The Scent of Roses || Coriolanus Snow

Chapter XXXVII

Coriolanus didn't notice your change in demeanor when you entered the door. He waved your behavior off, assuming it was due to Doctor Gaul's reaction to your verbal refusal.

"Go wash up," he told you sweetly. "Dinner is almost ready."

That was his first mistake: underestimating you. He had doubted you from the second you two had met, rushing you off as a scared girl unable to think for herself.

You had been that but for far too long. People had come and gone and walked all over you in the process, unaware and uncaring of the effect on you. But you had nothing to lose now. His reaction wouldn't hurt your feelings, and you certainly didn't care if you were thrown in prison or worse. No, he had taken away everything you cared about, including your sense of self. It was time he had a taste of his own medicine.

You walked to the bathroom without saying a word and carefully took the vial out of your pocket. You stared at it intently, wondering how much to place inside his wine glass. There hadn't been an instruction manual inside the box that you could sneak out alongside it.

There were only seconds of opportunity as Doctor Gaul took to the bird cage and marveled at the beauties. She hadn't seen you take the poison, and if she had the technology to find out you had, it would already be too late. You had to administer it and fast.

You tucked the vial into your bra neatly in between your breasts, which held it upright. You weren't sure when would be the right moment, but you would find it.

A few splashes of water against your face did the trick of wiping away any debris. You had tried not to cry on the way home from the lab, but it was impossible not to. You were mourning the loss of two lives: Coriolanus's and your own.

You walked into the kitchen to see the table already set. Candles blew a warm smell of vanilla and sugar through the apartment, and an unfamiliar set of plates and cutlery lined the table. Even the glasses were different.

"I thought it would be a nice gift," he said as he came up behind you and placed a small kiss on your cheek. You tried not to gag at his touch, but you would play along with his games until there was an opportunity to strike. This was a waiting game, and you swore you would be crowned a victor.

Coriolanus shuffled back into the kitchen. A magnificent roast had been pulled out of the oven minutes before you arrived, and across the counter was a spread of potatoes, roasted asparagus, and a freshly baked loaf of bread. He had gone to all the extremes of making this night magical. You almost felt sorry that it was going to be his last.

As you walked carefully over to the display, he saw your advance and shooed you back over to the table. "Sit and relax," he told you. "I'll handle everything in here. Have a glass of wine."

You were sure now that you had found your opening. "I can't be the only one getting tipsy, Coriolanus."

He laughed at your sarcasm and nodded toward a hulking bottle on the table. "I got a bottle of red tonight," he sang. "I thought we'd get a do-over of our first day together. I even made the meal I ordered for us."

You looked back to the roast and thought back on that night. That was also the first night he had touched you, the memories enough to make your confidence quiver. But, you reminded yourself of all the terrible acts he had committed against you and others. He had staged the shooting, he had killed an innocent boy inside the arena, he had killed Sejanus, and who knew how many others?

There was no more room left in your heart to forgive, and the only way you could forget Coriolanus Snow was if you watched his casket lowered six feet underground.

You reached for the bottle and noted its dark color. It was perfect. He wouldn't notice a single change in the hue of the wine, as the nightlock vial had almost the same.