Veiled Promises
The first time Snow approached me after the Games, I expected poison or some new kind of trap. Instead, I found him waiting in my parlor, his white suit pristine, his rose pinned neatly to his lapel.
"Emerald," he said softly, his voice devoid of its usual malice. "We need to talk."
I didn't invite him to sit. My fists clenched at my sides, Raven tightening his coil around my wrist. His voice slithered into my mind.
"Be careful. He's as venomous as I am."
"Talk about what?" I asked, keeping my tone sharp.
Snow smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He gestured to a chair across from him, clearly waiting for me to join him. I didn't move.
"Very well," he said, unbothered by my defiance. "I'll get to the point. You're not just a victor, Emerald. You're my daughter."
The words hit me like a slap. My ears twitched, and my tail lashed involuntarily. For a moment, I couldn't even process what he'd said.
"You're lying," I snapped.
He leaned forward, his pale hands clasped together. "I assure you, I'm not. I didn't know myself until recently. After your second Games, I conducted some… research. You've always been extraordinary, Emerald. I needed to know why."
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "Get to the point."
Snow tilted his head, his expression almost pitying. "Your mother—Lucy Gray Baird—was a performer, a rebel. She was unlike anyone I'd ever known. For a brief moment, we… shared something. I never knew she had a child until long after she disappeared."
My heart raced, anger and confusion warring within me. Lucy Gray. The name felt like a ghost.
"I'm nothing like you," I spat.
Snow's expression softened, though it felt more calculated than genuine. "You're more like me than you want to admit. But that's not why I'm here. I want to make amends, Emerald. To be the father I never was."
Raven hissed softly, his scales brushing against my skin. "Don't trust him. He only plays games."
I wanted to throw Snow out of my house, to tell him to take his lies and leave. But there was a part of me—a small, traitorous part—that hesitated.
"What do you want from me?" I asked finally.
"For now?" Snow leaned back, his smile returning. "Nothing. Just a chance to know my daughter."
Months Later
I don't know how he did it. Maybe it was his charm, or maybe it was my own curiosity, but somehow Snow wormed his way into my life. He visited often, bringing gifts, stories of the Capitol, and memories of my mother. He was careful, always presenting himself as warm and caring, never pushing too far.
For a while, it was almost… normal.
But I knew better than to trust him. No matter how kind he seemed, Snow was still the man who had orchestrated countless deaths, who had turned children into killers.
When he invited me to join him on a trip to District 12, I didn't question it. He said he had business there, but I knew there was more to it. Still, I went.
The day was unusually quiet. I'd spent the morning foraging in the woods, my mind wandering as I tried to block out the Capitol's lingering presence in my life. Peeta and I were trying to piece things together, trying to find some semblance of peace.
When I arrived home, I noticed the car parked outside. My stomach sank.
"Katniss," Peeta said as I stepped inside. "We have a visitor."
My heart pounded as I made my way to the office. I knew who it was before I even opened the door.
Snow.
He stood near the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back, his voice smooth and threatening.
"You've made quite a fool of the Capitol, Miss Everdeen," he said, not bothering to look at me.
But it wasn't Snow who held my attention. It was the person standing beside him, smiling as though this were the most natural thing in the world.
Emerald.
Her tail swished behind her as she turned to me, her expression warm and inviting.
"Katniss!" she said brightly. "It's so good to see you again."
Katniss froze in the doorway, her eyes flickering between me and Snow.
I offered her my most reassuring smile, stepping forward with my hands outstretched. "You're looking well. How's Peeta?"
She didn't respond. Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the storm brewing behind them.
"Emerald," she said slowly, her voice tight. "What are you doing here?"
Before I could answer, Snow cut in. "Emerald is here as my guest. We've been working to rebuild what was lost."
Katniss's jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists.
I glanced at Snow, then back at Katniss. "It's not what you think," I said quickly. "I'm here to help."
"Help?" Katniss echoed, her voice rising. "With him?"
Snow smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to me. "Emerald has proven to be a valuable ally. She understands the importance of unity."
Katniss took a step forward, her glare burning through me. "I don't know what game you're playing, Emerald, but you're making a mistake."
Raven tightened around my wrist, his voice whispering in my mind. "This is dangerous territory, Emerald. Tread carefully."
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "I'm not your enemy, Katniss. I promise."
But as I spoke the words, I couldn't help but wonder if they were true.
