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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.