lence as the grandfather clock

h of them had been handpicked, drawn from different corners of the chess world-old legends, young prodigies, and

thick with

ez muttered, arms crossed. "N

ed, running a hand through his tousled b

The board had been set in a position he had not seen in over a de

d have d

mposure, cleared his throat. "The ho

e everyo

Patel said, his voice cau

ce," the butler responded smoothly. "The rules are simple. Ea

olkov's deep Russian voice cut

n did not change. "Ref

ind them slammed shut on their own. The so

run down his spine.

y w

-

ading for the doors. She

joke is this?"

ting possibilities. Was this an elaborate prank?

ed. "Enough games. W

emained calm. "The g

ered. Not the candle

hifting in precise, calculated motions. The board reset itself, plac

d back. "Wh

ls. The words were unintelligible, but the sound se

thing he had learned from years of championship m

to play," he said car

tated, but one

t the unk

how her sharp eyes flicked across the room, studying eve

e. "We are not al

e turne

talking about?

ween her fingers. "We were all invited. But there a

glanced back at the

t the table. Only seven

-

"As the honored guest, Mr. Langle

r hes

play did not seem like an option. Slowly, he moved

s left the piece, the

ed violently. A shadow stretch

th

oved on

piked. He hadn't tou

le. "No. No, no, no. I'm not

sing in pitch. The walls seemed to breathe, t

tion. He merely stepped

me force was actually controlling the game-then t

unknown woman. "Y

e evenly. "My n

name?" El

is house. I know its history. I came be

offed. "W

chessboard. "The one

ened. The Bl

-

s enthusiast. He believed chess was not just a game but a

to matches where the stakes were never revealed until it was too la

night, Black

pered that his final game had never been compl

hey were p

"This game does not want a

"And what happen

rkened. "I think

rew louder. Th

e them rattled violently. A sharp cry filled t

h's chair

lix's piece-his kin

er than death f

ke a move," E

ned into fists. This wa

ready lost

e had only

-

--