Mae walked through the street, a hand in her pocket and Matt at her shoulder. She read through the notes she'd made earlier that day.

If she wanted to become Grandmaster while adhering to Kayovahn's new law, she needed to pile up her victories as a Chessmaster. It took six Chessmaster titles to become a Grandmaster. She had one title on her belt. That meant she had to defeat at least four other Chessmasters to even have a potential position in the event that something happened to the Grandmaster.

She hadn't believed anything could happen to Kayovahn a night ago and still didn't, but it didn't hurt to be prepared. Rebellion had risen up in the East again, this time carrying out protests and strikes to separate the eastern states from the rest of the empire.

When he'd become Grandmaster, Kayovahn had ordered the execution of several top rebels. These rebels had been people who'd been causing attacks on the rest of the country and had been a threat to society. The current rebels, however, had learned from their predecessors' fates. They didn't cause outright violence. Killing non-violent people would be an outright act of dictatorship and would be opposed by many. It would also be the opposite of Kayovahn's current principles.

Mae was quite curious to see what he'd do to handle the situation, but one thing was clear: he couldn't afford opponents with the current unrest. People in the East needed an excuse against him. While they couldn't kill him, a situation could arise where he'd have to quit his position or risk civil war. And if Kayovahn was even a bit of the man he'd been when he'd left on that cold night all these years ago, he would totally abdicate his position instead of getting people killed. Of that, she was certain.

Thus, Mae knew she had to use her time and resources wisely and build up her victories. If she had five titles on her belt, she would be in a good position. She could either have one last victory and become Grandmaster or bide her time like William Van Elk and wait for a possible moment where she could use Kayovahn's law against him.

Mae smiled to herself. The future was clear: she just needed to work towards it.

"Watch out, ma'am!" Matt slammed his shoulder into hers, sending her staggering. Mae froze when she heard a tell-tale whoosh of air and turned to see a knife whiz past her and wedge itself into the wall next to her.

Frozen in place, Mae could only stare at the knife. Dimly, she registered the familiar, ornate carving on its hilt before Matt was there in front of her, shielding her from a man that flew out of the darkness. Matt punched the man, who staggered back a step and punched him right back. The punch held enough strength to send her huge bodyguard staggering and the man took the opportunity to glance at her.

His eyes met hers for a fleeting moment, icy blue and contrasting against the black bandana he'd wrapped over his nose and mouth. Mae stepped back, her breath catching in her chest.

And then Matt was back in motion, grappling with the man. Mae kept on stepping back, away from the man in the black mask and black clothes until her back hit a wall behind her. A second man leapt out of the darkness, jumping onto Matt's back and clinging on like a leech. Matt roared like an angry bull and tried to buck the man off, but he simply clung on. This gave the first man an opportunity to deliver a hard, punishing punch to Matt's face, and there was a sickening crunch. Blood flew into the air, and bile rose in Mae's mouth. She cupped a hand over her mouth and pressed back into the wall behind her. Matt grabbed the arms of the man on his back and flung him on the first one.

"Come on!" Matt hurried back to Mae and hurried her down the alley and out of it. There was a loud bang.

Mae screamed. Matt fell to the floor, a boneless heap. "Matthew!"

Matt's eyes were unseeing. He was already dead.

Mae whirled around. The men had caught up to her and they were big and strong. She curled her hand into a fist, filled with rage, and swung it into the first guy's face. There was a crunch and he staggered back, clutching his nose. Mae kneed the other guy in the balls. She turned and ran.

She ran out of the alley in minutes and moved onto the main road. The mens' footsteps were loud behind her and only got louder. "Help!" Mae shouted, hysterical and terrified. A knife flew past her face, and her knees nearly gave out. "Help!" The words tore themselves out of her lungs. She tripped on something and fell, scrambling around as adrenaline pumped through her veins.

The first man was nearly on her, his eyes dark with rage. All of a sudden, a shadow burst out of nowhere and took the man's lunge, not even staggering back at the force. Mae glimpsed a flash of silver in the moonlight and registered familiar, cropped red hair.

The first man screamed. She gasped and cupped her hands over her ears. The man's scream broke into a gurgle and he fell at the newcomer's feet. The second man never arrived.

The stranger turned to her. His gaze was intense and smoky, piercing through her. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice startlingly husky. "Can you stand?"

Mae nodded, and he grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet. Her knees wobbled but held.

"Come with me," the man said. "More men will probably be near your place."

Her heart skipped several beats at that and she followed him without a second thought. "I'm Mikhael," he said as they walked down the main road and turned onto another one. "We met earlier when Nikolai rescued you from that man in the street."

"I remember," Mae said. She couldn't stop shivering, Matt's unseeing eyes flashing in her mind. "These men - they were from the White Tigers gang, weren't they?"

Mikhael glanced at her in surprise. "I didn't think you'd recognise them."

Mae's short laugh was bitter and dry. Oh, would she ever. "Where are we going?"

"To my place," he said. "I think that's the safest location for now. Once there, we'll think up a further plan of action."

Mae cut the man a glance. He walked with his hands in his pockets, completely unperturbed, as if he hadn't made a grown man scream with only a knife just moments ago. She thought of the second man, who hadn't even tried to fight him.

How powerful did one have to be to intimidate members of the most dangerous gang in the city, so much that they wouldn't even dare mess with him?

They reached a building and went up a flight of stairs. Mikhael stopped on the second floor, walking down a hallway to the last door and opening it with a pair of keys. He stepped inside the flat and switched on the lights. Mae followed.

Mikhael's home wasn't much to go by. The walls were bare and the floor was littered with an assortment of empty takeout boxes and jackets. He walked through the mess and into a small kitchen. "Take a seat," he said and Mae did so.

"I really think you should reconsider Immanuel's offer," he said as he put a pot of water on the stove. Mae tensed, but his back was turned to her, muscles rippling like that of a coiled predator's as he moved. "I don't know why the White Tigers are after you, but they're a risky mixture of powerful and dangerous. Were you alone?"

"No." Mae's heart skipped a beat. "My bodyguard was with me. They killed him."

"I'm sorry for that." The water boiled, and he whisked the pot off the stove. "This is what I mean. Non-descript bodyguards wouldn't know how to deal with powerful gang members, and any encounter would probably end in disaster, just like today. Us, on the other hand? The White Tigers don't dare mess with us."

Mikhael turned and handed her a mug of steaming hot chocolate. "Think about it," he said. "Do you have any other place to go to tonight?"

Mae thought of Raz and his beautiful little daughter. "Yes," she said with a fond smile. "We're in Northaber Street, right? A friend of mine lives in this area."

"That's great." Mikhael nodded. "Right now, anyone who followed us probably thinks you're going to spend the night at my place. I shall escort you to your friend's house and check on you tomorrow morning. Tell me your decision then."

Mae nodded. She put down her mug and stood up.

Concern replaced Raz's surprise the moment he pulled his door open a crack and took a look at her face. "What's wrong?" he asked, opening his front door wider.

Mae shook her head. "I got attacked," she said. Mikhael, fortunately, had chosen to stay out of sight.

"Really?" Raz paled. "What happened? Where's Matt?" He moved aside and she stepped inside.

"He's dead."

"What?" Raz paled even further, stepping towards her. "Who attacked you? Are you hurt?"

"I'm okay," Mae said, closing the door behind her. "Men from the White Tigers attacked me."

"Shit." Raz echoed her sentiment.

"I know." Mae took off her jacket and hung it on the coat stand. "Where are Julia and Penelope?"

"Asleep," Raz said, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. "But why are the White Tigers after you now? After all this time?"

"I don't know." Mae walked into his kitchen, starving. She thought about Immanuel's words: the group after her, Nikolai and the system had some higher-ups in it. Did someone pay the White Tigers to get her? Or did they have ulterior motives? That couldn't be possible... she'd paid through all her debt and had kept up all the terms of the contract.

Higher ups... could Timothy have... no. He wanted her at any price, sure, but he wouldn't deal with a street gang just to get his hands on her. After all, what was to say that criminals, especially those of the notorious White Tigers, wouldn't want to have a taste of her themselves before handing her over? Tim was too possessive to allow it. He wouldn't take the risk for anything.

But then... why? Why were they after her? Her debt to them was over. Years had passed. Did they want her money again? But then - why her?

Because you're the only Chessmaster who doesn't work for the government or a gang, a voice inside her replied. You have no attachments - excellent blackmailing material.

Mae's heart sank. It was true. She had the protection of no one, especially now that Matt was dead. She was an easy target - there would be no whiplash if she were to be captured or killed.

My gang specializes in striking deals with chess players to protect their lives with just a small percentage of their earnings as the price. Immanuel's words came back to her. We will be your bodyguard, Azaelya Mae, and I can promise you here and now that your life will be protected at the cost of my own men's lives.

Us? The White Tigers don't dare mess with us. Mikhael's confident words echoed in her head.

"Raz?" When Mae spoke, her voice was small. She couldn't come to proper grips with the decision she was about to make.

Her friend, who'd been throwing together a meal for her, turned. "Hmm?"

"Do you think — do you think it's a good idea to accept the Shadows' offer?"

Surprise filled Raz's face. "You're actually considering it?"

Mae raised a shoulder in a half-shrug. "It's the best course of action. I, as a Chessmaster, make a prime and sole target for anyone who wants easy prey: I have neither the government or a gang behind me. I need protection, Raz, and today just proved that some normal, random bodyguard isn't up to the task."

Raz's blue eyes darkened with concern and protectiveness. "Are you sure?" He stepped forward and put his hands on her shoulders. "Do you really want to go back to that life?"

Mae's mind flashed back - a dark room, leering faces, 'scum-', hands all over her -

"The times have changed," she said. "I have changed. I think I'll be able to manage it."

"Sure?" Raz pursed his lips.

"Yeah." She pushed off his hands. "I'm not fragile anymore, Raz. I'm not that person anymore."

"I know." Raz's grin was like sunshine after a cloudy day. "You're a Chessmaster now." He pulled her into a tight hug and she was grateful for it.

* * *

R.I.P., Matt. You shall be missed. *wipes a tear*

Sooo, looks like Mae's gonna end up with the Shadows after all! Who's in for the ride?

Any theories on why the White Tigers attacked her? 'Cause I sure do! Plus, it just me, or do we see hints of a past with the White Tigers? 

*wears a sneaky Disney villain look as she winks and disappears into the darkness*

See ya!

Next update: 2 Feb at 3:00pm IST