by M. Lorrox
“Oh, not at all. I just made my move. Let’s reset this and—” She furrows her brow. “I should ask, would you like to play a little?”
June nods.
“Wonderful! Help me set the board, will you?”
When the board is set up, Beatrice smiles across to June, then allows her smile to fade. “I’m sorry if I upset you yesterday.”
“Oh, it’s okay. I talked with my dad and our friends. They explained it to me.” She leans closer to Beatrice. “Please don’t tell anyone that I’m, umm, new.”
Beatrice leans over the chessboard and whispers, “I promise.” She sits back up and looks at the board. “Well, I’m set up as white. Would you mind if I went first?”
“Oh no, go ahead.”
Beatrice reaches toward a knight, then pauses. She squints her eyes at June. “Would you like to learn today, or just play?”
“I feel like I have a ton to learn, if you don’t mind teaching.”
“Oh, not at all. The first stage of chess is called The Opening, where both sides aim to develop their pieces onto the board.” Beatrice moves her hand to the pawn in front of her own queen. She slides it forward two spaces. “d4. Do you know that the central four squares of the board are important to control?”
June grabs the pawn in front of her king—directly in line with Beatrice’s pawn and queen. She moves it two spaces forward, right in front of Beatrice’s pawn, but doesn’t take her finger off the piece. She checks the letters and numbers that label the rows and files of the board. “d5?”
Beatrice nods.
June releases the piece. “I do, and I know that I should block you, otherwise you could build a wall of attacking pawns in the center.”
Beatrice nods. “Good.” She carefully picks up another pawn—the one in front of the bishop, again on the queen’s side. She places it down, two squares forward, to the side of her first pawn, and in a diagonal position with June’s pawn. “c4. Have you seen this move before?”
June frowns and looks at the board. That seems like a dumb move. “I don’t get it. I can just take that pawn.”
“You could, but then you’d give up some control in the center.”
June studies the board. “Is it better to keep the control?”
Beatrice shrugs. “It depends on whom you’re playing. This opening is called Queen’s Gambit.”
“I didn’t know that they named moves.”
“They do. And in response to this one opening, there are...oh, at least seven different named moves.”
June smiles as she plays a few options through in her mind. “Wow, I think you’re going to beat me.”
Beatrice laughs. “I might beat you, yes, but the point of chess isn’t about making the best possible move, it’s about making the moves that beat your opponent.”
June thinks for a moment. “So, is reading your opponent the most important thing to do?”
“Once a player knows how the pieces move and knows the rules, then the fun really begins.”
June looks at the board again. “I don’t know what I should do here.”
Beatrice points to June’s pawn on d5. “Well, you can certainly take my pawn on c4, and they call that Queen’s Gambit Accepted. Or, you could do something else, probably to protect your pawn from my c4 pawn’s attack, and they call those moves Queen’s Gambit Declined.”
“You said there were a bunch of other named moves?”
“Yes. Many of the moves that decline to take my pawn have specific names. Each of them a different strategy.” She pushes her chair back from the table. “I need to run to the ladies’ room for a minute. I’d like you to think about your next move, and think carefully.” She stands with slight difficulty. “You have a big decision to make, and the game might depend on it.”
June scrunches her face as she looks at the pieces.
Beatrice can see the focus in June’s green-and-silver eyes. She places a hand on June’s shoulder, leans down, and motions to the board. “But don’t worry too much about it, dear. After all, it’s only a game.”
“In chess, just as in life, today’s bliss
may be tomorrow’s poison.”
-Assaic (1897 – 1986)
When Beatrice returns a few minutes later, June is looking out toward the ornamental pond in the courtyard’s center. Every so often, one of the koi fish swims up near the surface, disturbs it, and changes the way the light reflects onto the grasses alongside.
The noise of the Beatrice sliding her chair back jolts June back to the game. “I’ve decided that I will decline your generous offer of the pawn.”
“Oh? Why?”
“My first instinct was to take your pawn, and because I want to learn from you, I figure I should leave my comfort zone.”
Beatrice nods. “That’s very—”
“What’s wrong?” June glances back and forth between Beatrice’s eyes.
“Oh, nothing. I’m fine.”
“There’s something different.”
Beatrice itches behind her ear, her thin fingers making her silvery hair shimmer. “What do you mean?”
June leans back in her chair. “I don’t know. Sorry. I just… I have been getting these weird feelings.” She shrugs. “I guess I’m just getting used to all these changes.”
Beatrice folds her hands in her lap. “Getting feelings? What sort?”
“It’s hard to describe. It’s like my senses are different.”
“I understand they’re quite a bit more acute now.”
“No, I mean yes, but that’s not what I mean. Sometimes I smell or see things that aren’t really there when I look at people. It’s weird.”
“Hmm. That is interesting.” Beatrice pauses. “What made you think something was wrong, just a moment ago?”
June frowns. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s alright, you can tell me. After all, I’ve seen and heard a lot of strange things in my day, being the human wife of an old vampire and all.” She smiles.
“Oh wow, I didn’t know vampires and regular people married.”
“Of course! But let’s not get side-tracked. What did you sense about me a minute ago?”
June takes a nervous breath. “Well, sometimes I smell things, all of a sudden, and it’s strong, then it goes away. Sometimes I see colors in front of people or behind them. Oh, and sometimes I feel a temperature change...”
Beatrice controls her expression. “Go on, dear.”
“When you sat back down, I saw a color.”
“What color?”
“Like, a dark green. It felt…” June runs her hand along the bottom of the table. “It felt sad.”
Beatrice watches June, then looks away, into the open space of the courtyard. “I did get sad.”
“Really? Why?”
She stares off and her eyes grow misty. “I had a son once, and he died. A phrase you said reminded me of him.”
“I’m sorry.”
She looks back and wipes a tear from her eye. “Oh, it’s not your fault dear, you said you wanted to leave your comfort zone. He’d say that a lot; he used it like a motto.”
June swallows. “What happened?”
Beatrice frowns. “There was an accident, many years ago. But I still think about him sometimes.”
June reaches her hand out for Beatrice to hold. “I’m sorry I made you sad.”
“You did nothing wrong, my dear. Anyway, I’m curious about these feelings you get. How often do they happen?”
She shrugs. “They just happen sometimes. Like when I said that phrase, I saw that color. The same thing has happened with smells and temperatures.”
Beatrice rubs June’s hand. “You should know that what you’re describing is not a vampire trait necessarily. People call those sorts of experiences synesthesia. It’s when one s
ense triggers another.”
June purses her lips. “That’s not a vampire thing?”
“You could have had it all along and are just more aware of it now that your senses are stronger. But I’ve only met one vampire that claims to have it. And for them it’s just a coloration of text they read—nothing like what you describe.”
Great, I’m a double, or triple weirdo.
“I think you should be pleased that you have that ability. You clearly understood something about me that no one else would have. That’s special.”
“I guess so, yeah.”
Beatrice releases June’s hand. “If you can learn how to use it, the ability to sense someone’s moods could be a very useful tool. That would be something one could use in life, most definitely.”
“I haven’t really thought of it that way.”
She smiles. “You may not be able to use it to your advantage yet, so I think we better play this game through before you do.”
June laughs. “Deal.” She picks up the pawn in front of her own king, and moves it up one place, diagonal to the pawn she moved first, guarding it. “e6. Queen’s Gambit Declined.”
Charlie paces outside the meeting room. He’s early, of course, but he’s nervous. The door opens and an aide steps out.
“Lieutenant Colonel Costanza?”
Damn that sounds weird. “Yes, I’m here.”
“Please come in, sir.” The aide leads Charlie into the room. There’s an aisle down the middle between tables that sit against the walls, and another table sits at the far end of the room.
As Charlie enters, a handful of people stand up, behind the tables to his sides. They stand at attention with their hands tight against their thighs. Charlie glances at some of them quickly before returning his eyes to the four vampires still seated at the table in front of him. The aide pauses and motions for Charlie to continue a few more feet to stand in front of the table.
When he is five feet from the table, he slides his feet together and places his hands straight down at his side—just like the others that are standing around him.
The room is silent and still. One man sitting toward the center of the table is reading a document. The hair that sits on his head—and sticks out of his ears—is white and thick. He frowns, then looks up at Charlie. “At ease.”
In unison, everyone currently standing stiff steps their right foot out and folds their hands in front of their waists.
“Lieutenant Colonel Costanza, please remain standing. Everyone else, please sit.”
Charlie doesn’t move. He stares above the men and women at the table and into the depths of an abstract painting on the wall behind them. He squints. Is that supposed to be a dog?
The white-haired man at the table clears his throat. “Thank you for joining us, Mr. Costanza. I hope you have enjoyed your reprieve from duty.”
You know...maybe it’s a car.
“I don’t believe we’ve met. I am Vincent de Villablino, high councilor and chair of the War and Defense Cabinet. You may recognize the other elders on this cabinet: Señor Raúl Lucas, Señora Carmella Diaz, and Mrs. Katherine Reichenberg.”
Charlie looks down from the painting to Señor Lucas, the father of his and Sadie’s son’s bride. “Good to see you, Raúl.”
Raúl closes his eyes and nods. “And you, Carles.” A gentle smile adds wrinkles to his tan face.
Vincent glances from Raúl to Charlie and continues. “You have been offered a new commission, and with that commission, a promotion. Do you understand the details of this commission?”
Charlie shakes his head. No, it’s absolutely a dog.
“The commission is—”
Charlie looks at him. “I understand the commission, but I have a problem with it.”
Someone in the room snickers. Murmurs float up along the sides of the room. Raúl smiles.
Vincent glares at Charlie. “And what is that, exactly?”
“I do not accept the term of the appointment.”
“So, are you saying that you refuse the commission?”
“Clearly, I did not say that, sir. I said that I do not accept the term of the appointment. ¿Preferirías que lo dijera en español?”
Vincent snorts and Raúl raises a hand. “Carles, my old friend, please. What sort of term would be acceptable to you?”
Charlie lets a grin slide in from the edges of his mouth. “I understand that this appointment would be until I am reassigned. I don’t like the idea of travelling around all the time. I don’t want to put my family through that. Instead, I will serve as Commander of the Council Guard until I groom and promote a replacement.”
Vincent’s face grows red. “Lieutenant Colonel Costanza, you misunderstand this commission. This is not a temporary post.”
“Councilor Villablino, if I take it, it will be.”
Vincent grits his teeth and prepares to tear into Charlie, but Raúl leans over to him and whispers into his ear so quietly that Charlie can’t hear him. He’s forced to wait. Raúl finishes, and Vincent turns to look at him. Raúl responds with a slow blink and slight nod.
Vincent sighs and looks down for a moment. He resists breaking the table in half and throwing the pieces at Charlie’s face.
Charlie can see his blood boiling. Huh, this might even work! He coughs to hide a renegade smile.
Vincent squints and sucks air in between his tongue and teeth. “I would like to make additional amends for the betrayal you experienced during the American Civil War. To that end, I will grant you this absurd and irreverent request. But…” Vincent stands. The others that stood before stand again. Charlie and the others snap their feet back together and press their hands at their sides.
When the room is silent again, Vincent continues. “You will make no mistake, that until we approve of your replacement, you will serve in this commission’s full capacity, performing all your duties as described in your commission.”
Charlie clears his throat. “Permission to speak freely.”
Vincent considers for a moment. “Granted.”
Charlie relaxes his neck and looks straight into Vincent’s eyes. “I trust that any directives given to me will have been fully approved by the High Council. I will be watching you.”
Vincent forces a smile. “Of course.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Vincent sits. He notices the others standing around the room. He waves a hand and motions for them to sit.
He looks at Charlie and swallows. “Lieutenant Colonel Costanza, your new, temporary commission is to be Commander of the Council Guard, serving the High Council and the House of Elders. Your rank will immediately be increased to Colonel. The provisions we have discussed—” He motions to the others sitting at his table. “—will be added to the official commission. Do you accept this commission?”
“I do, sir, thank you for the opportunity to serve.”
“You’re welcome, Colonel. Dismissed.”
Charlie doesn’t move.
“Is there something else, Colonel?”
“Sir, where should I report? I’m unfamiliar with current procedures.”
“Of course.” Vincent looks to the side of the room and motions someone to come forward. “Colonel Costanza, this is a senior officer of the Guard, Captain Korina Sarkis. Guardsman, please see to the Colonel.”
“Of course, sir.”
Charlie turns and sees a tall woman walking toward him. Her skin is a dark olive, darker than Sadie’s, and her hair is curly but cropped short. She wears a black, cotton military jacket and black cargo pants. When she reaches Charlie, she stands at attention with her hands slapping at her sides.
“At ease, Captain.”
“Please follow me, sir.” She turns and leads him out of the room.
The rest of the room is dismissed, and the cabinet members orga
nize paperwork. After some shuffling, Vincent turns to Raúl. “I’m very concerned with his attitude, Raúl.”
He laughs. “You’ll soon see, my friend, that his attitude stems from his deep, deep personal honor. He is more samurai than soldier. Trust me, he will flourish as commander, you will see.”
Vincent stands. “If he doesn’t, just remember: this was not my idea.”
June studies the board and her dwindling forces. Sheesh! I’m getting slaughtered here.
Beatrice points to a June’s rook on the f-file. “I’d suggest you bring your rook into the game a little more. They’re powerful, and you haven’t moved it in a while.”
June looks at Beatrice and smiles. “I’ll try.”
Beatrice nods and looks back and forth between June’s eyes.
June looks away, then back. “Yesterday, you told me to get some sunglasses and to not let people stare into my eyes.”
Beatrice frowns. Did they not tell her? “You and your friend Eddy are close?”
June looks confused. “Yeah.”
Beatrice smiles. “I bet you could describe his eyes in excruciating detail. The vampire eyes are magnificent, aren’t they?”
She laughs. “Yes, I know those eyes all right. I thought it was just something in the family, because they all have eyes like that, but now I know it’s a vampire thing.”
Beatrice nods. “That’s true. Virtually all vampires have the exact same eyes, the dazzling green iris with tiny shiny specks... Have you met any other vampires here at the hotel?”
June nods. “They all have the same eyes, I think. But I don’t. Mine are different.”
Beatrice waits, and so does June. “Yes, they are. I’ve never seen a vampire with eyes like yours.”
“Never?”
She shakes her head. “No. And I’ve met many vampires.”
Great, so I really am a freak. June sighs. “Has there ever been one without the green eyes?”
“Not that I’ve ever heard of.”
“What do I do?”
Beatrice squeezes her hand. “Wear sunglasses around other vampires—unless you want the attention. Do you?”