Ryker has an undetected trace of magic and Haymitch just bought Katniss two days for her to be able to get rid of Snow in the past. Now let's travel to the Past to see how Katniss is faring in her plans to destroy Snow:
I do not own the Hunger Games
PAST
The next morning Katniss and Peeta were sweetly sitting next to each other. Whispered conversations of sweet nothings flowed between them. Katniss couldn't believe this man was her soulmate. He was kind, smart, strong, honest, gentle, and sweet. Peeta was her match in every way possible. His noble act of waiting to consummate their binding was proof enough that he put her comfort first, only her sister had done that. She looked down, recalling the memory of her sweet sister.
"What is it?" Peeta asked gently, squeezing her hand.
"I still haven't grieved for the loss of my mother and sister," Katniss whispered.
Peeta took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it, "I am sorry for your loss, I couldn't imagine not being able to mourn." He pressed his forehead to hers.
Katniss could feel his strength bleeding into her, gently wrapping around her like a warm hug. Her lashes fluttered closed momentarily as she took in his goodness. Part of her wanted this over so that she could commence her life not just with Peeta but a life without a maniacal tyrant sitting on the throne.
"Don't worry we'll do it," Peeta said in a hushed tone. "We'll depose Snow from his crown."
Katniss nodded, just as Peeta placed a gentle on her lips Haymitch came to fetch her.
"Come along child," Haymitch beckoned.
"Were you able to speak to Finnick?" Peeta asked.
"I cautioned him not to make judgments on things he did not understand. I told him deep magic is at play," Haymitch said.
"And he understood?" Peeta asked.
"He was recalcitrant in the beginning but he reluctantly understood that the child's destiny was linked to Snow, and his ultimate downfall."
Katniss sighed.
Haymitch grabbed the pitcher of water, poured himself a cup full, and grimaced as he drank from the chalice. Katniss noticed how his hands shook as he drank, she wondered what they were going to do today. This Haymitch was in no condition to do any sort of magic.
"I forgot how much I loathe water," Haymitch grumbled before setting the chalice down.
"Here," Peeta said, handing him some wine.
"No, I cannot partake, I have to be clear-headed to train the child," Haymitch told Peeta. He then turned to Katniss, "Ready?"
"See you at midday?" Peeta asked.
"I will see you at the midday meal," Katniss whispered.
They shared a chaste kiss before Katniss followed behind her mentor.
"Where are you two off to?" Finnick asked.
Haymitch stopped walking, "The child is going to begin training." Turning to Peeta and Finnick he said, "You two might as well go train if we are to take Snow down."
Katniss blushed at Haymitch's terse words toward the Prince and his guard.
"Haymitch is right while he trains with the lad we should take advantage of the time," Finnick said. He glanced at Katniss before saying, "I expect the young lad is going to need a strong sword to help him to get close enough to kill the King."
The look Finnick bestowed Katniss led her to believe there was something Finnick wasn't telling them.
"Child," Haymitch gruffly said, walking away.
She dutifully followed behind Haymitch until they reached a room in the back.
"Now, tell me what is going on with my future self; and why I've sent along a scrap of a girl to kill Snow."
Katniss stood calmly. "My father is Eragon of Everdeen."
"You have his look about you, straight dark hair, olive skin tone, and gray eyes." Haymitch pointed to her hair.
"You sought me out to help destroy Snow. We traveled on the winged horses to the Olvidados to help seek refuge. While we were there Snow and his army surrounded the castle. I was sent through the doorway of time to land here."
"So right now, there are two of you?"
"Yes, there is a younger version of me," Katniss looked down. She didn't think about where she would be when she arrived. "Most likely pining away for the return of my father."
"Good I assume your younger version is miles away."
"Yes, my mother and baby sister reside in our former home, over the mountains. Once we discovered my father had died, the word was sent for us to flee. We left the house as Snow appointed another to be the steward of the area."
"What of magic?"
"You taught me to control my sight, how to find and open doors to other times. It's how I ended up here."
"Opening portals into other times is advanced work," Haymitch frowns.
"I've always been able to do that, you taught me control. You taught me how to metaphysically enter a room and touch things without those in that room being aware that I am there." Katniss clarified.
"Right, that is advanced work. I must show you how to harness your power in the present then. Let's try levitation," Haymitch said.
"Levitation?"
"See that book there," Haymitch said quietly.
Katniss nodded.
"Close your eyes."
Katniss closed her eyes.
"Now picture the room you're in."
Katniss found herself standing in the small room. The small room in the back with the window. The room was sparsely decorated; it boasted a small fireplace, a cot, a chair with a desk, and said book rested on top of the desk.
"Do you see the room?"
"Yes."
"Now with your mind, reach out to pick up the room and bring it to you."
Katniss nodded. She saw how an arm stretched out from her mind and the hand attached to it picked up the book and began to bring it to her. Her eyes flew open when the book landed in her hands.
"Good, now with your eyes open, put the book back the same way."
Katniss nodded and as she looked at Haymitch she returned the book. This wasn't a hard thing to do. Katniss saw an arrow in the corner and brought it to her. She checked the craftsmanship of the arrow.
"Hm...show off," Haymitch said.
Katniss blinked as she put the arrow back. "What's next?"
Haymitch's eyes turned golden.
Katniss felt as if she was hearing whispering in her head. It felt wrong and something within her pushed back. She suddenly noticed Haymitch fell back. Seeing that he could hurt himself Katniss called the chair and it scraped across the floor until it stopped behind him, her hand reached out and gently made him fall sitting down.
"Well," Haymitch said, sounding breathless.
Katniss wasn't sure what had just happened. "Are you alright?"
"I just realized you have a protection spell that I put on you. One that doesn't allow for anyone to establish communication with you. I wonder if you can establish communication. Try reaching into my mind with a conversation."
Katniss stared at Haymitch. She could see a dark tunnel before the words materialized in his mind. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes, Katniss. I can hear you, can you see through my eyes?" Haymitch whispered back into her mind. She could hear his words.
Katniss blinked as her eyes became blurry, suddenly she could see herself through Haymitch's eyes. She felt his energy, his power. Katniss was able to touch the blue orb that was within him. Looking into the bronzed surface, Katniss saw Haymitch's reflection. He stood with blazing emerald eyes. Her own body stood still as if observing everything.
Katniss moved Haymitch's hands and requested the book and it flew from the table back into his hands. With an easy thought, she elevated the table, set the broom to sweep, and levitated several other objects in the room. Curious, she summoned a door and one appeared.
Katniss could feel a deep magic open up within her as her body became tingly with power. Its electrical currents moved through her fingers tips. Katniss then focused her attention on the man who was her mentor.
She withdrew from his mind and found herself staring at him; he looked tired as if the magic drained him. "How?"
"You have to understand that we are given a gift. It is a miracle passed down from elder to child and it must not be tampered with. Those who do not possess this miracle to want it, and those who do not understand it will try to destroy you. The magic itself is benign. However, too much of a good thing is dangerous. Magic can consume you and your soul can be lost forever to it."
"But I harnessed your magic, not mine, to do those things. How did I do that?"
"You have a rare ability to control the magic and harness the magic of others. I warn you this is a rare and dangerous gift. If you ever use this you cannot let it become a craving."
"Like the wine and ale you consume?"
"Yes, much like the way Seneca craves power. He can do the same to you, and you must be able to block him."
"How do I block him?"
"The same way you did to me, you locked me up in my head, put a memory. You released me when you were done."
"My deepest apologies for doing that to you." Katniss could not imagine what it was like to be locked up in her own soul. Not being able to control her body.
"You have a pure soul, Katniss. You indeed are the daughter of Everdeen. Your father…would love to know that you grew up to be a noble and humble child."
"What else must I learn?"
"Many things you are not yet ready for, but if we are to take down Snow then I shall hasten your lessons. And also teach you the importance of the rules. You have a natural inclination, power seeps from your pores, but with that power…," Haymitch said as he rubbed his face, "...comes great responsibility. As I stated, you must never let it control you. You must never abuse the miracle, if you do you become a slave to the power like Seneca. He's drawn to the power and it consumes him and if he lets it consume him once more he will die."
"Die?"
"The power will eat you up, as it is he is reversing in age."
"How do you not let yourself be consumed?"
"I've only met one person who could control the power."
"Who was that?" Katniss was curious. She did not want to do something like what she had done before. She needed boundaries and she wanted to understand the current that passed through her fingertips.
"It was a long time ago," Haymitch sadly said. "Long before Snow."
"Why can't you tell me," Katniss asked.
"Because they are no longer amongst us."
Katniss nodded.
"Alright, then we need to do surveillance," Haymitch said.
"I am not sure what that means."
"It means we need to spy on Snow."
"How are we going to do that?" Katniss wondered what Haymitch was up to. He closed his eyes and began waving his hands in circles. Katniss wasn't sure what was going to happen.
"Simple," Haymitch stands to his full height. His eyes began to glow. Katniss could feel the pull of the power he held. He began murmuring "Chanel the energy you feel picture a hawk."
"Okay," Katniss could feel the white heat of power as it balled within her. It coursed through her veins like electricity.
"Now repeat with me," Haymitch instructs. "Convertatur in corpus potens venatione accipitris."
"Convertatur in corpus potens venatione accipitris." Katniss utters and immediately the energy overtakes her. She could feel her body converting into a mighty winged animal, her arms stretched as feathers grew along the length and her fingers sprouting wings. She felt the beak sprout from her nose and her feet turn into claws. She flew perching herself onto a mirror. She turned herself into a hunting hawk. Haymitch had also turned into a hawk.
Peeta walked into the room and was startled by what he saw. Peeta picked up Katniss's clothing from the floor. "Haymitch what is the meaning of this?"
"What brings you here your Highness?" Haymitch replied with a question.
"I felt something was off with Fletcha."
"Ah, the bond. Yours is strong," Haymitch said.
"What happened to her?" Peeta had his hand on the pommel of his sword.
"She's turned herself into a bird, and now it is my turn," Haymitch said.
"Convertatur in corpus potens venatione accipitris." All at once Haymitch morphed into a hawk. Haymitch flew around the room until he found a perch on the back of a chair.
"Fletcha?" He whispered and Katniss flew to him, her wings flapping languidly in the air. Peeta put his arm out and she gracefully landed there. His eyes looked toward where Haymitch sat perched.
Katniss looked him in the eyes trying to connect with him. Peeta blinked suddenly. He could see things through her eyes now. She flashed pictures in his mind, the outdoors, the palace.
"You want me to release you both so that you can go to the palace and explore?"
Katniss opened her beak and squawked.
Peeta gently touched her neck with the back of his hands, awe in his voice. "You are powerful my love."
Katniss squawked once more.
Peeta opened the window and Katniss and Haymitch flew out. It was time to find out what King Snow was up to and how to break into his white palace.
So what did you guys think of Katniss's growing powers...this is a nod to one of my besties' (Norbertsmom) favorite movies Ladyhawke -
Special thanks to my beta Jrosely, who did a wonderful job this week and who liked the chapter. Thank you to everyone who is following reading liking and commenting it means the world to me.
Next week - we go back to Snow's camp...