The creature set its eyes on her and it’s haunting orange eyes glowed. The monster screeched and began slamming itself against the block while another came and began clawing at the doorway. Lexy stared at this with wide eyes as the bearer that was shocking the creatures began to crack. Varicin growled while some who were walking by stopped to see what was happening. 

Some gasped,

“It’s a royal dutch lizard!”

Lexy saw a thin crack appear in the corner when a sound like glass shattering echoed around as the whole seal cracked and then fell apart. Lexy immediately grabbed her fathers knife while the first Royal dutch Lizard went for her, Varicin leaped at the beast heading for it’s throat while the other monster leaped past it’s friend and was heading for Lexy.

Lexy ran the other direction while the royal dutch lizard chased her. Lexy tripped and the beast lowered it’s lion legs unsheathed it’s claws, and leaped for the girl .Lexy rolled onto her back and with a yell of fury raised her fathers knife into the air.

The monster, unable to change its direction in time, was stabbed in the chest by the blade. Black blood spilled from the wound while the beast shrieked as the rune on the knife glowed purple. Lexy watched the half dead monster fall onto her and as dark black and purple tendrils spread through it as it turned to ash.

 With wide eyes Lexy stood up to see Varikin battling with the other monster. Quickly she tightened her grip on her fathers blade and rushed towards the other monster. The blade glowed a vibrant purple as she slid under the beast's stomach and used the momentum to push the blade into the monster's underbelly. More black blood stained her clothing as this time Lexy watched the black and purple tendrils seap from the blade and turn the creature into ash. 

Varikin stopped his attack and looked to the child in front of him, covered head to toe in blood and ash. Other rebels stared at her with wide eyes. Lexy felt her head sting in pain while her teeth also stung. 

Lexy let out a breath while she looked at her father’s knife which was still glowing an ominous dark purple. Lexy looked to Varicin and ran a hand through her blood stained hair,

“Alright, now let’s go.”

Lexy walked through the doorway with Varikin shortly behind.Lexy stopped after taking a few steps and turned to Varikin. She knelt and touched Varikin’s scruff. “Ok weird ability please, please work.”

Lexy had begun to think about the trees and wildlife around the mansion. She started concentrating her energy towards Varikin hoping this works. Lexy opened her eyes, there were trees and shrubbery, she looked down to her right to see if Varikin made it and yes, he did.

However, he no longer looked like a wolf; he now held the form of a Doberman pinscher. Lexy blinks “huh that’s handy.” She then sees the chalk markings and begins following them home. 

On the way there Lexy gets lost in her thoughts speaking out loud, “how am I going to explain this to Thokath I’ve barely been there for a day or so and I’m already bringing a pet.” The two exited the forest and entered the driveway. She shook her head and she pulled herself away from her thoughts.

Lexy reached the front of the mansion feeling her hands sweat as she opened the doors. Lexy left some of the blood from the monsters on the doorknob . She stepped inside hoping Thokath isn’t home while monster blood dripped of her stained black hoodie.

But to her internal dismay Thokath was already in the lobby sitting on a chair while setting up a chess board “welcome back I was about to go out there and start looking- “

Thokath stopped when he saw the dog and Lexy covered head to toe in blood and ash. Lexy feelt ice run up her spine and feels herself shake a bit, “yup he’s seen the dog.”

Thokath just stared at the dog for a short moment “Lexy what is with the dog? And is it a Doberman pinscher?”

Lexy can only blink as she sees his face changed to excited , she nodded,

“yes?” not sure if he sounded angry or something else.

“I'm a goner” Lexy thought when she saw Thokath get up from his seat and walk over to Lexy and Varikin. 

She stammered for a lie that would sound somewhat believable “w-well you see I found him in the forest, and he has no ownership collar and I can’t just leave him outside in the woods what if a mountain lion or something else ate him”

Thokath looked at her then the dog and to Lexy’s surprise he shrugs “Shure lucky for you I love dogs. I used to have a black one. Sadly she is no longer with us but. Oh, he’s adorable”

Thokath knelt in front of Varikin and started petting him, at first Varikin gave no response to Thokath quickly after Thokath started scratching behind Varikin’s ear. Varikin started thumping his left leg against the floor.

Lexy felt the ice in her veins be replaced with relief and she sighed. Lexy then watched as Thokath stood up and brushed himself off.

His expression went to a smile,“well Lexy I did promise to teach you how to play chess and I hate breaking promises. But you may want to clean up first.``

Thokath said when he eyed Lexy’s bloodstained appearance. Lexy nodded,

“yeah i'll go clean up. Varikin wait here please.”

The dog only huffed and sat down while Lexy went to go take a shower.

****

Lexy later comes back in a fresh set of clothes and no longer was covered in blood and ash. Thokath gave a soft smile and went to an old fashioned record player. It was on a table he opened the deep drawer on the table and picked out a large envelope. Thokath then pulled a large disc and gently put it on the player. Music erupted from the machine.

Thokath then walked over to one of the maids,

“Have the chef prepare some food for me,Lexy, and our new friend.”

 Thokath then walked back over to a table that had a chess set on it and sat down on the side that had black chess pieces. Thokath motioned her to sit on the side with white pieces.

Lexy walked over and sat down on the opposite side of Thokath. Varikin followed and sat by her side.

Thokath picked up the black king piece “you see chess can be related to many things and it’s because of this. That I love it. But it’s just a game, it would be dangerous to go around having a mentality that life is just a game. What a stupid way of thinking.”

Lexy looked at her pieces and listened carefully to Thokath. Who seems to have a point? She is having a hard time understanding. Lexy heard that chess is a strategy game but just how hard could it be?

Thokath continued “so some pawns are able to move along the board differently than others.”

Lexy nodded, 

“question? What if you have an enemy, but you don’t know who they are or what they are capable of.”

Thokath chuckled “that is difficult, but I think I know what you mean. How you deal with an enemy like that is not trying to predict them, it is more of learning from what they do and preparing for the unexpected.” 

Lexy gave a smile “oh,ok thanks”

Thokath then explained how the pieces moved on the board to her. They started their first game and Thokath beat her in less than an hour of the game, but she was not one to give up, so she asked to try again and again. They were currently at their fourth match and Lexy had managed to last longer than thirty minutes and an hour of which so far, she was very proud of.

Thokath made his move, he exposed his queen. Lexy was shocked it was an easy pawn to take but if there is anything, she has learned through this game about her enemy that there is always a reason behind his moves. He always would give up his pieces for only one reason, a trap.

So Lexy focused on the only noise that could be heard was breathing and the soft waltz music in the background. She quickly sees why he moved his queen. It is a sacrifice trick; Lexy only has one pawn that is not in a gridlock like form; she has all her front row pawns move up one through the turns.

Thokath in those turns is rearranging his pawns while she sets up her defense and the second someone infiltrates her defense the pawns in the back would attack. She looked closer and just as she thought it was a sacrifice move the second, she would send one of her pawns after the queen. It would leave a gap in her defense and he would make his move. 

Lexy was about to make her move when rapid footsteps came from the stairs. The two stopped their concentration on chess and turned to see who was running downstairs.

It was Carin,

“Hi Lexy. Is Thokath teaching you how to play chess?”

 Lexy gave a kind smile, 

“yah he’s really good at this” 

Thokath chuckled,

 “well you’ve only been playing this game for the last few hours and this is your first few times playing so you’re actually doing really good for your forth match but then there is also the fact that I am going easy on you” 

Lexy’s jaw dropped “you’re going easy on me. You’ve absolutely pulverized me in the last three games''

Thokath just gave a nonchalant shrug and Carin piped up,

 “do not feel  bad you are doing way better than I ever have, he did learn from-”  Carin stopped and looked at Thokath, if glares could kill she would be dead.

Thokath shook his head slightly no. Lexy’s expression changed to slightly confused; she didn’t see Thokath's expression, only Carin’s.

Carin gave a fake smile to Lexy “you know what never mind i'll grab dinner and go” she sounded nervous and angry, “wait Carin please don’t go.”

Carin looked at Lexy's hopeful expression and sighed, grabbed a seat and sat down at the side of the table holding the game. Carin knew Thokath was going very easy on Lexy. Especially if the match lasted longer than an hour.

Carin looked at the board whether Lexy would have not taken the queen or not she would have lost it was a trap either way. She then looks at Thokath who has a smile on his face.

Lexy has her cheeks puffed in frustration of her loss,

 “I demand one more round then we will see if you can keep a hold on that crown Champion of chess!” Lexy said trying to sound serious but with her cheeks puffed Carin could only giggle once she saw the young girl's face.

Thokath laughed and shook his head,

 “I am sorry, but you just are too adorable when you’re frustrated”

This only made Lexy puff her cheeks a bit more,

 “I am not adorable, I am... Well I don’t know. But adorable isn't it”

 Thokath shaked his head and smiled,

 “alright adorable little one” he said in a teasing tone of voice,

 “one more round of chess and this time if you beat me you get a cookie.”

Lexy raised a brow,

 “and if you win?”

 Thokath smirked,

 “you have to admit you’re adorable” 

Lexy crossed her arms, fire now in her eyes,

“alright challenge accepted” 

Lexy and Thokath shake hands and begin resetting the board.

While they do so Leslie comes over to Carin with a chair and sits down,

 “So who's winning?”

Carin looked to her older sibling “Thokath is going easy but not nice so far no wins for our newcomer and their resetting right now”

Leslie smiled “sounds like Thokath”

Carin shrugged, “Are the others going to watch?”

Leslie stood up augusting her glasses after doing so “I don’t think they even know, or they would be down here with popcorn. I’ll go tell them though. Make sure they wait before they start because I want to watch this”

Carin nodded and watched her older sister leave she then turns to Lexy and Thokath,

 “wait to start ok the others want to watch”

Lexy tilted her head,

 “oh ok it won’t matter though because this time I will CRUSH you and take the crown”

Thokath smirked,

 “oh really just be ready for another defeat and admitting you are adorable” he said playfully back.

Lexy put on a smirk,

 “of which will not happen!” her voice in the same playful tone by the time she finishes her statement Leslie was walking down the stairs with Varic, Varan, Axle, Misa and Mina shortly behind

The five get chairs and set up around Lexy and Thokath to watch. Mina and Misa have a large bucket of popcorn.

Lexy didn't notice the crowd once Thokath smirked “alright I’ll let you have first move” the others watched every move Lexy and Thokath made. Until Thokath had Lexy’s king checkmated by his duke. Thokath’s smirk stretched further,

“checkmate.”

Lex's eyes widened,

 “no! How do you win every time?” Lexy said with defeat in her voice.

Thokath chuckled,

 “Practice little one is key and it’s for my spoils of war?”

Lexy puffed her cheeks, 

“Fine, I’m adorable. Happy?”

Thokath smiled “yup. Very, Now let’s go get some dinner”

Lexy can’t argue with that and stands up and jumps with shock “oh hi when did you guys get here?”

 The group chuckled and began putting chairs away and heading to the dining room. Varic smiled at Thokath,

“congrats on another victory.”

Thokath smiled,

“can it count when my opponent doesn't have a chance?”

Varic shook his head,

“Learn to take a compliment, you jerk.”

Thokath rolled his eyes and the group went to dinner.