Sea Of Secrets [1]

Six

   The elevator ride up to our rooms is silent. No one wants to talk, except for Sam, who is going off on how sweet he sounded and looked. He's a charmer, and made a lot of the girls swoon before him, even some of the girl tributes were gawking at him in their seats. For one of the youngest tributes, the makeup they put on him made him look charming and elaborate. The girls will be surprised when they are in the arena with him ruthlessly chasing them down. Great way to get a relationship going.

   When the elevator doors open, I run to my room and quickly lock the door. Maybe if I hide behind a door, President Snow won't expect me, or Finnick will just forget about me. I'm really not in the mood to smile about the busy room, watching the Capital people celebrating the death of children.

   The dress I'm in slips off and lays in a puddle on my floor, I slip on some lounge pants, and a large sweater. My hair is being put into a messy bun when my door begins to rattle with knocks. I open it to find Finnick in a white shirt which is open to show the muscles on his chest.

   "We are leaving in fifteen minutes, get dressed" he walks into my room, and I notice the smell of spirits on him.

   "You know I'm really not feeling well tonight, maybe I can just stop in for a few minutes and say hello and then leave?" I lay down in my bed and wrap the blankets around me, watching him pace around my room , anxious to get moving.

   "He wants to talk to you privately, get moving and meet me out in the lounge when you are ready" I sigh and move the warm blankets from above my body, and I move to my closet with a frown on my face. I pick out a long dress that's white with a bit of pink on the top. I don't want to go , but sense he wants to talk to me personally, I have to go. President Snow created the games, and if he created them, then he can make life in the arena hell for me if I don't show up.

   I quickly get dressed and make my way into the lounge. So much for trying to stay in tonight. I don't understand why President Snow what's to meet with the night before I go into the arena. I need as much sleep as I can get, and I don't want to be meeting with a sick and twisted minded human being.

   In the lounge, I find Finnick talking to another tribute, he is smiling and laughing with her. I remember her clearly because she was the sexy girl from District One.

   "Finnick? Are we ready to go yet?" I tap his shoulder and get his attention. He nods at me , and says his goodbyes. The girl doesn't look too pleased with me, but I want to get my visit over and done with. "I really don't want to meet with Snow, is there any way you can be in the room with me?" I grab his arm and pull him back to me. "I am not going to be alone in a room with the man that might want me killed in the arena most"

   "He doesn't want that, trust me" he opens the car door for me, and I climb in, making sure not to trip over my dress. When we are seated , he talks again, his voice hushed. "He wants to make a deal with you, I don't know about what, but it's all he told me. He's a gruesome man, and I am going to be in the room with you. I wouldn't let one of my tributes be in a room alone with the man"

   The ride isn't too long , maybe about five minutes. We pull up in front of the mansion, and I already can see the Capitols people rushing in , trying to get in before it is overcrowded. Camera crews have been informed that I was coming, and they shout my name , wanting a wave or a smile for their camera. I don't do any, but keep my head low and away from them. If Snow wants to make a deal with me, then he can see just how upset I am for having to talk to him.

   "Many sponsors are here so try and smile, don't look so upset, they want to see the girl they saw in the interviews" Finnick whispers in my ear as we walk into the doors of Snows home. He sees a group of girls and walks over to them, making them swoon and drop to their knees. I roll my eyes at their reaction and put on a smile of my own and go straight for the food.

   "Ahh, Coral, you are looking extravagant tonight!" A males warm breath is on my neck and I struggle to not drop my food. I turn around and see a handsome man standing in front of me.

   "Oh hello! You caught me off guard there" I laugh and stick out my hand for his to shake, but instead he grabs it in both of his hands and kisses it. I blush and look around to see if anyone is watching, and I see some people laughing and smiling at us, and I see Finnick watching us, with anger in his eyes. For what? I don't know.

   "My name is Skylar, I'm a sponsor, and just happened to be President Snows grandchild" my smile fades away as I realize that this handsome man is related to Snow. Any family member of Snows is an enemy of mine. I take my hand back and continue moving around the food , ignoring him.

   "Coral, that isn't any way to treat my grandson" President Snows rough voice stands in front of me, and I look up from the food I was viewing to see his old pale face. He smiles at me, and cocks his head to the side. Finnick is standing beside him, looking dazed and uncomprehending. His hair is messed up, and his lips are a shade red. He must have been with one of the girls. "I know that you have your games tomorrow, so shall we make this quick? Follow me" President Snow leads us to a room upstairs , his grandson holding my hand on the way up. His hot clammy hands make me want to puke.

   The room is as white as Snows hair. White walls, white couches, white tables. The only thing that isn't white is the lamps that shine a golden yellow light across the room. I sit down and Skylar sits across from me, sitting next to his grandfather. Finnick fixes his hair and buttons his shirt before sitting next to me.

   "Coral, I know that you are a very strong woman, and will do anything to make your brother happy" Snow begins , "you will do great in the hunger games, and I bet you will come out winning" he smiles at me, and his grandson laughs beside him. "Don't look so doubtful in yourself my dear! We have a proposal to offer you, literally"

   "What are you talking about?" I ask firmly, not liking where this is going already, a proposal? Literally?

   "To insure that you win in the games, and come back in one piece, we will help you out in the arena, but you have to do one thing for me Coral" Snow leans forward in his chair and grabs my hands and holds them in his, they are as hot as his grandsons.

   "And what is that?" I take my hands from his and sit back in my chair, trying to distance myself as far away from his as possible.

   "Marry my grandson"

   I laugh at this , and quickly cover my mouth. "No, not happening"

   "And why is that?" Skylar speaks up now, looking sad. "I've watched your interviews , you were so sweet and loving, now you are acting like a witch, like a cold hearted person"

   "I don't know you. I already don't like you sense you are part of his blood line" I snap my finger at Snows direction. "If you are going to have me win and kill off other innocent people just to marry into your family? No!"

   "Coral.." Finnick places his arm on my shoulder trying to calm me. I shake it off, furious at the so called proposal.

   "No, first you bring me here to fight , leaving my brother behind. Then you want me to marry your grandson? How sick is that?" I stand to leave the room, "I will die before I ever get to lay my eyes on both of you ever again"

   "You won't like the outcome of your words Coral, and you won't like the consequences either" Snow rises and looks me in the eyes.

   "Is that a threat?"

   "It's a promise"