Chapter 5: Chess Night

On Tuesday night Cyrus had company, three vampires and a chessboard, and he introduced me as "my caseworker, who is very strict."

"I am not strict," I said.

"She measured my window film with a tape measure," Cyrus said.

"That's strict," said the tall one.

He wore a gray turtleneck and had been dead since 1921.

The old one sat by the lamp in a velvet chair and looked about seventy, though he told me he was born in 1788.

The third one was small and cheerful and kept stealing the other players' pawns.

"Guest limit is four," I said, counting heads. "You're three plus Mr. Morvath. That's fine."

"Plus you," said the small one.

"I'm not a guest, I'm staff."

"Staff sits down," said the old one. "Cyrus, get the lady a chair."

Cyrus brought me a chair.

He put it beside his own, close, and I sat in it before I could think about how close.

"Do you play?" the tall one asked.

"Badly. My grandfather taught me."

"Then you'll play Cyrus," said the old one. "He needs to lose to someone who isn't us."

I played Cyrus.

He opened with a pawn and a small smile.

I moved my queen out too early, because my grandfather had always said to scare them first.

Cyrus lifted one eyebrow.

"That's an aggressive opening, Ms. Novak."

"I'm an aggressive person."

"I'm learning that."

The tall one coughed into his sleeve in a way that was clearly a laugh.

By the middle of the game I had lost two knights and a bishop.

Cyrus was leaning toward the board with his elbow near mine.

"You're left-handed," I said. "I never noticed."

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