**Red Ballet Shoes—Micheal H Lee, Ghostwriter**
KHAOS' POV
Truth be told, he didn't have much expectations for the woman who played across from him. Inviting her to play as an opponent in the sacred game of chess of all things had been merely a move, intended to fulfill his amusement.
But he was slightly taken aback by her skills.
Just ever so slightly.
Ember AshFall played like a true player; ruthless, conniving, manipulative. Provided he saw through every of her moves—but she still managed to shake the foundations of his nonexistent expectations of her.
At first, she perfected the role of the reluctant player. Defending rather than facing him squarely. An immature would have said she was cowering. Too afraid to actually attack. But that was not the case for as the middle game rolled by, her tactics took a sharp swerve like a skilled architect, laying the foundation for what was to be a truly splendid building.
She stopped playing the pieces.
And started playing him.
