"Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District 1. They won back-to-back games, Capitol favourites. Lots of sponsors, they will be lethal," Haymitch lectured as he paced in front of the screen.

"From 2, Brutus and Enobaria," he clicked his remote.

"What's with her teeth?" Katniss scowled.

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out," Haymitch smirked.

"She's committed I'll give her that," Peeta joked.

"Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters, but brilliant. And… weird, real tech-savvy. He won his games by electrocuting six tributes at once. The morphings. Masters of camouflage. Basically won their games by hiding until everyone else was dead. Self-medicating ever since, which I applaud. Not a threat," he said and clicked the remote again.

"Finnick Odair right?" Katniss asked as she immediately recognised the next victor.

"Yes," Haymitch nodded. "He won his games at 14, youngest ever. Extremely humble."

"You're kidding," Katniss scoffed.

"Yes, I'm kidding. He's a peacock," Haymitch said flipping his hair, "a total preener. But he's the Capitol darling, they love him here. Charming, smart and very skilled in combat, especially in water."

"What about weaknesses?" Peeta asked.

"One," Haymitch nodded as he clicked the remote and a female tribute from District 4 appeared, "Taiya, she volunteered for Annie," he said as they watched Taiya volunteer for the distraught girl who'd just been reaped whilst ignoring the tugging on her sleeve from the elderly lady beside her. She turned to quickly speak to the older lady before walking over to hug Finnick. "They've been best friends since they were children. She moved in with him at 16 after their parents died in a boating accident, and got reaped the same year. She's also a Capitol darling. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone here who doesn't like her. She's an expert in manipulating the affections of the Capitol people, so she'll have no worries getting them both enough sponsors to survive without any concern. Trust me, those two will just about clean up all the sponsors. She set the record in her Games for the most sponsors ever. If he's trying to protect her in any way it exposes him, not that she needs it, the girl is absolutely lethal. Do not underestimate her."

"Well she wasn't all that pleasant," Katniss mumbled. "They'll be on their own right? They won't want any allies."

"She's actually a very lovely young lady, friends with just about every victor there is, she'll be last on their kill list," Haymitch warned. "I'm serious Katniss, do not cross them. They'd both kill and die for each other without hesitation. Finnick and Taiya have kept up with their training more than any other tribute. They will be lethal. You should be nice to her, she's the reason you're still alive."

"What?" Katniss asked confusedly.

"Oh so now you're interested," Haymitch smirked. "She got the funding for your burn cream. Without that, you would've been stuck in the tree until Cato got you. Let's keep more of an open mind, shall we?" he asked as he clicked to the next slide.

"I'm sorry, ok?" Taiya apologised again as tears fell down her cheek.

"You're sorry? You're sorry?" Finnick paced angrily. "Dammit Taiya! You know how this feels! Why would you do this? I just can't understand," he tugged his hair. "No volunteering. We all agreed. Why did you have to do this."

"This isn't helping," Tyler interrupted as he came and stood in between them. "Look you two have to drop this. There's no point crying, there's no point being angry. It won't save you. We need to focus on a plan now."

"The plan is to get her out," Finnick huffed as he sat down.

"No!" Taiya yelled. "That's not the plan! That's not why I did this!"

"Well I'm not watching you die!" he yelled, standing back up.

"I'm not watching you die!" she yelled back.

"Enough!" Buck yelled. "Enough. This isn't helping anyone and to be honest it's frankly very annoying. You!" he pointed to Taiya. "That couch. And you, over there," he instructed Finnick. "Taiya. That was really stupid and you know it. But what's done is done. Move on. Dwelling is just punishing everyone but the ones who actually did this."

"Don't worry about them Buck," Tyler scowled at the two of them. "Let them yell themselves into a stupor," he said before leaving the room, Buck trailing after him.

As soon as the mentors left the room, Finnick and Taiya locked eyes. She made the first move and she ran across the room and pulled him in for a hug.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she cried, holding him as he sobbed in her arms. "It's not over. I can fix this. I can talk to Snow. Katniss and Peeta won together maybe we can too. There's precedent."

"He'll never let that happen, Tay," Finnick whispered into her top. "Plus, even if it did, it would come at a high cost," he pulled away to look her in the eyes. "I don't want to fight with you."

"Neither do I. I love you."

"Just… let's watch the other reapings. I think if we talk, we're just going to yell."

"Miss Ambersnow," a Peacekeeper called out as they arrived at the Capitol.

"Yes?" she asked nervously. He'd stepped into the train the moment they'd arrived. He held out a small piece of paper and she reached forward to take it.

"We'll be waiting to escort you should you choose to accept," he robotically informed her before leaving the train.

"What is it?" Tyler asked.

Dear Miss Ambersnow,
If you'd be so kind, I'd appreciate a moment to meet with you.
President Snow

"It's from Romulus," Taiya lied. "He wants to see me and wish me luck. So I'm going to go do that, bye," she farewelled the others and ran out of the train. "Let's go," she said to the Peacekeeper, allowing him to guide her towards the waiting car.

"Miss Ambersnow. How delighted I am that you accepted my meeting," President Snow smiled as she entered his office.

"Of course," she nodded. "Plutarch," she nodded her head at the Gamemaker. "What can I do for you?"

"I have a proposition for you Miss Ambersnow. I have always believed you and I share an understanding. Respect for the system if you will."

"I agree."

"I don't believe, Miss Ambersnow, that you condone these riots we are seeing. It's not in your nature." Taiya looked up at Snow. She didn't know what angle he was playing here.

"Was there something you needed?"

"I would like you to kill Katniss Everdeen," he answered bluntly.

"Excuse me?"

"Ensure the girl on fire dies."

"She's been reaped, trust me, sir, she's well on her way. Everyone will target her."

"I would like assurances Miss Ambersnow."

"If I'm being completely blunt President Snow," Taiya shuffled forward in her seat. "My only concern is Finnick. I'm going to make sure he gets out. I'm not all that focused on the girl from 12."

"What if I could get you both out?" Snow offered and Taiya's eyes widened. He smiled. "Now I have your attention."

"What do you mean?" Taiya asked, flickering her eyes up to Plutarch.

"If you can make sure that Miss Everdeen meets her death, perhaps we can consider a rule change. Like the one your dear Mr Crane enacted. Two winners from the same district. We both know you and Mr Odair are well and truly capable of winning, this will see you both get to live your lives together."

Taiya leaned back in her chair and frowned. "We get to live free. No selling us anymore."

Snow pursed his lips as he took a deep breath. "If you can end the girl on fire spectacularly, I'll agree to your terms."

Taiya clasped her hands in her lap. She didn't feel good about targeting a 17-year-old child, but obeying her morals was no longer a top priority.

"We don't need an answer," Plutarch interrupted her thoughts. "If you want to take the deal all you need to do is act on it in the Games. Then we'll know whose side you're on."

"That will be all Miss Ambersnow," President Snow dismissed.

"Thank you, sir," she said quietly before jumping up from her chair and hurrying out.

"Where were you?" Tyler asked as she entered the District 4 apartment.

"Where's Finnick?" she asked.

"In the tribute remake centre with his stylist, right where you'll be headed in a minute. Now tell me. Where were you?"

"With Romulus. I told you that."

"No, you weren't," Tyler shook his head as he leapt up from the kitchen table. "Buck and I were at a sponsor party and Romulus was there. So why don't you tell me the truth, where were you?"

"I was with Snow," she admitted quietly.

"What the hell were you doing with that man?" Tyler asked angrily. "What'd he want? Taiya, he put you both here again. You don't have to play his game anymore."

"He wanted to talk that's it."

"About what?"

"I have to go downstairs ok," she avoided answering. "Here," she handed him her bag. "I'll see you later," she said before exiting the apartment and heading down to meet her new stylist.