Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 77 – The Woman

“Choice is what enables us to tell the world who we are.” -Barry Schwartz

Kiya

My body demanded sleep after my panic attack. The cell was cold, but Phoebe was warm. She held me close and I rested my head on her bosom as I slept. Our cuffs were removed when the blonde–haired woman from earlier checked on us, conveniently ignoring the puddle of vomit in the room’s corner.

She said nothing.

There weren’t any windows in our holding cell, making it easy for us to lose track of time. We didn’t know how long we had been down here. The sunset from earlier was a distant memory, so perhaps it was nightfall?

I went from trainer to kidnapee in twelve hours.

It was just the three of us, Violetta, Phoebe, and me, trapped in this dark place. But it didn’t mean we had to be miserable. We made use of our time through conversation.

Violetta’s an avatar like us. Of Amphitrite, the Goddess of the Seas. She awoke several years back but has a tough time connecting to her true self. Sadness ached in my heart as she talked about it. Her past was painful, something Phoebe and I understood.

Was it common for avatars to have shitty childhoods?

Another hour rolled by, or what seemed like an hour, when the cell door opened again. This time, the blond woman had a man flanking her right. He was dressed…oddly. Who wears a violet and black suit in this place? Especially one with a tailcoat? In his hands were three dresses of assorted colors.

“Get up.” With little resistance, the three of us stood with our backs pressed to the wall. “You three are to change into your new clothes.”

The blond woman held the cuffs as the man tossed the dresses to us. Thick strapped and passed the knees. I didn’t like it. The only difference between this dress and the slave dress I burned five years ago was that this was pure white.

Not only that, but they sewed crystal rhinestones all around the chest area, swirling around where my breasts. were to be. Phoebe’s dress was purple, and Violetta’s was blue, both plain. Why was mine so different?

“No.” Violetta snapped. “I’m not wearing this.”

“Don’t be difficult, girl.” The man warned, red eyes narrowing on Violetta’s form. “Wear the damn thing and come peacefully.”

“Fuck being peaceful!” She threw the dress to the ground. “You expect me to strip down and change in front of you and her?” She pointed to the blond woman. “Like hell, I will! I want out of this place!”

I didn’t see it coming.

I don’t think Phoebe or Violetta saw it either.

In a blink of an eye, the man was behind Violetta, restraining her arms behind her back. It was like watching a

21. The Woma

The woman continued to be combative, profanity springing from her mouth, I think she recited

with tired eyes, fished something out of her

to see.

a syringe!

over to the pair and plunged the needle in Violetta’s neck, injecting her with a clear liquid. My fellow avatar’s combativeness soon ceased, she looked like a shell of

our way. “Unless you two want the same treatment as your friend, get dressed.” We watched as Nadia clasped cuffs on each wrist and helped to drag Violetta out of the room, like two people taking care of their drunk friend. The door shut

us said anything. The shock was too great. Did

shuffling beside me, I turn to see Phoebe stripping down to her underwear,

going on?” I demanded, clutching the white fabric of my dress. “Do you know what

that thing they injected her with was a kind of sedative. I don’t know if it was natural or concocted with dark magic, but I’m not in the mood to find out.” Her breaths were

my friend was the only way we would get

fight our way out of

others back home were working on our rescue. Because of the distance, I couldn’t connect to any of them. Many of them were injured during the ambush. I hoped they

stomach left a lasting image in my mind.

died after

out of my head, my clothes, merely a sporty top, and leggings were discarded to the

dress that felt perturbing. A sensation lingered, crawling up my skin like a spider. Artemis growled deep within me at this foreign feeling. Protectiveness was her best trait, and she was ready to commit.

five minutes, Nadia and the man came in with cuffs. “Arms out.” He demanded.

77 –

the woman she is, like all her power drained away. I,

when I knew. It meant these cuffs were meant to weaken me. Weaken us. Weaken the avatars. Every avatar in this facility had these cuffs,

Oh, Goddess.

cuffing, they separated Phoebe and me. She was taken away by the man and Nadia took me. From my peripherals, I glimpsed her side view. Her face twisted briefly as if she was fighting mentally. How curious.

darkened hallway after leaving

stopped, arched an eyebrow, and stared at her incredulously. “Excuse

sorry,” Nadia repeated, pale blue eyes full of remorse. “This shouldn’t be happening. None of

when you drugged my friend!” I retorted, pissed off. “Why the hell

people here who want you and the others to

us?” My anger crackled around me at the recent memories of bloodshed and death. “That…that thing killed people. It

send Cerberus,” Nadia whispered with a face cast down.

My brain short–circuited.

Her mate?

did you just say?”

sent Cerberus after you. He commands him because he created him with the blood of our strongest avatars.” She explained, her head darted from left to right,

I am?” 1 growled. “You’re telling me that your mate orchestrated

this hidden world. He is a vigilante drunk on his twisted sense of justice. My words, the words of his soulmate, were not enough to stop his lunacy. Please understand that I’ve tried, over and over to get through to him