CHAPTER II: A drink for the devil

The clink of polished shoes echoed softly against the cold marble floor as Tae Dong-hwan crossed the room, each step measured–too casual to raise suspicion and too precise to be accidental.

The scent of blood hadn't faded yet. Not had the smoke.

At the poker table, Rurik sat inclined.. Elbow draped over the chair like a king bored of executions. A fresh candle flickered beside him casting a warm, soft glow over his white suit, pale throat and the faint smirk playing on his lips.

Tae stopped two, calculated steps away from him.

"Mind if I join you?"

Rurik doesn't looked surprised by Tae's bold move.. As if he had already expected it.

"You already have..." He said gesturing to the seat across from him

As Tae sat down, Rurik's crimson gaze swept over him like a blade tracing skin

"You're not here to gamble are you hm?"

Tae's face remained calm–though his pulse betrayed him.

"Maybe I'm here to admire the view?"

Rurik raised an eyebrow and his smile deepened–not from amusement.. But from curiosity and hunger.

"Careful Krasivyy...." He paused–his voice low and calm.. And yet, there was a dangerous layer to it right beneath the surface "Flirting with the devil never ends well..."

Tae lifted a hand, motioning to the bartender for a drink.

"I'm not afraid of devils Khladnokrovny...."

Khladnokrovny–Rurik's infamous nickname meaning "Cold-blooded"... His name was too feared to be used often, so people started calling him "The Khladnokrovny Sokolov"

Rurik smirked "No..." He said "You look like the kind who hunts them.."

A beat...

And then they both smiled–perfectly.

Tae glanced towards the chessboard "Up for a match?"

"You know how to play?" asked Rurik raising an eyebrow in amusement..

No one dared to sit across from him let alone ask him for a match...

Intresting... Very interesting indeed....

"You'll find out soon enough..." replied Tae, adjusting his glasses.

Rurik smirked placing the chess pieces on the board his movements slow, deliberate and calculated..

The poker cards and violence from a few moments earlier lay forgotten in the abyss of the casino

"White or black?" asked Rurik

"You choose"

"How democratic" Rurik replied, selecting white and making the first move without hesitation. "But you don't strike me as the type who lets others choose anything."

The game began.

Click. Slide. Silence.

By the tenth move, Rurik was leaning back on his chair, elbow resting. On the table, watching Tae the way one might watch a flame getting too close to gasoline

"You play well." he said. "Precise. Controlled"

"One round. If I win, I get to ask you a question." said Tae moving his knight

"And if I win?"

"You still get to answer. But you'll enjoy more."

And then Rurik laughed–a deep, rich voice that sounded like glass on velvet. Smooth. Low. Causing a few heads to turn towards their table.

"You always play this seriously Belka?" He said lazily with a predator's grin.

Tae froze.

Just for a second.

His fingers hovered above his next move. Eye narrowed behind his glasses

"What did you just call me?"

"Belka." rurik repeated, voice velvet-smooth"A little squirrel. Always hiding something. Always twitchy. But more dangerous than you look... I think."

Tae leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper

"You call me that again and I'll break your fingers."

"Then how will I finish the game?" Asks Rurik unbothered.

Tae pressed harder. They moved like predators circling each other. Every stolen glance was a test. Halfway through the game, Rurik lit a cigar and exhaled towards the ceiling like a man far too relaxed for someone about to lose.

Tae pressed harder. Rurik adapted. And yet, five moves later.... Checkmate...

Rurik stared at the board. His eyes slightly wide for a moment... Before his neutral expression returned and his smile deepened instead of fading.

"So," he said, voice low "Ask your question"

Tae leaned forward, his voice just above a whisper.

"How long have you known I'm not who I say I am?"

Rurik took a slow drag from his cigar, eyes gleaming like polished glass

"Since the third move Belka.."

Tae looks at him–more annoyed than ever as he got up abruptly turning around to leave

"Oh, my little Belka... Leaving so soon? How unfortunate... I thought you'd stay for a bit longer..."

Said Rurik as he got up and followed him. Then, placing a hand on his shoulder, whispered in his ear–

"You should get used to it... I have a feeling we'll meet soon... And when that happens, I won't let you walk away from me so easily~"

He pulled away and walked back to his chair taking a seat and leaning back.

Tae left the casino angry.

Even after winning, he lost..

But there was someone else who was happy despite loosing..

Because he didn't loose anything... Instead, he found something far much valuable–a new obsession...