Archangel's Revolution Book 2

The Revolution Begins

     A few days later, Ambriel and Aryan watched as Katniss rose out of the stage floor and ran to Peeta, hugging him tightly as Peeta showered her with kisses.  They had a clumsy moment when Katniss discovered Peeta's cane.  Then  both of them sat down on a small sofa to watch the recap of the Games. 

Ambriel saw the story the Capitol wanted to tell this year in the footage they had cut together.  The Capitol would eat up the love story gambit, but Ambriel could guarantee the districts weren't buying it at all.  She knew hers wasn't because according to her mother, they were on lockdown after last night's attack.  Snow had doubled the size of their peacekeeping force, but they were still fighting back.  Even now her mother and father were preparing to attack again.  This time they would attack the peacekeepers directly.  Ambriel knew that her parents could handle themselves in a fight, but she still worried about them.  She saw the same worry on Aryan's face for his own parents.  His mom was a healer, not a fighter, so she would be put in a safe place until she was needed to heal their injured fighters.  His father on the other hand would be right next to hers on the battlefield.  She squeezed his hand, sending him her love and support through their bond and he touched their foreheads together for a moment before turning back to stare at the screen.

     Ambriel watched again as Rue died.  Tears filled her eyes as she watched this beautiful little girl take her last breath as Katniss's beautiful voice filled the airwaves with an enchanting lullaby.  It was just as awful the second time as it was the first.  

     They ended the recap with Katniss beating on the glass door and screaming Peeta's name.  That certainly projected the image of a love-crazed girl.  She looked crazed in that moment.  No one seeing her here could doubt the depth of her feelings for this boy.  This might be enough to convince the districts she loved him, but it would not be enough to convince them that she did it for love only.  There was a deep seated rage in her that anyone with eyes could see.  She was scared, yes, but that fear would eventually be replaced by the fire inside her.  A person could only sustain fear for so long before they became immune to it.  

     After that there was the crowning ceremony and then the show ended.  She  and Aryan got up and went to the table in the dining room to avail themselves of the buffet.  Then they went to take a shower and dress for bed.  They crawled in together, their bodies automatically seeking their normal positions.  His presence was comforting to her and she was thankful that she wasn't in this place alone.  She went to sleep safe in the knowledge that no matter what happened, Aryan was right beside her.

     The next morning, she and Aryan got up and got dressed and made their way out to the dining room for breakfast.  Everyone else was already up and at the table when they came in.  They quickly sat down and began filling their plates.  Nova looked at her and said, "The post game interview is today at two.  They'll be playing recaps of this year's Games until then.  Hitting the highlights for those who didn't catch it yesterday."

     Ambriel nodded but privately thought that those who missed it could go to Hell.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aryan nod slightly.  They were on the same page, as usual.  She could still see Rue's sweet face as she passed from this life to the next and it sickened her to think of Rue's mom and siblings back home.  She would make sure that they were taken care of no matter what happened.

     They spent the day lounging around waiting for the interview.  She wished they would be allowed to attend in person.  She didn't understand what the point was in forcing them to stay here if they were only going to watch the interview on television anyway.  Stupid on top of stupid.  Finnick and Joanna came over to watch the interview with them and at promptly two o'clock the television screen clicked on and Caesar Flickerman came on to introduce the show.