Chapter 21

Mister Bamborough looked at Willow with a grin.

“Tell me more, Miss Rose.”

Queen's Gambit - Chapter 2

© Copyright 2025 Maeryn Lamonte

I agreed on the basis that it was the easiest way to move things on. There really wasn’t anything else on offer that particularly interested me so I had a vested interest in trying to enjoy the costume making.

"I am Selene," the woman said after briefly stepping away to retrieve a robe for me to cover up. "You may call me Madam Selene, or just Madam will suffice."

I nodded as I quickly draped the robe over my naked body. The soft material felt heavenly atop my bare skin, a stark contrast to the rough tunic that clung to my body the past few weeks.

"And you are?" I heard her ask. I hadn't yet had the opportunity to ponder my new circumstance, but that still would have to wait.

"Rowen, ma'am—" I paused, "Madam."

Girl 101 for Boys! When I saw that listed on electives in the high school I was about to start I just knew I had to sign up for that. That was so outrageous!

Matty Caff AI Comic Fantasies: These are independent stand alone AI and Face Swap created comics of fantasy and some personal experience. I use my face in every comic.

“I’m happy to do this double date if we can make the scheduling work, and if Pam agrees. I’m wondering if we should talk to Pam ourselves first, though, to help her get ready like you did with Phil.”

“Hmm, maybe. I agree that she might need help also, but I didn’t actually meet her yet.”

“Play it by ear, I guess. With sufficient notice I can do this anytime, even overnights, apart from my work hours, which you know now.”

The women beside me could only hold my attention for a brief moment. I'd noted that, despite looking in better condition than the other captives, they still looked just as worn out emotionally. And out of the three of them, only one had presence enough to pay me any mind, but my attention was needed elsewhere.

I hauled myself to the bars that prevented me from leaving and peered through them. I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Orin just as he was loaded into the other cart.

Chapter 20

All too soon it was into March and another statement. The older albums were fading, but ‘The Magic Laptop’ had nearly reached gold status in its first month. Willow’s share ended up at just on four hundred and twenty thousand, keeping the twenty thousand with Peter and transferring four hundred thousand to WR Holdings.

I remember the day we first met. He'd walked through the doors of the orphanage half shrouded behind a tall woman I would never see again. It had been difficult to make out his face in the dimly lit hallway, but I could tell he was terrified of everything around him. Then again, who wouldn't be?
 
Unlike him, my first memories had been of this place. I imagine I would have been just as terrified of these rundown walls in his shoes. For me, this was home, and even back then at the tender age of 7, I knew they would be home for him too.
 

Matty Caff AI Comic Fantasies: These are independent stand alone AI and Face Swap created comics of fantasy and some personal experience. I use my face in every comic.

His voice shook just a little as he called out the directions, but we were soon at the pleasant little café, Clara standing on the footpath outside. I put a hand on the lad’s arm to keep him in his seat.

“She knows where to sit, son, and you’ve only just left her, so let’s get rolling before traffic time, okay?”