Parallax

Chapter 9

Jasper was surprised that Bella was countering all of his moves as if she knew where he was going to place the next piece. Bella on the other hand, was focused on the chess board and on the chess board alone. She didn't want to look up and be lost in the eyes of her mate's counterpart because this was something that she shared with her mate in an intimate level.

Jasper was the best among them of course, but there were times that Bella would get the one up and win one out of ten and that was a feat in itself. When those moments appear that she would get the upper hand, Jasper would always be turned on and they'd share passionate sex afterwards.

Bella squeezed her eyes shut, stopping any indecent thoughts before it could go on any further.

"Are you okay?" Jasper spoke.

Bella opened her eyes, took a deep breath and still did not look up to meet his face.

"Yeah, just got lost in thought a bit there... Where were we?"

"Your turn" Jasper pointed to the knight that he last moved.

Bella nodded and started her counter attack and after an hour, the other vampires were already gathered around them, impressed that Bella had held her own against Jasper for that long. Even Rosalie had stood behind the others to observe.

Esme had decided to bring some refreshments for Bella, in case she got thirsty. She thanked her but she barely touched it, focusing more on the game in front of her.

It wasn't just about how the game went on longer than they thought because as vampires, they'd be able to go at it for hours. It was how Bella was answering Jasper's attacks. There were only three other vampires that could give Jasper that kind of challenge. Alice, when she took the game seriously because of her visions, Edward for his mind reading ability and Carlisle who've had years of experience to make him a viable opponent. Bella was already on their level, and she was only a human who claimed that chess was something "new" to her.

Bella closed herself off on her surroundings. It was easier to do it because the vampires were watching them silently. It was as if there was no one around them anyway. The game kept her from overthinking about what was going to happen and she let herself be absorbed with what she was doing and let the years of practice and her knowledge of her mate and of the game, show.

There were only a few pieces left on the board and even if she no longer has her limitless vampire brain to aid her in remembering every chess moves that she had learned, her hand had a mind of its own and it moved in its own volition, knowing exactly where to go with every piece that Jasper moved.

The moment that Jasper captured Bella's knight, everyone knew who had won.

"Checkmate" Bella smiled triumphantly and it was only then that she looked up to see Jasper with his mouth hanging open in astonishment. It was a personal record for her and she knew that it wasn't supposed to count but she took it as still beating her Jasper anyway.

"I didn't know that you played chess" A voice that she hadn't heard for quite some time finally spoke just behind them and everyone turned around to see Edward, standing by the doorway, eyes only for Bella.

"Edward" she unconsciously whispered his name and something inside Bella stirred at the sight of the vampire who was supposed to be the mate of the body she was in.

Bella? She thought to herself. Are you there? He's finally here.

She didn't know if the Bella of this reality would be able to hear her or if she was just trapped inside while she took over the body but she addressed her, anyway. This was her personal mission before going back to her own future.