𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔢 ✩ 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔨 𝔬𝔡𝔞𝔦𝔯

2 9

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

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Blossoming in the spring, flowers held such a special significance in Odelya's heart. Forming in intricate patterns, such beauties acting as a protective shield around her good heart. In the meadow of which Florence had devoted hours of love and attention to, blooming flowers arranged themselves in a halo above the head of the little sunshine as she lay down upon the bed of grass.

Seemingly a comforting gesture between the Flower and the Siren, the young tributes were nestled together in one sleeping bag, in means of preserving heat and sisterly affection. Soft snores which sounded from Florence ceased any thoughts of devastation from the mind of Odelya. Apollo was seemingly loitering in the dawn, for there was something he was waiting for to accompany him into the land of eternal peace and slumber.

Without Apollo to lull her back to sleep, little Florence awoke several times during the night and despite Odelya's newfound knowledge regarding Haymitch's lullaby, there was a lesser sense of safety felt by the little girl at the song coming from a sister, rather than a father.

Nothing could aid in her falling asleep that morning, not even the slightly comforting knowledge that Blaise was hunting down their final competition for the crown, and that they needn't worry for unnecessary murders that day.

"Are you awake, Delya?" Florence asked softly.

"Yes, my darling Flower," Odelya responded in the same manner of voice, "Try and get some more sleep, there's nothing else for us to do this morning. Sleep will help for us to preserve heat, we need that in such coldness."

So it seemed for the forest to become colder by the day, with the falling snow to enhance by the hour and despite the lake where they lay their allies to rest thinning daily, perhaps with the hope that one would fall in like Clementine to quicken the Games. No one had perished besides Apollo in the past days and Capitol spectators were being fuelled with boredom.

"I miss Apollo," Florence murmured, her bottom lip wobbling with thoughts of her perished brother.

"So do I. But he is in such a better place now, with our beloved Melody. For that is the outcome which he had wished for all along, of course. He needed her terribly, and without the presence of one's love there is really no hope for a happy existence."

"But I need him here."

"Oh darling, I need him too. But we have so much to be excited for and we will carry him everyday. Your victory is imminent and you will remember us both when reunited with your lovely Papa."

"I don't want to win without you, Delya. Papa would really love you, like I do."

"I love you eternally, little Flower. But my time has soon to come and your life is just beginning. That is what I am excited for, your future love for life and the pure spirit you will carry in everything of which you do."

Florence tightened their embrace, her face buried in the crook of Odelya's neck. Such love had not been experienced by Odelya in a long time. The love of a sister was incomparable, and while Odelya adored Reign and Orion with all of her being, there was something special about Melody.

However, something has always seemed to be missing in the home of Castellan. A loving mother and father. A protective older brother and a caring older sister. A brave younger brother, but no sweet younger sister. Florence filled that void in Odelya's heart and she refused to lose another sister to the Games.

Florence would return home. Finnick would care for Reign.

Some rustling in the near vicinity of their camp was disturbing to their comfort in that situation. This caused for Odelya to sit stark upright and tighten her grip on the mace which lay in the hand which was not protecting little Florence.

"Stay down," Odelya ordered. "Everything will be fine. You are safe here with me, my darling."

Standing with her weapon raised, Odelya scanned the surrounding camp for any possible signs of danger, most notably, the shadow which lingered upon a tree just yonder of the lake.

Slowly manoeuvring her way through the snow, Odelya was careful to make only little sound as she approached her target. Hopefully it was just Blaise returning, to announce the death of Iana and the need for Odelya to participate in the murder, suicide, which had been previously agreed on.

Before she could reach the shadow, the figure of Iana emerged from behind the tree, wielding a blood smeared axe in her hand. Oh, how she prayed for that to not be the blood of Blaise, no cannons had sounded yet, so it must not be fresh.

"Odelya," Iana teased in a mocking tone, "How darling you looked during the interviews, it's a shame that I have to slice that pretty smile off your face."

Odelya pondered in feign contemplation, "Well, it's truly a shame you looked not anywhere close to pretty during the interviews yet I still must bludgeon your head in. I will pass along condolences to your family back in Five."

And so their dance began, Iana's axe clashed against Odelya's mace in a steel cage of slaughter and menace. Oh, it felt like they fought for hours, but it was a mere few minutes before Iana's axe was flung to the side, such a shot couldn't not be placed purposely.

Whipping her head around, Odelya was faced with the most horrific sight, the once she had sent prayers skyward since the beginning of the Games that she would not be confronted with.

Florence had stood up. And Iana's axe rested comfortably above her heart.

With one swift motion, Odelya's mace clashed so aggressively with Iana's face, that it rolled detached from the rest of her body down to the lake. Now so thinly frozen, it cracked around the weight of her deceased head, and fell did it down to where Florence would soon lie.

Thirteen.

Turning slowly, to kneel and Florence's side, one arm resting below her little shoulders, and the other enclosing around one of her hands, just over her heart.

"I'm scared, Delya," Florence mumbled, as a torrent of parachutes from the little Flower's father rained down upon them. However, no medicine of which it contained could save her now, both Odelya and Florence knew that.

Deep down, Haymitch knew it too.

"No need to be scared, darling Flower," Odelya murmured, trying to stop tears from tumbling down her cheeks, "No need at all."

"I don't want to die."

"You're not dying, Florence," Odelya lied, "No you're just about to fall asleep. And when you wake, you will be again with your Mama and with Apollo."

"But I want Papa, I can't sleep without his song."

With any amount of strength and sanity Odelya had left, she lulled Florence down to her eternal slumber with her beloved father's Sunshine Song.

My little sunshine
Such a blessing is you
Shining bright
You fill my life with joy

Oh, flutters of love
Warm our very hearts
You and I
Are forever intertwined

My little sunshine
Please guide me home
To you

For just a moment it was as though she was reunited with her Papa's voice.

"I love you, Delya," Florence whispered, but before Odelya could respond with similar words of love and affection, a cannon sounded. And Odelya lost her mind.

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Fly High Baby Florence, you were much too pure for this world.

"Delya." 😭

I DIDN'T EVEN CRY AT THIS CHAPTER. SO PROUD OF MYSELF THOUGHT I WOULD SOB SO HARD. Let me know if you cried, I wouldn't blame you, poor little Florence deserved so much better.

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