Third Quarter Quell

Chapter Two

"Mutants? Emmett, did he say mutants?"

"He sure did, Rose."

"I don't like the sound of that."

"Hey, your name is Rose, too?" Lissa asked. "So is my personal dhampir. She's probably watching this scene now through my eyes."

"My full name is Rosalie, actually."

"Oh. Well, nice to meet you anyway."

On the werewolf side, Sam was holding a bereaved Emily. "It'll be okay, dear, it'll be okay."

"Uh, Sam?" Quil asked. "What are mutants?"

"The worst creatures you'll ever meet," Sam said. "They have powers the likes of which the vampires can only dream of."

"Hey!" Jasper said. "Our powers are pretty good."

Sam guffawed. "Your powers are meaningless to mutants. Sure, you will have the ability to do something, but you will be crushed quicker than you can say 'endocrine system'."

"Funny, wolf boy. I was not aware you knew how to spell 'endocrine system.'"

Sam seemed ready to tear Jasper's head off. Maggie came over and stood between them as they advanced toward each other. "Guys, no fighting. There will be plenty of time for that when you get in the arena."

"And when we do get there," Sam said, "I know which vampire I'm going to attack first."

'"We're supposed to take care of some humans," Alice said. "Then we'll be allowed to go free."

"You'll go free," Jacob corrected. "They'll just put us back in storage."

Renesmee flew to him. "I missed you, sweetheart. I forgot how wonderful your voice sounds."

"Renesmee, my darling." Jacob squeezed her after as if she contained every breath of life he ever released and only by clinging to her could he remain alive.

"I know which human I'm going to target first," Jasper said, giving Emily a look that Sam didn't like.

"You kill my mate and I'll kill yours," Sam said. "That is the code of you vampires, isn't it?"

"There are humans amongst you?" Maggie asked.

Embry spoke. "Yeah, my buddy Quil's girl, Claire, and Sam's—Emily—are humans. When they captured us and froze us, back in 2023, they captured them too. We did not bother to tell them that the girls were humans because they didn't ask."

"I'm not human," Leah said. "I'm a full-fledged werewolf, just like any of these guys."

"Who are you attached to, dearie?" Maggie asked.

"A-attached?" Leah stammered. She looked at Sam, but he shook his head. "I'm not attached to anyone."

"You have to have a partner. We're not going to bill you as being partnerless."

"We may have to do that for the mutants," President Snow offered. He had enjoyed watching the rivalry between the vampires and werewolves. "I think there are too many males to match the girls. But there should be an even number of boys and girls here."

"You heard the man. Pair off, everyone."

Jacob and Renesmee stepped forward, followed by Bella and Edward, Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper. Sam tagged with Emily, Quil with Embry. That left Leah, Embry, Lissa, and Dmitri with no partners.

"I say the werewolves pair up and the vampires go together," Maggie said.

"Wait, where's the little one?" President Snow asked. "Where's Jane?"

"I'm the extra," Jane said from behind him. He turned around. "I guess it would be silly for you to have a partner. But it is tradition, you know."

"If I have to pick a partner, I'll take a mutant," Jane said.

"That's settled then," President Snow said.

"No!" Leah shouted. "I may not have Sam or Jacob, but I am not taking Embry. He'll imprint on a mutant or something. I'll take the vampire."

Leah took Dmitri's hand and lead him away.

Lissa didn't know how she felt about her dhampir's ex being taken from her like that. Or even how she felt when Embry creeped over to her. But she took his hand anyway. She supposed that having a werewolf partner was all right if Adrian couldn't be here. As long as Embry didn't—whatever the werewolf girl had said—on her. The last thing she needed was another guy having the hots for her.

Jast as Lissa and Embry took their place at the end of line, Crater returned. "The mutants have arrived," he said.

In walked a whole troop—over twenty people. There was a blue guy and a green guy but most of them seemed to be normal colors. One just looked sickly and hopped like a toad. Sam seethed at the sight of them.

"Mutants," President Snow said, "welcome."

"You better have a very good mission for us, sir," said the only member of the mutants who was over thirty.

"I do indeed," said the president. "I am inviting you to a kill-for-all marathon. Whoever wins becomes a Peacekeeper."

"Kill? We're being asked to kill each other?" Kitty asked.

"No. You don't have to kill each other. You will be killing humans."

"I will not be a part of this," Scott said, heading for the door.

The metal doors shut with a clang. Wolverine ran at them and attempted to slash through with his claws, but to no avail.

"You don't have a choice," President Snow said, ruefully.

"I know one human I want to kill very badly right now," Wolverine said. He dashed at President Snow and slashed at him. But he never made contact. It was like slashing at air.

"Did you think I would really be physically present in a room full of mutants? And after the act that sweet vampire Bella made on my face, too. Not a chance."

"So you're going to force us to play in your tournament?" Wolverine growled.

"Yes. And now, will the ladies pair up? We want a boy-girl partnership thing going here as long as we can. It's tradition."

"I know who my partner will be," Kitty said, taking Lance's arm.

"Baby, you know you want me," Toad said to Wanda.

"I'm taking Cannonball," Wanda said, pulling Sam Guthrie forward and pushing Toad to the ground at the same time.

"I wish Gambit was here," Rogue said.

"How about going with me?" Sunspot asked.

"No thanks."

"Come on. It's just for a tournament thing."

"You'd be best with Amara."

"But I don't like Magma."

"I will take my sister," Kurt said. "I'm sure there's no rule against that. Is there, Mr. White Beard?"

The president growled. "You will address me as President Snow. And no, there is no rule against it. If you feel you are the best partner for your sister, be my guest."

"Okay, then." Kurt led Rogue over to the line.

"I'm taking this one," Jane said about Scott. She started to drag him forward.

"Hey, who do you think you are?" Jean asked.

"Your worst nightmare," Jane said. She closed her eyes and scrunched her face, as though in pain. And Jean leaned forward and bent down as if she really were in pain, while Jane's still seemed fake.

Scott shot a laser beam at Jane causing her to fly into the air and land on the ground in a cloud of dust.

"No one messes with my girl and gets away with it,"

Maggie came over. "Hey, no fighting! You'll get to do that later."

"I was just protecting my girlfriend, that's all," Scott said. He led Jean to the back of the line. Jane got up and glared at him, but she did not use her powers this time.

There was a group that came in with the mutants that were standing away from them. The green-skinned fellow was one of them.

"I'm taking Robin," said a blond girl from this group, grabbing the black-haired boy.

"No, I'm with Robin," Starfire said. She shot a green beam from her eyes at Kitten, who fell on the ground, landing on top of Toad.

"Hey, sugar. If you don't have a date, I'll go with you," Toad said.

Kitten started to say something nasty about how Toad was the most disgusting creature she had ever seen. But she stopped herself, blew him a kiss while she was still sitting on him and pulled him to his feet, saying, "Of course I'll go with you, sweetheart."

Blackfire looked at the ones in her group with disgust and went to the other group. "You. You will do," she said to Bobby.

"You don't even know me."

"I know that you're cute, and that's all I need to know."

Bobby blushed.

"I like a girl who hides under a cape," Spyke said to Raven. "Will you go with me?"

"I suppose. But the cape does not come off. Got it?"

Spyke nodded. He was happy to be with her.

"Green, that's a nice color," Amara said to Beast Boy.

"Well, the ladies like it, anyway."

"I sure do. Come on."

Jubilee turned to Wolfsbane. "I hear there's werewolves in that party over there. One has her eye on you."

The lupine member of the X-Men looked to where she was pointing. A Native-American girl was staring at him, though she managed to look away. She seemed to struggle with herself, shaking her head. She started to leave the line but then seemed to have a change of will.

"Go ahead, make a move," Jubilee said.

"I can't," Wolfsbane croaked. He hid behind her.

"Rayne, if you don't show some strength of will—"

"Jubilee, you have to pick me. The only girl left is that creepy little thing that tried to take Scott."

"I want to take Sunspot. He's so lonely, you know, since Rogue wouldn't have him."

"I need to look desirable," Wolfsbane said.

"Okay, fine, I'll take you," Jubilee said. "Who knew wolves were so chicken?" she whispered in his ear.

Now there were only three guys left, a reject, a robot, and a guy with claws.

"I'm taking you," Jane said to Logan.

"Oh no. I don't think so. I ride alone."

"Someone's gotta go with me."

"I volunteer!" Sunspot exclaimed. He was not attracted to her or anything, but he also had fears about being rejected, twice. And if he had a partner he could perhaps find a better one later. Like Rogue, who was hotter than any girl he had ever seen before.

Jane shook her head. "I'm taking the claw man." She dragged Wolverine over to the line.

"Thanks for making me look like a—"

"No need to use that word," Jane said, after clambering up his back and putting her hand on his mouth. "You're the best of the three remaining, and I'm taking you."

Sunspot turned to Cyborg. "I suppose you have to desire to become a girl."

"Not unless it feels better than being ignored."

"Come on, being ignored isn't as bad as being rejected. Twice."

"If you say so, pops."

"Well," President Snow said. "Everyone's partnered up except for two no-show boys. Sorry, fellers." He didn't sound sorry at all. "The rules will be simple. You will be allowed to kill anyone you desire, except your partner. That is not true of the partnerless boys. They can kill each other if they feel like it. But everyone else needs to refrain from harming their partner. This would not be a rule but last year's outcome forces me to it.

"Now, the Games will not begin for another twenty-eight days, so you may have another month of training. The returning champions and the poor unfortunate souls chosen from their district will not be training on these grounds until five days before the event commences. I expect you to be in tip-top shape.

"And remember, you will be allowed to go free as soon as Katniss and Peeta are dead. You are welcome to stay longer if you wish, but I expect that those of you who are against this tournament we are putting you through will want to leave as soon as the task is accomplished. If so, be sure that your first priority is to take care of them.

"I think I speak for the entire nation of Panem when I say, we want Katniss and Peeta dead."