𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐄 ▸ HUNGER GAMES [ 1 ]

FIVE

FIVE -

For the majority of the morning, Tallulah and Sidonia talk and the rest of us just listen.

Capitol attendants bring more food at lunchtime, platters of rolls crafted of different coloured grains from across Panem, small cheeses shaped like flowers and all manner of bright jewel-like jams and jellies. Sometime during the meal Sidonia kicks off her heels and pulls her knees up in front of her on her chair, and all of a sudden the formidable Victor looks barely older than me.

Despite her high profile in the District, it's a well-known fact that Sidonia barely ever ventures into the bustling streets of 2. She mostly sticks to the Victors Village in the mountains, sending her family and staff into town to fetch essentials. The mysterious winner of the 68th Hunger Games is practically an exile, or at least treats herself like one – and I'm certain she has never mentored tributes before now.

Perhaps she didn't want the responsibility of coaching two kids through a fight to the death, knowing that Enobaria and one of the Hadleys take on the job most years. As Capitol favourites, they tend to be skilled at obtaining sponsors for their tributes, but this year, with one of Darius' own kids in the arena, none of the family are allowed to mentor. It makes sense that Brutus has been sent to aid my District partner, but I had hopes that Enobaria would still want to help me through the weeks to come. Sidonia's presence here on the train throws me off completely.

"So, let's get straight to it." She claps her hands together, leaning back in her chair as she surveys Hadley and I from across the table. "Judging by the fact that you two have barely said a word, I'm guessing we all know each other, and therefore you both know exactly what the other can do." She looks at me to confirm, ignoring Hadley entirely which is probably the best choice. He's staring into a glass of orange juice, icy blue eyes glazed over. I give her a nod.

Sidonia shoots me a wicked smirk in reply, and I'm taken aback by the sheer normality of the gesture. In 2, she is something of a mirage, but away from the rest of the District, I can see the twinkle in her single dark eye – indistinguishable between excitement and malice – and the graceful movements which probably made her deadly in the arena.

I've watched her Games multiple times over the years. She was one of the favourites churned out by the Academy when I was a kid, a young girl who didn't look much at first glance but once armed was a lethal killing machine. The moment she wrapped her hands around the hilts of a pair of katanas at the cornucopia, there was clearly no stopping her. The twin blades carried her all the way to the finish line, her only downfall being the loss of her left eye at the hands of District 9.

She spent most of her Games as part of the usual Career pack, the boy and girl from 1, a boy from 4 and her District partner. Knox Hadley, Cato's older brother.

As soon as I make the connection, I realise that her self-imposed exile might not be a choice. It makes me wonder whether the real reason she stays separate from the District is the army of devoted followers who despised her on her return, because she brought home the crown and left their prince to die.

Will that be my fate, too? Will I have to join her if I make it home instead of Cato? All of sudden, Sidonia's decision to mentor me this year doesn't seem odd at all.

"In that case I presume the two of you will have no problem being trained together, so Brutus and I might have to learn to get al-" Sidonia begins, but I surprise even myself by cutting her off.

"No." I stand up in my chair, dining knife gripped in my hand. My actions seem to have brought Hadley back into the room, and he's staring up at me. I'm not sure whether its confusion or betrayal in his eyes. Either way, there is no chance of me backing down.