A slow chill crawled down my spine as I stared down at the porcelain chess board and its marble soldiers atop it. I took particular notice in the black marble knight on Madam Mims side of the board that resembled me. The sight of the crafted piece made me feel uneasy, as if I had some sort of connection to it. With a glance back up to Mim and I inquired a lone question, “Any special rules you want to lay out before we begin?”
The witch let a diabolical smile tear across her face and that’s all the answer I needed. “Why, yes dear,” she hissed. “You see the bishop that mirrors my beauty? Well, that represents me, the glorious Madam Mim! Likewise, the knight on my side is you,” she cackled while pointing a fat finger at the piece in question.
“Why do I have a bishop that looks like you then?”
Mim’s toothy grin widened to inhumane lengths that only made my levels of paranoia sky rocket. “This piece is you, silly pony.” She giggled as the knight was hovered in my face. “If you take it with one of your pieces, you lose.” With a clap of her hands, a chain was formed around my neck; holding me in place to the ground. “Likewise with the bishop, pony. You can use it to take my pieces, but it cannot capture queens or be used to checkmate.”
Well, Tony. I do hope you know what you are doing. I really don’t feel like being a mad woman's pet. Said a familiar voice in my mind, yet something wasn’t quite right about my thoughts word structure and the lack of cuss words.
“Without further ado,” I curtly replied to Mim. “Let us begin,” I retorted with as much poshness in my voice as I could muster. The white marble pawn in front of my left rook surged forward and almost seemed to hold human like qualities. He is after all, my front lines man. Merely a disposable pawn in my strategy to show this old hag I mean business.
And you are showing this, by beating her at chess? I’m not sure how this will turn out, darling.
I’m just going to go on record and say that there is definitely something wrong with that statement. The missing onslaught on taunts and put downs was a bit frightening.
What are you talking about? Of Course you can beat her! Whatever made you think you couldn’t?
Yep. I’m scared now. There is no way in bloody hot hell that I can beat her. Nope. I should just give up right now. Be her pet forever. It’s not like it can be that bad, right?
Move over princess! A manly voiced ordered in my thinkbox and the sound of a door opening and being slammed shut was heard. Get ahold of yourself, private! Boomed the loud overbearing voice in my ears. Here I thought you were a man, not a sniveling baby! Know this, you are NOT going to let this old bag of bones beat you! You will not surrender! You will not retreat! If fighting will result in victory, then you must fight!
After the little commander in my head finished his rant, I could hear a chuckle followed by the steady beat of boots beating against tile floors of my brain.
“It’s your turn, pony.” Mims craggly voice brought me back into the crazy reality that I have come to know as life. I craned my neck upwards and looked to Mim. Her shape had changed and was now taking on the appearance of a thin woman wearing a red skin tight dress with a cigarette in one hand. The sight of the pompous hag made my blood boil.
“I’m waiting, dear.” She snickered, while flicking ash off of her cancer stick.
Show her what for!
I gave myself a nod; returning my gaze to our battlefield. Mim mirrored my move, pushing her pawn forward, as if mocking my decision.
***
Our game has been raging on for what I would say about an hour. We constantly put each other in check, only to push the limits of how far our moves could take us. Yet she seemed to be a step ahead of me. She didn’t falter in her strategy and I swear she could’ve beaten me with a flick of the wrist.
“Rook takes bishop.” I pronounced proudly, as I seized her piece. “And that’s check.”
Mim raised a curious eyebrow and studied the board. After a short evaluation of the move, she grudgingly moved her queen to protect the heart of her army.
“I underestimated you, girl.” Mim hissed.
“Actually,” I chuckled as the rook slid down the glass arena to take the enemy queen, “I’m a guy. Well. I was a guy but now I take on the appearance of a white unicorn. That happens to be a mare...”
Whatever you do, don’t think about losing your manhood!
‘I’m going to kick your ass so hard one day.’ I mentally replied.
While I had my chit chat with my brain, Mim was busy howling in laughter at the thought of her little pet unicorn being a boy.
“Hey!” I shouted to break her from the affliction of giggles. “We have a game to play and you're laughing your ass off!”
Mim went silent for a moment and looked down at me with fiercely glowing eyes.“Killjoy.” Mim muttered as she smashed the marble rook with her king, sending pieces of rock everywhere.
Now it was I with the mad hatter esque grin. She fell right into my trap! Now I have to execute it without fault and I shall be the victor!
***
My plan failed. Horribly. Not only did I mess up my assault, but my defense was just as screwed up. So, of course Mim took advantage of these faults, pushing my efforts across the board.
“Check!” She squealed.
Well. Damn. There doesn’t seem to be much of a way out of this. Unless...
“Stalemate!” I yelled back at her; driving my last rook next to her king. “We’re both losers!”
Mim returned my comment with a flushed, enraged face. “No!” She screamed back. “I always win! I don’t lose!”
“But I-”
”Ever!” Mim slammed her feet on the ground, causing the chessboard to shatter into thousands of pieces. “No more games!” She shrieked.
Things are about to get really bad. Really fast. I suggest you run. Like, now.
I jumped up, and began to make a break for it; to get tugged back by the leash that held me down. I felt the hags presence behind me and rolled out of the way just as she brought a boot down where I once lay, leaving a crack in the concrete.
“Eep!” Instantaneously, I bit down on the leash that I restricted me, leaving the taste of leather in my mouth.
Riiiiiiiiip!
I broke free from the collar just as Mim hurled a sphere of malicious magic at me.
“No more games, pony! You upset Mad Madam Mim!” The hag screeched. “‘I’ll kill you!”
To be continued...
A/N: I haven't posted a new chapter in over a week and I feel bad. I'm sorry guys, I've been busy with family and school stuff. I promise I will get back to my chapter every two days routine!