Chapter 11
"Coriolanus Snow, did you poison Caesar!?" Katniss's heart beat in her chest like a million drums as all warmth seemed to leave her body.
Snow grinned slyly without saying a word as they walked. He felt her palms sweat.
He gave her a vial of red liquid and she hurriedly drunk it up, knowing it was the antidote.
They entered the massive mansion located on a large, highly guarded hill.
"If you hated your adoptive father, the first President Snow, so much, then why do you do the things you do?" Katniss yelled at him, tears running wet down her eyes.
"Like he did? Isn't the point of being your own person not to make your father's mistakes?" she started to sob almost, angry with him but also sympathetic. She hated him and yet was beginning to care for him.
"Yes and I am, by being better than him," the elder of the two dried her tears sympathetically with a maroon handkerchief. Turns out the old fart was capable of emotion.
"Why me? You've never felt sympathy for any of the other tributes. So why me?" the brunette beauty looked in his eyes.
"Time will tell all," Snow said cryptically as always. "As for now I'm going to rest" he walked into his room.
"Wait..." she held his hand back and kissed his lips.
He leaned in slowly, careful not to break her as he trailed his warm hands down her arms.
"Good night. You are welcome to join me if you'd like," he chuckled as the door closed.
She was left gazing at the door before making her way to her room. The piece of cloth that dripped with her tears hung from her fingers.
Caesar waited for Snow to go into his room and he took Katniss into her room, covering her mouth.
"Don't scream. I just have to talk before I die," the wild-looking man pleaded with her.
"Okay. What do you have to say?" she asked, looking hurriedly in the cabinet for the antidote.
"Tell me the truth about everything. Do you really love President Snow?" Caesar asked, maintaining his casual exterior yet with a sense of urgency, as if the disclosure of her secrets was the only chance of life he had.
Katniss had the fate of a man in her hands it seemed. She looked at him, then at Snow's handkerchief.
"Yes. I- I can't. I'm sorry but I don't want to break Cori's trust," she said coldly, more than there should be for a girl on fire.
He growled as he removed his shirt to reveal his stomach upward becoming purple. It was a sickening sight. Katniss wanted to puke looking at it.
"Please just let me go. I can't do this. Leave. You'll learn soon enough," she looked panicked as Snow was touched by what he saw. She was lying for him. Katniss was lying for him!
Caesar Flickerman sighed before falling unconscious on the floor with a loud thud.
She ran to Snow's room and knocked on the rapidly, not knowing that he had seen everything that happened.
Snow held his bride close as they looked down at the unconscious man, who was being dragged away by two of the many security guards in the house.
"I didn't tell them anything I swear," her eyes pleaded.
"I know you didn't" Snow kissed her sweating forehead.
"Why am I becoming so submissive? Usually I hunt and fight, but with you..with you I feel like I can be weak and small," a million different emotions ran through her head.
He fed Caesar with the antidote and took her smooth, fair face in his hands.
"Now, will you come to bed with me?" he held out his hand.
Katniss nodded and laid down with him reluctantly but willingly as she held the body of a murderer.
Later in the night, the smaller form beside him started to thrash back and fourth with whispers he could barely hear.
All he could make out was "Peeta, please help me" or "Rue! No!". Things of that sort.
"Mockingjay, wake up," Snow called her nickname, shaking her lightly as he realized what she was dreaming about. The Hunger Games.
There was nothing he could do for this girl, the damage had already been done. Done by his own hands.
She screamed and kicked as he held her down, trying to keep her stable-bodied.
"Shh shh. Calm now love," he hushed her, wondering who Rue was. He assumed she was one of the tributes. He'd have to look it up later.
"Rue? Rue where are you?" Katniss called out.
"No, it's just Cori," he stroked her soft brown hair styled in an intricate braid.
"President Snow?" she looked at him quizzicly, still in her dream state.
"Yes Katniss. I brought you here. Just go back to bed and I'll explain in the morning," he lied.
She nodded sleepily and closed her eyes.
He sat on the bed with his head in his hands. What was he going to do?