A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs*

I had to re-write this a couple times and being sick I slept the morning away :(


"You don't look so well."

Ailith shook her head at Finnick's observation. Her face betrayed the fatigue that was wearing her down as they reached the doors to the Training Center. His keen eye caught the limp in her stride causing his hold to secure tighter around her.

"It was Marius." Her knees knocked and thighs shook at the mention of the name.

"What did he do to you? Ailith what did he do to you?"

She turned around and lifted her shirt up to reveal the deep marks that embedded in her skin. Finnick gasped in horror at the brutality his friend had been subjected to. He wasn't surprised it was Marius who had done this to her. He held a reputation for his cruelty and views of the victors as sexual toys for his disposal. He remembered when Ailith had shown him the scar from her first encounter with him. Finnick was no stranger to the rough hands of the citizens who sought him out but this….this was beyond rough. It was torture.

"Ailith who did this to you?"

"His name is Marius. He….He…."

Ailith had broken down as she painfully recalled what had been done to her. Finnick comforted her as she was scared to tell Seneca what had happened. Her choking sobs ripped at his heart as she struggled to tell him how he had tied her wrists with biting rope then proudly displayed the crop he intended to use.

Hotel Suite….Several years before….

Her eyes had widened at the fine sharp points that dotted the leather strap. Her fear had aroused Marius as she felt the pressure of his erection against her back side. The heavy emerald pendant bounced against her chest as she cried into the cloth tied around her mouth.

"You're beautiful," he whispered. "So very beautiful."

His hand snaked up her torso then breast gently cupping each supple mound of flesh then harshly pinched each erect bud. A rush of air around her side alerted to his presence now standing before her. Marius leaned in trailing his tongue across her parted lips, tasting the rich gloss she always wore for him. Her breathing picked up as his mouth worked down then around her open breasts. He softly darted the tip of his tongue around each tip, hearing her deep breaths betraying her. She curled her fingers tighter around the ropes as his sensual manipulations thrusted her further into pleasure with her back arching forward craving more.

Marius suddenly drew back but it was briefly as the first bite pierced her left breast. Ailith wailed in pain which elicited a cruel laugh from her tormentor who swept his tongue along his lip cleaning up the tiny drops of crimson. He licked the marks he left behind then ruthlessly clamped down on her breast. Ailith screamed at the top of her lungs as the tears streams freely down her face. His cruelty was replaced by tenderness as his lips kissed each wound. His rough strong hands flattened against her back keeping her still as his mouth devoured the warm supple flesh.

"I love it when you scream and submit to me." He returned to fetch the crop.

Ailith shut her eyes and thought of Seneca as the first strike tore her skin and muscle apart. The short snap sounded like a gun going off and resonated through the hotel suite. They were on the very top so no one could truly hear what horrors were being carried out. A second then third rang out followed by the short high wail. Ailith felt the gaping wounds burning the surrounding flesh but it wasn't enough to satisfy Marius's sadistic appetite. He casually tossed the crop aside then unfastened her restraints from the ropes then tied them behind her back and forced her to kneel down on the bed. Her eyes stayed tightly pressed as she felt the soft cloth dabbing her back for several minutes, causing her to hiss at the deceptively gentle touch against open flesh.

"You are my favorite," he forced her chin to the side to make her look into his eyes. She shivered at the feral glint raging in his rich blue rings. They were too bright to be natural making Ailith suspect they were surgically altered as well. Marius pulled back but didn't pull his hands away from her. His fingers felt like talons against her skin ready to tear into her at any second.

Ailith forced her mind to detach from her body as the first dominant thrust claimed her. She had taught herself to shut the pain and emotions attached out as crying and screaming wouldn't make him stop. It would only encourage him and feed his dark perverted desires. She breathed in then finding her body betraying her with the inklings of release. She didn't scream or even whimper as her body succumbed and pulsed against him showering him with the rewards of his efforts. Her ears could hear every noise he made behind her which grew in volume and intensity as his body slammed faster against hers until she felt him shudder followed by the swift rushing sensation of heat entering her body. Ailith was numb across her body as Marius rested against her back and lightly mouthed at the back of her neck.

She felt the restraints coming loose liberating her wrists from their imprisonment. Her ears picked up the rustle of clothing as Marius was casually dressing himself then straightening up like nothing had happened.

"Get yourself cleaned up," he whispered in her ear.

Ailith slumped against the wall losing her composure as the elevator sped up to the second floor.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?"

"Yes," she weakly nodded. "I'm going to clean up and try to rest. Brutus can take care of Cato and Clove."

"I'm not letting you go in there alone. I'll walk you to your room."

"You don't have to Finnick."

"Ailith, listen to me," Finnick pressed his hands against her shoulders then looked her dead straight in the eye. "When this happened to me I didn't have anyone to be there for me. I was alone. But then you entered my life. You can't understand how having you as a friend has helped me."

"And having you as a friend," she gave a genuine smile and allowed him to slip an arm around her waist. "Has been invaluable."

"Thanks," she allowed him to escort her to the room she used when having to stay at the Training Center.

Ailith relished the steady jets as they purified and cleansed her body of any trace of Marius. She had grimaced a few times when starting up the water but soon the constant massaging sensations against her back relaxed the tense muscles beneath. There was no rush or hurry as Brutus had been taking care of Cato and Clove with pointers for training. But then again Brutus wasn't worried about her constant departures as being a mentor meant gathering sponsors for the pair. Brutus didn't like that side of being a mentor which Ailith happily accepted as it meant sneaking away to see Seneca meeting up with him in the suite.

An hour later she was making her way towards the building which housed the suite. It was modest sized layout, one that could be suitable to bring in clients. But then again that was the point. It wasn't for her luxury it was for the ones who paid grotesque amounts of money to say they had the opportunity to bed her. Despite having her body cleansed, her mind felt violated. Every day she would continue to be haunted by the images of citizens who screwed her until she screamed, bled, or passed out from the extreme pain forced upon her. The images of various items that they brought to use on her or have her use them on them. It never ended. Not even Seneca could save her from the nightmares that plagued her. It broke his heart when she woke up crying or begging some unseen attacker to stop. Fortunately she had been free of such visions though knew they would return.

The front doorman let her in and greeted her as he greeted all the residents. Ailith forced a pathetic smile then hurried for the elevator. The cab whooshed up and in a few seconds opened to the floor. Ailith scurried for the door and locked it behind her. She turned around and slid down the door. Her nose picked up a delicate scent carrying through the air causing her lift her chin and find the dozen roses resting on the stand. Her heart beat quickened as she darted across the room and plucked the card nestled neatly in the array.

Ailith,

Accept these roses as a small gift of my affections. I cannot wait to hold you in my arms and feel your skin against mine. Thoughts of you fill my day and mind….Until tonight my love….

S.C.

Ailith collapsed on the bed and clutched the card to her chest. It was Seneca's handwriting and even the traces of his cologne were still cast upon the expensive card. It was laden with gold trimming and silver stars, something that Ailith missed the most about her home aside from her family.

"I will see you soon," she closed her eyes and whispered into the air.

Awwww how sweet...Next up: Another flashback :)