Seneca

"Good morning, good morning, ladies and gentleman," Danco the head game maker said with a wave of his arms as he stood up at the top of the meeting table. "And may I congratulate us all on this successful end to the Seventy-first Reaping".

We all clapped.

"This year will be the greatest Hunger Games to speak of!" Danco continued with a pleased grin that made his thin face almost snake like. In fact, he was very snake with his emerald green suit that appeared to have been made out of snake skin and his yellow hair gelled up in spikes that stuck out at all angles. This was the Capitol fashion. Beasts and animals were the height of popularity.

We were very high on fashion here in the Capitol. I was probably higher then Danco though. I wore only the finest black and red suits and made sure I was up to date on every bit of fashion. Even my beard - which was shaped into spiked swirls - was popular with the crowds. It was rumoured to even have its own fan club. I couldn't lie: I was one of the most sort after males in the Capitol. Well next to the some of the best at least. I was often told I was tall, slim and incredibly handsome. Who couldn't listen to compliments like that?

I grinned to myself and stroked my beard, shifting slightly in my chair. I hated meetings, they bored the hell out of me. Not as exciting as the games or better yet being in control of them. But still I concentrated, always paid as much attention and engage in as much topic as I possibly could. President Snow, the ruler of the Capitol and the most powerful leader, said that one day if I follow his guidance and wisdom I will be in Danco's position as head game maker. This was as good as a promotion.

His word was law.

My smile of joy turned to pride. I know I could be the most remembered Game maker in history. Danco was good, clever and popular with crowds but he lacked creativity, the spark of imagination then can turn an okay game into something that would have the whole capital speechless. I had this spark.

Danco cleared his throat. "I am glad to conclude the end the first event. We have quiet an interesting bunch of tributes this year and I do believe that it shall be an interesting show."

I looked around at all the other people attending the meeting, game makers, fashion designers and Caesar Flickerman the interviewer, all of whom were nodding in agreement. My eyes met with the beautiful woman who sat opposite me. I had forgotten her name; it was something cat-like but I couldn't place my finger on it. Something like tigress or was it lioness? It didn't matter her name. What mattered was the fact that she was beautiful.

Her pale skin seemed flawless and her jet black hair flowed down her cheek and on to her rather voluptuous chest. Her eyes had been surgical altered to look rather like the eyes you would expect to see on a tawny cat, with its marbled yellow surface, black slits and thick black circles around the edge. She looked up and our eyes connected. She smiled and her blood red lips parted to show her teeth which had also been altered to look like fangs.

I flashed her my best Capitol smile and winked. She licked her lips and winked back. I didn't know who she was, what she did or even her name but I did know working with her was going to be fun.

Danco nudged me violently snapping me back to the room. "As I was saying, Seneca my assistant will give us the tributes' names and I'll go over the footage"

I nodded and quickly sorted out my papers when the meeting doors swung open announcing the arrival of someone new.

All heads shot up. I peered over the mass to see a thin man striding into the room. He had paper white hair and wore a suit of deep crimson on the collar of which was a single white rose. The man looked up with eyes that darted and viewed the faces like a snake would view it meal. His black gloved hands gripped a jet black walking cane.

President Snow cleared his and took a seat at the other end of the table directly across from Danco. "I'm sorry, please continue Danco," he said in a voice that only politicians and public speakers could get.

Danco's eyes went wide for a moment then he quickly composed himself. "Oh, sir, I didn't think you were coming I would have waited, I didn't know-"

"A little incident with one of my advisors," President snow interrupted, "poor fellow seems to have fallen ill."

Danco cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. "Right…Um yes, so as I was saying, Seneca if you please?"

I nodded and bowed my head to the president before clearing my own throat. "From District 1 we have Dazzle Goldthor and Sparkel Everjem."

"Ah yes, a wonderful pair," Danco said as he played the footage of the District 1 reaping, the crowed cheering and screaming with joy as a tall, dark haired boy strutted up to the stage followed by a lovely looking girl with jet black hair down to her swaying hips and eyes so blue they could have been made out of sapphires.

"So who wants these?" Danco asked the fashion designers.

Every hand shot up. Well, all but one. There was one man, a new addition to the designers. His name was Carpen and he looked at the tributes with boredom. He wouldn't go far.

Danco examined the rest of the designers before pointing to the chosen one. He nodded at me to continue.

"From District 2 we have Marble Flowin and Garnet Cedrick."

The footage was of a young girl barely seventeen volunteering and skipping up on to the stage with such grace. She was followed by a huge troll of a boy; he looked like he had the IQ of a brick. He probably did. The Careers kids, those raised in Districts 1,2 and 4, have always been trained to win the Hunger Games. These kids were normally the favourite since they won almost every time. They were elite killers, efficient and deadly but not always the best of thinkers.

Once again Danco offered them to the designers and all but Carpen raised their hands like before. Even the woman in front of me offered herself.

Danco nodded to her. "They are all yours Tigris."

She smiled and bowed her head. "Thank you." Even her voice was sexy, so thick and smooth with a hint of a purr.

Danco smiled and we continued through the rest of the tributes, giving their names and then offering them to the designers.

Time seemed to slow with boredom. I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from yawning. It wasn't long before we got to the last three districts.

I sat up straight and shook the boredom from my mind. "The tributes from District 10 are Melody Larkinson and Gareth Jonson."

We played the clip and I rolled my eyes. The girl on the stage was 16 or 17 and so boringly dull with her cream dress and her dark hair. She looked like she was going to be sick with fear. The young boy was just a bit older and a lot more interesting; he was well built and strapping. He looked like a winner.

We all watched and the two of them took the stage. The young girl seemed to grow paler and paler with each second. The escort tried to get her to speak but she just stared at him with her freakishly green eyes. Some female in the crowd fell to her knees sobbing, probably her mother so something. The girl looked at her and then fainted.

Stupid girl.

"Well she's a winner," Danco laughed and the table erupted with laughter. I thought that was a bit harsh but I still laughed. I was just pleased with the fact I was part of this in-crowd. The only people who didn't laugh were Carpen and President Snow.

One of the game makers sniggered. "I bet she won't last the first blood bath!"

The others laughed in agreement.

"Don't underestimate her," President Snow said slowly, his words silencing the room. "It wouldn't be the first time someone has appeared weak and then turned around and killed. Think of a sleeping snake. It might look dead but things have a habit of turning around to poison you."

We considered this.

Danco readjusted his suit before addressing the designers once more. "So who wants these?"

Not a single hand raised. Not surprising really. From the looks of that weak girl the poor designer would have their work cut out for them.

Then Carpen's hand rose. "I'll have them, gladly."

"Oh…Okay, right, they're are all your Carpen," Danco replied, a little shocked.

"Good luck," Tigris purred, giving a self-satisfied look.

Carpen glared at her. "Anyone can make gold and silver shine. It takes skill to make a mouse into a queen."

I rolled my eye. More beasts. It was like the Capitol was obsessed with beasts.

I turned my attention back to the girl as the table started bickering among themselves. I watched as her thin frame slammed on the stage with a thud. The people in the crowds gasped and some even laughed. She was so weak, pale and ordinary. So very very pathetic.

As the thought formed in my head a strange sense seemed to grow inside my chest. What if this girl, this child was sitting on her own thinking the same thing.