Train Rides: District Seven

Wisteria Raelon, District Seven

"What's up, sis?"

I tear my gaze away from the television to see my brother Drethyx lounging in the doorway, casually keeping his distance from me. Although his voice is warm, the look in his glacier-blue eyes is icy cold. I've seen that look before. In fact, I've seen it just now, in the Games recaps right in front of me. It's a look that he wears when he's about to kill.

Yeah, we kind of have an, ah, strained relationship.

"What do you want?" I ask, my voice letting him know that I don't believe for a second that he doesn't want to kill me. "You can come in, you know."

He doesn't move. If possible, it seems like his gaze has gotten even colder.

"Just letting you know that I'm going to kill you the second I get my hands on a weapon," he drawls. "Oh, and on a completely unrelated note, our mentors want to see us."

"What?" My mind instantly flashes through the thousand or so ways in which he could kill me right now.

"I said," he repeats slowly, as if talking to a particularly stupid child, "I'm going to kill you the second I get my—

"No, I got that part well enough," I shoot back. "You said that our mentors want to see us?"

"Yeah," he replies smoothly. "What? You don't believe me?"

"Not a bit."

"Whatever," he shrugs. "Just letting you know, that's all." With that, he casually strolls out of the doorway, probably on his way back to the dark pit from whence he came.

I wait until he gets out of earshot, and then stand up and follow him. This is probably going to end badly, but, hey, what the heck? I was born for adventure.

Before long, I begin to hear voices. I recognize Drethyx's sickly sweet drawl immediately. The other voice is low and gruff, presumably that of his mentor. So that snake wasn't lying after all. That doesn't make me trust him any more, of course.

"Where's your sister?" Gruff Mentor asks.

"She didn't want to come," is Drethyx's reply. "Can we start without her?"

Oh, Drethyx, how considerate of you!

"You didn't kill her off, did you?" another voice joins in. It's a woman's voice, but not as high pitched as the escort's. Maybe it's my mentor?

The two mentors burst into laughter. Creeps. As I linger by the doorway, I can barely hear Drethyx's reply:

"Not yet, I haven't." he mutters.

Let him come. I'm ready.

Drethyx Raelon, District Seven

"Weapon?"

"Needles."

"As in sewing needles?"

"No. Throwing needles. Poisoned ones."

Once we're all settled down, my mentor, Sander, starts firing questions at me as if this is some freakish Q-and-A session.

"Hmmm…" he considers this for a moment. "Alright then. Strengths?"

"Speed, stealth, and accuracy."

"Weaknesses?"

"Losing."

"No, I mean real weaknesses. What are they?"

"Losing."

"Is that all?"

"Yeah."

He sighs. "Great," he mutters, without enthusiasm. "Now if you'll excuse me for a second…" He picks up his glass of clear liquor and quaffs half of it in a single gulp. "Back to the subject. Weapon?"

"You already asked me this." I shoot back, irritated.

"Oh, really?" he asks, completely befuddled. "Well, I don't remember…"

"Here," I push him a pen and paper. He takes them with unsteady hands. "I'll take this." I snatch the half-empty glass of liquor from him and dump the rest of it into a potted plant. Even from several feet away, the stuff still reeks. I have no idea how he can down so much and still talk straight. But back to the subject.

"Weapon?"

"Poisoned throwing needles."

He draws a couple of squiggly lines. This is starting to get pretty freaking hopeless. Sighing, I pry the pen and paper out of his hands and write down all of the questions he asked me, plus all of the answers I gave him. I fold it up and hand it to him. He looks at it and puts it into his wallet. "We'll do this later," he says. "Now…where's my drink?"

I shrug guiltily. "No idea."

Sander stands up and stomps out of the car. I don't bother stopping him.

Finally, a not-slow update! Told you these were going to be quick. Of course, this stuff is like 90% dialogue, but it should still give you a decent glimpse into how much Wisteria and Drethyx hate each other. Sibling rivalry can be really cute sometimes ;).

Anywaaays, a review would be nice. I only got 4 reviews last chapter (thanks to everyone who reviewed!). I hope you guys haven't forgotten about me :(.