Chapter 36
Berenice watches the victory tour, wondering what Katniss and Peeta were doing following the incident in District 11. Berenice knew that the tour ended in the Capitol at the President's palace, where a party would be held in their honor.
Berenice sees Katniss and Peeta reading from the cards provided from their escort Effie Trinket. Berenice knew that they had to play along so that Snow would not harm their families.
She felt sick to her stomach when her friend read to a crowd of angry residents in District 5. "Tell us how you real feel!" a woman shouts at them. Berenice wanted her friend to read from her heart and not from the cards.
One night, Berenice and Snow watch the announcement of Katniss and Peeta getting engaged. Berenice could not watch it, they were just toying with Snow and the Capitol.
However, it felt like they were really in love, as Berenice was good at detecting signals, such as emotions and she can read faces. Berenice wanted to ask her friend if this was really a ploy when they arrive in the Capitol for the end of their victory tour.
When the day arrived, Berenice informed her dressmaker Rosalia to make a nice evening dress, but she wanted it to be blue as it was her favorite color. Rosalia created an evening dress with a leg slit on the side and it was a dark blue color.
"Mommy, I want to go," her son Anatolios said.
"I'm sorry Ana, but it is passed your bedtime," Berenice replies and kisses his forehead.
"I can't sleep," he replies and a smile forms on his mother's face. She takes him into her arms and sits at the rocking chair. She then begins to sing a melody that her mother sang to her one time, with just a slight change.
Hush little baby, don't say a word, Mama is going to buy you a mockingjay.
And if that mockingjay don't sing, Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama's going to buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke, Mama's going to buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won't pull, Mama's going to buy you a cart and a bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over, Mama's going to buy you a dog named Clover.
And if that dog named Clover won't bark, Mama's going to buy you a horse and a cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down, Mama will tell you you're the sweetest boy in town.
The melody did the trick and Anatolios falls asleep in his mother's arms. Berenice lays her son down in his bed and kisses his forehead, again before leaving the room. She saw that many of the Capitol's politicians had arrived, as well as other important people.
To her surprise, she saw Plutarch and she goes to meet him. "Lady Berenice, everything is going well," he whispers.
"How can we get out of the Capitol?" Berenice asks.
"Listen to me very carefully, on the third day of the Games, you and your family must go to the Tulip Court apartment building. A hovercraft will come and pick you at the roof. Be there at 12 sharp, if you're not there, we will have no choice, but to leave you," Plutarch whispers and Berenice nods, but gives a fake chuckle, as if Plutarch shared a joke.
"May I ask what assumes you?" a voice asks and they turn to see Snow.
"Mr. Heavensbee just shared a joke, would you like for him to tell you?" Berenice replies, still chuckling.
"Some other time, the victors have arrived," Snow said and Berenice looks at him in surprise. Snow takes his mistress and they walk arm in arm towards the dance floor.
"My dear, I want to apologize," Snow said to Berenice.
"For what?" she asks.
"I have been neglecting you, I barely come to you at night, and I barely see and Anatolios. The riots have gotten worse for the pass few days," Snow replies and Berenice nods.
"It's not your fault, it is your job to keep this nation from crumbling. If you are not there to calm the people, then I suppose someone will fuel their desires for a rebellion. Coriolanus, I don't want anyone else to take over Panem, I fear that they will show no mercy on our son," Berenice said and it did sound truthful.
Snow kisses her forehead and replies, "I know my darling, I fear for his safety everyday." They begin to waltz on the floor, with no one else surrounding them. Berenice rests her head on Snow's chest while they danced.
Berenice listens to barely audible thumping of his heart. "What is wrong?" he asks.
"Coriolanus, what will happen if the rebels do succeed? What will they do to you?" Berenice replies and he looks into her teary eyes.
"The rebellion will fall, they will not harm you or Anatolios. Don't worry so much about this," he answers and she nods, then presses her fingers to her tear-ducts. "Come, I must make an announcement," he adds and they leave the dance floor.
Then, Berenice sees Katniss, but Snow pulls her away before she could say something to her friend. They made their way to the balcony, where they were given glasses of champagne and the Capital's anthem was played and the crowd hushed.
"Welcome friends and victors," Snow began and continues, "I wish to congratulate the victors for their courage and for their engagement." Snow continues and then finishes. Then fireworks shoot up into the sky and Berenice sees Snow take a sip, but then, a drop of blood appears in the liquid.
"Are you all right?" Berenice asks, but Snow hides the glass from her.
"I am fine," he replies, but Berenice knew something was wrong. She had seen blood appear in Snow's drinks before, but she had no idea where it came from.
Before Berenice knew it, she realized that her friend and Peeta were gone. She sneaks away in order to look for Katniss, but she and Peeta were nowhere to be found. "Damn," she curses under her breath.
Berenice suspected that both of them had left without even saying a word to her. Berenice decides to leave the party, the crowd was too much, and she wanted to be alone.
When she got to her room, Berenice sits down on a comfy chair and hides her face in her palm. She had to think about the day when she and her family had to escape and get picked up by a rebel hovercraft.
She hoped that the rebels would be generous and not be harsh on her and her son as Anatolios was President Snow's blood. Berenice then gets out of her dress and into comfortable night clothes. She wanted to go to sleep and she does so in a matter of seconds.
From the author: First off, I want to apologize for not updating, I went on vacation after Christmas, and then I got real sick when I got home. So, I didn't have the strength to write anything, but I hope that I will update this story once in awhile.
As for the melody that Berenice sings to her son, it's the 'Hush Little Baby' rhyme with a few modifications to fit the story.
Anyway, the Quarter Quell is drawing near and let's just hope Berenice and her family will escape in time. Stay tuned!