Zotikas: Episode 1: Clash of Heirs (12 page)

What amazed him most was that the dance went on.
Fechua must have decided that to stop it would be the worst social faux pas. A
glance at the Executive Chair told Kieler the man was befuddled into inaction.
No one else dared the authority to step in.

Feleanna was swinging again, and all gentlemanly
manners aside, Kieler crushed her high hand in his grip and bent it backward,
trying not to make it look obvious to the crowd. He knew if he walked away she
would club him and if he backed away he’d look weak. She was probably thinking
the same thing about herself.

How long will this dance go on!

Avoiding another kick, he failed to see her free hand
until it cuffed his ear. It rang. Trying to gain control, he spun her in close
and tightened his hold on her stomach, pinning her arm between them. He heard
the breath go out of her. This position meant he was pressed into her back, but
at least she couldn’t bite him.

Instead, she stomped her heel into his instep. The
orchestra crescendoed toward a climax. In fierce pain he spun her away with
both hands. Her posterior hit the floor just as the musicians hit the final,
accented chord.

The crowd fell dead silent. The dancers quieted too,
all except for the Callia girl who was now crying uncontrollably and
hysterically shouting, “User! Manipulator!”

Feleanna lay splayed on the floor, her red dress torn,
sweat dripping from her face as she propped herself on one arm.

Kieler was in shock. He realized his mouth was open
but just then glanced left and forgot to close it. He saw Velirith in her
father’s arms, smiling sweetly up at Velator.

But Velator was in speechless shock as well. A frozen
look of terror was pasted on his face, as if he was holding a demon instead of
his lovely daughter.

In the silence, Kieler thought he heard Velator croak,
“
How?
”

Thank you for reading the first episode of the Zotikas series. We
are excited that you have decided to take this journey with us.
 
Be sure to visit us at
www.zotikas.com
for more information about
our upcoming releases including “
Zotikas
- Episode 2: High Rails of Ardan
”
!