Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 48 – Questions and Answers

“Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is dangerous. -Frank Herbert

Kiya

I should spend a normal summer evening in my bed with the air conditioner blasting, surrounded by fatty snacks, and a good movie playing on the television screen. Relaxing with a touch of lazy. At least, that should be how I spend my first night back home.

Instead, I’m smashing my enchanted wrist cuffs against the corner of a lavish table in a fancy room in a strange mansion in the middle of nowhere! My saving grace is I’m alone without Osiris‘ pet snake. He took Pepi with him because he knew I’d punt that thing like a football again. Artemis, watching my latest feats in the corner of my mind, snorted as I failed to make a single dent into my cuffs. I’ve been trying to escape out of these things for hours with no luck!

“I think its clear to say the old–fashioned way is not helping you to get out of those things.” She pointed out. “You’re going to tire yourself out.”

“Whatever magic is in these things is tiring me out!” The only thing more dented than the table corner is my ego. “F*cking hell! Osiris is an asshole for putting these things on me!”

“It’s obvious he doesn’t want you fighting back. Kidnappers want their victims helpless.”

“Too bad for him. I’m not a victim.” Giving up on the cuffs, my mind goes into overdrive to create another plan. Osiris is a shrewd and cunning man, cutting off all escape routes. He planned this long before capturing me. I’ve contemplated throwing myself against the window a third time, but layers of unbreakable glass reinforced. the damn thing. To add insult to injury, since I cannot access my powers or shift, my body to the window was like a rubber ball to a wall. I bounced back. Hard.

Then, there is the door. Osiris bolts it closed every time he leaves. But if I could escape through the door, I have to deal with Cerberus guarding the door on the other side. Considering the extreme height and build differences between us, all he has to do is flick my head with a finger and I’m forced back inside.

Frustration bubbled and sizzled, coursing through my veins as I’ve reached the limit of my dwindling patience. Caged inside an airless room with no escape reminded me of my dark days, and I hated it. I hate Osiris for what he’s doing to me; laying cryptic messages only to irk me for his amusement.

My stomach growled like a lion with hunger twisting my insides. I haven’t eaten since I woke up and it added to my irritation. According to Galen, a hungry me is never a pleasant sight. Well, if worst comes to worse, I could eat Osiris‘ stupid face.

Speaking of that snake, the story of his past hadn’t left my thoughts. It interconnects his pain and mine. through the brutality we suffered under the same pack that should’ve protected us. Zircon Moon had failed us both for years, and I can’t say I’m surprised. However, a part of me urges to exercise caution. A chance that Osiris is making the story up is high. He could use this false tale to manipulate me.

Deep down, I feel he isn’t lying. But could Osiris be sick enough to dream up such a story? To fake his suffering?

My mind suddenly flashes to my first kidnapping; the evident fear from the other avatars, the unyielding sense of control from the hybrids–everything replayed like a broken record. I still remember the panic when

Questions and Answer

Nadia helped free us and the chaos that followed. We could’ve died that day because of Osiris‘ actions.

Nadia’s fate is still unknown. Sitting on the bed, I thought about that innocent human and how she was unfortunate to get tangled into that mess. My vision blurred as I remembered the exhaustion in her eyes when imprisoning us and the determination when she set us free. That woman, bound to that monster, risked her life to save us. Those hands broke our chains and led us to our freedom. I owe Nadia my life. However,

Cerberus snatched her back in that fire and that’s the last I saw of her.

about Lucien, the vampire who

that’s

get his attention. My fists and feet made an ensemble of obstreperous racket made of stomps, wall hits, tossing items about carelessly, and screaming like a toddler on time–out.

the bastard appeared at my door with savory smelling food on a carrying tray. His face failed to hide his irritation as his crimson eyes

Little Moon.” Osiris huffed. “You didn’t have to

tantrum.”

go fetch you!” I shot back. My eyes trailed his movements as he set the tray on a bare table. On cue, my stomach demanded for the large plate of creamy chicken alfredo with breadsticks and seasoned broccoli on the side. A

I know you haven’t eaten, and I wouldn’t want you

not taking the risk of getting drugged again.”

the bed. “I don’t think someone with an appetite of your caliber should go long without food. Plus, I made it and

kidnapper ask me to rate his food? I might be an amateur food critic, but it doesn’t change my mind. In defiance, I crossed my

shrugged. “Well, what can I do to make you

lions.”

regarded me with a heavy look after resetting the blankets. His long silvery hair swayed with his movements like silk, and his red eyes held amusement. Moving with grace, he took a seat on the mattress,

to hide his fangs. The surrounding atmosphere thickened with a sense of danger, prompting my heart to race in my chest. Averting my eyes, I focused on the paintings rather than

– Questions and

snarled. “We’ll start with the first kidnapping. Why

I still do. Society has mistreated hybrids for so long, so I did something about it. I have…plans, Kiya.” His frank honesty was alarming. “Avatars have incredible potential, but its

one yourself. If you claim that we’re walking gods, then there is no point in needing

tale we’re told, unless your deity is one of darkness. We can bend and mold reality however we want, but some choose not to. I, for one, will do whatever the f*ck I

“You said you wanted a partner in your plans, but what about Nadia? She’s your mate, and

what happens to traitors. Nadia was my mate, but like all humans, she was worthless in the end. Set was enamored of her, desperate to make her his. After

had more backbone than you! She was a gift, and you threw her aside!” I shouted, fists shaking at my sides. “She risked everything for complete strangers, and you killed her because she stood up against your tyranny! She was a human, she’s better

in that crazy cult–like prison, she did what was right. Sadness chilled my core in thought about her unfortunate fate.

the beast. Blinking back my tears, I steadied my labored breathing, controlling the urge to leap from my seat and tear those

done?” Osiris asked,

I shook my head. “What’s the point in all of this? You brought me here and I deserve the right to know what your plans are with me. If

sorry pack, but your purpose is much greater than that. Why stop

A sudden thought struck my head, remembering the stories and reports trailing back several months. “Are you the one responsible for the recent destruction of

from my seat, glaring at him

is with Zircon, but you’ve destroyed other packs

48–Questions and Answers

is why you’ll help me cleanse the world of them.” My

sensation of uneasiness settling in as Osiris

power hose hounds, but