Chess and Candles
"Checkmate," was all Jessica said as she placed down her pawn.
Beatrice blinked. It took her a moment to register the arrangement of the chess pieces. Jessica's pawn was in front of Beatrice's king. Her rook and knight flanked the pawn in the center of the board, eliminating any means of escape. If Beatrice captured the pawn, then Jessica's rook would have slid over and knocked it over. The knight was a safeguard in case she jerked her king back. That position was fortunate for Jessica. If Beatrice retreated, then Jessica's knight would have easily moved into position and overthrown the monarch.
The witch hesitated. She kept her hand still in mid-air. Her last line of defense, three pawns and a queen, had been on a killing spree. Beatrice had eagerly crushed Jessica's forces. She had sneered at Jessica throughout her conquest, crushing the pieces into white dust. Jessica had struggled, grumbling and cursing, and Beatrice relished in her frustration up until the pivotal moment when the tables suddenly turned.
"What?" Beatrice breathed out.
The corner of Jessica's lip raised. She leaned back in her seat, arching the chair and crossing her legs. "And you thought I was stupid," she jeered, "but it looks like you were too arrogant, huh?"
Her jaw dropped at the insinuation, but she quickly clamped it shut. A wrinkle formed in her brow. She clenched her bony hands on the table, hunching her shoulders and leaning forward. She scrutinized the chessboard, her eyes darting to every square as she searched for a comeback.
Jessica thoroughly ensured her demise. It was as if she had allowed Beatrice to haughtily destroy her army for the sake of leaving her king unattended. And when Beatrice's pieces had conquered, Jessica surrounded the king, her pawn prepared to become the new ruler of the game.
"I - you - I don't believe it," Beatrice murmured, resting her hand on her face. She rubbed her pinky against her upper lip, Jessica chuckling. "You did it. You finally cornered me.
Jessica pumped her fists in the air. She leaped from her seat and kicked her legs up, her knees bending as she skipped around the arbor. She was like a little girl winning a prize at a carnival. She cheered for herself, punching the air, and Beatrice pouted, sinking lower into her seat.
"No way. You're supposed to be an idiot," Beatrice whined. "If you lost, then I would've made you dance around for me in a frilly tutu, and that's tame compared to what I usually do to you when you lose."
Jessica smirked. She sashayed back to her chair and sat down. She laced her fingers under her chin, her grin bright and mirthful. Tilting her head, Jessica raised her eyebrows, Beatrice tightly pursing her lips at the implication.
"Well?" Jessica sang. "Wanna try to make your final move?"
Sluggishly, Beatrice poked her king. She nudged it back and forth without moving it. She tapped her heels on the floor, rocking herself from side to side. Behind closed lips, she groaned and squeezed her eyes shut, her grand show of suffering earning another chuckle from Jessica.
"Come on, Beato. Don't keep me waiting," she said, and she stuck out her tongue.
"I'm simply using a technique performed by the grandmasters," Beatrice replied, wiggling her king.
Her opponent straightened. "And what's that called?"
Beatrice snorted. "Stalling for time."
Jessica broke into a laughing fit. She slapped her knee and shook her head, her wavy blonde locks shifting in the wind. Even if Jessica looked cute in her amusement, Beatrice slouched and stretched her arms across the table, stomping her heels and moaning. She didn't want to admit defeat, never in a thousand years. She had never lost any game she started. The master of chess should have been a third title added to her regal name, but Jessica had finally snatched the moniker for herself.
Clicking her tongue, Beatrice slowly pushed her king forward and captured the pawn. Immediately, Jessica grabbed her rook and tapped over the king. Applause broke out from nowhere, hooting and hollering for Jessica's victory. Jessica tossed her arms in the air, her smile pearly white, as she once again launched from her seat. The chair rattled, and she gave it a celebratory kick, shooting it off the arbor.
Beatrice crossed her arms underneath her chest and stubbornly looked away. She examined the array of roses in her garden as if she hadn't seen them before. Tilting her head, Beatrice focused her energy on them even when Jessica rounded over to her. As Jessica's shadow crossed her, Beatrice refused to give her the time of day. Jessica called out her name, and Beatrice turned in her seat, spreading her legs and making herself appear bigger.
"Beato, oh, Beatooo," Jessica crooned, poking her rouged cheek.
"Whaaat?" she huffed, her cheeks rosier than usual.
"Looks like I'm the winner."
"As if you weren't the loser of countless other games."
"Who cares? I won!"
Beatrice finally glanced over her shoulder. Jessica's smugness exuded off her like a stench, and she wrinkled her nose. She sighed, resigning herself and pivoting to face Jessica. She twirled a loose curl of golden blonde hair around her finger, rubbing her lips together. Lifting her head, she met Jessica's confident gaze and held her breath, wondering what kind of fate awaited her.
Jessica crossed her arms. She stood with her legs apart in a stance that reminded Beatrice of an executive towering over a hapless employee. "So, I can do anything I want with you?" she asked, though they both knew the answer. Judging by her smirk, it seemed she just wanted to hear Beatrice say it.
"Correct," Beatrice said, then chortled. "Such as how when you lost our chess matches, I made you endure many penalties. For example, I made you my maid for a day. Or when I made you be the newest Chiester and sing sweet music for me. Or, and this is one of my favorites, when I flaunted you around the Golden Land with a chain around your pretty neck." As Jessica grimaced and blushed, Beatrice snickered. "My, your parents were surprised, eh? Seeing their daughter so thoroughly on display like a real exhibitionist."
Jessica raked her fingers through her hair, her shoulders tense. "Only because you wanted me to! And I never back down even when I lose, so - so there! Dress me however you like because Ushiromiya Jessica never surrenders, not even when she loses!"
Beatrice tossed her head back and cackled. Having Jessica become flustered was a tick in her favor. If she continued pushing Jessica's buttons, then perhaps, her punishment wouldn't be as severe. There also existed the adverse effect, in which Jessica used her prior humiliation as inspiration, but Beatrice couldn't help herself. Jessica's abashed, scarlet face was one of her favorite expressions.
"Okay! Get it together, Jessica!" the victor exclaimed, clapping her hands on her cheeks. She heaved out a breath and calmed herself down. Clearing her throat, Jessica narrowed her eyes on Beatrice, asking, "Anything I want, right?"
Beatrice forced her mouth to remain in a neutral grin. "And as I said before, that is correct."
She was equal parts anticipating and dreading Jessica's decision. She curled her toes and clenched her fists. Beatrice sat with bated breath, observing Jessica's every move. As Jessica closed her eyes, pondering what words to say, Beatrice waited, her heart thundering in her chest, her body tingling and chilling all over.
"I want you-" Jessica gently tapped her lips. "-to kiss me."
"That's it?" Beatrice cried, the words rushing out of her the moment Jessica's request settled in her brain.
Jessica squirmed in place. "Um, yeah? Yeah."
Beatrice gave a quick shake of her head. She gestured vaguely, her hands moving without purpose. She pointed at Jessica, then to herself, then shot up from her seat faster than a bullet.
"You could've demanded so much more like I always do!" she shouted, gawking, "Drizzle me in chocolate and lick me clean! Dress me in a variety of outfits! Parade me around the Golden Land and have me defer to you and flip our roles! Or even something comedic like - like - I don't know!"
Jessica's face grew even redder. It was a shade Beatrice thought impossible for humans. She pressed her index fingers together, pouting in a way that made her lips seem fuller. "I-I guess my tastes are more…vanilla?"
Beatrice stopped. The energy between them took a turn for embarrassment. She pursed her lips, preventing herself from saying anything further. Jessica buried her face in her hands, her heat tangible when Beatrice stepped closer to her. She dipped her head, examining Jessica's expression through the spaces between her fingers, and Beatrice cracked a smile.
"Jessicaaa, I know you aren't normally this demure. Has your courage diminished in the face of victory?" Beatrice teased, tickling the underside of Jessica's chin. Jessica gasped, blowing hot air on Beatrice's hand. "A simple kiss won't satisfy you. As the winner, you should demand more from the loser." She pressed her hand on her chest and winked. "In fact, if we enact my punishment game in private, then you can let your desire run wild."
Jessica squeaked, and Beatrice tossed her head up, cackling. Incoherent babble escaped Jessica. She used every excuse in the book to keep herself from going the extra mile. She insisted that she only wanted nothing more than a simple kiss, and Beatrice couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"But I kiss you all the time," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm actually afflicted with boredom by your choice. Are you trying to kill me, the Golden and Endless Witch, Beatrice, when you know boredom is a witch's poison?"
Jessica shot her finger at her nose. "Oh, don't guilt-trip me!"
"I'm not. I'm stating facts, Jessica. There is an incredibly large difference."
Groaning, Jessica rolled her eyes. She tugged at the trim of her blazer, saying, "Fine, fine. Maybe, well, there is something else I want, but don't make fun of me. It's, um, it's stupid."
The witch perked up. "I assure you that what really want wouldn't make me believe you are foolish. Private desires are natural, Jessica." She gave a throaty snicker. "After all, we both know how voracious I am with my passions and punishments."
She continued fuming and muttered, "Well, whatever. It's totally not by style, but…"
Beatrice cupped her hand around her ear, and Jessica drew closer. She listened with palpable delight as Jessica whispered what she wanted. Like a true maiden, she spoke her desires only to her beloved. Beatrice, tickled pink as her warm breath brushed against her ear, was more than charmed by the honesty woven into every word.
"I see," she crooned as Jessica broke away, her face hot. "While that isn't as extreme you fretted, your wish shall be granted.."
"Oh, you're a genie, now?" Jessica grumbled.
Laughing, Beatrice slipped her hands across Jessica's face. She stroked her cheekbones with her thumbs before bringing her head closer, Jessica's smile infectious. Beatrice kissed her, fully closing the gap between them. She continued caressing her face, hearing Jessica sigh against her mouth. Jessica tasted like strawberries, her chapstick smearing across Beatrice's lips.
She wanted gentleness, and Beatrice provided that. She only acted according to Jessica's will, following her request to the letter. When Jessica parted for breath, Beatrice took that as a sign to stop. She left Jessica with a light nibble on her lower lip, and Jessica shuddered, her face soft, pink all the way to the tips of her ears just as Beatrice had been before they kissed.
"Delicious. I could eat you up," Beatrice murmured, "but there are other foods to eat."
And then, she snapped her fingers. In a matter of seconds, the arbor transformed. The chessboard was swept away and replaced with a silk cloth. Cooked dishes were placed on silver platters. The centerpiece was a rich, pan-seared filet mignon with a mushroom red wine sauce. Crumbled blue cheese topped it with a side of buttered asparagus. Small plates filled with side dishes such as bowls of Italian salad and parmesan mashed potatoes rich with garlic. Delectable cabernet sauvignon filled their glasses. The air was filled with the rich scent of the meat and the fruity tang of the wine, Jessica breathing it all in with a wide smile on her face.
Beatrice snapped her fingers again, enthused by Jessica's reaction. Small candles in rectangular glass containers lined the corners of the table. They smelled of vanilla, an aroma that she knew pleased Jessica. Her beloved sighed, closing her eyes, immersing herself in the scents, and Beatrice watched her lick her lips, her hunger fueling Beatrice's magic.
"Oh, but this isn't all. To truly fulfill your wish, we need assistance," Beatrice added, and with a final snap of her fingers, she finished her spell.
The familiar forms of the Seven Stakes and Chiester Corps appeared. The sisters, dressed like waitresses, eagerly assisted Beatrice and Jessica. They pulled out their chairs, Beelzebub struggling to stop drooling. 00 and her troops prepared their instruments and played a sultry, jazzy tune. The music flowed, the atmosphere akin to an upper-class restaurant the likes that only a thousand-year-old witch and her darling deserved.
"Oh, wow, Beato! This is awesome! I-!" Jessica cut herself off, clasping her hands to her chest. "I mean, whoa! This is so much! When I asked for a candlelit dinner, I had no idea you'd go all out!"
"Such a request is child's play for me," Beatrice boasted and offered Jessica her hand. "Now, shall we partake in the delights of man?"
Jessica giggled and accepted Beatrice's hand. "Of course! Let's dig in!"
She laughed, swaying her dress as she guided Jessica to the arbor. A romantic dinner was all Jessica wanted, and as they approached their table, it was all Beatrice needed as well.