Brittany grabbed onto the railing, when she came face to face with a blonde beauty, with deepset eyes. He had the artistic hands, and everything! Dude, it really was Pierce Holt! Here, in the flesh! Alive!

"Well, that's a response I haven't gotten yet." Pierce smirked down at her, as she worked hard to get ragged breaths.

"But... you... and the... Jez... here... alive... blue fire... here... dead... alive!" she gasped, not being able to get a full sentence out.

Pierce laughed. "Yes, I am very well alive."

"But... how?"

He shot her a smile that seemed more like a glare. "Don't question fate. Now, back to the reason I had you brought here." he motioned to a cushion. "If you'll please, take a seat."

Brittany felt as if her dislexia was acting up, as she hobbled into the living room. For the moment everything seemed out of place. She tried to sit on a chair, that wasn't really there, a foot to the right-or was it left? she couldn't think straight.

Pierce laughed. "Here." he took her hand, and led her to a chair, and sat her down. Brittany was too dizzy to remember that he had tried to kill one of her favorite Night World characters and that she should fight him off. Instead, she just rested her head on the arm rest, and closed her eyes, trying to sink everything in.

"What do you want from me?" her voice sounded weak.

"I want to know, how badly you want to get revenge on Fern."

Anger shot through her enough for her to regain her sense. She sat up straight, and tall, seething at the mention of that fowl name.

"What's it to ya'?" she hissed.

"Well, my research on him, shows that you are indeed his soulmate. Am I correct?" he threw a file across the room so that it landed neatly in her lap. She was impressed.

"Well, yeah, but, I mean, we only just figured that out last nigh! How could you know so soon?"

"Us Daybreakers, have the best witches in the whole Night World. Now, tell me, how much do you actually know about the Night World?" Pierce rested his head in his hands.

"I know everything there is to know."

"Prove it."

Brittany smirked. "The Night World isn't a place. It's all around us. It's a secret society of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other creatures of darkness that live among us. They're beautiful and deadly and irresistible to humans. Your high school teacher could be one, and so could your boyfriend. Your best friend could be one-so could your crush.

"The Night World laws say it's okay to hunt humans. It's okay to toy with their hearts, it's even okay to kiss them. There are only things you can't do with them.: humans must never learn that Night World exists. And members of the Night World must never fall inlove with a human. Violate the laws, and the consequences are terrifying."

Pierce sat back, and smiled. "Impressive. Now, what would you say if I asked you how much you know about a certain soulmate of yours?"

"Fern? Well, I guess-much to my disapointment-I know everything about him."

"Oh, really?" Pierce's smile turned into a smirk. "I suppose you know, of my soulmate, Ashlyn?"

Brittany nodded. "I know her-in away. I didn't know she was your soulmate, though."

Pierce nodded, back. "Oh, yes. But, that's not the point. Do you know what Fern did-or, tried to do to her?" Brittany nodded. "Hmm... well, why don't you check that file on him, to see how much you do know about him."

Brittany looked down at the file that Pierce had given her. She slowly began to open it, and came face to face with three pictures. One of Fern, the other of the little girl at the park, and the other one, of another girl, who looked like a female version of him.

They were labled 'Fern Redfern' 'Rose Redfern'-the little girl from the park- and 'Emerald Redfern'. Brittany looked up from the photos.

"Who's Emerald?" she asked, surprised that he hadn't mentioned her to her, before.

"His little sister."

Brittany shook her head. "Well, why wouldn't he mention her to me, then?"

Pierce shrugged. "Maybe because he was embarrassed of her. Or, of you."

Brittany's head snapped up, and she glared at Pierce, trying to figure out what he was up to. She couldn't see anything, but genuine concern. Suddenly, even though she knew that it wasn't something to get really upset about, she felt anger, and betrayal, whirl inside of her.

"And, did he tell you about this?" he tossed her another file, this one was smaller, and had her name on it.

Brittany opened it up, to find a picture of her, and her family in it. At the bottom, there was this highlighted note, that read 'second cousin of Lady Hannah'.

"He knew about this?" she whispered, fingering the note.

"Of course he did. Everyone who's loyal to Lord Thierry knows about Lady Hannah's family-long distance, or otherwise."

Brittany had to keep herself from crushing the file. Her anger was getting out of control, and she was normally so level headed.

"You said you wanted a little payback on him?" she hissed, through clenched teeth.

"I didn't say it."

"I could tell. What can I do?"

Pierce smiled, evilly. "All you have to do, is stay here, for the day."

"Wadda'ya mean?"

"You'll see. Lady Hannah has been excited to meet you, she's waiting in the kitchen." his tone implied that that was the end of the conversation.

Brittany stood up, and walked, to the way that Pierce had pointed. Inside, she found a girl with wheat colored hair, and a birthmark. Undoubtably, Hannah.

"Brittany?" Hannah asked, standing up. Brittany nodded. "Oh my, I've missed you!" she pulled Brittany into a great big bear hug.

"Uh-I'm kinda hugaphobic." Brittany croaked. It was true. For the past year, she had hated hugs, and always felt a little quoozy after hugging someone.

Hannah giggled and let go. "Well, nevermind then! Come on, I wanna catch up-and Poppy's planned us to give you and Tyler makovers!"

Brittany groaned, yet let the Lady drag her upstairs.

~NWNWNWNWNWNW~

Fern opened up his locker, and a note fell out. He recognized the scent that the note was covered in, and was not happy to smell it. It was his smell. The smell of Pierce Holt.

He yanked open the note, worried.

Fern Reddork,

I have your presious little soulmate, for a little payback. If you don't find her in time, I'll have a little fun with her, myself.

Fern wouldn't have been so freaked out, if it weren't for the fact, that Brittany's scent was mingled with Pierce's. And that, underneath, was a picture of Brittany sleeping.

He crumpled up the note, and could almost feel the smoke coming out of his ears.