HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 85

As Lilith flushed her regurgitated lunch down the toilet, she heard someone rapping the door and calling her name. Hastily, she ripped off a long strip of toilet paper, mopping up sweat, tears, and vomit from her face. There was nothing to do about its colour, however, whatever it was.

Cora was frowning when Lilith unlocked the stall, but her voice was gentle.

"Are you okay?"

Fearing her vomit breath, Lilith only nodded. Fearing her inability to muster a reassuring expression, she had kept her head hanging low. But then Cora said something that made her disregard what she must look like.

"Coriolanus sent me to check on you."

In spite of herself, Lilith peered up at her senior. Cora's brows were still furrowed, though neither in concern nor suspicion. Her gaze didn't show that she didn't believe Lilith—it showed that she didn't care. She was past that, puzzling something else out. Studied by the obsidian orbs, Lilith was too. Cora had no reason to lie, and Lilith had a hunch her next question was precisely what was on the lead Gamemaker's mind:

Why?

It only spawned more questions. Questions Lilith simultaneously wanted and didn't want answered.

"If I go out and tell him there's nothing to worry about, do you promise not to make me a liar?"

Nothing like a threat but as if they were sharing some inside joke, Cora's tone tugged up a corner of Lilith's lips. She nodded.

"Then wash up. Because this"—Cora circled Lilith's face in the air—"does not inspire confidence at all."

But Cora was smirking as she left. Lilith had moved forward toward the sinks when the former wheeled around and piped up.

"Don't take too long. He hardly trusts what he can see. He most certainly won't trust what he can't."

Lilith's reflection was abysmal. Her skin was pale, not the glowing alabaster like her ultimate predecessor's but tinged with a greenish hue. Her eyes remained watery and red-rimmed. Her golden hairpins had gone askew when her mane flapped downward as she heaved, and strands frayed everywhere.

Yanking the metal fastenings from her tresses, Lilith did not bother putting them back without a proper comb. She secured them to the pocket of her skirt. Contrary to what she'd hoped, her fingers raking through her chestnut mane did little to fluff it. Disinclined to get it wet, she gathered it in one hand and collected water in her other to rinse her mouth—twice, for good measure—and cheeks. The cool liquid failed to revive any form of blush.

Snow wasn't outside. No, it would be rude for a gentleman to loiter around the ladies. The conference room was empty of him—and her belongings. He wasn't in the corridor either, but Lilith spotted him on his cordless, hovering in the space between his office and Gaia's desk. Well, her desk now, upon which sat her laptop and tumbler. Noticing her about halfway across, Snow straightened up and stowed away the electronic but only waited in place, hands in his pockets, as he watched her approach.

"I'm sorry, sir," said Lilith, the moment she was within earshot. "I didn't mean to rush out like that just now. I'll clean up the minutes and send it out in a bit."

"I'm not here about that."

Snow stepped into her path, and Lilith halted.

Rose-scented cologne caressed her nostrils. The smell had paralyzed her. It was impolite to back away. That was why she didn't, she told herself.

A muscle seemed to twitch in his arm, as if he was restraining himself against removing his hands from his pockets.

"Is everything alright?" asked Snow. "Did you eat something wrong?"