Beta-Read by: gkmoberg1

The Devil Within by Digital Daggers

I made myself at home

In the cobwebs and the lies

I'm learning all your tricks

I can hurt you from inside

I made myself a promise

You would never see me cry

Chapter 10

"Winnow!" Pyrrhus Reed shouted as he took a seat on the couch in front of the television that covered nearly half the wall in front of him. "Winnow, the scores!" he called again, unbuttoning his carmine-red suit jacket.

Kai, Mags, and Finnick were already seated and watching the pre-scores talk by Claudius Templesmith and Caesar Flickerman – but Winnow had yet to emerge from her room. She had briefly told them that her meeting with the Gamemakers had gone very well – but she was very tired and wanted to take a nap.

Kai had immediately made a snide comment under his breath – saying Winnow "must be tired from fucking her way to the top,"

Finnick had immediately snapped at him – but Winnow had merely looked at him – looked at him like he had betrayed her. Kai had immediately felt guilty – but it didn't really make him feel any less angry. After that, Winnow had gone into her rooms and had not come out since.

"Winnow!" Pyrrhus called again, before sighing dramatically and getting to his feet and going to get the young woman himself.

"Now, Kai, I don't want to hear a goddamn word out of your mouth about Winnow." Finnick remarked – fixing Kai with a deadly look. "Clearly the two of you are having some sort of spat, and you don't agree with what she's done. But that's none of your business. So don't bring it up again." He warned the teenager, shaking a finger in his direction.

Kai merely nodded in response, a scowl on his lips. He had looked at his mentor for only a second before returning his gaze to the television screen. Finnick and Mags traded a look of distaste. The two mentors did not know exactly what Kai's problem was – but they suspected it might be jealousy in light of the two teenagers' previous relationship.

And, of course, there was always the chance that Kai just genuinely disliked Winnow for what she had done with Cato – though Mags thought it was unlikely.

Pyrrhus returned to the common area with a sleepy looking Winnow in tow. The flame-haired escort flopped down into his seat- nearly bouncing with excitement like an overgrown puppy. Winnow just hoped he wouldn't piss himself in all his excitement – and for that reason alone she chose to sit next to Finnick on the edge of the couch.

The older and albeit young man had immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer so she leaned against him. "Feel better after your nap, little minnow?" Finnick asked as Winnow settled her chin on his shoulder.

The dark-haired tribute shrugged. "A little, I suppose. When the scores are done, I'm going back to sleep." She responded quietly. Mags reached across Finnick to pat Winnow's cheek as the young woman yawned again.

Soon the room was filled with the booming voice of Caesar Flickerman and his (slightly) quieter counterpart, Claudius Templesmith. They began to announce the training scores quickly – Winnow had a hard time registering most of the scores as they were read so hastily – especially with a sleep-addled head.

But she did note a few of the scores. Marvel had scored a 9, and both Clove & Cato scored 10s. Winnow herself had scored a ten as well – the adults in the apartment all jumping up and cheering at her scores. Winnow had hoped for a higher score- but seeing as she scored the same as Cato and Clove, she decided it was an alright score.

As Kai's face appeared on the screen – Mags, Finnick and Pyrrhus all quieted – standing still to see what he might score. "And Kai Rive…the illustrious Miss Fontanne's district partner, scoring a very respectable 5." Caesar announced.

The others congratulated Kai genuinely – but their reaction was decidedly less enthusiastic than their reaction to Winnow's score. "Apparently I'm only worth half of Winnow." Kai said bitterly – releasing all the anger that he had been holding inside. There was a mean edge to his voice and the spite was not lost on Winnow.

She, who had meant so much to him for so long - was clearly the Capitol's little darling as well as the Gamemakers'. According to Kai's perspective - Winnow was taking that chance to move on – using whatever she had at her disposal – even her body – to propel herself forward.

He was being left behind. The score said it all – she had twice the value of him.

Winnow carefully didn't look at him – instead rolling her eyes. "What did I tell you, Kai?!" Finnick growled at him and Mags slapped Kai's shoulder.

Kai rolled his eyes – his reaction similar to Winnow's, except he watched her carefully. Watched the emotions shift in her eyes – Winnow as good at keeping a blank expression, oh yes – but her eyes betrayed her. He saw the hurt in her eyes.

"Kai, that's a terrible thing to say," Pyrrhus chastised him. "You and Winnow are very different, yes. Your skills are very different too, yes. But one is not better than the other! The two of you are equally valuable in your own way." The escort continued.

Kai let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, Pyrrhus, you must be right. That is absolutely why Winnow got a ten, and I got a five. Because we are really equal," he scoffed.

Finally he got a reaction out of Winnow. The dark-haired girl snorted – drawing the attention of everyone in the room. She stood slowly, shrugging off Finnick's arm. Winnow took a few steps until she stood directly in front of Kai.

"You know what, Kai, I'm really sick of your comments. You wanted me to tell you the truth, so I did." Winnow paused – one hand raised to pinch the bridge of her nose, the other tensing into a fist. "And it seems that you really don't like the truth. Maybe you just hate me now. I really don't care, Kai. I can endure you hating me. But you could make it a lot easier by just keeping your mouth shut." She continued with a harsh edge to her voice.

Winnow drew in a deep breath once she had finished speaking and turned on her heel and went back to her rooms. She moved through the bedroom and entered the bathroom, picking up a cloth to wash her face.

There were no tears burning at the back of her eyes – but there was a dry, heavy feeling in the back of Winnow's throat that made it hard to swallow. Kai always knew the best (or worst, Winnow supposed) things to say in order to hurt her. Because he knew her.

Kai always had been jealous of anyone else in Winnow's life – especially boys. Even when they were younger, he had been like that. And Winnow had foolishly thought that this time around – just as friends and partners – it would be different.

But it wasn't.

She supposed Kai thought she had an attachment to Cato. Winnow could understand that – most people associated sex with love. Sometimes sex is just sex – and in her and Cato's case, the beginning of what she hoped to be a fortuitous partnership. But Winnow had no attachment to Cato.

The only person she truly had an attachment to was Kai – no matter how angry they were with each other. He was the only person left from Winnow's past. Well, the only one that spoke to her. And who knew how much longer that would last?

Winnow was no fool. How could anyone decent care about her? She was nasty, self-centered, vain and two-faced. It was by chance only that she had any combat skills at all – and it was only that that truly separated her from – dare she say it? Glimmer.

At least I have a fucking brain, Winnow counseled herself – to give herself one more factor to separate herself from the airheaded district one tribute.

There was a slight creaking sound as though someone had come in – followed by her name being called. Kai. Winnow scowled, grabbing a towel to wipe off her sopping-wet face. "What do you want?" She questioned as she moved to stand in the doorway between her bathroom and bedroom.

Kai stood uncertainly about three steps from the door. "I wanted to apologize." He said quietly. The tall, gangly boy looked quite sheepish and chastised. Winnow wondered if it was her words or the berating from the others that made him feel sorry for his words.

"For what?" Winnow retorted, crossing the room to sit on her bed – tossing away the towel towards the bathroom.

Kai sighed. "You know what for. I was being cruel."

"Ah," Winnow cut in. "So you do know you were being cruel."

The teenager let out a noise of exasperation. "Yes," Kai confirmed. "And that's why I'm apologizing."

"Why?" Winnow questioned.

Kai's brows furrowed. "Why what? Why am I apologizing?" he asked in response.

Winnow rolled her eyes. "No. Why were you being cruel? You put me and yourself down. Quite frankly, I'm not sure which is worse."

Kai shrugged his shoulders, scratching his head. "I guess there are kind of two reasons, maybe." He said. Winnow waved a hand at him to go on. "Well, I guess I was kind of mad at you for sleeping with Cato." Kai added.

Winnow gave him an expectant look, with raised eyebrows. "Why? We're not together anymore, Kai." She asked.

"If you'd let me finish…." Kai said in exasperation. She rolled her eyes at him in response. "It wasn't about that. It's just…he's dangerous, and I don't want you at his mercy." He explained.

"I won't and I'm not!" Winnow protested – scandalized at the very idea of being at Cato's mercy. She was far too sure he was so absolutely hooked on her for that to happen.

Kai glared at her, shutting the young woman up immediately. "My other reason is…I don't want you to worry about protecting me so much. I want you to focus on yourself and winning." He informed her. "And unless you actually let me contribute to our alliance…I'm thinking we should just forget about the whole thing."

Winnow's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped open. "You're stupid, aren't you?" she spat, making an offended expression appear on her district-mate's face. "You must be, spouting this nonsense!"

Kai took a few steps towards her. "I'll have you know, Winnow, that I was invited to join a different alliance." He announced.

Winnow lurched to her feet. "Alliance?" she questioned. "Who?" Kai hesitated to answer her. She approached him, easing him to a seat at the edge of her bed. "You know…another alliance will only go head to head with the Careers – my alliance. You really wanna be on the alliance fighting me?" she suggested incredulously – playing on his (hopefully) strong loyalty to her.

His expression was promising. Kai looked as if he had never considered this. "No, I don't want that." He replied quietly.

"Then tell me everything." Winnow requested. "Who is in the alliance and what they are planning." She added.

"The boy from 5, both tributes from 6, 8, and 9 – and I think the boy from 10." Kai answered reluctantly.

"And what is their plan?" she questioned urgently.

Kai shrugged – his eyes starting to brighten with distress. "I'm not sure! I think Kiva said something about the Cornucopia…the bloodbath at the beginning. I think they're going to try and gang up on all of you, but I'm not sure, Winnow!" he speculated.

"It's alright," Winnow said comfortingly, leaning in to press a kiss to Kai's forehead. "You've done well, Kai. You've contributed something very important," she informed him.

"How is it alright?! It's ten against five!" Kai demanded to know.

Winnow smiled at him gingerly. "The Careers are the fastest and the strongest. We'll get to the Cornucopia first and get to the weapons. Numbers mean nothing then." She assured him. "If you hear anything else, you let me know straight away, alright?" Winnow requested.

Kai let out a slow nod. "I have to go speak with Finnick. It'd be best if you got some rest, Kai." Winnow advised. She guided the taller boy from her room before seeking out her mentor.

Finnick sat at the dining table, picking at a plate of fruit idly – his eyes fastened on nothing in particular. "Odair." Winnow uttered as she slipped into the seat next to his.

"Yes, Fontanne?" Finnick answered idly.

"Can you arrange for me to meet with Cato privately in the morning tomorrow?" she asked.

This drew her mentor's attention. Finnick turned to her with an incredulous look. "For what? I won't be pulling any strings for hanky-panky," he informed her.

Winnow rolled her eyes. "You have a one track mind, Finnick. This is for strategy." She retorted. Finnick raised his eyebrows, prompting her to continue. "Kai just told me something very interesting…there's another alliance forming- the middle districts – 5 through10." She explained to him.

Finnick's eyes widened. "I've seen their scores and saw footage from their training…those tributes are no threat." He said.

"But ten against five can be. The rest of the Careers need to be made aware…Cato and I need to plan." Winnow argued.

Finnick sighed. "Fine. I'll make some calls." He conceded. "You, however, will go to bed." Finnick ordered her.

Winnow raised an eyebrow at her mentor playfully, crossing her legs. "Oh?" she prompted.

"Yes," he responded firmly. "Or I won't arrange a thing," Finnick threatened emptily, putting his nose up in the air.

Nonetheless, Winnow stood – rolling her eyes at the older man exaggeratedly. "You're a pain," she told him seriously.

Finnick's smirk grew. "Methinks little Minnow is getting overtired," he baby-talked. "It's bedtime!" he sang, swatting the dark-haired girl on the bottom.

Winnow jumped a clear six inches in the air from his swat. She turned to glare at him, covering her rear with her hands. "How many times do I have to tell you I'll gut you before you listen?"

Thank you all so much for your reviews ! They've really made my days - and spurred me to keep working on the story.

Araisen - thank you- I do aim to for a few laughs even if it's a serious story.

gkmoberg1 - thanks for the review and as always - thank you for your help.

Anouk or Dutchgirl - I am not from the Netherlands - the two ladies I picked for the cast are simply the ones I felt meshed with the idea I had of the characters.

Emmie - thank you bb.

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