Chapter 7

It Just Bugs Me...

-~:{+}:~-

"This is where you live?"

Elise was looking around a large room, filled with all kinds of items hanging on the walls. Insects, to be precise. She was visiting Edwin, as suggested by Aria. He was the only role holder that could help her out in the field at the moment, ever since Elise became one of the White Queen's pawns. Edwin was a white rook and apparently lived in one of the castle towers from time to time. Made sense, seeing as the chess pieces of rooks did remind people of castle towers. Either way, Elise needed his help.

"Edwin, do you collect insects by any chance?"

"Oh… Yes, actually." Somehow, he seemed a bit less depressing at that moment.

{Some of these insects look familiar, but some are completely foreign to me. Quite amazing. I wish I could draw them~}

"Do you know of some of these insects? I wouldn't be surprised if you had different types in your homeworld."

{Huh. He seems almost normal right now. Guess he has quite an interest in bugs.}

"Well a few are very different from what I've ever seen. But, a few look like something I could find at home." She looked around to find something she could actually name. Spotting one hanging near a window, she pointed at it. "Isn't this a Monarch butterfly?"

Stepping towards her to look at the preserved creature, he shook his head, looking like he was going to be depressed again. "Sorry, but that's a Viceroy butterfly… See, it has a smaller size and an another black line that runs along the hindwing."

"Ehh? I didn't notice that. I suppose you are much better at this than me-" Elise cut herself short.

Seeming a bit confused, Edwin just kinda looked at her. "Um. What is it?"

"Spi-"

"Spy?"

"Spider…" Elise quietly squeaked.

Turns out, even though six legs were fine with her, she thought eight was going a bit too far. Ever since childhood, she had a bout of arachnophobia. Fortunately, it was nothing too extreme, but much of the time, she tended to just stop what she was doing to just quietly stare at the thing. That is, until it moved toward her.

"GAHH! It's moving! It's moving! Is it poisonous! Is it venomous! Do those words mean the same thing! Does it cause necrosis-!" She spouted. Her voice tended to become a strange combination of a higher pitch and softer tone when startled. Her speaking sped up too. She dived straight behind Edwin, grabbing his arm, and never taking her eyes off the spider.

"What's wrong? It's just a little thing."

"Well, I don't like spiders! What if I get bitten and need to have my arm removed!"

"I think you might be exaggerating a-"

"No! I've seen really nasty spider bites plenty of times! I went to work with my mom at the hospital before! This one guy had a spider actually lay eggs in his arm, which was turning purple! Purple!"

"Alright, alright. Calm down. You're probably scarring it."

Edwin held his free hand out to the small critter. When it was finally resting on his finger, he placed it in a small jar with air holes in the lid, probably planning to take it outside soon. "There you go, little guy" he said in a voice that seemed, happy. Elise could have sworn she saw a small smile on his face for a split second. It was surprising.

"Uhh, could you let go of my arm now? I think the circulation is getting cut off." Then it was gone, and the melancholy was back.

"Whoops. Sorry about that…" she said, letting go of his arm.

"So, now I have to take you towards the riverside, in the nameless woods, right?"

Remembering what she came here for, she nodded in agreement. "Yes. The queen said that was two ranks away. I suppose this is my en passant, if I recall my chess terms properly."

"I suppose I'll have to explain some basics though… Just in case. So, you seem to know some basics of chess, but seeing as this involves people who might not be able to stay in certain places for extended periods of time without being killed by things outside the game's jurisdiction, it's not like a normal game of chess."

{Wait - killed. By something outside the game's jurisdiction? That not only makes this place sound pretty sketchy, but makes it seem like some other parts of the game can kill players… What did I get myself into!}

"Well, you are to place where what square you're officially placed in by adding markers or stakes. If these stakes are taken, you'll have the options of fighting for your life or capture."

The information was found to be disturbing. Edwin mentioned this in such a bland tone, as if it was as common as stating whether or not you ate breakfast. This foreigner just wondered what she had gotten herself into.

"Hold on! Fight for my life or capture! Just what kind of chess match is this? I had originally assumed it was some sort of real-life fairy chess or something. I had a feeling that Lily was too young to play, but this is just too extreme!"

"Oh, is that so..?" Looking at her as if it was no major issue, "I suppose I'll have to tell the Queen then, that Lily will have to hustle down towards the forest then…"

Elise just thought about Lily. The girl was just a small child. Definitely not someone Elise would want in a life-or-death situation. And she had no idea what would happen if she would be captured.

Elise stopped Edwin's walk towards the door. "Wait, I'll play." Crossing her arms, a gleam or determination was in her chocolate eyes. "I can't just let Lily be out there in a place like this. Not when I can go instead."

That determined yet somewhat nervous look stuck a chord somewhere, and perhaps Edwin noticed that there was something about what he said concerning the game that seemed threatening to a foreigner.

"Well then Elise, anything you need before we leave?"

Grabbing the jar holding the spider prisoner, the duo was out the door.

Notes: Just a side note for those who don't know the story for Through the Looking-Glass very well, Edwin does represent the gnat. That's why he supposed to be depressing and introduce various insects.

Also, it was fun having Elise freak out over spiders. Hur hur hur~