Marvel, Kamilia, and I walked through the corridors of the train that would take us to our fate. The inside of the train looked like something out of a fairy tale: gilded furniture, carpets made out of the finest silk in the world, silverware that was actually solid silver. I was used to a very high standard of living, but this was the stuff from beyond my wildest dreams. This was where I belonged.
Kamilia brought us to a car where two people, presumably our mentors, were waiting. The first was a man with cheekbones as sharp as ice and a steely glint in his eyes that said I wouldn't be above killing you, or anyone else, right now. The woman, however, was a blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty...she looked like an older version of me.
I put my reading skills to the test, and my first impression was that neither of these people could be easily manipulated.
Still, I tried. "Hi," I said brightly, extending my hand. "I'm Glimmer."
Their eyes raked up and down my body appreciatively, their expressions saying, We can make something of you. "Cashmere," said the woman, shaking my hand. "Gloss," the man added, cooly nodding at me while ignoring my attempt to shake his hand as well.
"And I'm Marvel," Marvel piped up. "Pleased to meet you!"
Cashmere and Gloss appraised him with frosty eyes, which had been so warm when they were looking at me. I smiled inwardly to myself; it looked like mentors weren't above playing favorites!
They motioned for us to take a seat. "Alright, might as well start strategizing now," Gloss said. "Here's how it's going to work: Kamilia takes care of the sponsors, although we have to seal the deals. Meanwhile, Cashmere and I are the ones training you. Cashmere focuses more on wowing the crowd and getting people to like you, while I work with you on strategies for the actual fighting aspect of the games. Are we clear?"
Marvel and I silently nodded our heads. We could tell these people meant business, which was definitely a good thing.
"Good," Cashmere said, leaning back in her seat and taking a sip of hot chocolate. "Now, first things first. We need to work out your angles." She turned to me. "I have a good guess what angle you'll use..."
"Sex appeal," I nodded in confirmation.
She turned to Marvel. "What angle will you be coming from? What makes you special?"
His face was blank. "Well, uh, I can be pretty funny when I want to be."
Cashmere shrugged. "Alright, I guess I can work with that." She looked at Gloss. "Your turn."
He leaned forward slowly. "What are your best fighting strengths and weaknesses?"
We talked for a while longer. I was reluctant to share any of my weaknesses-such as being incompetent with basically any weapon except a knife-with Marvel sitting right there, so I focused on my strengths. I was great at close-range fighting, especially with knives. I was quick, so I could dodge arrows, swords, basically anything that was coming at me.
However, I kept my most important skill, my ability to read people, a secret. I would tell my mentors in time, but there was no way that Marvel was getting it out of me.
Marvel revealed that he was good with a spear and a sword, but not great with arrows or knives. Good, I thought to myself. That will just make it easier to stab him in the back when the time is right.
"The main thing that we have to worry about right now," Gloss said, interrupting my thoughts, "is forming alliances. You two are Career tributes, and need to band together with the other Careers. Start with Districts 2 and 4, but keep a lookout for anyone else of worth. And that doesn't mean just brute strength," he added, glancing in my direction. "You'll need to be smart about choosing."
It felt like he was giving the advice only to me.
After we finished eating, Gloss and Cashmere instructed Marvel and I to go watch the reapings and take notes. Who volunteered, who cried, who looked like they came from a poor family. I watched diligently, taking in every detail of every person, while Marvel grew restless and began pacing around the room.
Only two tributes caught my eye. The first was a boy (well, more of a man) from District Eleven named Thresh, who looked like he could tear someone limb from limb as easily as I could tear paper. The second was a girl from District Twelve, the poorest one of all, who volunteered for her tiny sister. She clearly knew that she had no chance of surviving, yet she volunteered anyway. Idiot, I thought sardonically. Only suckers put family above themselves.
I decided it was time to put my manipulation skills to the test. Marvel didn't seem like the brightest star in the sky, but I would still have to play this carefully. I summoned all of the acting skills that I possessed and willed my eyes to fill with tears.
Marvel glanced up, saw me crying, and jumped backward in alarm. "Um, Glimmer?" he asked tentatively, one hand outstretched towards me. "You...alright over there?"
I sniffled and shook my head. "Look, Marvel, I know I talk a big game, but the truth is, I have no chance in this competition."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "C'mon, Glimmer, you said yourself that you're good with a knife, and you'll get tons of sponsors..."
"Sponsors won't stop me from getting killed!" I squealed slightly hysterically. I took a deep breath, then turned the full force of my sea-green eyes on him. "Look, I need all the help I can get. I know it's a lot to ask, especially from someone so strong like you, but can I work a little extra with our mentors? You don't seem like you need much help, so I need to meet with them a lot and see if they can help me learn at least something before I go into the arena!"
His face was conflicted. I could practically read the thoughts beneath the surface: on one hand, all his instincts went against letting his competitor get more help than him. On the other hand, however, he didn't see the harm in helping such an innocent, pitiful girl get a little more help, especially since she was a hot, innocent, pitiful girl.
"Alright," he finally conceded. "You can meet with them whenever you need to. I don't really need that much advice anyway." Wow, he was already overconfident and we hadn't even reached the Capitol yet.
"Thank you," I said, putting as much emotion into it as I could. I touched his arm lightly, and he grinned at me. "Well, I'm going to bed. I want to be ready for our big debut in the Capitol tomorrow!" He nodded at me and I left the room.
As soon as I rounded the corner, the flow of tears stopped and I smirked to myself. That was much easier than it should have been. Now I could meet with my mentors as much as I needed to and rack up the sponsors, and he wouldn't think anything of it. By the time we got into the Games and he realized exactly how much of a threat I was, it would be too late.
I took a shower in my room and changed into a silk nightgown that was in a drawer. Disappointment flooded my mouth when I realized they didn't have any hair products. Not even a blow dryer! I guess I would have to wait until we reached the Capitol to tame my blond mane.
I got into the soft, dry sheets that were so much nicer than what District One had, and fell asleep twirling my ring with the poisoned spike concealed beneath the jewel.