White Knight

by Ingrid Seymour

  Ferko said nothing.

  Lovina put her hand over the flame of the candle, watching it flicker against her fingers. It should have burned her, but it did nothing but stain her skin with soot.

  “One... very weak... Trove,” she said, measuring her words. “A Trove that died after a few squalid meals. That was it!” she exclaimed, turning away from the candle and facing us again.

  “Rook Daciana isn’t much better,” she continued, glancing toward Kelsus. “She did find Varujan, but he was already old and he’ll likely die the next time I feed.” She paused, then added through clenched teeth. “And after that, I’ll be confined to this insufferable darkness until one of you, useless humans, can find me a new Trove. I think it’s time for a change. And this very ambitious, very clever girl might be the answer to our very stale and stagnant White Board. Girl, do you wish to live despite the fact you broke your contract?”

  “I do,” I said, feeling the truth in my words, knowing for the first time since King Maximus killed Papa that I wanted to go on and experience all the things my life had to offer, no matter how limited.

  “Very well, then,” the Queen said. “You will fight Knight Ferko’s First Pawn for the vacant post of First Quadrant Rook. The Board must be complete.”

  CHAPTER 6

  I had the chance to become a Rook without fighting a Rook.

  With Neculai dead, someone had to fill his spot. It couldn’t remain empty. I remembered reading the clause in my Pawn contract, but I hadn’t thought of its implications.

  I hadn’t planned this. I didn’t even know if I was ready. I’d known I would one day have to taste the Queen’s blood, but I thought I would have time to mentally prepare myself for that moment.

  Now, that time had been stolen from me, and here I was, forced to fight, aware that if I was victorious, I would have to drink a cup of Lovina’s blood.

  Today.

  After that, I would never be the same.

  There would be no turning back. I didn’t even know exactly all that would happen once vampire blood entered my system. Yes, the color of my eyes would change. I would be faster, stronger, and age much more slowly than normal.

  But was that all?

  Would my soul also change? Would it twist out of shape until no god could recognize it? Would I be more inclined to do evil?

  And what about that craving for blood that all high ranking members were said to have? I’d seen no evidence of it. The Knights and Rooks ate regular meals with us every day. I’d never seen them ingest blood. Was it just a rumor? Something that lived only in the imagination of Acedrex’s scared citizens?

  There was no one I could ask. Maybe, if I’d done this the right way, I could have talked to Knight Kelsus. Maybe he wouldn’t have taken my terrified questions as a betrayal to my vow to serve the Queen. But now...

  Suddenly, a foolish thought occurred to me.

  What would Nyro think of me as a Rook?

  The answer to this one question, at least, seemed clear.

  He would hate me.

  I didn’t know why I was so sure of this, but I felt it in my heart. Whatever attraction he felt for me would vanish the moment he glanced into the rust-colored eyes that would replace mine.

  My hands trembled as I shrugged into my jacket. I was in my dormitory, changing into my newest uniform before the challenge. Vinna sat on my cot, watching me closely.

  “Yeh’re right smart,” Vinna said. “I’d had never thought of killing the Rook to get an easy shot at his spot.”

  Her green eyes seemed to hold a new appreciation for my supposed intelligence, as well as a good measure of distrust.

  “I didn’t plan this, Vinna,” I said, pulling on the cuffs of my shirt.

  She huffed and shook her head. “Yeh expect me to believe that? I ain’t stupid. Everything yeh’ve done was with one purpose... moving up the ranks.” She said it as if it were a crime, but wasn’t that the point of the Board?

  But I guessed I couldn’t blame her for thinking this way. I’d paid Alben off to throw our challenge and help me become Fourth Pawn just two months ago, and now, I was in line to become Rook for the First Quadrant.

  I sat next to Vinna and slipped my foot into one of my boots. I tied the buckles, slowly, trying to postpone the inevitable.

  “I’m scared,” I said, the words spilling out of my mouth without my thinking.

  “Yeh should be. Yessenia is good. If she draws a Rook, yeh better watch.”

  Yessenia was the First Pawn in Ferko’s Quadrant. She had held the position for five years and had been a member of the Board for over ten. She’d climbed her way up slowly and had held the rank of Fourth, Third, and Second Pawn before she got the top job. She hadn’t taken a shortcut as I had and was much better prepared to win this challenge.

  “She fights like a fiend,” Vinna added. “Watch for her kicks. She can really throw those skinny legs around. Don’t let them fool yeh. Pray she draws a Pawn. The sword is yehr best chance.”

  Vinna was right. Yessenia would be a tough challenge, but I wasn’t considering losing. It was winning that worried me.

  “What I meant,” I whispered, “is that I’m scared of drinking Lovina’s blood.” I slipped on my other boot.

  “I can see that,” she whispered back. “I’d rather die at Yessenia’s hand. There aren’t enough riches in the world that would make me...” she paused, probably realizing that her words could be considered treasonous.

  I regarded her, considering her much simpler existence and wishing it were mine. She appeared reproachful as if she’d thought me better than someone who would drink vampire blood for greed and comfort.

  Without thinking, I took one her hands in mine. “I’m not doing it for the riches.”

  Vinna’s mouth twisted and one of her eyebrows went up. She clearly didn’t believe me. “For what then?”

  “Revenge,” I spoke the word like a prayer as if I could draw strength from it.

  She frowned, confused.

  “Everything I’ve done is because I want to... I want to kill the Black King.”

  Vinna’s jaw dropped open.

  I went on. “And there is only one way I can accomplish that, Vinna. I have to become a vampire.”

  I waited for her to say something, but she was struck mute and could do nothing but blink in bewilderment. I smiled sadly and stood, wondering what had made me reveal my reasons to her. Still pondering, I grabbed my sword and hung it from my belt, and as I walked out of the dormitory, the answer came to me.

  I’d done it because, no matter the outcome of the challenge, one way or the other, Bianca Flagfall would die today.

  CHAPTER 7

  Yessenia’s legs cut like scissors through the air, her left bare foot slapping the right side of my face. My head was thrown back, blood filling my mouth. The world around me spun. I staggered backward, trying to keep my footing but fell on top of Vinna who sat on the lower bench of the gallery.

  “You can do this, Bianca,” she whispered in my ear as she pushed me back on my feet.

  I took two steps forward, blinking at my blurred surroundings.

  My opponent was standing in a crouch several yards away. One of her legs was extended to one side while the other one was flexed. Her right hand was touching the floor. She practically looked like a cat—even her face, especially at the moment she’d drawn a Rook from the Challenge Vessel.

  Black, shoulder-length hair fell like thin curtains on either side of her face. She wore her white uniform pants and, like me, had removed her jacket. Though, she hadn’t stopped there and had also taken off her shirt. I’d blushed deeply on her behalf as she’d been left wearing only the strips that tightly bound her small breasts.

  Queen Lovina was conspicuous by her absence. I’d thought she might come to witness the results of her pronouncement, but perhaps her weak Trove’s blood wasn’t enough to protect her from the sun, not even close to twilight.

  I shook my head, trying to set my brain bac
k into place. My vision cleared.

  C’mon, Bianca!

  I had defeated Breen in hand to hand combat. I could defeat Yessenia. If only I could call back to me the anger I’d felt when Breen made fun of Papa, when she called him a coward and a... piss-poor gambler.

  Such foul language to describe such a caring father.

  Yessenia circled me, toying with me. I followed her every move with my eyes. She had a satisfied smile on her face, seeming so sure of her victory, of her post as Rook. And was that so bad? Her, as Rook, and not me.

  Maybe I should let her win. She would make a ruthless Rook, one who would scour the city for Troves, mistreating everyone who got in her way, someone exactly like Rook Datcu from the Black Court—the creature who had summoned Maximus to my home.

  No. Yessenia could not become a Rook. I wouldn’t allow it.

  Anger built in my chest and spread through my body. I bared my teeth, the hatred for all those responsible for destroying my life showing on my face.

  Yessenia laughed, thinking nothing of my anger.

  If only I could get my hands on her, I knew I could beat her. She was slight, smaller than me, but she was slippery and fast and knew her chances were better if she kept her distance.

  So far, she had succeeded, picking her attacks carefully and using only kicks, then leaping away, out of reach. How she could leap in the air and strike with her feet was beyond me. She defied gravity.

  An idea occurred to me.

  Every time she had struck, I hadn’t expected it. She’d surprised me, moving like a whip. But what if I could predict her next attack?

  I shook myself.

  You have to win, Bianca. She won’t pardon you.

  I couldn’t end up as Lovina’s main course tonight. If I did, there was the chance that she would discover I was a Trove, and instead of saving Talyssa, I would end up sharing her fate.

  Crouching low, I taunted her, feigning to one side and the other as if I meant to lunge in her direction. She stepped back, keeping her distance, her narrow, dark eyes keen to my every move.

  Her feet shuffled as if in a dance. She’d fooled me before, distracting me, then attacking as fast as lightning falling from the sky. That would not happen again. I was onto her now.

  “C’mon, scaredy-cat,” I goaded her. “Come close so I can pet you.” My heckling words surprised me as well as their malicious tone.

  Yessenia sniffled, wiping a hand under her nose. There was a quick flash of fear in her eyes. I’d beaten Skender and Breen, and I had killed Neculai, her Quadrant’s Rook, she must wonder if today was her last day alive.

  She shifted to the right then to the left. I acted confused, even though I knew exactly what she was doing.

  Her kick came from the right this time, aimed at my side. I tried to block it, but only managed to do it partially and the side of her foot connected with my ribs. She leaped back, away from my reach.

  I groaned in pain.

  She laughed, looking pleased.

  Favoring my side, I sidestepped, taking deep breaths and willing the pain away. She attacked again. I put my arms up. Her shin smashed against forearms as I protected my face. I took a step back, letting all my fear show on my face.

  I was afraid of more pain, of being found out and becoming a blood slave, of winning and having to drink Lovina’s blood, of Nyro’s rejection when he found out I was less than human.

  There was no shortage of fear in my heart, and I let it all out.

  I saw the moment when Yessenia took note of it. Her eyes twinkled. Her lips tipped to one side, then she attacked.

  I was ready for her then, and, when her leg rose to strike my stomach, I clamped my hands around it and twisted it, throwing my entire body into the maneuver.

  Yessenia let out a shrill cry as I slammed her to the floor. I fell on top of her, my body across hers. Before she had a chance to recover, I shifted, straddling her and pinning her thin arms under the weight of my knees.

  Blinking in surprise, she leered, her body thrashing as she tried to free herself, but it was useless. Or so I thought until she kicked both legs and nearly threw me off her.

  “Stop!” I commanded her.

  She didn’t.

  “You asked for it,” I said, closing my fist into a tight ball and smashing it across her jaw. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, then she went utterly still.

  I watched for a moment to make sure she wasn’t faking and wouldn’t jump up to kick me senseless as soon as I let her go, but she was knocked out.

  Wiping blood from my mouth with my sleeve, I rose to my feet and glanced around the spectators.

  Vinna mimed tipping a hat in my direction. She looked surprised at my victory, but maybe also relieved. Or, at least, I wanted to think so.

  Knight Kelsus rose from his spot at the gallery and walked to the middle of the floor. Ferko joined him, the expression on her angular face betraying her anger, for once.

  I would be her Rook now. I had no idea what that entailed as the higher ranking members of the Board always were so secretive about their activities.

  “Do you pardon your opponent?” Knight Kelsus asked.

  “I do.” I lifted my chin with pride.

  A few in the crowd huffed in disappointment. Yessenia would remain her Quadrant’s First Pawn, which meant others lost a chance at a promotion.

  “Congratulations, Rook,” Knight Kelsus said. “How may we address you?”

  I frowned, not understanding the question.

  “Do you prefer Rook Bianca or Rook Flagfall?” he clarified.

  I hadn’t been given this choice when I became a Pawn. Everyone had just called me Bianca or, when formality was required, Pawn Bianca. I never realized that for higher ranks one chose what to be called.

  Kelsus was a first name, and Ferko was a surname. They had each made conscious choices on the matter.

  “Well?” Kelsus said, expectantly.

  I thought for a moment, then made up my mind.

  “Flagfall,” I said.

  My last name, like many others in the city, was a chess term.

  It came from the flags found in the time clocks used in the chess dens. When a player ran out of time, a small flag fell indicating they had lost.

  The game I was playing didn’t have a clock, but sooner or later, a flag would fall for King Maximus the day I became Queen of Acedrex.

  “You may address me as Rook Flagfall.”

  CHAPTER 8

  As Rook, there was a new contract I had to sign. It was longer, more intricate, and much scarier than the others. Its many clauses swam in my head as I picked up a quill and dipped it in a pot of ink.

  I was in the White Palace again, Knight Kelsus and Knight Ferko standing beside the small table where I sat reviewing the contract.

  As I positioned the quill over the paper, I hesitated for a moment, thinking on the Queen’s blood sliding down my throat.

  “It’s not like you have a choice, Rook Flagfall,” Ferko mocked.

  “It’s not like I need one,” I lied, signing with a flourish. I couldn’t let Ferko intimidate me. She was my Quadrant leader, but she had to understand I wouldn’t let her walk all over me.

  I stood. “I’m ready.”

  This was my fate. I couldn’t hide from it anymore—not mere minutes before I was meant to give up my humanity. When I put that cup to my lips, I would do it with determination—welcoming the fact that, after I ingested the poison, the possibility of ever being turned into a blood slave would be gone.

  The vampire blood would cure me, and I wouldn’t be a Trove anymore. Moreover, I would be one step closer to my goal.

  The Knights led me back to the throne room where, this time, the Queen stood in front of the expansive windows that, on my earlier visit, had been covered by thick curtains.

  The moon shone high in the sky, and Lovina had her face turned up to it, her eyes closed, a slight smile on her pale lips. No candles illuminated the large room, but the night was
resplendent, and a few strategically-placed mirrors reflected the moon’s cool light, leaving no need for anything else.

  She ignored us and only after a long moment addressed us.

  “I had no doubt you would win,” she said, turning away from the windows and walking in our direction. Her bare feet padded softly on the floor. She didn’t glide the way King Maximus seemed to do, but it seemed as if walking like a regular person cost her some effort.

  “Rook Flagfall has signed the contract and is ready for her first tasting, My Queen,” Knight Kelsus said, inclining his head.

  “Good, then let’s get this over with,” she walked toward the dais. “I wish to check on Varujan, see if he might have enough blood to allow me a short walk at sunrise.”

  Lovina rounded the table where that single candle had rested earlier. Now, it housed a wine glass, a folded piece of cloth, and a dagger, instead. She waited for me to join her, the narrow table positioned between us.

  Without any type of ceremony, she picked up the weapon and sliced deeply at her wrist. Dark blood dripped into the glass in a thin rivulet. A gold line marked the middle of the glass. The blood slowly rose to meet it, and when it did, the Queen pulled back her arm and pressed the cloth to the wound. She dabbed at it a few times then examined it. The wound closed, knitting itself right before my eyes.

  “Drink,” she said, gesturing toward the cup. “Drink and be my new Rook. The Rook that will find me a much-needed Trove.”

  I picked up the glass and held it up. Moonlight shone on the blood, letting me see its crimson color in all its glory.

  These past four months, I’d lived in doubt, pursuing my plan but hesitating with every step, wondering if there was another way, an escape, but there wasn’t. But Acedrex was my prison, as well as the prison of many others, and nothing would ever change if no one acted.

  As I stood there, the sense that this was my destiny descended over me. I was meant to free Acedrex. I was meant to change everything.

  So, filled with purpose, I raised the glass to my lips and drank every last bit of the White Queen’s blood.