Chapter 10
The Capitol
The day had gone by quickly for Berenice and it was getting close to the time of being interviewed by Caesar Flickerman. Rosalia had come to the mansion that afternoon to bring in a dress for Berenice to wear on the show.
The dress was a gold thin strip, ankle-length satin gown. Berenice looked at herself in the mirror and she did not like the reflection.
"Oh my dear," she heard Snow say when he entered. "Beautiful as always," he said and took her hands.
"Coriolanus, I want to talk to you about something," Berenice replied.
"Anything," he said.
"I wonder if it is possible for my family to come to the Capitol much sooner than anticipated, including my sister," Berenice spoke her request and Snow looks at her.
"I did say that your sister has been banned from entering the Capitol," he replied.
"Please Coriolanus, I am sure she has learned her mistake and-" Snow held up a hand.
"I will bring your mother and brother in three weeks time, but your sister will stay in District 12," he replied in an authoritative tone.
"Coriolanus, please," Berenice pleaded, but Snow did not change his mind. Berenice began to think, she didn't want her sister to starve, so she thought of a plan. "Then, I request that Kallea be given a year supply of food and lamp oil."
Snow looks at Berenice and replies, "I thought you hated your sister."
"There are some things that I can't forgive her, but that does not mean I hate her. Please Coriolanus, she's my sister and I don't want her to starve," Berenice said and formed a sad face and tears in her eyes.
"Don't be sad my dear, I will carry out your request once your mother and brother are collected," Snow replied and cups her face in his hands.
"Thank you," Berenice said and looks into his eyes. To her, they looked cold like a winter day and it suited him as she did find him cold and had no hint of love.
Snow summoned Rosalia and her assistants to do Berenice's makeup and they added gold eye-shadow and glittering mascara to her lashes. Snow gave the last minute touch by pinning the ruby-brooch, but he had added a white rose to it.
"You are gold like the sun, you have filled my life with sunshine," Snow said to Berenice.
She did not like what he said, Berenice knew that he didn't mean that. All he cared about was having sex and having her produce the son he desired.
When she was finished, Snow showed her outside to a plot of land that had empty flowerbeds. "This is my gift to you, you are welcome to grow anything you desire," Snow said to her.
Berenice gave him a good, but fake smile. "Do you have a garden?" she had to ask.
"I do, this way," Snow replied and he leads her to his garden. Berenice looked around at the plots of white roses and smelled one that was in full bloom.
It was the same scent as in the bedroom. Berenice had a hunch that Snow wanted to overpower the scent of blood with these roses.
Then, Berenice turned to see Celestia coming into the garden. "Grandfather, I wish to speak to Lady Berenice," she said to Snow.
"Of course my dear," Snow replied.
"Alone," Celestia added and he nods. She took Berenice to a stone bench and they sat down.
"Berenice, I have been thinking of what you said yesterday. I know my grandfather chose you to bear him a son as he desires one just to continue the Snow family line," Celestia began and continues, "You see, the truth is my mother and brother did not die in childbirth. They were murdered by a rebel."
Berenice's stomach burned, she had some good information to pass back to District 12.
"Why would he do that?" Berenice asked.
"A lot of people in the districts don't like my grandfather, they say he is a tyrant. There are some things my grandfather had done, but that does not make him evil. He does love me, he took me and my mother in after my father left," Celestia continued.
Berenice did not expect this; at first, she thought Snow did not care for his family, but she was proven wrong.
"I know you think he is heartless, but maybe someday he will come to really love you, as much as he does for me," Celestia said to her.
Berenice nodded and then, she saw Snow coming towards them. "Berenice, it is time," he said to her and she nods.
()()()()()()()()()()
At the studio, Berenice and Snow were left in a room, watching the beginning of Flickerman's show. Snow was dressed in a white tuxedo with a pin that had a white rose.
"Will the people like me?" Berenice asked him.
"They'll love you," he replied and gently moved a strain of her hair. "I was just wondering, what did Celestia talked to you about?" he asked.
Berenice knew Snow would not like it if Celestia told her the truth of her mother, so Berenice answers, "She wanted to apologize about yesterday. She didn't mean to be rude as she was still mourning the loss of her mother and brother."
"Yes, I am still mourning, too," Snow replied, just as a studio assistant came in to collect them.
Berenice heard Flickerman say to the crowd, "Let us give a warm welcome to our great president, Coriolanus Snow and his lovely lady, Berenice Willowgood!"
Snow held out an arm and Berenice looped hers in it. He lead her out onto the stage where the cheering was deafening to Berenice.
"Welcome Berenice Willowgood!" Caesar exclaimed with a chuckle. Berenice gave her best smile and the crowd continued to cheer at her. Caesar had the two sit down and he seated himself and the interviewing began.
"I must say President Snow, this young lady here is a very lovely creature," Caesar said to Snow.
"Thank you Caesar," Snow replied and Caesar had Berenice stand up.
"Miss Willowgood, would you mind spinning around for the audience?" he asked the young woman. Berenice did so in slow motion and the crowd was awed by her beauty.
"Does she look lovely?" Caesar asked the audience and they shouted back with yeses.
"Now, President Snow, mind if I ask why you decided to take in a mistress?" he asked, again.
"I needed a companion, one that I can turn to," Snow answered. Berenice looks at him, she was surprised that he did not speak the full truth.
"And is Miss Willowgood a good companion?" Caesar asked.
"Yes," Snow answered.
"Now, I understand that Miss Willowgood was not your first pick. When you went to District 12, you chose her sister, Kallea Willowgood. What made you change your mind?" Caesar asked, again.
Berenice knew what was going to happen and she braced herself. "Miss Kallea proved to be a terrible hunter, she was not up to my expectations. There was an accident as you have heard and Miss Berenice tended to me and she proved to be a good caretaker," Snow answered.
"An accident caused by Miss Kallea no doubt," Caesar said and Snow replied with a yes.
The crowd exchanged whispers of dismay and anger, Berenice knew that they were angry towards her sister.
"Now Miss Berenice," Caesar began to talk to her, "What do you think of your status as mistress to President Snow?"
Berenice had to improvise, she didn't want to tell the crowd that she was afraid of Snow and of her feelings toward him. She hated Snow, but for some reason, she felt the opposite toward him.
"I am thrilled to be a companion to our president," she answered, "I want to be there for him when he is at his lowest."
The crowd gave awes and Caesar gave a sigh. "Isn't that romantic?" he asked the audience.
"Miss Berenice, what do you think of the Capitol?" Caesar asked her.
"It's a bit strange," Berenice spoke the truth.
"And why is that?" Caesar asked, again.
"Well, can I be honest?" she asked in return.
"Absolutely," Caesar answered.
"I find the people a bit strange with all their clothes and makeup, that is something I don't see in my district," Berenice replied and some of the audience began to laugh.
"Well Miss Berenice, we like to look beautiful," Caesar informed her and some of the audience members nodded in agreement.
"I guess it's something I have to get use to," Berenice replied and the audience laughed.
"Now, now," Caesar said to the crowd and they hushed, "Yes, it's best to get use to it," he said.
Berenice looks at the audience, she looked at each of them, they were different from their clothes, hairdos, and makeup.
"I believe," Snow began to say, "It's not the outside that matters, but really it's on the inside."
The crowd awed at this and Snow takes Berenice's hand. "Berenice is both beautiful inside and outside," he adds and Caesar nods.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Berenice Willowgood," Caesar said and he kisses her other hand.
The crowd cheered as both Berenice and Snow stood up and gave polite bows and left the stage.
()()()()()()()()()
"Well done, the worst is over," Snow said to Berenice.
"I think it's not," she replied and she had to sit down. She felt as if she ran a marathon, although she had been sitting while being interviewed.
"Are you all right?" Snow asked.
"I'm fine, just tired," she answered.
"Come, I'll have the servents draw a bath for you when we get home," Snow said, but Berenice hated that word. She wasn't going home to District 12, she was going back to his mansion, which was her prison.
Both left the studio and Berenice did look forward to a bath.
()()()()()()()()()()
The bathroom was enormous with a big tub and the walls were painted white gold and had elegant details.
The tub had hot water and bubbles, Berenice could smell the scent of roses.
The servants removed the dress and gently removed the makeup from her face and Berenice got into the tub.
She sat in the water and smelled the rose scented bubbles. She began to think of her family and friends back in District 12 and what they have been doing since she left.
Berenice remembered that the Reaping for the 72nd Hunger Games was in two months. It was the law for everyone to watch, but Berenice wished she didn't watch as it was a bloody sport.
She also hated to see her comrades from District 12 die in the arena. There was only one victor from District 12, but Berenice forgot his name.
She decided to think about something else. She planned on starting her garden in the morning, beginning with planting melon seeds in one bed and then plant some lavender and periwinkle.
After a few minutes, Berenice got up from the water and dried herself off. Someone left some night clothes for her and they felt cozy.
She went to her bedroom and to her surprise, Snow was waiting for her.
"Coriolanus," she said and he looks up from the book he was reading.
"How are you, my dear?" he asked.
"I'm fine, I guess being in front of an audience made me tired," Berenice answered and Snow pulled back the sheets on her bed.
"I will not bed you tonight," he said and she gets in.
"What is that you are reading?" she asked.
"Poems," Snow answered and turns to a page and began to read.
"I fly with the wind, my wings flap with the air,
"A sky so bright, a land so green.
"In a tree, I wait,
"A human tune I hear.
"He sings and I sing,
"Repetition we do,
"The tune so new.
"Mockingjay," he says.
"I utter no sound,
"I take my leave,
"Into the bright sky I go."
The poem ended and Berenice smiled, but then her eyes grew heavy and she felt Snow's hand on her cheek.
"Sleep well, my dear," he said, kissing her forehead and he leaves.
From the author: The poem is something I just made up, I wanted it to foreshadow Katniss Everdeeen's connection to the mockingjay in the first book. I'm not really good with poems I'll admit. Stay tuned for more.