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 hair.

I feel winded, like I ran a double marathon and I hate it. I hate feeling weak. It’s the major reason I don’t heal others unless it’s necessary. Since Abi can’t heal like the rest of us, I use it mostly on her. “It’s an avatar thing.”

no way we can drive the rest of the way home. Dad pushed open. his, finally, slowly and cautiously stepping 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 get the rest of us out of the damaged car one by one, cautious

rarely occupied by many cars unless people are crossing state lines, there are rules and safety measures put in place to prevent crashes from happening.

how were 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

to my chest like a teddy bear, looking for comfort in this insane predicament. Jackie comforted Abigail with hugs and sweet whispers, Isaiah made sure Sapphire didn’t have glass

Bit, how are you holding up?” I turned to Darien, walking to me with a look of worry. He searched for injuries

shot him

can imagine.” His eyes narrowed to my chest, or rather something at my chest. Something brewed in them I couldn’t make out, but

you,” I replied softly. There’s more Darien wanted to say, but he held back. Instead, he simply walked away

was

his phone. “Knowing him, he’d come down here himself, breaking all traffic laws.”

amor.” Mom

number. A foul, decaying, but familiar stench assaulted our noses, causing us all to bristle in place.

around us.

rogues

tuck the portrait in a bush safely away from the impending 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 attacked Zircon Moon a couple of months back, stalked toward us with

became ten. Ten became twenty.

an army.

the disgusting mutts to stay away, but like the heathens they are, they didn’t obey; remaining true to their titles as disobedient and ruthless dogs. Mom and Dad instantly got in

still fight as if they still

be victorious, I

growled 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. Abigail, like a true warrior, had her weapons ready on her person and went toe–to–toe with the mutts with Jackie

shifted and 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 backs; I became a savage

to harm my family is a guaranteed death

protected my blind spots, ripping apart any mutt dumb enough to approach. Knowing him for so long, his fighting technique is memorable. However, this time, there is a level of viciousness

else besides the rogues. And I have a good idea of what it is.

heavy wrapped around my head and 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 floor on

stomps coming toward me. Just by that singular sound, it floods my

to mention yanking me through a f*cking

43 – Missing

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

toward me, ready for another attack. This time, I caught his fist with both my hands, restraining against his indomitable might. I pushed, and he pushed, equalizing the force between us. Cerberus‘ expression is stony,

me!” Summoning my moon magic, I kicked the goliath in the stomach with both my feet, forcing him back far enough to slip away. From the

I don’t want a repeat of what happened last time, especially now my

shouted through our mind–link. “Where are

sticky situation with a seven–foot–tall

what are you talking

right

lead Cerberus away, then he won’t have the chance to attack them. He’s always been after me, so I can use that

me through the trees, tearing them from their roots. Once I’m far enough, I turn on my heels and growled at the juggernaut, ready

just him