Sorry for the wait, but here is Chapter Eleven! Enjoy and don't forget to review! ;)
Chapter Eleven-
Cato and I returned back to the apartment that had been rented for him in the Capitol. Finally, it seemed, after the endless stylists and sponsors, we were alone.
"Nora," Cato shut the door and turned to me, his face crumbling. "I'm so sorry." For a moment, I had managed to forget about Clove, swept up in the rush and amazement of the Capitol. "I promised you I'd bring her home to you, and I broke that promise." He fell to his knees, taking my hands in his.
"How could you?" I breathed, pain seeping into my veins again, like a drug that made you feel worse instead of better. "How could you leave her?"
"Nora, love, it was her idea, not mine-"
"I don't care!" I suddenly screamed, and he flinched. "Where were you!? Where the fuck were you? She was dying, Cato, and where were you? Taking a fucking hike?! You let her die!" I hit him in anger, balling up my fists and striking his chest with each word. And the worse part was that he just took it. He could have easily pushed off my hands, or even hit me back, but he stayed on his knees and took each blow without emotion.
To my horror, I found myself wanting to hurt him, wanting to make him bleed. I knew each blow I delivered him barely hurt, like when a small child would hit you. And the way he was just sitting there, taking it...
"Are you done?" He asked quietly. I had worked myself up, and tears slid down my cheeks.
"How could you Cato?" I asked again, so sad and so angry...
"I was held up-"
"With what?"
"The girl from Five," Cato said evenly, patiently. I wanted him to show some emotion, any emotion, just not this placid, expressionless state. "As she was leaving, she ran into me. I was running after her, when I heard Clove cry for help. And by then I was so far away from her...
"Nora, I was so stupid, so, so, stupid. I left her alone." Suddenly, I realized he was crying, tears actually streaming from his eyes. It was the only time I'd ever seen him cry. "You hate me. What you said, it was all for the cameras, wasn't it? You can't stand to look at me anymore, can you?!"
He turned his face away from me, bowing his head in shame. "I'm sorry. I can never say it enough. My one job, my one duty, was just to protect her. I'm so sorry, Nora. She could have gone home."
His massive, muscular shoulders shook with the tears that came down his face. I felt my anger deflate and knelt down beside him, taking his face in my hands. "I didn't know," I breathed. "I'm sorry Cato. I didn't know at all; they never showed it. You tried. That's all that matters." I kissed his forehead and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm just so glad you're safe." I kissed him softly on the lips, savoring the feel of his gentle embrace. He looked up, his expression a mix of shock and sadness.
"Nora, I don't deserve you," He murmured, folding me into his arms gently. He was much softer, much more hesitant than I remembered him to be. I rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his cologne, and let him hold me for a while.
"Let us never separate again," I promised. "I will never leave you, as long as I live."
"And I will always stay by your side," Cato swore. "I will always fight for you. And I will always love you." We kissed again, this kiss less about sadness and more about hope. I wouldn't leave his side ever again.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and we both looked up. "I don't know who that could be," Cato muttered. "I told my mentors to leave us alone." He got up and went to the door, and I sat down on the couch.
"Hello?" Cato opened the door and took a step back, to let the man in. I gasped when I saw him.
"President Snow!" I cried, instantly getting to my feet. Cato looked alarmed, and came back to my side almost instantly. Behind the president was a pair of body guards and a cluster of people I recognized as Cato's mentors, past victors of the Games.
"Cato, my boy, congratulations." Snow said evenly, but his eyes seemed harsh and cold. I wrapped my hands around Cato's arm. "And the lovely Nora Radley. I've heard so much about you."
"I wasn't aware that you made house calls to the victors," Cato said, trying to keep his voice calm. I had no idea what Snow wanted from us, but I knew it couldn't be good.
"This is a special occasion," The president said coolly. "I would like to speak with the two of you, but I believe your staff has something that they would like to tell you, Cato."
"Cato," A victor, a woman named Enobaria stepped forward, very close to us, and began to speak in a rapid whisper. "Snow isn't happy with you at all. He didn't like your statement in the Games, about being a pawn, and your behavior at the interview tonight only made it worse. You openly defied Caesar."
"What?" Cato looked up at Snow, who was helping himself to a cocktail and in a conversation with Brutus, who looked panicky. "She was upset."
"Look, Snow's mostly upset with what you said in the Arena," Enobaria said. "You have to do whatever he says, am I clear? No questions, no opposition." She was about to turn and leave, when Cato grabbed her arm.
"Is she in danger?" He said in a low voice, and I knew he was talking about me. "Any danger at all?"
"As long as she's tied to you..." There was a long pause. "Then yes."
My blood went cold, and I placed my hands around my belly in fear. Cato put his arm around me, and turned to me. "I will never let him hurt you. I swear to God, he will not hurt you and he will not hurt our son." He kissed my forehead and turned to Snow again.
"Mr. President," He said professionally. "What brings this pleasure?"
"I'd actually like to speak to Miss Radley," Snow gave me a sickening smile. I froze. "Alone, if you all don't mind leaving the room." Cato gave me a fleeting glance, his eyes wild.
"No," He said firmly, setting his feet, preparing to fight. "I'll stay with her." Snow glanced over at his guards and beckoned with his head. They approached towards Cato menacingly.
"Cato, I believe it's within your best interests to do as I tell you," Snow's eyes narrowed as the bodyguards grabbed Cato, each taking one arm and beginning to escort him from the room.
"Nora!" Cato shouted. "Snow, you can't do this..." He seethed. "If you hurt her, I will kill you."
"Cato!" I cried, but he continued on.
"You touch her, and I'll make you pay!" Cato threatened. "I'll you bleed-"
"Cato, stop!" I cried, trying to make him see with my pleading eyes that he needed to calm down. I darted over to him and took his face in my hands. "It's going to be fine, okay? I'm sure it's nothing." I kissed his cheek, and Cato grudgingly allowed the guards to take him out of the room. His team followed, looking uncomfortable.
"Miss Radley," Snow said to me, once we were alone. "Please, sit." I silently took a seat on the couch, and he on an armchair. I tried to push down the panic in my throat, but it was hard. "I think you understand as well as I do that Cato is...different."
"There is nothing wrong with Cato, if that is what you're implying," I said coldly.
"Nothing is wrong," Snow said with a matching rigidity. "Just I believe you are aware of his...anger issues."
"There is nothing wrong with him!" I interjected. "He's fine!"
"He is a time bomb!" Snow exploded, and I sank back, afraid, in my chair. "He is explosive and he is dangerous! And you..." He stood and pointed a finger in my face. "You control him."
"I do not control him," I said fiercely but quietly. "He is his own person."
"But yes you do," Snow said smoothly and assuredly. He sounded like a snake to me. "You calm him down, and he listens to you, he obeys you. You can control him, and if I can control you..." My blood went cold, and he smiled wickedly. "You will do whatever I say, Nora Radley."
"Leave me alone," I interjected quietly.
"You control the beast, the way a man would control a piece of machinery, and I will control you," Snow sneered wickedly.
"No," I shook my head. "No, I don't want this. I didn't ask for this."
"But you will get it nonetheless. And you will do as I say, or else." He reached out and touched my belly. "A miscarriage wouldn't be hard to make happen, would it?" My mouth fell open in shock, and I shrank back on the couch.
"You wouldn't dare..."
"I kill twenty-three children annually," He gave a wicked smile. "There's nothing I can't do. Now scream."
"What?"
"You heard me!" I let out a high-pitched wail and from outside the room, I heard Cato body-slam the door. It shook the room. From outside, I heard him roaring in anger, and the horrible sound of fists on skin.
"Tell them to stop," I begged Snow, who wore a terrible grin of satisfaction. "Please, they're hurting him."
"Bring him in!" Snow called, and the door was opened. Cato broke free of his captors, sweating and a thin trail of blood running from his nose. I bolted over to him and flung my arms around his neck.
"It's okay, I'm in no danger," That was a lie, but it calmed him down. If looks could kill, Snow would be dead. The pure unadulterated hatred that seemed to pour off of Cato in waves scared me to death.
"I'll leave you now," Snow approached the door, and his bodyguards followed. "I've gotten what I came for."
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