all costs. Otherwise all the time she spent dealing with Gretchen and restraining herself would be wasted.
The mouldy door creaked open at her shove. Her cheeks strained for a smile, but it wasn't necessary. One foot in the door and her mother accosted her in a breathtaking embrace.
"Carmen! Oh, baby! It's finally happened!" Alicia wailed, sobbing into her eldest child's shoulder.
"What happened?" Carmen said, straining to breath and ignore how soft her mother's chest felt. When released, she saw Alicia's bloodshot eyes gleaming with her jubilant smile and tears. Across the room, Melody also stared, though she seemed flustered.
"Our lucky break! I got a call from the bank. I thought it was a prank at first, then I went and checked and... and look!" From her purse, Alicia produced a roll of fifty dollar bills. Her eyes studied it, as if disbelieving that she held so much money, then put it away, "And that's barely a fraction of it. We're rich, sweetheart!"
Carmen suddenly felt the Futa Note's weight in her bag. Or perhaps that was Ryuka leaning on her shoulder, giggling at the older woman's glee. Without either, this wouldn't be possible. When was the last time her mother smiled like this? Alicia flopped onto a bed and just laughed, relaxed for the first time in years. Finally, no job to rush to or desperate need for sleep. All her woes had vanished. Gone, as if by magic.
Because of the Futa Note. Because Carmen transformed a wealthy girl into some triple-cocked freak that had a possible addiction to orgasms, and who, at that moment, was likely with Mary continuing where they left off. Unsanctioned jealousy swirled in her chest, a dark cloud that quivered against the brightness of her reprieve.
"That's great," Carmen lunged for Melody and kissed her forehead, "No more tatty clothes for you, Supergirl."
"Really?"
"Yep. We're gonna turn you into a princess."
"Ugh," Melody crinkled her nose.
"Oh?" Carmen chuckled, "What about a superhero then? Tight spandex and a cape and all that stuff."
"You promise?"
"Yes," Carmen said, "Supergirl needs a proper costume after all." In the back of her mind, another thought emerged. Her sister wanted to be a superhero, someone strong and beloved by all, and she could have it. Just a few sentences. She held it back, strangled by chains of her self-restraint. They creaked from the strain though, having loosened in the past months of abuse.
"I've got some design ideas then," Melody said and rummaged through her school bag, pulling out a tortured sketchbook. The cover had been torn in several places, and the pages seemed flaky, like they'd been doused in water and left to dry. Melody ignored that and went to the back, where she had several crude sketches of herself and Carmen.
"Wow, I get to be your sidekick?" Carmen said, biting back her mortified laughter at how large Melody drew her chest.
"Yeah, but don't worry. You get some cool tricks and stuff too. Just not as cool as mine."
"How generous," Carmen said dryly.
"I thought so," Melody grinned.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Alicia, once she recovered from the shock of it all, was on the phone to a hotel. One with ample storage. They moved there the same evening, and had a decent meal, their first one in a restaurant since Carmen's father passed. Melody went to bed warm and happy, mumbling in her sleep about all the things she had planned.
Carmen stayed with Alicia, corralled into her celebration.
"Just a bit then," Carmen sighed. Her mother could be persuasive, and persistent, as such she took the glass of red wine. Not the cheap stuff either. She sniffed at it as she'd seen people do in film, then took a quick sip, "Oh god, that's bitter."
"You'll get used to it," Alicia giggled, already on her second glass since returning from dinner. The alcohol had worked its way into her system, turning her cheeks a rosy tone.
"Don't think I want to," Carmen said but took another sip for good measure. It burned her throat, making her crave another drink.
"I can't believe we're really here," Alicia said, looking around the spacious room. Even occupied by three beds, a nightstand between them, and the unnecessarily large tv, they had plenty of room. And things could only get better from there.
Clothes and school supplies were the tip. Soon they'd have a house, somewhere to call home without a hint of sarcasm or fear that it would collapse on them. A room and bed for each of them, somewhere to be alone and relax. Even a garden. Alicia had said she liked raising plants. What little excess she could once afford had been spent on trying to liven the apartment up with flowers, but rats got to them before they could even bloom. Not anymore.
"Me neither," Carmen said and had another sip. The taste still revolted her, but the heat was welcome. It seemed to flow from her mouth throughout her body, soothing all her muscles. She sank into the pillows on her bed. Had she really been so tense?
"We could buy a house," Alicia said.
"Yep."
"And a car. Oh, I really want a car. Buses and trains are nightmares."
"Can't stand them."
"You and Melody can finally have some proper clothes. And toys! She hasn't had a proper toy since she was tiny. Phones too."
"Don't spoil her. Last thing we want is Melody to grow up as a snob."
