A/N: Only first book applies. Mentions of rape, and other things. Be warned.

It's been twelve years since President Snow married Katniss Everdeen. The rebels have made it clear, they want their justice, and their justice's name is Coriolanus Snow. Katniss cannot decide if she's relieved, or surprised.

Chapter 1

Wrapping herself in white sheets, she sighed in relief when she saw the other half of the bed was empty. She soon took a hot bath and ate her breakfast, thankful that she didn't need to attend to any public ceremonies today.

He would be back soon, she thought. And it would be almost as if he is still gone.

"Turn on TV," she commanded. The preposterously gigantic television turned itself on to reveal last year's victor. Her name was Diamandis Stone from District One. She was a clear crowd favorite since day one. It was no wonder why. Diamandis had silver-blonde hair, genetically-altered violet eyes, and gigantic breasts. The day of the parade, she was presented almost stark naked with only shiny sequins covering her nipples and lower region. She was seventeen and glorious. Every man salivated, and every woman visited the nearest plastic surgeons to copy her.

The game masters did not disappoint that year. Clad in a tight suit, the first thing Diamandis encountered was water. Cold water that made her suit cling to her body and highlight her hard nipples. Then, they made her run. There was not a time when you could not see her running. And when that lost its appeal, they burned her clothes and she spent her arena days naked. She was dangerous though, as she was sensuous. A tribute from District Three cornered her in the forest, tried to force himself on her, but she was quick with her spears as any Career tribute. The day she won was the day she finally had her clothes back, and since then, her Victor Tour consisted of see-though gowns and lewd photoshoots.

The camera then revealed this year's victor. A tiny girl, not older than twelve, appeared. Brown hair and steel grey eyes looked straight through the camera. Her name was Rose. Katniss remembered Prim and thanked the gods she was spared from the games. It was one of the first conditions, when she married Snow.

A smug smirk was plastered on the girl's small face. She was deadly with two of her choice weapons—daggers and bow and arrows. She was a crowd favorite as well. Small and graceful, she danced her way to becoming this year's victor.

"It takes mind and skill," the girl said arrogantly. "In the games, everyone has only one thought it mind and it's to outlive every tribute in the arena. But that's how losers think." Diamandis rolled her eyes, but the girl's mentor, patted her on the back. "To win, you simply, kill." And kill the girl did. Light on her feet, the girl ran straight to the heart of the Cornucopia to secure weapons and killed thirteen tributes all by herself. "That's how winners like me end up here. " She looked straight at the camera. "Alive." Chuckles could be heard all over the audience. Diamandis didn't laugh though, the girl took Diamandis' spotlight now. And she didn't like it.

A tap on Katniss shoulder made her jump. "What is it?" The avox simply motioned for her to follow him.

"Who is it this time?" Katniss asked warily. She was tired of meeting her friends only so they could report rebel activities to her. She had already left that nonsense in the past when she married Snow. It was a childish dream to try to stop the games, to overthrow her husband. And it put her family and friends in danger. Katniss still remembered Snow's dangerous promise to kill all those she cared about if she ever tried to support the rebellion, if she ever talked to them. She could not forget how hard and how cold his eyes were in his threat.

After their marriage, her friends insisted they keep her updated on the rebel's activities. But she had turned a deaf ear on them. Mostly, they would tell her of the kidnapping of key members in Snow's government.

"The time is now, Katniss," Gale would say eagerly. "The rebels are finally getting somewhere. We have to act now." She would look at him. Gale was smart, she knew. He would have figured out why he married Snow right away. Why did he do this to her? Why did he intend on making life harder for her knowing full well what horrors her husband was capable of doing?

One time he had the guts to finally say what he was really thinking.

"Then you can finally stop pretending to be with Sn—"

"Gale!" she said, quickly shutting him up. They were being watched. Although Snow never acknowledged that her friends would talk to her about the rebels during their early years of marriage, she just knew he knew.

"My child," he would say when he arrived home, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked at her coldly. His finger would trace her cheek slowly and roughly. It hurt but it was not enough to leave marks. Then he would drop his hand and walk away. It was a warning, a reminder of their agreement, of why she married him.

"He will not let it happen," Katniss whispered fiercely. "Whoever the rebels kidnapped, he will and can replace quite easily. The government continues to function. The Hunger Games continues. Nothing can change that!"

Her outburst took Gale by surprise. He looked at her through wide eyes as if he could not believe those words came from her mouth.

Katniss breathed heavily. She would have never said that years ago, when she was not yet married. But she has been with Snow for twelve years. She saw his intelligence, his political manueverings. She saw how unforgiving he was of fools who could not do as he pleased. He had murdered Seneca for allowing Katniss and Peeta to live. He stayed in power because he was capable of staying in power. He excelled in it.

Gale and Haymitch left her without another word. Years passed and their meetings becoming less and less. She thought they had finally given up on her. Until today.

"You said it was urgent, that I should pack weapons." Katniss refused to bring any weapon. She thought it would only encourage them. Haymitch looked nervous which was unlike him. "Is it my mother? Prim?" she demanded. "Who is it, Haymitch?"

He looked like he was debating whether to tell her the truth or not. "It's... it's your husband," he said softly. "It's President Snow. They have him."

Katniss felt the wind leave her lungs as she struggled to breathe.