Little Fighter (The Lost Boys)

Chapter Fifteen: The Man Who Sold The World

The grandfather clock quietly ticked away the minutes as Lincoln gazed down at the handcrafted ivory and ebony chess board before him with a slight frown on his face. He knew that he would have to sacrifice his bishop in order to move forward with his game plan, but something told him that there was a hidden threat on the board. He just could not see it and that made him nervous.

"Still thinking?" Lucard asked as he watched Lincoln with a quiet calm about him. The massive burgundy leather wingback chair that he sat in did nothing to dwarf his presence in the private study.

"Give me a minute." Lincoln muttered as he shifted in his seat and leaned forward.

His mind was working in overdrive as he quickly envisioned a number of different moves and their possible consequences. The black and white squares of the board seemed to glow faintly as he mapped out the possible route for his remaining knight. If he went after Lucard's queen, he risked exposing his king. But if he did not the queen would take out three of his men in a single move.

That queen was proving to be one seriously nasty bitch.

Lincoln nodded to himself before he reached over and moved the knight to claim Lucard's rook. The queen was almost in his reach and Lincoln silently hoped that Lucard would be tempted by his exposed pieces. If he was and the queen claimed them, the knight would pounce and from there Lincoln would have no problem winning the game.

"Ah." Lucard murmured as he watched Lincoln place the taken rook in his pile of chess pieces. Both vampires were staring hard at the chess board, their faces unreadable, while the only sound that could be heard was the steady metronomic beat of the ornate weighted pendulum.

"I must say Lincoln you have certainly improved since we last played." Lucard spoke as he eyed his men with the keen eye of an aged master.

"I got nothin' to do all day so I figure I might as well get a few rounds in while you're snorin' away. Looks like it paid off wouldn't you say?" Lincoln had his eyes locked onto Lucard's right hand in anticipation.

Would he take the bait?

"First of all Lincoln I do not snore."

The master vampire arched a heavy eyebrow and glanced at his fledgling bodyguard. Lincoln grinned despite himself and Lucard had to resist the urge to shake his head.

"Secondly, it has paid off...but you still have much to learn."

Lucard lifted his hand and slowly picked up his white queen. He caught the glint in Lincoln's gaze but did not react to it as he moved the piece away from the tempting threesome that was ripe for the picking.

"Check."

"What?" Lincoln sat straight up and scanned the board.

Check? What check!

"Even if there is an easy advantage to be gained, no matter how tempting, you must always question as to why. Nothing ever happens by chance...", Lucard began as he massaged the bridge of his nose.

"Because everythin' happens for a reason. I hear you." Lincoln rans his fingers through his hair. How had he overlooked that move? It was right there in front of him and he had not even noticed. Now the white queen was in the perfect position to claim his king and none of his pieces were within range to take her out.

Goddammit!

"Well ain't this just swell." Lincoln moved his knight forward for the hell of it. He had lost the game anyway.

"Checkmate." The white queen knocked the black king off its square. "The round goes to me."

Lincoln sighed moodily and sat back as he glared down at the white queen that taunted him with her victory.