"Juniper Plinth, better known as The Serpent. Capitol favorite, she's their doll. She's a deadly threat, and most importantly, a career. Juniper is agile, sneaky, and quick, you'd never see her coming. She's one of the deadliest victors you'll ever...
Juniper didn't sleep well that night, her brain was drowning with new information.
Kakalina wasn't from District Four, neither was her grandfather- whom she had never met. She was from District Twelve, the poorest district in Panem. That's where she fell in love with Sejanus Plinth, a boy from District Two who was doing duties as a peacekeeper after the tenth Hunger Games.
Sejanus was also best friends with Coriolanus Snow, the current president of Panem. They were working as peacekeepers together in District Twelve.
"How come I've never met abuelo?" asked Juniper.
"Sejanus was executed one day." Kakalina's voice cracked as she recalled.
Her grandmother's attitude had completely changed, Juniper had noticed how upset she had gotten. Juniper decided not to mention Sejanus Plinth after that, no matter how many questions she had about her grandfather.
"Lucy Gray was also from District Twelve, she won the Tenth Hunger Games. You understand she wrote those songs I've taught you?" Kakalina asked and Juniper nodded. "Coriolanus loved her when he was a boy. A few days before I was sent here by Sejanus's father, she disappeared. I haven't seen her since."
"What do you think happened to her?" Juniper asked.
"I hope she's living the life she deserves to live. But I know Coriolanus had something to do with her leaving. I know he had something to do with Sejanus' execution. She ran away with him." Her grandmother had an angry look in her eye, Juniper couldn't explain it. Her grandmother was angry.
"Lucy Gray won the tenth games? How come we never learned about that in school?" Juniper asked, trying to switch the topic.
"After her games, it seems like the world forgot about her. The Capitol had completely erased her once Snow started with them." Kakalina said quietly. There was a moment of silence. "Juni, you cannot tell anyone of our family history. If the Capitol finds out..."
"I won't." Juniper said, Kakalina released a sigh of relief. "Is that why you hide Lilo and homeschool her?" Juniper asked. "You never let me go outside with her, the Capitol doesn't know she exists. Mom and dad had her secretly."
Kakalina nodded.
Juniper had an odd feeling sitting in her stomach that she couldn't put her finger on.
