How Things Are

twenty

Teedo kept his word. When I got up the next morning Drakes replacement was there sparring with another soldier of Lucas. From the short breaks I was allowed to take we watched him fight. I still don't know what kind of weapon he wields. Everyone in the mafia is said to have mastered more than one before they are allowed their mark and he has his. For now, I've only seen Teedo have hand-to-hand combat with him all day so I've just been meditating and swinging my sword.

Last night has been bothering me. Slipping on something made me look bad. So why would I receive my tattoo before Drake if I just got here? Sitting on the floor, across the room and observing them, I watch them practice and then look at my katana. Why did Lucas customize this when he just met me? He's Mafia. Lucas doesn't just trust anyone. What's the difference between me and Drake?
This is been bothering me to the point where I can't focus. I can't practice. I have to know...
"Teedo?" Both men stop fighting. My voice should have been a little more humble.
He raised one eyebrow "Problem?"
"Yes." I scratch the back of my head "I mean no. I just wanted to know what the difference is?"
He looks at me curiously"The difference in what?"
"Um. Between me and Drake." I look down then back up. "Why do I have a tattoo and he doesn't?"
Teedos' arms cross over his chest and my new babysitter looks me up and down. "It's simple. Drake failed the test the boss gave him."
My eyes shift back and forth at them. "Well, I was never given a test to pass or fail."
"No. But you completed Drakes." The new guy says
Teedo nodded his head toward him. "Joey's right. Not only did you complete it but you won back the Lucas brother's slave so he didn't have to do extra work."
So Joey is the new babysitter's name. "What was Drake's task?"
They both hesitated to speak. "You traveled Death Road and survived." Joey finally says.
I look at both of them "If that was what Drake was supposed to do and he's still alive doesn't that mean that he survived?"
Teedo looks angry now, but not directed at me. "He tried taking the easy way out." I waited for the rest of the story.
Joey finally speaks "he boosted a car at the start of the trip. Tried to burn it when he got back two days early."
"If you guys know I got Winwrey back then you know about the motorcycle," I say.
"Yes." Teedo looks at me a little disappointed "However, the boss said you won it on the last day when you were depleted of energy."
Joey nodded "Drake didn't even know about the lake creature." He stated, "Lucas quizzed him because he was suspicious."
Teedo nodded "Lucas told him and offered another chance but this time the test was different."
I looked at both of them "What was it?"
Joey steps closer "Lucas said he'd have to go back to the lake and stay there for four days."
I held back a gasp "That's about how long it takes to travel it."
"Exactly." Teedo nods again "He lied to the boss and tried to snake his way into belonging with us."
I gulped "I'm guessing he failed again?"
Joey chuckled "That coward didn't even try to reclaim his honor. He just begged for another opportunity and made excuses. Said he wasn't thinking straight."
I hated that road. "I remember that thing. I'd say no to the boss too." I say bluntly.
They both look at me hard. Finally Teedo says something "Maybe, but you didn't cheat so you don't have to choose that."
For some reason even if he hardly smiles, whenever Teedo says something like this always knows how to make me smile.

Nobody said anything after that. We just had we all went back to what we were doing. I let them be. Well I asked for answers and I got it.

Winwrey still in my mind. I still ⁴ now and then about Winwrey but when I do I lose focus so I block things out. Well what happens happen?"