Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 76 – Artemis

“I feel like a part of my soul has loved you since the beginning of everything. Maybe we’re from the same star.” Emery Allen

Artemis

The heart is a delicate organ. Floods of blood shot through it in a life–sustaining cycle, and it made me feel both alive and dead at the same time. What many cannot understand is that the heart is also a part of a chain, connecting its life force to another. Forged bonds and soul ties attach themselves to the crimson bodies of two beating hearts, connecting those individuals beyond the visceral. Bonds are created between people, animals, and emotions. The heart serves a grander purpose beyond sustaining life, and the visceral pain of when one bond is severed is unimaginable.

My heart hurts. The bond it treasures the most is nothing more than a flickering lightbulb unable to handle its burial under pitch–blackness. Imprisoned just like me, frantic to cling onto the spec of light keeping it alive. But the darkness is intelligent and conniving. Malevolent whispers bombard my ears like a bully’s torment while tightening the reigns around the gilded cage Halima trapped me in. There was no escape,

Pathetic.

Useless.

Pitiful.

I couldn’t cover my ears. The dark was too loud. Air was knocked out of my lungs, the area enclosing around

1. me. It wanted me to die.

Failure.

Well, I did fail. My beloved Kiya surrendered to darkness, and it was my job to safeguard her heart and soul. Together, we fought the demons lingering in the corners of her mind daily. I’m her anchor and her guardian. If the human strays, the wolf pulls them back into the light because we can’t bear to lose them. As much as Kiya needed me, I needed her as well.

Alone in the darkness, punished by being unable to hear the rich melody of her voice summoned a broken howl from the ocean of my despair. My body shook from the chill of her absence and the silence reckoning in my mind was murderous. I wanted Kiya. I needed Kiya.

I…I miss her so much.

With every attempt I made to reach her, I met an impassable block. Once, twice, thrice; I never stopped trying to connect with her, ignorant to the looming fear that Kiya might be lost to me. Are we lost to Selene as well?

Growling with tears blotting my vision, I threw my body at the steel–like bars for the thousandth time like at ball in a batting cage. My body ached, my bones ached, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting to Kiya. The darkness snickered, enjoying the spectacle of a caged animal attempting to escape. Snickers grew to echoing laughter, advising me to give up the fight.

I admit, shamefully, that surrendering had crossed my mind a few times when the darkness and the pain became too much. One could only withstand this amount of horror for so long before it destroys them. But

1/5

I’m not like anyone else. I refused to give up, so if that meant breaking my body until I’m out, then I never needed my bones, anyway!

And I was rewarded for my efforts.

High above me, as I recovered from my recent hurdle, a strip of white light broke through the darkness. Shaped like an angel with celestial wings. Rippling laughter fell to silence. The light warmed a patch of my fur, and it uttered three basic words that revitalized the lambent hope in my heart.

Don’t give up!

The light grew bigger and suddenly I was cased in warmth from all angles–from the tip of my ears to my paws, repairing my injured soul and invigorating my determination. Over time, the light intensified by the familiar warmth of two people, doubling in size. At that moment was when I felt the fleeting sparks of the sacred bond. The missing piece of my heart. I grabbed onto the fading sensation, growling with newfound hope.

Now, anything was possible!

on, Kiya! I’m

try, the door swung open, and I rolled out like a log. Finally! The light

black as it gradually took over the area again. I’m stuck in the dark once more, but not before reaching my destination. The

I pounded my paws against the ice as hard as I could, more cracks sprouting from the impact. “I’m here! I’m coming!” After a couple more hits, the ice shattered and separated, revealing the murky waters rippling underneath.

bond were my guide, pulling me to where my human was. The waters threatened to consume me as it did to Kiya, grabbing onto my legs, but I pulled away. I’m not a victim and will never be a

Halima clinging around her torso, swinging her legs as she struggled against the tangible black hands pulling her deeper in the black. I padded faster than I ever done before and when I got close enough to Kiya; I bit on the collar of her shirt and swam

with me.

who shook in the woman’s arms. I barred my teeth in a wolfish grin when I searched for any injuries on Kiya’s person, only to find none. She’s here! She’s alive! She… she’ll

a:

beautiful brown eyes held my own, a small smile awakening on her face as she panted. Her hand reached

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Chapter 76 – Artemis

when a dark hand broke through the icy surface of the black pond and grabbed hold of Kiya’s legs. Halima shrieked and Kiya screamed as they were

“Artemis!”

Kiy

Artemis burned my throat as I used one arm

my arm, teeth sinking deep into my

forward, my limbs screaming for relief. Blood dripped from my arms from the wounds she created with her teeth, but I didn’t mind. I found comfort in

my guardian angel, fought as hard as she could for me. Her growls saturated with determination and resolve echoed through the space between us. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. After I surrendered into the darkness, she shot out like a

back into her.

deserve her.

Let. You. Go!” She shouted through her snarls. I know she wouldn’t, even when I gave

seemed hopeless until

underneath Artemis‘ paws and coiled around her limbs. Balls of light danced with the strands of her snowy fur like lovers on the dancefloor before sinking into her flesh, steadily transforming her into a silver silhouette. Artemis, catching on

a wolf shifted into the outline of

from the pond. The hand slackened its hold and retreated to its domain after ribbon of light shot at it

at Halima to see she is

instead of black and piercing blue eyes instead of brown. Everything else, from the shape of the nose to

the deep wounds decorating my skin. Blues reflected in gentle sadness as I allow her soothing touches to trace around the cuts. Sitting up

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Chapter 76–Artemis

in hushed awe, perching

sorry…” She said, thumbs wiping the blood away. “I didn’t mean to hurt you

an

her lips. She cupped my cheeks, gentle

neck. Tears dripped down my cheeks again, falling onto her shoulder. Artemis chuckled, returning the hug but squeezing me tight, rubbing her cheek on the top

I separated, I look down to see Halima lingering less than a foot from us, averting her gaze from us with her bear in her arms. Uneasiness perfumed out

a hug.” She whispered, bowing her head. “You’re mad at me because

voice tugged at my heartstrings. I scooted to her, our knees touching. My hand gripped her shoulder, urging her to look up at me. Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes as she awaited my response. Was I angry at her? No.

her desires were always denied. Trapped in a blackened world with only a teddy bear to talk to, it was the perfect recipe for Osiris to manipulate her. He manipulated me because Halima is me. I

“I’m not angry at you,

you telling