I'm woken up at 6am again and follow the same morning presedure (sp? ). I'm dressed in a perriwinkle blue, cotton dress and white, satin dancing slippers. Fathers there at breakfast although he seems half asleep and has bags under his eyes. I wonder whats going on. After breakfast we all go outside to bid father farewell as he starts his 16 hour carriage trip to the Capitol. I hope these next 5 days go quickly. I miss morning classes for the first time since my sisters wedding. I go out to the royal gardens. I rarely get the privallige of going outside and love the summers breeze and the smell of the flowers. I walk around aimlessly for a while, smelling flowers, enjoying the suns warmth and the freedom of nature. All too soon I'm called for lunch. Afterwards I have my princess etiquette classes. I'm learning posture. It's a pain. I have to balence heavy, thick books on my head and walk around. My mistress demonstates with 19 books on her head where i struggle with one. Then we have super and my eyes fall onto my sister. Vincent is being even more violent now that father isn't here. Poor Callie. After dinner Vincent is called to a meeting and I'm left with Callie. I walk over to my pale, beaten sister.

"Hey." I say softly and she smiles slightly.

"I need to tell you something Clove." She practically whispers looking around to make sure that we're alone. She's more or less the only person who doesn't call me princess. "I can't have Vincents baby. I'm scared he'll hurt it like he does to me. I don't love him, Clove. One of my maids has been giving me birth control so I won't get pregnant." I gasp in suprise. My sister was always the obedient one. I was the rebel. "In return for the pills I've been giving her some of mothers things. Clothes, jewelary, money. We've got more than enough. I just needed to tell someone. Clove, I can't keep living like this." Her voice begins to break. "We're supposed to be well off but since mother died everythings gone wrong. Sometimes I think I'd rather die than live like this. Clove, I don't know what to do!" She starts quietly crying and I comfort her.

"If we go now Callie we'll leave Vincent with Panem. We have to be strong, for our people. I'm aleways here for you big sis. I promise. I can give you some of my worthless, stuff and my share of mothers will. Keep taking the control. You're so strong Callie. Don't let him break you." She nods and then I'm told that I'm late for a ballet rest of the day carries on as normal.

5 Days later ( 22nd May )

I'm woken up at 6am. This is how my day always starts. I haven't spoken to Callie since the day father left and since then things have carried on as normal. I'm dressed in a forrest green canvas dress an black, leather, heeled boots. Today father returns. Breakfast is uneventful but luckily I haven't any classes today as all of the Kingdom is preparing for fathers return. I wonder what was so important. Father doesn't arrive until 10pm even though he left the Capitol at 7am. He looks tiered and disheveled and promptly goes to bed. I'm informed the next morning that I'll have no classes today, again. Yipee. I'm dressed in a sapphire blue, velvet dress and matching shoes. Breakfast, father is absent for. I really am rather concerned. Luckily father is at lunch although he avoids all conversation. He seems depressed. In fact he hasn't spoken much since he arrived. What is going on? Father is at super and theres an announcment that the royalty of the Capitol will be visiting. Seeing as they want a proper welcome, They'll travel through the night and arrive here at 10am. I guess no classes tomorrow either.

Today I'm wearing an emerald green satin dress and matching dance slippers. My hair is worn in an up-do and I have a more grown up make up done. Breakfast is normal except from fathers appearence. At 10am he has been made presentable and we greet the royalty outside the castle walls.

There's the King,Brutus, the Queen, Enboria, the crowned Prince Cato and princess Lola. The Queen exits their highly decorated carriage first and seems disgusted at our kingdom. The Capitol is much richer than our kingdom. Next comes the King. A maid escortes the 9 year old princess out who seems confused and tired and finally the 18 year old Prince Cato. I believe his birthday was earlier this month.

We go to the castle and sit down for a longer, early lunch. Me, Father, callie and Vincent sit on one side of the table and the Capitol royalty on the other side.

"Really Daniel, you should re-marry, It can't have done the princesses good to not have a motherly figure." Queen Enboria prompts. I really dislike her and her phony posh accent.

"Well, it wouldn't do them any use now." My father says and I'm suprised by his tone. Why have the Capitol freaks come here when Father was just in their kingdom? Theres a ball tonight to welcome them.

"I suppose your right." Enboria says stiffly "Have you told her?" Who? Are we even here?

"I think we should wait until after the ball." My father concludes and whatever someone is going to find out is pushed aside until tommorow.

The rest of the day is spent preparing for the ball. I'm rebathed and my corsets are drawn tighter so I can barely breath. I'm dressed in an icy blue silk dress and matching heels. My hair is down and straight and I wear minimaul make up. At 6pm the ball starts. I've never seens such a party.