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

dull ache graduated to a resonate agony. I grabbed my chest with my free hand and tried to breathe through the pain. I hated it! How could they love me one year and treat me like

stay broken. No matter how many feel–good memories

they did to me,

a body tackled mine to the ground. My blade flew out of my hands, hitting a distant wall. Nutmeg assaulted all my senses and my body roared to life for a

“How dare you!”

I howled, scratching my knees against the carpet.

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

kill everyone if it’s the last thing I do!”

I 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

kicked Ashley in her chest, launching her into a wall. Literally. She slid to the ground in a painful

an old man.

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

sins? Your repentance is

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

breaking glass blitzed the air without

2/5

65 – Maytime

writhed in pain outside on the ground, oblivious of the next

anticipation of knowing they have the power to dictate if they

another fix.

or not, here I come!”

I’ll kill Dear Ol‘ Dad first, then Sweet Mama after she feels her mate bond die. Unable to contain my maddening giggles, I leaped into the air and

of my blade finding its place in Steven’s skull, is buried in dirt. The couple rolled 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 be what stalkers feel like. Their fear and bloody aroma added to the excitement

on! Dying won’t be

When they escaped, I stalked them down. They forget that they’re in my domain. The moon rules in darkness and in darkness, I thrive! They were slippery ones; escaping my grasp whenever they are able, but I’m a stubborn mule. I don’t give up. I’m having way too much

it wasn’t jewelry. I followed the streak of light to spot Diana perched on a branch, haloed in pulsating silver. Her golden eyes examined me, full

can a

“Diana…?”

magic she held. Diana is a special bird; I always knew that. But this was different. I felt safe. The chaotic

light. When I got close enough, I slid to my knees, propping my blade in my thigh holster. My bird cooed softly, tilting her head curiously. Our dynamic is so strange; natural predator and prey, but we’re best friends. Was she an angel sent by Selene herself?

her. So

and hear her sweet hoots of happiness. She wasn’t frightened

Chapter 68–Maytime

her. My entire body froze in the

speared the darkness clouding my mind. Unexpected. Surreal. Wistful. Powerful. The rich melody perforated holes in the darkness and opened the gateways for much–needed clarity. Osiris

“You can fight this! I believe

but my throat dried up. I couldn’t find

and my fingers dug into my scalp to combat the impounding headache. My head pounded like a jackhammer to concrete as

the pain, my mind was clear for the first time in weeks. Rationale returned and my senses heightened. But I 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,

“Don’t touch her!”