This is part of a long story which is mostly already written. The series will contain BDSM, humiliation and high stakes.
This story was written in collaboration with my friend J - thanks!
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PROLOGUE
At the prestigious Notre Dame d'Excellence, a simmering rivalry is soon to turn to flourishing anger, with dire consequences for all involved. All may be fair in love and war, but the world of chess has its own rules.
Each member of the group gathered around the coach is one of the wealthiest of the University's students. Each of the seven is fuming.
Sara Ocuk, the half-Turkish philosophy undergrad, is venting about the previous afternoon, when she and her flatmate Roxanna had tried to practice in earnest at the clubhouse. They had been interrupted yet again by the shrieks of "Your queen is mine, bitch!" followed by shrieks of laughter from that common slut Sofia. The resulting noise ruined the match for both of them and they retreated to their apartment to continue the game in irritable silence.
"It's always been our clubhouse! My father's team picture is on the wall! Why do we have to cram in with all those assholes? We've asked them to keep their voices down, but nothing helps. I can't practice; I can't think! Why did we accept everyone this year, Doc?" Cherry Ryan raises her voice in frustration after Sara finishes her rant. "Can't we do anything?"
Dr Thomas Jameson nods his head slowly. "I know, Cherry. I miss the days when we didn't have the whole world in here shouting every time they take a fucking pawn. It was always a place of quiet and focus and we didn't have to let just anyone in. These last three months have been intolerable."
"So can't we do something, coach? There must be a way against this 'non-exclusivity' policy," asks Veronica from the back of the group. The other six shuffle to the sides, allowing their captain to pass to the front. Doc meets her gaze and nods slowly.
"There's a precedent. It's been a long time since it was enacted..." he sighs, "but it could help us here.
"In the previous century, 'turf wars,' as I believe you call them, were settled through duels. Over time, the University realised that losing students to stab wounds tended to reflect poorly upon institutions of higher learning. The rules had to change. Instead of sending a champion to fight for each group, the new system forced every member of the group to duel with an opponent.
"However, the definition of 'duel' is subjective, and soon we saw rock-paper-scissors matches and contests of wit replace their deadlier predecessors. Fewer student deaths meant good news for the faculty, and turf wars were settled on less dangerous terms."
"Have you ever seen a war in this club, Sir?" James Kinney eagerly asks, sweeping his blonde mane out of his eyes.
"Once," the coach reminisced. "Twenty-odd years ago. I'd worked my way up the ranks of the club and was about to become captain. Some rapscallions had decided to disrupt our peace by feigning interest in the club, but really coming to eat everything and leave the club a mess. So we challenged them to a series of chess matches. The losing team was to leave the club...after some forfeits were paid."
"Did you win, Sir?" Sara's attention has been captured. "And what about the forfeits?"
The English lecturer gives her a wry smile and says, "That year we had the strongest team I've ever seen, and we annihilated those fuckers. Let's just say they had a very unpleasant set of punishments coming. And now, that's enough of that story. Your thoughts?"
"We could..."
"What if we did..."
"Let's challenge them!"