Sitting at the table looking at the chess set before him, Draco sighed. Tonight he wanted to practice his counters to the varied moves often used by the current world chess champion. Only his mind was swamped by the varied thoughts swimming about in his head regarding what all he had learned. There was only one thing left to do…ask his uncle what happened and hope he would be willing to divulge the truth to him. Only…how could he go about doing that without seeming suspicious or rude?
With a sigh, he took a folded piece of parchment from his pocket and read over the variations used in the champion’s last match in London. Going through the moves, Draco studied the board and noticed that within three moves after placing his knight infront of the king he sets up his variation and causes his opponent to either force a checkmate or in rare cases…stalemate. Nodding his head Draco smiled wryly.
“So tell me,” the voice of his uncle came from behind him “do you really believe that one set of notes will allow you into the mind of your opponent?”
“Actually dear uncle,” Draco said sitting back in his chair “this is the fifteenth set of notes on various matches that I have studied. In each match he uses the same set up for his variations. Always he leads with the knight being placed in front of his king.”
“Oh yes,” Vladimir said sitting down looking at the board. “From what I see here you are studying the games won by Saunder McInovsky. He is a rather formidable foe. Also current reigning chess grand master if I am not mistaken.”
“I’m impressed,” Draco said bowing his head slightly in respect.
“I should suspect that from your diligent study that you have succeeded in advancing to the main tournament to determine his next opponent.”
“Once more you are accurate in your guess,” Draco said not taking his eyes from the chess board.
“There is one thing that is apparent though that you have failed to take note of,” Vladimir said handing a notebook to Draco. “In his basic matches he seems a creature of habit as he is well aware of. However, if you study this notebook of his past fifteen grand master matches…he does not lead his variations with his knight. To be quite honest, he has changed formats every single match so there is no predictability to his games. However, there is a pattern though so subtle it is often overlooked. If you can find that…perhaps you may have a chance against him.”
“I mean you no disrespect dear uncle,” Draco said narrowing his eyes and looking at his uncle with a hint of suspicion. “Why are you so willing to help me with this?”
Vladimir smiled warmly.
“Your mother remembered that I had faced him twice before when trying to pursue a name for myself in the field of chess only to have my ego put into check by him,” Vladimir chuckled slightly. “So made me promise her that I would pass my knowledge onto you if you made it this far. I gave her my word that if you made it to the grand tournament to determine his next opponent I would help you by passing my notes on to you.”
“Thank you for honoring your word,” Draco said with a sigh. “I shall use these notes well.”
“There is something that has been troubling you since you arrived in my home that has your mother quite distressed. So I have come here to inquire into this matter,” Vladimir said seriously “if it is an issue with asking for Alice’s hand I will not consent to that. It is my thoughts that she is neither ready for such nor has any suitor thus far proven himself worthy enough to even warrant a courtship.”
“Actually it pretains to a matter more sensitive than Alice,” Draco said leaning forward as he emotionally and mentally braced for a verbal if not physical outlash from his uncle. “Before I explain why…I need you to tell me how you became as you are uncle.”
“That is not a matter you need concern yourself with,” Vladimir said narrowing his eyes and turning his head slightly to watch the reaction of his nephew. “If you truly want to know the truth then tell me why you find this matter so troubling.”
“Fine,” Draco said getting up and walking over to the fireplace. “While at school I met another but unlike myself he is a full fledged vampire much like yourself. He told me a story of how you became a vampire and so I looked into other accounts of the so-called Dracula curse. Many details are conflicting and I am at a loss at what the truth really is. On one hand you were a murderer cursed for your crime. On another hand you were the victim of a jealous lover. Yet on another hand…you chose to become as your are to inflict a revenge upon others worse than death itself. What version is the truth?”
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