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Chapter 32: This is the end

Sapphire sat silently at the dining table as her prep-team twittered about with each other, discussing the loss of their golden girl and how they would cope without her wondrous appearance for inspiration. The former tribute paid little heed to their words as her mind was otherwise engaged in hazy recall.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by feeling something grip onto her shoulder. Without thinking and acting on pure instinct, the 17-year-old wrenched the hand loose of her shoulder, ducked down to throw the attacker off balance, and flung the terrified Capitolian over her shoulder and onto the table. Her other hand quickly snatching up the knife, from her untouched utensils, and holding it to Caius' throat. The whole room went dead as the occupants all stared at the young Victor and her unfortunate prepper. No one dared to move in fear of provoking the volatile and touchy female into violence, instead opting to watch with baited breath as to what would happen next.

Finnick couldn't have arrived at a more opportune moment. The handsome male quickly took in the situation and potential severity of it, before his sea-green eyes landed on the female responsible. Treading carefully, the older Victor made his way towards his former charge with the finesse of a hunter approaching a wounded animal.

"Sapphire. Sapphire, sweetheart, I need you to let Caius go. Can you do that for me, Angel?" the playboy mentor coaxed the tense female gently, watching as she slowly released her grip on the prepper's throat. He slowly continued moving towards her; keeping the calming words pouring from his lips as he went.

Cato watched as Sapphire quietly conversed with their fellow Victors from 12. His eyes narrowing at the small smile that stretched across Peeta's face as something he said managed to coax a laugh from the ex-Career; noting how 'the girl on fire's eyes narrowed at their exchange. The feeling was mutual. He watched as Katniss glowered at Sapphire, the obvious signs of jealousy in her features, but inwardly smirked as he concluded that she had yet to admit it to herself. As for himself, he only felt the slightest inclination of the same emotion, for purely selfish reasons, but it was obvious that it was all unnecessary. Baker-boy was clearly smitten with the emotionally stunted and stoic waif of a girl.

Why he was watching the exchange rather than being a part of it himself, was fairly simple; he didn't trust himself not to snap and end the 'girl on fire's life then and there. Although Cato might not have harbored any ill feelings towards her male counterpart, he was still stewing with an almost consuming rage for her. The fact that this District 12 female had nearly cost him Sapphire, however indirectly it might have been, was enough to hold a festering grudge against her.

Meanwhile he noted how Sapphire also seemed to be giving Katniss the cold shoulder, however more subtly than he would allow himself to, and was obviously nearly indifferent to her presence as she continued to converse with Peeta. To the untrained eye, it would appear she was simply ignoring the other female, but to Cato, he could easily catch the way Sapphire was eyeing Katniss; she too didn't share any love for the other female.

I know you all are probably very tired of my lame excuses for slow updates, and I wouldn't be surprised if it cost me a few of my readers, but I am REALLY sorry for my horrible work ethic! And I realize that this is a very very short installment, but still I hope it was somewhat enjoyable, even if I left it at somewhat of a cliffhanger...

So this is the end... After a horribly long wait, which is very much my fault, I have finally come to a point where I can end Hurricane Aphroditey. I am however working on a sequel (The Night Remains) that will continue on until the end of the book series.

Anyway, thank you for any and all who have stuck with me through all 32 installments of Hurricane Aphroditey and I hope you will enjoy the sequel.

Thanks again,

~ShadowStalker182