The Source of Our Power: Chapter 7

Dear Brittany,

I hope you got my letter. Maybe Ms. Sylvester isn't letting you write to me for one reason or another, but I would love to hear from you if you can find a way. I miss you so much.

So Kurt and I kind of had a disastrous first night out in the field, and I pretty much had to be rescued, which is humiliating enough, but guess who swooped in to save me? Rachel freaking Berry. Apparently she's stationed in Westerville. Just my luck, huh? She and Schuester moved here from New York a couple of years ago because the demonic activity is getting heavy around here. Or at least that's what she says. I get the feeling that there is more to it than that.

I shouldn't complain. She did save me, after all, and Mr. Schuester is letting me practice with her while Kurt's injuries heal. He got kind of banged up and he can't exactly spar with me right now.

I should probably tell you that things are going much better with Kurt. I feel pretty bad about complaining to you about him in my last letter. He actually is a very good Watcher, and I think he likes me, which is definitely a relief.

And Brittany...I can't tell anyone else so I'm going to tell you. I like Kurt too. The trouble is that I think I'm starting to like him too much. I'm not sure what I should do.

I miss you. Write me back as soon as you can.

Love and Kisses,

Blaine xoxo

Dear Blaine,

I don't know why I haven't heard from you since that letter you sent me when you first got to Ohio. Things are getting weird here and I'm starting to get scared.

There's something wrong with my roommate. She isn't even young. I came back from class yesterday and there was this old lady – she must have been forty or something – standing in my room, and I saw her change back into Tammy (that's my roommate), and I didn't even say anything but she started screaming at me about how she isn't a witch and then Ms. Sylvester made me trim the matted hair on her miniature poodle's butt as punishment and I don't even understand what happened.

Little dogs have sharp teeth, Blaine. You should know that.

There have been all of these weird people around school lately, and this guy in a suit was talking to Ms. Crowley about how they aren't going to teach us defensive spellwork anymore, and she got really mad and now she's gone and there are no more spellwork classes and no one knows why, but if we ask anyone about anything we get in trouble.

And you know what's even weirder? There are security guards outside the school gates. With guns. Remember how Ms. Sylvester always said we didn't need guards because who's going to attack a school full of Slayers? And guns aren't allowed here anyway. But I'm afraid to ask her about it. She seems mad all the time lately. More than usual, I mean.

Please write back soon, Blaine. I miss you and I'm scared and something feels big and wrong here.

Love,

Brittany

xoxo

Dear Brittany,

I'm starting to get worried here, Britt. Surely you could at least have gotten someone to send a message for you if you're restricted from sending letters? Please let me know that you're all right. I just need to hear from you.

Love and Kisses,

Blaine

xoxo

Dear Blaine,

I'm scared. They locked me in the dungeon and I don't even know how I'm going to send this. I didn't mean to have a dream, Blaine. I didn't mean to.

But they know that I know because I'm not smart like you and I asked too many questions even though I was afraid of getting into trouble, and then I just told them what the lady told me in my dream and they locked me up.

I think they might kill me.

I can't tell you what the lady said right now because I'm not supposed to write it down. I wasn't even supposed to tell Tammy, but she kind of made me tell. She looked at me and she knew I had a secret and she made me tell even though I didn't want to. I don't understand how she did it if she's not a witch, but she did.

It's not just me, either. I'm alone in the dungeon but they aren't letting anyone leave school. The guards aren't there to keep us safe, Blaine, they're there to keep us trapped. I don't know why they're doing this to us.

I don't know how I'm going to get out of here and I don't know if you will ever get this, but keep Kurt safe. Keep him safe no matter what. You two are the most important people in the world right now, and if anything happens to either of you everything is going to go wrong. I don't think even Tammy knows how important you both are.

Say a prayer or make a wish for me on a star. I don't want to die.

I don't want to die because I'm too young and I haven't even met my vampire lover yet and there are so many things that I want to do. I can't die without seeing you again. I can't die without knowing you and Kurt are safe.

Stay safe. If I can figure out how to get out of here, I'm going to try and find you.

Love,

Brittany xoxo

Dear Brittany,

I think I am going to ask Kurt for a few days off to come and see you at school. I still haven't heard from you and I don't underst

"Blaine."

Blaine looked up from writing his letter to find both Kurt and Burt standing in the doorway of the kitchen wearing serious expressions.

"I need you to listen to this. Tell me if it rings any bells," Burt said. Blaine nodded and moved to get up from his place at the kitchen table, but Burt waved him back down and sat down across from him instead. Kurt sat down as well, choosing the seat closest to Blaine. He gave Blaine a small smile, and Blaine did his best to rein in the enthusiasm with which he smiled back.

Burt removed a small metal cylinder from his breast pocket and pulled a tiny membrane, no bigger than the size of Blaine's palm, from inside. He affixed it to the table in front of him and began navigating his way through a series of codes with his fingers.

Blaine knew what it was. It was a very secure and well-guarded network that only Council members had access to. It was protected with advanced technology as well as advanced magics, and was the only way for Council members to communicate freely without alerting the governments of the world to their existence and inner workings. Blaine wouldn't be given his own access codes until he had been active as a Slayer for at least a year.

A woman's voice began to emanate from the membrane, and Burt fiddled with it until he had found the right spot. "Okay. Now listen."

"All Council members are advised to be on high alert for an escapee from the Sylvester School for Girls. The threat is described as a twenty-year-old rogue Slayer, approximately five foot eight, Caucasian, blue eyes and blonde hair. Threat goes by the name of Brittany Pierce, but may be using an alias."

Blaine's eyes went wide and he opened his mouth to rail against what he was hearing, but Kurt laid a hand gently on his arm and gave him a meaningful look. "Listen," he whispered. Blaine clamped his mouth shut but got up from the table and began pacing around the room in agitation.

"Threat is described as extremely dangerous, and is suspected of colluding with demons of unknown origin in order to usurp the Council. Threat is also described as mentally unstable. Teams have been mobilized to find and neutralize the threat. If any council member encounters the threat, please contact your local Matriarch as soon as possible for further instructions."

Burt turned off the bulletin, and Blaine instantly started yelling.

"No. No! What the...the fuck? This is Brittany. Brittany, Kurt! I've told you about her! She wouldn't hurt a fly and I mean that literally! There were these awful horseflies at school and she wouldn't even kill them, she just let them bite her because she wanted to encourage them to bite and feed without killing because it could lead to inter-species unity and set a good example for vampires and-"

"Blaine," Kurt said softly. "I know. We know."

"Just...just please. It isn't true. Whatever they're saying, it isn't true. God, I knew something was wrong when she never wrote to me. I should have gone up there sooner, I should have helped her, she must be so scared right now. But please believe me, someone is setting her up. This isn't like her. This- we have to find her. Kurt, please. Please, we have to, this isn't her at all, she didn't do anything wrong, this is-"

"This is the Tea Party," Kurt said calmly. "Brittany probably found out something she shouldn't have, which means that they've gotten a foothold at the school. Which we knew was going to happen sooner or later. I think your reaction has pretty much cemented the fact that this is who we're dealing with."

Blaine stared at him. Burt stood up and walked over to Blaine, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"And we will find her, Blaine, okay? We'll bring her back here, and we'll...I don't know, dye her hair or something. We'll figure it out. Can't hurt having an extra Slayer around anyway, since some people don't think we should move, even though-"

"We'll need help," Kurt cut him off crisply. They'd had the argument about whether or not to leave Ohio quite frequently in the two weeks since Kurt's identity had been discovered by the group of vampires. Kurt point-blank refused to leave, arguing that if they found them this time they would find them again, and besides – they had Blaine now. Carole didn't want to leave either – the Wolf Park was an important resource for her and Finn, and finding another one that was equally welcoming would be a challenge. Finn just didn't want to leave his friends.

"Maybe we could ask Lauren?" Kurt suggested, looking at his father.

Burt stroked his chin. "I don't know. She's still pretty tied up in the Council, not sure if she's quite sold on the truth of the matter yet."

"I think we can trust her, though."

"I don't know, son. This seems like an awfully risky way to test that theory."

"Artie, then."

"He works for Lauren."

"Well yes, but Dad, he's Artie. I'd be willing to bet my life that we can trust him."

Burt sighed. "Artie it is then. And don't go around placing bets with your life. You never know who's listening."

Blaine stared at them. Kurt looked up at him and frowned. "What?"

"Um. I know I still haven't been a part of this household for very long, but would you mind terribly telling me what the hell is going on? Why is the Council after Brittany and how does it involve the Tea Party and who exactly are Lauren and Artie?"

Kurt looked at Burt, and then returned his eyes to Blaine when he'd received a nod from his father.

"All right. So, the Council – we've known for awhile that the Council has been infiltrated. There are some people, pretty high up and for the most part we don't know who, that are trying to destroy us from within. And the Tea Party...well, you already knew they were evil."

"Um. Well, evil, yeah, but not like, evil-evil, right?" Blaine asked, brows furrowed in confusion.

Kurt sighed. "Oh, Blaine. Evil is evil. Politics aren't given some kind of special exemption. Do you really think the Tea Party could have risen to this kind of power without black magic and demonic interference?"

"I suppose I never...thought about it that way."

"Yeah, well, this is just the beginning," Burt sighed. "The only reason things haven't gotten even worse already are because you've got the Eastern and the Western States keeping things in check. But...things are changing. We're getting close to that tipping point, where it could go either way. We knew things would start happening soon."

Kurt nodded, and gave his father a meaningful look. "Should we...?"

Burt shook his head. "Not yet. I want Blaine to be able to get all the answers he can when we hit him with that, and you know neither you or I are in a position to do that."

Blaine groaned in frustration. "Oh my god, just tell me! You guys are so mysterious sometimes that I just want to scream."

Kurt sighed. "Then scream."

Blaine did. The power in his voice rang through the house, and caused Finn to appear a moment later, eyes saucer-wide, clutching a bag of potato chips.

"I actually feel a little better," Blaine admitted, smiling at Finn. "Now, please tell me how we're going to help Brittany."

Her heart was pounding and every sense was sharp and clear. She could hear the rustle of leaves above her and she could tell that she was alone in the woods.

She was alone and she was close to the place she was supposed to get to, and it seemed like maybe she was actually going to make it.

Brittany closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Blaine had always told her she was too trusting, but she knew that wasn't really it. She could just tell when a threat was real, and when she was cavalier about things it was usually because she knew it was safe. She didn't know how she knew, she just did.

And she had known there was something wrong with Tammy right from the start.

First of all, she had red hair. Brittany was pretty sure it wasn't actually true that people with red hair didn't have souls, but no one could use Tammy to argue against it. Tammy might technically have a soul, Brittany wasn't sure, but if she had one she'd messed it up pretty bad and it probably didn't even work anymore.

And Brittany was pretty sure that Tammy really was a witch, no matter what she said.

Tammy seemed to have a hold over everyone. She definitely had a hold over Ms. Sylvester, though it was hard to see it at first because Ms. Sylvester had always been kind of a bitch anyway.

Brittany rubbed her shoulder as she moved quietly through the trees. She was still bleeding a little from the barbed wire, but it wasn't too bad. And honestly, at least she hadn't gotten shot. Almost, but not quite. She did feel a little bad about how much she had hurt some of the guards, but she didn't kill anyone and she couldn't stay there. She wanted to live and she had to find Blaine.

It was lucky, in the end, that everyone had underestimated her all those years. No one but Blaine had ever realized how quick and strong she really was. No one seemed to believe that she could think on her feet. Even Blaine questioned her judgment sometimes, even though he never did it in a mean way.

So they had sent Moira, who was young and new and barely knew anything about slaying yet, to bring Brittany breakfast. It had almost been too easy.

Brittany did feel pretty bad about locking Moira in the dungeon, especially since she'd had to gag her and tie up her hands and everything, but at least Brittany had split her bagel with her first, so hopefully she didn't get too hungry while she was waiting for someone to find her.

She reached the edge of the forest and peered out onto the dark, winding road. Yes, this was the spot. And it was almost time.

Brittany wasn't looking forward to the pain, but she knew she was going to be fine. She didn't know how she knew, she just did.

"Hey, switch it back. I like that song."

"You like any overplayed faux-punk song where some white guy is doing more yelling than singing. This is prettier."

"I can't listen to this. I'm not a bloody poof."

"Really? Then explain your hair. Go on. Because I really can't come up with any competing theories."

"Look, just because you like to have a bit of fun with the ladies doesn't mean I-"

"Yes?"

"No. No, I mean I like to have a bit of fun with the ladies too. I like to have a lot of fun. I'm all about the fun. With the ladies. I've probably been with more women than you could fathom, dear girl."

"Piece of advice? Calling me dear girl just makes you sound as gay as you look."

"Oh, for – Why did I agree to let Angel stick you with me again?"

"From what he told me you didn't have any complaints."

"Well, that was before I knew you were gay. Or a bitch, if we're being honest."

"Oh, please. You definitely knew I was a bitch."

"Fine. But I thought I'd get to shag you, so I didn't really care."

"I am a pretty hot piece of ass, huh?"

"You are so bleeding full of it."

"You know, I could make another gay joke about you based solely on that comment, but it's actually just too easy. You're taking the fun out of it."

"Yeah, well- oh, hell. I am not listening to this song. Enough is enough."

"Hey! Leave it! I like this one too."

"I'll just bet you do. You know you – oh, come on. This is a classic!"

"If by classic you mean it's faded into obscurity for a very good reason, then yes. Now just let me-"

"Hey! Stop it, you're going to-"

"Let go!"

"No. We are absolutely not listening to-"

"Oh, shit, look out!"

"Please. Like I'm falling for that."

"No, Spike, look out! FUCK!"

By the time he looked up there was really no way to avoid hitting the girl. Spike slammed on the breaks, the car attempting to screech to a halt but sliding on the rain-slicked road.

Strangely, the girl was smiling at them. She didn't look the least bit afraid.

They didn't hit her hard, but hard enough to put a normal-looking girl like that in the hospital, that was for sure. They watched her body fly in a perfect arc before landing several feet away.

Santana was out of the car before it even stopped. She ran to the girl, ignoring Spike's bellowed string of curses behind her. She knelt down beside the (very, very pretty – no, shut up Libido, this really isn't the time) girl who was lying splayed on her back on the pavement. Santana touched her arm lightly.

She leapt back a bit in alarm when the girl's eyes opened. There was no indication of confusion there, and she didn't even look like she was in pain. And Santana definitely knew what a human in pain looked like. She had spent years seeking out a perfect expression of mortal agony like it was the holy grail.

As usual, she flinched at the unbidden memory.

The girl smiled up at her, and raised herself up onto her elbows.

"Hi," she said, her voice nothing short of bubbly. "It's you."

Santana just stared at her, unsure of what to say. Maybe this girl had hit her head pretty hard after all.

"Don't worry about me, I'm a Slayer. Getting hit with the car hurt, but I'm fine. I'm built for it, you know."

"I...um..."

The girl laughed, and the sound was so sweet it made something surge in Santana's chest. "You're surprised. I knew you would be surprised. But we don't really have time to talk right now - we need to find Kurt and Blaine, and there's no time to waste."

Spike walked over then, eyebrows knitted in confusion. Santana looked up at him. "Well," she said evenly, her mouth crooking into the smallest hint of a smile. "It looks like we have a new passenger."