A Game of Loyalties || Coriolanus Snow

Chapter 1

Part 1

Valyria POV

Valyria stood in the lab, silently assessing Dr. Gaul as she moved about the room. She was waiting to leave for the Reaping Ceremony of the 10th Annual Hunger Games where Dr. Gaul would announce new changes regarding the mentorship of the tributes.  "Let's get going, shall we? I'm anxious to oversee the implementation of my new modifications!" Gaul says with her typical cryptic enthusiasm as she makes her way towards the door. Valyria follows just steps behind her, holding a folder and her clutch while checking her watch on her left wrist. They would be early, giving Dr. Gaul plenty of time to make the rounds and intimidate the students.

Sitting in the car during the ride to the Academy was filled with a comfortable silence Valyria had become used to during her year spent as Gaul's apprentice. While they never spoke much outside of the lab, Valyria's intelligence and potential was not lost on Dr. Gaul. Valyria had a promising mind; always thinking about outcomes and the future. That is why, when Gaul offered the apprenticeship, Valyria took it, knowing the opportunity would propel her forward despite the Gamemaker's sadistic tendencies.

Valyria speaks, "Did you assign the students their tributes?"

"Oh no, I left that fun little puzzle for the Dean. Though I suspect he's not the only one who has had a hand in it." She chuckles.

When the two arrive at the Academy, they make their way inside, Dr. Gaul talking with other adults briefly on the way in. Valyria noticed that very few people approached Dr. Gaul, it was almost always the other way around. As the ceremony grew closer to its commencement, the two stood by the stage to the podium. Mr. Plinth walks past to say a brief word to Dr. Gaul as his son, who Valyria recognized as Sejanus, made his way over to a group that seemed to welcome him rather reluctantly. Valyria let her eyes drift over the top students, all twenty-four of them. One for each tribute. They were all dressed in classic black and white, their faces shined up and not a hair out of place.

She watched the group in the center interact. She recognized Felix Ravenstill, shoving his face with whatever delicacies they were serving. A brunette girl and a curly haired boy, along with Sejanus Plinth and a tall blonde. She realized the blonde boy must be Crassus Snow's son, with his sharp features and shockingly blue eyes. She remembers him being a year below her in secondary school, but she never learned his name.

Valyria is drawn from her thoughts when Dr. Gaul makes her way to the podium and the students take their seats. She stands next to the stage, not upon it, as not to take any of her teacher's spotlight. She knew how excited Gaul was to make this appearance. Dr. Gaul gathers the room's attention with an ominous laugh over the mic that makes some students startle. "How tantalizing to see all your shining young faces on this auspicious day." She begins.

Coriolanus POV

Coriolanus sat in his seat, eyes trained on Dr. Gaul but ultimately staring past her as he took in the news Sejanus had just given him. No prize? How could this be possible? After all he'd done, the grades still weren't enough. He was panicking internally, he felt sick and clammy and not just from his long walk to school in the July heat. How the hell was he supposed to pay the rent, let alone cover university? Dread pooled in the pit of his stomach.

"I am Dr. Volumnia Gaul, your humble Head Gamemaker, in charge of the War Department and all its affiliated concerns."

Coriolanus focused all of his energy on what Dr. Gaul was saying. Maybe there was a mistake. Maybe Sejanus was wrong; it wouldn't be the first time.

"I have broken free of my laboratory today to examine you. The leaders of the next generation. I won't be around forever, after all." She laughs. "And now to that end, I am honored to introduce to you the creator of the Hunger Games themselves. Dean Casca Highbottom."