Princess of the Sea

By: CyanideMuffins7

Chapter 7: Princess of the Sea

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Hunger Games, the trilogy or any of the characters Suzanne Collins has created. I only take credit for the characters I have created and the plot I have made.

I dreamt of when I would use to fish with Ian and Evan when they were still young. The three of us stood in the shallow parts of the lake with our pants rolled up above our knees as the water slithered across our calves. Evan and Ian were using spears while I was using the fishing pole Evan had given me to fish. I wanted to use a spear, but Evan insisted that I used the pole. He said I needed to have the patience to wait for a fish before I can actually skewer any fish even though I already knew how to use a trident. I waited and waited but when I caught nothing, I tossed the pole aside and tried catching the fish by hand. I went deeper into the lake, hoping to catch a better batch. But when I dunk my hand into the water, someone had their grip on my wrist. I tried pulling and screaming for help, but when I turned my head, Evan and Ian were gone. I notice that my body wasn't of a child anymore, but my current form. I pulled and pulled but I was yanked into the water, but the hand still gripped onto my wrist. The water that surrounded me, thickened into blood. I tried to swim back up but the blood was thick and the grip was still pulling me down. But when I looked at my wrist, I followed the arm to the body it was from. It was Hei. He squeezed onto my wrist and mouthed something that I couldn't make out.

"Aw, she sleeps so peacefully."

My vision was black, but I didn't feel like I was in blood anymore. I felt like I was warm in bed, but I could recognize my prep teams' voices.

"She's drooling too. It's like when Katarina sleeps." I heard Sala-M say.

"Hush!" I heard Katarina recognizing her s's hissed like a cat.

I decide to open my eyes to see my prep team looking over me like they were waiting for me to do something. I wipe the remaining drool left on my chin before they took me away to beautify me. They took me to a room where all of their tools were and got to work. As they bathed me, they talked about the entertainment in the Capitol was dull. Well entertainment in the Districts are very dull that is until the Games begin where it is not entertainment for us, but a death sentence.

This went on until sometime in the afternoon, even though it felt like they were working on me for days. Once I was cleansed, my prep team left me be as Nex entered the room. He motioned them to let him work, so the strange team left.

I waited patiently as he began to take out the dress from the black bag, "Turn around." Nex said. I do as I'm told and turn my body around so I'm facing the wall in front of me. I suddenly feel the smooth material of the dress slip against my fresh smooth skin. Once it's secure onto my body, I slip my feet into these soft white flat shoes that I was given. Before I can get a good look at myself, Nex turns me around and inspects me. He then pulls out a wreath from his black bag and gently places it on the top of my head. He kept inspecting me but I'm kind of eager to what I look like.

"Can I see?" I ask. His eyes fixate to my eyes for a moment, then he nods. He walked me over to the shining mirror to see someone completely different looking back at me. This girl wore a pearl white dress that exposed her shoulders but draped past her slightly tan, muscular shoulders. But the rest of the dress was fitted until the center of the skirt where it parted revealing her long sheer legs. The wreath on her head was connected by warm orange and light sea blue flowers. Her mint green eyes melted into the light auburn eye shadow that surrounded her eyes while her natural dark eyelashes made her eyes look perfect. The color of her lips were of a light plum color mixed with her sheer skin tone. The wreath on her head looked like a sunset at sea while her clothes represented something of the masts that are used to guide a ship at sea. Then her striking eyes dug deep into anyone saying that she is an animal, while her natural face contradicted. I am something beyond words.

My eyes catch Nex behind me placing my necklace around my neck, "Your necklace is quite beautiful." He complimented as he secured the necklace around my neck. Now that was something strange to hear out of a person from the Capitol. Usually the only things that catches their eyes is the luxurious food, new hairstyles and clothes, and things that are shiny. But my necklace is nothing like that, it is just simple.

"Thank you. But I never expected someone from the Capitol to say something like that." I blurt out realizing that what I said might have offended him, "Believe it or not, people from the Capitol can share the same qualities as people like yourself." He responded casually while he brushed the draped sleeves.

"I don't believe that. People from the Capitol don't experience having to survive with what little they have. They don't have to worry if you're out of food. They don't know what it means to be different. The people from the Capitol aren't the ones being torn from their families and they aren't the ones who have to fight others to the death." I sneered as I feel my hands clench into fists.

What right does he have to say that! How can people from the Capitol be like us? They aren't the ones having to struggle for survival. They are the ones who think something needed in order to live is a necessity while what we consider a necessity is what they need in order to live. The Capitol are the kids with the magnifying glass, disturbing our order and letting us burn for their entertainment. It's just not fair.

Nex's expression remained neutral while silence fell after my words. He suddenly rolled up his jacket sleeve so it was about up to his upper arm. My eyes widen to his skin. The area on his forearm was dull gray like stone but on the skin were large patches of black chitin. The patches reminded me of the material butterfly wings were made out of. Even in the light, the black shined with a dark blue like when someone with black steps into the sun then suddenly their hair shined dark brown.

"I was born this way, with this skin condition." He said as my eyes could not pry away from his arm.

"When I was born, my parents adored me. But due to my skin condition, I was something ugly to them. I was ugly among the other children, and anyone who would set their eyes on me. All because of something I was born with. My parents waited until I was 12, where it would be legal for me to get all the surgery I want to look beautiful, such as get rid of my skin." I slowly turn away from the mirror and to him, "Is it anywhere else?" I ask out of curiosity.

"It's almost everywhere on my body. On my arms, legs, chest, and a little bit on my back." He responded as he rolled down his sleeve.

"If it bothers you, why didn't you get it removed or something?" I question, not being able to get the image of his skin out of my mind. He walks away from me and towards the window, but motions me to follow.

"When my parents forced me to get surgery to get rid of my skin, I refused. I thought why would my parents want to change something they had created? If they loved me, they would deny me of the right to get surgery. The Capitol thinks natural is ugly, while I think the opposite."

The thought of altering anything about myself sickens me. I'm not going to get surgery to change my eye type or me legs. Even the thought of a knife cutting away at my skin makes me gag, "You believe natural is beautiful?" I clarify while watching the night sky through the window.

"Yes. The creators of beauty is nature itself. The animals, the insects, the trees, water and flowers are all beauty that others over look. Nature is something I get inspiration from. As you can tell by your prep team and myself, we follow this philosophy."

My mind plays over the images of my prep team, connecting the images to Nex's statement. But it made sense. Each of them was some type of animal. Mek was some sort of bird with his feather like hair and talons, Katarina was a cat with her whiskers and claws then Sala-M was a salamander with her spotted hair and large eyes. But what was Nex? He wasn't any obvious mammal or fish. His skin patches looked like what butterfly wings are made out of. Maybe he's some sort of butterfly. It all made sense to me now.

"I guess I misunderstood you…and them I guess." I say rather awkwardly. I felt bad that I said all those things about they don't know about struggling for life, and being different when Nex actually has suffered the very things I judge people from the Capitol, "I don't blame you. You just need to remember we are your friends." Nex said as a charming smile crept on his face for the first time.

Nex and his Prep team are a very unique bunch out of all the Capitol kooks out there. I feel like I can be myself around Nex, that I can trust him. I'm adding him and my Prep team to my trust list.

Suddenly my Prep Team came in but once their eyes were on me, they froze instantly. They were just staring at me like I was dressed in goose feathers. It was until Mek said what was probably on everyone's mind, "Nex, she looks so beautiful." Sala-M and Katarina nod vigorously as Mek began to fan himself. Suddenly whole comments were being thrown around, "It's hard to imagine that she was the muddy girl who came to us days ago." Said Katarina.

"She looks like a princess." Sala-M commented as tears began to form in her eyes. Princess, me? I look beautiful but I am defiantly not a princess. But everyone suddenly nodded to agree with the statement.

"You are the Princess of the Sea." Nex agreed as his charming smile remains as he faces me.

To have people I trust with me felt like I was at home. All this time, I didn't want to smile or show much emotion the time I would be here, but I never realized the smile I had on my face at the moment. It's been a while since I was relatively comfortable around people. I guess my Prep Team and Nex thought the same way too.

By the time the whole soft, emotional moment was over, the calling for the interviews began. I was escorted by Nex, along with my Prep Team to the elevator where we met up with Finnick, Iza and Hei. Hei was wearing a white suit without a tie. Instead of wearing a wreath on his head, it hung around his neck. I board the elevator with them while my Prep team and Nex stayed behind. The elevator brought us down to the bottom of the Training Center where we gather with the other districts.

Cesar Flickerman would be interviewing the tributes this year, as always. Just like a Capitol man, he dresses ridiculously every year. This year, he was wearing a light pink wig with a shining magenta suit. Each interview only lasts three minutes, so you need to catch the people of Panem's love in those three minutes.

The first to go up was Lena. She wore a golden dress that reached the ground like silk while her cheeks were tinted pink. Lena seemed to catch the attention of Cesar by answering so cheerfully. I guess her mentor coached her to be the bubbly type. It wasn't catching my attention, it just made me hate her even more.

Magnus was smoothly answering Cesar's question with his charismatic smile. The District 2 girl was very giddy, and aimed to please while the boy was very quiet. Once Coda was up, a ripple of awes responded with her light purple dress and wavy dark brown hair that draped on her shoulders. Cesar was kind and tender with his questions with Coda, like she was a little girl.

Soon it came to District 4 and I approach the stage in front of the Training Center. I hear a variety of gasps in the audience. So far my appearance has stolen their breath, but can I continue? I shake Cesar's hand and take a seat, making sure I sit like a lady.

"So what do you like about the Capitol so far?"

Does he ask everyone this question? What are people going to say? I had to think quick of something, "The food. It's good to have something besides fish." I answer.

Cesar laughs then everyone else seemed to as well. He's got the whole audience eating from the palm of his hand, but he's helping me I guess.

"Now you got an eleven in under thirty seconds with whatever you did, how did you react?"

Wait, I was in the Private Sessions for 30 seconds! That can't be, it felt like I was in there for 5 minutes tops. Maybe that was why I did get a high score.

"Content." I simply respond, but that was all I could think of. But that seemed to have caught the audience's attention.

"You look lovely might I add, like royalty. You also seemed to have won the people of Panem with your unique looks." Cesar began, "But you weren't the first to have such a unique look. Back in the 66th Hunger Games, another young man looked a lot like yourself."

Ian. Why would he mention Ian? Does he not understand that he died right before my eyes by my other brother? I refrain from tightening my fists or showing any signs that this question has touched a nerve. I can assume anyone watching will catch these little things.

"Must be a coincidence." I respond naturally. Cesar smoothly recovered from the question and continued on with the interview. A few times I would glance at the Gamemakers to see if their eyes would be on me. There was only a few who would look away, and busy themselves with drinking their bubbly water and laughing.

"Let's go back to Reaping Day. How did you feel when you were chosen to be in the Hunger Games?" Cesar finally asked.

What was there to say? In fact, what did I feel? That moment when Iza called my name, what did I feel? I felt hair rise on the back of my neck. Sweat beginning to form on my forehead. My vision blurry, and my legs shaking for just my name. It all seemed like a dream. But what was to say? The moment replayed in my head, then the voice of Valentine echoed in my mind and the memories of Ian and Evan when they were Reaped. I thought of the word…

I look straight at Cesar, "Regret."

The whole audience fell silent, but leaned closer to listen more. Cesar gulped then continued, "What do you mean?"

"My life."

The buzzer then rang, but I can see in Cesar's eyes he wanted more. It took a second for him to realize that my time was over. We stood and up and he gave my hand a tight squeeze.

"Best of luck to Pandora Marshall of District 4." Cesar announced as the audience applauded rapidly in sync.

I walked off the stage while maintaining my fierce look. But I stuck around with the other Districts who have already been interviewed. I mainly hung around with Coda though. She complimented my dress and my interview as did I.

I watched as Hei was interviewed. Hei kept responding with his dark humor or his cruel mind. Cesar said that Hei was giving him goosebumps. It went on for a while. The girl from District 5 was sexy all the way, so was the boy. The boy and girl from District 6 were very talkative. The boy from District 7 was very timid and shy and avoided Cesar's attempts at banter. The girl however was very open to Cesar's questions and was very laid back and mellow about it. She seemed very confident with herself. Cesar's said he hasn't seen so much confidence in someone in a long time. Soon it went on with 8, 9, 10, and then it came to 11.

As Cesar kept trying to compliment the District 11 boy, saying he was probably the most handsome boy this year, which he was in my opinion. The boy seemed to be uninterested in Cesar's conversation, and when Cesar managed to get him to speak, it was only one or two words. The girl seemed to be very shy and avoided Cesar's attempts at banter.

The girl from 12 wore a very dull gray color dress with red trims. She was stuck up and snobby. Her answers sounded like she was better than everyone else. She must be really stupid if she thinks playing snobby will get the attention of the Gamemakers or the audience. Then it came down to the District 12 boy. He wore a gray suit with a bold red tie that sort of matched with the girl. Whenever Cesar attempted banter, the boy would go off topic and ramble aimlessly. Of course Cesar had to ask how he got a score of 11 for the Private Sessions. The boy went into a whole spiel about the explosives he used and how he loved to make things explode. But the buzzer went off before Cesar could get into the good questions.

The anthem played and the tributes filed together and headed back into the Training Center. The elevator filled in with a few tributes like Coda, and her other, the boy and girl from 2, Magnus and Lena. Lena had to stand right next to me too. The elevator went up to one, Magnus glanced over to Lena and left while Lena stayed on. Where was she going? There was nowhere to go besides your own floor. Coda didn't want to speak with Lena around. She remained silent, but she glanced over to me a few times. I read her looks to come up with, "Why is she still on?"

The tributes from 3 boarded off the elevator. But Lena remained on. I manage a quick glance at her as the elevator door closed, "You got an impressive score." She whispered, loud enough for me to hear, but soft enough for Hei not to hear. I keep my eyes forward, not saying a word. "I don't know how you did it, but it would be best for the both of us if you joined my alliance."

Lena was recruiting me to be a Career, eh? It wouldn't be much of a shocker if did join. I don't really work well in groups, though. I tend to snap back at the people who are giving me orders. But would it be the wrong choice if I didn't join the Careers? I imagine I would last longer if I did. But this isn't what I thought a few days ago.

The elevator stopped and opened its doors on our level. Hei walked out of the elevator while I tag along behind him.

"What do you say?" Lena said while she flipped her hair onto her shoulder. I turn my head over my shoulder and looked sternly straight at Lena, "I'm too good for the Careers."

Lena's gaze turned into a glare as the elevator doors closed. From this point on, I will be on my own.