Katniss is sadly in Venus's hands! However, Peeta is on the scene, though how in the world is he going to handle facing the gods?
I do not own the Hunger Games.
Peeta woke up and opened his eyes to see a pixie-like woman with small horns hidden in her short spiky haircut, a golden tall muscular man with arrows and flapping white feathers. There was also a fatter winged man with purple hair who zipped about in a nervous pattern. He was too big to be a fairy but smaller than an infant. Peeta's blue eyes widened and he pushed himself backward.
Peeta noticed he was no longer in bed, but on top of a mountain looking down into the valley below where his home was. From this vantage point, he could see the small homes of the Seam dwellers nestled in the mountains.
Looking up Peeta saw a city made up of buildings made of what looked like marble and white stone. There were cobbled streets, white, and a grand fountain. Winged creatures flew about. He blinked as he swore he saw a huge acropolis sitting on top of the mountain. When he was little his grandmother on his father's side always told fun tales of Mount Olympus and the gods who lived there.
His grandmother was from the Capitol. She was the youngest of three. Her education was bar none and she came to District Twelve to teach history for 5 years to pay off her education. At the end of the commission, she fell in love with his grandfather. She had books on history that she brought from the Capitol and lesson plans she made that consisted of drawings, handwritten passages of stories, and anecdotes. As a child poured over her books, and under her tutelage he drew the great cities of Rome and Greece.
Years later his knowledge allowed him the "in," he needed with Katniss. Katniss loved books and he lent her his grandmother's books and lesson plans. Katniss loved grand adventures and his grandmother's stories were chock full of those. The more they spoke the greater he fell in love. She was passionate and he loved the way her eyes lit with fire when they discussed books.
In an ironic twist, they wound up together after a drunken spirited discussion. He'd been hopeful after that night. Her rejection hurt. After that night Katniss became unapproachable and withdrawn. It took him a long time to gain her trust. Peeta resigned himself to only ever be friends with her. Katniss didn't believe in love. Though, Peeta suspected she was scared of falling in love, because of the trauma that she went through with her mother.
But that was a long time ago, and currently didn't hold a candle to what he was currently living.
Peeta rubbed his eyes. He thought perhaps this was some sort of dream. His mind didn't want to believe what he was seeing. If Katniss were here he would have joked this was the plot of one of her precious books. Forcing his eyes open Peeta saw the unlikely trio was looking at him with concern.
"Great he's a moron," the woman with the horns said.
"Jo!" Both the golden man and the small purple-haired man with wings said at the same time.
"Look at him! Sure he's easy on the eyes, but he's no champion! We're toast! Venus is going to win… and then the world is going to…."
"Jo, he's a mortal with no knowledge of Mount Olympus or the gods that reside there. We haven't visited mankind in millennia. He is only in shock. Give him a moment."
Peeta pinched himself, the pain was real. The conversation wasn't a figment of his imagination. He looked up again at the city resting atop of the highest mountain in District Twelve. His fear gave way to confusion and curiosity. "Who are you?"
The bickering stopped as all three turned to gawk at him. The small purple-haired winged man nudged the tall golden-skinned man forward.
"I am Cupid, but you can call me Finnick, the trickster is Jo, and the nervous cherub is Plutarch," Finnick began. "As you can see you…"
"You're no longer in Kansas kid!" Jo said.
Finnick turned to Jo and made a face.
"Fine," Jo grumbled.
"As I was saying," Finnick slanted his eyes toward Joe before continuing, "you are in the shadow of Mount Olympus. The one you desire is in trouble, and only you can help her."
"Katniss is in trouble?" Peeta asked.
"Venus stole her; she wants redemption." Cupid stopped. "A long time ago my mother, Venus, was jealous of a great beauty. Venus did everything in her power to destroy the human girl. Long story short, I loved her for her quiet strength, and her bravery, and so did so many others, including Zeus. My mother lost, and the girl became immortal and my wife."
"What does this have to do with Katniss ?" Peeta asked. Judging from the looks on their faces there had to be more to the story.
"From what I understand, Katniss is a mortal huntress without equal?"
Peeta nodded.
"My mother knows Katniss doesn't believe in love and stole her thinking no one would want to help her be her champion."
"But you have feelings for Katniss," Plutarch blurted.
"How did you know that I have feelings for Katniss?"
Jo chuckled. "It is as plain as the nose on your face."
"How can I help her? What can I do?"
"Are you willing to become Katniss Everdeen's champion?" Plutarch asked.
"Of course he is willing. What sort of question is that?" Jo bristled.
"Please tell me what I can do to help Katniss," Peeta said.
"There are four trials you must undergo to help rescue Katniss," Jo explained.
"No doubt Venus has some sort of plan to stop you from completing them," Plutarch pointed out.
"I just thought of something, Zeus said no one could die, but to complete the fourth task they have to descend into the bowels of the underworld." Finnick put his hand on his hips.
"He's right," Plutarch said.
Peeta wasn't sure what to make of the whole thing, but they were serious. Somehow Katniss was in trouble and he had to help her.
All three of them began squabbling amongst themselves.
"Guys!" Peeta called, stopping their arguing. "I don't understand what's going on. Someone has got to explain to me how Katniss was kidnapped and how I'm supposed to help. You're wasting time; fighting amongst yourselves."
"Listen," Jo began.
"I'll get her back," Peeta vowed. "I love her."
"You love her, yet I have not shot you with my arrow," Cupid said in awe.
"It doesn't matter," Plutarch said. "He is as brave as the champions of old. The girl has chosen well.
Peeta shook his head. "I was a goner from the moment I heard her sing. Tell me how to get her back safely."
"He's right," Finnick said. "We have to work together to beat Venus."
"Okay, I'm going to explain this to you in the best way possible. Cupid is a god from Mount Olympus." Plutarch pointed to Jo as he spoke, "The trickster is trouble. Me, I'm a cherub. I simply observe humanity and record it. To you, we're mythical creatures passed down in stories. However, we exist. Venus is the goddess of love and she and Cupid have a wager about whether or not Katniss can fall in love. Venus took Katniss to stop her from falling for you. She'll be released if you complete the four tasks. However one of those tasks requires you to go into...what is it that you humans call that place, oh yes, hell."
"What are the other three tasks?"
"You have to sort grain, get a golden fleece, and retrieve a special spirited water," Cupid said. "Venus will not allow me to help, but you two," Cupid said, pointing to Jo and Plutarch. "You will help him, even if that means seeking help from those on Mount Olympus itself." Cupid stood. "The first trial starts in ten minutes at the train station. Get him there, while I search for where my mother has hidden Katniss."
K*P*K*P
Katniss couldn't open her eyes she heard noises but couldn't identify them.
"What are you doing here?" The hard voice demanded.
"I need to speak to you," Venus said.
"I don't have time for you."
"You do and you will," Venus purred. The room was filled with the scent of roses.
"You can turn off the perfume factory, that does nothing to me. I'll give you five minutes," the hardened voice said moving away.
Venus followed someone out of the room, leaving Katniss alone.
Katniss couldn't tell where she was. She knew she was in trouble though. The woman that showed up at her cottage was dangerous despite her beauty.
Just like the woman in the book she'd been reading. She tried to look around, but everything was blurry; her body was paralyzed. She wondered if for some reason this was like the book. If it was, then all the time that she scoffed at love, she'd been a fool. By virtue of her current predicament, love was the only thing that could save her.
The truly sad thing was that the only person in the district besides her sister that could possibly help her didn't even know what she felt for him. He was in the dark about her.
Katniss's mind conjured up wavy blonde hair, the stocky broad shoulders, the translucent lashes, and those beautiful creative hands of her Baker, Peeta Mellark.
Just thinking about him caused pain to travel through her being. A solitary tear fell from her eye.
"Don't worry, I will not let anyone harm you," a smaller voice whispered.
Katniss searched for the trembling voice but could not locate its source. She heard footsteps.
"Please close your eyes," the small voice urged quietly. "They're coming back."
Katniss quickly closed her eyes as the small voice whispered.
"As I explained, I just need a small little space to hide a treasure," Venus said.
"I don't want any part of your schemes," a harsh voice bellowed.
"You owe me, you" Venus countered.
"Fine, but just know, after this, if I catch you, you'll belong to me and I don't care who you are."
"You don't have the right," Venus taunted.
"Don't I?"
Katniss heard it and wondered who Venus was speaking to but her mind couldn't latch on and darkness crept in; she lost consciousness.
K*P*K*P
Peeta landed with a thud in front of the train station. He wearily watched a gorgeous blond woman slowly appear before his eyes. She smelled of roses and her skin was as smooth as a pearl. Thinking of a pearl caused him to think of Katniss' gray eyes, which were luminous like gray pearls he had once seen in his grandmother's book.
"Oh you are handsome," Venus smiled. She strutted toward Peeta; her hips swaying suggestively.
"Hands off, Venus." Jo appeared in front of the goddess, her small hand gripping an ax. "I can chop you down to pieces."
Venus raised an eyebrow. "What a pity."
Peeta breathed easier. There was something about that woman that made his heart race and not in a good way.
"Ma'am," Plutarch said.
"Plutarch, how did you get involved," Venus put her hand under her chin. "I've always found your purple hair intriguing."
Plutarch blushed a bright purple.
"Stop avoiding the inevitable," Jo said.
With a snap of her finger, three sacks of grain were floated off of the cargo train. The sacks opened up and spilled onto the floor in the same spot. "The last time I made a mistake. It was a small stack. This time it's a larger pile. You have until mid-morning."
"That's less than three hours," Plutarch sputtered.
"Okay fine, I'll give you until ten in the morning," Venus smiled wickedly.
"But," Jo began.
"I'm not giving you more time." She sat on the large pile. "Do you want your Katniss back?"
"I do." Peeta was determined.
"I told Cupid immortals and mortals should not marry, but no, he wanted his heart's desire." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "If you want her, you will have to complete all the tasks in the time I have allotted."
"Is she well?" Peeta asked.
"I will tell you when you finish this task. Now chop-chop." She clapped her hands. "You have only three hours to sort these grains."
Venus disappeared, leaving behind an hourglass to measure the time.
Peeta used his knowledge of what each grain looked like to separate them. Both Jo and Plutarch tried to help, but they had no knowledge of the grains. Peeta steadily worked, but as time slipped by he began to get desperate. He had only an hour and a half left.
"Time is running out and I'm only a quarter way through," Peeta said.
"We need help," Plutarch said.
"Mount Olympus," Jo said. "You continue here, I will get help!"
Peeta continued worriedly looking up at the hourglass as time was running out.
K*P*K*P
"Demeter," Jo called out.
The stylish woman floated from her home.
"Jo, I didn't expect you here?"
"Thank goodness you heard," Jo said. "Do you think you can help us sort grain?"
"Is he as noble as they say?"
"And gorgeous," Jo grinned.
"Then by all means let us see this marvel of a man," Demeter said.
K*P*K*P
"Young man, what are you doing with this lovely grain?"
Peeta found an older woman with a stalk of wheat holding a torch standing next to Johanna. "I'm Peeta Mellark, my father is the local baker. I am on a quest to gain my love back from Venus."
Peeta continued working alongside Plutarch.
"What if she doesn't love you?" Demeter asked.
"If she doesn't love me back, I will always seek her happiness, even if she chooses another or if she decides to stay alone. I will endeavor to be her friend in the name of agape."
"Oh he is noble," Demeter said, fanning her face.
"I told you," Jo said.
"I am afraid I will fail my first task. Venus wants me to sort this grain by morning. And time is running out."
"Tsk, tsk," the woman said. "I do love a good love story."
Peeta wasn't sure of what to make of her.
"I call myself Effie, but you mortals know me as Demeter. Your father is a faithful follower. I cannot help you, but I know a group who can." She placed her ear against the earth. "Come out oh wise ones and help this young man."
Peeta then noticed an ant and then another one, followed by ten, fifteen, fifty ants until there were so many ants he couldn't count them all. "Ants?"
"They will help you," Effie said.
They began sorting the grains for him. The industrious ants worked side by side with them. Effie stood to the side ordering the ants about. Quickly the pile shrunk until there were three neat piles of barley, wheat, and emmer.
"Thank you, my tiny friends," Peeta said as the ants walked away. Peeta rubbed his face just as the sun began to rise.
"Good luck on your journey," Effie said just as she disappeared.
As soon as the time was up, Venus appeared. Her smile faded and her eyes blazed with red fire. "How did you do this?" she growled.
Peeta turned around. "I am a baker; I know the basic grains used to make bread."
Venus narrowed her eyes. "You may have been able to do this, but now you must get the fleece of your Venerable Romulus Thread."
"Fleece?" Jo said.
"Oh, that's right clothing, his Peacekeeper uniform," Venus said. You have until mid-afternoon." Venus smiled, "And I'm being very generous with time."
K*P*K*P
Katniss was tired. Her hands were bound and so were her feet. She tried to look around her but all she saw was darkness.
Everything was eerily quiet and the tiredness she felt pulled her back under.
Authors Note: Special thanks to my bestie and beta norbertsmom who I owe many thanks. I kept changing the document as she was editing it lol. I also dedicate this to Jhsgf82 who is a very sweet and dear friend and deserves some love.
In the original story, Psyche had to sort the grains, but ants did come and help sort the grains. So how do you think Peeta did? It was touch and go there for a minute.
