Iris
I shoved another spoonful of porridge and honey in my mouth while Electra and Ophelia had a quiet argument about what we are to do when we arrive in the capitol. Morpheus picks up a knife, spinning it between his fingers in boredom.
"Well, we're the first District to arrive, so they can train." Ophelia says,
"These children need to be perfected; I want them to look fabulous. They have to meet their stylists and have a complete makeover!" Electra snaps, Morpheus's mentor stalks into the dining cart. I can't say I know him very well, I don't think I've ever even heard him speak. His name is Carter and he won the games 10 years ago, he has long black hair that frames his thin pale face. He's tall and very skinny, almost skeletal looking. Not the typical District 2 victor. Carter sits down next to Morpheus, snatching his knife; he launches it at the wall behind me. What a way to get people's attention!
"We arrive in roughly an hour; they are to train first. They shall then meet their stylists and prep team. The next day they will do a very brief training and then they will have the rest of the day to get ready for the chariots." Carter said his voice smooth and calm.
"I said no training! It takes a while to get the tributes looking so brilliant." Electra hisses, her brown eyes flaming with anger.
"Excuse me! I am already perfect, it'll take my team about an hour to make me look even more like a goddess, I find your comments criticising." I exclaimed, flicking my long dark hair for good measure. Ophelia smirked and leaned across the table to give me a high five; Electra rose from the table, defeated, and left the dinning cart. I finished my porridge and went to my room. I flicked on the small TV I had demanded someone bring me and watched the replay of the reaping's. I'd watched this yesterday but I hadn't given it much attention, I had just discovered a book of Greek mythology and that was far more interesting. I sat on my bed and stared at the screen, it was probably best to know my competition. The pair from District 1 were the first shown and there was no surprise, tall, thin and very pretty just like every year. I smiled when I saw the District 2 reaping; I really did look beautiful in my dress and my hair? Perfect. I had started to day dream about dresses and gold bangles when a name caught my attention. Celina, the girl tribute from District 4, I knew it was Greek because I'd read a little about her. She was the titan moon goddess and sometimes the moon is known to cause some people to go insane. Maybe that's why Celina punched someone in the face? She could be insane, like her name might suggest. I missed three more Districts with my pondering but there wasn't very much to watch. The most interesting person after the careers was a boy from District 7 called James. He stormed to the top of the stage, all fierce and ready to fight. He could have looked vicious if he hadn't broke down in tears, I couldn't help feeling they might have been faked…I stood up and turned the TV off, deciding I needed yet another shower.
I hate showers; I prefer long baths with lavender scented salts that leave your skin soft and luxurious. But even the highest class capitol trains aren't rich enough to provide that. I scrub my hair with a shampoo that smells like orange and I exfoliate my pale skin with a peach coloured shower gel. Someone knocks loudly at my door.
"Get out of the shower," Electra demands "we're here!" I flick the water off and climb out the shower. I can see through a small window in my room that the platform is crowded with people, District 2 IS the most popular District after all. I spot Morpheus inside a car, waving at me impatiently. I grab a thick white towel and wrap it around my body, walking out the room.
"What are you doing? Get dressed, immediately; you're going to cause a scene!" Electra try's to grab my arm, but I'm too fast and I walk out of the train towards the crowd of people. The capitol citizens gasp as I walk past and into our awaiting car.
"She's nearly naked!" A shocked, high pitch voice says, I smile at a camera and give it a cheeky wink before closing the car door. The camera man blushes a beetroot red and looks at the floor as we drive away.
I am in heaven. Arrays of beautiful weapons are laid out around the room, glinting blades, sharp axes, spears, maces, bows and arrows. My stomach flutters and I know I'm in love, I adore lethal weapons! I race into the large training room and instantly reach for a bow and arrow. I'm not the best at it, but I do like how graceful I look when I handle the bow. And that's all part of the fun, looking like a beautiful assassin. Morpheus picks up a spear and launches it at my head; he misses by a few centimetres.
"I haven't lost the skill," he chuckles. I string an arrow on my bow and aim for an inch above Morpheus's head. I release the arrow and it fly's towards Morpheus, but it falls short and lands beside his foot, he kicks it away.
"You never were good with that thing; I think you're better with knifes." Knifes? How boring. Anybody can be good at throwing knifes, there the world's most simple weapons; I want to perfect something cooler.
"Teach me how to work with maces, your ace with them!" Morpheus laughs, dropping his spear.
"You have got to be joking, Iris. Do you remember what happened when you last used a spear?"
"Hey! It was great aim, I cut her pigtail off."
"You were aiming for a target three metres away! I'm sorry, Iris, I'm not teaching you to throw spears." I frowned, and turned away from my brother. I needed to excel in something, something that would make me even more deadly and special than I already am. Something sharp caught my eye from the corner of the room. I stalked towards it, pulling a beautiful sword from a stand. I swung it around, it felt so light in my hands, like I was holding air. This sword was made for me! I raced up to Morpheus, catching him off guard. I swung the sword and knocked the spear head from his weapon away. He stared at me open mouthed. He quickly recovered and lifted his empty spear trying to hit me across the head, I held him back with my sword, pushing his weapon away from me. I stuck out my left leg and he toppled, losing his balance and fell to the floor on his back. I put my sword against his throat.
"I found my awesome weapon, Morphy!" Morpheus rolled his eyes and pushed me away.
"Don't call me that." I walked over to the sword training area and started practising different techniques on my own. Once I got a proper trainer I'll be amazing at this, I just know it. Morpheus was right, I am good with handling blades, but swords are way cooler! Iris, sword handler, Greek goddess and all round cool person. The capitol better watch out because I'm going to be the best tribute they've ever had.