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From behind, I was pushed back into the middle of the water vortex.

The emotions inside me grew loud. Too loud.

Silvar tried to grab my breasts again, but I grabbed her wrists.

“Don't touch me,” I whispered in a gasp.

The water around us seemed to be moving faster, but it wasn't the Water Quatra behind Silvar who was moving it, because she had lowered her hands.

A murmur went through the crowd, but I could only stare at Silvar, who broke free from my grip and tried to touch me again.

Shock, fear, and bewilderment at what was happening here mingled with images in my memory. Images I wanted to erase for good.

Silvar held on to the edge of the pool and stepped closer again. But this time she wouldn't even try to touch me.

I grabbed her by the collar of her robe and pulled her toward me.

“I said…” I pushed her into the water until her knees buckled, then stepped toward her. “Don't. Touch. Me!”

A chaotic murmur rippled through the crowd.

Then, abruptly, the water stopped moving.

It was a pleasant cold that climbed up my body, coating my wet skin, and a glance down revealed that ice had formed on my bare skin, now partially covering it, still growing…

A shocked scream erupted from the crowd.

Trapped in paralysis, I slowly let my gaze wander to Silvar whose eyes were wide and whose neck was covered in… ice.

Frightened, I let go of her and staggered back, hearing the sound of ice cracking and feeling a sharp, cold pain in my legs, pressing against my thighs and hips.

The water around me was partially frozen...

Around me, the Quatura began to shout something, to move...

Immediately, the ice melted, even around Silvar, who stared at the spot where I had just been standing. Her eyes... lifeless...

I gasped.

Then, without warning, I was violently pulled back and dragged out of the pool.

Someone put a cloak around me, before they pushed me to the stone ground, where I dropped to my knees and endured the unwanted hands that were forcibly holding me in place.

More women rushed into the water in front of me, pulling Silvar, whose head snapped to the side with a horrible crack.

More gasping. More frantic screaming.

I couldn't tell if that had just been ice on Silvar’s body or something else...

Her eyes were still wide. And as all the emotions were gradually fogging my mind, I lost myself in her lifeless stare, staring back at her desperately.

And suddenly, I didn't know anymore if Gloria was really the worst thing lurking among the Quatura in Blairville.

The Duel

Secession Studios, Greg Dombrowski

“She's out of control!” snapped the woman next to Gloria.