A/N So.. I'm sorry about this but I kind of backtracked and deleted off three chapters because I re-read them and I don't like how the story line went. So if you guys so kindly forgive me for this, the story backtracks until the night where Brittana are still together. And the chapter where Quinn kind of found out who Brittany is. I am kind of going through the entire story from the start and making slight amendments to the chapters. Nothing huge in the changes to the story line but somehow I'm trying to reduce the number of grammar mistakes (even though they are still a lot). Thank all of you who have been with me throughout this entire time. And I am deeply apologetic for not updating for so long. It's the semester break now so I should have much more time to update. In the meantime, you may want to check out my other fic: Pierce's Law. And if there's anything else, you can find me at Blurredgraylines on tumblr.
"Babe, you're going to be late." Santana shook Brittany's shoulders gently, trying to coax her out of sleep. Brittany groaned and burrowed her face into her pillow. Santana sighed. "You're going to miss your test!"
At the mention of missing her test, Brittany jerked awake and her eyes widened in horror as she chanced a glance at the alarm clock. "SHIT!" She shoved Santana away and rushed into the washroom. The door slammed behind Brittany and Santana winced at the noise.
Santana shook her head in amusement.
"Chew, Britt. Don't wolf down the entire thing. You'll choke."
While Brittany was washing up, Santana took the time to pack the sandwich she had prepared for Brittany into a sandwich bag, poured some coffee into a thermal flask she found and packed Brittany's backpack after scanning through her timetable.
She volunteered to drive Brittany to campus so that Brittany could have her breakfast during the ride.
Brittany mumbled a response but Santana couldn't catch it. "Swallow first."
"I'm not a five years old." Brittany swallowed.
"Yes, you are not. But you need to slow down. We'll get there on time."
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
Santana took her eyes away from the road and quirked an eyebrow at her question. "You think I didn't try?"
"Then you're not trying hard enough."
"Really, Britt, really?" Santana shook her head in disbelief. She knew that Brittany wasn't a morning person but the blame was uncalled for. Brittany scoffed in response and folded her arms stubbornly.
Santana pulled up at the campus' entrance. Without a word, Brittany unbuckled her seat belt and exited the vehicle. The guardian sighed and watched Brittany disappear around a bend before she pulled away from the drop off bay.
Brittany felt the guilt gnawing on her as she flips through her test paper one last time to make sure she answered everything correctly before she turned in the paper and leave the lecture hall.
She mentally chide herself for throwing an unwarranted tantrum in the morning at the most perfect girlfriend she could ever ask for. That was why she questioned herself, asking whether she really deserved Santana. Santana had been nothing but patient and understand, not to mention protective of her. She sighed, knowing that she really messed up this time.
The disappointment was evident when her shoulders slumped as she checked her phone. Santana didn't send her any text to tell her whether she was coming to fetch her. Brittany figured that Santana must be angry with her for the one-sided argument they had in the morning, and thought that she wasn't going to be waiting for her to go home together.
Home, together. The thought warmed her as she thought about how domestic they've been behaving around one another.
She sighed and pocketed her phone, clutching tightly onto her bag strap to steel herself. An apology was unavoidable.
The smell of grease and metal lingered in the air as Santana tinkered with her car. She pulled out from under her Audi to check the digital wall clock.
12:17 PM
A sigh escaped her lips as she rolled back down under her Audi and finished up her alterations.
The garage The Vatican provided made everything much easier for Santana as the space was much larger to maneuver around. Even the equipment were of top grade, making it easier for Santana to work on her car. Her alteration was almost complete but she would have to stop for the day because Brittany's test would end at 1.
Her movements were sluggish and she had to drag herself through campus to get to the exit. She blamed the exam stress that was getting to her as she slowly trudged her way out.
To say she was surprised was an understatement when she saw Santana leaning against the hood of her new car. She beamed and rushed down the stairs before throwing her arms around Santana's neck started firing apologies at her girlfriend. "I'm sorry for being a grumpy pants. I'm sorry for being so unappreciative. I'm sorry for blaming you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Santana chuckled and kissed Brittany's cheek before peeling her off her. "It's fine." She reassured Brittany with a soft smile.
"Not it's not. You shouldn't have to put up with me." Brittany drop her head in guilt.
Her girlfriend lifted her chin with her index and thumb finger, making sure Brittany was looking at her before speaking. "If I can't handle your grumpy pants at times, then I'm not worthy of you. With the good comes the bad, Britt."
Brittany's eyes watered. She swallowed the lump in her throat before leaning forward to kiss Santana. Santana wrapped her hands around Brittany's waist and pulled her closer, her lips moving against Brittany's.
When they pulled apart, Brittany's breathing was slightly heavy and she rest her forehead against Santana's. "Thank you."
Santana nudged her nose with hers and smiled. "Silly."
Their peaceful moment was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. Heavy footsteps.
The softness in Santana's eyes hardened as her demeanor changed when she saw who was approaching. She peeled away from Brittany and stepped forward, pushing Brittany behind her protectively.
"Well, well. If it isn't Santana Lopez."
The Guardian frowned and refused to respond.
"Did cats got your tongue? Or did you shove your face up too many pussies that you're left incapable to speak?"
Brittany's face burned red with embarrassment while Santana remained stoic.
"How rude of me, Miss Pierce." He bowed in apology. "I am Adam Crawford, your soon-to-be-escort."
A few other guardians stepped up beside Adam.
"Really?" A feminine voice spoke up.
All eyes turned to her as she approached.
"April Rhodes." She introduced herself. "Protector of the Saints."
Unlike the confused Brittany, Santana was horrified by the change of events that took place within minutes of her reconciliation with Brittany.
Adam let out a maniacal laughter as he focused on the lone woman approaching them. He waved his hand and the guardians lunged for both Santana and April.
Santana raised her hand and freezes the group's movements. With another hand, she twirled her index finger in a circular motion, causing flames to encircle the few men. She turned her attention to the woman who introduced herself as April Rhodes. "How may I help you, Protector of the Saints?"
"My business here does not concern you, descendent of Satan. I am here for Miss Brittany Pierce."
Brittany clutched onto Santana's arm, causing Santana to turn around and look at her. Her eyes were clouded with uneasiness at the situation.
"What business do you have with her, Protector?" Santana asked on behalf of Brittany.
April's eyes flickered to Adam Crawford and his men before returning her attention to the duo. "It is not of convenience to talk in such public settings. But I will assure you no harm will come to Miss Pierce's safety."
Refusing to relent, Santana stepped towards April Rhodes. "As Guardian of Brittany S. Pierce, I command protection over the mortal."
On both Brittany's and Santana's arms, two lines appeared and ran around the circumferences in a band. Brittany's hand slipped from Santana's arm down to her hand where she weave her fingers between her guardian's. Santana tightened the grip and squeezed her mortal's hand gently in assurance.
April Rhodes shook her head and sighed. "As you wish, Guardian. But I guarantee no safety for you as guaranteed for your mortal."
"I will try to refrain myself. Lead the way."
"Not so fast, lady!" Adam yelled from behind the ring of fire. With his wings extended, he gave a strong flap of his wings and hovered out of the ring of fire. His sidekicks followed him and they stayed hovered while they wait for further instructions from Adam.
Santana merely sighed and extended her palm out, holding it until a metal rod materialized itself on her palm. "Britt?" The Guardian offered the weapon to Brittany who gladly accepted it. "Stay safe." She gave Brittany's hand a final squeeze before letting it go.
"You are not alone in this, Miss Pierce and her Guardian. I shall be your aide in this battle." April Rhodes spoke up and took a place beside Brittany.
Before any of them could reply, Adam Crawford charged towards them, aiming for Brittany. The blonde's grip on the metal bar tightened before she swung the bar at Adam, sending him face down into the concrete floor.
April's surprised expression earned a smug smile from Santana. That's my girl.
"Boss!" His sidekicks yelled before charging at Brittany in fury.
April stepped forward and brandished two kataras. While Santana was certain that April could hold her own, took her place beside April and started snapping her fingers in the direction of the henchmen while April slices through the crowd.
While April and Santana were distracted by the group of henchmen, Crawford regained his composure and he swooped down and grabbed hold of Brittany.
"SANTANA!"
Distracted by Brittany's cry for help, Santana lost focus. A loud grunt behind startled her as one of the henchmen dropped dead behind her.
"Watch it, Guardian."
"Thank you, Protector." As much as Santana hated to ally with a Protector, she thanked April for having her back. April nodded in response but kept her eyes out on the few henchmen remaining, leaving Santana to deal with Adam. Her jaws tightened as she assessed the situation. Adam was hovering in the air with Brittany kicking and flailing, trying to struggle her way out of his grasps.
Adam sneered. "We got her now, Satan's heir."
Santana growled and held her finger poised in a snapping stance, threatening to set fire to the man holding her girlfriend captive. "Let her go."
"Or else what? You're gonna set both of us on fire?" He laughed maniacally, undermining Santana's resolve. While he was too busy trying to talk down at the Guardian, he failed to notice that Brittany stopped writhing. Instead, she held Santana's gaze and nodded.
"You're not going to kill your precious mortal. You can't do that. You're bounded!"
The Guardian merely smirked in response and slipped her thumb across her middle finger. "Thank you for the reminder, Captain Obvious." Sparks ignited between her fingers and sent a trail of blue flame towards both of them. Adam's eyes widened in horror and he tried to let go of the mortal in his arms but Brittany held on, refusing to let Adam escape.
"Do you have a death wish?!" He squeaked, glaring at the blonde and trying to shove her off as he tried to propel away from the line of fire.
Brittany copied Santana's smirk and looked at Adam with a glimmer of smugness in her eyes. "Says the one that tried to kidnap the mortal of Satan's heir. ."
The man screamed in agony as the blue flames engulfed him. His skin shriveled and crinkled like paper as the flames consumed him. Brittany started panicking when she felt herself slipping from his grip and descend the few feet off the ground. His scream captured April's attention as she sliced the last of Adam's henchmen before watching the scene unfold before her. She watched in rapt attention and noticed how Brittany was unfazed by the blue flames that burnt every living matter in the world. There was no doubt about it. The blonde was definitely the person she was looking for.
"Oof!" Santana huffed as she caught Brittany in her arms, still coated in blue flames. She smiled at the blonde in her arms before setting her down on the ground.
The blue flames died off the instant her feet touches the ground. They exchanged relieved smile, but their relief was temporary as they were reminded of the presence of April Rhodes.
"Now, shall we?"
The Guardian turned to Brittany for affirmation. When Brittany nodded, Santana returned the affirmation to April. "We'll follow your lead, Protector."
April Rhodes turned and walked away wordlessly, returning to her vehicle. With that, Brittany and Santana slipped into their respective seats of the Audi.
Jake. This is Santana. Can you give Quinn a heads up that both me and Britt is heading to the Saints' Palace?
Santana. Why are you going to the Saints' Palace?
Quinn should have the answers for you, Jake.
Is this about Brittany?
Yes, but it isn't her fault. We have no choice, Jake. One of the Protectors demanded Brittany's presence.
Jake sighed. Stay safe.
I will
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Santana?" Brittany wrung her hands together in worry on her lap.
Noticing the uneasiness of her girlfriend, Santana reached over the console and slipped her fingers between Brittany's. She pulled her hand towards her lips and kissed the back of her hand in assurance. "We'll be fine. The Protectors will not hurt you. Comparing them to The Vils, I will prefer you being with them."
"But what she said earlier… about your safety not being guaranteed…" Brittany trailed off.
Santana knew what Brittany was talking about. She looked over at Brittany to see the blonde frowning. "I'll be fine, Britt. I'm the daughter of Satan." She joked in a light-hearted manner but it caused Brittany's brows to furrow even more. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, baby. Trust me."
Brittany sighed as she nodded.
The Palace came into view pretty quickly as they followed behind the Protector's white Range Rover. It's not really a Palace, per say, but a space of double mansions combined into one.
The vehicle in front of them rolled to a stop before the gate. Santana pulled over and they sat in silence for a few moments before Santana killed the engine. She was about to exit the vehicle when Brittany pulled her back. Brittany's lips met hers and Santana could taste the worry in the kiss. "Don't risk yourself for me, San. If anything goes wrong, I want you to leave without looking back. I don't want to lose you again."
Santana avoided Brittany's gaze. "Can't do that, won't do that." She opened the door and stepped out without giving Brittany a chance to respond.
The door from the passenger side opened and Brittany hurried beside Santana before lacing their fingers together. There was no room for argument in that situation. The demand Santana made for protection over Brittany practically sold Santana's soul to Brittany.
The irony.
All we have seen and heard of humans selling their souls to devils but here, we see Santana who surrendered herself to Brittany. With the pact made, Santana could not be forced apart from Brittany under any circumstances unless both parties were willing. The pact would hold for ninety days before it wore off.
Brittany was also not given a choice since she was in an unfavorable position. The only person she trusted in that situation was Santana. She trusted Santana with her life. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she left the conversation as it was, not wanting to make things worse.
The gate unlocked and revealed the rows of Guardians standing guard behind the gate. Their stances changed into an aggressive one when they noticed Santana.
"Stand down." April ordered, her eyes sweeping across the Guardians.
Their stances softened but they were still on edge, ready to pounce any moment. Brittany pulled Santana closer to her and steeled herself to hide how her body trembled in fear. Santana released her hold on Brittany's hand and instead, opt to pull Brittany closer by wrapping her arm around her slender waist, melding their bodies together.
The door opened to reveal marble floor and grandeur furnishing. Red carpet led the way up to a large mahogany double door. April allowed the duo's gaze to scan the building in amusement before continuing. "This way." April guided the duo up then carpeted stairs and stopped before the double door. "The Saints that seek your presence are behind the doors. I shall take my leave."
Santana swallowed, fear slowly seeping into her bones at the unknown that was behind the door. Brittany pulled away slightly and slipped her fingers through Santana's again, making Santana turn to look at her.
When their eyes met, they spoke of the both of them. With a nod, both of them stepped forward, with their fingers still intertwined together, and pushed open the mahogany doors.
A long stretch of meeting table with only five occupants greeted the duo as they opened the door. Their eyes visibly narrowed at the Guardian who stepped forward protectively. She returned the glare to every single one of the members in the room as she took several steps into the room with Brittany by her side.
"We have no business with you, descendant of Satan."
"Hold it, Saint July. They're imprinted."
Their attention switched to the imprinted bands on their arms. The eyes of the Saint that spoke up flickered to Santana's wrist and caught the name of the mortal they have requested audience of.
"Take a seat, Miss Pierce, and her Guardian."
Santana and Brittany hesitantly took the seats furthest away from the five Saints.
"I am truly sorry for the sudden request of your presence, Miss Pierce. I apologize on behalf of the Saints." A rather well-mannered and suave looking man stepped forward and bowed in the direction of the duo.
Three other Saints in the room mimicked his action and bowed. One of them were slumped on a chair and he looked listless.
"My name is Elliot, or they call me Saint Gilbert. You can call me Starchild. I apologize again for the rudeness of one of us, Guardian. We mean no offense."
The Saint that was the first to point out Santana's presence sighed and bowed a second time. "My apologies, Guardian. I am Cassandra July."
"No offense taken, and apology accepted." Santana replied. Brittany's thumb ran over Santana's knuckles to calm her down when she felt the Guardian fidgeting uncontrollably.
"My name is David Martinez." Another Saint introduced himself, offering a smile instead of the hostility shown by the other guardians that were outside the building.
"Name's Saint Harmony." A fairly tanned woman offered her name.
"Saint John." The last man to introduce himself sighed. Two of the Saints were quick to step forward and rub smoothing circles on his back as he shook his head in desperation. His eyes were bloodshot and he seemed to be tormented by his own thoughts.
Saint John. Santana repeated his name in her head to jog her memory. The conversation with Quinn back at Brittany's apartment screamed in her mind. Holly Holiday, Protector of Saint John.
Saint Starchild cleared his throat to snap both Santana's and Brittany's attention back to him. The earnestness in his eyes and desperation made Brittany twitch in fear of what was to come. "You must be wondering why you're here. I am afraid we bear no good news, My Lady. We need your help." He locked gaze with Brittany.
That was not what Brittany expected.