Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 43 – Missing

“The best lightning rod for your protection is your own spine.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kiya

When someone is on the brink of death, their life flashes before their eyes. They see their successes, mistakes, long–forgotten memories, treasured memories, and more. No matter how they live, they see everything they’ve done before leaving life forever.

Dying is a process I’ve familiarized myself with. I craved it whenever the pain became overwhelming. It was a path of escape. The sweet relief. What remains afterward is silent tranquility.

However, I’m not dead. I’m very much alive, as told by the pain running through my body.

Malodorous scents suffocated me as I slowly grabbed the reins of my consciousness. Diesel fuel was the strongest, but my werewolf senses detected more. It detected blood from multiple people integrating into what I believe Hell smells like. The ringing in my ears hammered against my skull, and my eyesight slowly cleared to reveal the horrific scene before me.

I remember everything now. My family and I were on our merry way back to California until something hit our van. Something hard, large, and powerful. Our world tumbled and spun like the inside of a dryer before coming to a chilling stop. Glass made their home in and on my flesh, preventing my rapid healing from working properly.

We’re in a car crash.

And the smell of blood is coming from my friends and family!

Oh my Goddess, Abigail!

A car crash won’t kill a werewolf, but it can kill a human. Groaning, I tried to move but was met with searing pain. The impact of whatever hit my side created a huge dent with the depth of a moon crater. The people who suffered more from it would be Mom, me, and those behind me. Abi is sitting on the other side of Jackie, shielded by her body. But, with the tumbling, there’s no telling how hurt she is.

This is going to be tough, but I must do it. Miraculously, the framed portrait Neron gifted me didn’t have a dent. It’s as perfect as when it was unwrapped.

Shuffling and ignoring the mind–numbing pain, I reached my arm over Jackie’s awakening form and grabbed hold of Abigail’s hand. I concentrated all my thoughts and emotions to heal her. Sure enough, the lunar power flowed from me into my human friend, mending and weaving through her arteries and veins to repair her injuries.

“Kiya, be careful,” Artemis warned. “Healing uses a lot of energy.”

“I know, but I need to be sure she’s okay!”

Abigail is not dying on my watch.

As I’m healing her, I grow weak. It feels like a weight is pressed against my back. My grip on Abi’s hand slipped, but I held on as tight as I could. When she started moving, I stopped, elated that she’s okay. A chorus

Chapter 41 – Masing

of groaning and cussing followed as everyone came to consciousness.

My family is okay.

“What the actual f*ck?” Darien grumbles behind me, irritated. “There’s no one for miles; how the hell did we get into a crash?”

“What matters is that everyone is alive,” Dad spoke strongly, working to push open the driver’s side. “Abigail? Are you alright?”

“I’m 6

thanks to Kiya and

Mom inquired me, dusting the glass out of her hair. “You can

story.” As Artemis warned, healing someone else sucks up a lot of my energy. I feel winded, like I ran a double marathon and I hate it. I hate feeling

driver’s side because the impact totaled her side, which Dad helped her out. My parents worked to get the rest of us out of the damaged car one by one, cautious of the broken glass

This road is rarely occupied by many cars unless people are crossing state lines, there are rules and safety

intersections around us. Whoever or whatever hit us had to come from the surrounding forests. But there are no pathways for cars through

in this insane predicament. Jackie comforted Abigail with hugs and sweet whispers, Isaiah made sure Sapphire didn’t have glass residue and vice versa, and Mikhail is talking to a shaken–up Galen.

me with a look of worry. He searched for injuries on my person but

spooked, though.” I shot him a reassuring

make out, but it raged like fire. Shutting his eyes and inhaling deeply, he gave me a curt

wanted to say, but he held back. Instead, he simply walked away

That was weird.

him know what happened,” Dad muttered, pulling out his phone. “Knowing him, he’d come down

cares, mi amor.”

foul, decaying, but familiar stench assaulted our noses, causing us all to bristle in place. Apprehension roamed through the atmosphere as we prepared for The

around us.

rogues are

to get damaged in the fight, it’s that. Seconds later, undead rogues, the same ones who attacked Zircon Moon a couple of months back, stalked toward us

became ten. Ten became

an

the disgusting mutts to stay away, but like the heathens they are, they didn’t obey; remaining true to their titles as

as if they still are. My favorite people don’t f*ck

be victorious, I

parents attacked, and we followed suit. Abigail, like a true warrior, had her weapons ready

battled–ripping, biting, and clawing at our enemies. I’m not at optimal strength, but I fought my hardest. Punches to their snouts, kicks to their stomachs, and clawing at their

to harm my family is a

is memorable. However, this time, there is a level of viciousness in his slaughter. Restless in his pursuits, he chased the rouges that tried to escape and tore them like paper. The ferocity remained when he shifted

fighting something else besides the rogues. And I

effortlessly lifted me in the air. Suddenly, my body was violently thrown like a rag–doll away from the chaos. I landed on the forest

me. Just by that singular sound, it floods my mind with the recollections of

to mention yanking me through a f*cking

–

tree bark groaned from impact, but the monster didn’t flinch. All this time, I thought the bastard was dead.

I caught his fist with both my hands, restraining against his indomitable might. I pushed, and he pushed,

moon magic, I kicked the goliath in the stomach with both my feet, forcing him back far enough to slip away. From the distance, I spotted my family fighting as rogues began pouring out

a repeat of

My mom shouted through our mind–link. “Where are you?!”

sticky situation with a seven–foot–tall avatar hunter.”

what are you

explain right

me, so I can use that to my advantage. Hopping on my feet, ignoring my lightheadedness, I yelled for his attention and began

followed me through the trees, tearing them from their roots. Once I’m far enough, I turn on my heels

him and