Jupiter Gold, District 1

"Want a little grace,

But who's gonna save a little grace for me?"

Vampire Weekend, Unbelievers

Beetee:

The train pulls up into the station at District One. I glance around at the towering spires of the reimagined city, unable to help being breathtaken at the complete beauty of the design. It's almost reminiscent of the Capitol, but I know better than to mention that in front of any of the citizens.

Beside me, Johanna keeps her face cold and defiant, as though she's trying very hard to not be impressed. I smile.

"Relax, Johanna. It's not that bad."

She frowns. "Old habits die hard," she responds. "It'll take more than Sparkle City to make me like this place."

I raise my eyebrows in curiosity. "If you hate it so much, why did you agree to come?"

"Because we both know this isn't exactly a pleasure trip, and if you're going into possibly the most anti-Mockingjay district aside from 13 itself I'd like to be next to you as you get carved to pieces by Capitol crazies."

I chuckle at her morbid answer. She's not wrong, after all.

We find a chariot waiting at the platform for us, pulled by two massive ivory palominos. Now that brings a smile to Johanna's face, and while giving them sugar might have been a stretch for the sarcastic Victor, she reaches over to pat one of them on the side. She turns to see me grinning and promptly resumes her previous demeanor.

"Not a word, Volts," she says. "Not one word."

I nod my agreement and the chariot starts off. Ten minutes later, it pulls up in front of the Justice Building, now a shining center of truth and benevolence instead of the old symbol of fear and death. I glance over at Johanna.

"Here goes nothing," I say. She snorts and hops out of the chariot, not bothering to wait as I climb out as well. I hurry to follow her, not for the first time grateful for the surgery that managed to miraculously restore working order to my legs. As we reach the front, two guards step in front of us.

"I'm sorry, but the Justice Building is closed to all visitors today," the first one says. Suddenly, the second one recognizes us and jumps.

"No, you idiot, they're Victors!" he says.

I shake my head with a smile. "It's alright, I promise. None of us are above the law." I procure a slip of paper and hand it to the guard. "A signed summons from Mayor Devareaux himself."

They both nod and step aside. I quickly walk past them into the building, with Johanna close behind. As soon as we're out of earshot, she turns to me.

"Where did you get that?" she asks, almost genuinely curious. I shrug.

"Forgery was always one of Stevie's specialties. She taught me a couple things before, you know-"

I pause. Memories of Three's final Victor are painful.

We reach the mayor's office and knock. A voice inside bids us entry and we do, careful to tread lightly on the ornate rug.

Perhaps now I should clarify something. Mayor Miraculous Devareaux was many things, but a supporter of the Capitol was not one of them. He was a stauch rebel and instrumental in the eventual fall of One to the rebels. However, he was not a man who enjoyed life without material comforts, so as we strode in, the first thing we noticed was that somehow, his corpulent body had managed to grow even larger, something that neither Johanna nor myself was happy to see. However, we both were smart enough to keep those thoughts at the backs of our minds. Today, after all, was important.

"Ah, Master Latier," he says with a smile. "And Madame Mason, what an honor! What brings you to my humble town today?"

I smile. "Thank you, Mayor Devareaux. It really is quite an honor. However, I think we both know that this is no leisurely vacation. And we both know the real reason I'm here."

He frowns. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean. Is everything all right in the other Districts? Capitol insurgents?"

I shake my head quickly. "Oh, no, nothing like that. It's just, we seem to have misplaced someone rather important to us. We believe you know where he is. Ring any bells?"

He's sweating now. "No, nothing. Who could you mean?"

I sigh. So we're doing this the hard way. "There were fifty-nine Victors alive at the time of the Third Quell. Since then, forty-eight have been confirmed dead, eight confirmed alive, the last journals of Julius Vextal confirmed that Sol Granger vanished after the conclusion of the Quell, and while we don't have a body for Joules Garrow, trustworthy sources say that he was loaded into the incinerator of Five by peacekeepers as a symbol to the rebels. That leaves one massive question mark. You know who I'm referring to." He's now actually shaking, but I'm not stopping now. "Where is he, Mayor Devareaux? Where is Amethyst?"

Now that the name is out of the bag, the mayor actually ceases his nervous sweating and shaking. He simply takes a deep breath and sighs.

"So that's who you're after, isn't it?" he asks. "You know, I can't understand why you won't let the old man live out his last days in peace. He's already pushing eighty, you know that."

"Amethyst Goldwyn was one of the most prominent figures in all of Panem at the time of the rebellion, Mayor. We have no idea where he is, and surely you can understand why we don't want to let possibly the smartest Victor of the Games in seventy-five years just vanish."

The mayor sighs. "First of all, that's exceedingly humble of you to call him the smartest Victor, you and I both know the top spot probably belongs to you. And as for Amethyst, I want to show you something."

Johanna scoffs, but I decide to listen. "Go right ahead, Mayor."

With considerable effort, he stands and leads us out of the room. A few minutes later, we find ourselves in a long hall dotted with doors and, outside each of them, a statue. I count eleven in all and realize what this is.

"A Victors memorial?" I ask. He nods.

"Indeed. One room for each of One's Victors. Some are bigger than others. For example, we have a bit more devoted to Amethyst than, say, Alec. But this was the best way of giving each of the Victors the honor they deserved."

We begin to walk down the hall. The first statue we pass is that of a tall, skinny boy with somewhat sickly features. I recognize him as Alec Towers, Victor of the 2nd Hunger Games. I nod my respect as we pass the monument to the suicidal Victor.

The second statue belongs to a fiery woman, tall and commanding. I instantly recognize Lorelei Jewel, not as she was in the Arena, but in her early thirties, queen of the One Academy. I can practically hear her barking orders at Avoxes and younger Victors in the Control Center. Surprising as it sounds, I really do miss the legendary, if somewhat psychotic Victor.

To my surprise, the mayor leads us past statue number three, depicting Amethyst himself. Even with the blank eyes, I can't help but feel a little intimidated by the statue's sheer presence. Amethyst was not a man to trifle with, as many a Victor would learn.

The mayor finally stops at the fourth door, outside which a man, rather burly for One, with what I knew was a golden beard that so many Capitolite women fell in love with, stands.

"Jupiter?" Johanna asks sarcastically. "Not exactly a prime role model, eh?"

I stiffen at Johanna's blatant disrespect of the Victor of the 23rd Games, but the mayor only laughs.

"You're not wrong, Madame Mason. He was quite the presence, and not exactly one to be admired. However, while you may have only seen the raging killer and excessive drinker that made up part of Jupiter Gold, many of us in One, including myself and, naturally, Amethyst, saw a very different side of him. Come inside and you'll see."

My curiosity piqued, I follow the mayor into the room. Inside I see, unsurprisingly, many images of the man himself. Jupiter volunteering, during his interview, in his Arena (a jungle filled with majestic lakes and waterfalls), on the Victory stage. I see him standing over the body of the strong boy from Nine, lying in the arms of his district partner, playing up the crowd as he tosses her down a waterfall. I glance at the mayor, wondering if I should be impressed or slightly repulsed. The mayor only smiles.

"Jupiter was far from a humble man," he says. "He considered himself to be the best One had to offer, and in a way, he was right. He was a Victor, after all. But he was still one of the more abrasive personalities in the Control Center, something you, Beetee, knew quite well. However, what you didn't see, the other Victors did. Jupiter could never really stomach the sight of running water, not a surprise considering his Arena. He trusted no one, not even Amethyst. He was a brutal mentor, but every year after his tribute died he would wind up in some depraved sex club, trying to numb the pain away. If there was a Victor all the outliers simply hated, it was him, but none of them knew what he'd gone through."

I glance at Johanna, unsure of how to respond. She's not giving me any help, though, her hard shell still unbroken. I turn back to the mayor.

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask.

"My reason is simple. Jupiter was one of three Victors from One to perish when news of the Control Center massacre reached the district. I would know. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was part of that raging mob that strung him up and burned his home. I saw it myself. His last words were a plea to us to leave the old man alone. At the time we didn't know what he was talking about, but when we realized Amethyst had vanished, we knew. And none of us tried to find him."

"Why?" Johanna asks, finally breaking her vow of silence.

"Because if Jupiter Gold, arrogant, brash, insensitive, was willing to die to protect him, we knew we didn't stand a chance against the man. I'm telling you this not as an appeal to your morality, but a warning. If Amethyst Goldwyn doesn't want to be found, he won't be, and you'd be best advised to not even try."

I sigh and glance at Johanna. She simply shakes her head. I turn back to the Mayor.

"We understand," I say resignedly. "Thank you for your time."

He nods. "Of course. And remember, you're always welcome in One."

As we say our final goodbyes and walk out the front steps, Johanna turns to me.

"What do you think?" she asks. I shake my head.

"I don't know. He's certainly right about him not wanting to be found. He's not a man any of us want as an enemy."

We climb into the chariot and the horses start off, headed back for the station. As we ride in silence, Johanna breaks it once more.

"Hey, Volts," she says. I turn, frowning.

"Yeah?"

"You were wrong. You said there were eight Victors left."

I frown. "I'm sorry?"

"There's only seven. You, me, Mockingjay, Bread-boy, Vampire Teeth, Cresta, and Walking Vodka Jar. That's seven."

I smile in spite of the day's disappointing results. "My dear Johanna, I assure you, I didn't miscount. I just happen to know someone who'd prefer to keep their identity a secret."

And with that cryptic message, I turn to watch the beautiful city soar past me once more.

Fun fact: before the A/N, this chapter was exactly 2,000 words long. Just felt the need to mention that.