Chapter 3.3
Delaying the Inevitable – Drusa
Emilianus smiles at me encouragingly. "How was the last day of training?" he asks as he sips wine at the table. He chose me over Cato – he thinks I have a better chance. Coming from him, that's a huge honor.
"It was … satisfactory," I say stiffly. He laughs – he knows the training before the Games is a joke – mostly a warm-up for those of us who've been trained and delaying the inevitable for the other tributes – either one of them will be lucky and win, or they'll all die. "I suppose we should discuss the interview one last time?"
"About that – I have an idea."
"Oh?"
"We want sponsors excited about you – and not just because of the amazing score I'm sure you'll get tomorrow." I listen intently … I think I know where he's going. "So … I've already had a word with Caesar. I'm quite certain he'll bring up your father and your sister." My father I expected, but not my sister.
"But we never speak of …"
"And you won't this year. As far as the audience will be concerned … you and Clove are the twin daughters born of the tragic love between Aureulius and your mother." I don't like the idea of sweeping Clove's mother so easily from the story … I do remember she was kind to me, and even fought to keep us both in Vinicius's home along with Clove. He, of course, would have preferred to turn us both over to the orphanage. But I'll do whatever Emilianus says. "Also … you'll speak about the tragedy that befell your mother." I feel my heart beat faster but I don't say anything and keep my face blank. "I know it's difficult to think about," he says, but doesn't seem very sympathetic. He's not a sympathetic man.
"Yes. But I will. I assume you're trying to engineer a rivalry between myself and the girl from 12?"
"You are far more intelligent than your district partner, Drusa," he says with a smile.
Author's Note
Emilianus is exactly how you think he is, Marvel fans.