TRIPLE UPDATE! – 3RD; Make sure to read previous 2 chpaters!
Chapter One-Hundred-and-Fifty-Five; Mistakes
It had been a while since he had last been here, but The Water Gardens hadn't changed at all.
Not that Seneca was paying much attention to the décor of the establishment, as his thoughts were focused on something much more captivating.
He raised his head as she called his name; half-plead, half-rebuke.
The bluish light the waterfalls cast the walkway in made Stephanie look pale, far too pale for Seneca's liking.
"You have to stop this," Stephanie hissed at him, and some more of the colour he loved seeped back into her eyes; the molten gold blaze igniting something in him.
She was in the middle of scolding him again. He smirked, knowing exactly how to put a stop to her tirade.
Stephanie's words trailed off with a sharp breathless gasp that was like a shot of heat direct to Seneca's blood.
Her long fingers dug into his shoulder as he kissed further down along her neck.
"What's that?" Seneca murmured wickedly.
"Seneca!" Stephanie hissed, but a whimper escaped her lips as his warm breath ghosted across her skittering pulse point.
He raised his eyes to her, a trademark smirk on his lips.
She was scowling at him, eyes narrowed in annoyance and her teeth gritted in determination. But something entirely different, something smouldering and heady burned in her golden eyes as her chest rose rapidly with each quickened breath.
Seneca raised his head again, angling closer to her. His nose brushed hers and she tried to back away from him. But the rail pressed into her back and Seneca placed his hands either side of the rail, trapping her there as the roaring falls of water fell behind her.
He was a Head Gamemaker, a killer, a monster – she should be afraid of him, but he knew she wouldn't be. She stared defiantly back at him as he stepped closer until he was pressed against her.
Her hands moved to place on his chest but she wasn't pushing him away like last time.
Seneca couldn't wait any longer; he had waited for this for too long already and he had never been a patient man.
Seneca's lips crashed down upon Stephanie's almost with a frenzied desperation. His tongue delved expertly into her mouth, as his hand slid down possessively to Stephanie's hip where Seneca's fingers dug almost painfully through the fabric of her dress.
"SENECA!"
Seneca jolted awake sharply, his blue eyes blinking rapidly as he made sense of his surroundings.
He blew out a frustrated breath as he saw Vash looming over him, concern in his eyes.
"You haven't been sleeping well?" Vash questioned rhetorically, his eyes narrowed in an examining fashion.
Seneca rolled his eyes slightly, "what gave it away?" he muttered sarcastically, passing a hand through his ebony hair.
"The fact that you managed to fall asleep on this lumpy, uncomfortable thing," Vash teased lightly, gesturing to the battered sofa Seneca was on. It was pushed up against the farthest wall in Vash's private lab, an incongruous accompaniment to the otherwise pristine and clinical workspace.
"Why have you got this thing down here anyway?" Seneca queried wearily, arching a cool brow.
"Power naps!" Vash replied with a grin, "keeps the mind fresh during work."
"And you say I'm committed to my work," Seneca murmured drolly, directing a wry smirk towards the older doctor.
Seneca followed the doctor over to main-island in the centre of the lab that was bathed in fluorescent lights from the hangings above. Stephanie's scan results were littered across the table, covered in Vash's spidery annotations. Seneca took that as a good sign as he slipped onto one of the high stool chairs and his uncle set to clearing the table methodically.
During the next few minutes while Vash worked, the quiet rustle of paper filling the air, Seneca slipped his phone from his blazer pocket.
His fingers effortlessly moved across the screen, and Seneca took a rallying breath as he raised it to his ear.
A growl slipped by his clenched teeth as Seneca massaged the narrow bridge of his nose with long fingers, and the familiar dial tone of disconnection echoed in his ear.
Seneca smacked his phone down a little harder than necessary on the lab table and Vash looked at him curiously.
Seneca wished the real Stephanie would be a little more compliant like the one in his dreams, and answer the damn phone at least!
Seneca looked across the table expectantly towards Vash then. The elder doctor was perched on a chair facing Seneca, Stephanie's scan results clasped neatly in a pile in one hand. He was peering at his irate nephew over the thin square-framed glasses he always wore when working.
"These are Stephanie Trindlesworth's scan results." Vash stated bluntly then, holding the papers in his hand up a little emphatically.
"Well done doctor," Seneca replied in his usual smug drawl, "it only took you an hour, four minutes and thirty-eight seconds to figure that out," he added sardonically, glancing at his phone for the time.
Vash's right brow arched further. "Figuring out the identity was easy. It wasn't that difficult afterall, with the breadcrumbs you fed me. Female, 18, fell in the District 3 river and ingested chemicals which led to a prevalency to faint – I'd be rather insulted Seneca if you supposed I wouldn't be able to decipher the identity from such glaringly obvious clues."
Seneca chuckled ruefully, conceding his point. He knew his uncle would be able to figure out easily whose scan results Seneca had shoved into his hands, demanding a solution to.
"However it's not the identity I'm concerned with distinguishing. I already knew who those test results belonged to. What I need now is the cure Vash."
Vash nodded, "I admit the remedy to the strange ailment was a little trickier…" he began before Seneca had interrupted him eagerly.
"But there is a cure?!"
Vash's eyes narrowed as he slipped his glasses from his face, eyeing Seneca shrewdly, "there is a cure," he confirmed, watching the unmistakable relief cross Seneca's features.
"Seneca can I ask what this is all about?" he queried in a calmly, even tone.
"You may," Seneca answered unperturbed. "I cannot however guarantee you will like the answer."
"I'm not asking you to tell me something I would like to hear. I want to hear the truth. You said you needed my help, and whatever kind of trouble you are in, you know I will do all I can to help you get out of it."
"Very well then. I'm involved, shall we say with the District 3 female tribute Stephanie Trindlesworth."
Vash's eyes narrowed marginally. "I see," he said slowly. "And when you say involved, should I be expecting a spectacle like the one Wirin caused with his district fling?"
Seneca's expression darkened immediately. "The circumstances are completely different," Seneca spat.
Vash looked to him expectantly and Seneca sighed irascibly, before fixing the older doctor with a superior expression that never faltered as he spoke. "What I feel towards Stephanie Trindlesworth is more than a mere fling. In fact I intend to do all in my power to ensure she wins my Games."
Vash went very pale for a few endless moments as he stared at Seneca in mute shock. Then his face began to turn red as his eyes trembled with anger.
"Seneca!" Vash finally exploded, his eyes wide and bulging with incredulity.
"Please tell me you are joking Seneca!"
Seneca chuckled, shrugging seemingly unconcerned, "I'm not," he assured him. "The truth is Vash – I love her."
Vash slumped heavily in his chair, as he raked a hand through his dark hair. Only Seneca could make such a confession wearing that trademark devil may care smirk.
"You – in love – with a tribute?" Vash repeated breathless.
Seneca's smirk lessened slightly, "yes," he replied shortly. "But the point of the matter is Vash I haven't the time for this – I need the cure to Stephanie's fainting."
Vash swallowed convulsively, "do you know what you are doing?!" he cried.
"Perfectly," Seneca replied in a clipped tone as his patience wore thin again.
"I don't think you do comprehend in fact Seneca," Vash refuted, his usually warm blue eyes flashing angrily.
"Vash I haven't the time for this – "
"You love her?"
Seneca gritted his teeth, "yes, I've told you I love her damn it! Now will you give me the cure?!"
Vash sighed heavily as he glowered at Seneca, ignoring his demands.
"If Lark were here he would tell you how much of a fool you were being," Vash muttered reprovingly.
"I don't care," Seneca snapped. "Now – the cure?"
Vash swivelled on his seat to swipe a plain, inconspicuous pill bottle of the table. However before Seneca could snatch it from his grasp, Vash withdrew it, holding it tightly within his clasped fist.
Seneca's already out-stretched hand dropped to his side in poorly concealed impatience, "this is hardly the time for games," Seneca muttered darkly.
"I want to talk to you first Seneca," Vash said sternly.
"We can talk after when there is plenty of time," Seneca barked impatiently.
"Seneca I have been as much an uncle to you over the years, even more so than to my own nephew Wirin."
Seneca snarled, his eyes burning, "and I am grateful, but can we perhaps leave the reminiscing until later. I haven't the time."
"Make time Seneca. The Capitol used to practically revolve around you, everything in your control – just like your Games."
"You have me confused with my father," Seneca muttered sarcastically.
"You are the President's son," Vash said firmly, not at all amused.
"I'm aware," Seneca replied dryly, just barely restraining himself from tackling Vash for the pills in his closed fist.
"Then what are you doing fooling around with a district girl?" Vash spat.
"Her name is Stephanie Trindlesworth," Seneca snarled.
"It doesn't matter what her name is Seneca, it doesn't change the fact she's from the Districts."
"Are you finished with your lecture yet?" Seneca spat scathingly. He had expected Vash's evident disapproval, but Seneca had hoped he could skip the damn scolding as though he were a boy again!
"No," Vash answered shortly before he released a long measured breath. "I am worried that a boy my brother considered a son is about to throw his whole life away."
Seneca scoffed, tossing his head. "I thought you would be more pleased for me Uncle," he drawled sardonically.
"Pleased?" Vash repeated scathingly. "How could I be pleased for my nephew who has become stupid enough to try and aid a tribute and break the Hunger Games laws!"
Seneca rolled his eyes, "technically I'm not breaking Hunger Games laws," he sneered.
"You are," Vash refuted sharply, "finding a cure for this kind of problem would be considered mutating a tribute to make it stronger; which is against the Hunger Games rules and you know it!"
"The mutation already existed in Stephanie since ten years ago! – This is merely rectifying an already pre-existing mutation," Seneca corrected heatedly.
"But none would see it as that, for the simple reason that it makes the tribute stronger! And anything like that is against the rules and you know it Seneca!"
"Fine I know it. I know I'm breaking rules and laws. If you are upset over this minor thing, I doubt you'd want to hear what else I have done or am planning to do," Seneca muttered. "I can promise you now, Stephanie's going to win the Hunger Games."
Vash dropped his head into his hands. "Have you not listened to a word I said?!"
"There is nothing you could possibly say that would change my mind."
"And how do you know that her feelings towards you are genuine? – She could merely be manipulating you so you will let her win. It wouldn't be the first time a tribute has tried such a scheme."
Seneca actually laughed soundly at that. "I never said she loved me Vash. In fact for a seemingly endless while I was convinced she would always hate me."
Vash's expression faltered slightly. "Well if she isn't consenting, then what? You are taking her against her will?"
The smile was wiped from Seneca's face, "never," he enforced lowly.
Vash's expression grew a little more incredulous, "I've never known you to exercise such restraint," Vash murmured. "You've always been a man who when he wanted something – took it."
"It's about more than just wanting," Seneca said quietly, his cobalt stare intense.
Seneca didn't just want Stephanie. At first when inkling feelings had been beginning he had thought it was simple want. That he would take her and have her and get her out of his system. But he had soon realised it was more. He needed her to want him as fervently in return.
"You used to hate those from the districts as I recall," Vash said quietly then, "more so than Wirin even. Because it was a district dweller that took Lark from us."
Seneca swallowed thickly, despising the fact that Vash had weaved Lark so easily into the conversation, making him choose his loyalties between Stephanie and Lark.
"Stephanie is more than just some district dweller," Seneca argued vehemently.
"Clearly to you she is," Vash murmured despondently. "Do you not remember the mess Wirin landed himself in when he got mixed up with a district girl?"
Seneca rolled his eyes, scoffing derisively. "If you are trying to compare what I am doing to what Wirin did all those years ago, then I truly will lose my patience," Seneca threatened darkly.
Vash passed a hand over his eyes wearily, "I know you and Wirin are as different as can be," he conceded. "I still don't know what Wirin was thinking cutting up that girl's face like he did."
Seneca arched a brow, "don't tell me you're feeling sorry for Electra Hocol now Vash," he murmured.
Vash scoffed. "No, of course not. I'm talking about Wirin. Lark recognised it from the start in Wirin; that boy was an egomaniacal narcissist. Always needing to be told how brilliant he was and blaming everyone else when he inevitably failed. He would never have made even a competent Gamemaker," Vash muttered dismissively.
"What are you trying to say Vash?" Seneca snapped impatiently.
Vash eyed Seneca candidly. "Wirin became obsessed with that district girl Electra Hocol and whenever she tried to leave him he lost it completely."
Vash hurriedly held up a hand as Seneca's murderous look pierced him. "I know you're not Wirin Seneca!" Vash quickly placated. "It's those from the districts; they are shrewd manipulators."
Seneca gave a sudden acrimonious laugh. He knew Vash was a loyal Capitolite through and through – but this was ridiculous! "What Vash – are you saying Stephanie has been playing out a long complicated plan since the beginning? Using some reverse psychology that if she pretended to hate me I would grow to love her?"
Vash shot Seneca an exasperated look, "I'm only trying to protect you Seneca."
Seneca rolled his eyes, "I don't need you to. Stephanie Trindlesworth isn't Electra Hocol and I am not Wirin Xavier. Besides what Wirin and Electra had isn't comparable to what I have now with Stephanie."
Wirin had been and still was an utter narcissist. As such he believed he deserved the best above everyone else. It was that mentality that had made Wirin pursue Electra Hocol; the stunningly beautiful and ruthless Victor. He cared nothing for Electra as a person. At the impressionable age of 19 Wirin was involved with the slightly older Electra Hocol. It had been mere weeks before the 90th Hunger Games – Abernathy's Games – were due to start, when Electra had broken things off with Wirin, resulting in Wirin's utter meltdown.
Seneca still remembered happening across Electra Hocol in the hallway at Lark's home. If Seneca was being honest he hadn't really meant to save her at all. It was the jolt of recognition that had spurred his actions. He recalled the countless times before he had saw Wirin come home, dragging Electra after him with a dopey grin on his face, at the trophy Victor he had managed to snag on his arm. But Lark had been furious with Wirin, calling him childish and irresponsible. Electra had been a beloved Victor in her own right, and Wirin in his petulance had scarred her irrevocably. Moreover, that Lark found contemptible, was how Wirin had bragged about it directly afterwards. It completely eradicated the possibility of the family name not being dragged down through the dirt because of Wirin.
It was then, mere weeks before the 90th Hunger Games that would seal Lark's fate, that Lark had told his son Wirin, that because of Wirin's actions Lark was cutting him off completely and naming Seneca as his successor to Head Gamemaker.
Seneca massaged his throbbing temples wearily as he dragged himself from the recesses of memory. He couldn't remember the last time he had had a sound night's sleep. The last while he had been busy with Stephanie's scan results, and before that it had been nightmares.
"You look exhausted Seneca," Vash remarked with soft concern.
Seneca smirked, "that's because I am – it is the 100th Hunger Games afterall," he drawled sarcastically.
Vash shook his head hopelessly as he held the bottle of pills out to Seneca then, "here. One a day," he said stiffly. "I do not approve of this whole situation, but…you are practically family Seneca. And I know you aren't like Wirin. You're Lark through and through," he finished fondly.
Seneca fairly dove for the coveted bottle, the small white pills rattling with the movement as Seneca pocketed them.
"Will these cure Stephanie?"
"They will repair the damage down to her by the fainting. But, there is a slight catch."
"What slight catch?" Seneca's gaze snapped up.
"She can't faint in the meantime."
Seneca frowned sharply. He had hoped Wirin had been mistaken on that point.
"That's an impossible thing to ask of her. Don't you have anything to stop the fainting?" Seneca demanded annoyed.
"Nothing that could be taken simultaneously with the tablets that would be repairing the damage."
Seneca sighed.
"The situation is this Seneca. The fainting will kill her if left untreated. But if we can successfully reverse the damage, then a simple procedure in the future could cure her of the fainting altogether."
"A procedure? Why can't you do the procedure now then if it will cure her completely?"
"It is a complicated procedure which would require ample recovery time. Something as a tribute Miss Trindlesworth doesn't have the luxury of. Furthermore, as much of the damage as possible, needs to be reversed to begin with, to make sure the procedure has the highest chance of success."
"But in the meantime…"
"In the meantime I cannot stop the fainting. Only she can do that. Think of it like a tug of war Seneca. Everytime the tablets would cure a little more of the damage wrought, a fainting spell would pull back in the opposite direction, reversing any good done. I would never presume to put a time limit or a number of fainting spells on such a delicate situation as this. Just know, by the extensive damage already done – I mean ten years left untreated! – it wouldn't take much to tip the scales and result in tragedy."
Seneca raked a hand through his black hair.
Stop Stephanie fainting - ?! How the hell was he meant to do that!?
"How long would she need to be taking the tablets for, to reverse enough of the damage, and make her ready for the procedure?"
Vash blew out a considering breath, "after the Games at least Seneca."
Seneca cursed harshly under his breath, raising a clenched fist to press his teeth against his white knuckles before he could make a sharp retort.
Vash was trying to help him, Seneca knew that. The man was like an uncle to him. He had wanted to go to Vash initially, but Wirin had talked him out of it, citing Vash's inevitable disapproval. Well, it was clear that Vash didn't approve but Seneca had his answers.
Pills to reverse the damage. A procedure that would eventually cure Stephanie after the Games. And the impossible task of trying to stop Stephanie from fainting from now to then.
Seneca inhaled a rallying breath while Vash continued to look at him disapprovingly.
"I assume you are going to the event now?" Vash surmised shrewdly, "where Miss Trindlesworth is no doubt waiting."
Seneca arched a brow as he stood, "you assumed correctly," he replied before a faint smirk teased his lips, "whether Miss Trindlesworth is waiting for me or not is…debatable."
"Despite your evident disapproval of my choice, I'm grateful for your help Vash," Seneca said meaningfully as he made for the stairs that would lead up to the main house.
"I realised your mind was set and I had promised you my help. I knew if you were willing to destroy your own Games- these Century Games that Lark had been preparing you for all your life then…maybe, I shouldn't have been too quick to judge. However – don't mistake my resignation as acceptance! I still think you're delusional to be throwing everything away for a woman – especially a district girl, but – I know that whatever you're involved in is nothing like Wirin's stupidity."
Seneca spared Vash one last half-smirk then as he attacked the stairs two at a time, eager to be on his way to The Water Gardens. Maybe his dream would be more reality than fantasy?
However before his hand had closed around the door handle, he heard the elder doctor's voice sound once more.
"Don't make Lark's mistake Seneca," Vash called clearly.
Seneca frowned in confusion, his eyes narrowing as he turned to look down at the doctor's grave expression.
"As I recall Lark despised district dwellers as much as you. What possible mistake could he and I share?" Seneca asked impatiently.
Vash scoffed lightly, "She wasn't a district dweller, but…Lark was foolish enough to fall for a woman he could never have as well. And…it cost him dearly."
…
Electra looked down at the fierce tug on her sleeve.
"Excuse me," she murmured politely to Sylva Landa and her two younger sons Aral and Harron. She was glad for the interruption, given she had just spent the last twenty minutes trying to convince these high society snobs that Stephanie Trindlesworth wasn't as completely inept as she appeared at times. Her argument had hinged on the fact that it was widely known now that Dess Landa was Stephanie's biggest sponsor. What didn't help was that Dess' family thought Dess as big an idiot as the rest of the Capitol did, and hence were disinclined to copy him.
Electra turned away, conceding that the Landas were a lost cause. She would have to tell Stephanie her attempts hadn't be as successful as she hoped.
"Alright Tiny Tim, how did you escape the clutches of Mrs Ara and Isa?" Electra teased lightly as Frenkin released her jacket once he gained her attention.
"Haymitch needs you," Frenkin said quietly and the slight smile was wiped from Electra's lips instantaneously as she saw the serious expression on Frenkin's small face.
"Where is he?" Electra immediately breathed.
Frenkin turned and Electra followed the small boy as he darted expertly through the crowds, leading her eventually to the walkway beneath the waterfalls. Electra's thoughts were racing all the while at what could possibly have happened in the short space of time since she had last saw Haymitch.
Once Haymitch had helped Electra sober up enough to do her job as mentor – ironic, considering it was usually the reverse – Haymitch had slipped off with words to the effect that 'Stephanie had been gone too long'.
Electra had merely rolled her eyes, seeing that her words about allowing Stephanie to fend for herself had clearly fallen on deaf ears. She had however, steered clear of the alcohol as she approached the nearest sponsors, keeping an eye on Frenkin across the way. She could at least do her job as mentor properly! Electra thoughts had grumbled.
"Hey – Tiny Tim! Frenkin?!" Electra called as the small head of blonde hair she had been following, disappeared suddenly around the curved walkway.
However the next words died on her lips as Electra caught up with Frenkin and surveyed the scene before her.
Frenkin stood off to the side, twiddling his hands nervously, looking close to tears.
Haymitch looked up at Electra from his crouched position, expression grim.
"She hasn't woken up," Haymitch said, his voice strained. "She fainted over twenty minutes ago and then – " his words trailed off helplessly.
Electra bent down to study Stephanie's deathly pale face, a streak of crimson blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. She wasn't breathing.
Thanks for the reviews!
girlworthfightingfor; yea, exams are a pain, but I love writing this story too much to abandon it :P even now I'm typing away while pretending to revise mwhaha…is it weird that I hate my own villains? I mean I'll be in the middle of writing Wirin and all the time I'm muttering under my breath 'I hate him' :P Always glad to hear you're enjoying the story though! :D
guest; thanks for the review! – yep, definitely not going to abandon this story! :D