Chapter Text
John sits back from his laptop, pinches the bridge of his nose, and sighs deeply. The past few days have been a hell of a lot to take in. It’s one thing to learn that your best friend’s older brother is in fact a centuries-old monster who’s been fooling the entire town; it’s another to learn that you have no time to process it due to the looming threat of an eldritch monstrosity arriving on earth. Can’t a guy just get a few minutes of rest?
He sinks into the living room couch and stares up at the unmoving ceiling fan. Yeah. Five or so minutes’ worth of nap would be really nice right now. How much sleep has John lost to this whole existential crisis, anyway? How many hours, in total, has he truly spent in slumber?
This train of thought is interrupted by a buzz from the coffee table. John jerks upright to face it. There, his phone is humming away with an incoming call.
JOHN: that’s weird. i could’ve sworn i left that upstairs.
He picks it up to see the caller ID on the screen, but finds none. In its place is a single emoji: a diamond, like the suit you might see on a deck of cards.
JOHN: okay that’s REALLY weird. why would i have someone in my contacts named with just an emoji?
Despite his better instincts, John takes the call anyway. A voice on the other end answers immediately.
DIAMONDS: John.
JOHN: uh. who is this.
DIAMONDS: Listen. There is a black bishop from your dad’s old chess set on the coffee table. Do you see it.
Sure enough, there it is, standing upright as if deliberately placed. It’s a fancy wooden thing, slightly bigger than your average plastic piece, stained black as ink with a flawless coat of shellac.
JOHN: yeah i see it. but seriously, who is this?
DIAMONDS: The bishop.
A few seconds of stunned silence pass.
JOHN: …uh-huh.
DIAMONDS: Yeah. I know.
JOHN: why do you sound like you’re from brooklyn?
DIAMONDS: That’s irrelevant right now. I’ve got some important information to tell you, and not enough time to tell it.
JOHN: is it about how my whole life is basically a lie? because i already got that from dirk.
DIAMONDS: Huh. Guess he beat me to the punch there.
The voice on the other end puffs out a small sigh, as if mentally preparing himself to say his next words.
DIAMONDS: Listen, kid. Me and the crew have been watching you for a long time now.
JOHN: wait, back up. what exactly are you? i know you’re a chess piece, but like are you an ghost possessing the chess piece? or just a sentient object?
DIAMONDS: I’m –or rather we’re– a little of both.
JOHN: that makes no sense.
DIAMONDS: Neither does life. We’re getting off track here.
DIAMONDS: I wasn’t originally meant to get involved with things. The boys and I, we were content to haunt from the sidelines, maybe nudge you kids in the right direction if our paths crossed.
DIAMONDS: Matter of fact, Spades wanted to go full poltergeist at first. But times change.
JOHN: and so now you’re helping me? you and your card… chess… people?
DIAMONDS: Bingo.
DIAMONDS: I assume you’ve heard about Her Imperious Condescension.
JOHN: oh i’ve heard alright.
DIAMONDS: She’s allied herself with an enemy of ours. Suffice it to say, it’s in our better interest to help you and your friends defeat her.
JOHN: that enemy isn’t the white pieces, is it?
A sardonic chuckle comes from the other end.
DIAMONDS: Hell no. We’re way past that.
DIAMONDS: Like us, this guy’s currently possessing an object. That same object is required for the ritual. And if she manages to get to Earth, he breaks out.
Diamonds says those last three words with the urgency of a heart attack and the gravity of a funeral. A chill runs up John’s spine.
JOHN: so what do i do?
DIAMONDS: First step is to find the rest of the crew. Should be simple enough: it’s me, a knight, a rook, and a pawn. You’ll know us when you see us.
John nods inadvertently, half-wondering if Diamonds can see him as he does so. The remainder of the chess set is up in the attic.
DIAMONDS: Second step is to find a little number called the “two-faced doll”. Know anyone who’s familiar with dolls?
DIAMONDS: I take it by your exasperated groan that you do.
DIAMONDS: Third step, you bring us all there the night of the ritual. We’ll take care of the rest. Think you can do that, kid?
JOHN: i guess so. as complicated things go, it doesn’t sound too complicated.
DIAMONDS: Attaboy.
DIAMONDS: Remember my instructions. And John?
JOHN: yeah?
DIAMONDS: Wake up.
Just like that, John’s eyes snap open, back into wakefulness.