(Note: This is the chapter that members of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will start to be mentioned and be involved in the war. As always: I don't own it! Enjoy!)
Taking a seat beside her, I inhale her lovely scent. Her laughter was music to my ears as Charlotte told a story about about one of their kids trying to build a fort. Piling food on my plate, I noticed that Effie was rather excited about something. She and I try to make occasional attempts at conversation but I was coming at a loss. So I chose flattery.
"I love your new hair Effie." I said taking sip of my hot chocolate.
"Thank you. I had it especially done to match Katniss's pin. I was thinking we might get you a gold ankle band and maybe find Haymitch a gold bracelet. We're a team." I heard Charlotte snort as Katniss looked at us peculiarly.
Effie glared at Charlotte. "We are a team. Even you and Henry with your flashy weapons and skills."
"We're honored to be part of this team." Henry said formally and kicked Charlotte under the table. I'm not sure what her deal was today but she needed to lay off.
"I think it's a great idea. What do you think Haymitch?"
"Yeah, whatever." Haymitch grumbled. He's not drinking and you can tell he wants too. Effie had them take away her wine last night when she saw he was making an effort, but you can tell he's fucking miserable.
The talk is light after that. Katniss attempts to tease Haymitch and the look he gives her is pure evil. She took the hint and laid off him for the moment. Soon enough, she would try again. After the food had been cleared away except for snacks and drinks.
"Shall we watch the recap of the reapings?" says Effie dabbing her mouth with a white napkin. Her obvious statement clear to us that she didn't hear the argument from last night. Everyone looked at each other. The tension was skin tight in the compartment, but Katniss nodded.
"Yea, let's watch. See who else got roped in this…" she said with a tinge of sarcasm.
I left the compartment to retrieve a notebook containing a list of the remaining victors and the notes from last night. We weren't sure who was reaped but to know all was good idea. Settling on the couch, Katniss curled into me and rested her head on my shoulder. Effie started the program and we settled in.
Before the programs could start, Henry and Charlotte left the room and disappeared to the back part of the train. Katniss and I looked at each other searching for an explanation but we couldn't find one. Eiffe huffed about rude manners and settled in after Haymitch gave her a cold glare. Something was going on.
Sitting there I idly doodled while the anthem played but was surprised to see that I recognized many of the faces. Either tributes, victors or both. The list isn't long, but I can tell Katniss is trying to memorize the faces as well as the names. Putting a star by the names of the list of victors, it helped narrow down the list of potential killers.
There's Johanna from 7, a woman who appears to be about thirty, named Cecelia, has to detach herself from three kids. Chaff, from 11 is called in. Then there's our district. I watch as Katniss is called. Then Haymitch then I volunteer. The announcers, to my astonishment, gets teary eyed and states that the odds will never be in the favor of the star crossed lovers, but manage to pull herself together and declares "this will be the best Games ever!"
Haymitch leaves the compartment without another word, Effie following him. Leaving us with Henry and Charlotte-who had returned mere seconds after the recapping. I rip out a few pages of the victors that weren't picked and Katniss begins to pick at her nails. A nervous habit of hers.
"Are ya'll going to sit around and watch a few more of the Games?" Charlotte asked.
"I guess we can. It's not like we have anything else to do until we have to stop for a refuel." I said with reluctance. Truthfully, I didn't but I figured it would help pass the time until we could escape to our rooms or eat.
Henry nodded and put another tape in. This time it was from the 11th Hunger Games that featured the elderly lady from District 4. The only other volunteer for these Games. We watched as the 16 year old version of herself won by being able to keep herself alive by making hooks out of anything and being able to know what edibles to eat.
Hers wasn't as gruesome as the later Games became to be. This was still early on after the Dark Days that participants were picked and Games were done over quickly. Not in the lavish sense they are now. Which now it's become more and more ridiculous since the last Quarter Quell.
When we finished the 11th Games, Henry grabbed another one. When the screen flashed it showed the woman from District 8. The one that had the kids. Cecelia, if I remember her name correctly. Nothing strikes odd in these Games. They're all becoming one big blur to me. She wins because she's handy with a sword. Who knows if she carries the same vicious ways now or not. Motherhood could certainly change that.
Finally, the clock chimes for lunch. If I had to watch another one, I was going to leave the compartment. Whether Katniss followed me or now. At first, I was gung ho about training and learning everything I needed to know to try and survive this thing, but as the weeks wore on, the pressure of imminent death that laid upon my doorstep discouraged me from caring. Katniss was coming home. Not me.
The door slid open letting Effie and. Haymitch on her tail. They looked a little...disheveled? Taking a breath, I noticed an odd mix of their scents. Like they had…..my eyes widened and my mouth hung open. The only sounds I heard was Charlotte laughing. Katniss looked innocent enough, so she didn't understand what I was just now learning.
"You might want to close your mouth Peeta." she whispered giggling.
"Are they?" I asked closing my mouth but still flabbergasted.
"Yea. Didn't expect that did ya? Who would have though these two had a thing for each other?"
"Not me that's for certain."
"No one suspects them so don't say anything."
I nodded my head at her. My affirmation of keeping their secret. If they were sleeping together that was their business. It just blew my mind that the same two people who 'hated' each other would be in love. Then again, it might not be love. It could be just the circumstance of how our lives played out. Comfort. ...I knew it all to well with Katniss. Sometimes sex was all the comfort that I could get.
Digging into my food, I absently let my hand wander Katniss's thigh. Her subtle change of breath is all I need to confirm that she has indeed noticed me. Up until the Victory Tour, I had a hard time getting her to notice me. She changed all that with one kiss in her room on a dark night after a nightmare.
In between sips of wine and bites of food, Effie tells us that we'll be arriving in the Capitol tomorrow morning and it will be a big big big day for all of us. I silently groaned in my drink and looked at Katniss who looked less than pleased.
"Well…" Henry said wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Char and I have few things that need attending before we arrive tomorrow." she looked at him confused. "The tech V sent us?"
"OH! Yea...I almost forgot." she rolled her eyes.
"Who's V?"
"My uncle. It's short for his real name."
"Short for what?" Man, I was nosy tonight.
"He sent that stuff to you already?" Haymitch interrupted. Henry nodded at him giving Haymitch a look.
Charlotte turned her attention back to us. "Vishous is his full name."
I nodded at her and watched as they left the compartment. Haymitch let out a healthy burp and followed them. I don't know what they were on about but I think they all knew that something was going to happen. And it was going to end with a bang. Excusing myself from the table, I took Katniss's hand and we left the compartment as well.
Taking her back to her room, we lounged around just absorbing each other. We laid there alternating between kissing and holding each other. The train ride was boring enough as it was. Dinner arrived too soon for us and we all sat down once again. Henry and Charlotte were in deep discussion with Haymitch over some kind of tech gadget that they were going do something with around the Capitol. I didn't ask because I knew I wouldn't get any answers from them. Whatever it was, it seemed important. Once our plates were empty and our bellies full, Henry and Charlotte asked if we want to sit and watch recap of old Games.
Neither Katniss and I were in the mood to watch them. When we shook our heads no, they nodded and let us be. Which for them was normal but Effie reminded us that we needed to stay ahead of the game if we were going to try and win it again. I don't think she realized that it was going to be just one victor this time, not two.
Retreating to our room, I pulled Katniss close to me and kissed her slowly. This was going to be our last night on the train and the countdown to the last days of our lives started now because starting tomorrow they were going to be solely focused on trying to learn how to kill every Victor that had been reaped.
Her breath hitched as she felt my fangs lengthen. Our tongues clashed for dominance and love. My hands slowly slid up and down her back. I wanted her to feel my love tonight. I wanted her to carry my young. Growling, as her fingers tangled in my curls that were slowly growing out for her. Pushing her back toward the bed, I lowered her down on it while never breaking our kiss. Her soft supple body underneath me, made me delirious.
Leaving her mouth, my mouth traveled down the column of her neck. Placing open wet kisses, I nibbled on her collarbone. I needed her tonight. I wanted to love her. Her hands searching my body trying to undress me; leaving scorch marks in her wake. My whole existence was to please her in every way I possibly could.
Pulling away from her heat, I reached behind me and pulled my shirt off. My eyes never leaving hers. They were dark, like mine and I shuddered when she licked her lips slowly. Her eyes traveling over the counters of my broad chest. Pulling me back to her, she kissed me hotly on the mouth. Her actions better than her words, I snaked my hands up the sides of her shirt and pulled it off. Leaving her in her bra, which didn't last long in my presence. Unhooking it, I pulled it off with my teeth. My fangs scratching her ever so gently. Blood pooled onto her skin from the marks and I languidly licked them up.
I needed to be inside her. Jerking her pants down, I licked and nipped every inch of her skin. There, she laid before me in her panties, and with two sharp flick, I ripped them off her. I could smell her arousal . It penetrated the room making me dizzy with want. Flicking my tongue over her slit, her hips bucked before me. Her moans wild in my ears. I knew she wanted me to stay down there when her fingers roughly grabbed my hair. I didn't want foreplay. I just wanted in her. Shucking my own pants, I came back to kiss her gently on the mouth. My tongue demanding entrance. My cock pressing into her core. The heat an inferno to my already aching cock. Inch by inch, I slid slowly inside her until I was fully sheathed.
Our moans echoed off the walls around us. I knew that we were being loud, but neither of us cared. It was our last night before the grueling training began and I wouldn't be able to have much of her. A sweat began to break out over my body as I strained to keep myself from coming to soon. Her body rolled with mine in a sea of waves that were never ending. Oh my God… My mind screamed at me when her walls clenched around me. My fangs protruding from my gums demanding entrance into her vein.
"Peeta…" I heard her cry into my shoulder, "I can't hold on any longer…" Her moans were cut off by my demanding kiss.
"Let go Katniss…" I whispered into her ear. My tongue glazed over her soft spot under her ear and when her walls contracted around me, her orgasm blindsided her. Her moans echoed throughout the small compartment. Sinking my fangs in her neck, I came only seconds after her. Taking my fill of her, I released her and dropped my head in the crook of her neck. Our uneven breathing began to wane after a few minutes.
Lifting my head, I placed a gentle kiss on her lips before rolling off her. Pulling her body close to mine, I held her tightly. "I love you forever my love…" I whispered in her ear. Her breathing indicated that she had fallen asleep on me. Kissing her shoulder, I got up from the bed in search of Henry. I would need his counsel tonight.
Throwing my clothes back on, I left the compartment. Left the warm bed that held my mate in it. I wished to crawl myself back in the bed with her, but I needed something more. Coming to his door, I didn't have to knock when it opened. Haymitch stood blocking me in.
"Do you need something?" he asked clearly sober.
I was a head taller than him, but I could see Henry and Charlotte looking at a blue screen. In the corner there was someone talking. A man I've never seen but the tattoos on his face was intimidating.
"I'm sending you the maps that we have modified. Tor there are three buildings that we've been asked to place the bombs."
"I know V, but seriously, she's asking for a lot. How are we supposed to get into the mansion? According to your maps, it doesn't seem like there's an entrance."
"Ari, listen to me. There's always way in. We all can dematerialized, can't we?"
"Yea, but…."
"No buts. I'm working on new tech that will make us invisible. Since we aren't genetically programmed to do that."
"Very nice…" the voice that sounded like Henry said.
"What's going on?" I asked startling myself.
They whipped their heads around and guilt showed on their faces. Who were these people that claimed they were our friends….our mentors? The looked each other. All of them including Haymitch.
"I asked, what's going on?"
"Is that him? Dagger's son?" the voice asked.
Charlotte nodded at him. The male's eyes widened at the confirmation.
"Hot damn...he looks like him."
"I know he does. He's got the temper too." Henry said giving a small smile. He and Char looked at each other and nodded at Haymitch. When he stepped aside, I walked in. Unsure of what I was going to learn about this. Of course, knowing these people, I wouldn't learn anything of use.
Stepping up to Henry, I looked at the blue screen. It was some sort of projector and I could see maps and coordinates. I didn't understand any of it.
"Peeta...this is Vishous, my uncle."
"Jesus Christ….Has he been through his transition?"
"Not yet. I haven't." I told the male.
"He's tried forcing it though." Henry added.
"What the fuck do you mean "forcing it?" he shouted through the screen making us wince.
"He has his fangs and the bloodlust."
"Motherfucker...does Wrath know?"
"None except this room…."
"...and Katniss." I finished adding her in the mix as well. Probably not my best idea at the time, but I couldn't leave her out of it.
"Who's that?"
"My chosen mate…."
"Seriously? How the fuck is he able to do that? None of us could do that as a pre-trans."
"I don't know but he has. All we've been able to do is keep an eye on them. Trying to advise them as much as possible." Henry and Charlotte said.
"Bullshit. I'm sure there's more bad news that I don't want to hear. You know I'm the one that has to tell Wrath, not either of you. Fuckers."
"Vishous…." Char eyed him evilly. "I don't want to be the bearer of bad news either. But fuck, this isn't something we can control…."
"Like Hell you can't. Now the both you will tell me what happened?"
"Almost two centuries old and he's still tryin' to boss me around…" I heard Charlotte mutter.
"I fucking heard that…"
"I meant you too!" she snarled at him.
Before a fight could escalate between the two, I stepped in and tried to play peacemaker. Giving Henry a look, he pulled Charlotte to him. Her eyes accusatory and hateful. I'm guessing this was a long standing argument between the two.
"A male friend of Katniss's tried to sexually assault her and I lost my fucking mind. The only thing I remember is exploding pain and the urge to mark her as mine. Henry had said it wasn't possible but it happened…."
He swore and nodded for me to continue. "Ever since then I've been trying to learn what I can. I swear you can't blame these two. This was all my doing."
"How are you feeding?"
"Katniss...mainly." He raised an eyebrow first at me, then at Henry and Charlotte…
"She's human, isn't she?"
"She is…"
"Did you let her feed off you? It would be the only way for her to be able to sustain you…."
"The first night I bedded her, I did. She asked me to do it.."
"You both know that you have to have Wrath's or the Scribe Virgin's permission for that. Especially, the Scribe's permission." he eyed Charlotte dangerously. "Ari, you of all people should know that...Jesus Christ...leave you two in a foreign land and things go to fucking shit."
"All I did was tell him about it...I didn't expect him to do it!" Henry exclaimed.
"Then you could have volunteered. You and Payne could have come...She's the only one with fighting experience." Charlotte interrupted the incoming argument.
"I couldn't spend that much time with my sister. It's bad enough seeing her depressed like the way she is. You both know how Manny's death destroyed her."
I watched them nod solemnly. There was so much about these people that I had no idea of. No clue who they were or what their lives were like. I felt like I was on the outside of the sweetshop looking and not knowing anything. Seeing a life that people had built up but I wasn't a part of it.
"Listen Peeta, we still have a few things to talk to V about." Charlotte said.
"No, let him stay…"
"It's not the wisest idea V." Henry warned.
"Why the fuck not Tor?"
"Because of what will happen after the clock strikes 12." V nodded at him and sighed.
"Fine...fine.. It's nice to meet you Peeta."
"Nice meeting you too. I guess I'm going to get going. Katniss is waiting for me in bed." I said waving everyone goodnight.
When I left the room, I couldn't sleep. My mind was restless from all the information that I had been exposed too. Even though it didn't seem like it was a lot, it was enough for me to worry about Katniss and our future around these people. More importantly, why was Vishous calling them different names?
I knew I should have asked more questions or listen to them slip up every time they thought I wasn't listening was one of those moments that I wished I could have a drink. Though I wasn't legally able to do so and I'm sure someone would snitch on me if I snuck a bottle and hid away for a while.
But, it wasn't like I was going to live much longer. I had just a little over a month left before my fate was sealed. Channeling my bravery, I snuck past the dining car and into the bar car. Looking around, I didn't see anyone. So I carefully walked toward the bar and grabbed the first thing I could reach. My paranoia on high as I snuck back out and down the corridors to the back of the train. When I found the spot, the same I had been hiding in the night that Katniss had her nightmare on the Victory Tour, I twisted the bottle cap an off and took a swig. Grimacing as the liquid burned down my throat, I briefly wondered why Haymitch would drink this stuff.
I know this wasn't the same thing he drank but it tasted nasty. Maybe I wasn't meant for drinking. Taking another swig, I began to feel the swimming feeling that only came with drinking alcoholic beverages. Even at the Victory party held in the Capitol we weren't allowed to drink. Chuckling, I could see Effie's disapproval as well as everyone else around me. I know Haymitch didn't want neither of us reduced to what he had become but here lately he had been making an effort to stay sober. I wondered if that was his benefit or ours.
After tonight, I had a feeling it was a bit of both. The conversation I had with Vishous sealed the deal that I had other family out there. Family I could have lived comfortably with. Trained with. Setting the bottle down, I looked at my hands. I didn't know what they were supposed to be use for. All my life it had been baking but with all the training I had been receiving from Henry or should I say Tor, it seemed like they were meant for battle.
I wasn't sure if I was comfortable with that. Like it matter. I'm sure there was something mapped out for me that I couldn't get out of. Grabbing the lonely bottle, I took another drink from it. Even from earlier, my paranoia was on high alert and I'm glad I was able to tune into my surroundings. I was getting better than Katniss because when the doorknob turned, it opened slowly and I could see her from the side angle.
"Peeta? Are you in here?"
Should I answer her? Let her know my hiding spot. Hide my alcohol? I wasn't doing bad but it felt wrong to mislead her. Sighing, I set the bottle down and decide to do the right thing by her tonight. Not that our lovemaking was wrong, it wasn't fair to her to hide my paranoia and fears.
"I'm right here Katniss."
Her head whipped around and she saw me. Sitting alone the dark with only the barest trace of the moonlight shining through the closed window. There's nothing I wouldn't do to make her feel my love for her. I would do anything for her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coming to sit in front of me.
"Hiding, if you must know."
"What for?" her eyes zeroed in on my bottle and she raised an eyebrow at me.
"Just needed a quiet spot to process."
"And the alcohol is helping?"
"Not really, but it does give me a fuzzy feeling." I said giving her a half hearted smile.
"Katniss do you think we really know the people closest to us?"
"What do you mean?"
"Charlotte and Henry….Like what are they here for?"
"To help you through your transition….train you to be like them?"
"Yea, I thought the same thing too but tonight I stumbled onto a secret meeting. You know that "Uncle" of Charlotte's?" she nodded at me. "I met him tonight. He's got wicked tattooing on his face and he's got a "don't fuck with me" attitude. He even kept calling them different names." I hung my head between my legs and sighed. Reaching for the bottle, I snuck a drink in.
She eyed me again but didn't say anything. I knew she wouldn't. This was helping me process what I had experience tonight. maybe make sense of everything. I doubted it.
"What was he calling them?" she asked gently pulling the bottle from my hands. I knew I had had enough to make me swimmy.
"Tor and Ari. I'm sure they're short for something but he didn't go in further. He found about me...what I've been going through lately and I swear I had to stop an argument that was escalating between Charlotte and Vishous. Hot heads, I tell you." I sighed and looked at her. Pulling her into my lap, her body jostled against mine.
"Mmm...you smell incredible." I mused my lips a breath from hers.
"What do I smell like?" she asked teasingly.
"Like a faint dark spicy scent." she raised an eyebrow at me. "It's faint, but it's the bonding scent Henry told me about."
"We need to go to bed Peeta...We'll be in the Capitol tomorrow morning and you don't need a hangover. They'll know you snuck alcohol out of the bar car. They can't blame Haymitch, he's trying to stay sober."
Taking my hand, she led me back to her room. My unsteady feet following my mate, I prided myself on on falling on my ass. We had left the bottle in my hiding spot and I knew I wouldn't need it anymore. Stepping into the room, I held on to her desperately while she turned us around and slowly undressed me. Her lips kissing every inch of my body. My cock jumped in attention to her and she languidly licked it slowly.
On her knees, before me, she was goddess. My cock in her mouth as she slowly sucked me. My head threw back, glancing at the ceiling we never paid attention too, a growl escaped me. This was her way of telling me that I could find comfort with her instead of hiding away with a bottle. My breathing was ragged and I reached down to tangle my rough fingers in her soft hair. Her hands cupping my balls, squeezing them gently as she continued to suck me.
"Oh...fuck me." I gasped feeling her teeth graze my cock. Her eyes were dark and I could see myself reflected in them. My fangs were long and I broke out into a sweat trying to hold off. My hair damping on my forehead. When her small delicate hand wrapped around the base, I choked as she squeezed. I was close. So fucking close. The love that shone from her eyes made my heart ache.
"Let go Peeta…" she echoed my words from earlier. Like a lightening bolt, I came hard enough to see stars. Her hands still working my cock as I kept coming. When she had milked me dry, I sagged against her as she stood before me again. Kissing her, I led her to the bed where her moans echoed mine. It was far the best sleep we've had in awhile.