Page 49 of Alpha Power

Humans on the other hand - well, most humans - didn't even know they existed, so they made the perfect prey for pixies.

Zamorra stared at the beautiful, mythical creatures floating in the air, green pixie dust trailing behind them as they flew higher and higher. They were tiny little things, no bigger than your average butterfly. Their wings were translucent and beat so fast you could barely see them with the naked eye, and they had tiny black horns atop their heads. With pointed ears, deep green eyes and flowing red hair, they were truly a sight to behold.

The entire room had been transformed for them, flowers and plants cascaded the walls, encasing them in a room full of greenery. All different kinds: daisies, roses, orchids, lilies, peonies, even fucking hydrangeas and a whole bunch more she had no knowledge of. She was pretty sure that some of the flowers weren't even supposed to bloom at this time of year, which only made this place feel even more magical. There were miniature fountains and waterfalls, and even tiny little houses that reminded her of the antique dollhouses she would see for sale on TV by some private collector.

Zamorra watched in amusement as pixies darted in and out of them, playing a game with one another. They were like miniature green people with wings and magic, flying around without a care in the world. If she could fly, she'd probably do the same.

"They're beautiful," she breathed in wonder. Zamorra raised her hand, running it through a cloud of pixie dust with a smile on her face. "What are they doing here?" She looked over her shoulder and couldn't help the snicker that escaped her lips.

Luther was covered head to toe in pixies, the tiny creatures climbing his body like a jungle gym, vaulting up and up like they were racing each other to see who could get to the top first. They clung to his clothes, some sitting down on his shoulders and on top of his head while others dangled from his ears and locks of his dark hair. Another group flew around him in a perfect circle, like they just wanted to be in his presence.

He swatted his hand through the air, trying to shoo them away, an annoyed look on his face. "We offered them sanctuary in exchange for their services. Pixies are one of the most hunted creatures in our community. Their ability to turn invisible has been highly sought after for centuries," he growled in frustration as he plucked the pixies from his body, only to have them return to exactly the same spot.

"And the vampires aren't interested in finding out how they do it either?" She asked, sceptically.

Mages probably wouldn't find much use for them, being able to cast Glamour spells was pretty much like being invisible anyway, but shifters, demons and vampires? Yeah, every single one would kill for that shit. Zamorra included.

She moved around the room, admiring the beauty that lay before her. Her werewolf was desperate to come out and play, to meet a pixie for the first time. It felt like she was clawing at Zamorra's skin like a loonie in a mental hospital, and it drove her mad. But Zamorra knew it wouldn't be wise to let her out, not with a room full of angry vampires next door. They would see a shift change as a form of attack; she was sure of it.

"At first, we were," Luther admitted. "But I came to realise there was a much better way to go about it. Pixies are happy to do things for you, as long as you give them something in return. They run odd little jobs for me every now and then and in exchange I offer them protection. They also get to play their silly little pranks on any of the guests in the house."

Zamorra laughed. "I'm sure your minions love that. How do you keep them from hurting them?"

"They know the rules. If any harm comes to the pixies, the punishment is death. I am a man of my word. If I offer protection, I mean it."

She studied him, the memory of Cade's death replaying in her mind. The sound of his flesh tearing, the squelch of his body breaking, and that rustic, metallic scent of his blood. It bombarded her all at once like a sensory flashback. "I know," she whispered.

Luther took a step towards her, shaking his body to try and dispel the pixies when a high-pitched wail went through the room, making her tense.

What was that?She asked her werewolf.Find it.

Power flooded her body, immediately heightening her senses. Her eyesight improved; her hearing sharpened. Everything in the room suddenly came into focus like she was looking through a giant magnifying glass. Tiny little features she hadn't noticed before suddenly bloomed before her; small, quiet voices reached her ears as pixies conversed around her.

There was another high-pitched sound, and this time Zamorra heard it for what it really was. A cry of pain. She honed in on the noise, blocking out all the other sounds and focusing solely on that heart-wrenching cry.

"What are you doing?" Luther called out as she ran through the room, searching. She realised then that he couldn't hear it. Vampires may be stronger and faster, but their senses couldn't compare to that of a shifter.

Zamorra vaulted past the mini fountains, waterfalls and all that plush greenery, heading straight for a replica house of the DeVos. She was positive it was coming from there.

Zamorra peeked inside, her heightened vision giving her the ability to see every minute detail. Three male pixies were on top of a female, holding her down while she screamed at the top of her lungs. One had her arms pinned to the floor, the other her legs, while the third was on top, ripping at her clothes.

Zamorra was stunned. They were trying to rape her!

"Hey!" She yelled, grasping the tiny house with both hands and giving it a firm shake. "Get off her!"

The male pixies froze, startled. The one ripping at the female's clothes looked at her through the tiny window.

"Yeah, you! I see you! No means no, you little shit!" She tried to push her hand through the small window, but it was too big.

She cursed and gripped the roof, ripping it straight off its hinges. The male pixies shrieked in surprise, turning invisible instantly and flying away in fear.

"Here, take this," she said, passing the roof to Luther. He frowned, confused, but took it.

Zamorra hopped up on her tippy toes to look inside. The female pixie was holding her tattered clothes to her body, green blood trailing down the side of her face. Her wings were crumpled, one bent at an odd angle, and she had scratch marks all over her tiny body.

Green eyes stared at her with confusion and then gratitude.

"It's okay," Zamorra said, softly. "They're gone."

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