I felt like I was on the floor.

  A dull ache spread through my body as I forced my eyes open. Marble pillars stretched high above me, smooth and perfect. A black carpet with golden trim led up to an empty throne. The air felt heavy—like the weight of something unseen was pressing down on me.

  Where the hell am I?

  Then, I heard him.

  “Hey, Kael. Welcome to the Palace of Perdition—home of the hosts of the Seven Sins.”

  That voice. Smug. Amused. Familiar.

  I looked up. The man I bumped into at school. The same one who held me in place while Serenity stabbed me.

  It was him.

  I pushed myself up, my body still weak from death, and glared.

  “Why the fuck did you do that?” I snapped.

  The man smirked, folding his arms. He looked like he was enjoying this.

  “Because you were getting ahead of yourself,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “You really thought you were in control, didn’t you?”

  My fists clenched. I wouldn’t say it, but…I had felt like I was handling things pretty well. Until, y’know, I died.

  “So what?” I shot back. “Isn’t that a good thing? I wasn’t being reckless. I knew I was still in the game.”

  He sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “That’s not what I mean, Kael. You felt powerful. Admit it. You thought you could win against Serenity, thought you had it figured out. That confidence of yours? It’s nothing more than a delusion.”

  His voice turned colder.

  “I had to remind you of your place.”

  I glared at him. My place?

  “You’re nothing more than a puppet dancing for the Overseer’s amusement. A jester in his little game.”

  I scoffed. “I already knew that. I don’t care. I’m here for a second chance. I need to fix things in my own world.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  The man laughed. Not just a chuckle—a full, mocking laugh. Like I had said something hilarious.

  “You think you’re getting a second chance?” He smirked. “God, you really are stupid.”

  He flicked his wrist, and with a snap, a table appeared between us. A chessboard sat atop it, pieces already in place. Two chairs materialized—my stomach twisted when I saw them.

  They were the same as the one I had hung myself from.

  A chill ran down my spine.

  “Let’s make this easier for you,” he said, settling into one of the chairs. “A game of chess.”

  The ticking of the game clock echoed through the vast palace.

  Reluctantly, I sat down.

  As I placed my hands on the table, he leaned forward, smirking.

  “You don’t know who I am yet, do you?” he mused.

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “I’m the Archbishop of Pride.”

  I stiffened.

  “Not the host of Pride,” he clarified, moving his first piece. “I serve Pride itself. The real deal. A person, by the way. Doubt you’ll ever meet him, though.”

  He laughed at my expression, enjoying how little I knew.

  “So what’s your actual role in all this?” I asked, voice laced with irritation.

  “My role?” His smirk grew wider. “To make sure people like you remember their place.”

  My turn. I moved a piece forward. The clock ticked.

  “Now, let’s make things interesting,” he said smoothly. “A bet.”

  I paused mid-move. “…What kind of bet?”

  The Archbishop’s smile sharpened.

  “If I can seduce those little ‘girlfriends’ of yours and become the school president, I win.” He leaned back. “And after that, I get to kill you. Permanently.”

  My grip on the chess piece tightened. He was toying with me.

  “And what do I get if I win?” I asked coldly.

  “If you can keep your girls and become president instead of me, I’ll leave you alone.”

  I scoffed. “That’s it?”

  “That’s everything,” he corrected. “I’ll step aside and stop interfering. No more surprises. No more knives in the back.”

  I eyed him. “Why even make this bet? Why not just leave me alone?”

  He chuckled, amused.

  “I could,” he admitted. “But where’s the fun in that?”

  He moved another chess piece.

  “I like watching you struggle.”

  He tapped his fingers against the table, smug.

  “You see, the Overseer doesn’t care about me. My kind. We have more power than him. So I can do whatever the hell I want.”

  The ticking of the chess clock filled the silence between us.

  He folded his hands together. “So…do we have a deal?”

  I stared at the board.

  “And if I decline?” I asked.

  The Archbishop grinned. A predator’s grin.

  “Then I’ll kill you here and now.” He reached toward his coat. “And trust me, Kael, you wouldn’t last five seconds.”

  He made a show of slowly drawing a dagger from his belt. The blade gleamed under the golden palace lights.

  I could feel it. The weight of his confidence.

  He truly believed I was nothing compared to him.

  I exhaled sharply, weighing my options. I had no choice.

  “Fine.” I set my king piece down. “I accept.”

  The Archbishop’s eyes flashed with satisfaction.

  “Oh, and Kael?” he added, extending his hand.

  I hesitated before shaking it.

  The moment our hands touched, my vision went black.

  His voice was the last thing I heard.

  “Even if you die, I’ll just reset the bet. Just saying.”

  A cruel laugh echoed in the void.

  “Who knows? You might still lose.”

  Not a chance.

  As the darkness swallowed me, my fingers clenched into fists. He thought he could humiliate me. Toy with me.

  But he made one mistake.

  He challenged me.

  I will win.

  And I will make him regret ever thinking he could control me.