Constellation: Ashes to Ashes: Constellation, #1

By A.F. Michaels

In the near future, the Magnus family has built its fortunes on revolutionary starship technology, and the patriarch Thomas Magnus plans to escalate his power by running for president. But his arch enemy Alder Cloven has chosen this moment to launch a conspiracy to destroy the Magnus clan. Meanwhile, one daughter struggles to find her place as her addictions spiral out of control while the other falls in love with the son of her family's worst enemy, and the ambitions of their mother leads her to betrayal. 

Episode One: When Sophia Magnus' best friend is killed in a horrific and bizarre fashion, she and her sister Nikki find themselves questioning their lives and are drawn into a disturbing mystery. Download the first episode of this epic series today. 

Constellation is an ongoing series that will be released in five episode installments of 20,000 words each. Fans of "Game of Thrones" and "House of Cards" will appreciate this epic series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Platypus Publishing
• Release date: Dec 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781519930798

Book preview

1.

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SOPHIA MAGNUS walked into the bathroom to find her sister Nikki having sex with a guy she'd never seen before. If it were anyone else, Sophia would have been surprised, but Nikki rarely surprised her anymore.

With a gasp of horror, Sophia quickly shaded her eyes with a hand and turned her back to the scene. Nikki, come on.

She could hear Nikki gasp behind her, I'm busy.

Even this deep in the mansion, the walls pulsed with music from the party in the main ballroom. Sophia looked up at a painting on the wall next to the bathroom door, an abstract design reminding her of a sandy beach. While she watched, the painting slowly melted into a Cubist design of boxes stacking on top of each other.

Still facing the wall, Sophia called back, Nikki, Khanya's leaving. She's all upset. We have to go.

The rustling of clothes gave Sophia the courage to turn around, although she kept her fingers over her eyes and looked through them, just in case. To her relief, Nikki had straightened and smoothed her Vidal dress back around herself. Her mood hair had changed from pink to red, so Sophia didn't need to see the expression on her face to know she was angry. The guy pulled his khakis up, and gave Sophia a nasty look, which she ignored.

When Nikki had composed herself, she winked at the guy. Call me. We'll finish up later.

Nikki's heels clicked on the tiled floor like gunshots as she stomped to the bathroom door. Her unsteady gait and slurred words told Sophia she had scored some new code for her neural implant. Probably one like Purple Passion, which heightened her sexual desire. What's she mad about this time?

Sophia threw up her hands. I don't know. We were having a drink at the bar, and she took a call. Next thing I know, she's running for the door.

As Nikki pushed past her, Sophia shot the guy one last nasty look before following.

Outside the bathroom, a line of women in cocktail dresses scowled and shot insults at Nikki as she charged down the hallway. She swept past Grecian statues and urns decorating the hallway without a second glance, but Sophia couldn't help slowing down to admire some of them. They looked like genuine pieces, not 3D-printed reproductions.

As they walked, the music grew louder and louder until they reached an expansive ballroom. A dance floor took up most of the ballroom with lights swirling over it in time with the music. The latest urban tribal hit My Choice by Wildebeest thumped through the throngs of dancers on the floor. Charles Dorian, a famous anchor for Galaxy News Network, did an awkward dance with Lamilia Thiir, an Oscar-winning actress. In one corner, software giant Ramsey Osborne chatted with his wife, a beautiful Japanese supermodel named Tsubame Kohaku. As she went deeper into the ballroom, Sophia could see Wildebeest himself sang live on a stage for the cheering crowds.

On the far end of the ballroom, Rex Dalton laughed as he flirted with a group of beautiful women, probably regaling them with tales from the set of his latest movie. He hosted the after party at his home to celebrate the premiere of his action thriller, Bloody Shadows.

Sophia had been reluctant to come with her sister, but had to admit to having fun. She hadn't been to as many high-profile parties as Nikki, but this one seemed to be the best. Everywhere she looked, she saw socialites and celebrities mingling. The food tasted great, the drinks delicious, and the music almost made her want to dance, if the idea of dancing didn't fill her with dread.

For a moment, Sophia caught sight of someone across the room and stopped dead in her tracks. A young man on the other side of the ballroom made her gasp. His curly brown hair framed a handsome face with dark brown eyes. His broad shoulders and powerful arms strained under a dark red designer shirt. At over six feet, he towered over a blonde woman who danced with him, and his sensuous lips moved in conversation with her. He was the most gorgeous men she had ever seen.

As he turned, their eyes met. Sophia wanted to look away, but she felt frozen by his powerful gaze. A slight smile touched his lips. A moment later, the crowd came together as a dancing and writhing mass to block her view. She felt a moment's panic when the crowds moved away, and the young man had vanished. She wanted to go chasing after him, but stopped herself. Khanya came first.

The last time she had seen Khanya had been at the buffet table. She wove through crowds mingling around the table, where world-renowned chef Antoine Pinault had a crew of six staff. They served Imperial Ossetra caviar, Irish sea urchin with sauteed baby squid, and penne pasta with red sauce, and slow roasted stuffed pork loin with potato tartilette.

At one end, a woman with long blue hair writhing like snakes mixed drinks at a dry bar. Sophia felt some relief when she saw Khanya Owusu still at the bar, but not for long. The slender girl with dark chocolate skin and a long red dress gulped down a Manhattan, slammed the glass down so hard it almost broke, and began to run through the crowds of people to the front door.

Sophia tried to gently but firmly push people out of her way as she called out, Kay, wait!

Khanya turned immediately on her stiletto heels, and her eyes widened. To Sophia's relief, she began to run back to her instead of the exit.

Her relief quickly vanished as Khanya grabbed Sophia by the shoulders. Her eyes went wide. We have to get out of here. Acropolis is live, and they know it.

Sophia flinched as Khanya's long fingernails dug into her arms. She tried to meet Khanya's eyes and calm her, but saw only sheer terror. She shook her head. I don't understand.

Khanya opened her mouth to speak, but never got the chance.

Khanya's legs exploded into twin columns of gray dust. She screamed in terror and pain as she fell. She landed on the blackened stumps where her thighs had been.