HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 78

Despite the Sunday morning's fine weather, a somber atmosphere hung heavy over the President's mansion, just like the black draperies ornamenting its every corner. Out on the front lawn, beneath an overlarge canopy that shaded from the sun, five hundred chairs, give or take, were arranged neatly on either side of the wide, carpeted aisle. Media personnel had long since taken their places. As ushers directed other guests inward, Coriolanus assumed these were servants of the estate.

Until he spotted Lilith.

Decked in a modest, knee-length dress, her hair pulled back into a sensible low ponytail, she was by the north section, organizing the Cranes into some vacant seats behind the Bridgertons. She did not see him. Their half was served by her blonde friend.

Broadcasted live across the country and projected onto a huge screen erected upon the makeshift stage, the procession was a grand thing. The gleaming, gold-rimmed coffin, escorted by marching contigents, guards on horseback, and an extensive motorcade, had practically been paraded throughout the city before finally arriving into their midst. Heavensbees and Ravinstills funneled into the front rows, filling them easily and rapidly.

Eulogies were delivered by multiple members of both families, with the speeches closed by the President himself. Even though he had never so much as laid an eye on Andromeda Heavensbee before that day, Coriolanus felt he could have known the woman after the lengthy ceremony that amazingly did not feature a single May-the-first pun.

A human line snaked around the catafalque and into the main building as the Capitol's creme de la creme offered their condolences before proceeding to the reception. The cremation, like the wake, would be a private affair, scheduled for later that afternoon.

When Athena Click intercepted them in the queue, the Grandma'am was already in a state, so it did not matter that there was a priority lane for the elderly, Satyria's niece was still made to suffer the worst of her wrath, and she was still suffering it when Coriolanus and his assigned Avox returned with their lunches. The appearance of food, however, mollified his grandmother, and at the first chance, Tigris shooed the girl away. Despite being let off the hook, she looked visibly shaken, and Coriolanus caught her swiping a mimosa and knocking back the entire flute in one gulp.

The feast was as good as anything money could buy, but nothing Coriolanus had never tried. After a slice of heavenly apple strudel and most of Tigris's strawberry cobbler (she hadn't the appetite), he decided it was time for some coffee. Since they had enjoyed the express service, most of the ballroom was still working on their main course. Presently immersed in complaining about the modern world and "this generation" with her fellow relics, the Grandma'am was not likely to demand their departure just yet. It would balance out all the sweets he had had, and he might as well stretch his legs while at it.

Coriolanus took the scenic route toward the bar, but greeting and catching up with acquaintances (and earning the occasional congratulations) were never his goal. Without flowers in her hair and seven colours to her gown, Lilith had vanished into the crowd. He had scanned all of the attendants. He had tracked Athena Click—who was so much easier to locate—back to a table that seemed to compose at least some students from The Arena. Coriolanus recognized one boy in particular from Dr. Gaul's farewell: One boy who reminded him of Cora; one boy so abominably tall. The seat to his left remained empty every time Coriolanus glanced over, and part of him was gladdened this kid wasn't popular.

She wasn't with her father and her not-mother. She wasn't with the Heavensbees or Ravinstills—he was. Coriolanus had spoken to Hermes Heavensbee, the father-in-law; to the president, the father. Surrounded by a gathering of his Academy classmates, including Hilarius Heavensbee and Felix Ravinstill, neither of whom looked to be in any sort of mourning, Coriolanus noticed that two very important people were missing from the very important table: the husband, and the daughter.