Seth lV

A/N: Additional disclaimer, I do not own The Hunger Games. For those who asked, no, Angelina and Seth will not get together. Eve and Seth all the way. Enjoy~

Seth whipped around, to see a woman behind them.

"Don't worry," she assured them, "I already took out the security cameras. They will have no idea I am here."

Seth eyes her suspiciously. The woman was wearing a long tiger pelt as a dress that went to just below her knees and had long blonde hair that went down to her waist, quite possibly longer. She had a wild beauty to her, but not something most people may find attractive.

In addition to that, she looked to be about thirty years old, but it was hard to tell with the magical world. Bracken was after all, thousands of years old.

"Who are you?" Seth did his best to sound manly, but it came out more as a squeak.

She smiled coyly at him, "A friend. Thought I'd welcome you to the community. Call me Lilliana, if you want to call me anything at all."

"And how do we know we can trust you?" Bracken asked, speaking up for the first time.

"You don't," she said, "But I will allow you limited access to check through my mind, would that make you trust me unicorn?"

Bracken considered this, "Limited access?"

"You don't expect a stranger like you to come poking through my mind?" She retorted, "Final offer, or you can just try and survive the arena without my advice. See how you do."

Seth had to admire her stubbornness, not anyone could talk to Bracken like that with so much confidence. Or talk to anyone like that really.

"Fine," Bracken said coldly, "Give me your hand."

"I'm taken already," she smiled tauntingly.

Bracken sputtered, "Not what I meant." He managed to get out.

Lilliana smirked satisfied and put out her hand to shake Bracken's like she had promised. Bracken started into her eyes, as if he was reading her very soul, which you could say he was. She held his gaze confidently. Almost too confidently, in Seth's opinion. Bracken released her hand after what seemed like centuries.

"She means us no harm," Bracken informed them and Seth let out a sigh of relief along with Kendra, who had yet to say anything at all, though her eyes were still slightly puffy.

"Was there ever any doubt?" She purred.

"You said you have information," Bracken pushed, "What kind of information are we talking about?"

"Rude," Lilliana walked to the other side of the cell, "I guess I am not appreciated here. I will go now, goodbye." She walked towards a hole in the wall, which Seth hadn't noticed before. He guessed there was a boulder on the other side and maybe some kind of magical reinforcement, but he didn't know for sure.

"Wait," Kendra said timidly, her voice cracking, "Please. Tell us what you know."

A strange fondness entered Lilliana's eyes, "Of course, my child." She said, "Do you mind if I sit down?"

Kendra shook her head, "Please. Have a seat."

Lilliana complied, "So what do you want to know? The queen? The games? Me?"

"Whatever you can tell us," Seth spoke up.

She sniffled.

"Please," Seth added.

She smiled, "Welcome to the dungeon!" She spread out her arms welcomely.

Seth snorted, but she ignored him. "The giant queen hosts games for her amusement," she started, "Two go in and one comes out. If you can imagine, she goes through people quickly so she can only host the games every other day."

"Every other day!" Seth choked, "Only?"

"If she had it her way," Lilliana started, "The games would be three times a day. Would you rather have that happen?"

"No," Seth stammered, "Sorry."

"You are often allowed a weapon," she continued, "But you will only get it once you enter the arena and you will have it taken from you after the battle, should you win. There are no rules in the arena, her majesty thinks it's better that way."

"Is there any way out?" Bracken blurted out.

Lilliana gave a sad smile, "No one has ever successfully escaped with their head, but everyone down here knows the rhyme."

"The rhyme?" Seth asked, "What rhyme?"

"It's been floating around this dungeon ever since it opened," Lilliana explained, "Shall I relay it for you? No one has ever solved it of course, it wouldn't be much help."

"We will hear it," Seth confirmed.

Lilliana's eyes twinkled, "So be it. You have found yourself in the giant queen's wrath. Forced to join her battles to the death. Try to escape, you shall always fail. Unless led out by her tail."

"That's it?" Bracken asked, "I mean, I know you said it was vague, but that is it?"

"Yes," Lilliana said, "Is there anything else you wish to know?"

"Yes," Bracken said, "Who are you?"

"And why would you wish to know about, little old me?" Lilliana asked, "Aren't I just some woman you found in the dungeon?"

"Could we forge an alliance?" Seth asked hopefully.

"No," Lilliana dead-panned, sending shiver up Seth's spine, "But I will go easy on you and prepare you for the arena."

"Better than nothing," Bracken muttered.

"It is," Lilliana agreed, "Maybe I'll change my mind if you tell me a but about yourselves. My alliance doesn't come lightly.

"We'll tell you our story," Seth said, "If you tell us yours first."

"Fine," Lilliana said, "My name is Lilliana."

"We know that," Seth snorted.

She ignored him, "I lived in a peaceful village in Titan valley. The giant queen ignored us for a while until she required our entertainment." The last April Seth could tell was under exaggerated.

"Do you have any family?" Kendra asked softly.

"A wife and 2 kids," she said, "Adopted of course."

"I'm Seth," he introduced, "Shadow charmer. The guy with silver hair is a unicorn and that is Kendra, she is fairystruck." Seth knew better than to reveal his sister's true power.

"Nice try," she said, "Your sister is fairykind."

Bracken looked stunned, "How do you know that?" He asked.

Lilliana shrugged, "She shines."

"You're good," Seth admitted, "Not many people can see Kenda's shine, including me. Bracken says she shines like a beacon."

"An understatement," Lilliana said, "But yes, I suppose you could call it that."

"What are you?" Seth blurted out, hoping it didn't come off as rude. Man, this lady was a little scary sometimes.

She held his gaze, "I cannot tell you till you see it in the arena," was all she said.

"Any tips for the arena?" Seth asked hopefully.

"Yes," she said, "Don't die."

"Just like the hunger games," Kendra muttered under her breath.

Lilliana heard Kendra's mutter and chose to respond, "And May the odds be ever in your favor," she bowed dramatically.

Kendra started to laugh, and the twinkling bells filled the room. Before long Seth had joined her in the laugh and Even Bracken allowed a small chuckle, though he had not read or seen the hunger games.