Page 47 of Alpha Power

"Wait, wait!" She gripped his arm with her other hand and dug her heels in. "What about the Wards?"

He continued walking, her attempts to stop him non-existent. "As long as you're touching me, you'll be fine."

She wasn't so sure about that. These Wards were placed specifically to keep her people, shifters, out.

She felt the magic surrounding them, lingering in the air. Wards on every side of the building with several Glamour spells laced intricately within. She highly doubted anyone would be able to see the place unless they were meant to. They were powerful spells, enough to make the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

The second her foot touched the stone porch, magic pulsed from their joined hands, making them glow a faint red. She clasped his hand tighter and clenched her teeth as the magic worked its way through her body and then fizzled into nothing.

"See, I told you," he winked.

She scowled at him.

The large wooden door swung open when they approached, the hinges creaking in protest. A black-haired female vampire stood in the entryway, wearing a tight-fitting blue dress and six-inch hooker heels.

"My Lord!" She squealed, bowing at the waist. "Welcome back, Sire. Will it just be your usual room tonight?"

"Not tonight, Allora. Just a table for two in the Aviary."

Her blue eyes flicked to Zamorra, as if she only just noticed her presence. She looked hesitantly at Luther. "Um, my Lord-"

"The table Allora, now."

She straightened and immediately nodded. "Yes Sire. Please, follow me."

Luther put his hand on the small of Zamorra's back and ushered her inside.

The scent of blood, sex and sweat instantly flooded her senses. Screams of ecstasy, pleasure and pain coming from all directions and bombarding her with the intensity of a red, hot fire. It was dark, the only light in the foyer coming from the candles in the chandelier and the sconces on the walls. There was a lounge room to her left, another to her right, both occupied by vampires in the middle of a feeding.

Humans were bound by chains, laid out on tables like sacrificial lamb. Their bodies were covered head to toe in cuts, blood pooling in buckets underneath them and overflowing onto the floor. Frightened eyes locked onto her like she would be their salvation, whimpers of pain escaping their bound lips and their faces contorted in agony.

Vampires lined the walls, waiting their turn for the offering, fangs descended and eyes blazing red. They didn't notice her presence, too preoccupied with their bleeding prey.

Zamorra frowned. "They could at least compel them to not be frightened," she whispered as they walked on.

"They prefer the scent of fear. It has a certain. . .taste," Luther replied, not even giving the room a glance.

“Lovely."

Allora led them through the house, passing more rooms identical to the first few, and into a formal dining area. It was filled with more vampires, all sitting at tables and eating dinner like they were at some five-star restaurant. The whole thing was incredibly mundane and bizarre to her, especially since there was a bloodbath going on right next door. She felt as if she were in an episode of The Twilight Zone or some other weird, twisted dimension.

When they stepped in, conversation stilled. There was an audible gasp of shock, and cutlery clinked as it was dropped in surprise. Chairs scraped along the floor, vampires trying to turn their seats to get a look at who just walked in and caused such a commotion.

"They're staring at us," she whispered, eyes darting around the room.

A sea of red eyes stared back, their displeasure at having a shifter in their midst plain as day.

"No, they're staring at you," Luther murmured, tugging on a lock of her hair.

She tried to swat his hand away. "Would you quit that?" She hissed.

Hushed voices reached her ears, laced with anger and contempt.

"What's a shifter doing here?"

"Is he crazy? How could he bring one of thosethingsinto DeVos?"

"I told you he was losing his edge."

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