"What the hell are we watching?" Taiya asked in shock.

"Did she just…" Finnick trailed off.

"She did," Tyler confirmed.

The two mentors and Taiya stared at the screen in shock. Never had someone from District 12 volunteered before.

"What does that mean?" the boy tribute from 4 asked.

"It means it's going to be very hard to get media attention," Tyler answered honestly as they watched Caesar repeat the reaping of District 12.

They all looked up at an avox as she entered the room and handed the phone to Moxie.

"Hello?" Moxie answered with her posh Capitol accent. "Oh of course darling. Taiya," she called out. "It's your fiancé."

Taiya immediately leapt up from the couch and grabbed the phone. "Hey. Have you seen?"

"Yeah, that's why I'm calling actually. I wanted to see what you all thought of it. I'm not quite sure what angle to play here."

"I think we're all just surprised. She's the first-ever volunteer from 12," she admitted as she left the room so the tributes couldn't hear. "Tyler said that she'll get all the media attention."

"Did you see my interview from last night?"

"No, I went to bed early. You didn't tell me you were doing an interview."

"With Caesar Flickerman. Which room on the train are you in? I'll send it to you."

"I'm in my room."

"Hang on, I'm sending it to your screen now." A moment after he said that, her television screen turned on and his interview with Caesar began playing.

"Your hair looks good," she joked. "I'm going to need your conditioner brand." She then began paying attention to his interview as he discussed the Hunger Games history.

"I think it's grown from that. I think it's something that knits us all together," he smiled as he talked with Caesar. Taiya knew this interview was something he'd be proud of. But it was something that made her skin tingle. He was falling away from her. He was falling into the glitz and glamour that came with the Games. This was what she'd always feared. That as he grew older he would lean more into the lifestyle he rebelled against in his younger years.

"It's a good interview," Taiya complimented.

"You think so? I felt good about it."

"We're going to pull up to the Capitol in two hours. Do you want to meet me at the station or catch up later?" she asked.

"No, I'll meet you at the station. I wouldn't mind your opinion on the parade set-up before I have to head back to the Gamemaker's centre."

"Not a problem. I'll see you later," she said before hanging up.

"I saw you fall off the stage at the reaping," Taiya smiled as she spotted Haymitch.

"Shame they didn't cut that from the broadcast," he smiled as he messily kissed her cheek in greeting. "Where's your fiancé?" he mocked.

"He was having another interview with Caesar, but he'll be at the Gamemaker centre by now," she answered as she fixed the man's collar.

"These parades are more fun when you don't have to sit with the Capitol freaks right?" he laughed and she just rolled her eyes. She'd gotten to sit with her friends the past three years that Seneca had been in charge.

"What's up with your girl? The volunteer?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know how she'll go," he admitted. "She's too angry. It'll be hard work getting people to like her. The boy's charming, they'll like him, but I don't think he has the stomach for it. They're both fighters though. How about your kids?" he asked and she just shook her head sadly. "Well. At least we have good liquor," he smirked as he pulled a flask out of his jacket.

"Urgh, I thought I smelt sea water," a voice insulted her as they came to stand next to her.

"Don't you mean, 'hello my favourite person in the world'," Taiya smiled.

"If I meant that I would've said that," Johanna retorted. "I'll take some of that," Johanna smiled as she took the flask from Haymitch and took a large sip. "Why aren't you drunk?" she asks Haymitch. If there's one thing you could count on, it was Haymitch being drunk every moment he was in the Capitol. Was he drinking? Yes. But was he drunk? No.

"He thinks one of his kids is a chance this year," Taiya smiled.

"The volunteer?" Johanna scoffed.

"Oh good god," Taiya groaned as the parade started and she saw the tributes from her district. "Those poor children are dressed as fish!"

"Mine will be dressed as trees," Johanna sighed and they both turned to look at Haymitch who was smirking.

"They're going to be coal miners aren't they?" Taiya asked.

"Not this time," he smiled.

"Holy shit," Taiya breathed as she watched the Capitol crowd rise to their feet. The District 12 tributes were on fire. Taiya looked down at Haymitch who was smiling.

"Cinna. He's a new stylist, revolutionary ideas," he carefully worded for Taiya and Johanna, who quickly exchanged glances at his hidden comment. "Besides, I told you the girl needed help being likeable. This might just do it."

"Might want to be careful around your tributes Haymitch," Tyler joked as he approached the group. "Stand too close and you'll self-ignite. You're not drunk?" he asked in confusion as he also noticed Haymitch's changed personality.

"I've got a job to do Silvergaze," Haymitch smirked. "Besides, it's a fake flame."

As Haymitch chuckled at his own joke, Taiya's attention moved to a high-pitched cackle she heard from behind them. She didn't need to turn her head to know that it was Finnick and his date for the night. Even though she and he would never interact in front of the Capitol people, these women still seemed to want to stake their claim on him in front of her.

"Ok, let's go, wait downstairs," Tyler held his hand out, ushering the group away from Finnick.

"You know," Haymitch whispered. "Ever since you made your little deal with Crane, your jealous face has been harder to hide."

"Shut up Haymitch," she scowled as the President began his speech.

Ever since Seneca had been Gamemaker, the rules she had to follow had loosened significantly. Snow wanted her to attend Gamemaker activities with him so she could whisper ideas to him. But she was also now able to spend more time with the mentors, so long as no Gamemaker secrets were given away. She and Seneca had found a good equilibrium in their relationship. It wouldn't be a stretch to consider him one of her best friends now.

The group reached the tribute mounting area at the same time as the tributes returned in on their chariots. Taiya followed Tyler over to the District 4 chariots, temporarily taking over on behalf of Finnick, who was regularly prevented from being able to properly mentor. They'd had to start tag teaming, and she'd cover whenever he wasn't able to be around.

"You looked great guys," she smiled.

"Not as good at 12," the boy said sourly. "Everyone was watching them."

He wasn't wrong.

Taiya was sitting with Seneca as they watched over the first day of training.

"She was getting an excellent crowd response," Taiya said, as she gave him more details of the crowd's reaction last night. "Haymitch said she's not very easy to like, which is why her outfit was so important."

"It worked," Seneca nodded. "Ratings were through the roof," he noted and Taiya looked over at him. Ratings. That was his sole focus when it came to the Games now.

"You took my knife!" a tribute yelled, attracting all the Gamemakers' attention as the male tribute from 2 began fighting with the male from 6.

"He's the front runner, according to the ratings," Seneca told her.

"Of course he is. He's from 2. That temperament though, won't get him far. Especially not outside the Games," she whispered the last part in an attempt to remind Seneca of the true impact of the Games.

He seemed to have missed her hint though because he immediately changed the conversation. "You're invited to dinner tonight as well. With Romulus and his new girlfriend. We're going to a new fusion restaurant. I told him you'd come. It's just around the corner from my new apartment. So I was thinking you come with me after this and I'll show you around the apartment, then we go for dinner and you just stay at mine tonight?"

"Sounds like a plan," Taiya smiled numbly as she looked forward. He was falling deeper and deeper into the Capitol hole.

"Hey check it out," he tapped her arm and pointed. "The girl from 2 is almost as good at knives as you," he teased and she smiled lightly.

"Almost," she emphasised. "But not quite."

Taiya sat there sipping her drink as the tributes walked in one by one for their scoring. She hated this. She remembered the fear. And as much as she may care about Seneca, watching the way he and his Gamemaker friends conducted themselves during this was deplorable.

Haymitch's male tribute had just thrown some of the heaviest weights clear across the room and they barely even cared. At least they were now down to the last tribute and then she'd be able to head back to her room. Finnick had the night off and they'd agreed to have a covert hang-out session with Johanna in their bedroom. Convert because they didn't want Tyler or Johanna's mentor partner Blight saying they couldn't stay up until the early hours of the morning.

The girl from 12 immediately headed for the bow and arrow, picking it up before turning to see none of the Gamemakers even looking. "Katniss Everdeen. District 12," she announced, hoping to get some attention from those who will score her.

It took Taiya tapping Seneca on the leg for him to turn away from his conversation and pay attention to the girl.

Seeing she had their attention, she turned to the dummy to begin to shoot, only her arrow didn't hit the target and it landed to the left of the dummy.

Whatever small amount of attention she had commanded, instantly vanished. The Gamemakers laughed and turn back to each other. Huffing in irritation Taiya leaned back in her chair and somehow managed to meet the eyes of Plutarch Heavensbee. She's unsure how she felt about Plutarch. At times he could have a genuine conversation with her and she felt as though they could get on quite well. And then at other times, she'd notice him surveying her a little too closely, and that made her uncomfortable.

But currently, he was the only Gamemaker who was still paying some degree of attention to the girl from 12, who had immediately stormed over to grab a new arrow. She drew back and let the arrow fly, hitting the dummy dead in the centre. The only ones who seemed to notice were Taiya and Plutarch. Taiya let out a humph of acknowledgment before turning around to make a comment about her shot to Seneca, only to find he was no longer in his seat.

"Hey, hey, hey, who ordered this pig? Who ordered this pig?" he laughed as he and his friends admired a roast pig.

Rolling her eyes, Taiya turned back to the tribute who was obviously livid. The tribute made brief eye contact with Taiya before grabbing another arrow and sending it barreling towards the Gamemakers. It skewered the apple in the pig's mouth and pinned it to the wall behind.

All the Gamemakers went dead silent as they turned to stare at the girl in a mixture of rage and shock.

"Thank you, for your consideration," she snarled sarcastically and bowed before swiftly exiting the room.

Taiya immediately jumped up and ran to Seneca who was staring at the wall in shock. "Can I tell Haymitch?" All he did was nod and she quickly pecked his cheek before running out of the room.

"Haymitch! Haymitch!" she yelled as she spotted him at the bar talking to potential sponsors. He'd been keeping a clean act these Games, he was actually working, not drinking. "I beg your pardon gentlemen," Taiya interrupted. "But I need to borrow Haymitch for just a moment," she smiled sweetly before yanking Haymitch out onto the balcony.

"Do you mind sweetheart? I'm working the crowd here."

"You'll never guess what just happened!" Taiya smiled excitedly.

"Oh god," his face fell. "What did she do?"

"It was brilliant! She missed her first shot, and then they all went back to chatting amongst themselves. But then she did an excellent second shot, but no one was looking. Oh my god Haymitch, what she did next, it was so amazing. She shot an arrow at them!"

"At them?" Haymitch gaped.

Taiya nodded in excitement. "At an apple. They ordered a roast pig and they were more interested in that than her. So she shot the apple right out of its mouth!"

Haymitch smirked. "Tell me what their faces were like. Come on, I want details."

"Fury, shock and admiration all across them. Oh my god, Haymitch it was so hilarious. I asked Sen if I could tell you and then I ran straight here."

"Haha!" Haymitch laughed as he shook his head. "I mean this should probably stay just between us. I don't want anyone else knowing she can shoot."

"Of course, the scoring sessions are private. I was only allowed to tell you because she would've told you anyway," Taiya shrugged. "Plus I think if 2 found out it would put an even bigger target on that poor girl's head." Taiya then laughed, "she said at the end 'thank you for your consideration' and bowed. Holy crap Haymitch, I've never seen those old pompous fools humbled like that."

"I'm very jealous you got to see it," Haymitch sighed in disappointment. "I would've given anything." He paused before he asked the question he needed to ask. "How did they take it? They can't punish those kids any more than they already have."

"Seneca's fair," Taiya assured. "I don't think he'd let them mark her down for that. Seneca was one of the few who seemed genuinely impressed. If anything, I'd be worried about how high her score will be."

"Is there a reason he said I had to come?" Taiya asked nervously. Both she and Seneca had been summoned to the Presidential garden.

"No," Seneca said quietly as he lead her through the gardens. "I have no idea what he wants to discuss." They rounded the corner to see the President pruning the rose bushes. "President Snow," Seneca greeted cordially.

"Ah Mr Crane," he smiled as he turned to them. "And the lovely Miss Ambersnow. I am sure you are wondering why you were brought here today," he mused as he sat down. "It's concerning the girl from 12."

"She's becoming quite popular sir," Seneca noted.

"Even so. An 11?" he asked, obviously irritated at the high score the Gamemakers had given her the previous evening.

"She earned it," Seneca explained, quickly exchanging a sideways glance with Taiya.

"She shot an arrow at your head," Snow snapped.

"Well, at an apple," Seneca laughed.

"Near your head," Snow muttered, making Taiya smirk slightly. The President was not as impressed with this young tribute as Seneca was, and the exchange was mildly amusing. "Sit down," he urged Seneca to sit beside him. Seneca walked forward and sat down on the bench as Taiya came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Seneca, why do you think we have a winner?" Snow asked, making Taiya stiffen.

"What do you mean?" Seneca asked cautiously as Taiya squeezed his shoulder in warning.

"I mean," Snow sighed irritably. "Why do we have a winner?" Seneca clearly didn't know what answer the man was looking for. "I mean if we just wanted to intimidate the districts why not round up 24 of them at random and execute them all at once?" he asked, carefully observing both Taiya and Seneca's reaction. Seneca's was much more telling, he immediately diverted his attention from Snow and looked up at Taiya.

That was why Snow wanted her here. He wanted to observe the natural dynamic between the two of them to ascertain how much control she really had over him.

"It'd be a lot faster," Snow smiled, pulling Seneca's attention back to him.

"Hope," Taiya answered for him.

"Correct Miss Ambersnow," he smiled. "Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. Would you not agree Miss Ambersnow?"

"I would," she replied quietly. It was well covered, but it was a threat. He knew how much large a motivator hope was for her, and she knew how easily he could crush her hope. Her hope lay in life with Finnick. Pull Seneca into line or her hope would be taken away was the warning.

"A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it's contained."

"So?" Seneca asked in confusion. He was not picking up on Snow's hidden messages as well as Taiya was.

"So. Contain it," Snow warned harshly.

"Right," he nodded confused.

"Good day," he dismissed and Taiya quickly grabbed Seneca's hand and pulled him away.

"Did you understand what that was about?" Seneca asked quietly.

"Yes, you idiot, come on," she pulled him behind a hedge so they could talk without being overheard. "He's angry," she explained irritably. He never should have given her an 11. "He's worried this girl is going to spark inspiration in the districts that you can't control. She's someone from an outer district showing up the careers. No one is happy about that except those who want change. If they put their hope behind her, you risk a spark becoming an inferno."

"So what am I meant to do?" he asked.

"Make sure she dies in the Games. That's what he means by containing it."

"But people love her, the longer she stays around, the higher the viewership will be," Seneca argued.

"That's not what the Games are about to him. It's not about popularity, it's about control," she warned. "Don't let it get away from you. He's blaming you for her popularity!" Taiya sighed. "Let's just hope the careers go straight for her because of her score," she huffed before walking away. She was terrified. She could feel a change in the air, and she didn't know whether that was good or bad.