The Last Chess Game

sed since Victor

range occurrences

rearranged itself overnight, p

ust for a moment, every

onent always responded with Blackwood's exact strate

me had

invitati

r his door, its seal marked

a sing

dmaster's

like no

u wish to

sclosed upon

ith you

ard, a chess notation

ht to

stomach

sn't done w

-

foolish enou

d Elena. They met in Celeste's dimly l

uttered, tossing an identica

eld up he

to her bag. "Mine... was delivered to my bedro

ence fell o

th a quiet curse.

means we need to find

'Grandmaster's Tournament'? It h

is arms. "And

slowly. "Then w

he picked up a pen

n to

t the paper, his phone

nament w

had jus

-

te estate outside the city, hid

cars, taxis, and even limousines-men and women from all over the world, s

nnamed geniuses who had vanished

d received the

The chandeliers flickered. The walls seemed too quiet. The air c

was a massive chessboard, engrav

beside it, his face obscured

id, his voice ca

ve been

-

ntroduced himself s

r," he announced. "Each of you will face an oppo

toward Victor. "Some of you alre

s skin

ssboard. "Win, and you may ask one qu

his eyes. "A

ter didn

hand-and the doors be

mes ha

-

chamber, where a single wooden c

t was alrea

er eyes sharp, her

r a long moment, t

efore," she said softly.

th caught. "Y

And the other

racing. "Then you know wha

first piece-

" she murmured,

-

is opponent's every expression. She

as if the air grew heavie

mething

into position, the wal

longer in

ding in Bla

him, but now... Blackwood

id, his voice smooth and k

e pounded. Th

t you should know-winning the

d hovered ov

you mean?

wood

out winning or los

ho takes the

chest t

pieces were still in play, but t

bore Blackwoo

re hi

-

rly woman-spoke softly, dr

ing to see it

mbled. "This isn't

head. "It's

to him. The players never just vani

e was looking fo

d to make

ensuring his

ay to break

oman moved he

he

. If he won, he cou

it would be the quest

ard and reache

ckma

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