How Things Are

eighteen

His house looked over Mafia City. Lucas had a 180 view of everyone and everything. His home had pleasantries I had never seen before. One of the walls had water flowing yet it didn't hit the floor. Everything smells of citrus. How is that possible when no fruit trees are growing inside? There's a bar where his men are currently sitting.
Lucas walked through another door and locked it. Well, now what? I continue exploring. I'm sure I look like a child with my nose scrunched up every time I see an odd piece of art or a circle of glass steps. This place was built for luxury. Only the finest in life can afford to walk on glass.

As I climb the stairs I see a wall of weapons. Impressive. I wonder if he can use them all or if he's just a collector. Looking around me it seems that this room is his practice room. There are weights on the other side. I notice a few boxing gloves and a punching bag. This must be where they practice.
Take the thinnest knife from the wall and unlock my chain so it's removed properly. That dragged noise was irritating. While placing the knife back on the wall I hear Drake and Teedo coming up the steps.
They see me rubbing my ankles. Drake looks at me then the chain and his face reminds me of a silly little cartoon Simon told me about where the characters had smoke come out their ears when they got mad. I smiled at him which seemed to upset him more.
"No one said you could take those off." Well, Drake seems to have a temper.
"I think it'll be alright," I say simply.
"You think you can do whatever you want? You're still just a slave!" His words are venom.
My look turns cold. He draws his sword. However, I don't. I walk down the stairs away from them.
"What? You scared?" The words of a child.
"No little boy, I'm better." Before I disappear I see Teedo taking Drake's arm.

I open doors as I continue exploring the house. Teedo said on the way here this was a condo. Whatever that means. The elevator door has buttons I either don't know how to work or can't access so I'm stuck on this floor though Teedo said Lucas owns the whole building. Why in the world would someone buy a building with an elevator is beyond me. Riding that thing, I felt my stomach lift out of my body. That stupid door opened and transported us to another room and they thought I was crazy. Just thinking about it made me nauseous.
Opening another door, it looks like a master bedroom. Probably Lucas'. The next I checked seemed to be an office of some sort. My father had one but not as nice as this. Leather furniture. Not a scratch. A phone. If only I had people to call. Bookshelves with books and files. Oh my! Is that a safe? My eyes grew big and I'm sure they were shining. I slowly walked towards it. Examining it, there's no way I could get in so simply. What am I thinking? I turned around to see Lucas right behind me.
I gulped "So, you have a nice place."
"You think so? Nice enough to steal?" I can't read him. His face is stone.
"I wouldn't. It's impossible. There's no way to even." I was rambling now
"Come on."
I follow Lucas up the glass steps. The other two have been sparring. The room now smells like sweat. Drake is still angry, he's not focused. However, Teedo is known to be excellent. I watch as they fight. Lucas comes to me and hands me a wooden sword. He holds another. I set down my katana and joined him. This is nerve-wracking.
"Now. Attack me."
"But I'm never the first one to attack." I say simply.
He looks at me for a moment. Then strikes. It takes me by surprise but I block. Again. And again. He's so fast. Blocking and evading is all I can do. He's faster and stronger. I'm lost in the moment of battle. This zone where it's just me and him. Even though my focus is steady he gets me anyway. Jabs my ribs and I stumble. He trips me. His wooden sword is at my neck. "You're dead." He puts the wooden sword away. "Teeto will continue training you every day. Until I say otherwise you won't receive armada."
To be shocked is an understatement. "What?"
"Compared to my other soldiers," he looks me up and down "You are mediocre at best. But there's room for improvement."
Before he walked away I had to try, "what about Winwrey?"
"What about her?"
"She has skills with knives and-"
Before I could continue he cuts me off. "Your friend isn't my problem. She belongs to my brother. What he does with her is up to him."
I bit my lip before I said anything stupid. He was right. She ran right into his arms practically begging to be his slave. I stood up and wiped the sweat off.
Lucas was walking closer to me. "Tibby."
I stood straighter. That's the first time he called me by my name. "Yes?"
"She submitted to him. Remember to whom you submit to now." He stated.
I couldn't say anything. He just waited until I nodded once then he left the room.
The air was thick and awkward. Drake had a smug look on his face. While Teedo remained hard. As if thinking about something. He eventually grabbed a wooden sword and we began fighting.

We both got lost in training. I lost count of how many times he knocked me down but I got back up and he waited. Teedo was a good instructor. He pointed out my flaws and my tells. I didn't think I had that many. Drake laughed every time I fell but for the most part it was as if he wasn't even there. Eventually he quit and started lifting weights.
We lost track of time. I only stopped because Teedo said it was time to eat. I looked out and it was dark. Mafia City looks pretty at night. The lights from casinos along with other competing businesses made it look beautiful. As everyone sat and ate I took my plate and sat by the windows to look at the view. This food along with the view was an experience I won't forget. Will this continue? I'm so use to running and hiding. Perhaps being owned won't be so bad.