𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘, 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑, 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐘 || 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐍𝐎𝐖

𝐕𝐈𝐈

In his twisted logic, she was a dove, a symbol of purity and innocence.

Yet, in the same breath, she was a serpent, a more cunning and calculating creature than he could ever be.

As he dwelled on her, a possessive surge overcame him. Others didn't deserve the privilege of her presence, her voice.

They were unworthy observers of her magnificence. The audacity of anyone who dared to cross her path without acknowledging her brilliance grated on his nerves.

The fact that she ignored him was inconceivable.

The very thought fueled a maniacal desire within him. He yearned to cage her, to ensure that her attention, her voice, her essence, belonged to him alone.

The game had shifted, and he wasn't just playing for the Plinth Prize anymore.

He was playing for Seraphina, and he intended to win at any cost.

"Is it because of Lucy Gray?" he asked a hint of desperation in his voice.

Coriolanus watched with a peculiar sense of satisfaction as the glint of anger flashed in Seraphina's eyes at the mere mention of Lucy Gray's name.

Lucy Gray was, in essence, a means to an end— a stepping stone to the Plinth Prize he desperately needed.

He wouldn't willingly associate himself with someone from a district, especially not District 12.

Yet, he found himself enjoying the game Lucy Gray played with the audience.

The way she captivated the crowd made his path to victory smoother. Her performance, and her charisma, made the audience more receptive to his maneuvers.

In the grand arena, she was his puppet, dancing to his orchestrated tune. Seeing her confined to a cage, utterly dependent on him for help, brought a sinister satisfaction.

Coriolanus reveled in the fact that he was the only person she could trust, the only one who held the key to her survival. It fed his desire for control and power, elements that fueled his existence.

Lucy Gray could never reach Seraphina's heights in his eyes, yet, he deluded himself into thinking that he wasn't intrigued by her.

It was a dangerous dance between reality and deception.

Deep within, he clung to the notion that his affection belonged solely to Seraphina.

He convinced himself that Lucy Gray was merely a pawn in his game, a tool for his success.

The truth, however, lingered in the shadows— he enjoyed the power, the control, and the duality that the two girls brought into his life.

And as he reveled in the complex dynamics, he couldn't deny the thrill that Lucy Gray's presence added to the twisted tapestry of his ambitions.

While Seraphina Aveline... she was going to be his First Lady.

Seraphina will be the endgame.

"What's going on, Sera? We've been friends for years, and suddenly you're acting like I'm a stranger. Don't I deserve an explanation?"

Seraphina sighed, her gaze momentarily dropping to the table before meeting his eyes again.

"Coryo, it's not just about Lucy Gray. It's about everything."

Coriolanus frowned, a mix of confusion and concern in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Seraphina looked into Coriolanus's eyes, her frustration tinged with a hint of vulnerability.