The train ride back to District 3 felt like it lasted a lifetime. The Capitol's noise, its shimmering false smiles, faded the moment we left its station. By the time I arrived at my house in the Victor's Village, the silence was both comforting and unsettling.
The mansion loomed in the soft twilight, bigger and grander than before, thanks to my second win. It felt different now—more like a fortress than a home. Raven tightened his coil around my wrist as I walked up the steps. His black, red, and yellow scales shimmered like molten gold in the dim light.
"Back to the gilded cage, huh?" he hissed softly, his voice audible only to me.
I smirked. "It's better than the arena."
He flicked his tongue, unimpressed. "Debatable. At least in the arena, we knew who the enemies were."
The door creaked open before I could respond, and the warmth of the house spilled out. I stepped inside, breathing in the familiar scent of cedarwood and lavender. The place was spotless, just as I'd left it.
Across the foyer, a grand room had been transformed for Raven and his serpentine companions. The snakes' sanctuary. I glanced inside to find plush velvet cushions, a crystal chandelier, and even a miniature waterfall cascading into a shallow pool.
"They're spoiled," I muttered, shaking my head.
Raven's tongue flicked out, amused. "As they should be. A victor's companions deserve only the best."
"They have their own maid," I pointed out, gesturing to a Capitol-trained attendant nervously arranging their feeding trays. "That's a bit much."
"And yet," Raven said with a sly grin, "I still sleep on your wrist."
I snorted, shaking my head as I climbed the stairs to my room. The walls here were painted in rich greens and golds, the colors of life and victory—or so I was told. The bed, large enough to swallow me whole, looked untouched.
The moment I sat down, I heard the distant sound of boots on gravel. My ears twitched instinctively, and my tail brushed against the edge of the bed. Someone was coming.
The doorbell chimed before I could react. Raven slid down my arm, curling into a defensive position as I opened the door.
Standing there, drenched in evening shadows, were three familiar faces: the Mayor, Nathan, and Gregor—my three fathers.
The Mayor stepped forward first, his eyes softening the moment they met mine. "Emerald."
"Dad." My voice cracked.
Nathan and Gregor didn't wait for pleasantries. They wrapped me in a bear hug, squeezing until I thought my ribs might snap.
"You're alive!" Nathan choked out, his voice breaking.
"I told you she'd make it," Gregor added, though his voice wavered with relief.
The Mayor lingered back, his hands folded neatly behind him. He wore his usual formal coat, but his eyes betrayed his calm demeanor.
"You've come back stronger than ever," he said quietly. "But the cost—"
I held up a hand, cutting him off. "I don't want to talk about it. Not yet."
They nodded, understanding.
We spent the evening catching up over a simple meal in the dining room. I told them as much as I could stomach—about the mutts, about Katniss and Peeta, about the rebellion simmering just beneath the Capitol's polished surface.
"And Snow?" the Mayor asked carefully.
I hesitated, my fingers brushing Raven's scales. "He hasn't made his move yet. But he knows something. He always does."
Nathan reached out, placing a hand on mine. "Whatever comes next, we're here for you. All of us."
Raven's voice slithered into my mind as he rested his head on my arm. "They mean well, but they can't protect you like I can."
I didn't answer him.
The three men continued talking, their voices full of love and concern, but my mind was elsewhere. Somewhere deep down, I knew Raven was right.
For the first time in weeks, I let myself laugh at Nathan and Gregor's bickering, at the Mayor's awkward attempts to corral them. Yet even as I smiled, I couldn't ignore the weight pressing against my chest—the feeling that Snow's game wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.
