Page 7 of Chess

Silver trees with ivory leaves surrounded Ever, and the branches rustled violently, creating an interesting melody. It wasn’t only her friends she’d missed over the years, but Ivory, more than she could’ve imagined.

After trudging through the forest for a long while, the grass rippled as the wind picked up even harder. Sharp rain fell from the dark sky, where the moon sat full and the stars shone brightly.

“Of course, it would storm at this moment,” Ever grumbled, shaking her fist at whatever vampire gods might’ve been looking down on her.

Ivory’s trees thinned, giving way to Scarlet’s red and black ones. She picked up speed, traveling a good distance before her ability lagged, requiring her to stop.Damn. She wished the speed would’ve lasted longer so she could’ve gotten to her first destination quicker. The wildlife stayed hidden among the trees, peering at her as she passed. She caught sight of a crow, studying her, seeming as though it wanted to peck her eyes out. If she drew too close, the little bastard would try, but she would be faster.

“Yes, it’s a lovely day, isn’t it? Even though I’m a soggy mess.” She couldn’t help grinning at a bald squirrel baring its sharp teeth at her in a smile.

As Ever entered the kingdom of Scarlet, screams filled the air of the city. She didn’t know whether it was a brawl, lovers role playing, or someone getting slaughtered. It was the usual dark melody of Scarlet accompanied by the scent of blood and decay. Tall black and red glossy stone buildings surrounded her, and ruby lanterns led her way to the specific house where she needed to stop for a moment. A three-story building with gargoyles perched at each corner of the slate roof and crimson curtains hanging from the large arching windows.

Bringing the tendrils of her dark wig forward to cover her face, she ascended the six steps, then lifted her hand to use the hideous snarling wolf knocker. Ever schooled her features but mentally rolled her eyes at the décor. It took a few moments before the unlatching of the lock sounded. The door swung open to a tall female staring at her with a pristinely arched green brow. Her long emerald hair matched that pompous brow perfectly, and her golden dress with a popped collar brushing her cheekbones made her look even more haughty.

“What do you want?” Osanna asked in a bored tone, barely scanning the White Queen over.

“So, you haven’t found new help yet?” With a bit of grace, Ever moved the locks of her wig aside and lunged forward just as Osanna’s eyes widened in recognition. Her hands easily grasped the vampire’s head, and she ripped it off in one swift motion, a loud crunching sound echoing delightfully. Blood spilled down the throat of the headless body, the scent of metal filling the air, as it slumped to the ground with a perfect thump. Smiling, Ever tossed the head beside the cunning bitch, brushed her hands together, patted her lucky chess piece in her pocket, and whirled around before continuing through the city.

That was for Maddie and her new lover, Noah. Osanna had nearly killed him, leaving Maddie no other choice but to save him. Of course, there had been another choice … to let him die. Which was what Ever would’ve done by allowing nature to take its course, but perhaps, this once, she could agree that Maddie made the best decision she could in the situation, especially since the Hatter hadn’t had the White Queen to confide in.

The rain slowed to a light mist, but Ever kept her head down as she passed several vampires carrying ice chests. Another vampire was fighting with a male over a mortal female. His hand shot forward, tearing open the male’s chest while the woman screamed. Ever really needed to fix this calamity of a city. Things could be bloody without being so damn violent. Her wet hair hung in her face until she arrived at a portal leading to the mortal world. She would meet with her spy soon.

Beneath a gnarled, bat-infested scarlet tree, was a completely exposed dirt hole. In the mortal world, the portals were always hidden. She remembered the day she’d stumbled upon the one with her brother centuries ago. It had been in the woods behind their parents’ home, and she’d slipped through while Rav had hurried to stop her from falling. However, they’d both fallen.

Most of this was her fault. If Rav had never gone down the hole with her, he would’ve never hurt Maddie—she wouldn’t have been taunted by him all these years. But Maddie was happy, content, with Noah now, and Ever would hold onto that.

As she dropped to her knees and crawled through the dirt, a tingling sensation coursed through her. Bright green and red beetles scurried around her, their scuffing noises echoing.

At the end of the tunnel, bushes blocked her exit, and she pushed them back as she crawled the remainder of the way out into the night. Ever hoisted herself up to stand in a park surrounded by trees and a playground that looked as though it hadn’t been used in quite some time. Brushing off her hands, she ran the short distance through the trees to her safe house near a lake.

A hidden door was buried at the base of a walnut tree farther away from where Londoners routinely ventured. Ever shoved her key in the lock of the camouflaged door and lifted the lid, letting the earthy smell caress her nose. She scurried inside and locked the latch, then trotted down the few steps to her small space. There wasn’t much besides a mattress, pouches of dried blood, her viola, solo games, stacks of clothing and wigs, and a few other necessities. The past few years, she’d played solitaire so many times that she’d lost count, plucked the strings of her instrument just to hear any other noise besides her thoughts, breathing, and the mortal world’s creatures above.

But tonight, there wasn’t much time if she wanted to meet her spy. Pulling off her wet clothing, she rushed to get dressed for her mission: to begin taking back what was long overdue.

Ever adjusted her tight, sleeveless black dress and ran a hand through the dark locks of one of the new wigs from her stash. The other one was practically rubbish after the rain so she’d tossed it into a bin along the way to the club. It was easy to get things from the mortals—just influence them and they would give a vampire anything. But she tried only to take what was necessary, which had been more so lately.

Outside the gray, windowless building, loud beats from the music drifted on the breeze. Over the years, she tried and failed to appreciate most modern sounds. She preferred violas, violins, and the piano. Anything classical. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart. However, she did like the way Yo-Yo Ma ran his bow across his cello strings. It had been decades since she last went to one of his concerts.

Ever passed several women who appeared tipsy as they stumbled from the club. She entered the stone building, sweat and alcohol hitting her senses, along with something even more delicious.Blood. Andplentyof the heavenly liquid. It had been years since smoking was allowed in establishments, and that was a good change because the odor had always wreaked havoc on her.

Ever’s gaze locked with the bald bouncer’s, and she used her influence to avoid paying and to gain access into the spacious room ahead of those waiting in line. He didn’t hesitate as he let her pass, a distinct huff echoing from behind her. Neon lights flashed around the dark room, which was filled with warm bodies. So many mortals, the blood pumping in their veins, made her mouth water. Even though she’d drank plenty earlier, she wanted more, just one taste. But there wasn’t time for it. She searched around the room, her gaze falling to a busy bar with a female bartender wearing a black bow tie, then to a male toying with the sound system as Ever looked for her vampire spy.

“Hello, beautiful,” a deep voice said from behind her, wrapping his strong arm around her waist, “care to dance?”

“Sure.” Ever smiled and turned around, finding a broad male in front of her with beaming dark brown eyes. His long braids were wrapped in a bun at his nape, and he wore tight trousers with a sleeveless shirt that showed off his ebony skin and bulging muscles.

March. Her spy and friend.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” March asked as he took her hand and led her into the middle of the club where people were drinking, grinding, kissing, and touching in secret places. She trusted March because she’d sired him long ago and knew his heart from what she’d seen in his blood. He was loyal to her, always had been. And she’d wished that he’d still been a servant in the palace when her guards had turned on her. Yet he’d left Wonderland years ago to live in the mortal world, and she hadn’t reconnected with him until recently, when he’d told her about Imogen’s death, Mouse being held prisoner, Chess accused of his mother’s demise, and Rav’s new plans for Wonderland.

“It took me a while, but I did,” Ever said, biting her lip.

He brushed a lock of her wig over her shoulder. “I was about to come searching for you.”

“Don’t ever do that.”

March used to attend the tea parties that Maddie and Mouse hosted at the Ivory Palace. He’d always yearned for more from Ever, but she couldn’t give him what he wanted. They’d given each other oral pleasure a time or two, but even then, Ever refused to give herself to anyone fully. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have sex with someone—it was that she couldn’t trust most individuals. Not after having numerous vampires sent to her to get information, whether it had been from the Red Queen, the Queen of Hearts, her own damn brother, or just random vampires who’d wanted her kingdom for their own. But with March, she didn’t want to hurt him by not feeling the same way, even though she had considered giving her body to him at least once.

“I discovered something new.” He paused, drawing her close, his hand caressing her lower back. “Something you may find interesting.”

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