xxii. pledge / 99 a.d.d.
"You promise you're coming home, right?"
Eirian stands next to his older sister, Delytha, as she lounges on a beat-up recliner in a run-down apartment in the slums of Acrophis.
"Of course I will," Eirian swears. "Not just for you and I…" He places his hand on Delytha's pregnant stomach. "For the little guy, too."
He feels his future nephew kick at his palm and shudders. It makes Eirian wonder, is he really doing the right thing by volunteering? It's a doubt that's plagued his mind for the past few weeks, ever since he was selected by Valhalla.
"I'm going to miss you, y'know." Weakly, Delytha smiles.
"I'll miss you too, but hopefully not for too long." Eirian winks. He knows what will be expected of him once he gets to the Capitol. He has to be ruthless, cunning, just like Jules has repeatedly instructed him.
He may be the best One's had in years on a physical level, it's not everyday a self-made man of his immense height comes around. Emotionally, though, Eirian has a weakness, one he's kept under wraps because he knew he wouldn't be selected otherwise.
Eirian Velvedere is far too softhearted for the Hunger Games.
He thought maybe he could stomach the killing, but that was before Delytha got pregnant. Even though the baby isn't born yet, he can hardly tolerate the idea of taking away somebody else's nephew, much less their child or sibling.
Regardless it's too late for him to change his mind, and he still needs the Games. His family needs the Games. Acrophis is no place for somebody to raise a child, he knows this based on his own experiences. Addiction and decay run rampant in the streets, and really Eirian's lucky he never completely lost himself.
"I don't think I'll be able to watch," Delytha admits. "I'm just so worried."
He takes a deep breath and sighs. "I promise, you do not need to be. It'll be over before you know it, and then I'll be back."
But the more Eirian says that the more he feels like he's lying.