peacebreaker ²•coriolanus snow

𝟎𝟎𝟐. lies and more lies

chapter two
lies and more lies

Last night was something. Avery felt like she was close to breaking free from Coriolanus, until he trapped her with his love. He hungered for her, and Avery felt more like she belonged to him than she belonged to herself.

Today he had been extra touchy and protective. Coriolanus always excessively showed affection to her, but she was forced to follow him around like a lost puppy all day.

He finally had to go to a meeting that she wasn't aloud to be at. Avery felt relaxed as she strolled through the large Snow mansion.

It felt more peaceful without Coriolanus and crowds of people. It was just her right now. It was quiet, and Avery soaked it in.

There was suddenly a loud knock at the front doors. Avery stopped what she was doing and began to make her way to the front doors. She assumed that Coriolanus had returned from his meeting. She prepared to be showered with kisses.

When Avery opened the large white doors, she didn't see anyone standing there. She stepped forward, looking in both directions to see if she saw anyone.

No one was there. But there was a knock.

Avery looked down to see a small slip of white paper on the ground. She curiously picked it up as she stood outside in the cold.

Dear Avery Snow,

I have an urgent message for you, but I cannot express enough that you cannot let President Snow see it. Don't let him even get a glimpse at it.

Your sister, Gretchen Spade, is alive and she always has been. She has been living peacefully in District 12 since the 10th Hunger Games.

Snow lied to you. He told you that she was killed, but a hand was never even laid on her. She misses you, Avery, and she wants to see you again desperately.

I know that you miss your life in the district and that you want to escape Snow. I want to advise you to come back and at least visit your sister, but you cannot let Snow catch you.

Best of Wishes

Avery was frozen. Gretchen has been alive this whole time. Coriolanus lied. She searched for a signature, but there was none.

Coriolanus was never the most truthful person. He didn't tell the truth about Sejanus at first. But never did Avery doubt that he lied about her sister being killed almost six years ago.

Avery thought she lost Gwynn and Gretchen, but in reality Gretchen was living a life alone, struggling to survive at her young age of thirteen. She had lost Lucy Gray, and she had no guardian.

Gretchen must be depressed, knowing that her sister just left her for dead and became the First Lady of Panem.

Avery couldn't believe Coriolanus would do that to her. But how could she be surprised? He's cruel and evil, and she knows that deep down. Who knows what other lie he has fed her.

He wanted to get rid of everything else she loved just so she belonged to him, and only him. Avery was beginning to grow sick. She was extremely pale.

Avery knew that she needed to escape the Capitol, at least temporarily. She needed to see Gretchen and explain everything to her. She needed to find a way to become district again without Coriolanus punishing her or Gretchen for it.

Coriolanus. She saw him in the distance walking up the path decorated with roses towards the mansion. She hoped that he didn't see her quickly slip the paper into her pocket.

Now that Avery was already outside, she had to wait at the doorstep for him. If she ran inside, Coriolanus would grow suspicious.

He spotted her and picked up his pace. He set down his briefcase and pulled Avery into his arms. Just as she expected, she was showered with kisses and affection.

Avery's breath was shaky as his lips traveled down her neck. He could likely tell that she was hiding something, but she couldn't let him find out what.

Coriolanus looked down at her, concerned. Avery was right.

"What's wrong, my rose?"

"Nothing, especially now that you're here, Coryo," she said quietly.

It's better for her to act innocent now, especially when she will be rebelling later. She's not sure if he buys the lie. Avery gets on her tippy-toes and kisses him gently.

"I know you, Avery. All of this time around you has made me realize that I know you well. You seem off."

Avery has never been able to figure out how Coriolanus seems to know just about everything. It's like he can read her mind and predict her next move.

"Is it about the Hunger Games nonsense again?" he questions.

It's better for him to think it's about that than for him to know the truth. Avery nods. "Yes."

Avery is caught off guard when Coriolanus pulls her in by the waist. She looks into his bright blue eyes. "If you are to be mine, you have to learn to live with the games."

What if she doesn't want to be his?

"I- just. Coriolanus, we have such different views on everything. How are we going to work?"

He keeps getting angry, which was not Avery's intention. Her only intent was to distract him from what just happened before he got home. Coriolanus being furious is not a pretty sight.

Well, he is always a pretty sight. But his temper isn't.

"We'll work. I'll tell you the truth, and you'll accept it." He takes Avery's face in his hands. "And I'm telling you that the games are forever. And we are forever."

Avery gulps. How will she ever leave his sight for long enough to get back to the districts? She's going to have to do it late at night.

Coriolanus is attentive and observant. She has to find a way to leave that isn't too predictable. The first thing Avery has to do is to stop letting herself get hypnotized by his entrancing eyes.

She follows him inside, his hand holding her tightly.