lyrics from "Safe and Sound" by Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars
o0o0o0o0o0
"Here are some potential matches."
Haymitch tosses the glossy papers in front of Gale and I as he drops into a seat across from us, wine bottle never spilling a drop in his hands. I pick up one of the glossy photos. The blond haired, blue eyed vampire from last night. My face burns as I remember my embarrassing falling out and I slink further into my seat, hiding my reddening cheeks with the photo. He's handsome enough, the thought drifts lazily through my head. This photograph is simple enough with him staring at the camera, a slight smile on his face. No sharp tipped teeth in sight. If I didn't know any better, I would think him just a normal guy who could probably use a blood transfusion to give him a bit of color.
"Peeta Mellark," Haymitch slides a few more papers towards me. A pedigree of some sort with a family tree tracing back to old world money. I wonder if he was alive before the Dark Days. A more sinister thought enters my mind. What if he was one of those who ruthlessly hunted before and during those Dark Days. I toss the picture back on the table as if it's burned me. Haymitch is prattling on but all I can think about is this vampire hovering over me, bloodlust in his eyes before he rips my throat out. Gale's hand rests on the back of my neck and his fingers rub into the tense muscles, hoping to relax me. "- decent enough." Haymitch says. I blink.
"Excuse me?"
Haymitch gives an exasperated sigh, muttering something about not being drunk enough to handle this. "I said," he grunts. "Is that he's decent enough. He's the president of a corporation that supplies all bread and bread products." he gestures to the finely made pastries on the table. "Owns almost all the granaries in District Nine and Eleven." Fabulous. A vampire that likes to bake. A hysterical laugh escapes my lips as I imagine myself chopped into fine pieces for a meat pie and a serving of blood pudding for dessert. Haymitch and Gale stare at me and I avert my eyes to the window to watch the rain hit the window. "Anyways," Haymitch continues. "He was rather intent on striking a deal for you Katniss. Willing to pay a pretty penny."
"What did you say?" I look back to Haymitch.
The demon shrugs. "That I would think about it. Can't take the first offer that comes along, you know." He smirks and I shudder at the razor sharp teeth inside his mouth. Thankfully Gale uses that moment to pick up the photo of a dark haired female.
"Johanna Mason." Haymitch stuffs a bun into his mouth, chewing loudly before gulping it down. "Best tracker in Panem. She runs a pack around the edge of Peeta Mellark's territory. They're in a partnership of sorts. She provides protection, he provides shelter, clothing, and food."
"Pack?" Gale tilts the picture back and forth.
"Yeah. Full blood lycan." At Gale's blank expression, Haymitch throws up his hands. "Do they teach you kids nothing in school?"
"Sorry. Learning about all the creatures that can kill us isn't exactly a stimulating topic." Gale dryly retorts. Haymitch flips him off with a finger.
"Fully blooded lycan means that she can shift whenever she damn well pleases. And she has the ability to turn your pathetic human bodies into lycans as well. Get bit by anything less than a pure blood and the worse thing that'll happen is the limb will fall off." Haymitch seems pleased at the color draining from Gale's face. This time it's my turn to comfort him with a squeeze on the knee. "I wouldn't worry too much though. You have to have a permit to change a person and even then it can take months or years to get it approved." Haymitch takes a swig of his drink.
Slowly, I say, "So this is essentially the best way for us to stay together." After all, surely there was some reason why Haymitch was pointing us more towards Peeta and Johanna rather than the others laid out on the table. I reach for the picture of another blond male. He's got a wicked smirk on his face and his eyes have slitted pupils and unnaturally bright green irises.
Haymitch doesn't deny or confirm my claim. "Cato. Serpent shifter. He's a top lackey in the government. You don't want to fall into his hands. Trust me." I shudder at the thought of snakes. While I don't have many animal fears, the thought of snakes makes me want to retch. Their slither and slick scales. I always shoot them immediately and leave. Snakeskin might be popular, but not enough for me to touch it other than retrieving my arrows. "His sister, Clove, was expressing a lot of interest in you Gale." Haymitch nudges the picture towards Gale. Gale refuses to even touch it. "I tried to shut down offers, but that doesn't mean jack shit-"
"LANGUAGE HAYMITCH!" Effie yells from the living area and Haymitch sticks out his tongue in her direction but promptly puts it back in when he hears her heels clicking ominously.
"It doesn't mean anything in the arena. If they want you bad enough, they'll hunt you down regardless."
o0o0o0o0o0
On days like these, when Peeta's mind is too active for him to sleep, he finds himself in the kitchen, comforted by the smell of freshly rising bread. The predictable movements of his hands kneading and shaping the bread puts him at ease. He finds himself stretching out the dough into three segments and he begins to braid them, his find drifting to the glossy profile of Katniss Everdeen. He thinks of how at first she seems standoffish. But there must be some sweetness if she willingly took her sister's place. The thought makes him smile and he continues to weave.
When Johanna and Finnick join him in his suite, he puts a silver covered dish in front of them. "I made something new." Both Finnick and Johanna's eyes light up in excitement. There's a certain perk to being buds with the best immortal baker in Panem. Peeta pulls the cover off and they stare down at the newest creation. The bread is soft and flaky, braided expertly. There's a coating of sea salt on top and they glance up at Peeta. Finnick manages a smile.
"Looks great Peeta!"
Johanna, however, is less than enthusiastic now. "I was hoping for something else than salty bread, unless this is your new ration creation for those poor bastards in the other districts."
Peeta rolls his eyes and breaks apart one of the braids. The scent of chocolate fills the air and suddenly Johanna's outlook on life is better. The chocolate is still gooey in the middle, dripping out as Peeta breaks off two pieces and hands it to Finnick and Johanna.
"Oh my goddddd I feel like I'm having an orgasm in my mouth!" Johanna moans.
"This is almost better than sex." Finnick purrs. "If I could, I would survive off this for the rest of my life." He's licking his fingers but Johanna is grabbing his hand to clean off the excess chocolate. Peeta pushes the plate towards them. The food would be lost on his taste buds anyways. Everything other than blood tastes like ash. "So, what are you going to call it?" Finnick manages after gulping down another piece of bread. He's hoarded the plate with one hand on Johanna's neck to keep her at bay. She's growling and flexing her claws, using her body weight to push against him. Peeta shrugs.
"I'm not sure yet. I've thought of a couple of things." But they were all really cheesy and he didn't feel confident enough to share them with his friends. "But at least I know it's good."
"This is better than good!" Johanna finally manages to grab the plate and is woofing them down with a ferocity that Peeta has only seen during her hunts. "Promise me you'll make more!" Johanna's words are a demand, not a request. Peeta chuckles lightly.
"Anything for you guys."
o0o0o0o0o0
"I don't see why having some sort of talent is needed." I fuss as I pick at a thread on my pants. We're sitting in a circular room with the other tributes. Instead of being dressed up fancy, we're allowed to wear something a little more toned down. To help keep the attention on our "unique" talents. Though judging from the way District One and Two's tributes are dressed, their only talent involves the ones needed in the bedroom. I curl into Gale's shoulder, the scent of my father's jacket helping lower my heart rate.
"Haymitch says that having a talent, or some useful trait, can increase our chances of getting good..." he struggles to figure out a word.
"Masters." I mutter.
"Yeah." he gives a strained chuckle. "Though I don't see who would be interested in watching me set up a bunch of snares."
"That wolf lady might." I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow. I expect a gag or snide response, but instead Gale just turns his head and I can see the reddening on his ears. My mouth opens, more out of shock, but his name is being called. He gets up and gives me a hint of a smile.
"Good luck, Catnip."
I'm left with the dwindling amount of tributes. They've been calling us in random. Another way to keep us stirred up and anxious about the whole procedure. The smaller girl, Rue, is sitting with the female from District Four. Annie Odesta, I believe. Not wanting to be alone, I get up and make my way over to them. Annie gives me a tentative smile but honestly the girl looks like she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Rue's welcome is a little more relaxed. "Katniss, right?" Rue scoots over and I sit on the sofa, pulling my knees to my chest.
"Yeah. Rue and Annie," They both nod. I let out a breath.
"Are you nervous?" Rue asks after a moment. I laugh.
"That's one way of saying it." I peer at Rue. "Aren't you?"
"A little, yeah." she fingers a curl. "But...I guess if it means my family gets taken care of, then it's worth it. I've only had a couple of offers. I'm not much competition with the Careers dominating the spotlight."
"I don't see who would want a Career. But I guess some of those Hunters are into the shallow, self obsessed types."
"Just a way to show off their wealth." Annie offers silently, fingers twisting a length of rope in her hands.
"So what sort of talents are you two planning on showing?" I ask, hoping to get some ideas.
"Knots." Annie murmurs. I look at the length of rope in her hands. I guess flexible fingers count as a talent.
"I'll preform an aerial silk routine." Rue grins. "It's the only decent thing besides picking fruit from the orchards that I can do. What about you Katniss?"
"Well, I guess I could show them how to skin a squirrel." Annie lifts a brow, a hint of a smile on her otherwise strained face. Rue giggles behind her hands.
"That's definitely a talent."
Before our conversation can go any further, my name is called. I get up, offering them a short wave and wish of luck and head down the corridor, the echo of my heartbeat pulsing through my ears.
o0o0o0o0o0
Peeta almost feels a hint of pity for the poor pole in the middle of the room as Glimmer trots off. No amount of sanitation can save the wretched thing. It disappears from sight as the next tribute is presented.
Katniss Everdeen.
Suddenly he's perched on the edge of his seat, glass in hand forgotten. Johanna and Finnick give him teasing eyes and he feels Cato boring into the back of his head. No special props pop up and she takes a stand in the center of the room, staring at them. Her sweet scent washes over him. She smells like pine needles and fresh snow. He can tell she's nervous. Not by the sweat on her brow or her twisting hands. But by the fluttering beat of her heart. He can almost taste her blood rushing across his tongue and he feels his fangs enlongating. Thoroughly embarrassed by himself, he takes a sip of his blood wine. She stands there for a moment longer and they begin to wonder if she's just going to stare at them. Or pass out again.
Her mouth opens and she clears her throat before she begins to sing.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Her eyes are closed, as if she's imagining herself singing to someone else. Peeta believes that she's somewhere else, probably with her sister. Huddled next to a fire as a storm rages on outside. He closes his eyes too, absorbing the beauty of her voice and words.
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
Her voice trembles with emotion but she continues on strong. Peeta decides that he could listen to her sing forever. His little songbird.
Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when music's gone
Gone
She repeats a stanza, her voice drifting off as she finishes the song. She gives a curt curtsey and dismisses herself, turning sharply to walk away. But she doesn't turn quick enough and Peeta catches sight of a single tear sliding down her cheek. He resists the urge to leap from his seat and gather her into his arms.
Gather her and keep her safe and sound.