Hello again everyone. Here's another short chapter involving Turquoise and Cato of course. I'm sorry if it's a bit rough and confusing. I was in a hurry and wanted to get another chapter out before the end of the year! The end of the chapter may raise more questions than it has answered and I had originally planned it differently, but then I realized that that just wouldn't work for upcoming chapters. I hope you enjoy!
- The Greenjay
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or pretty much anything that seems familiar. I do however own my OCs.
P.S. This chapter contains quite a bit of harsh language that some might find unsuitable. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
"I still don't like it." Cyan spoke. "I don't see why Turquoise didn't let me design the dress, if you can even call it that. You do look lovely darling, but this dress just makes you look so- so-"
"Cheap." Finnick finished for him. He was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and a very unhappy look on his face. I looked at myself in the mirror. They were right. I looked like a cheap whore. It wasn't Cyan's fault. This stupid piece of cloth is what did it. The outfit I had to wear was literally this piece of black silk that in the from formed an X starting at my breasts (this thing was strapless too) and a short skirt that barely covered my butt. The back only had the part that covered my butt and another X which connected the fabric from the back to the front. The bare skin in between was covered with black lace. I sighed.
"Well let's get this over with. I want to get in and out of there as fast as possible. The games start tomorrow after all." I said blandly.
The car that had been sent for us took us to this large mansion.
"Finnick, is this Turquoise's house?" I asked.
"Yup, this is the place. Now remember, stay close to me. Let's go see what that bastard wants." he grumbled.
We approached the door and it immediately opened. A young man, maybe only about a year or two older than me had opened the door. He was obviously Capitol born and bred. His hot pink hair and gold tinged skin were dead giveaways.
"Ahh! Finnick! Glad to see you could make it." he greeted. Finnick put on a fake smile.
"Of course, Turquoise! You know I'd never miss one of your parties!"
This was Turquoise? This is totally not what I expected. I expected him to be this middle aged man, not some little boy. He locked eyes with me.
"Please do forgive my manners! You must be Miss Odair! Turquoise Adonicus at your service my lady, and may I say you look absolutely ravishing this evening." he spoke in a voice which I suppose he thought was charming as he looked me up and down. He took my right hand and brought it to his lips. It took most of my self control to not pull my hand away and punch him in the face.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Adonicus." I spoke as politely as I could through clenched teeth. He kept his grip on my hand.
"Please my dear, won't you call me Turquoise? All my friends do, and I have a very strong feeling that you and I are going to become very close friends." he said devilishly.
I immediately looked to Finnick for help. This little creep was really weirding me out. He winked at me and quickly came to my rescue. He pulled me to him and slung his arm around my shoulders.
"Well we came here to party, and we want to party. We're on a very tight schedule you see. Sissy here," my brother spoke spoke pulling me closer to him in a protective manner "has to be back by twelve thirty. Needs her beauty sleep for the games tomorrow." Finn explained.
Twelve thirty? I have to meet with Cato at midnight though.
"Midnight actually." I corrected. Finnick gave me a quick questioning look.
"Right. Midnight." he agreed.
"You're not just saying this to get out my party early are you?" he asked Finnick.
"No he's not." I answered.
"I have to be at my very best tomorrow for the games and being at my very best includes a good night's rest." I said sharply. I met his gaze daring him to question us again. Turquoise sighed.
"Very well then, I suppose it it for the best to get you back on time. I am betting that you will be the one to win you know. We must make the most of our time then. We only have," he looked at his gold watch, "two hours. There is so much I want to show you!" Turquoise spoke to me with much more enthusiasm this time.
"Alright! Let's party!" My brother cheered as he stepped inside leaving me and Turquoise behind. So much for watching over his little sister, I thought to myself.
"Come Marina, may I call you Marina? Oh what am I thinking! Of course I can!" he laughed. I raised an eyebrow. Who said he could call me Marina? I know I certainly didn't.
"Come, take my arm." he insisted. I cautiously took his arm and he dragged me off into the mansion.
Turquoise hadn't let go of me the whole time and frankly it was starting to annoy me. It didn't help that he would introduce me for myself. He wouldn't even give me a chance to talk for myself! It was like he was showing me off as his shiny new trophy.
I felt my heart drop. It had finally hit me. That's why I was here wasn't it? If I got out of that arena alive within the coming weeks I would be placed in the same situation as Finnick. I started to hyperventilate. Oh god, I needed air.
I pulled away from Turquoise, but he caught my wrist as I was turning away.
"Where do you think you're going?" he hissed.
"I-I just need some air." I said shakily.
"Well then please let me accompany you to make sure you're alright." his voice still sharp as he spoke. Turquoise bid goodbye to whatever Capitolite he was conversing with and led me to a balcony.
I placed my hands on the railing of the balcony and took a deep breathe in. Just breathe Marina, just breathe. I slowly let out the breath that I had been holding in.
"I expect my property to behave." Turquoise hissed, breaking the silence. I quickly spun around to face him. I narrowed my eyes.
"You don't own me!" I spat out to him.
"Well, I do suppose you're right. I don't own you. Not yet anyways." he laughed menacingly.
"I will, however, own you if you win these games, and let's be honest here sweetheart, almost everyone knows that you are going to win." he smirked. He walked up and pinned me between the railing and himself.
"I shall expect you to be better behaved next time we meet. Running off like that, how embarrassing. Do you know who that man was? That man is the cousin of President Snow." he hissed in my ear and then backed away a slight bit in order to look me in the eye.
"I tried to be kind and lenient, I really did. Though, you should know I have no problem with breaking you in every sense of the word if that's what it takes for you to act as a proper woman should. You are to be seen and not heard. You will not move to run off like that ever again. Do I make myself clear?" he spat in my face. I heard a sharp slap and my cheek began to burn.
Oh hell no. This fucking piece of candy colored shit did not just hit me. I straightened my back and lifted my chin.
"Listen very carefully, I am not nor ever shall be your toy. I will make it out of that arena alive, and I will not let myself be turned over to you once I am out of there. " I growled. Who did this man think he was? He forgets who he is threatening.
"You seem to forget that I am a trained killer Mr. Adonicus, and when I do get out of that arena I will be an experienced killer." I warned. All of a sudden a smirk made it's way onto my face.
"You should know, I have no problems with emasculating a man, in every sense of the word." I mocked.
"And finally, unlike you," I kneed the vile man in the crotch and he fell to his knees. "I do not break so easily." I hissed once more before making my way back into the main room where the party was being held. I scanned the room for Finnick and found him in the company of some Capitol girl.
"Finnick we have to leave now." I told him in a hurried voice. With one quick look Finnick knew something was wrong.
"But Finnick you can't leave just yet!" the Captiolite whined.
"I'm afraid my sister's right. Big day tomorrow after all." he said and quickly bid the girl farewell.
I didn't say another word to him until we were in the car.
"Why didn't you tell me Finnick?" I asked quietly. There was no way that this could be happening! All these years of training to ensure that I get out alive only to be told that if I do, I'll be sold off to some disgusting Capitol pig.
My brother sighed. "I'm sorry Marina, I really am. I didn't know until earlier today. I'm sorry Rina. You have to know I never wanted this for you." he cried as he pulled me into a hug. As I felt his tears I couldn't help but cry as well.
"I'm so sorry I let you down." Finnick whispered. Finnick probably thought that this was his fault. That as my big brother he was supposed to protect me from everything and everyone, and now when I needed him most he couldn't do anything. I squeezed my brother even tighter.
"You've never let me down before Finnick, and you are not letting me down now. This is not your fault." I tried to reassure my older brother.
As soon as we had arrived back at the training center I headed straight for the roof, telling Finnick that I needed some time alone, and that I would be back in my room at a reasonable hour. As the doors of the elevator opened I was met with the familiar sight of all the colorful and exotic plants.
"Well there you are princess, I was starting to think you weren't going to show."
I turned my gaze slightly to the left and saw Cato. I watched him as he looked me up and down as I walked toward him. That's right, I was still in this stupid outfit Turquoise requested I wear.
"Damn, what are you wearing? I mean sure you look hot, but this," he gestured to the piece of fabric. "this just isn't your style. You're much classier than this shit sweetheart." When I didn't answer him he sighed.
"You called me up here to talk, so get to talking princess. The games do start tomorrow you know." he teased putting that familiar smirk on his face once more.
"What are you doing Cato?" I asked seriously.
"I know you didn't tell the others I was out of the pack. Why? Why didn't you let them know?" I asked shakily, my emotions from the encounter just a few moments earlier still fresh in my mind.
"Why didn't you just tell them! Or better yet why don't you just kill me now!" I cried. My emotions getting the best of me. I dropped to the floor and curled myself into a little ball. I squeezed my eyes shut. Breathe, Marina, breathe. I repeated in my head.
"Woah, what is this really about princess? What happened tonight?" Cato asked me with what something that sounded like concern in his voice. I opened my eyes to find Cato sitting beside me on my left. He gently bumped his shoulder into mine.
"Come on now princess. You've talked to me before, talk to me now." he said with a small encouraging smile. I sighed and begun to recap what had happened just a few hours earlier.
"He said I was his property! I am nobody's property." I cried.
"That fucking bastard! What the fuck did he think he was doing?" Cato growled as he wiped the last few tears away from my face. I let out a dark laugh.
"Be careful there Cato, you almost sound concerned."
"Fuck yeah, I'm fucking concerned! He fucking hit you! That slimy bastard is mine. I don't give a fuck about who he is! He hurt you!" the blonde yelled as he pulled me into an embrace.
My eyes widened a bit. Did Cato just say he was concerned? Maybe he wasn't so bad as he wanted people to think he was. No. I shook those thoughts from my head. You cannot think like that Marina. He may be acting like a friend now, but that doesn't change anything. He will still kill you.
"Stop it Cato." I spoke coldly. He looked at me incredulously.
"I told you because you wanted to know not for any other reason. This changes nothing between us. You and I both know that. What's the point of pretending to care now when we'll be at each others throats tomorrow?" A part of me wanted me to shut up and just enjoy his concern and the feeling of being in his strong arms while I could and the other part of me told me that I was right to stop whatever this was. That it would be better for me and better for him. Cato just tightened his hold on me and leaned his forehead against mine.
"Marina, you have to know that I," he paused, " that if things wouldn't have to be this way if they were different-"
"But they aren't different." I pulled away from him slightly. "Only one of us gets out of there alive, and whether or not I have to deal with that piece of filth afterwards does not change the fact that I am still going to be the one to be leaving there alive. No matter what it takes."
Cato's face went hard and he removed his arms from around me. I felt cold all of a sudden. I felt cold and alone.
"You're right. Nothing has changed." the big blonde said emotionlessly. "I'll keep my promise. You'll have until the end of the bloodbath, but I guarantee you, princess," he spat, "you'll be dead by the end of the night." he growled and stalked off. As he walked away I knew that something was different this time. There was something more definite about his threat this time. Cato would have probably left me alone until it was down to the final few, even with the fact that I was no longer in the Career alliance. Now, because of something I had said to him in thinking that it would be best for the both of us, I was certain that they would be hunting for me as soon as the blood bath was over. Dammit Marina, what the hell did you cause for yourself? I thought as I headed back to my room to get some sleep. The Hunger Games did start tomorrow after all.
Okay, so yeah... that happened. This was originally supposed to have a much fluffier ending, but then I was like no. Nu-uh that's not happening. They will finally get into the arena in the next chapter! Which means we'll get to focus on our lovely tributes more! I have many, many things planned in store for the arena!
If you lovely people have the time, please check out the first chapter of my other story called That Green Hill Back Home, and as always PLEASE REVIEW!
(They really do encourage me to keep writing.)
Oh, and please do let me know if you all would be interested in a chapter from Flounder's POV! Thank you!- The Greenjay