Finnick

"Have a seat, Mr. Odair."

I tried not to show my anxiety at being summoned personally to President Snow's headquarters—a vast greenhouse filled with roses of every size and color, yet all with the same intoxicating odor—as the Peacekeeper led me to the desk in the end, where President Snow occupied the other, larger, white chair. Tremulously, I sat in the uncomfortable chair across from him, sitting on my hands to stop their quivering. Hadn't I done everything right? How many times per week had I been forced to do some ungodly favor to a desperate Capitol citizen, only now to realize he still expects something from me?

"Finnick!" Snow exclaimed cheerfully, as if we were the best of friends. He reached across the table to give me a goodhearted tap on the back, from which I recoiled. He noticed this with raised eyebrows and a quick laugh before settling back down into his seat comfortably. "How good to see you, my favorite victor!" Maybe you'd have more favorites if you didn't kill all of them, I thought scornfully, eyeing him with disdain. "How is everything back home?"

"I wouldn't know, sir," I said robotically, almost reverently. I had to watch my words around him, yet I wanted him to know my intentions. I wouldn't know, sir. You haven't let me visit in the past four years, sir.

"Good, good," he continued, as if he hadn't even heard my vague complaint. He reached over and plucked a lovely pink rose from a nearby bush. He twirled it in between his thumb and forefinger, before finally setting it aside. He gestured at an Avox standing by, holding a silver tray with two wineglasses. "Melancy, please bring that over. Can't you see that this gentleman and I are parched?"

The girl bowed her head as she walked over, positioning the tray in the center of the table. He took one of the wineglasses and let the wine shift around inside, then put it by his elbow. I stared at my wineglass blankly, unwilling to take it. Not until he'd had a sip. It was probably considered impolite to drink before the host.

"So, Finnick," he said endearingly, folding his hands together before him, "tell me, how are you faring? Are you enjoying your time here in the Capitol?" I nodded, biting back my tongue. No, I wasn't enjoying my time here in the Capitol. All my sightseeing consisted of bright walls, messy bed sheets, and cars transporting me from one house to the next. He saw this, somehow, in my eyes, and pursed his lips together, taking me in. "You're quite expensive, you know? Our best-looking victor, we can't just give you away that easily. Now, I understand you're keeping your end of the bargain, yes?"

I nodded faintly, but all that was on in my mind was the horrible smell. It was the roses, of course, mixed with something else…It was like he was exhaling it into my face. Surely his natural breath wasn't that strong? "Yes…yes, sir," I managed to mutter, giving my head a little shake to clear it.

He smiled and nodded. "Fantastic to hear that from you, boy." Then he paused, as if unsure of whether or not he should go on. "Sadly, not all your customers are as satisfied by your work as you seem to be. I'd hate to think that you're losing your popularity simply because you cannot keep up with demand."

I let my eyes glance up at his, and I saw a certain snakelike coldness within them, as if he couldn't wait to kill me already. "What—what are you insinuating, sir?" I asked timidly. I didn't care what he would do to me if I didn't 'keep up with demand', he'd already forced me to kill children in the past. But attacking the ones I care about, back home? My great-grandmother and only living family member? I knew he wasn't above that.

He grinned at me, as if pleased with the fact that I'd finally realized what he was getting to. By the stricken look on my face, he could probably tell that I'd figured out the target of his threats. "All I am saying is, you could do without so many distractions. The women in the Capitol, they are lovely and rich, most of them. I would hate for you to be a disappointment to all their expectations."

My eyes narrowed as I understood what he meant. I would have to strive for utter perfection if I was to earn my keep. I shook my head, angry at his comment. I'd already sold myself to protect my family, now this monster wished more from me? "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm already doing all I can."

He nodded, as if he comprehended my feelings and thought them completely acceptable. "Fair enough." He took his wineglass and drank from it, coughing slightly. I could see his eyes beginning to water, but otherwise there was no noticeable reaction on his part. He pointed at my own wineglass. "Why don't you have a bit of wine, as we speak?"

I obliged, not in the mood to challenge him any further. Just as I put the rim to my lips, my nose caught an odd odor, this time coming from the wine itself. I hesitated and closed my eyes, inhaling more deeply. I opened my eyes and looked at him, and if his eyes were unforgiving before, then there were no words to describe his look then. The fact that I knew what was going on was almost palpable in the air, and so I spoke it.

"Tracker-jacker blood, sir?" I asked, setting the glass down by me. "Almost indistinguishable from wine, with a taste similar to alcohol. Only a slight giveaway smell is what betrays it. It usually smells just like honey, and I don't think they make wine with honey anymore?" I tried not to grin at his befuddled expression.

Still, somehow his grin only widened. "No, they do not," he said. "Clever boy, you are."

I smiled now at his reaction—surely he wasn't expecting me to figure it out. "It's a deadly poison," I told him, as if he didn't already know. "You'll have to find another way to get to me sir."

He narrowed his eyes dangerously, his red tongue flickering over his lips. Was it just me, or was there a hint of red on it? It could be the wine, or…or blood…"That, I will," he confessed, standing up. His hand lingered over the rose. "Alright, you're done here." He paused, as if he knew I didn't understand what he just said. "You are dismissed." I stood up and turned, ready to walk down the rows and rows of roses. Just before I reached the exit, though, his voice stopped me.

"Oh, and take a rose when you go back to Four for the reaping. Give her my best."

It was enough to send chills down my spine, and clench my jaw. Somehow, he found out about Annie. And by the way he told me that, I could tell he wasn't exactly ready to embrace her relationship with me. "What are you going to do?" I asked coldly, my voice dropping several octaves gravely.

He barely hesitated in his reply.

"Whatever I must."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is probably around half the length of the others, but now I'm changing my style to the one I adopted in my other fanfic. That is, one POV per chapter, meaning next chapter will be all Annie.

Anyways thank you all so much for reviewing and for giving me your votes and opinions about which fanfiction I should finish first. I am so, so sorry to say that IT IS A TIE. I was completely awestruck when I realized this! For better or worse, I will be updating equally for both stories!

Now for the sad news. I won't be updating as often because this week is review week, and the week after that is exam week. Then I'll be going to a summer camp (Georgetown, anyone?) for a month so, unless they have free wi-fi (which I am just praying that they do), I'll only be writing. But don't worry, I'll try to update as soon as possible! Thank you, and I love you all!

-TGBW