Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 2 – Home Sweet Home

“Home is everything you can walk to.“– Jerry Spinell

Kiya

on the

Saying goodbye to my students was the toughest thing I had to do. The joys and stress they’ve brought me during the school year were lessons and memories I’d never forget. In my heart, I knew they’ll take fourth grade with greatness. Having the privilege to watch those kids grow academically and socially warmed my big heart.

Summer was here, and it was time for me to head back to Garnet Moon.

I drove up to the curb after leaving the elementary school for the last time. Once parked, I stepped out of the cool interior to a blistering exterior. The sun was unforgiving today, and the warm breeze didn’t help! As much as I loved San Jose, being cooked alive for three months wasn’t on my list of plans.

I entered the three–story apartment building on the quest of retrieving my two priceless treasures. There wasn’t anyone I trusted in taking care of them other than my downstairs neighbors, also Garnet Moon. members, but living outside the pack lands. Did I mention Anthony bought this building? Nothing lives in my mind rent–free than living in my apartment rent–free!

My footsteps echoed on each stair until I reached the second floor, walking up to a door with a plaque that read ‘Fernandez‘ underneath the viewing hole. Grinning, I knocked three times and waited. I heard minor shuffling from inside until the door swung open to reveal an older lady wearing a painfully bright pink apron with her pale brown hair tied into a bun. Her brown eyes crinkled with her smile, yanking me into a sharp hug.

“You’re back so soon, Kiya!” The woman said, patting my back. “Must you take them back now?”

“I have to, Elena. But, I always know that you take good care of my babies whenever I’m working. Now, they must come back to their mother!”

They st

should stay a little longer with grandma…” She whimpered, pursing out her bottom lip. I let out a giggle before walking over the threshold of Elena’s apartment. The delicious smell of beef and spices immediately assaulted my nose, making my stomach growl like a ravenous bear. “Sounds like you also need to stay a bit with grandma!”

“Well, if you’re offering to feed me, how could I say no?” I laughed, entering the small, sunlit living room with pictures hung on the walls. Elena and her husband, Luiz, lived here to be closer to their children and grandchildren who moved into the city. Mom and Dad knew them very well, as they were high school friends. Anthony was kind enough to purchase the apartment building, so they didn’t have to worry about rent. Once I moved in to complete my schooling, I knew I was getting a taste of home from the elderly couple. They’ve helped me so much and I couldn’t repay them.

Once I sat on the soft, ash–colored loveseat, tiny patters of feet approached me at Mach speed. My babies pounced on my lap and began licking my fingers, wiggling their shaggy tails in my nose. “Ebony! Ivory! Hello

to you, too!”

My black bombay and white ragdoll cats meowed in unison, rubbing their heads in my palms as I pet them.

Chapter 2 – Home Sweet Home

Finding these two in a dirty alleyway in the neighborhood was the day they changed my life forever. So small and helpless, they reminded me of myself before Mom and Dad adopted me. I couldn’t leave them alone, exposed to the evils of the world. Once they got healthy and had their vaccinations, they’ve become my children.

Elena and I chatted for a while over the delicious paella she was so kind to serve me. We talked about what is coming for the future, the pack, and my parents. She confided in me she missed the pack life but didn’t miss the incessant noise of children bouncing off the walls and the battles against rogues. That we both could

relate to.

After lunch, I carried my cats back to my apartment on the third floor. They ran through the floors once I opened the door, finding their beds and nestling in them like the pampered princesses they were. I was blessed to not have a pair of cats who needed continuous attention or else they’d scratch up the minimalist furniture in my tiny living room. Once I settled in, I took a well–needed shower and hopped into a pair of pajamas while I tossed my hair into a cotton shirt to dry.

As much as I loved my apartment, I missed my family. The joys of having my abode didn’t compare to being surrounded by constant love and affection, but there was a certain allure to being alone and self–sufficient that I’d never take for granted. I could walk around naked in my apartment with no one saying a damn thing.

Artemis made her presence known while I grabbed the hamper filled with dirty laundry. Judging from the tense aura she gave off; I knew she wanted to talk to me about something. “Artemis? What is it?”

“I can’t get over what happened at the museum the other day.” She responded with a heavy sigh. I admit, it has been bothering me too. Walking to my portable washing machine, I played the event over in my mind as I tossed my clothes inside. “Nothing like that has happened since…”

“I know,” I responded, watching the clothes spin after dumping an ample amount of soap. “I’m trying not to think about it too much. I don’t want to ruin the peace I have.”

“I get it, Kiki. However, I don’t believe in coincidences. Walking into an exhibit and getting attacked by a snake spirit? Not to mention that there weren’t any witnesses to corroborate our story. What if

Osiris is-”

Artemis!” I shouted, slamming my fist on top of the dryer. The sinking feeling in my chest made it painful. to breathe. With one shaky sigh after another, I tried my best to get rid of my pooling anxiety. “He’s dead. There’s no way he

think it was a

through my hair as I leaned against the wall by my hip. I put the whole Osiris fiasco behind me for the sake of my healing. Sometimes

peace. Nothing interfered with my ability to finish school and work, and life was back to normal for me. No avatar madness, no supernatural attacks, or anything else of the sort. Phoebe and Violetta fell into their normalcy afterward as

Home Sweet

no impending doom. My life was

in the dryer and carried them back to my room once they were done. While folding my clothes on my bed, a heavy feeling settled in the

I’m sorry for yelling at you like that. I’m not angry with you and if I made you feel that way, I’m

angry, but concerned. I guess you can say I was also scared of

sorry. It’s just a lot

“Yeah, I do.”

shirt down and walked over to pick it up. It was a text message. When

Neron.

much time would pass without us talking to one another. My heart continued to race as my thumb lingered over

phone every chance

some courage, I pressed the preview and read what he had sent. I couldn’t stop the smile

your students! I hope

Artemis?

shouldn’t be too damn eager to text back, but my fingers had a mind of

I appreciate the congrats and Artemis is doing great! I’m preparing to move back home in a few days. How

NERON: Onyx–ing.

I couldn’t help but smile. She never voiced it because she wanted to keep a strong face, but I knew deep down she missed Onyx a lot. Onyx and she couldn’t be any more different from one another, but somehow, they meshed well together. I felt like the bad guy for robbing her of that experience because of my problems; always waiting for me to

will. I just wasn’t sure when or if I’m ready to

and more. I’d forgotten about the laundry and the

16

Home Sweet

from Ebony pawing at my ankle,

Crazy.

hungry. The most vocal out of my cats. I laughed and rubbed her head. I sent Neron a quick text, telling him I had to

my cats.

just finish packing

Bags? Packed.

Cats? Secured.

Gas tank? Full.

for me to head

wildly with my curls as I blasted “Whatever it Takes‘ by Imagine Dragons on the radio. Every building I passed melted into a blur of browns and whites, and every person the same. So many great memories happened in San Jose, and

like the angels they were, they sat and groomed themselves in their cat

the redwood trees tickled my nostrils, the scent of my hearth. My car entered a sea of pale reds blooming under the blistering sun, bathing the forest floor with. lights unmatched to flames. I loved it. I felt Artemis

warriors training. I grinned; nothing had changed. Parking my car in the garage, I stepped out into the diesel-

“Tia! You’re back!”

squeezes around my waist, her Alpha strength was coming in rather too quickly. A smaller body followed behind her, a beautiful boy with cute cheeks and curly brown hair clouding his equally brown eyes. He giggled and latched himself onto my other leg, rubbing

Home sweet home.

outside and offered to take my suitcases and my cats inside the pack house, considering the children refused to leave my

Chapter

to the front entrance, passing by the training grounds. If Ximena and Alessandro were here, that meant their parents wouldn’t be too

her eyes. “Mama and Papa should be here soon. Do you

Do you know where