Adjusting my hair one last time in front of the mirror I slipped on the flats and hurried out of my small cottage and towards the town square. Parents and children were hustling around trying to get sorted while Peacekeepers stood around looking intimidating upon my arrival. After signing in and joining the other sixteen year old girls who put plenty of space between me and them, Lottie did her greeting and showed the capitol movie in a outfit which was a awful looking yellow dressed that was topped off with a hat that looked like a green bouquet of flowers. "And now for this years tributes, ladies first, Catalina Ferrell." She said reading the small slip.
A scream came from my right and I turned to see Courtney Ferrell start crying as a small girl slowly walked up. My heart turned as Courtney ran up to grab her sister but was shoved back roughly by the Peacekeepers. "I volunteer." I shouted without thinking.
All eyes turned to me. "We have a volunteer come on up." Lottie said smiling. Straightening my back and tossing back my really long hair which was coming out of the sloppy ponytail I had put it in I walked up the stage as confidently as I could. "And what is your name?" she asked shaking my hand eagerly.
"Eidothea Remling" I answered watching as Courtney snatched up her little sister and clung to her for what looked like dear life.
"A round of applause for Eidothea Remling for volunteering to represent District 4." Lottie said. There were a few scattered claps but other than that everyone was just staring. "Now the gentlemen." Lottie said quickly and rummaged around in the bowl before selecting one. "Poseidon Ferrell." She read. My jaw dropped at the name of yet another Ferrell except this time Courtney did not scream and this time instead of scattered applause there was a thunderous roar and cheers erupted. A tall, broad shouldered and handsome blonde haired boy made his way up smiling and waving as if he had just won some massive reward. "Our tributes ladies and gentlemen." Lottie shouted to be heard as the crowd continued shouting.
We were led away into the Justice building and I was left alone for someone to come say goodbye, despite me telling the peacekeepers that no one would. To my absolute surprise Courtney came in. "Thank you for what you did for my sister." She said dully.
"No problem." I said adding a slight sneer as she glared at me.
"She wasn't ready, only the men in my family train for the Games." She snapped suddenly and then stalked out before the Peacekeeper could escort her out.
"You two are going to love the train." Lottie said as we were led through the crowd that were screaming Poseidon's name and to the train.
Neither of us said anything to her, me not wanting to talk and Poseidon busy entertaining the crowd before the doors slammed shut and the train immediately started. "I'm Poseidon." Poseidon said holding his hand out towards me.
"Eidothea." I said shortly.
"Look I know my sister probably didn't properly thank you, but thank you for volunteering for my other sister." He said.
"I didn't do it for her but you're welcome." I said.
He didn't get a chance to respond because Finnick Odair emerged, wearing tight black silk pants and a white tank. "Come on you two, we can all talk in the dining cart." He said smiling his famous million dollar smile.
I followed behind him and Poseidon and sat opposite of him as he sat on a sofa and I was on the bean bag chair while Poseidon sat next to me, also on a bean bag. "What are we aiming for for our chariot ride?" Poseidon asked immediately.
"First I need your names." Finnick said pouring himself a glass of expensive looking alcohol and carefully sipping it.
"Eidothea." I answered.
"The name of the prophetic sea nymph and daughter of Proteus." Finnick said.
"Poseidon."
"And king of the sea." Finnick said. We sat in silence, Finnick's drink forgotten as he sat in thought. "What can you guys do?" he asked.
"Spear, trident, hand to hand, swim, and identify plants." Poseidon answered immediately.
"I can throw knives and dodge them just as fast as I throw them." I said after a moment of thought.
"I want you two to watch the reapings while Maggie and I discuss some ideas, if you need anything bug Lottie." Finnick said and left hurriedly.
"This way to the theater." Lottie said hoftily. Poseidon grabbed Finnick's unfinished glass and gulped it down before following Lottie and I followed silently, stealing the whole bottle and two glasses. "If you need any food or drinks just push the button." Lottie instructed and shut the door, not noticing the bottle in my hand courtesy of Poseidon's huge body.
"Thirsty?" I asked as we sat on the funky orange chairs.
"Sneaky." He said accepting a glass and taking the bottle to fill up his glass halfway.
I filled mine to the brim and brought it up to my lips to down it when it was snatched out of my hands. "Thank you sweetheart." Finnick said and promptly poured the drink on top of my head.
"What the hell?" I gasped out leaping up and frantically patting at my head.
"If you want to drink you let me know and I supervise, you don't steal a whole bottle and get yourself and your partner drunk. Am I clear?" He asked handing me the empty glass.
"Crystal." I snapped and threw the glass at him, which he caught right before it hit his left shoulder.
Poseidon silently handed Finnick his glass and Finnick went to a cart that held a small buffet of sandwiches and fruits. "Let's watch." He said sitting himself between us and holding out the food. Silently the screen came to life and we watched as District 1 was reaped. A girl about 5"8 with short black cropped hair that looked more like a boy than a girl was picked and when someone tried to volunteer she bared her teeth and shouted a bunch of profanity words at them. And then a boy slightly shorter than Poseidon's 6"5 figure was chosen and he to acted out when someone else tried to volunteer. "Their names are Jules and Jem and they are close to animalistic don't even bother trying to ally with them." Finnick commented. The girl from District 2 was tiny and slight but the glint in her eye was saying don't estimate me and the boy was bigger than Poseidon at the massive height of 6"7. The two from three weren't very intimidating and then we were on screen. "You two won't be part of the career pack this games instead you two will be your independent player, the theme will be Eidothea as the huntress and Poseidon as the bounty hunter who wants to save her for last." Finnick said as the lights turned back on.
"So you think I can't win?" I asked taking slight offense to the idea.
"My goal is to make sure both of you survive the longest you can." Finnick said coolly.
"And what if the careers want me in?" Poseidon asked.
"Tell them you have your own agenda and that they are deadweight. Make them too nervous to be in a alliance with you." Finnick ordered.
As the two discussed strategy I left and after Lottie's instructions went to my apartment and showered in the small bathroom before slipping on a pair of black shorts and a new blue bra and then falling asleep almost instantly on the comfortable bed. "Wake up you have thirty minutes to eat before we get to the Capitol." Lottie shouted barging into my compartment.
I groaned and got up leaving the still made bed and slipped on a white tank and a pair of skinny black pants and then putting on a pair of white heels that had been left in my room. "Look who finally decided to join us." Finnick commented as I entered the dining compartment.
"Did you two think of a better idea?" I asked helping myself to a piece of toast.
"No we're sticking with the original." Poseidon answered.
We ate in silence before the train started to slow. "You're hair." Lottie suddenly shrieked and promptly attacked me with a hairbrush.
I cursed as she brushed frantically and harshly before she tugged it all back and put it into a tight ponytail just as the citizens could be seen. "Smile and wave, Poseidon stay behind Eidothea and keep a dark hungry and longing look in your eyes whenever you look at her." Finnick instructed as the train slowed to a stop.
I collected myself and put on a bright smile as the doors opened and arrogantly strutted forward with Finnick at my side and Poseidon right behind me. The people screamed and shouted as we walked by, some even throwing beaded necklaces and red roses at us before we entered the building and a prep team appeared. Poseidon was whisked off in one room and I in another and after enduring hours of torture and scolding to stay still they left. I sat up and barely had a chance to see my newly waxed legs before a man with yellow hair with blue streaks and pink eye shadow entered. "Your hair really is long." He commented analyzing me. I stayed silent. "Finnick said to make you look sexy and fierce and to keep the hair." He muttered and then grabbed the cart that had various clothing items and selected a dress.
"Try this on." He ordered.
I went behind the changing panel thing and slipped into the dress. "This makes me look like a slut." I commented walking out.
"It'll work and now for the hair and makeup." He said and the prep team entered again as if they had some sort of secret connection at those words.
TWO HOURS LATER
I entered the room with the chariots and immediately spotted Poseidon who was dressed with tight black leather pants, dark blue stripes in his newly black dyed hair and across his bare back was a huge sword and a tattoo of a beautiful crying mermaid across his chest. "When you guys go down the runway Poseidon I want you to wait just a few moments before reaching around Eidothea and grab the slit of her dress and then you rip it off. Make your eyes look hungry and Eidothea you basically take away his sword and press him to you, make it so that his face comes to your neck and pushes up against your chest and have the huntress look in your eye when you look at the crowd." Finnick ordered after talking to my stylist for a moment.
"But I'll be almost naked." I protested.
"That's why you have the scales." My stylist, who never actually said his name said.
I didn't get to protest because we were announced to get ready and Poseidon lifted me up onto the chariot. I flipped my long blonde blue streaked hair behind my face and Poseidon then entered and District 3's chariot took off. "I'll do it in five seconds." Poseidon said just as we entered the massive hall.
Screams could be heard from the spectators and I saw myself on screen wearing the blue dress that was extremely short on the front with slits on the side that lengthened the sides and my back and sparkles were on top, covering half of my breast due to the fact that it was strapless, while my hair flew behind me. As promised Poseidon's hand went to the slit within five seconds and he turned himself as he ripped away the dress and let it drop to reveal the lower half of my breast covered in glittering bluish green scales which made their way down over my underwear and right below it revealing my long and shapely legs. I immediately maneuvered myself so that the crowd could still see some of my boobs and unsheathed the giant sword and pressed it to Poseidon's back softly. He moved forward to squish my chest and rest his chin on my soldier, his breath hot on my ear. The crowd screamed even louder and roses were thrown in our chariot along with more beaded necklaces and even a pair of underwear. The chariot pulled to a stop and we broke apart and listened to President Snow's speech. As soon as were back into the room I was relieved to see our other mentor Maggie holding out a large robe for me. "You guys did great, this will get them talking." Finnick said picking up the torn dress and handing it to a stylist.
"Do you think they bought it?" Poseidon asked.
"Can't be too positive but it was good." Maggie said softly.
I remained silent throughout dinner as Finnick explained to us what to do tomorrow. Show off one skill and learn the survival stuff. Poseidon was to keep a possessive unhealthy obsession about my training and stay away from the careers. As soon as Atala had dismissed us the next morning I went over to the spears and started warming up, silently observing as the boy from two went right into the throwing, hitting every target. "Do you plan on using those dummies?" he asked indifferently.
I didn't answer and instead took the spear and threw, hitting the middle of the dummy's face. "Maybe just one more and you can have my leftovers." I said sweetly.
I went to grab another when he grabbed my hand. "I'm Gustin." He said.
"Eidothea, now please release my hand." I said softly.
"Maybe for a flash of those lovely breasts your partner got a close up of yesterday." He said pulling me into him.
"Get your hands off of my things." Came Poseidon's cold voice.
We both turned to see him standing to his full height with his arms crossed and a hard look on his face. "Thing?" Gustin asked tightening his grip.
"She's my girl and she's going to be my kill, after I kill everyone else of course." Poseidon said arrogantly.
"Well maybe she'll be my girl and I'll kill you before killing her. Of course I'll have my way with her before that but." Gustin smirked.
"You'd never be able to tame her." Poseidon said and then motioned for me to come to him.
Swiftly I broke away and elbowed Gustin, almost knocking myself over in the process before a evil idea came to my mind. Hiding my smile I approached Poseidon and delivered a kick into his balls before turning back to Gustin. "If anyone is going to kill me, it's going to be someone who can take a kick like him." I said patting a really angry looking Poseidon who was holding himself but not making any noise and showing no tears.