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Pawn
by A.F. Stewart

We used to play chess.

Once a month a gilded calling card would arrive, accompanied by a fancy carriage, and I’d travel in style to his stately home. Rupert welcomed me into his library and we would match wits surrounded by his books and sipping his scotch.

I can’t say I miss those days.

I never liked Rupert. His supercilious manners, his arrogance, his wilful privilege, it all disgusted me. He revelled in the power of being a rich man with no heir, dangling the golden carrot under my nose. Dropping hints and lies, playing his games, whether it be chess or something more malicious. Rupert loved his games and loved winning, no matter what the cost. 

Despite his declaration of friendship, I knew he considered me a pawn to his king.

Yet, he forgot pawns could become the most powerful piece on the board.

What he wouldn’t give freely, I took. 

One forged will, and a little poison left poor Rupert in his grave and me head of the manor. I’m rather surprised I got away with my scheme, but authorities paid little attention to his death and never investigated too closely.

I guess no one else liked Rupert either.

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Fiction © Copyright A.F. Stewart
Image courtesy of Pexels.com

 

More from A.F. Stewart:

Visions and Nightmares

Tragedy spares no one… and takes no prisoners.
In the twilight shadows, secrets are revealed past the whispers of madness.

Wander into the realm of the old gods with Elenora, where humanity and marriage are a prison.
Step through a looking glass of dark horrors with an Alice you never knew.
Join with Zenna to seek the truth as her death by magic grows closer.
Journey with Olivia as she crosses paths with a monster of the forest and runs for her life.
Watch Isobel summon the faerie to solve her problem of an unwanted husband.
Shiver as Doctor Killbride experiments with corpses to create life from death.
All that and more await within the pages.

Ten stories. Ten women.
Who will survive? Who will fall? And who will succumb to their inner evil?
Find out in Visions and Nightmares.

Warning: This book contains disturbing scenes that may be upsetting to some readers.

Available on Amazon!