Chapter 25: Writing's On The Wall
"A few months ago tragedy struck District 5 and tonight President Snow holds a Memorial Ball paying tribute to those the fallen and injured."
The blank faced and stern anchor-woman on the screen shuffled some paper and carried on reading. "Fires of Nero have reportedly claimed over a thousand lives and more, still counting as reports come in, marking it the biggest disaster in recent history."
"Reportedly this is not the first fire at Nero but the third. Since the commission of the plant, there have been three fires in total. The first incident occurred nearly five–to–six decades ago when the plant was first being built during the first Quarter Quell."
"The casualties then were minimal and amounted to fifty-seven lives being lost while the second fire—considered to be the deadliest at the time, took the lives of over three hundred. After the second fire, Nero's doors were promptly shut by the former Minister of Energy and the current Director of New Hope Orphanage, Cassius Allard."
"Why Nero had reopened again is a mystery and many in Five have said to have protested prior to the supposed reopening."
"Extra Peacekeepers were called then to bring in order and were successful even helping out when the fire initially broke out. However, claims from survivors of the third fire state otherwise with some accusing the Peacekeepers and subsequently the Head Peacekeeper of being the instigators of the fire."
"No word from Minister Thistlewood himself; we do have word from his camp that the Minister is currently busy tending to his sickly sister, former Consul Tamora Astbury. Once Again, Director Cassius Allard has criticized Minister Thistlewood and more updates are coming soon."
"Our thoughts are with the entirety of District 5 and its people in these trying times." The woman shuffled papers again and put them to the side. "And in these trying times, Panem stands as one." She stared at the camera as the screen cut to black before it was covered by the flag of Panem.
Sera remembered the news report from the morning well. The past few months after the incident at Nero, the fires were all they ever talked about. It was the biggest tragedy Panem had seen in modern history—making it hard to brush it under the rug.
Amusing how just because the tragedy could no longer be hidden, they had to 'honor' the victims yet meager compensation was given to their families was not enough to make up for the losses. Instead, they pretended they cared, holding a memorial ball for the fallen even though their families or survivors weren't invited.
Hypocrites, all of them, that's what Sera thought of the people around her. The birds of the Capitol—the Capitolites—though for once they were not dressed in jewel tones but in somber shades of dark colors, mostly black.
Of course there were exceptions.
President Snow was one key exception alongside Minister Thistlewood, Director Walston, Porter and a few Senate officials. Porter stuck like a sore thumb from the rest of the victors in a navy-gray floor length ball gown with white embroidered roses.
The so-called unprecedented ceremony was a ball dedicated to the loss of Nero and the thousands of lives that perished in its flames, tributes were led by the oldest living victor of Five, Uriel. Yet the victors from Five weren't touched by the notion, Sera being the least touched.
Only Porter seemed touched.
Porter wasn't affected by the tragedy at all despite having an older sister who worked closely at Nero. She was fine. What remained of Porter's family acted as if the victor didn't exist.
"You three are heroes." Director Walston said, clapping his gloved hands together. He was of course referring to Sera, Leora and Wells. "I mean you three saved so many." He carried on, reminding Sera again of those haunting images she saw the day Nero burned.
"Not enough." Leora grumbled, already drunk and out of her mind. Wells signaled her to shut up and she promptly closed her mouth, turning away to nurse her drink.
Unfortunately, Sera, Leora and Wells' involvement in the rescue of the Zone 2 survivors weren't missed by those pesky reporters from the Capitol. Somehow they managed to find out and word spread like wildfire that some of the victors volunteered as help.
Naturally, the image of the Peacekeepers and the Ministry of Peace and Security worsened with the leak of the information. Minister Thistlewood didn't react but from where she stood, Sera could feel his rage towards her and the rest of the victors of Five. Though his predatory gaze towards her never changed, rage was only added to it.
"Ah but you know some of us were heroes just for staying in." Porter spoke, demanding attention.
No one wanted to speak. The masked director looked at the quartet of hostile victors and turned to Sera. She seemed the least closed off of all the victors of Five, ignoring Porter. "You know, Miss Reza, I heard your family was taken to the Iaso Emley Clinic."
Sera nodded, wanting to leave and go visit her family already. "The President was generous and kind enough to allow it."
Director Walston nodded and normally, she'd try to read the masked Director but that night she felt too exhausted to even care about the conversation. "Ah, yes. The President's kindness knows no bounds."
"Truly."
"You know I was wondering if you would be interested in allowing me to make a film out of your heroic actions."
Blankly Sera stared at the Director's masked face. Rage bubbled in her heart as she fought off the violent urge to strike the man. Instead, she did what she did best, she smiled. "I'm sure it'll be true to the events and very...heart wrenching but I'm afraid President Snow would like this to be left as it is—you know out of respect for the dead."
Truth was, she was lying. She didn't even talk to the President. She knew at the very least that President Snow would absolutely want no more mention of the tragedy. Not of respect, no, he wanted to shelve any talk about Nero completely as if it never existed. And she knew why.
The glass in the Director's hand cracked a little. "Yes..." He said slowly. Air around him had gotten colder and he turned his head away to look up towards the mezzanine. Sera quickly caught sight of a familiar man, Minister Thistlewood as he disappeared. "You're right, I'll keep that in mind and—" Porter started to speak before the Director finished speaking.
"Well, I'll leave you two to your conversation." Sera bowed and gracefully exited with Leora and Wells following her. "Where's Zephyr?"
"Somewhere not making too much trouble." Wells grumbled, pulling at his collar and loosening the silver tie he wore on his neck before taking it off. "I swear, these things are like nooses." The older victor was the most sober he had been since his own games and she felt as if he hated it. Sobriety was not for Wells.
"Or collars." Leora giggled while pulling up the sleeve of her gown. She was dressed the most conservative of the bunch. Her gown was completely black except a few silver beading and her arm was covered in black lace. "Try being in this."
"Hey, you're the one who picked it." Sera nodded along to Wells' words.
Leora did pick her dress.
Unlike Sera, the rest of the victors didn't have a stylist team. They had to borrow her team for the Memorial Ball as most were already semi-retired from the public eye. Only Estelle had one single stylist of her own and it really showed.
Estelle Clarence—no—Weathers, stood off to the corner with the mayor, her husband, nodding along with some members of the Senate. Her floor length off-the-shoulders black satin gown hugged her body perfectly with matching black velvet gloves and a topaz necklace around her neck.
The only problem was that she and her husband didn't want to be there.
"Well, at least we're not the only ones who hate it here." Sera muttered.
Leora and Wells patted her shoulders sympathetically before the two older victors snuck away when they spotted Zephyr hiding in an alcove in the corner of the ball. She wished she could join them but she couldn't.
Smoothing her tulle skirt, she started gliding through the ball, aware of the gazes on her. Of course, they weren't staring at her hand stitched gown that Eos painstakingly took her time with.
Her gown was very eye-catching, a black layered tulle gown with gold beads embroidered into cypress leaves bursting from the center and reaching towards her chest and going down to her skirt, stopping mid-length caught almost all attention in the ball.
Yet that wasn't what they were looking at. She could feel some shamelessly stare at her exposed back and low neckline, sending shivers of disgust down her back. Mica even dusted her off with a pale gold body shimmer which didn't really help.
Harp attempted to cover her, adding a long golden necklace with small delicate willow leaves snaking its way down to her chest.
It was uncomfortable standing there in the ballroom among the faux jovial atmosphere honoring the dead. It was so misplaced that it made her angry. Of course the Capitolites would use any excuse to get drunk and high. It wasn't about honoring the dead at all.
The only comfort found was the strange sense of camaraderie between the District 5 victors. Normally, she'd shy away from their attention but at that moment when her family was the most affected by the fire among the victors, she needed all the comfort she could get.
Perhaps that was why her eyes were searching among the crowd for a particular familiar face. The ever-smiling and confident heartthrob of Panem was nowhere to be seen that night. Noticeably absent even when all living victors were present.
Impatiently, Sera kept glancing at the clock, counting down the seconds and minutes before she could leave. Her aunt's condition had worsened after the fire and news of Ramiel didn't make things any better.
Her chest felt tight and her lungs constricted. She couldn't breathe and wanted to leave.
Lost in her thoughts, Sera gnawed down at her bottom lip, sick with worry. "You're going to bruise your lips." Scarus mumbled, leaning down to whisper in her ears.
She jumped in response and immediately stopped biting her lips. "Are you done with your..."
He nodded and he held out his hand for her. "Looking for someone?" He asked with a curious glint in his eyes. She had his interest and she didn't want it.
"No, I was just admiring the ballroom."
He didn't believe her. "Are you sure you're not looking for him?"
"Zephyr? Or Huxley? Huxley's not here, he left earlier to accompany his wife and sister at the clinic, Zephyr might've gone to join him" Since he wasn't in her sights or with Leora and Wells anymore.
That was not what Scarus meant. Though he was curious as to where Huxley Foret and Zephyr Nikolas had disappeared off to. "I was talking about Finnick Odair." She was momentarily stunned he knew but quickly she masked her reactions. "I know the two of you have been getting close."
"Is that your family?" She gestured discreetly towards a mismatched couple in the distance.
Scarus momentarily forgot their conversation when his parents were pointed out. His own problems took the place of the thoughts he had about whatever Sera's relationship with Finnick Odair was.
Consul Redcliff looked like an older Scarus with long slicked back dark auburn hair and light wrinkles marring his face. He even had the same menacing yellow-gold eyes like his son.
Only thing missing was the scar on the right side of his face, otherwise, Sera might've mistaken him for Scarus.
Next to him was a beautiful willowy woman with curled silvery-blonde hair. She looked as if she was shackled to him. Consul Redcliff never took his eyes off his wife.
His arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Her bright emerald eyes appeared dull and despite her stunning appearance, she seemed unhappy.
"Icarus." Consul Redcliff appeared in front of the two. His voice was low and quiet but carried a powerful tone that made Sera cower in front of him. "Have you seen your younger brother? Your mother is quite distraught over his absence."
Sera turned her gaze back to Mrs Redcliff, who looked less distraught and more detached as if she wasn't in there. When she noticed Sera's gaze, she smiled and her emerald eyes lit up.
"Oh." She said with an amused smile. "You must be Scarus'—"
"Icarus." Her husband corrected.
Mrs Redcliff made a face and ignored her husband, glaring at her son before carrying on. "You must be Scarus' charge, Seraphine—lovely name by the name."
"And you must be Icarus' mother, you look stunning." Sera held out her hand for her.
She smiled tightly and nodded reluctantly. "You should call him Scarus or he might get the wrong idea about you."
"Mother." Scarus hissed at his mother before he took in a pained breath. His eyes trembled and he suddenly appeared much younger than he was. "Please..." He said like a little boy begging his mother for something.
"Please what? Come now, you're not a child, Scarus. Don't. Don't act like one—you're making your father look bad."
The atmosphere around them grew colder as the Redcliff family stared at one another. If she had enough pity in her, Sera might have felt bad for Scarus but she didn't have the luxury. "Well it was nice to meet you Mrs Redcliff."
"Lady Sayre." Mrs Redcliff corrected her, pushing her husband's hands away from her. "I prefer going by my maiden name, Sayre or you can call me Cassandra."
Consul Redcliff glared at his wife and snaked his arm around his wife's waist like he was tying him to her again and pulled her close. "Consul Licinius Redcliff."
"Seraphine Reza, victor of the 68th Games."
"Oh I know. I've heard some great things about you. Your charity work and of your heroics at Five during the tragedy." He wasn't praising her at all and none of his words seemed to be true. If anything he seemed desperate to shove his wife back into the background, an accessory or a trinket to decorate himself with.
"Have you?" Sera asked with a hollow smile, her eyes were on the couple—mostly Lady Sayre who once again deflated and what life that had sprung up in her had left her. She was but a living corpse next to her husband. "I'm honored, you think so."
"Yes, I only hope my Icarus can reach the heights you have."
"And I will." Scarus said, forcing himself to grin. His father's eyes went to him and dulled as he nodded tiredly. Even he didn't seem to care much for his son. "Eros! Where have you been?"
A boy around Sera's age hurried past the crowd and stopped right next to Lady Sayre. He greeted his mother with a gentle smile and Lady Sayre once again came back to life like her spring had appeared.
Eros had pale copper hair which shone brightly like a halo and his amber eyes gleamed with joy when he spoke to his mother before greeting his brother. "Sca–Icarus!" He excitedly greeted Scarus. "Are you still working?"
Scarus' face softened and he nodded. "Don't bother your brother, Eros. Unlike you, he is quite busy." Eros dejectedly nodded. His father glared at him sharply and the younger boy made himself a part of the background of the tragic family portrait.
Lady Sayre clicked her tongue in disappointment and Sera wished the ground would swallow her up right then and there. She wanted to be anywhere but around the Redcliffs.
Perhaps she had been more careful with her thoughts as the assistant to the President appeared before her. "Consul Redcliff." The assistant greeted Consul Redcliff before turning to Sera. "Seraphine Reza, President Snow would like to have a word with you."
"I'll escort her." Naturally Scarus took that as his chance to escape his suffocating family.
His parents didn't even acknowledge his leave and his father once again busied himself with trapping his mother while his brother escaped into the crowd but not before waving at Sera. His gaze was as sad as his mother but the smile hid it well.
In some way, Eros reminded her much of Finnick. A sadder version of Finnick with a suffocating family.
"I'm sorry about them." Apologized Scarus. "My parents...their marriage wasn't conventional—my mother never got used to it and it's never been easy."
She didn't ask or want to know. "It's okay." She said with a sympathetic smile. Lady Sayre's words echoed in her mind and her smile fell. "You don't have to talk about them if you don't want to."
Sera didn't think about the Redcliff family anymore and tried her best to follow Scarus and President Snow's assistant. Scarus slowed his pace and held out his hand for her. She didn't take it.
"It wasn't my fault—how was I supposed to know about that damned plant being out of commission?" High-pitched rumbling voice of Minister Thistlewood echoed across the garden. "I would never go against your orders, my family and I have been loyal—"
"Janus." President Snow's somber voice silenced Minister Thistlewood with one word. "I'm sure I dismissed you a moment ago."
Minister Thistlewood stood there, chest puffed up before he deflated and solemnly nodded. He couldn't get another word in and was escorted out of the President's sight. Before leaving he caught sight of Sera and scowled at the mere sight of her.
"President Snow, I brought Miss Seraphine Reza." His assistant said, bowing his head.
Slowly, President Snow turned to examine Sera before his eyes settled on Scarus. Strangely enough, his gaze lingered on the guard and he clicked his tongue. "I don't remember calling for you, Scarus." He gruffly remarked, placing a hand under his chin and eying the young guard.
Under the watchful eye of the President, Scarus trembled a little and took a step back, lowering his head. "I came to escort Seraphine."
"Of course, I see you're doing your job well—the same cannot be said for the person who recommended you." President Snow looked towards the path Minister Thistlewood left from. "If I recall, Minister Thistlewood is your godfather, isn't he?"
Scarus swallowed and nodded. "My grandfather was close to Minister Thistlewood's father."
"Of course. Of course. I remember." President Snow didn't appear nostalgic. "Come now, we're making Miss Reza feel quite unimportant, not when she's one of the people of the hour."
"I'm fine and I wouldn't say I'm that important, I think there's more important people than me here," Sera gently spoke, trying to quell his leftover anger. "Like you Mr President. There's no one more important than you here."
President Snow wasn't happy with Scarus or Minister Thistlewood and she couldn't imagine what might happen to her if she misspoke.
Pleased with her words, President Snow nodded and dismissed Scarus who almost didn't leave. "Your ability to attract and please people never seizes to amaze me, Miss Reza." He said, watching the guard leave. "The Redcliffs are known for being stoic, cold and ruthless. Strangely, young Icarus seems almost docile around you."
"I wouldn't know, I don't really talk to him much."
"You should. You might find out a lot more about the man guarding you."
"I think knowing too much isn't good for someone."
President Snow slowly smiled. "Of course but knowing too little makes you dull and...ignorant."
"Which is why people need to know just enough to survive."
Pleased, President Snow nodded and motioned for her to take a drink from an avox which appeared out of nowhere. The avox dressed in black blended into the night carried an assortment of drinks and on its side was another avox carrying pastries and other desserts. "Help yourself. None of them contain alcohol."
Carefully, Sera selected a cloudy drink. She swirled the glass around before taking a small sip. The drink was sweet, with slightly floral and acidic notes. The floral smell and taste almost reminded her of a rose but it wasn't quite rose-like.
"That," President Snow pointed to the drink in her hand. "Is made of lychees. It reminds me of a rose but not quite. It's rare in Panem, I'm sure you haven't heard of it."
"I haven't. Thank you for allowing me to try this luxury." The cloying sweetness of the drink burned her throat and blocked her lungs.
"How is your aunt? I heard they had to take her into emergency—though there's also the matter of your brother. She must've not taken the news of the fire well."
Her jaws clenched and she flinched visibly at the mention of her aunt. She dug her nails into her palms, holding herself back from doing something she knew she'd regret. He was reminding her again and again that the lives of her family were in his hands as long as they were in the Capitol.
It took her a while to find her voice but when she did, it was gravely and hoarse like she was parched. "...It was hard for her and she's not the only one. Many people were equally affected, if not more. I can't let my own grief eclipse theirs."
"How admirable." President Snow curtly commented before sighing. "I think we've danced around the topic enough—what happened at Five, Miss Reza?"
He wanted to know about Nero. She didn't leave him waiting and started to recall the day Five burned. "There was a fire." She started.
"Everyone knows that. I want to know what really happened." His cold eyes narrowed in on her and despite it being summer, she swore winter breeze had struck her then and there.
She nodded along and started to recite the events she recalled. "The first embers of flame began early in the morning, I was...uh...opening my aunt's flower shop with Zephyr and Huxley when I saw the skies change. I almost ran to Nero—"
"And why did you do that?"
Oran told her but Oran wasn't working at Nero. Not only did he lie about being an apprentice at Hadrian 3 but he also broke into Nero. But she couldn't tell him about Oran. "I heard from someone that worked with my brother that he had been temporarily transferred to Nero."
"Where was he working before?"
"A hydro power plant—Clemensia 2 but he also worked at Hadrian 3, another hydro power plant."
President Snow grew quiet, letting Sera's words mull in his head. "Nero is not a hydro power plant." He stated, a hand under his chin. "If I recall, apprentices or workers from a plant are moved only if their new plant is the same type."
"I don't know the details." She didn't know much at all, thinking about it. Everything she knew was from either Plutarch or Oran—Oran who lied to Sera about his apprenticeship at Hadrian 3 and broke into Nero. She couldn't obviously tell the President about them. "All I know is for some strange reason—my sister and Huxley Foret are witnesses to this—my brother was called to work at Nero."
"And who called him away? Peacekeepers?" Sera nodded. "I heard from some witnesses that Peacekeepers barred exits and stopped help—there's also rumors of Nero being recommissioned on the orders of the Head Peacekeeper of Five."
Hesitating a little, she let out a breath. She carefully chose her next few words well. "I can confirm the news about exits being barred. Zone 2—"
"The area you famously helped evacuate alongside Julian Wells and Leora Shelley."
"Yes, the main entrances and emergency exits were blocked off. I'm not sure about the recommission but I–we–everyone at Five assumed it was on...your orders that the doors of Nero were reopened."
His face darkened and his jaws clenched. Did she say something wrong? She didn't know and suddenly she was afraid. "Ah," He coldly chuckled. "Tell me, what do you think of Minister Janus Thistlewood?"
Her face scrunched up in confusion, eyes downcast, wondering why the President suddenly changed subjects. She hesitated, was this a trick question to throw her off?
Did he know about the Peacekeepers she killed?
He couldn't have.
He shouldn't have.
The bodies were burnt beyond recognition, suits and all.
No.
Maybe, President Snow wanted her honest opinion on Minister Thistlewood. Perhaps he suspected him of something. It was unlikely considering how loyal he seemed yet that seemed like the second most obvious option for her.
Minister Thistlewood, the more she thought about the man, the more her stomach churned in disgust. He repulsed her with the odd way he stared at her and spoke to her. She hated his presence and how he let the Peacekeepers get away with anything.
But the words that came out of her mouth were. "I don't know, I hardly know him." She knew enough.
"You've spoken to him before." President Snow curtly reminded her as if he knew that she was avoiding being honest.
"Once or twice but not enough to know him enough to get an opinion. I'm sure since he's next to the President," She had to force herself to speak. "He's a good man."
"And if he's not?"
"It's not for me to decide or think."
President Snow took a sip of his own drink and nodded. "Calm and cool-headed. Not many your age present themselves as you have."
"I just want to be of use to Panem and the President."
"And am I supposed to believe that?"
She nodded. "Panem made me a victor, I only wish to give back not take more." Those were the words she recited every time she had to meet the President. Truthfully, she didn't believe it.
"He should learn a thing or two from you." Commented President Snow, lowly under his breath, barely comprehensible.
It only took her a second to realize he was talking about Minister Thistlewood. She pretended she didn't hear him and focused on her drink.
"Since you've been a good company to me this evening, I'll ask your opinion on this—how do you feel about taking on extra responsibilities?"
Scrunching up her brows, she frowned. "Extra...responsibilities?" Her heart started to beat erratically and her stomach folded itself into knots. She didn't feel so good and had a terrible feeling something was very wrong.
"Yes, the ones already undertaken by the likes of Cashmere, Leora, Gloss, Finnick and more." Her stomach dropped and her chest tightened. President Snow didn't seem happy about what he said and looked away in boredom. "Though, I personally would prefer to keep you away from such...crude work. I am happy with what you have done so far but..."
"But?" Her voice came out hoarse despite taking a sip of her drink, she was parched.
"But people like Minister Thistlewood claim that as you are much healthier than before, you are perfectly fine to take on more responsibilities." It was almost like he was turning her against his long-time ally but she couldn't understand why. "Of course, it's not a sentiment I share. What do you think?"
"I don't." She felt like throwing up either words or whatever she ate earlier. "I—uh—I know the President will make a good choice for me." She said those words with a silent plea, almost begging the ruthless man to take pity on someone like her.
How pathetic she was at that moment but she didn't care.
Forget keeping her family safe, she needed to protect herself first to protect them.
Minister Thistlewood, she didn't understand him or the strange hostility and desire he had for her. She didn't want to. She didn't care.
Pleased, President Snow nodded. He trusted her to stay on his side after their little talk though he didn't trust her to be set free—that much was clear.
"For now, I am more than pleased with your current work and unlike your peers, your talent is much more special. It would be a pity and a waste...to have you squandered on such vulgar menial tasks." His words reassured her a little but not enough.
Neither Sera or President Snow spoke for a moment. The sounds of cicadas buzzing around along the quiet clicks of her heels and orchestral music in the distance filled the uncomfortable silence. President Snow quietly swirled his drink, taking a sip as he walked her through the vast garden.
Suddenly he stopped. He didn't face her when he started to speak again. "I hope you remember that you work for me. Not Janus Thistlewood or anyone in that matter but me and you'll only follow what I say, so you don't have to worry about any extra responsibilities."
She still had to take lives and secrets from the vulnerable but better them than her. Cold of her, it was the only way for her to survive.
"I've held you up long enough." He waved his hand off and another avox appeared. "Wait." He stopped her as if he remembered something. "I do have an additional task for you. Observe Janus, anything out of the ordinary—"
"And I'll let you and only you know."
"Good. I expect only great things from you Miss Reza." He dismissed her again.
She almost hurried out of that garden but stopped when she remembered Director Walston's earlier offer. President Snow noticed her hesitating steps and turned to her, studying her carefully and waiting.
He waited patiently in the dim garden for her to speak. After a few moments, she swallowed and finally decided to act. "I have something to say—it's about Director Walston."
"Ennius Walston?" She nodded. "What about him?"
"I spoke with him earlier—he asked if I was fine with allowing him to make a film based...what happened at Five." She observed President Snow carefully. "I declined his request." She immediately added. "I think it's a little disrespectful."
He seemed to be pleased with her response. "Anything else?"
"I...I might be wrong here but I noticed that Director Walston and Minister Thislewood are often together. I could be wrong and the two are just friends but you did ask of me to observe Minister Thistlewood just now and I thought I'd—"
"Thank you for letting me know. You may go now." President Snow dismissed her and left the garden.
She hurried through the dimly lit garden, her heels clicking quietly, head bowed with a strange ghost of a smile on her face.
Not wanting to return back to the ballroom, she took another path and ended up in an open corridor leading to another garden. Her face soured immediately and she tried to turn around.
"We meet again." Plutarch Heavensbee bowed his head and looked around before carrying on. "Meeting with President Snow?"
Quietly, she observed him. He appeared much healthier than last time she had seen him and seemed almost completely fine. "I assume you're back on his good graces."
He cracked a smile before he nodded. "Smart girl. It was hard but I'm back where I was before."
"So, who did you throw under the tracks to climb up?" She asked coldly.
"Look who managed to grow a spine." She glared at him and he chuckled. "I assume the tragedy at Five finally opened your eyes a little."
"You knew!" She hissed. "You knew and you decided to stay quiet. Do you know how many people died?"
Plutarch's face distorted and he looked a little sorry. "One thousand two hundred and forty seven dead. Twenty eight missing including Peacekeepers." Sera almost flinched but composed herself. "I am truly sorry about the losses but," He sighed. "As you know it's out of my hands. I'm not in the Senate or in power to do anything. I'm trying to change that and I hope you understand—"
"You could've at least warned me. If you want me on your side so badly then maybe you should do a better job of convincing me. I don't know if you've heard but my aunt collapsed after hearing about the fire and my brother..." She trailed off, looking away.
"Someone taught me that I need to gain something from giving something away before I do anything." Plutarch said after a small period of silence.
Sharply, Sera turned to glare at the Gamemaker—the man looked unphased by her glares. He rolled his eyes, acting as if her anger towards him was just a childish temper tantrum.
She breathed in and out. "I don't do things to gain something. I just don't want to lose what I have."
He snorted like she had said something humorous. "The way I see it, you'll lose more by being a wallflower and following along to the whims of others."
"If I join you, I'll be following your whims. Nothing will change for me."
"I promised you before that you will be my equal, not someone working under me. I know you're smart, I want you to put your talent to good use." His gaze saddened and he lowered his voice. "I did warn you."
He did and she couldn't argue against it. She was just so consumed with surviving that she didn't listen to his words carefully.
His offer was more than tempting. She ignored it momentarily and decided to change the subject. "The white bishop." He perked up and slowed his pace to match hers. "Why is he so obsessed with me?"
"He's a collector." He answered immediately. "He likes pretty things and you are quite pretty unfortunately."
"That doesn't explain why he did what he did in Five."
"Oh that." Pursing his lips, Plutarch looked down, deep in thought, nodding along to something before looking up. "Well, I can assure you that wasn't your fault. Though he is obsessed with the idea of 'collecting' you." He sounded disgusted by the words he had just said before carrying on. "He has bigger ambitions. Five is a very important district."
It only took a second for her to understand what Plutarch meant. When she did understand, her eyes widened. "It's the home to the power of Panem..." She was a little stunned at what he was insinuating. "I thought he was loyal to whites."
"He was."
"Was?"
"Was." Plutarch confirmed. "But you see, someone like him can only be as loyal as they can be before their own greed takes over."
"The bishop wants to be the king." Sera muttered under her breath and Plutarch smiled. "You must be ecstatic about this—you have an opportunity to take him out now."
"If only things were that easy."
"You have an opportunity right there." All he had to do was expose Minister Thistlewood for treason and he'd be one step closer to his goal. "Besides with the way the Peacekeepers acted in Five and recently in the Capitol, there's more evidence stacked against him."
"The Redcliffs—one of the wealthiest families in all of Panem are behind Snow and Janus—the late Minister Midas Redcliff and Tulio Thistlewood helped put Snow in power. Thistlewood also has a pseudo-army—Peacekeepers in the districts and Elite Guards in the Capitol at his beck and call."
Plutarch let out a deep sigh before he carried on where he left off. "It doesn't really help that the Thistlewoods like the Snows are a military family—they go far back. If that wasn't enough Janus has Ennius Walston on his side. Unfortunately, the odds aren't in my favor."
"Director Walston? He's just a director isn't he?"
"Don't be so simpleminded. Do you really think a mere director would attach themselves to someone like Thistlewood."
"I don't know. I don't really have an idea about these things."
"Right but you are smart to take a guess."
She sighed. "Fine. Is the Director somehow making sure the Bishop doesn't fail?"
"You have so much to learn." He muttered before carrying on in a softer voice. "Director Ennius Walston isn't just a simple filmmaker. He's in-charge of the propos. Think of the posters or films you've seen promoting Capitol interests."
"So he's dangerous."
"And talented. He might be interested only in wealth and his legacy but I have to give him credit for his talents."
Sera smiled, taking Plutarch by surprise. "I don't know if it's any help but I'll give you something for your 'warning' but Walston asked me permission to make a film—"
"About the recent events in Five? A terrible idea. You'd never agree to it. Only a naïve and vain fool would—ah, I understand." He bowed his head twice before smiling. "I take it, you told the President."
She shrugged, she was too tired now to keep up the conversation. "What else was I supposed to do?"
"Thank you. I know you didn't do it for my cause but still it might push him out of the Capitol."
"He was trying to set a trap for me."
"And you turned the tables. Not bad."
"This doesn't mean I'm on your side. I'm repaying you for earlier."
"In that case," He stopped her mid-step as she was about to escape. "I'll tell you one thing, Finnick Odair left earlier to visit the clinic. Mags Flanagan was hospitalized and the two are close."
She turned around where she stood and clasped her hands together. She felt a little relieved for some reason but didn't let it show. "I didn't really ask."
Plutarch chuckled before covering his mouth to mask the oncoming coughs. "No, but it was what you wanted to know. I'll tell you another thing, something you need to know. This isn't the last time you'll be in danger. You just made an enemy out of Janus Thistlewood."
"I just did my job."
"President Snow will potentially either strip Ennius of his position or exile him to the outer districts like 11 or 12 and Janus will know it was you."
"You know you shared a lot with me, things that you shouldn't have. I didn't even take your offer. Aren't you afraid I'll turn you in?"
"If you wanted to, you would've done so already—you had enough time. You just came back from a meeting with the President too." He chuckled and looked down at his watch to check the time. "I quite enjoy these conversations and I know you do too. They're very insightful for both of us."
Out of all the people she had come across during her short time as a victor, she could begrudgingly agree that Plutarch was one of the few she actually enjoyed conversing with. Not only did he actually make her think but she truly did appreciate their discussions. A shame he had to test her patience.
"And I've been thinking, since you said I need to convince you better—I'll say this, I can help you protect your loved ones, especially now more than ever."
"Because I've made an enemy out of Minister Thistlewood." She stated a matter-of-factly. It was a terrifying fact but at that point, she was so tired she couldn't bring herself to be scared.
"Precisely why. He's a collector. The things he's done to the objects in his collection aren't pretty."
She scoffed and crossed her arms across her chest. "I thought you said you didn't have much power to do what you wanted to."
"No," Plutarch looked at his watch again. "But I do have enough to protect my people."
"You couldn't even protect them from me. How exactly are you going to protect me?"
His face hardened when he remembered what Sera had done as he bowed his head, masking the anger in his face. She knew exactly how he felt about her. He found her talented but she was also a thorn in his path just like Minister Thistlewood and Director Walston.
She was no better than his enemies.
Before he could formulate an answer to her question, he was interrupted by his assistant. It was the first time Sera actually looked at her. She appeared quite normal for a Capitolite, if Sera didn't see the delicate silvery floral tattoos on her cheeks.
Zinnia.
Sera recognized the blossoms immediately. "Did you lose a friend?" She asked without thinking.
Plutarch's assistant looked up at Sera in confusion before she nodded. "How did—my cousin—we were quite close."
"My condolences."
Plutarch glanced between her and his assistant before introducing her. "This is Fulvia Cardew—she's my assistant."
At his words, his assistant held out her hand and Sera shook it. Fulvia greeted her and the two traded some empty words before Sera left to find Zephyr so the two could finally leave.
Plant Dictionary
Cypress - Death and Mourning
Willow - Sadness
Zinnia - Thoughts of Absent Friends