The time following the Games, the interview, and the incident with Snow blended together. It was a blur where days turned into weeks and it became impossible to tell them apart.

Beth had kept in contact with Beetee and Wiress, meeting up with them occasionally. They got along well, it was a professional friendship forged by a mutual traumatic experience. All three of them went through unspeakable things that other people would never be able to fully understand. It was never the topic of an open discussion but there was a certain comfort in being able to relate to someone.

The Capitol portrayed being a victor as something to be sought after. Something that would put them right in the center of a life filled with luxury and extravagance. Being a victor did nothing but isolate Beth. The handful of people she had regular contact with before the Games slowly faded away. They tried to include her but where Beth enjoyed talking to them before, she couldn't see the point in adding to the conversation now.

So when her 19th birthday rolled around a couple days before the victory tour began, she celebrated by having a drink with her mentors on the porch of her house.

Every stop of the victory tour was pretty much the same.

Smile for the cameras.

Recite a speech.

Thank the Capitol.

Over and over and over again.

The only difference was her outfit.

And the knot in her stomach that seemed to get tighter with every stop that they got closer to the Capitol.

Beth was standing in front of a huge mirror while her stylist and his assistants applied their finishing touches to her outfit.

It was the final night of the victory tour and everyone around Beth was excited for the party at the presidential palace.

Beth studied her reflection. Her gown was a floor length flowy gray and silver dream. It had multiple layers; the top one was sheer and covered in glitter. The neckline was a deep v going down to just above her belly button. The leg slit in the middle of the dress was too close to showing too much for her comfort but at least it made walking around easier so Beth considered it a good tradeoff.

They had put her hair up in a bouncy ponytail, making her hair end just below her waist.

Soft music, chatter, and laughter rang in Beth's ears when she walked up the stairs to President Snow's Mansion. She felt her mentor's presence just a step behind her as she made her way through the masses of bodies trying to talk to her, congratulate her, and spend time with her. All eyes were on her, the main attraction of the evening.

Beth took a deep breath and grabbed a glass of champagne from a nearby tray. The next hour was conversation after conversation, most of them boring and meaningless to her, but she smiled, and curtsied, and lost track of how many men kissed her hand or touched her waist.

After a while Beth became aware of eyes following her every step. But it was different from the rest. She couldn't pinpoint their exact location, but they were burning into her skin, making her shiver and sending chills down her spine in a room that was otherwise uncomfortably warm.

The music changed, indicating that it was time to dance, when Beth suddenly heard that low voice again. It had been haunting her dreams. And now she was once again face to face with President Snow.

'Would you do me the honors, Miss Black?'

Snow extended his hand - both of them knew it wasn't a question - and Beth reached for him without hesitation. He led her to the middle of the dancefloor and smoothly pulled her against him. His hand made its way to the small of her back and Beth could feel the heat radiating off of him. Every part of her body that came in contact with him felt on fire and she just knew that it had to have been him watching her all evening.

The huge ballroom was filled with even more people than before.

'Do you see them watching you?'

His mouth was so close to her ear that she could feel his breath caressing her cheek.

'Everyone has been looking at me and trying to talk to me all evening.'

'Miss Black, we both know that that is not what I am talking about. Do you see them watching you move? Every man undressing you with their eyes, desperately hoping that the slit in your dress would move in their favor? Tell me how many of them have tried to get their hands on you tonight.'

Beth had heard rumors, hushed horror stories, about the fate of pretty female victors before, and even if she hadn't, she was far from stupid. Beth knew what she looked like and what effect she had on men.

But she suddenly became all too aware of her front pressed against Snow. She despised him, she was intrigued by him, and the feeling of his strong arms leading her skillfully across the dancefloor made her lightheaded.

'Every man?'

For the first time this evening Beth looked directly at Snow. She studied his face, watching for a reaction. She had to admit he was a well groomed, well dressed man. And judging by the feel of him through his suit he was in quite good shape for his age.

The corner of his mouth moved for a second. Exposing pearly white teeth. His grip on her tightened before he let out a low chuckle.

'Such a witty little girl. Has anyone ever told you that you're too smart for your own good?'

'Not yet, would you like to be the first?'

Beth's words rang in her ears as the pair came to a standstill in the middle of the dancefloor.
It was starting to get crowded, so Beth took her chance. She pulled her hand from his shoulder and took a step back.

'Please excuse me. It was a pleasure, President Snow.'

Fighting her way through a sea of bodies in dresses twice their size proved to be a more difficult task than Beth had hoped. She needed a moment. All she wanted was a moment to herself, to collect her thoughts.

She walked almost aimlessly through the intimidating halls of the palace until she turned a corner and found herself in complete peace and quiet.

She hadn't wandered all that far, just far enough, she could still hear the party going on a hallway away.

With her back pressed against the cold stonewall she allowed herself to close her eyes in an attempt to calm herself.

She pushed herself away from the wall and opened her eyes again, Snow was back in front of her.

'It could be considered quite rude to leave in the middle of a conversation.'

Alarm bells went off in her head. Snow's soft spoken words were laced with danger. To Beth every word out of his mouth sounded soothing and unsettling at the same time.

Beth instinctively tried to take a step back, putting herself back against the wall. Her eyes darted around the empty hallway. The relief she had felt from being away from the crowd turned sour.

'I…'

'Cat got your tongue? Don't tell me you left all that bravery behind on the dancefloor?'

Snow was mocking her or was he challenging her? Beth wasn't sure.

She pressed her lips together and stared at him for a moment.

'I could ask you the same thing, Sir. I answered your questions, if I remember correctly you didn't answer mine. A conversation could be considered over based on that.'

Clearing her throat did little to hide how breathy her voice sounded.

'So, please excuse me. I'm sure people are looking for me, it would break my heart to leave the people of the Capitol waiting.'

Beth turned to her right and attempted to step away from him.

His arm shot up and blocked her path.

'Let them wait.'

It was a clear order Beth wasn't intending on following. She spun around and tried to walk the other way instead, only to be blocked by his other arm. Back where she started, Beth was trapped between the wall and him. His body was so close she felt like she was back to dancing with him. But this was a different kind of dance.

'You seem nervous, Miss Black. Are you trying to run away?'

Beth considered throwing an answer back at him, but she couldn't think of one. She considered denying what Snow had accused her of, but she knew he would be able to see right through any answer she could give him. Beth had no option other than to stay right where she was, looking up at him through hooded eyes. When had he moved closer?

His smell and the heat radiating off of him were clouding her judgment and took away the fast thinking that she was so proud of.

'I do believe I owe you an answer to your question. Wouldn't you agree?'

Beth's heart felt like it was about to explode when Snow leaned in. His lips were almost touching hers when he stopped.

'You really are an extraordinary little thing.'

He was pinning her to the wall with his body. His hand had made its way to the side of her neck and he lightly ran his fingers up and down. Beth flinched at the contact. Her arms that had hung limply at her sides moved to grab his wrist. Later she would try to tell herself that she was trying to remove his hand from her body, but a voice inside her head taunted her by saying it was the exact opposite.

Either way, Snow was unhappy with the attempt. He took a hold of both her wrists and used one hand to pin them against the wall above her head. She was completely at Snow's mercy.

'Your spirit is entertaining, but I value obedience.'

His hand was back at her throat, slowly trailing down until he was stroking her collarbone.

'So that brilliant head of yours is either going to keep you out of trouble, or get you into it.'

Fingers moving lower, caressing exposed skin.

'You'll be happy to behave.'

Beth was breathing fast, her legs felt weak, and for the moment she was all too happy about Snow holding her in place.

His almost painful grip on her waist brought her back to reality.

'Won't you?'

The heat radiating off his body was overtaking her and pooling between her legs. She was rubbing her thighs together and clenching her fists.

'Yes.'

It was more of a whimper than an answer.

'Good girl.'

Beth was arching her back, pressing herself into him. She was desperate for something - anything. His light touches weren't enough. They did nothing but drive her crazy.

Her eyes shot open when the realization hit her.

She was attracted to him.

'Please.'

Beth wasn't sure what she was asking him for. She had fooled around with boys and been with men before, but no one had ever managed to make her feel like that. And he had barely touched her. She needed more. More of whatever this was.

Snow chuckled into her neck while his arm wrapped around her waist.

'But my dear Miss Black, it would break my heart to leave the good people of the Capitol waiting.'

He removed his hands from her body and took a step back. A look of confusion that turned to anger appeared on Beth's face as her legs gave out under her and she slowly slid down the wall.

Snow straightened his suit jacket, adjusting the ever present rose in his pocket, while Beth looked up at him from the floor. Her eyes followed him as he walked away.

Beth wanted to scream. She steadied herself on the wall and slowly got up. Giving her dress a couple pats, smoothing out the non existent wrinkles, she turned.

Her cheeks felt hot and she was uncomfortably aware of the fact that her panties were definitely wet as she entered the ballroom and mixed in with the crowd that seemed to be on the move.

Beetee appeared out of nowhere, a glass, filled with the brightest blue liquid Beth had ever seen, in hand.

'Where have you been, Beth? Wiress was starting to worry. We saw you dance with President Snow and then you just disappeared.'

'What are you talking about? If you must insist on details, I had to go to the bathroom after my dance with Snow.'

Whether her explanation convinced her mentor didn't really matter. Beth would rather die than mention what had really happened. She wasn't going to speak a word of this, not here, not in the state she was in, not before she had the chance to think things through.

Beth was sure that she looked a bit disheveled with her cheeks having more than just a healthy blush. At least no one had commented on it - so far.

Wiress joined them soon after, looking Beth up and down, and pulled them outside. The event was coming to a close with only one thing left on the agenda. Everyone was gathering in the gardens impatiently waiting for Snow to address them and conclude the evening. When the President stepped out onto the balcony that overlooked the gardens, a glass of champagne in hand, the guests started cheering.

Beth studied Snow, he looked as put together as always, not a hair out of place - completely unphased. No one would ever have guessed that anything out of the ordinary had happened. In Beth's mind Snow's voice faded into the background and blended in with the soft music. She couldn't focus on a single word, but she was certain she wasn't missing out on anything other than another generic speech.

When the fireworks lit up the sky behind the presidential palace and Snow toasted the crowd his eyes locked with hers.