In about a half an hour, Lumina found herself watching the beginnings of the Hunger Games, still in District 12's section. As it so happened, there was actually a rather plush viewing area hiding in the Spartan rooms. The door only opened once the tributes were gone and the games were about to begin. There was a large purple couch staring at a viewing screen that took up the entire wall.

She was sitting between Haymitch and Cinna. Haymitch was extremely agitated, sitting slightly away from the other two with his legs apart and his arms on them. Cinna on the surface was much more relaxed, sitting back with his legs crossed, a drink in one hand and the other hand thrown casually behind Lumina, a sort of unspoken support for one, or both, of them.

As odd as it seemed, it had been a long time since Lumina had felt such a strong sense of belonging and companionship. Despite everything, at the moment she felt warm and strangely happy. The three of them were in this together now.

Katniss came on the screen suddenly, Haymitch and Cinna visibly tensed but Lumina didn't, she was already all in, there was nothing else for her to do.

It was only the standard introduction that brought Katniss' face to the screen, but then before any of them were ready for it, the tributes were running.

"Don't run towards the cornucopia," screamed Haymitch as Katniss disobeyed his advice. There was a moment when it looked like Katniss would be killed, but she escaped it. Haymitch relaxed slightly, as she disappeared into the forest. The cameras turned back to the action, to the slaughter, and they all felt a little sick.

Lumina had succeeded as much as was possible, Katniss Everdeen had entered the games.


Lumina would have stayed, she wanted to stay, but she was afraid that Zeus' wrath might turn towards Haymitch and Cinna if she did. She needed Zeus to blame her and only her for what happened.

"I need to go," said Lumina, rising. She had watched the Games for about an hour. She thought Katniss was as safe as she could possibly be for the night.

"Of course, the world needs Lumina Morn, fashion star," said Haymitch mockingly from his unhappy position staring at the screen.

"That's isn't fair," answered Cinna disapprovingly, "Lumina's work is quite important," Cinna didn't dare say it there, but both he and Haymitch were members of the resistance, they knew what Lumina's cover was and what she was capable of accomplishing through it.

Haymitch's words stung Lumina a little, but not much. She knew what to expect from Haymitch, he had never wanted her to be the distant celebrity, long ago he wanted her to stay close to him. And he wanted her to be there now, when he needed her. He couldn't know what was really going on. If he did, he'd try to save her from Zeus. And there was no point in that, he'd never be able to beat Zeus and the resistance would be out one more member.

But she didn't want Haymitch to regret what he'd said when she was gone. He needed to keep going for as long as possible.

"I don't go because I want to," said Lumina.

"I know," said Haymitch, looking at her briefly, an apology in his eyes.

"Haymitch," said Lumina, sitting down on the low table in front of the couch, and almost in front of Haymitch. He looked at her, "Katniss doesn't need you losing it. She doesn't need you drunk. She doesn't need your resentment of the Capitol and your passive aggressive tendencies." Lumina hadn't intended this to turn into this much of a lecture, but she was saying things she needed to say, "She needs you, all of you, working towards the same goal she is. As long as she, or anyone else you care about is alive, you owe it to them to try with everything you've got. No more half-measures, no more self-pity. You're a good man, so act like it."

She wondered if he knew what that meant to her. Her father hadn't been a good man. Zeus wasn't a good man. But Haymitch was, it was why he hurt so much.

"I don't know what to do," said Haymitch defeated, looking back at the screen.

"You can get her some sponsers for one."

"You're better at that than I am."

"That's no excuse for not trying," I don't have enough time left to get Katniss sponsors. "First thing tomorrow go out and work on it." You'll need something to distract yourself, something other than alcohol.

"You sound like a nagging wife," said Cinna, smiling.

"What a lovely compliment," answered Lumina with refined sarcasm.

Cinna smiled wider, "He deserves it. No one should make a woman as beautiful as you nag."

Lumina smiled. She wanted to hold Haymitch's hand again, just like she had a long long time ago before she'd been a victor. She wanted to hug Cinna and feel his warm genuine affection, so rare in the Capitol world. But she didn't want them to be suspicious and so she had to leave as if she'd see them tomorrow. As if she had other important things to attend to.

Lumina rose, not knowing if she'd had much of an impact on Haymitch, but hoping he'd remember her words later, when it really mattered.

"I'll drop by tomorrow," lied Lumina, "Take care of yourselves, and try to have some faith."


Lumina hurried back to her aparment, trying not to think about what would happen later that night.

She didn't have long to wait. About 10 minutes after she'd gotten back, Zeus was suddenly there, he probably knew when she had entered the apartment.

He was furious. Zeus was a good looking man, tall and blonde, with broad shoulders, but he had never looked more like a demon straight from hell.

She knew better than to challenge him, so she played emotional.

"I just couldn't stand the thought of her dying like that Zeus, I'm sorry. She reminds me of my time in the arena."

"You're sorry? Do you know what you've done? Now President Snow will be questioning me. You may have thrown away everything I'm working for. "

"Tell him the tech malfunctioned."

"MY tech malfunctioned?" said Zeus threateningly.

"You can make it sound good. The crystal was interfered with by the new security measures at the arena. You can make it sound much better than I can."

"Of course I can, but it would never work. I swear you get dumber every year."

"What about the Game master's spies? They would have removed it if they'd found it. There's a lot of money riding on Katniss Everdeen, they should have been hyper vigilant about sabotage. You and I know that sponsors sometimes pay the Game masters or his people to influence the games. And it always looks bad for him if a favorite goes down in suspicious circumstances."

"Snow doesn't trust his game master, but he'd given him specific instructions not to protect Katniss Everdeen." seethed Zeus, ruthlessly, "Did you think at all before you did this stupid thing?"

"I, I just reacted Zeus, I'm sorry," she said, trying to call up fake tears.

"You will be sorry."

He grabbed her then and chocked her, pressing down hard on both sides of her throat. He was so strong. And so angry.

He drug her to the bath in their room. It was more of a beautiful fountain than a bath, spacious and made of enchanting crystal and always flowing with water. He leapt into it and dragged her. She was gasping for air He hit her head on the fountain and then held her under.

She fought for air a little longer, everything was hazy under the flowing water, but she could see Zeus and his horrible fury, and the beautiful light reflecting off the fountain.

And then she died.