The first thing that Braxiatel noticed the next morning was a banging migraine he could feel as plain as day and he let out a groan of pain. The last time he had a hangover like this was when he and his friend Bernice celebrated their first successful week running the Collection and tried that new "Draconian Brandy" but whatever the alcohol he had drunken last night was either very strong or he had one too many.

The second thing he noticed was that he was not in his own bed and a fluff of blonde hair was lying across his face like a blanket that moved slightly every time he breathed in front of him and behind he could feel someone lying next to him.

The third thing he noticed was that he was not in his own bed.

He gingerly removed the hair away from his mouth, removing whatever hair was there and shaking his hand slightly to get rid of it and ever so carefully, he sat up.

The bed creaked loudly and he winced.

next to him shifted and he carefully shifted upwards so that his bum was perched on the pillows and removed his legs from under the covers and paused. Both and Romana were still both deeply asleep.

He then began the long crawl to the edge of the bed and luckily, he made it without ever waking up the sleeping couple and began to find his clothes that lay mixed in between suit and Romana's extravagant red dress she wore to the ball last night and began to get dressed.

Romana rolled onto her back, the top of her breasts bare as she slept and Braxiatel took a minute to admire her before his eyes glazed over to .

What had he gotten himself into?


"Where were you last night?" Bernice Summerfield asked him with her arms folded across her chest as he slipped into his office like a snake would slip back into its nest discreetly after a hunt only he wasn't as discreet as he would have liked to have been.

"You know where I was Bernice," He replied calmly without so much as glancing at her as he sat down at his 16th-century Russian desk that he had enquired during an antique visit to Moscow a few years ago. He managed to get it for a decent price to as he bribed the owner to bring the price down. Sometimes it paid to be authoritative. "I explained it to you two days ago when you were last here."

Benny tilted her head. "I know where you were, you said you were going to the annual winter ball at the school you teach at. But I'm quite certain balls don't let you go all night. Plus, you didn't come back home."
"Bernice," He replied calmly, a hint of annoyance could be detected within his tone of voice as he looked up at perhaps one of his oldest friend's and colleagues. She had been with him ever since the early days of the Collection. "You do not need to know the whereabout's of every single one of my movements. What I did after the ball is of no concern to you."

Benny rolled her and without another word, put down today's newspaper on his desk and pushed it towards him.

Curiously, he put on his glasses and brought the newspaper closer. A part of him filled with dread and a part of him filled with curiosity but it wasn't what he expected at all.

"Annual Charity Winter Ball was a success at Prydonian Academy," He read out the headline and he arched an eyebrow at Benny and on the front, there was a picture. He looked relieved as for a few moments, he thought his affair with Romana and Narvin had made the headlines. "I still don't see what you are trying to tell me, Bernice,"

"Turn to page three, the second article."

He arched an eyebrow but he complied and turned to the exact page he was instructed to and his eyes found the paragraph. "Murder investigation of Inquisitor Darkel case has been reopened by Detective and wife Romana."

They lied to him. They had used him. wasn't just a simple technician, he was an undercover agent who was investigating a reopened case that had been abandoned 25 years previously and they had used him to get close to the evidence.

He put down the newspaper, his mind mulling.

"Didn't you used to work with ?" Benny asked, interrupting Braxiatel's thoughts as her voice drew him back to reality. "Back when you worked on the local council?"

"For a few years, yes. She wasn't exactly the most likeable women to work with."

"I gathered, perhaps it is one of the reason's why she was murdered," She joked and Braxiatel narrowed his eyes at her and Benny cleared her throat. "Sorry, I shouldn't joke about things like that. Were you close to her? Perhaps you could help them give some new information?"

"No, I wasn't close to Darkel. Whatever information I gave to the police 25 years ago should still be on their records whether that be paper or on the computer if they were careful enough. I have no new evidence to give them apart from the same old stories."

"But these are different investigators! Surely you would want to help?"

"Bernice!" He snapped. He only ever used her full name if he ever got annoyed with her and in this case, he did. "The answer is no. If the investigators do come to me, then I will happily oblige to give the same information again. But until then, I don't see why I have to go to them when they can come to me." He sighed, running a hand through his salt and pepper coloured hair. "Now if you would excuse me, I have some important work to catch up on. I will see you this evening in the White Rabbit."

Benny paused, tentative as she looked at her oldest friend. They have been friends ever since the Collection first started when Benny had accidentally called him over egotistical for having a Collection named after himself without realising who he was but in all the times she knew him, he has never raised his voice at her. Oh, she has seen him get angry and frustrated, but that was always seeing other people at the end of the stick.

Now it was her and she couldn't help but feel like a naughty school girl being told off by the teacher for causing too much ruckus in class.

She collected herself, straightening her leather jacket she always wore. "All right, fine." She snapped slightly and she turned and headed towards the door, giving Braxiatel a rude gesture and left him to figure it out what it meant. "I'll see you at the White Rabbit."

Braxiatel watched her disappear out of the room and when the door was shut firmly too, Braxiatel pinched his nose and sighed.

He got out of his chair and walked over to a small, rounded table beside the window which overlooked the gardens where a glass chessboard was neatly laid out. He picked up a black pawn in his hands, twirling it in his fingers.

If Romana and Narvin wanted to play games, then they had to realise they were playing games with the wrong person.

If Romana and Narvin truly wanted him or were truly interested in him why would they lie? Why keep their true identities hidden if they wanted him to be part of their relationship? Or did they want him simply because of what happened 25 years ago?

He contemplated before he made his move as he placed the pawn back down, his decision final.

He wasn't going to be the pawn in their game.

He was going to be the chess Master and he was going to win.

Whether they were ready or not.

He was coming.