Splintered

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Jeweled Shades and Crumbling Charades

The District One justice building reeked of jasmine and mint. Floral yet fresh. A long marble table encrusted with auburn-toned gems stretched down a wide banquet hall.

Hazel had never known Districts to have such luxurious meeting places. But District One had never been like the rest, and the people appeared to be the most refined of them all.

Along with Snow and Hazel, several Capitol citizens, the mayor, his wife, and the families of Julian Bright and Elara Luxe were seated, prepared to feast. The two groups were easily distinguishable from one another.

The Brights were a hoard of blue-eyed blondes, while the Luxes were a group of three. The Brights ignored Hazel, as if she were just another gem-encrusted ornament. Pretty but mundane, and in this District, such things were more numerous than blades of grass.

Elara's parents were respectfully solemn towards her. Yet the boy with the hazel jade eyes and flaxseed locks was the one who captured her attention the most, and Hazel appeared to have done the same to him.

Several minutes prior, before they had all taken their seats, he had gripped his mother's sleeves, whispering something to her. The woman had lifted her eyes to Hazel and then back to her son. With a soft nod, she acknowledged whatever he had asked for.

With little hesitation, he turned and slid into the chair meant for the Senator. For his part, Snow had smirked, taking the brazen act in stride, like he always did, laughing wholeheartedly.

"A young man of good taste."

The room bubbled in chuckling as Hazel's face turned a shade of pink. Taking her seat next to the youngster, Snow settled into the one on the other side of him.

Yet the Luxe boy ignored the Senator and likely future President in lieu of watching Hazel. He studied her sure-eyed. As conversation droned on around her, she couldn't help but study him back. She'd never forgotten him waving at her from the train platform as his older sister's body was delivered back to his parents.

Was he terrified of her?

Had he witnessed his sister's death?

Had he spectated as Hazel ended Elara's life?

She shuddered.

The youngest Luxe just continued to stare without speaking. Eventually, opaline dishes were placed before them. He ignored them all the same.

Finally breaking the silence, she managed to ask, "So, um, what's your name?"

"Beryl," he said without blinking. His voice was surprisingly solid for someone so young.

"Um, nice to meet you, Beryl," Hazel's tongue felt like lead.

Beryl tilted his head. "I saw you."

"Yeah?" she said sheepishly, unsure exactly what he meant.

"You didn't wave back," he accused.

Hazel zeroed in on the boy's face. She felt idiotic for thinking he wouldn't remember.

"Oh, right...yeah. My...um, my apologies," Hazel stumbled.

The rest of the room seemed to be eavesdropping, as did Snow, while they engaged in separate conversations. Mostly, the group discussed Snow's speech, their gratitude that he and Hazel were unharmed, the impressive poster, the District itself, its beauty, and Snow's impression of several of the local luxury outlets.

"Any reason in particular you were in the jewelry shop, Senator?" the District One mayor's wife grinned in a knowing way that made Hazel even more sick.