Visitor

I text Michael really quick, before going next door to see the pixy family, asking him what Shifters he has had a run in with and if he knows any that have one green and one gold eye. This Shifter bugged me. I've only encountered one ran face to face  before, and that was the time I first ever lost the Other I was protecting, an Other that I was in love with, a love that cost him his life.

Hearing the sweet chimes of the baby Pixie through the door made me smile. It reminded me there's still innocence in this world. I knocked softly hoping not to startle her and the door creaked open at first and I came face to face with a flying little swarm of fury. I was so startled I backed up and almost fell into the elevator door.

"Crist, stop it, its Cashes guest!! Show some restraint!" Hearing the sound of Robins voice, I realized this must be her husband that was attempting to assault me. I had to stifle a laugh.

The little buzzing ball of spite was no bigger than my hand and armed with what resembled a sewing needle, but I knew better, one prick and I'd have the dry heaves for days. Pixie poison generally isn't deadly but it can be obnoxious to anyone unlucky. They were masters of botany.

"Well Robin, how do you know its his guest? It may be that Shifter, thinking we's fools! Let's stab it, and see what happens! I'll tell Cash I tripped." Now would not be the most appropriate time to laugh but the tiny buzzing words of bravado just got to me and I couldn't hold it in any more. My sudden outburst seemed to stop him in his tracks.

"I am definitely not a shifter, take a feel of my aura if you must" I said grinning. This was always the fun part. Cash had tried and even had to ask what I was. He never got a straight answer, from me, anyway.

I felt the little Pixie send out his aura then pull back quickly. Auras can't be hurt by Others but if something feels nasty, you don't want to linger too long. Mine didn't feel nasty, but it was confusing.

"You aren't a shifter, but you aren't human either, what in Almighty's sake are you?" the male pixy asked me.

"I'm Ayda, nice to meet you." I didn't elaborate as to what I was, but the palm sized male pixy didn't inquire further.

"Ah, Ayda, I heard from Cash, so now we know." Shrugging as he said that he backed up a bit by the door.

"Sorry if I scared you, I wanted to see if you or Robin could tell me a bit about Cash." Asking would hopefully work, I didn't want to seem too nosey, but getting information out of the wolf was like pulling fangs.

The Pixie waved at me to come in and when I entered, I felt like I just walked into a forest of flowers.  Their home was very intricately decorated with plants and vines cascading along the walls, a very shaggy grassy looking carpet covered the floors. The smell flowers came from all directions as pots of them aligned shelves. I also smelt the herbs, I glanced at the kitchen to seen dozens of tiny pots growing thyme, lavender, basil, you name it, it was probably there. When I was a child, this is what I imaged Others were meant to be. All Earthy and going with the flow if life. Creating it, not destroying it.

On the carpet in the middle of the small living room played a sweet looking baby girl, drooling on her foot. I caught Robins gaze as she was sitting next to her baby on the floor, there was a bit of worry but curiosity in her gaze. I smiled and gave her a nod.

"Sorry to intrude, would you mind telling me a bit about the big bad wolf next door?"  She nodded and laughed.

"Big, yes, bad? Not really my dear, he has a tender heart." Her response shocked me, but she was a pixy, they are sensitive to those kinds of things.

"He works in his late father's building, Cornell Plaza. He's the Chief Executive there. He usually gets home around 7 at night I believe. Why do you ask?" She was trusting enough, so I gave her the short version of what's going on, little did I know she was about answer some the questions that have been bugging me since I met Cash.

"Oh dear, I knew that was going to happen. I believe that his name is Leif, he is Cash's half-brother, and since their father died, it's been an uphill battle as to who claims Cornell Plaza. If I am right, with the circle of gossip one gets at the Garden, everything was left to Cash, except Leifs position." She seemed deep in thought after tell me this, so Crist, the feisty little male fairy took over explaining.

"Leif was to stay as the West City Alpha. There was a declaration of sorts, that no one could challenge the Alpha as long as either Leif or Cash were alive. This way neither one could have ultimate power of West City. It sounds like Leif wants to control Cash so he can control West City completely."

After hearing all this from Robin and Crist, so many things made sense, Cash's disdain for the pack, the need to be alone. His nasty temper, though that could be natural. It was almost saddening that family issues had to cause a wolf to stay away from joining a pack. Then a thought occurred to me, if Leif keeps his position as Alpha as long as Cash stays alive, then why did he put a hit on him? This, ladies and gentleman, was a question I did not get answer to, yet.

I didn't realize I had walked over to crouch down and pat the precious little one laying down by her momma's lap. Smiling at her, I mused that only if life could be as simple sticking your toes in your mouth. She reached up and grabbed my hand, I felt a twinge of power in that little hand that zapped my crouch into a butt plant. She just looked at me with her fair skin and happy blue eyes. I ginned, a handful you will be, I thought to myself and stood up.

"Thanks for everything, it answered a lot of questions. Something doesn't make sense though, why would his brother do something that would jeopardize his own position?" saying this as I looked at Robin, she shrugged.

"I am not sure either, but there may be more to it, that's all I really know dear." I nodded at her response, then glanced around to find Crist sitting on the kitchens small island snacking on a flower.

"Don't look at me lass, I stay out of the gossip and prefer to keep my home company." I laughed at his matter-of-fact response and waved them all goodbye closing the door lightly behind me. At that moment I could feel Reggie coming up the stairs.

"The elevator broke? I stood there for 10 minutes waiting and it never would go up. Weird." I looked at her when she said this, distracted by her bohemian skirt, dreads and millions of bracelets of all makes and models hugging her wrist. She's such a hippy, but the nicest one I know.

"Not sure, I know the Shifter used it when he left, it was working then? That is weird." I responded finding it odd but pointless, something I'd regret later. Reggie just gave me an odd look and shrugged.

"Well, here's your bag, and I threw in some other things in there you might need, a couple spell satchels, a knife and some garlic." I rolled my eyes.

"Grateful as always love, I just need to grab my phone and change, then I'll head out with you." speaking my appreciation I threw in some air kisses. Laughing and waving me on as I went to grab my phone, I felt better seeing her.

Checking my phone after I went in, I had 1 text message and 1 missed call. The text was from Michael, telling me no on the Shifter, and he was a poor pop idol that had wardrobe changing between sets, and its ridiculously unnecessary. I rolled my eyes, how is an Angel that's old as Heaven so useless and whiney?

The missed call was restricted so I chalked it up to being spam. I threatened the last spam caller that I knew someone who could make him fart frogs for the rest of his life, so I would have thought they'd stop calling.

I shrugged it off as I fished through the bag of cloths for pants, a tank and a hoodie. After dressed back to normal, I slipped on my stained sneakers and headed back out Cash's apartment door.

Reggie was sitting on the step scrolling through her social media. Most likely looking for fortunes to sell. I started to muse if now would be a good time for her to read mine. Nah, I'd most likely get the whole 'I see someone tall dark and furry in your future.' No thanks, I prefer solitude and work.

I decided to get Carlos's number from her, once I get Cash to agree, we still needed a place to hang out while I get help dissolving the hit.

"Any luck?" I nodded at her phone as she looked up, she just shook her head.

"Things have been quiet, and I get more spam on my social media then I do my emails now a days. Ready?" She sounded wistful with her reply. She had told me business was slow lately, guess it's worse then I thought. She got paid by humans in money, but with Others, it was always favors owed.

"Yea, guess so. I'll keep the bag here, and just head to his work. Not sure how I am going to do this, if he is as popular as you say, it may be a bit tricky getting in to even snap at him for going in the first place." responding I started to think maybe I should just call in a bomb threat to the place, knowing how stubborn he is, I doubt he'd worry about a little bomb though. I shook my head at the tasteless idea and thought about other ways as we headed down the stairs.