The Lady of Shallot
Hey everyone!
Back from my epic holiday of epicness.
Had a great time, but back on the daily grind which includes writing. I will try to regularly update this story and Survival of the Fittest, but I do have a lot of warring priorities on my time, including the TWO novels I'm writing.
I was thinking of setting up a Discord so you guys can talk to me, and each other, post stuff and motivate me. I say this because nothing pulls me back into writing, and focusing like hearing from you guys, my readers. You are incredible and my inspiration. You help me do this, and I always wish I could talk to you about the Novels, and the Characters.
Anyway, if you'd like to be part of the Discord community just say so in your review and I'll provide you a link.
Thanks everyone!
Chapter 3: Hazel
Mum's gone by the time Teesa and I get up in the morning.
The house always seems much quieter when she's not there, like some life has left it, and it's obvious Dad misses her when she's gone. Fortunately this meeting shouldn't take long, so he's not hanging about sulking, too much.
That's what I call it, 'sulking'.
Mum calls it brooding, and laughs at him for it.
But she pines too if he has to leave the District. It's kind of sweet how much they still love each other, even after all the time they've been together. Teesa thinks it's gross, but she doesn't have a romantic bone in her body.
School drags by, and I keep catching Aran's gaze from across the classroom, as the hand inches towards the end of the day. I barely focus, and I'm thankful when the teachers don't call on me for anything.
A part of me is excited, and I know that's the part that is insatiably curious, wanting to learn, but there's a large part of me that's really worried about what we'll find. What could be so horrible that it makes my mother so sad and unhappy on Remembrance Day? What could be so devastating that it makes my Dad, who's not afraid of anything, pale and withdrawn every year?
Some things can't be unseen, or unlearned, and I know it's going to be big enough that it's going to change everything.
Do I want that? Is my curiosity enough to warrant this?
"They're not going to tell us," Aran points out quietly, blue eyes concerned as I broach the question with him, "Or they would have done it already right? There have been plenty of times I've asked Dad...and he fobs me off every time. I think….I think I need to know...I need to know where I've come from."
He has a point.
So when the last class ends, and everyone spills out onto the sand, I fall into step with him, and with Jasper as Teesa strides out ahead of us, Darrien and Pearl by her side.
I hope I don't regret it.
The Library was built by Mum.
Or rather she was the one who advocated for it, channelled public funds to it, and set it up. It's her baby, and everyone knows how proud she is of it. It's an information hub, a way of sharing information between all the Districts and Capitol, with massive databases of information, always accessible.
We take the terminal tucked towards the back of the library, a small secluded room with a table in the middle and a projector. It's all voice activated, so when we're all settled we look at Teesa.
This was her idea, and now that we're here I can see we're all feeling a little daunted.
She rolls her eyes and stands, pressing a hand against the touch sensitive plate to activate it. A soothing female voice murmurs from the walls.
"Welcome to the Library, how may I assist you?"
"We're looking for information on the Mockingjay War." Teesa speaks loudly and clearly.
"Searching...what information in particular about the Mockingjay War do you require?"
She glances at us, and we look back, before she straightens up and says,
"We are looking for information on…" here she hesitates, before glancing at Darrien, "Finnick Odair."
"Finnick Odair is the current Consul of 4, a former Victor of the 65th Hunger Games and a former Tribute of the 75th Hunger Games, also known as the 3rd Quarter Quell," the smooth voice speaks and I feel Darrien tense up beside me, "Is there information in particular you would like about him?"
"Victor?" Darrien shakes his head, "I don't understand...he can't have been in the Hunger Games…"
"Tell us about the 65th Hunger Games," Teesa orders the computer and the projection screen lights up with footage.
There in illuminated relief is a young man that is uncannily like Darrien, except that his eyes are sea green, his hair is a brighter bronze shade and he's younger. It's unmistakably Uncle Finnick, young, so young, and frightened as his name is called by a crazily dressed woman. He's joined by a girl, but the camera doesn't linger on her.
We watch as he rides in a horse and carriage, dressed as a merman and then we're provided with a file labeled interviews.
By this point Darrien is pale and Teesa is shooting him worried looks.
My gut is churning because we know enough of the Games. They were evil, awful, despicable, and they forced children to kill each other until only one remained. A Victor.
Like Uncle Finnick.
"Uncle Finnick was a Victor…" Aran whispers into the silent room,
"He's still a Victor." Teesa corrects, although even she looks unsettled, "It's not a title you lose."
"Show us the Games," Darrien orders and the smooth voice returns.
"Would you like the full footage, or the recap version?"
"The Games could go for weeks," Jasper points out.
"Wait," I turn to Darrien, and rest my hand on his arm. He's so tense, I can practically feel him vibrate with it, "Darrien...we don't have to watch this…"
We're all silent as the dark green eyed boy stares at the projection screen.
"Show it."
"Recap." Teesa orders.
It's strange, seeing Uncle Finnick like this. He's as charming as ever, despite his youth, and he speaks with a confidence that was as compelling then as it is now. Counting back I realise that he's only 14 at the time of this footage, although you wouldn't know it to watch it.
The worst moment is when he starts killing. I feel Darrien start to shake as the trident stabs into another boy's abdomen, and the others flinch at the sound. But it's not the only death...
By the end Darrien is even paler and Aran looks a bit green, while Jasper looks stunned and Pearl thoughtful.
Teesa meanwhile has that look on her face that spells trouble.
"Uncle Finnick is a Victor,"
I glance at Darrien, but he's staring at the screen, seemingly lost in stunned silence, so I ask the question I know he's itching to know.
"Tell us about Annie Odair," I say quietly, and all their faces turn towards me, before turning back to the screen.
"Annie Cresta, deceased." the voice intones, "Former Victor of the 70th Hunger Games, killed in the Coin Coup of District 13."
"My mum was a Victor too?" Darrien looks like he's reeling from this information.
The rest of us glance at each other uneasily.
"What about Peeta Mellark, Cashmere and Fells Raynott, Cato and Sky Du'Grey,?" Teesa asks.
The voice begins to speak and shows a series of images, each of our parents and guardians, young and then again a little older, but still much younger than they are now.
"Peeta Mellark, Resident of District 4, former Victor of the 74th Hunger Game and a former Tribute of the 75th Hunger Games, also known as the 3rd Quarter Quell,"
"Oh my god," Aran whispers.
"Cashmere Brooks, deceased," the voice continues unrelenting, "Former Victor of the 64th Hunger Games and a former Tribute of the 75th Hunger Games, also known as the 3rd Quarter Quell, killed in the Coin Coup of District 13. Fells Raynott, former Victor of the 56th Hunger Games and a former Tribute of the 75th Hunger Games, also known as the 3rd Quarter Quell, killed in the Battle for the Capitol."
Jasper looks poleaxed but Pearl has her hand over her mouth, soft brown eyes wide, "They're all Victors…"
"Cato Du'Grey, current Head Peacekeeper of District 4, former Victor of the 74th Hunger Games and a former Tribute of the 75th Hunger Games, also known as the 3rd Quarter Quell,"
Dad was a Victor?
But that must mean…
"Schuyler Cavendish, current Deputy Consul, former Victor of the 74th Hunger Games and the former Victor of the 75th Hunger Games, also known as the 3rd Quarter Quell,"
Mum…
"Aunt Sky?" Aran shakes his head, "But she...she couldn't…"
"She's a Victor." Teesa slams her hands down on the table and ignores the smooth voice warning against loud noises in the Library, "They all fucking are!"
"What about Gloss Brooks and Sefir Ashworth?" Jasper asks the computer and the smooth voice begins listing out their own Hunger Games.
I feel like ice has been poured down my spine, chilling, clammy ice that clings to my skin.
"I hoped it would never happen." Mum's voice rings in my mind, and I see her sad eyes gazing at me as I asked her about the War.
The History books cite 'The Victors' as being instrumental to the defeat of the Capitol, and the Mockingjay, which we knew was Aunt Katniss…
My mind is swirling, like dirty water at the bottom of the tub, and I can hear the others' voices rising in confusion and distress as arguments break out.
Suddenly clarity spears through and I pause, considering.
"Computer," I say and the group falls silent, looking at me. "How did so many Tributes survive the 74th and 75th Hunger Games?"
"A rule change was implemented part way through the 74th Games, allowing two Tributes to win if they allied themselves to reach the end. The final four Tributes were Cato Du'Grey of District 2, Schuyler Cavendish of District 4, who were allied, and the second pair consisting of Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen of District 12. Before the final pair could die, the Games were ended by executive order of President Snow. Thus Four Tributes became Victors."
I glance at Aran, who looks back at me, with those big blue eyes so like his father's. Our parents were once enemies….which is weird to contemplate considering their adoption of each other, and Uncle Finnick.
"Each Quell Games, the 25th, the 50th and the 75th contained a twist. The twist of the 75th Hunger Games was that the contestants were Reaped from the existing pool of Victors. This is now commonly believed to have been orchestrated to deliberately target Katniss Everdeen of District 12, the only female Victor in her District, and a source of unrest. Technically only one Victor survived the Quell, which was the female District 4 Victor, Schuyler Cavendish, although this was revealed to have been planned when the fallen Victors were shown to have been revived."
"That's why the computer says Mum is the Victor of the 75th rather than a Tribute…" Teesa considers this, tapping her lip.
We all look at each other, unsure what to ask next.
"How many people did the Tributes we asked about kill in the Games?" Jasper finally asks, causing a spike of anxiety to prick my belly.
"Fells Raynott 2, Sefir Ashworth 3, Cashmere Brooks 4, Gloss Brooks 4, Finnick Odair 5, Cato Du'Grey 6, Peeta Mellark 1, Annie Cresta 0, Schuyler Cavendish 0."
My gut clenches again. Mum had managed to survive without killing anyone, but Dad...Dad had…
"Do we know enough now?" Aran's voice is quiet but a little bitter, "How could they be the Victors and not tell us!"
We reach home and hesitate by the fountain. Aran and Jasper and Pearl live on one side of the street, while Darrien, Teesa and I live on the other. It's almost supper time, which means we should be getting back into our homes.
But none of us want to separate.
How can we look at our parents, without thinking about everything we'd learned that afternoon? Dad is a killer, and Mum is a Victor twice over. How could they keep this from us? This terrible inheritance.
"And just what are you lot all up to?" A deep voice rumbles behind us, and we all jump and turn, grinning nervously up at Uncle Sefir. He's tall, with thick dark hair, and tanned skin which is a little lined and weathered. For a moment all I can see is the brash, dark haired teenager and then the man, broad shouldered and arms folded, younger than he is now.
And I remember the voice, telling us about Sefir Ashworth having 3 kills in his Games.
He's grinning at us, his face warm and familiar, but the smile fades slightly as he takes in our faces. His eyebrow quirks up, and he gives us all a look.
"Alright...what have you lot done?"
"We went to the Library," Darrien says quietly, clearly hoping to skirt around the issue, "For...research purposes."
Sefir nods, face clearing slightly, "Well that doesn't sound so-"
"How could you not tell us that you were a Hunger Games Victor!?" Teesa blurts out, and the man's face pales as I slap my hand against my own forehead in exasperation.
Once again my sister has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
To the face.
"What..?" Sefir chokes out, staring at us, one by one, before sighing, "Shit…"
"It's true then?" Jasper folds his arms, glaring at his guardian, "You were a Victor?"
"Yeah," Sefir admits, sighing again as he, perhaps unconsciously, mirrors Jasper's pose, "I'm a Victor."
We stare at him for a moment, and then glance uneasily at each other.
"So...in the war…" Aran asks quietly, voice trailing off.
Sefir smiles slightly.
"Yeah, I fought in the War...in a way." he glances at our expectant faces and chuckles quietly, "Y'see the history books give the dates of the Mockingjay War as between the Quell and the Battle for the Capitol. Thing is, there was a long lead up to it. Rebellion was brewing for years before the 74th Games, the one that Cato, Sky, Peeta and Katniss won. Afterwards...well we knew it was our time. Anyway I did a lot of work for the Rebellion in 5 in those years leading up...laying the groundwork. And a few battles during the official War too."
Listening to the machine in the Library had been chilling, cold hard facts dropped like stones into a still pond. But listening to Uncle Sefir, his gruff voice answering our questions without hesitation...it made it seem less daunting, less horrifying.
"Did you know my Mother?" Darrien asks quickly, before any of us can jump in, and Sefir's smile cracks a little.
"Yeah I knew your Mum." he says softly, "Was a Mentor during her Games…" seeing our confusion he chuckles, "I forget how this isn't common knowledge anymore. Mentors were Victors, forced by the Capitol to guide that years Tributes through the Games, try and get them Sponsors and keep them alive from outside. Anyway I saw her win...she won when they flooded her Arena. No one else could swim, and she survived."
Darrien's face crumples slightly, but I know he's relieved.
"How...how did she die?"
Sefir shakes his head, obviously pained, "Shit...Darrien did your dad never tell you…"
"He said she died in the War," Darrien's mouth grew stubborn, "But I remember Aunt Sky talking about her once like...like she was fragile."
"She was." the big man nods, sadly, "Her Games broke something in her mind. She never fully recovered. But she was a lovely soul, gentle, kind. She loved your Dad something fierce, and your Aunt Sky too as a sister." he rubs a hand through his hair, "Annie um...do you know anything about the Coin Coup?"
"Yeah," Aran nods, big blue eyes curious, "Coin tried to eliminate threats at home and in the Capitol in order to seize power, but was thwarted. Lots of people died though…"
"Your Mum was the reason Coin failed," Sefir's voice is quiet, and Darrien's eyes widen in his pale face, "I was there. We were beaten, captured, they were going to execute us. But Annie got a hold of a grenade...and took out both herself and the leader of the Coup. She did it for you...they were going to kill us Victors...and the babies too," he nods at Jasper, Pearl and Teesa.
Darrien turns away, shoulders shuddering, and I wrap an arm around him, desperate to offer him some comfort.
My shirt grows damp at my shoulder, but I don't say anything as Darrien shivers against me.
"I'm sure you all have lots of questions," Sefir's voice is soft, "Shit...we were hoping for a bit longer before we had to talk to you about this…"
He's cut off though by our front door slamming open and Dad barrelling out into the sunset glow, an expression on his face that I've never seen there before..one that is fierce and terrifying all at once.
Uncle Peeta follows him, pale and anxious, and clutching two jackets, as well as Dad's bag and his own as he staggers after him.
"Sefir!"
Dad's voice cracks across the air, and I feel rather than see Sefir straighten a little, alert.
"Get the kids inside, and get bloody Gloss home now."
"What's wrong?" I've never heard that tone of voice from my uncle either, and I can feel cold, clammy fear beginning to skitter down my spine. "Cato! What's bloody happened!"
"Attack in the Capitol." Dad's jaw is clenched so tight I'm surprised I can't hear it creaking. "The Council's been attacked."