THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES | Coriolanus Snow

part I: the mentor | 12

As Lupinia awoke, a feeling of heaviness settled upon her, and a sense of melancholy lingered in her. Today was the day - the day before the delayed Hunger Games were set to begin. The weight of the impending events bore heavily on her mind, knowing that 23 innocent children and teenagers would soon face the harrowing trials of the arena, their lives hanging in the balance.

The realization that today marked the mentors and their tributes' visit to the arena heightened the gravity of the situation. It was the final opportunity to inspect the environment, understand its intricacies, and formulate a strategy that could make the difference between life and death. The mentors and tributes would spend their last moments before the Games exploring the terrain, looking for potential advantages, and devising plans to increase their chances of survival.

Moreover, the day held another crucial event - the live interview where the tributes would be officially presented to Panem. This was their last chance to make an impression on the Capitol audience, to garner sponsors, and perhaps even gain favour with the viewers. Tributes would have to showcase their strengths, charm the audience, and project an image that might elicit support during the Games.

For Lupinia, the day unfolded with a sense of urgency and burden. The knowledge that she played a role in guiding her tribute through these final preparations added an extra layer of responsibility.

She rose from the bed with careful movements, making sure not to disturb Coriolanus who still slept soundly. Lupinia selected a stunning black dress with an red tone at the bottom from her wardrobe, its top adorned with a corset that accentuated her figure, especially enhancing her breasts.

As she stepped out of the dressing room, she found Coriolanus already prepared. His uniform from the academy adorned him, and his blond locks added a touch of wild charm. Lupinia couldn't deny that he looked handsome, but she sternly pushed away any thoughts that veered into the realm of attraction. Yesterday proved that those sentiments were a one-way street, and Lupinia needed to divert her emotions. Their eventual union was predetermined, but it was a marriage of practicality, not one fueled by love. The realization settled in her mind and she wanted to forget the way she felt about the boy, who stood not far from her.

"Good morning, Lupinia," Coriolanus greeted with a smile, a teasing note in his voice. "How's the hangover?" he added playfully. Coriolanus's gaze lingered on Lupinia, his eyes carefully tracing every detail. She looked marvellous in the dress, the way it clung to her figure accentuating her elegance. Her wavy blond hair cascaded over her shoulders, gracefully covering the impressive corset top of her dress.

"Good morning, Coriolanus. I'm not hungover," Lupinia responded with a matching tone. Coriolanus extended his arm, offering to escort her, but she briskly walked past him, not accepting his gesture. Coriolanus hastened his steps to catch up with her, and after exchanging pleasantries and expressing gratitude for the Crane family's invitation, they found themselves seated in the car on their way to the academy. However, an unusual distance lingered between them, reminiscent of the times when animosity defined their relationship, only this time it felt even more pronounced.

"Lupinia, is everything okay?" Coriolanus inquired, perplexed by her strange demeanor.

"Yes, everything is fine, Coriolanus," Lupinia replied, offering him a forced smile. The remainder of the journey to the academy passed in silence. As they exited the car, Coriolanus attempted once more, "What's wrong? Please, just tell me."

"Nothing, Coriolanus. Everything is just as you wanted it to be. Can't you just leave it be and hurry, or else we'll be late." Lupinia deflected, her tone indicating a desire to move on quickly. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted, and then it struck him - he hadn't kissed her. Perhaps that was the missing piece that had altered the dynamics and created the strange tension between them. Or, he pondered, was that yet another desire of his, a yearning for her heart to beat faster, for her skin to feel ablaze with just a slight touch from him? No, he scolded himself, he couldn't afford to dwell on such thoughts today. His focus needed to be on Lucy Gray, whose life now lay in his hands. Strategies, winning the Hunger Games, securing a future at the university - those were the tasks demanding his attention. Shaking off the distracting thoughts, he refocused on his role as a mentor.