Chapter 65: Apologies and Eulogies
Sera,
I know I shouldn't be writing this letter so soon after you'd left. Barely three weeks apart but things are not going so well for us. I know you told us not to bother you while you're in the Capitol. I had to.
Talissa had an accident while taking care of the snapdragons. She's not doing too well and if that wasn't enough, Faro came down with a heavy fever.
Miel and I are afraid that he'll spread it to Dia. We've kept them apart with Clarisse taking over your house to look after Dia while I watch over Faro. It's not easy and it's only getting harder with Miel being given extra shifts.
Actually, everyone's been getting extra shifts at the plants, not just Miel. Some plant worker that came around to the shop joked the other day that they wanted to get some aconite from us. I had to tell them we don't sell those things unless he had a prescription for something specific.
It's hard for us and I can't manage both the shop and the kids. Clarisse has been a big help. I'd ask Oran but he's been busy with Mirri, they moved in or something and he managed to snag a job at Clemensia 2, the water plant Miel used to work at before they transferred him over to the wind farms.
I know it's hard to ask but we'd really appreciate it if by some means you or Huxley could come back soon. We really need all the help we can get and I fear for Faro and Dia. They're not the healthiest right now.
Your favorite cousin,
Lennox Fairburn
Unfurling the letter in her hand, Sera read it to herself a few times, memorizing the printed letters and committing them to her memory under the light of the fireplace and artificial lights above.
Nox's letter crinkled under her heavy gloved touch. Talissa had an accident taking care of the snapdragons. She read that sentence over and over again.
Faro was ill. Miel was being given more shifts. Nothing out of the ordinary. Five was always at full capacity whenever the games went on but she paused when she saw Oran's name. He'd been employed at Clemensia 2. That shouldn't have happened given his reputation and run-ins with the Peacekeepers.
They were understaffed. It was obvious that the plants were understaffed but she didn't realize exactly how understaffed they were if someone like Oran had been hired.
She paused again and read the paragraph again. Aconite. Oran wasn't the problem after all. There was just something going on that Five didn't know just yet but they could feel it. Something was coming.
Maybe the Capitol was preparing a defense before the rebellion had even kicked in. She needed to let Plutarch and Beetee or maybe Plutarch already knew. She didn't know.
Thinking about him gave her a headache. All he'd done since the games had begun preparations was ignore her until days and weeks passed and the last interviews with Caesar rolled around.
And then a bouquet appeared at Five's floor on the Training Center with a small barely visible note attached.
Two words. 'Trust me'. Those two words stared back at her stupidly, testing her patience and temper.
The note accompanied a bouquet of strange combinations that consisted of freesias, stemmed fir leaves, few stalks of eremurus and purple columbines. It was all wrapped in a gray nondescript packaging lacking any harmony, elegance or warmth.
A single look at the mismatched bouquet told her it was made by an amateur.
From the way the leaves of the flowers were cut in strange precise motions yet the order was all wrong. The colors didn't match and the packaging was very ugly—told her that it was the work of none other than Plutarch Heavensbee's assistant, Fulvia.
The little note crumbled under her touch, scrunching up into a solid shell as she balled up her fists and stared out the window where remnants of the afternoon rain still stained the glass.
Trust him?
That was asking a lot from her after he kept her in the dark for the Quell.
But what else could she do? Turn him in? A tempting thought if she weighed her options. She'd have little to lose.
Finnick was already going into the arena whether she liked it or not. He was going to get involved even if she backed out. He wanted this rebellion more than she ever did.
And if the rebels won, where would that put her?
"What's that?" Leora sat down next to her dressed in a strange two-piece metallic dress and pants-like outfit.
"What's what?" Sera asked in turn and held up Nox's letter. "Just a letter from home."
Leora lifted her feet off the ground and tucked one feet under the other, not caring if her shoes were touching the leather couch. "Your sister?"
"Cousin, actually." Sera carefully folded Nox's letter and placed it on her lap. "Seems like Talissa had a little accident and my brother's been too busy at the plant to help out."
"Poor thing."
"And if that wasn't bad, her eldest might've come down with a fever."
The older victor's eyes shook and her lips drew into a thin line. "That's…some series of misfortunes strung up there in Five."
"Seems like it."
She hummed under her breath. "Are you and Huxley planning to go back?" Wells asked. He'd snuck up behind the two in silence, half-dressed with his shirt untucked, his jacket missing and his hair a mess.
"I don't know." Sera answered, pressing down on the paper and creasing its cream skin. "It's kinda impossible to go back so soon."
Wells chuckled. "Not impossible."
"What's not impossible?" Huxley questioned. He didn't expect an answer nor did he wait for one. "Wells. Come back. Mabel wasn't done." He placed his hand on Wells' shoulder and pulled him back towards the door.
Wells tried to root himself to the floor and almost stumbled back, falling forward over the couch and landing on the rug with a dazed laugh. "Ha. That was fun." He leaned his head on the seat of the couch, looking up at Huxley. "Ah, but you two know it's not near damn impossible to go back early, right?"
"Yeah, we know."
Huxley dropped down to the floor and pulled Wells up. His normally flawless appearance was marred with tiredness and the result of sleepless nights appeared clear as day on his face with his eyes bloodshot and droopy.
"But," He heaved, trying to get Wells off the floor. "We're not in a hurry to go back, not if it means one of you will throw the game and…your life just so one of us can go back home."
"Really?" Wells and Leora said at the same time, sharing a pained look. "...Not even if your wife and kids aren't well?" Leora carried on.
Huxley's face ashened and his eyes darted side to side before they found Sera's. "Sera?" His voice shook uncontrollably when he called out her name. "What are they talking about?"
Again that stupid lump in her chest rose when Sera looked at Huxley's desperate pleading face. The letter on her lap felt heavy like an anvil.
With a shaky breath, she held up Nox's letter. "Nox sent a letter."
Huxley reached out and just before he was about to grab it. He closed his fists and shut his eyes. Then he opened his eyes and snatched the letter right out of his hands.
He scanned the contents, his lips moving alongside his eyes as he read it himself again and again. When he was done, he said nothing for what felt like the longest minute and then turned to Wells.
"Get off the floor, Wells." He jerked his head up and repeated his words. "Now would be nice and," He turned to Leora. "Get ready to go see Mabel."
"What did I do?" Leora sat up straight but didn't move off the couch.
Huxley rolled his eyes. "For one, you made it obvious that you're throwing the game."
She blew out some air and made a face. "Please as if I needed to get a 5 on the Training Scores to tell everyone that."
"Could've at least aimed for a 7 like Wells."
"I know it's a step down from what I got for my games—nothing impressive." Leora propped her chin on her arm.
Huxley scoffed. "A step down?" He echoed. "You got a 5. On average most of the returnees got 7 and above."
"And what about it?" Leora snapped, raising her voice. "District 12 got 12s. Two targets on their backs. I don't need that."
"Compared to the target we all have on our backs now?" Wells asked. "Or maybe it won't be that big in the arena for Twelve considering how much they've lobbied the other victors. Saw the girl on fire by Beetee and Wiress on day one of training and then Mags. She's going for the smart ones. If she got Mags," She spared a quick glance at Sera's face to gauge her reaction. "She gets Finnick. That's a stacked alliance."
Katniss had taken Sera's advice or she already had her own plans. Sera guessed the latter was true. Katniss seemed much smarter than Snow or the capitolites gave her credit for and all Sera did was give her a final push in the right direction.
"Why'd you get a 5?" Sera decided to shelve talks of Katniss and Peeta before either of them noticed her sudden interest in the conversation. No matter how blank faced she was, Leora would surely see through her.
"Because I did." Leora snapped.
"You could've at least tried." Huxley said.
"Why?" She fired back. "So Seraphine's reputation doesn't get damaged like yours did? Please," She sighed. "Everyone knows Seraphine's a better mentor than the rest of us—maybe not Uriel but she is pretty good and her reputation will be fine. Everyone knows…" She paused. "the problem is me."
The room went quiet and Wells reached out to her, clasping her hand with his as he buried their joined hands under his chin. Leora smiled sadly as Huxley shuffled towards Sera, avoiding the image in front of him.
But Sera could see it clear as day, Huxley's bloodshot eyes were moist and his limbs tense. He was upset. Who wouldn't be?
"Mabel's…waiting for you, Wells." Sera said after a moment of silence. "You should go. I'll send Leora in a minute."
"Five minutes." Huxley specified. "You're going in after five."
Leora nodded and let go of Wells. She watched in silence as he left her behind and she almost got up and followed him but stopped herself.
"Never thought I'd say this but I wish Ovid never stepped down." Leora said to herself and hugged her legs before burying her head between them. "Would've made things easier or maybe they should've brought Cygnus out from retirement."
"Cygnus isn't retired." Sera said quietly. "He has a shop on the upper side of the Capitol."
"Of course, he does. Everything's changed." She said to herself in a quiet child-like voice. "I missed a few targets."
Huxley narrowed his eyes on her. "Targets? For the evaluation?" She nodded. "On purpose?"
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
It took them by surprise to know that Leora was trying or tried to be best. "You were trying." Sera said out loud.
Leora lifted her head with a heavy breath. "And all it reminded me was that I'm not cut out for this." She replied with a thin smile before Creon hurried into the room.
Beads of sweat dripped down Creon's face, with his orange hair dye running down his neck as he hurried into the room. He had his little notepad out and frantically scribbled away. He looked up, trying to smile in greeting to Leora, Huxley and Sera, only to frown.
"Feet off the couch." He hissed out and flipped through the pages. "Mabel is doing her best to juggle all the work with her team so I'm begging you Leora, please for the love of all that's good and great in this world, work with me here!" He panted before muttering under his breath that he wasn't getting paid enough.
Leora cursed him out in response. Her voice died to a mutter as Creon grabbed her by her arm. He all but dragged her out into the hallway, leading her down the hall to one of the rooms where Mabel and her team had holed up.
The quiet ticks of the clocks filled the sudden silence that grew between Sera and Huxley. It wasn't the usual comfortable silence that the two were used to. It was an awkward and distant one. One that bred suspicion from Huxley.
When the sounds of Leora's muttered curses and her and Creon's combined footsteps had finally dwindled to a distant whisper, he crossed the room with purposeful strides, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.
Pressing his back against the tall silver double doors of the sitting room, he took a moment to collect himself before turning his attention to Sera.
"Who actually sent this letter?" He asked as he held up the folded letter in his hand.
Sera met his gaze, her expression guarded yet earnest. "It's from Nox," Her voice steady despite the lingering unease in the air. "Says it right there at the end."
Huxley raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I can read." Disbelief coloring his tone. "Odd that he didn't even mention your birthday,"
"My birthday." Sera blinked and repeated to herself.
"Your birthday." He repeated. "Today? Don't tell me you forgot again."
It was her birthday.
Her mind had completely skipped over the fact that she'd turned and managed to reach another year despite all the poisons she'd been testing and her sickness. She'd made another year.
Yet, the inexplicable dread in the pit of her stomach hadn't dissipated even after all those years.
Sera clutched her throat, pressing it ever so slightly as she stared down at the floor. Huxley's tired face softened and he crossed the room again to crouch down in front of her.
"And snapdragons aren't in season either." He whispered and watched her carefully as she met his heavy gaze. "You need to tell me exactly what's going on. From the beginning would be nice and don't try to weasel your way out—I can tell from the moment we got on that train—no, no. Not on the train, from the moment you came back last year—that you and Zephyr were up to something."
Sera's brow furrowed as she considered his words. She laughed. "Nox must've forgotten about my birthday—you know I forgot my own birthday, it's not a big deal."
"It's not?" Huxley asked. "You sure about that?" He slipped his hand into the inside of his coat and took out a small, heavy and an expensive-looking box.
"What's that?"
"Open it." He tossed the box at her and she caught it with ease.
Sera did just that. She followed his instructions and with some difficulty, she managed to open the box. A small gold bracelet stared up at her. Gold was expensive. She looked at Huxley with wide eyes and tried to give him the box back but he pushed it towards her.
"It's not much, Lissa and I know you don't like showy things and Lissa wanted to get you something with her own wages." He took the bracelet from the box and put it on her wrist. "I pitched in a little. Not too much. Ramiel and Nox got you matching earrings. Not the place to put on but I thought I'd give them to you now to jog your memory—we didn't forget anything. You did."
The small bracelet with tiny golden lilies attached stared up at her, dragging up her guilt. She was about to drop it into the box and return it, only to be stopped by Huxley.
He took the bracelet from her hand and carefully wrapped it around her wrist, his fingers accidentally grazing the black pearl ring on her ring finger—another gift. One from Finnick.
Huxley studied her for a moment, his gaze searching. "I know there's something you're not telling me," He said softly. "I don't know what it is but it'd be nice if you could let me know now before it's too late."
Sera's mind went blank as Huxley's words hung in the air, her guilt weighing heavily on her heart. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, her focus drifting to the surroundings of the room instead.
The artificial waterfall that usually adorned the corner had been replaced, now replaced by a wall of crackling lightning that illuminated the room with flashes of blue-white light and reverberated with the deep rumble of thunder.
The floor beneath her feet, once familiar, was now transformed into a striking pattern of silver and black marble veined with streaks of lightning.
She was like this floor in the Training Center, the insides were always changing and nothing was the same since she'd last won her games.
Her fingers lightly brushed against Huxley's arm and he looked up. He was patient as he'd always been with her and she was secretive with everyone like she'd always been.
"There's…something going on." She slowly said, confirming his suspicion. Huxley strained to hear her words and he beckoned her to continue with urgency. "I…have been working with a group—a large group of people…for…a rebellion."
When her admission finally registered, a surge of fury threatened to overtake him, but he quickly quelled it. He rose from the floor, his movements controlled yet filled with an intensity that matched the turmoil brewing within him.
"What were you thinking, Sera?" he demanded, his voice tight with emotion. "Do you realize what you've done? What you've just put our family through?"
Sera recoiled slightly at the accusation, her own emotions a tumultuous storm raging within her. "I had to do something," she insisted, her voice tinged with desperation. "No, I did do something. I couldn't just sit and do nothing."
"Why not?" He fired back. "I told you to do nothing. Why didn't you just listen?!" He heaved out his breaths and leaned against the windows. "Was it Zephyr? Did…did he…" He licked his dried lips. "...pull you into this mess?"
"No." She answered. "I pulled him into this."
He turned to the floor, shaking his head. "I told you—no, I begged you to keep your head down and shut up! Why didn't you just do as I said!"
"And I did!"
"Did you?" He asked. "Because if you did, we wouldn't be having this talk!"
"Don't raise your voice at me, Hux." She pleaded. "Don't." She begged. "Not if you don't know why I did what I did."
"Nobody cares about that, Sera." He threw back. "What matters is that if you're caught then you're not the only one going down—the kids? You remember them? Or your sister? Remember her? Or Miel and Nox? Clarisse? We have too much to lose for you to just throw yourself into a stupid rebellion that'll fail anyway."
"I have a backup plan for that."
"And what's that? It's not like you're playing both sides…" He trailed. A slow realization dawned on him and he threw his head back in frustration. "You're playing both sides." He hissed out. "Oh. You…never—ah! This isn't the arena, Sera! You can't use the same strategies out here! How many times have I told you that!"
"And I did listen!"
Huxley's frustration boiled over as he paced the room, his words laced with a mixture of disbelief and anger. "You risked everything—our safety, our lives—for what? For some misguided attempt at change? Did you even stop to think about the consequences?"
Sera met his gaze defiantly, her resolve unwavering. "I did what you said, Huxley," she shot back, her voice trembling with the weight of her words. "I listened to you, kept my head down. But it wasn't enough."
"Are you talking about the stuff you do at the clinic and at the orphanage?"
"I learned to manage that, okay but there's only so much I can do."
"Doesn't mean you had to join a stupid rebellion."
"Like I said, I played both sides. I worked with them once and left but you can imagine, it didn't work out in the long run."
"Did they force you to join or something?"
Sera looked away. "You know it could've been worse. I could've been sold."
"But you weren't."
"I barely survived being sold like the rest of them, and even then, I wasn't spared."
Huxley's anger faltered, replaced by a flicker of understanding as her words sank in. His face ashened and he gasped out in pain, shaking his sound while whispering in disbelief.
"What did you just say?" He asked, slowly making his way to her. "Sera, what did you just say?"
"You know what I said." She looked away, wrapping her arms around herself in a comforting embrace. "I did everything you and Emilia told me to. I kept my head down, did what the President asked me to but it wasn't enough. Snow's not the only one who called the shots—there's many more—he just has the last word."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that what I did wasn't enough to hide in the shadows but at least it was only once."
He trembled violently at her words. His bloodshot eyes felt like it would pop out of their sockets in his sudden outburst of despair and rage. "Who?" He asked. "Who was it?"
Quickly, she grabbed his arm, pulling him back before he managed to even get to the door. "And what are you going to do? Murder a Capitol politician?"
"Capitol politician?"
Sera bit her lips and cursed herself. Huxley wasn't stupid. He'd put two and two together and—
"That red-headed bastard!" He twisted his head around to look at her. "It was him, wasn't it?" He placed his heavy hands on her exposed shoulders and gently shook her.
Sera's stomach churned violently as Huxley's words echoed in her mind. Scarus. The mere mention of him sent shivers down her spine.
She felt as though she might vomit then and there. She couldn't bear to face Huxley's pitiful gaze. So she looked away, covering her face with trembling hands.
Just as the tension in the room reached its peak, Creon returned, his presence breaking the suffocating atmosphere. "What's going on? Why was the door closed?" He inquired.
Huxley's bloodshot eyes flickered with barely contained rage, but he managed to rein in his emotions. "Nothing, Creon. We'll join you shortly." He replied through clenched teeth.
Sera interjected, her voice surprisingly steady despite the turmoil raging within her. "No time, we're running a bit late." She mustered a smile and she pushed herself to her feet.
A shaky Creon nodded, biting his lips and swallowing up any questions he had about the sudden tension between the two. His keen eyes swept over the tense scene, lingering on Sera's new bracelet.
"That's a beautiful bracelet, Seraphine." He remarked. His attempt to lighten the mood. She appreciated it despite her dislike of the escort.
She forced another smile, her fingers unconsciously tracing the delicate gold chain. "Thank you, Creon. It's a birthday gift from Huxley and my family." She replied and glanced at Huxley, silently urging him to play along.
"It was her sister's idea." He said.
There was no more room for argument, at least not in front of Creon. He'd given up and even if he was angry at what happened, nothing would change if he acted. All he could do was bottle up his rage and follow whatever Sera had planned.
With a nod and an overly enthusiastic clap, Creon accepted their explanation, though a hint of curiosity lingered in his gaze. "Ah, that looks lovely."
He led them down the hall and out of the apartment where Wells and Leora were waiting in the elevator lobby.
"Happy Birthday!" He tried. "Another year gone by. Feels like yesterday you won." He babbled. "You know I graduated from University the year you won—I had to do an apprenticeship and shadow an escort from District 7 the year after, I remember it fondly as if it was yesterday and now—ah, so many victors return to the arena. It feels daunting, doesn't it?"
Wells and Leora stared at him blankly. They shared a look with Sera and Huxley. The latter of him was busy rubbing his eyes, trying to get rid of his oncoming sleepiness.
"You talk too much." Leora said, tapping her feet while Mabel fussed around her outfit, chastising her for scrunching up her blouse.
The District 5 escort turned a bright shade of orange-red; he hung his head in shame and apologized profusely. When he looked up, a very impatient Huxley glared at Creon and the escort shrunk under his gaze.
He apologized again but Huxley didn't care. Wells waved him off, complaining how they could all just play the interviews from their original games and it would make no difference.
Oh but it would.
Neither Sera or Huxley voiced out their thoughts but they were thinking the same thing. The worst thing the Gamemakers and Caesar could do was air the original interviews.
They didn't need reminders for the Capitolites that they were losing their beloved victors. It wasn't their aged appearances that had stuck with them but instead, their immortalized youthful faces that had survived the games.
No one would remember their aged faces as much as their young ones.
"And now the elevator's taking too long." Wells cursed and Creon looked back nervously at Huxley.
Before he could stutter out a response, the elevator appeared with a quiet 'ding' and the doors opened to reveal the party of District 4. The mentors and escort were mid-argument with Finnick. Mags was attempting to make peace with no success.
The District 5 team stared helplessly at the mess. Creon pulled at his sleeve and kept glancing around while biting his lips. He was going to rip his lips out completely if he kept that up. They were running late, sure, she understood but his anxiousness was starting to rub off on her too.
"...E-excuse me." He stuttered out and the argument faded.
But not before the older male victor, Reef, Sera vaguely remembered shouted. "Oh you think you know everything, don'tyou Finnick?!" His tanned face turned a furious red. "Why don't you mentor yourself?!"
"Sure," Finnick coolly replied. "Let's do that after we all stop making ourselves the circus for District 5's team."
"I thought you pressed down, Reef." The other older mentor hissed out. She wasn't that old compared to Mags. She was somewhere younger than Mags but older than Wells with wrinkles barely setting in around her clear blue eyes. Her brown hair was streaked with thin strips of white. "Can't do one thing right."
"So it's my fault, Kaia!"
Mags shook her head in disappointment, embarrassed at the show her district team had put on. She pulled back Four's mentors and with one look, silenced them.
"We'll wait for the next one." Huxley awkwardly stepped aside while Creon's veins popped. The District 5 escort was about to reach his limit.
"Or we'll take the stairs." Sera offered with a quick glance at a panicking Creon. The last thing she wanted to do was deal with his breakdown.
"Don't mind the riff-raff. There's plenty of space in here." Finnick pulled Sera in by the arm and motioned for the rest of Five's team to get on with his arm around her shoulder. "Besides, it'll be awfully rude for the birthday girl and her team to take the stairs."
"Ah, right! Birthday girl!" Creon spluttered out and closed his eyes, mentally cursing himself and drawing concern from everyone in the elevator.
"He's fine, right?" Reef asked, anger being replaced by concern.
Huxley shrugged and leaned back to give Mags some space to stand while Leora and Wells gave some blank answers, telling Reef they didn't know. Mabel pretended she was anywhere but there.
Leaving Sera the only one to look out for answers. She sighed and with a sweet smile, could only say. "Creon's just very…overwhelmed."
She patted Creon's arm and tried to calm him down. But he'd broken down and was muttering times of the day instead.
"Aren't we all?" Finnick laughed. "At least the birthday girl doesn't look so stressed."
"Oh believe me, I am."
"Want to talk about it?" He turned to her, attentive and ignoring the flares his mentors were sending him. "I'm all ears. How about after Caesar's interview, you and I celebrate your birthday?"
Sera smiled and rolled her eyes. "Thanks for your generous offer, Finnick but I think I'll pass."
"Your loss."
"How will I ever recover from this?" Sera shook her head and ignored Huxley's heated gaze. "I'll never know."
"You would if you just give me a chance."
"Finnick!" Reef hissed out, rubbing his temple between his fingers and removed Finnick's arm off her shoulders, letting it fall. He turned to Sera. "I'm so sorry about him. He…he just never learned to shut up."
Sera hummed under her breath, ignoring Reef. He turned a deeper shade of red. Not out of anger but out of embarrassment of being ignored.
Finnick's hand found hers, getting tangled in her skirts. The elevator stopped and he let go, leaving the elevator with a single look back.
With a deep breath, she stepped out. Leora was by her side, matching her careful steps. Her back straight and her eyes focused, Leora had lost her carefree demeanor the minute she'd stepped into the long waiting hall for Caesar's show.
Wells, on the other hand, was the same sluggish man who was half-drunk already. His hand was in Leora's and he was almost being dragged forward by her. It was a matter of time before Leora had left her behind and sped up.
Deliberately, Huxley lingered behind. He'd given up trying to mentor Wells. There was no point. The man was going mad with grief and there was no stopping him. He was more jaded about the games than anyone. The only thing that kept him going was the mere thought of a potential rebellion.
"You should be more discreet." Huxley said quietly.
"Hmm?" Sera looked up and Huxley sighed. "What was that for?"
"You know exactly what that was for?" Sera didn't respond. "The elevator. You and…"
"Oh. We were discreet."
He shook his head. "If that's discreet than Caesar's a minimalist."
She shrugged it off and took her place. Reef and others didn't notice so it didn't matter.
Neither Huxley or Sera followed after Leora to give her another warning not to curse at Caesar. A look at Leora told her it wasn't needed. She'd switched her attitude the minute she entered the waiting hall and Wells was there too to keep her in check.
Huxley had already given up. He didn't need to chase Wells but just make sure Wells wouldn't vomit all over Caesar. Creon could take over that so Huxley stepped aside and let the overly anxious escort handle his mentee.
Slowly, the other former victors flowed into the room one by one. Cashmere dragged her feet in the ground when she spotted Sera by the entrance with Huxley. A simple hesitation and she turned to her, her confident mask crumbled in an instant.
"Sera." Cashmere tried calling out to her in the middle of the small crowd of people.
At first, Sera pretended not to hear her, busying herself in a mundane conversation with Huxley about his children. Huxley played along well, acting as if Cashmere was the wind that whistled and nothing more.
"Sera-phine." Cashmere called out, louder than before.
Sera didn't even look at her. She couldn't. Not if she wanted to feel something that would ruin everything.
With a glance at the curious onlookers and her own brother, Cashmere began to walk towards Sera. She clenched her jaws and balled up her fists, rolling them against her shimmery top.
"Seraphine." Cashmere reached for her and grabbed her arm tightly. "You're ignoring me."
Sera shook her off as Huxley glared at Cashmere, ready to intervene at Sera's signal. "After what you did on the train, I am ignoring you."
"... I'm sorry." She whispered. Her face towards the floor with her blonde curls covering her face. "I'm sorry for thinking you knew but you have to understand, you lied to me." She hissed out.
"About?"
"You know exactly what I mean. It's about Fi—"
Sera grabbed Cashmere's hand and squeezed it tightly in warning. The black pearl bronze-gold ring on her gloved hand marked itself on Cashmere's pale skin. Cashmere let out a quiet hiss of pain but Sera didn't let go.
With a tight cloyingly sweet smile and a dark look in her eyes, Sera said. "We're friends, Cash. Friends don't need to apologize to each other."
Cashmere's eyes flickered with hurt and anger but Sera didn't let go. She couldn't pull more vigorously or she'd attract the attention of Caesar's staff nearby. Sera stared at her, hoping she'd understand the situation and let it go.
"So that's it then." Cashmere breathed out. That was the end of their friendship. "Pretty ring." She pointed to the ring on Sera's finger. "A birthday gift?"
"An early one." Sera replied with a cold warmth. "No hard feelings. I didn't mean for this to happen."
"You could've told me at least."
"I could've done a lot of things differently." And she'd spend the rest of her life thinking about the possibilities. Cashmere knew it too. "But I don't regret not telling you—given your circumstances, you would've—"
"You didn't trust me." Cashmere mouthed and Sera averted her eyes. "So you didn't but I trusted you."
"I know but we both know you would do the same thing if you were me." Sera said calmly, patting Cashmere's hand. "You would've kept it all to yourself too. Good luck for tonight and the tomorrows you'll get."
Cashmere laughed bitterly but her eyes were wet. "You're not scared."
"Should I be?"
"He might not make it." Cashmere replied. "You know how spiteful I can be."
Sera's smile deepened and Huxley stepped forward, ready to intervene at her signal. "You don't want to play the game, Cash. No one does. Not this time."
With a subtle motion of her head, Cashmere pointed towards Enobaria and Brutus in the distance, congregating around Augustus and Gloss along with Augustus' partner mentor.
"They do." She said, unfurling Cashmere's hand. "You know those two wouldn't turn this down for the world, they even volunteered."
"And they're not the only ones." Sera pointed out and Cashmere flinched. "But you're right. Those two are the outliers not the norm. The rest of you, don't want this. I know that and you know that."
"Doesn't mean we'll just give up and hold hands in the arena."
"Then do it outside." Sera let go of Cashmere's hand and let them fall. "Make them regret this game. You know you're tired of the whole thing anyway. One rebellious act isn't going to hurt." She breathed out, just quiet enough for Cashmere's ears and Huxley having to strain to even get an idea of what Sera said.
Cashmere laughed. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing." Sera replied innocently. "Nothing out of the ordinary for me. I'm just…encouraging a friend before I never see them again."
"Then keep that promise." She spat out, balling up her fists again. "When—if I don't make it, I don't want to see you where I go. Don't follow me. I don't ever want to see you."
"Cashmere."
Her eyes trembled and just for a second, she felt herself crack. Cashmere's trembling hateful yet pitiful gaze on her made her feel strange and small.
Guilt coming out of the darkest corners of her mind to haunt her. Cashmere was now all she could see.
No Eugene, Gaius or any ghost of the past, just Cashmere's pleading curse that haunted her when she left her without another look back. Sera was with Huxley again. Just Huxley and no one else.
"What makes her think you'll follow her?" Huxley asked.
Wrapping her arm around herself, Sera stared at the floor. Cashmere's curse echoed in her mind. "I don't…know." She wetted her painted lips and tried to muster up a smile, only for it to fall into a pained grimace. "She's out of her mind if she thinks I'll follow her into the arena or something. That's impossible. Reapings already done and everything is almost over."
That wasn't what Huxley meant. He crossed his arms and sighed. Sera was playing dumb. Just once he wished she would be honest with him and herself. But asking for honesty from Seraphine Reza was like asking for clemency from President Snow—impossible.
"That's not what she meant." Huxley muttered and Sera smiled. That stupid hollow smile again. He sighed and gave up. "Hope you keep that promise and don't follow after her or…" He swallowed and looked at Finnick. "Him."
"I can't make empty promises, you know that."
"That's funny." He said. "I thought you were good at that stuff."
"Not to you, Lissa and Miel, I'm not."
He didn't believe her. He left it at that and the two left with a quick look at Wells and Leora. The two had settled into a comfortable quiet. Wells was watching over Leora even though he'd already lost his mind to grief. His drunken focus was still on Leora.
What Sera didn't think about was bumping straight into Katniss Everdeen. She almost cursed out loud at her own stupid luck when she ran straight into Katniss' pastry shaped white gown.
Huxley had to hurry to catch her before she fell on top of Katniss. He scowled and steadied Sera before opening his mouth to say something to the young victor.
Sera tugged at his sleeve to divert his attention and he stopped. With a deep collected breath, he steeled himself and pulled Sera away to get as far as he could from Twelve's team.
But Sera didn't move. She'd let go of Huxley and stopped to study Katniss. "Sera." Huxley hissed out and walked back to grab her.
She didn't move. He couldn't drag her away in front of all those people. With his ever-present scowl, he slunk back into her shadow, watching over her.
"Hello again." Sera found herself greeting Katniss. "I didn't see you there."
Her white gown had caught her attention. A white swan rushing through the halls. The image of Plutarch's mockingjay was lost in the folds of her pastry-like gown.
With an awkward smile, Katniss pulled at the skirt of her gown and tried to greet her, apologizing as she moved. "Hello," She moved to the side and her skirt refused to comply. "I'm so sorry about this—it's—this thing—" She cursed to herself and tried to walk.
Sera held out her hand and bent down to fix her skirt before getting back up. "There." She said with a bright smile. "I think your skirt got tangled."
Katniss tried to smile in thanks but her miserableness peaked through with ease. She couldn't hide her distaste over her outfit very well. It was so much different than last time. Her stylist seemed to have oddly missed the mark.
"You're not used to gowns, are you?" Sera clasped her hands together, covering her ring from Katniss' gaze. "It took me a while to get used to those things. The trick is to—"
"Kick and walk." She finished for Sera. "I know. My stylists told me but this is just—it has a mind of its own."
"Your stylist tried to do something different, huh?"
"Something like that." She nervously looked off to the side, gnawing at her lips. Sera reached for her and tapped her hand to stop her from ruining her makeup. The show wasn't over yet. "Thank you."
"No worries."
Sera took her hand back and looked at her, really looked at Katniss. The pastry shaped gown looked so familiar—so much like—
Oh.
It was only when she noticed Peeta in a matching white suit complete with gloves did she put two and two together.
Katniss was in a wedding gown. Not just any other wedding gown. It was a Capitol-style gown and Sera knew that because she'd seen several extravagant ones just like that when she accompanied the President or herself was invited to a few.
There was no way Twelve could afford that extravagance. Sera's eyes lit up in interest and a grin almost appeared on her delicately painted face. Katniss' stylist didn't pick the dress.
"President Snow must've been…very devastated by the cancellation of your and Katniss' wedding." She said to Peeta who'd slipped behind Katniss.
Katniss looked over her shoulder at Peeta and then back Sera. Both of their masks cracked at Snow's mention. Their bright eyes dimmed and hardened. Peeta's inviting smile had been wiped clean at Sera's words.
"I wasn't aware President Snow was devastated by our canceled wedding." Peeta remarked. A clear lie that Sera could see through. "Thank you for letting us know."
"Well, you have my sympathies." She added. "Playing the game is very hard." Peeta nodded, understanding exactly what she meant.
"...Thank you." Katniss let out a heavy breath. Peeta slipped his hand into hers.
No rings on their fingers. Their stylists were very sloppy and Sera was becoming very reckless like Huxley had said. She made a note to herself to take the ring on her finger off and hide it later.
"Will you be rooting for us?" Peeta asked innocently.
"Everyone's hoping for a miracle that there's more…victors than last year—I guess I am too. It would be nice to see you two again." Sera answered diplomatically.
Peeta laughed. "That didn't answer my question. I was wondering if you were rooting for us—you know because we're the new ones."
"And you were hoping to play the pity card." Sera joked and Peeta shrugged, playing along. "Well, if you have to know my answer. I'm rooting for everyone," She paused and leaned in closer to Peeta. This time Katniss did the same with a quick glance at Peeta's sudden pink face. "Except maybe Brutus and Enobaria. No offense to them but…they're a little…" She spared a quick glance at the vicious pair. "insane." She finished.
"So they're a threat."
Sera smiled. "Who isn't?" She said. "But I'd watch out for those two and maybe the siblings. Not everyone's hoping for…ceasefire in the arena." She dropped her voice to an almost whisper and looked at Katniss as well. "Some people like playing games."
Katniss nodded along, digesting her words but her narrowed eyes never relaxed. She pulled at Peeta's sleeve, bringing him closer to her and asked. "What about you? Do you…like playing games?"
In response, Sera looked above Katniss and Peeta's heads at the clock on the wall counting the seconds and minutes left until Caesar's show would begin.
Katniss and Peeta waited impatiently for her answer while Huxley just watched as her shadow. Sera stepped back and turned to her brother-in-law.
"Oh, where are my manners?" She covered her mouth with a faux embarrassed smile and a soft laugh. "I forgot…to introduce my partner and former mentor—this is Huxley."
A lazy nod from Huxley and he stepped back into her shadow. "The victor of the 66th Games." Peeta recognized him. "You were pretty famous the year after for being the first non-Twelve victor to mentor two tributes."
Huxley was taken aback and without even looking at Huxley knew that his heart had hardened at the mere mention of his games and the aftermath. He'd let both of those tributes die.
The 67th Games were controversial for Huxley. His tributes had begged him in the arena for sponsored goods but Huxley had allegedly ignored them. The rumors and speculations spiraled with many people calling him heartless and even claiming he never trained them at all.
All of which was true.
Huxley never denied any of the rumors. His reputation soured like he wanted in the Capitol with many people choosing to ignore him. It wasn't like he was interesting to them in the first place.
All he had to give them was a statuesque handsome face. But a pretty face was a dime a dozen when it came to victors so he was forgotten just like that.
He only confirmed the rumors when Miel had jokingly asked once at a family dinner. Aunt Dahlia had promptly changed the subject and tried to lighten the mood but the damage was done. Talissa moved past it, Miel ignored it while Clarisse had never forgotten it.
All of it was unburied when Sera was reaped and people had written Huxley off as a terrible mentor. It kept her odds low until the final hour of the games when she was in the top five.
"Only because my partner had a medical emergency on the train to Capitol." He snapped and turned his head away to cool himself.
"A medical emergency?" Katniss echoed to herself.
"Porter Millicent Tripp didn't have a medical team?" Peeta questioned.
"Porter?" Huxley asked and Peeta nodded. "Porter wasn't my partner."
"I didn't realize Leora Shelley was sick." She heard Katniss mumble to herself.
Sera pursed her lips and almost smiled. There Katniss and Peeta went again calculating their odds but they had the wrong numbers. Leora was not the mentor that year and neither was Porter.
"Actually, his partner for that year was Estelle Clarence or Weathers depending on who you ask." Sera corrected the two. "She had a…" She swallowed. "a miscarriage on the way to the Capitol so she was rushed to the hospital and exempted from mentorship that year and the following to recover."
Peeta's eyes widened and he bowed his head in sympathy. Katniss stiffly mimicked him but Peeta had stayed bowed for a second longer before he lifted his head. His eyes shone brighter than before and his face had a sudden bloom of color and life.
The clock was ticking behind them and one of Caesar's assistants had run into the halls to tell them to get ready. If she had time, she'd ask Peeta for more but with the outpouring staff and sudden entrance of Johanna behind them, she was ready to leave and bid them goodbye.
"I wish you two well and who knows," She began, backing away from the pair. "Maybe I'll see you two on the other side."
"You sound very confident." Peeta said with a laugh.
She smiled in response, backing away. She had to be confident. If the two didn't make it out then it would be another near century or until Snow died for another attempt at rebellion.
Plutarch could go ahead but she didn't see success without Katniss or Peeta. The two were undoubtedly the heart of the rebellion.
Plant Dictionary:
Snapdragons - Deception
Aconite - Danger/Beware
Freesia - Trust
Fir leaves - Time
Columbine (purple) - Resolved to win
Eremurus - Endurance
