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

Nikolai; thanks to Kiya

Mom inquired me, dusting the glass out of her

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 weak. It’s

out into the sun. Mom had to crawl to the driver’s side because the impact totaled her side, which Dad helped her out. My parents worked to

This road is rarely occupied by many cars unless people

we hit at the side? It’s a two–way road! There are no intersections around us. Whoever or whatever hit us had to come from the surrounding forests. But there are

Isaiah made sure Sapphire didn’t have glass residue and vice versa, and Mikhail is talking

are you holding up?” I turned to Darien, walking to me with a look of worry. He searched for injuries on my person but found

I shot

make out, but it raged like fire. Shutting his eyes and inhaling deeply,

replied softly. There’s more Darien wanted to say, but he held back.

was weird.

what happened,” Dad muttered, pulling out his phone. “Knowing

mi amor.”

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

around us.

rogues are back!

calamity before joining my family. If there’s another thing I don’t want to get damaged in the fight, it’s that. Seconds later, undead rogues, the same ones who

three. Three became ten. Ten became

became an army.

as disobedient and ruthless dogs. Mom and Dad instantly got in their fighting stances in front of all of us, daring the rogues to charge.

but they’ll still fight as if they still are. My favorite people don’t f*ck around

be victorious, I know

and barked, green drool dripping from their diseased jaws. Not long after did they pounce on us, aiming for the kill. My parents attacked, and we followed suit.

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

family is a guaranteed death

memorable. However, this time, there is a level of viciousness in his slaughter. Restless in his pursuits, he chased the rouges

And I have a good

lifted me in the air. Suddenly, my body was violently thrown like a rag–doll away from the chaos. I landed on the forest floor on my arm, rolling in a cloud of dust until I hit

The loud unhesitant stomps coming toward me. Just by that

through a

43 –

hurtling towards me, rolling away. The tree bark groaned from impact, but

fist with both my hands, restraining against his indomitable might. I pushed, and he pushed, equalizing the force between us.

in the stomach with both my feet, forcing him back far enough

want a

shouted through our mind–link. “Where

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

are

explain right now,

lead Cerberus away, then he won’t have the chance to attack them. He’s always been after me, so I can use that to my advantage. Hopping on my feet, ignoring my lightheadedness,

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

just him and me.