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Sat in his grand reception room, mahogany furnishings, gold paint, leather and fur outstretching the carpets, Effie felt un easy.
Any other time she would have been thrilled to receive an invitation for an audience with the president but not tonight. Not after the way she had been escorted here. In silence. With Jasper's smirk glowing at her in the dark of the limousine for the entire journey.
She sat bolt upright across from Snows desk. Alone. Well, except for the two peacekeepers by the door.
Keeping her safe or keeping her in? She wondered.
Suddenly, A side door opened and in he walked.
Effie donned her best professional smile but his eyes would not meet hers and smile he did not. She looked at her hands in her lap and argued with herself wether to speak first or not.
'Mr President, what a delight to see-'
'Silence Miss Trinket. You talk when I ask you too, understood?'
She was about to agree but silently nodded instead. Her eyes focusing on Snows tightening fists.
'So your probably wondering why I called you here so late in the evening.'
Effie wondered if she should answer. She didn't. She kept silent.
'It seems we have a traitor in our midsts?'
The word traitor hit her like a spear. Everybody knows what happens to traitors in Panem. Most still hung, fleshless, above the town hall.
Was he talking about her?
'I'd have thought so much better from the likes of you Miss Trinket, such a pity'
He was talking about her.
His tone was icy yet calm, his eyes still hadn't graced hers.
'Sir, whatever Jasper has told you, I can assure-'
'DONT LIE TO ME TRINKET!' His fists came slamming down onto his desk making Effie catch her breath. One hand came up to her throat like she was about to lose her head.
Snow calmed quicker than he got angry and that frightened her most.
'How long have you been an Escort of mine miss Trinket...don't answer...we all know it's been a very, very long time. Have I not treated you fairly? Have I not spoiled you, provided for you, been open and honest with you?'
Was it a trick question?
'Ah, yes Mr President, of course!'
'Then why, do tell me, am I hearing stories of you defending and siding with the likes of those district 12 idiots you call victors over your own kind!?'
'My own kind? You make us sound like another species.'
'ANSWER ME!'
'Sir, I'm trying. I'm just a little confused. Is it not my duty to sustain a trustworthy bond with my victors? To teach them our ways? To be their friend and mentor?'
'In the eyes of the public Miss Trinket, yes, that's what we want. That's what you aim for, but we...WE! You and I and the rest of my loyal Escorts know that it is indeed all for the public eye only! don't we!?'
It was more of a statement than a question.
'Well yes Sir, but-'
'BUT NOTHING TRINKET!'
Their eyes met. He looked into her very soul as she tried her upmost not to break.
'Id like to show you something...'
Snows holographic screen came to light and she saw herself. She was in her own apartment. Sitting alone. Watching the last games.
Her upset suddenly turned to sheer exposure and anger. He has cameras in her apartment?
She looked at him in detest.
'What do you see Miss Trinket?'
He was enjoying this.
'I see myself. Being watched. In the privacy of my own home'
'Im sorry Trinket, who's home?'
He glared at her then. 'Who pays for that apartment of yours?'
'I do sir'
'With what?'
'My wages sir'
'And who pays you those wages my dear'
She suddenly felt like she was backed into a corner. The vicious and wild dog approaching slowy, waiting for the attack.
'You do...sir'
He smiled and nodded in agreement
'Want to know what I see here Miss Trinket? I see tears. I see fear. I see...love. Love for those helpless, hopeless children that you so carelessly chose from that bowl in district 12, that, by my rules and regulations, you peppered and prepared for their first hunger games...emotions not shown in public, for the public, but in private, the privacy of...your own home'
Effie looked at the screen. She remembered the moment well. It was the moment running up to the end of the games, berries in hand and then the desperate moment Katniss and Peeta had been crowned victors.
'Look at you. So happy! So excited! So...hopeful!'
'Sir, my district had just won the games, both of my tributes had been crowned!what was I supposed to feel? Anger? Upset?'
'THERE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE TWO VICTORS!'
His fists waved through the hologram but it was a hologram, nothing breakable. not satisfied with that he marched around the desk and toward Effie, pinning her back into her chair by her upper arms. Her eyes widened in shock of it all but she tried to remain calm
Snows eyes bore into hers.
'A double victory? Star crossed lovers? Die together like Romeo and Juliette? These are paupers from district 12! Children! Inbred uneducated idiots! They must have gotten the crazy idea from somewhere!? Someone?!'
'You can't honestly believe that It was my doing? I didn't ask them to fall in love! It was as much of a shock to me as it was to you and the entire nation!'
He clung to her still.
'Sir, nothing I have ever done whilst on duty was meant, in anyway, to influence this romance!'
'Really?'
The president loosened his grip and walked back to his desk
'Lets see shall we?'
The hologram flickered again. Suddenly there where two figures on the screen. Effie's stomach turned in horror and a wave of shame engulfed her entire body. The two figures on the screen were half naked and writhing about on a bed. Her bed. In the penthouse, whilst on duty. It was the scene from last night. Her and Haymitch.
'Well well well, nothing to influence a lovers young dream hmmm?' Snow smirked at the footage. Effie couldn't look. She held her gaze away and tried to control her tears, her anger.
'How long has this been going on?'
'It hasn't. It was one night! One time! One stupid, erratic mistake!'
The screen flickered again. The morning after. Smiling, joking at one another, holding each other until she pulled him on top of her and it happened all over again.
'I'll ask you one more time'
If she let him see her tears she had failed herself, she had failed the children and she had endangered Haymitch too.
'He means nothing to me. It was a just abit of fun, for the both of us. It only happened that night...and...morning. I swear, there has been nothing more and never will be'
'Jasper seems to think otherwise...'
'Jasper is nothing but a jealous, vindictive liar. I refused him and he got a little upset! This ridiculous story he has given you...of a traitor? Me? Would I really give all this up to spend the remainder of my days in the arms of a drunk!? In a district as poor and as wretched as 12? Or worse a prison cell? All my hard work, my social status, my friends! The money?You really think id forget about it all, for the sake of two selfish and unruly children and...Haymitch Abernathy!?' She almost screamed his name in sheer disgust
'and Yes I have been your Escort for a very very long time President Snow, I would like to think that over the years you have had better faith in me than you seem to right now. All this fuss! All this drama in front of the children? Yes Haymitch and I had sex! Whoopee! I'm human! I was bored and now I feel like a damn fool! I've learnt my lesson! Congratulations!. But I dare say I'm afraid that you too have been made a fool of Mr President'
Snow raised in his seat at the accusation
'Jasper is nothing but an ex lover of mine feeling scorned! I am sorry and embarrassed that he went to such lengths to try and hurt me, infact I pity him! but to drag you into all of this?'
Effie released a dramatic sigh
'The whole thing is just one ridiculous mess!'
She didn't let him see but she was shaking inside and out. She sat on her hands and raised her jaw and prayed he would believe her cover story. She could feel the sweat dripping down the side of her face but wiped it discreetly when she pretended to fix her wig.
Snow sat in silence for a moment as Effie kept up the annoyed pretence.
Was he considering her version of the truth? He had no reason not to. She had been loyal for years. But she was in love with Haymitch, something President Snow would never accept. An elite escort, a Capitol favourite and top media fashion icon in love with a poor drunk victor? The papers would have a field day! Other capitols would feel they had the freedom to venture to the other districts to find love, to mate, to give birth to mixed blood! His clean Capitol empire would fall at the helm and she would be to blame. What had she been thinking. The government ruled her, ruled all of them. She knew this. How could she have been so un careful, so stupid.
She dared to meet his eyes again
'GET JASPER IN HERE!'
Moments later he was ushered in. Effie kept up her pretence. She made eye contact with him like she had nothin to hide. She was clever. This didn't go unnoticed by Snow.
After a heated discussion which had gotten them all no where, the president called Jasper out to be nothing but a jealous idiot who hadn't been the first fool to get caught up in the bright and dazzling headlights of Effie Trinket. Jasper hadn't the nerve or the proof to take his argument further and agreed to disagree, apologising through gritted teeth about his foolishness towards Effie and towards the President. Jasper was warned and pardoned. He left forgiven but with a red cloud of humiliation hanging over his head.
She had been victorious.
Effie breathed a silent sigh of relief as Snow waved her off.
She'd managed to get as far as the door when he caught up with her again and slammed her into it.
The peacekeepers left abruptly.
Effie struggled but was outweighed by the stocky man. His white bearers tickled at her shoulder as he pinned her face and chest against the door, twisting her arms up and behind her back.
'President Snow please!'
'Please? Please? Is this how you begged Haymitch?'
He licked her shoulder and she shuddered at the touch
'How many more of your conquests are going to come cry to me when you've left them in your stead?' He spun her around to face him. Her eyes glistened in teary disgust as he overpowered her completely.
'You're a very mysterious woman Effie Trinket! I should never have sent you to 12 but kept you here by my side instead. You wouldn't have been bored with me'
He kissed her and she wretched, trying her hardest to fight him off but he just kept at it, his hands wondering all over body and finally up under her dress
'STOP! Please!' She screamed at him, her tears threatening to fall but she wouldn't let them.
After a momentary struggle Snow became breathless and erupted into a fit of coughs. he loosened his grip on Effie and grapped for his handkerchief.
Effie smoothed down her dress and placed her straps back up on each shoulder. She couldn't hide her shaking anymore.
As Snow calmed down he pushed Effie back against the door, his hand now at her throat, not choking but as a warning grip.
'If I find out you have uttered one lie to me tonight Miss Trinket, I'll have this pretty head of yours mounted atop the town Hall as a warning! No one will fool me again! Convince me Trinket. Convince me that you fight for our side or I'll kill all of you. I'll start with the children and I'll let you watch them burn before I rip Haymitchs heart out with my bare hands. Understood?'
Effie stared him down silently so he squeezed tighter
'Understood?'
She nodded.
'Good'
He let her go as she gasped for air and struggled to keep on her feet.
'Thank you Miss Trinket. That'll be all'
He took his place back behind his desk and continued to watch the hologram of Effie and Haymitch with an amused and sickening smile.
'Yes, Mr President'
Effie opened the door and made her way out.
She kept her hand discretely by her neck as she made her way past other officials, secretary's and colleagues. Nodding gracefully in acknowledgment and hastily making her way back to the limo.
She had at least 15 minutes before arriving back at the penthouse. There in the quite darkness of the car she fell undone. Her sobs came loud and staggered and her whole body shook in remembrance of the event just past.
Then Effie remembered who's limo she was in. His eyes were everywhere.
She composed herself. Ten minutes left.
She'd had her fun and paid the price. She wouldn't be making the same mistake again.
A wonderful life is far more important than a wonderful love. Right?
She endured the short ride back to the penthouse, back to the job she had agreed to do, back to a life as a Capitol slave and nothing more. Ever again.
To be continued...