Poisoned Flower (The Hunger Games)

Eight: The Parade

Despite her newfound hatred of crowds, Diantha always seemed to find herself in one lately. People buzzed around the chariots preparing for the Tribute Parade which would start shortly. Victors saw this as an opportunity to catch up with friends and scope out any potential allies. They were all dressed in costumes related to their Districts. All of them were extravagant and captivating, but one or two were rather questionable.

Diantha was stood at the rear of the room and no-one paid her any attention. They probably didn't even notice her presence, despite being all dressed in white. The dress she was wearing was white and stopped just above her knee. The front of the dress was a halter neck with silver crystals twisting along the fabric around her neck. These continued down the front to her waist and connected to the back was a trail which swept along the floor when she walked. The crystals continued down them, becoming sparser the closer they got to the end. It had no sleeves and she wore no jewellery. Her nails had been painted silver with a crystal on the top corner of the nails on her thumbs. On her feet she wore white stilettos which tied around her ankles. Resting on the top of her head was a crown of white roses with silver stems connecting them. Her makeup consisted of glittering silver and dark gravy smoky eyeshadow with white eyeliner which flicked in the outer corners. She wore silver lipstick and the colours made her appear paler than she usually was. It was the most Capitol-like Diantha had ever looked. It was a complete contrast to her usual appearance. Maybe, she thought, it was a reminder that although she was on the citizen's side, ultimately she was a high-class member of Capitol society.

Her green eyes scanned each face in the room as they did their final preparations. Diantha didn't want to be here, but her father wanted her to have one more push before they all entered the arena. She headed towards the chariot furthest from her where a small group had formed. As she got closer, she noticed Haymitch and Peeta talking to the Victors from District 11 whilst Finnick O'dair was busy giving Katniss a smirk he usually reserved for when he was flirting. From the expression on her face she was having none of it.

"Why hello Princess, would you like a sugar cube?" Finnick asked her with the same grin, completely unfazed by her presence.

"Aren't those supposed to be for the horses?"

"They don't need all of them" he replied.

"Fine, but there better not be any horse spit on this" Diantha said talking it out of his hand and popped it in her mouth. She felt it melt on her tongue and grimaced. "How can you possibly eat that? It's gross!" Finnick burst into laughter before putting a sugar cube in his own mouth. Diantha then took in his costume.

"Where's the rest of your outfit?"

"I'm giving the people what they want" he teased. He was called by someone on his team and walked off laughing again leaving Diantha alone with Katniss.

"How's Gale?" Diantha asked.

"Better" she replied bluntly.

"I'm glad. Thank you for not telling anyone about the medicine."

"It's ok."

"You still don't trust me, do you?" Katniss looked as if she was trying to find the right words to say. However, she was saved by Peeta and Haymitch joining them.

"Wow you look different" Peeta teased.

"I know. We're dress the complete opposite. I would have said that it was done on purpose, but there's no way Cilla would have told anyone what he designed. You guys look amazing by the way"

"Thanks. You do too" Katniss replied out of courtesy.

"I'm sorry you have to do all this again" Diantha sighed.

"It's not your fault" Peeta reassured.

"I can't stay, but here" she said as she handed a folded piece of paper to Haymitch. "Don't open it until you're alone" she warned. She then turned to Peeta and Katniss. "I wish you two all the luck in the world. I'll do my best to help you".

Diantha gave them the most reassuring smile she could before she turned and rushed to the elevator. She pressed the button and as soon as the doors closed, she let out a sigh of relief. It was nice and quiet again. When the doors opened, she nodded her head at Mahli who was waiting for her. They adopted a fast pace as they walked down the long hallway of the building lining the left of the parade. They didn't have much time to get to the other end before it started. Diantha walked in silence whilst Mahli, dressed in a black suit and his hair gelled back, droned on about something she couldn't care less about. She thought it was something to do with his shoes but as soon as he opened his mouth, he had stopped listening. She just focused on the sound of her heels echoing in the empty corridor as she walked.

They reached the end of the corridor and entered another elevator. They travelled up the several story building quickly. Without waiting for Mahli, she opened the door leading to the balcony which would overlook the parade. He had shut up by this point anyway. Diantha took her place to the left of her father's chair. It was very high and whilst most people may have felt it jarring, Diantha was used to it. Her apartment was at the top of one of the highest buildings in the Capitol after all.

Diantha rested her arm on the back corner of her father's chair. Then she noticed that everyone, including him, was wearing black. It made her stand out even more. It looked like she was the angel on her father's shoulder. Maybe she was. A minute or two passed and he hadn't acknowledged her presence. She wasn't sure if he had noticed her presence until he spoke just loud enough for only her to hear.

"Did you give it to them?" he said just loud enough for her to hear.

"Yes father" she replied without looking at him. He didn't reply but nodded his head.

Without exchanging any words, the anthem started to play, and the first chariot appeared. However, Diantha didn't watch. Instead she observed her father's reaction in the corner of her eye. She wanted to see if it changed at all, if she could work out what he was planning.

Every time a new chariot emerged; she could hear the crowd go while. The screamed as they saw their favourite Victors. Some where louder than others. Even so, everyone on the balcony was silent and stoic. There were no smiles or cheering, they only held a professional pretence. When the cheering got louder all of a sudden, she noticed her father slightly adjust himself. It was small, but she caught it. She finally looked down below and saw Katniss and Peeta who adopted the same serious expression as them. They looked like they thought the whole thing was beneath them. They didn't even register the President's presence as they rode up front. Still, Diantha gave them a small nod as they went past.

Seemingly as quickly as it had started it had ended. Diantha waited for her father to leave but when he got to the door, he faced her, holding out his arm.

"Walk with me" he beckoned. Diantha did what she was told and took his arm and they walked back into the empty building.

In the early hours of the morning, Haymitch sat on his bed in the tribute centre. The others had all gone to sleep a while ago, but he couldn't. He sat on the edge reading the scrawl on the piece of paper he had been given earlier. He had read it a number of times but didn't really understand it. With a sigh he walked to his bathroom. He ripped up the pieces of paper into tiny pieces and dropped them into the toilet. He flushed it watching it all disappear down the drain. He decided that it would be an issue for the morning; for when he was sober. Flicking off the light he collapsed on the bed without even pulling up the covers. The words on the note the only thing in his mind.

'Look for the black mask to save the lambs from the slaughter'.