Onyx sighed as she opened her eyes the next morning, she curled into the warmth of the silky sheets that surrounded her, and she didn't like the softness of the bed that she was cocooned up in so she climbed out of bed with a groan. It was the first time in months that she actually felt refreshed when waking up so she had a feeling that she's most likely slept longer than she should have.
She headed into the shower straight away, she was too tired to figure out the buttons before going to bed so she needed to wash now. The water flowed down over her body, the heat cascading around her as the steam had no exit until she left the shower, she hoped that along with the hot water that left the shower down the drain, her fears would too but to no avail.
She looked outside of the train as she left her bedroom and noticed that it was early morning, probably earlier than when most of the Capitol would get up, so she had no expectations at Effie being awake at this time.
'Haymitch didn't wake me for food last night' Onyx mused as she continued her slow journey down to the food cart 'but I also missed the Reaping's'
Onyx stood in the doorway of the food cart and looked in, she was surprised to see that Effie was actually awake and dressed in a bright blue outfit with make up to match, it was a little blinding but Onyx guessed that she would have to get used to the fashion sense of the Capitol sooner or later. Dustin wasn't there though so he was probably asleep, hopefully forgetting all of his trouble for a few hours.
'He must still be asleep, he should take advantage of the late mornings while he can' she thought to herself.
Effie looked up from her food and was shocked to see Onyx in the doorway, the young girl looked older than fourteen this morning, she was out of the old blue cotton dress and was now dressed in a pair of black flowing trousers and a silk purple short sleeved shirt.
'Capitol clothes look good on her' Effie thought to herself as she eyed the combination of clothes, purple was a good colour for the girl, she was going to have to mention that to whoever was the young girls stylist this year.
"Come, sit" Effie told the girl motioning to the seat across from her.
Onyx smiled lightly as she sat down, she looked at the table in front of her and her eyes widened at the amount of food that was on the table, the food could have fed the Everdeens and the Hawthorne's for a few days and yet there were only four people eating the food from this table. She placed a few bits of bacon and sausage on her plate and some bread. She looked up in silence when a young man poured her a cup of tea.
Effie looked at the portion of food with concern, she did not often pay much attention to the tributes because she did not want to have to watch the children that she had gotten close to die. But seeing the amount of food the young girl had on her plate considering she didn't eat last night caused her a little bit of concern
"Haymitch tried to wake you for food last night but was unable to" Effie told the young girl who nodded as she ate her food "I'm afraid you missed the reaping's though"
"Where is Haymitch?" Onyx asked quietly after finishing the food that was in her mouth. While most children she knew didn't have manners, her ma had taught her from an early age to be a lady even though they lived in the seam.
Effie grimaced at the mention of the victor of twelve but was very surprised when she noticed the young girl had manners, she was glad that she didn't need to watch the girl act like an animal that the previous tributes always did "Most probably passed out in his bed, he went to 'watch the reaping's' in his room last night, and I haven't seen him since"
"I did watch the reaping's last night, then fell asleep" A tired grumpy voice said from behind Onyx causing the girl to look over her shoulder at the man.
Haymitch dropped himself down into the chair between Onyx and Effie and grabbed some food. Effie looked at the mentor surprised as she noticed that he was sober and seemed to have been for the night. He looked at Onyx's plate and upon deciding that she wasn't eating enough, put some more on with a look at the young girl.
Onyx scowled at Haymitch then dropped her gaze to the extra food on her plate, she huffs lightly but accepts the food without arguing, she knew it would be useless to argue.
Effie looked at the two of them confused, she had never seen Haymitch actually pay attention to a tribute but ever since the girl volunteered she could see a difference in the man, the confused look causes Haymitch to sigh and make a motion with his hand signalling he'd explain to her later on.
"Onyx, I recorder the reaping's last night so that you can watch them before we arrive in the Capitol" Haymitch told the young girl as he poured himself a coffee waving away the Avox who had come to the table
"When do we arrive?" she asked in reply as she picked at her food
Haymitch frowned "Considering how early you are up, you'll most likely be able to watch the reaping's and then spend a little while doing whatever until we arrive"
Onyx nodded, she picked up her cup of tea and left the dining cart without asking Haymitch's permission, she knew she was going to get a little lecture for not eating more but she couldn't stomach it, an avox showed her the way to the cart where she would be able to watch the reaping's.
She whimpered silently as she watched a brute of a boy volunteer in District Two, the girl in his district also looked deadly. She mentally made notes on who to look out for in the games including The Careers. When District six was on Haymitch joined her with a plate of food which he had placed on her lap with a glare causing her to pout.
"You need to eat" Haymitch told her with a glare as he dropped down beside her, his arm over her shoulder, he had explained a little to Effie that he knew Onyx from the town but that's all he told her.
"I'm not hungry" she whispered to her 'father' as she leaned into his side even though she did pick at the food on the plate
Haymitch lifted her chin so that she was looking at him. "What did I say yesterday?"
Onyx frowned as she tried to recall the conversation then she sighed taking a small amount of toast between her fingers and popping into her mouth "To behave and listen"
Haymitch nodded in confirmation as he watched her eat. "Exactly and you need to eat to keep you healthy and strong"
Sighing, she nodded and started to slowly pick the food from her plate, she let a single tear fall down her cheek as she watched a small twelve year old be reaped from District Eleven and was met by the sound of birds chirping when asked for a volunteer. Then came the District Twelve Reaping, she could hear the surprise in the commentators voice when she volunteered for Prim.
"This looks like it's going to be an interesting year" The commentator told the audience at the end of the reaping's the sound of surprise in the man's voice after he caught himself from losing composure on cameras.
"It really is" Haymitch muttered to himself as he traced small shapes on the girls arm to calm the both of them down.
Onyx stayed curled up in Haymitch's side for a few minutes after the recording ended trying to wrap her head around everything she had just watched and who she was going to have to go up against or lose her life too.
"Mitch?" she inquired and was answered with a hum of acknowledgment "Do I have to keep this a secret?"
Haymitch looked down at his daughter curiously before catching onto her line of thinking, he had kept her a secret since he met her four years ago, and he knew that it was a well-kept secret, only two families knew of their relationship as well as the two stall holders from the Hob and they kept silent so that Onyx wouldn't get dragged into hell.
"No darling, no more keeping it a secret" he told her as he tightened his grip around her lightly.
'At least if I die I'll be recognised as the daughter of Haymitch Abernathy' Onyx thought not knowing that the same thought ran through Haymitch's mind too.
As they pulled into the station of the Capitol, Onyx could see people trying to get a glance at the tributes on the train. Onyx looked through the window before ducking her head in shock, she didn't realize that there would be so many people, she pops her head up again a little and waves lightly, but refused to be happy to see them.
"Overwhelming isn't it" Haymitch grumbles lightly from the table where Dustin and Effie sat, Effie watched the young girl amused at just how overwhelmed she had become.
"They come here every games?" Onyx asks softly as she turns away from the window only to scowl at her father's nod
When they reached an empty part of the station, Onyx and Dustin were taken away from Effie and Haymitch to be prepared, ready for the opening ceremony that evening. Onyx looked back at her father who didn't seem to want to be split from her, she could see him clenching his fists at his side as soon as the peacekeepers put their hands onto her arms to move her away from the Victor.
After the lasts strip of hair was removed from her body, Onyx let out a sigh of relief that was heard by her prep team, they all let smiles reach their faces as they looked over at the young volunteer, they were used to the tributes grumbling and groaning and whining every time they had to do their job but the young girl stayed silent and even apologized if she moved too much, it was nice to see a tribute with manners.
"Please tell me that was the last wax strip" Onyx pleaded lightly as she watched the flamboyant stylists pull away and whisper between each other
Octavia, one of her prep team with bright orange curls, smiled at her. She seemed amused by her reactions.
"That was the last strip dear, we'll just shape your nails then hand you over to Cinna. He wants you looking plain when he sees you" She explained to her as they moved to grab their manicure kits.
She nodded as Flavius and Venia got to work on each of her hands. After a few minutes she was left standing bare in a small room waiting for her stylist to arrive. She grimaced slightly, she hoped that this year, she wouldn't be naked and covered with coal dust because the stylists never really had any imagination when it came to the coal district. Although there was no imagination when it came to the subject of coal, the fuel was boring and plain.
'Cinna' she thought 'I haven't heard that name in the games before'
The door opened startling Onyx slightly as she turned to face the newcomer, in walked a young man, he was surprisingly bare from any extravagant features that Capitol stylists often wore, the only thing he wore was gold eyeliner around his eyes which suited him perfectly.
Cinna sighed as he looked at the fourteen year old in front of him, he had watched the reaping's carefully and when he saw the young girl volunteer his heart nearly broke for her courage and selflessness.
"That was very brave" he told her as he handed her a robe, sitting her down across from him.
Onyx shrugged as she sent a small smile of gratitude at the robe. "Everyone just says congratulations"
Cinna grimaced, he truly hated the Capitol when it came to the games which is why he wanted District Twelve as his tributes "well I'm not everyone, did you know the little girl?"
Onyx smiled slightly at his grimace, she was right at her first impression of the man, he was not a normal Capitol citizen "Yes"
The stylist shook his head at the curt answer from the young girl, he understood why the young girl was keeping information to herself, she hadn't long him so had no reason to trust him and if the situations were reversed then he would most likely do the same.
"Now for the costume tonight" Cinna started and noted with amusement that while her fingers were crossed in her lap but he could see them twitch as the mention of the costumes for the opening ceremony. "District Twelve is coal, yes?"
Onyx nodded biting her lip softly, oh great, she was going to be stuck in a coal miner's outfit or be dressed as a piece of coal or something.
"Well what happens after you burn coal, as the fire dies down?" Cinna asked causing Onyx to look at him confused, she did not expect a question like that "What do you get?"