It was all so predictable, so easy, once the girl on fire had been taken care of, it was a simple matter for Cato to hunt down the sick and feverish Peeta and dispatch him. It was harder to catch the girl from district 5 but eventually the Game Makers had got bored and lured her out. They'd been chased to the Cornucopia by fierce wolf like muttations, with eyes and fur like those of the dead tributes. Cato had easily managed to overpower the girl, who'd climbed onto the metal structure for safety, and pushed her down to the mercy of the animals. The feelings he'd experienced when he held her over the edge, saw the fear in her eyes as her life hung in his grasp, he felt powerful, invincible. When he watched those animals tear her apart, oh so slowly, was exhilarating. He knew he'd won and it was an amazing sensation.
Now, he was on the train back to his home district. The ceremonies and interviews were over for which he was glad. He sighed softly and closed his eyes, content. One thing that still bothered him though, was that girl, the one from district 12. The girl on fire. His lip curled at the irritating nickname. The last he'd seen of her was when she'd disappeared down the bank as he'd pursued her. There'd been no sign of her at the bottom but the cannon had sounded, indicating her death. He frowned and opened his eyes again. He shouldn't be thinking about these things. She was dead and he had won, there was nothing to worry about anymore.
The door to the train carriage slid open and his mentor came in.
"We're home Cato." Said Brutus. Cato looked out of his window and saw they had pulled up in the Victors' Village. Unlike other districts, district 2 had two stations due to the size of their Victors' Village. He nodded and gathered his possessions. He didn't bother saying goodbye to the mentor, he couldn't stand the guy, just prepared his smile for his adoring public. The door opened and he was greeted by the cheering of district two. He raised his arms in a victory salute and allowed himself to bask in their admiration for a few minutes before walking to his new house and letting himself in. He let out a happy sigh as he entered. This was what he had worked his entire life for and now he was here in this beautiful house. There were a handful of servants waiting to meet him. The servants weren't a standard part of the Victors' Village house but Cato had no one else and, since he was favoured by the Capitol, he'd got permission to have some servants put in. His parents were both dead, his mother in childbirth and his father in an accident a few years back. Their deaths had inspired him to work harder to succeed with his dreams. The kids with influential parents got the best equipment and, therefore, the best training. When Cato's father had died, everyone had said that it was a shame since up until that point Cato had great odds for the Hunger Games. Well, he'd put those rumours to rest now, hadn't he?
He gave his coat to a maid who moved towards him. She was a petit red head who smiled shyly and took it.
"There is a hot bath waiting for you sir, and dinner is being prepared. Also, President Snow left you a gift. It's in the bedchamber at the top of the stairs." She told him. He nodded and smiled, intrigued by the idea of the gift.
"Thank you...what's your name?" he asked, keeping his voice light and his expression one of flirtatious interest. It always paid to be deceptively charming so that people didn't see you as a threat until it was too late. Of course, now everyone knew just how deadly he was but a little flirtation and charming behaviour could easily alter their perception enough to get them to let down their guard.
"Annie Shields, sir."
"Thank you Annie" he smiled, eyeing up the girl. She was a pretty little thing and he was certain he could get some amusement from her. She smiled shyly and retreated to hang up his coat. He headed up the stairs to explore his new environment, like a predator taking in each detail of his territory. His looked into all the other bedrooms before looking into the one Annie had indicated, seeing which one he liked best. He opened the door to the other one. There was a large four poster bed in the centre with a figure under the covers. He frowned at the sight and then realised, this must be his 'present' from President Snow. He'd heard about some tributes receiving special favours after the won, whatever would most appeal to them. Well, wasn't that kind of him to consider the boys needs. He'd never had a bed slave before but some of the older boys he used to train with had them. Cato had no trouble getting girls and, of course, now he was a victor it would be even easier but the idea of having a girl who was entirely his, entirely at the mercy of his whims and desires without having to work to keep her was appealing. He smirked and approached slowly to examine his new pet. He looked at the figure in the bed. It was a girl, her face obscured by locks of rich chocolate brown hair. He gently brushed it from her face, and did a double take. Katniss was laid in his bed. He blinked, unable to comprehend her presence. Was this all some twisted trick? He grabbed a knife that was resting on top of the dresser. Of course, he wasn't scared of the girl. She was resilient but without a bow in her hand, she wasn't much of a threat. Plus, she was unconscious. He took the opportunity to take in every detail of her, details that he'd longed to drink in since he first saw her if he was completely honest with himself. She was beautiful, he'd known that from the start but of course he couldn't allow himself to get distracted when the games were involved. His eyes trailed her body. Her skin was flawless, no scars or bruises from the arena, just smooth olive skin. There was a red ribbon tied around her neck like a collar and an envelope with the President's seal on his pillow. He took the letter, opened it and read it.
Cato,
For the boy who won, I present the girl on fire as his prize.
Enjoy
President Snow.
Reading the note and rereading the note, a small smirk formed on his face. This was fantastic. He had that girl! The one who had driven him mad as he'd tried to see what was so great about her as she'd captured the hearts of the Panem audience, the one he'd been so determined to defeat and had struggled to even get close to her. The girl who'd evaded his hands multiple times and when he'd been so close she'd disappeared. Now she was here at his mercy. He couldn't believe it. This was amazing, fantastic, wonderful. Better then the joy of winning, the house he'd got, the reputation. This girl, this was the best part of his prize.
He tore the covers off her, revealing her slim body clad in a green nightdress which complimented her olive toned skin. There was a silver band of metal around one of her ankles which drew his curiosity but he decided to ignore it for the moment. President Snow had probably had it put there for a reason. He skimmed a finger across her bare skin. She groaned softly but didn't wake. She'd been sedated or something, Cato guessed and decided to leave her be until she woke which was most unlike him. she wouldn't be any fun if she was tired. He discarded his clothes on the bed and headed down the corridor to the bathroom naked. He sunk into the warm water of his bath and relaxed, closing his eyes. He thought about all the stuff he would have to do in the coming months. There would be that stupid tribute tour where he had to go to the other districts and pretend to feel sorry for killing their kids. He scoffed and then smiled. He was going to have to see Katniss' family and act sympathetic for their plight when the girl herself would be barely five feet from them. He'd make sure he took her with him. He'd have her trussed up nicely so she could see her family's distraught faces and be unable to do anything. He liked the sound of that.
He sank under the water, enjoying the sensations. He opened his eyes under the water, staring up at the ceiling. He was glad to be home.
He stayed in the water for a while, before climbing out and heading back to his room in a towel. He'd decided that he'd sleep in there because it was the largest and best decorated. The fact that his new plaything was sleeping in there was merely an added bonus.
As he entered the room, Katniss stirred and her eyelids flickered. Cato smirked. Perfect timing.
"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty" he called. She groaned softly and opened her eyes. Cato watched as confusion flickered across the brown orbs, then recognition.
"Cato...?"
"That's me."
"What...? Where...?"
"Don't you get it Katniss? We both died. This is heaven. Or hell. I'm not really sure which." Katniss blinked, the sedative making her unable to recognize the sarcastic humour.
"What are you doing here...?"
"Well this is my house so I have a right to be here."
"Wh...what?" He laughed.
"For someone who's supposed to be smart, you really are stupid. But maybe that's the drugs they pumped into you" He sat on the bed near her. She immediately pulled away but he grabbed her wrist, and pulled back. "I won the games. So much for the great girl on fire." He laughed and pulled her onto his lap. "And guess what the best part is? You're my prize." It took her a minute to register what he was saying. When the realization hit she began to struggle frantically, hitting out at him. But she was weak after her ordeal in the games. Sure, she'd been eating well but it had drained her and he managed to easily capture her flailing arms and pin her body down on the bed with his weight.
"Be good my little kitten," he purred in her ear. She spat at him. He felt rage flow through him. How dare this insignificant piece of scum disrespect him like that? She should be honoured to be in his bed, honoured that he hadn't killed her! He was just considering what to do to her to teach her the lesson she sorely needed to learn when Katniss' body went rigid. Her head was thrown back and she began to arch and buck. Cato was confused but he found the experience rather enjoyable as her barely clad crotch made repeated contact with his. After a few minutes she fell still, gasping.
"Well well, looks like President Snow foresaw your unwillingness to cooperate." He guessed, getting off her and examining the manacle on her ankle, where a single red light was flashing. Katniss seemed to hardly hear him. Cato sighed and moved her into a sitting position. She blinked, regaining her senses. He stroked her cheek gently. She flinched at the contact but didn't pull away.
"Now, you are going to do as I say or I'm going to show you my bad side."
"You mean all that time in the arena, you were being nice?" she spat back at him. He laughed.
"You're alive aren't you?"
