The Chess Prodigy: Girls Kissing Girls, #5

By Lee Cushing

Katya Yeltsin was a Russian chess prodigy who had just come out as gay and had made the decision to defect to America. Imprisoned after making her announcement, she confides in her sister to help her escape. 

 

Then she met Natalia Pavlov, an agent in the FBI and was immediately attracted to her who becomes her protector. 

 

Will Katya find happiness in Natalia's embrace or will she forced back to a loveless life in mother Russia?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Cushing
• Release date: Sep 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223625742

Lee Cushing

Lee Cushing is a paranormal thriller author and a lifelong fan of the occult. Having become obsessed with supernatural folklore and the world of horror from an early age, Lee has spent years studying tales of the occult and immersing himself in stories of otherworldly phenomenon. He’s also the owner of a number of vampire and horror-related groups in Facebook, where fellow fans of the supernatural come together to celebrate and discuss all things paranormal.  His debut novel, Voodoo Mambo, blends high-stakes action and shadowy agencies with a dark underworld of demonic creatures and their insidious plots to attack humanity. Lee draws his inspiration from classic horror movies – including Hammer and Universal – as well as beloved TV shows including Doctor Who, Supernatural, The Avengers, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. 

Book preview

That night, the air was charged with electricity and excitement. In the large auditorium, two people are seated in a square box made of tinted sound proof glass. They sit in concentration, looking at the chess board in front of them, not seeing or hearing the millions of people behind the glass screen screaming. Most of them screamed in joy as they watched the players play against each other. Others shouted disparaging words at the players.

In one of the backrooms, Katya Yeltsin, Chess prodigy on her way to her 5th championship was a nervous wreck, beads of sweat formed on her forehead and she wiped them off with the back of her hand and checked her watch. Katya was not nervous to play chess, she had been playing professionally since she was 10 and she was certain she would win. She was nervous about a big decision she took and would need to follow through on.

The door opened and an assistant came in. Miss. Yeltsin, we’re ready for you now. The assistant said and closed the door behind her. Katya took a deep breath and muttered "seychas ili nikogda" which translates to now or never. A security guard took her down a hallway then pushed open the door of the auditorium. The excitement in the crowd made Katya smile as she waved to her many awe struck fans.

‘Ten minutes’, Katya muttered, a little upset the game was not going to last longer than that. The game had just started and her opponent had made many rookie mistakes, Katya wondered how he made it this far. She had already seen how the game would end; her opponent was making obvious moves. She blindly played the game as she thought about all the different ways she was going to do make her announcement.

‘Checkmate’ she thinks, as she looked at the timer and realized it took a shorter time than she imagined. She contemplated prolonging it but decided to end it quick and get her announcement out of her chest.

*************************************

You were showing off. That was the first thing Katya’s mother whispered to her as they made their media rounds out of the ‘International Centre for Chess’ building. Still smiling at the cameras, her mother added. You couldn’t have extended the game? It ended too soon. Katya didn’t say anything, already knowing it was fruitless. The last time her mother had congratulated her on a win was when she was ten.

Inside the car, her sister Ilya hugged her and told her how proud she was of Katya. Oh Katya, I am so proud of you. All my friends are jealous that I have a genius sister. Her sister gushed. Katya looked at her mother who was facing the window. Her mother would hate her more than she already did after her announcement. Really? Then they do not know the real genius Katya told her sister and they both laughed. Her sister would forever be her favorite person.

Ilya was 7 years older than Katya but Katya had never felt the 7 year gap. Just then, her sisters phone rang and both Katya and Ilya froze. Ilya made a special ring tone for her husband so she could know whenever he called. Ilya accepted the call and spoke in rapid Russian as if she was talking to an army general. Katya hated it anytime Igor called. Seeing her sister stiff and afraid was her main fuel to make her announcement.

Ilya took a deep breath after her call and faced her sister. That was Igor, he says he is proud of you. Katya smiled and looked to her own phone. Igor did not say that but Ilya was not going to tell her sister that her husband was a woman beater and a horrible human being. It was her marriage and her cross to bear. Ilya looked at her mother. She once told her mother that Igor beat her and her mother showed her scars from her father instead. Help wasn’t coming. She just had to do everything Igor says, and then in a year or two, she would be free.

The flashing cameras almost made Katya change her mind. Could she really do this to her home country she wondered? And in the Tsar’s palace no less. But she squared her shoulders; they were not going to kill her for what she decided to do. She looked at the crowd then to her sister and her resolve hardened. She had to get out from under her parents thumb. They were going to ruin her like they ruined Ilya.

Miss Yeltsin. The reporters yelled, so Katya brought the mic closer. I’m very happy for the win. This is a win for me and for Russia. The reporters were happy with her response and asked her other questions. Katya was waiting for a question that will prompt her to make her announcement and after what felt to Katya like a million