Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 68 – Playtime

“Pleasure is sweetest when ‘tis paid for by another’s pain” – Ovid

Lady Sanguine

The essence saturating my former parents” room flooded my mind with memories freed from their burial chambers. Memories of hiding under their bed to spook them fresh out of the shower or drenching my clothes in Ashley’s expensive perfume. My childlike innocence lingering in the corners of the teal walls, fading away to nothingness. There’s no question that I loved Ashley and Steven–they were my world, my role models, and my protectors rolled into one. A part of my heart still aches for them; a relic of my younger years that wished for them to call me their Princess again.

But they stripped their princess of her crown because of their cowardliness.

I hated this ache. Dull. Bothersome. Gripping the hilt of my bloodied blade, I had the choice to carve it out of my chest or eliminate the source. Who am I if I didn’t choose the latter? It is why I’m here, isn’t it?

A sparkle suddenly flashed in my peripherals. I turn to the black vanity table ornamented with jewelry and framed family pictures. The magnetic pull of the sparkle drew me to a gold necklace resting in a small box lined with black velveteen, glittering underneath the fluorescent lighting.

My eyes bulged out of their sockets. It wasn’t an ordinary gold necklace. Hooked around the bail was a bumblebee pendant with its wings spread. I picked it up by the pendant to flip it over, fingers running over the engraving.

“To our little Honeybee.”

“I’m not a little bee! I’m a big bee!” A voice echoed in my head, loud and proud. Tears pricked my eyes as 1 remembered how I got this necklace. My Sth birthday.

“You’ll always be our little bee, Hali.” Ashley replied with overflowing love. I can feel her hands smoothening out my wild curls. “Even if you become a big bee, you’ll be the queen of the hive!”

“I won’t get a king? Why isn’t there a king bee?”

“Because the queer

queen doesn’t need a man at her side.” Steven chuckled before poking my nose, making me squeal. “No man is good enough for my baby girl, let alone to be her king.”

“Ah, love, you’ll eat those words when she gets older! Her mate is somewhere out there, waiting for her.”

“Ew!” I cringed, sticking out my tongue. “That means kissing. Gross! You and Daddy do it all the time. Aren’t you scared of cooties?”

“Adults don’t get cooties, baby girl.”

“They must get something, then.”

“They get babies.” Raina butted in, earning a push on her shoulder from Ashley, laughing. “Can’t we eat some cake now? I’m dying here!”

“It’s my cake!” I stuck my tongue out at my older sister. She retaliated the same way, squinting her eyes. the queen bee today and what I say goes!”

“What do you say then?”

“Time for cake!”

“I’m

resonate agony. I grabbed my chest with my free hand and tried to breathe through the pain. I hated it! How

on the ground and crushed the bee beneath my heel. Broken memories will stay broken. No matter

pay for what they did to me, no

out of my hands, hitting a distant wall.

“How dare you!”

my knees against

grip tightening around my wrists. “This isn’t the way to

is innocent! I’ll kill everyone if it’s

continued to thrash and kick. Ashley’s sickening voice entered my ears in a twisted melody. “Think about what you’re doing, Honeybee! Can you live with yourself knowing you hurt other people? Listen to us

You tore off my wings and left me for dead!” Surrendering into my red–hot rage, I freed a leg from her grasp and kicked Ashley in her chest, launching her into a wall. Literally. She slid to the ground in a painful heap and I bashed the back

an old

them out of my life! They’ve been allowed to live for too long, but it’s time

sins? Your

my marionette. Impenetrable black filled the room where only my eyes pierced the opaque fog. Choking echoed through the horrid atmosphere; strips of black wrapping around Ashley and Steven’s necks like snakes to their prey, lifting their bodies

the anthem of breaking glass

2/5

65 – Maytime

on the ground, oblivious of the next stage of my vengeance. Chaos ruled the

dream; to have their prey helpless underneath their preeminence. The anticipation of knowing they have the power to dictate if they live or die is glorious! I’m hopelessly

another fix.

not, here

Mama after she feels her mate bond die. Unable to contain my maddening giggles, I leaped into the air and descended to the ground like a dark angel descending from the murky corners of heaven.

out of the way and escaped into the forest in a frenzy. Giggling, I rose on my heels and followed them, relishing in each panicked step and sob of terror. This must

Dying won’t be that bad, I promise!”

and in darkness, I thrive! They were slippery ones; escaping my grasp whenever they are able, but I’m a stubborn mule. I

Her golden eyes examined me, full of silent emotion. For that moment, my bloodlust vanished, and my attention was all on my precious owl. Her presence surrounded me in a dome of pristine

illusion? How can a bird create

“Diana…?”

held. Diana is a special bird; I always knew that. But this was different. I felt safe. The chaotic background noise drowned into silence as I tailed the

cooed softly, tilting her head curiously. Our dynamic is so strange; natural predator and

her. So

reaching out to touch her. I wanted to feel the softness of her feathers and hear her sweet hoots of happiness.

Chapter 68–Maytime

her. My entire body

Wistful. Powerful. The rich melody perforated holes in the darkness and opened the gateways for much–needed clarity.

up, Kiya!” The voice boomed. “You can fight this! I believe in you!”

to speak, but my throat dried up. I couldn’t find the words.

untouched for many years. Diana hobbled onto my thighs and rubbed her head against my torso, but her touch felt like fire. Pitiful whimpers escaped my lips and my fingers dug into my scalp to combat the impounding headache. My head pounded like a jackhammer to concrete as Diana’s touch became a warrior and fought against the

didn’t have time to appreciate it as a storm of black penetrated the illusionary white dome Diana created. Angry, the black focused on my bird. I hugged Diana, protecting her with every fiber of our being with my pain–wracked body. She nestled into

“Don’t touch her!”