Crown Jewels: Cashmere's Story

Chapter 2: Departure

I sit in the Departure Room, waiting for everyone to come say their goodbyes.   My heart is still beating from the excitement of the Reaping.

I'm District 1's female tribute! But part of me feels a pang of regret.  Amethyst had her wish at her fingertips, and I snatched it away from her.  

Then again, was I really in the wrong?  She would've been killed in the arena anyways. 

Mother and Father come in first.  

"I'm so glad you volunteered!" Mother embraces me. "You didn't let anyone get in your way and held your ground." 

Dad hugs me next, shooting me an approving glance.  "District 1 needs tributes who really want it, like you." 

Mother is holding something in her hand. It shimmers softly under the lights. 

"Is it a necklace?" I ask.  

Mother frowns.  "No dear.  Remember what happened to Sapphire?" 

Sapphire Dawn, a tribute in the 56th Hunger games wore a necklace as her district token, got it caught on a tree branch and snapped her neck. What a stupid way to die.

Mother opens her hand.  It's a bracelet.  Sleek and inlaid with diamonds, it fits perfectly around my wrist.     

"It's beautiful!" I gasp.  I can't believe something so dazzling is mine and mine alone.

 "But use it in the right way, and it's lethal as well," Mother adds quietly and shares a secret glance with me. 

"Who's going to the Capitol this year?" I ask my parents.   

"Me!" Gloss strides in, running his hands through his blond hair.   "I'll be your mentor." I heard he's quite popular with the ladies over there.  He'll help me get sponsors. 

"Mom, Dad, you aren't coming?" I turn towards my parents, slightly worried I may never see them again. 

"No.  Only two mentors can go.  We'll be back here in One, waiting for your return." Father puts a hand on my shoulder. 

Everyone's talking like I'm going to come back. Well, alive anyways. And, even though I have a shot at winning,  part of me wonders....what if I don't? 

"I love you Mom, I love you Dad," I whisper and hug my parents at the same time. 

"I love you Cashmere.  Try to win for us, ok? You're such a great daughter," Mother says, tearing up.  

"I know I don't show it much, but I love you as well.  May the odds be ever in your favor." Dad wipes away a tear.  

Gloss joins the hug, and we stay there for who-knows-how-long before the peacekeepers are escorting them out.  

Next, Amethyst comes in.  "What were you thinking?"  

"I wasn't," I mutter.  I wasn't going to ditch my life plans for someone else!  And yes, that's selfish, I know, but this has been my dream as much as it has been hers.  

"This was my dream!  I'm at the bottom of the volunteer list!  You have everything.  You're rich and beautiful and smart and have so many friends, you have a great family and live in the Victor's Village!" Amethyst vents.

I open my mouth to speak, but she cuts me off. 

"And the fact that you're just volunteering so you can murder for fun, get richer and famous is despicable," Amethyst spits. 

"You're the one who trains every morning and night," I retort. 

"Forget about reasons why, how could you take away my chance like that?  You could volunteer next year, or the year after that." Amethyst is really upset now, tears forming in her eyes.

I have nothing to say to that.  But I want to become the youngest victor at fifteen.  I want to become the next person in my family to win. I want it all. 

"Exactly.  Because you're selfish Cashmere.  You're so damn selfish." Amethyst storms out.  She  throws me a bag.  "Take it."  

The next people who come are a blur: my training teacher Topaz, a few more friends, a cousin, even a boy who confesses he's had a crush on me since Kindergarten. 

By the time the hour is over, I'm having trouble holding all of my gifts as we go to the train station.  I'm honestly sad.  I may never see some of these people again, and I had a falling out with my best friend at the worst possible moment.  

But I hide my tears, plaster on another fake smile, and board the train.    

---20 minutes later--- 

Even I have to admit the train is beautiful. It's filled with loveseats, diamond chandeliers and fluffy rugs.  A servant leads me to my room, where I set down my presents and take a seat on the giant bed.  

There's a wardrobe and I change out of my clothes into comfy leggings and a casual shirt.  I look through my presents. Jewelry, a few novels, a dress, some sweets, poetry, pens and a notebook.  We have some time till dinner, so I lay on my bed writing some songs in the notebook.

"Cashmere, it's dinner time!" I jump up, sniffing the delicious aromas as I run out. 

The table is set for five.  I take a seat. One by one, the dishes are served: cream of mushroom soup, a vegetable salad, grilled chicken stir fry, delicately chopped fruit and a slice of apple pie.  I down it with a cup of warm cocoa. 

"Good.  You're not one of those girls who won't eat," Jasper comments.

I raise an eyebrow. What was with that random comment? 

"Last year's female tribute was totally anorexic.  She starved to death on Day Two!" Gloss half-snorts.  

"What an embarrassing way to die!" Our female mentor Ruby agrees, laughing as she sips some wine.

Leto, on the other hand, gets up and leaves the room very quickly.  

I finish my cup of cocoa.  Yes, dying on day two would be embarrassing, but how are these people so insensitive?  If I come home in a coffin, would they be making fun of how I died? I know Gloss wouldn't, but what about Jasper (if he wins) or Ruby? 

"Can we see who got reaped?" I ask.  

Ruby nods and we turn on the TV.  I see who I'm going up against, taking notes. 

Our District 2 partners look particularly good this year.  Marshall Green and Beatrix Hernandez are surprisingly muscular.  District 4 seems weak, but you never know until you meet them.  Other standouts are the girl from District 6 and the boy from District 9.   

That's all for tonight.  

"Cashmere, you should head to bed now," Gloss suggests.  

"You may be one year older, but you're not the boss of me," I reply and poke out my tongue at him, like we're still young children.  "But I will because that's actually a good point." 

I find out there's a music chip installed next to the bed, so I find some good playlists.  I've recently gotten into songs from before the Dark Days, so I start listening to those.  

My mind is still racing, but I slowly calm down,  falling asleep to guitars strumming and mesmerizing voices.  

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound.... 

Author's Note: Hope you guys liked that! And yes, the lyrics at the end are from Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars. Tell me what you think in the comments!