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-”

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 could

don’t think it was a

back of my mind. Groaning, I ran a hand through my hair as I leaned against the wall by my hip. I put the whole Osiris fiasco behind me for the sake

in that exhibit could just be a post–traumatic flashback manifesting in that snake game. Snakes were disgusting. For the past three years, I had nothing but peace. Nothing interfered with my ability to finish school and work, and life was back to normal for me. No avatar

2 Home Sweet

doom. My life was peaceful, and it will stay that

done. While folding my clothes on my bed, a heavy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach from how I reacted to Artemis. I didn’t mean to respond so strongly like that. Regretfully, I

you like that. I’m not angry with

never angry, but concerned. I guess you can say I was also scared of our peace being interrupted. I tried to make sense of what happened, and

sorry. It’s just a lot to

“Yeah, I do.”

my attention. I set my shirt down and walked over to pick it up. It was a text message. When I saw who it was from the preview, my heart. rate picked up as I had

Neron.

race as my thumb lingered over the text preview, curious to know what he had sent me. Should I open it or not? Why the

chance she gets.

some courage, I pressed the preview and read what he had sent.

job with your students! I hope life has been treating you well since then. How

Artemis?

back, but my fingers had a mind of their own.

the congrats and Artemis is doing great! I’m preparing

NERON: Onyx–ing.

bark of laughter at the response and 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 will. I just wasn’t sure when or if

I’d forgotten about the laundry and the time that flew by in the blink of an eye because when I

16

2 Home Sweet

at my ankle, it

Crazy.

of my cats. I laughed and rubbed her head. I sent Neron a quick text, telling

my cats.

finish packing

Bags? Packed.

Cats? Secured.

Gas tank? Full.

for me to head

road back to Garnet Moon. Scrolling my window down, the wind danced 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 my heart missed the nostalgia

the angels they were, they sat

I made it onto the main road. The aroma of 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 growing antsy for a much–needed run on the territory. and I couldn’t wait for

in the garage, I stepped out into the diesel- fuel–scented heat when I was accosted by a smaller, yet strong body. A tuff of auburn hair greeted my eyes, but the

“Tia! You’re back!”

squeezing her in a hug. Ximena had grown into a formidable five–year- old, and from her tight 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 his

Home sweet home.

my cats inside the pack house, considering the children refused to

Chapter

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

her eyes. “Mama and Papa should

want to. Do you know where your Abuela and