Untouchable by Marii Solaria

hapter 77 Choice

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“You make choices that are good and sound, but the gods have other plans for you.” – Lisa See

Neron

un with

Oxygen forced itself into my lungs in a successful attempt to arouse me from unconsciousness. I woke up a startled gasp, along with the throbbing pain in the back of my head. My vision swirled with dark, indescribable colors as I rubbed the tender spot, aching for relief. Scrunching up my nose at the foul stench of death and blood assaulted my nostrils, the frigid air billowing around my form nipped at my naked flesh. It wasn’t natural to go from burning under the torrid sun to shivering under the ruthless cold.

The last thing I remembered was Lady Sanguine tackling me and falling backward into a shadowy mass that knocked me into oblivion. However, once my vision cleared, I took in the surroundings that had the power to make the strongest men quiver in the knees.

in a cell. A dirtied, fetid cell with rusted chains hanging from the walls with no windows for the sweet solace of the light. The air carried the essence of past prisoners, their haunting spirits wailing before falling into a deafening silence. Ghosts of the past were warning me to proceed with caution, for things aren’t what they seem here.

Lady Sanguine brought me here. This meant that I was far from my teammates and alone in an unknown place that could end up as my grave. I couldn’t ignore the heavy chills barreling down my spine as I rose on my feet, groaning at the tender back and muscle aches pulsating around me. The prison bars stood in front of me, posing as either my escape or my seal. Walking toward it, I grasped a bar simply to retract when audible sizzling echoed, my hand screaming in pain.

“Fuck!” I cursed, gripping my wrist. “Silver!” Lady Sanguine went the extra mile to ensure I wouldn’t get the chance to make an escape. The pain subsided after a minute, but my anger didn’t. She won’t keep me in here like a caged dog! I raised the hem of my shirt to my teeth and tore some fabric out to act as my shield for the

bars.

It isn’t much, but it’ll do.

Wrapping the torn fabric around the bars, I grasped it again and gave it a good shake. Clicking and clanking from the lock alerted me that the bars were unlocked this entire time. Part of me was elated, but the other

was suspicious. My eyes narrowed when I slid the bars open with ease, my heart picking up pace. One foot over the threshold and I’m out.

This was too easy. There is no way in hell Lady Sanguine would forget to lock the gates. I grew uneasy at the prospect of this becoming another trap. But trap or not, I need to find the woman in black.

“Be careful, Neron.”

Onyx warned. “Thone:

no telling what is lurking in the shadows.”

I slipped out of my prison into the echoing hallway, illuminated by flickering torches hanging on the walls. Prisons stood on either side of me, separated by a thick brick wall coated in muck and grime. The dark ambience added to the deathly mystery and darkness, obscuring its horrors in a haze of black. To think that Kiya was roaming these halls made me sick to my stomach.

Her bright and beautiful soul didn’t belong here.

175

Walking through the dungeon halls brought back repressed memories of when I’d go down to the prisons

only friend, urging me to do the worst, to mend the pain of losing Mom and Nuria, Slams of the prison doors bombarded my

heels and run. This place, albeit different, reminded me of the monster I previously was. But what if that monster was still alive? What if it is just waiting for its moment

Because I needed to find Kiya buried deep in Lady

speed, I came across Ashley and Steven in two separate prison cells, bleeding. Their haggard breathing echoed

were carved

relief washed over her dark eyes as she sobbed.

her to the wall only to have her shake her head. “Don’t touch them! They’re made of silver.” From her raw and

I asked, kneeling away from the pool of blood. “Can

you?”

baby girl, S–She came here to “vent‘ out her frustrations and started cutting me up with her knife. She did the same

brown skin. Every cut, deep and superficial, told a story of how much fury

is what she did to us. There is no telling what she could do to you if she has the opportunity. I…I don’t

narrowed my eyes, frowning. “Are you telling me to give up

kills you!” She huffed, her body trembling in spontaneous pain. “Nothing we say will make her see reason. I’m her mother and I can’t reach her heart, and neither can her father. I don’t know what else to do. When she comes

growled, fists clenching. “It is shameful that you’re just going to give up on Kiya like this. That got us into this mess. You

her is absolute,

Chapter 77 Choice

her wounds, soaking her clothes in crimson. “What else do you think we should do? Because, from the looks

Kiya to the darkness because she isn’t lost. I saw her true self sprout with Nikolai and Lyra–she is fighting to get out. If Kiya is fighting her

She may

to you, but not me.” I snarled at the woman who flinched. “Giving up on your daughter means

Ashley fell into a fit of coughs once again, her breathing laboring. Fuck! Both she and Steven needed medical attention, but there is no way to get

to check

her blood. “We’re connected through mind–link, remember? That is our only solace in this madness, Neron.” I nodded, scratching a to–do off the list. “When Kiya and Osiris brought us here, they took

the words to do so. Giving up on Kiya might be her and Steven’s prerogative, but it isn’t mine. Once this craziness settles and I get Kiya back, I’ll work on getting them the help

prisons darkened significantly the further I ran down, the light of the torches snuffed out with only a wisp of smoke to commemorate its memory. Shadows lurking in

his blood billowed out of a grand, solid prison door with a miniature window peeking into the interior. There were torches inside his cell, flickering like a lightbulb but illuminating his face

The s

catching onto my scent. Once his eyes found mine, his pale blues widened with shock as I

had guts and gashes, but Dad

I’m here

You need to get the hell out of here, son!” Dad shouted with the miniscule strength he had left in his body that wasn’t zapped from his festering wounds.

fierce blow to the back of my head knocked me straight to

3/5

Chapter 3) – Chrice

vanilla, instead of lulling me into peace, burned my nose. It was no longer sweet, clear that Kiya had changed. Mixed in her scent was the blood from Steven, Ashley, and my

cruel cackle cracked the deafening silence of the prison cell as clacking of heels resounded next to me. It made my skin crawl. “It is a pleasure

against the wall by the hip with her knife in one hand and a teddy bear In another, blood smeared on her skin. Her sinister grin stretched across her face, evil glistening in

eyes.

a prison akin to the one you