CHECKMATE.

chapter one.

She shoved her boot against the dead man's cheek.

Another point to Ivory.

She smiled slyly and stepped over the lifeless body and strutted down the hallway confidently. Her handmade dagger was covered in crimson blood, as it glistened in the dim moonlight. Her enemies, the Monarchs', will soon be wiped out. Sure, Ivory was one measly person compared to the large troop, but Ivory was set on wiping one person by one, until it was only her and the leader, Ginerva Monarch. Yes, it would take much more preparation and time to kill each person one by one, but Ivory was better at stealth anyways. By stealth, she means, she makes sure they're secluded and attacks. [not secretively]. Both Ivory and Ginerva knew about how this was all going to end, but didn't want to think about it. They had a troubled past, after all.

If they had just made up on that silly little fight, none of this would've happened.

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Ivory hid her slender body behind a pillar and eavesdropped onto their conversation.

"Vidone can attack anytime, we can use advantage of the fact she can't kill groups of us.." One of the Monarchs whisper-shouted.

Ivory almost scoffed.

"Fine, you take the West Wing. I'll take the pillar near the garden door and if I happen to hear anything, I'll come." The other person said, clearly irritated.

Ivory cursed. The only tactical way to get inside was through the garden, it was an easy in and out, but if a Monarch takes a stance, she'll have to find another way. Now, all Ivory had on her mind was to get out of here. And fast.

She squatted down and made her way to another pillar, and spun herself behind it just as a Monarch walked past. Good, just a few more feet and she'll be out. The closest exit was the West Wing's backdoor, which wasn't as guarded as others. The disadvantage though, was the hall down to it was open and had no way of hiding if Ivory were to get caught. She had no choice but to take the risk. 'Guess I'll just have to wing it.' Ivory thought doubtfully. She took a second to watch her surroundings, and took off towards the backdoor, careful not to make any noise. She was just about to grab for the door, when she heard boots getting closer to her and a shout. "Hey! Where do you think you're going? Why aren't you guarding?" She heard from behind her, as the voice got closer and closer.

Oh, this was not going as planned.

Ivory took a deep breath, and slowly turned around, reaching into her boot she pulled out her most favorite dagger, and ran towards the Monarch, not paying attention to his upper body. She took her dagger and swiped it underneath him, making him fall flat on his face. She took this as a chance to run the opposite direction.

Guess she was going out the garden after all.

She could hear him shouting for others to get to her, but that made her run even faster. She made it to the garden door, and looked back. Four Monarchs have surrounded her, not spaced out enough for her to slip through. She slowly reached for the door handle and gently opened it, quiet enough for the Monarchs not to see. She raised both of her hands in surrender, and chuckled. The Monarchs knew this wasn't normal, who would willingly want to die? Especially in the hands of a Monarch?

They weren't wrong.

Ivory opened the door from behind her and ran out, shutting the door before her, and ran far into the distance. She took a sharp turn, and sighed deeply. She had lost them. She should be more careful, what if the fallen Monarch grabbed her ankle when she ran to the garden door? Or one of the Monarchs surrounding her had actually gotten hold of her?

Ivory needs to focus on getting better at stealth, and try to find a better way of killing the Monarchs without being near to death.

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Ivory was in her room, staring at her messy desk filled with all the information she knows about the Monarchs.

She has all she needs, why couldn't she attack now?

She was scared. Scared of what might happen to her after last time. It was one against an entire squad of maybe twenty to thirty people, there was no way Ivory could do this without having back-up plans for back-up plans. She drew a map of the Monarch den, detailing as far to every single exit and entrance to all the guard positions. She took her pencil and drew two guards near the garden door and West Wing pillar. She'll have to find an easier way in and out. Ivory's eyes scaled the map, as her eyes landed on an exit near the East Wing entrance. 'Of course,' she thought, 'The Monarchs would be too distracted to take notice of this exit, since they are occupied with the West Wing and garden exit!' She took her pen and drew a circle around, and stared at her new map.

For once, things might go as planned.