I apologize for any mistakes.
Leroy stopped the car on the side of the road, the high school just up the street. He turned to Rachel and placed a gloved covered hand on hers. For some reason, she was cold to the touch. Her skin felt like ice and it burned to simply hold her hand, hence the gloves. Leroy saw flashes of gold peak out from the hood Rachel wore and she quickly re-tucked her hair.
"I'm working from home today, so if you need me, call and I'll come pick you up," he said.
She nodded. She wasn't speaking much either. It was understandable since she'd complained earlier of her throat feeling as if it were on fire.
"Are you sure you want to go today?" he asked.
Rachel sighed and took off her sunglasses. Leroy had to call the school nurse and tell the woman Rachel needed an excuse to wear glasses in school. Something about an eye procedure. It would keep the teachers at bay, but he wasn't sure about the students. Rachel wasn't shy about telling them the torture that came from her classmates, and he only hoped they wouldn't be bold enough to take her glasses off. Not only were her brown eyes now almost…translucent, they were also pulsing. Gold flecks shot over her pupil every thirty seconds, and Leroy knew she couldn't explain that.
"Dad?" she whispered.
He blinked and realized she'd been speaking to him the entire time. He smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry."
"It's fine."
"How's your throat feel?" he asked.
"Hurts still," she rasped.
Leroy gave a sad smile. "I'm sorry," he said.
She put her glasses back on and sunk into her seat. He knew that was her way of saying the conversation was over. He pulled out onto the main street and headed towards the school, hoping they would give her a break, if only for the day.
Brittany skipped down the hallway, Santana and Quinn a few steps behind her. She passed by Rachel, who looked different, but she didn't give it much thought until she peeked into the girl's mind. She stopped and cocked her head. Rachel wasn't paying much attention, but Brittany narrowed her eyes. The world became muted and she could only hear Rachel.
The girl was in pain. She didn't know how or why, but the fact Rachel was in school was shocking. Brittany blinked and the rest of the school filtered back into her brain. Quinn placed a hand on her shoulder, confused, and Brittany had no time to speak. Two Cheerios with slushies were heading right for Rachel. Instead of warning her, she stepped back and pulled Quinn and Santana with her.
"What are you doing?" Santana asked.
"Ssh," she said to Santana. "Watch."
The trio stayed off to the side as the rest of the student body realized what was about to happen.
Everyone except Rachel.
Something was wrong. Beyond the fact it felt like she was swallowing fire, her entire world switch into slow motion. Rachel turned her head to the side. Two Cheerios had wicked smiles frozen on their faces. Rachel watched the twenty-four-ounce cups twist upward. She heard the ice sloshing against the plastic, the liquid flying through the air, and for a moment, she could see the sugar crystals in the syrup. Her body moved on its on own accord. Rachel stepped to the right and watched the slushy as it splattered against the lockers. Not an ounce falling on her. The world reset, and Rachel could breathe again.
Students laughed at the fact the Cheerios missed, and Rachel was glad they couldn't see what she did, but she wasn't going to stick around to try it again. Rachel adjusted her hood and backed away into the crowd. She pushed past the Gleeks and ran down the hall, unaware of the three sets of eyes watching her go.
Santana pulled Quinn and Brittany into the bathroom, yelled for whoever was in there to leave, and Quinn locked the door once they were the only ones in there. Brittany shut off the light. A brief flash of red, and then darkness.
Rachel made it to the auditorium having only been stopped by Finn, who was trying to ask for help with a project, but she brushed him off. Thankfully he left her alone. Rachel ran inside and closed the door. Confident that she was alone, Rachel dropped the hood and removed her sunglasses. Her hair moved on its own, like Rachel was standing in the wind, and it looked like dancing fire. She shook out her arms and hands.
Then, like in the hallway, the world stopped. Rachel groaned as her body moved on instinct. She twisted to the right and saw her reflection in a small blade as it passed in front of her face. Something told her to grab the hilt. So, she did, and her world returned to normal.
Rachel's head snapped to the side. Santana appeared out of the shadows, literally, and the knife in Rachel's hand grew hot. She dropped it, but instead of falling to the floor, it flew back into Santana's hand. Santana slipped it back into her sleeve.
"Interesting."
Before Rachel could say anything, Santana turned on her heel and disappeared. Rachel stared at the spot she used to be, but the bell rang, and Rachel jumped. She quickly donned her glasses and hood.
Santana materialized in the bathroom. The lights came back on and Brittany hopped on the sink. Quinn remained by the door.
"I think our resident Diva might have-
"Foresight," Brittany said.
"You know I hate when you do that," Santana muttered.
"Then stop projecting," Brittany said.
Santana smirked. She started thinking in Kensien, and as expected, Brittany groaned and the foreign presence in the back of Santana's mind vanished.
"I hate when you do that. Kensien sounds like a bunch of people screaming at once."
"It's better than what comes out of her," Santana said wryly, jerking her thumb at the silent Quinn.
Brittany smacked Santana on the shoulder. Quinn simply turned and left the bathroom.
"See? Now she's mad."
"How can you tell? She has two moods: silent and quiet."
Brittany grinned and kissed Santana on the cheek. She literally skipped to the door and turned. "I just know these things. And you have a quiz in math. CDBAADBA," she said quickly.
Santana nodded her thanks and Brittany left, probably to go find Quinn. When the door closed, Santana leaned against the sink. She folded her arms against her chest.
"What have I told you about spying on me?"
The air thickened. Santana barely reacted as a demon took form in front of her.
"I have a job," it grunted.
"And I have a secret," she snapped.
"I have a job," it repeated.
"Everyone thinks I am some low-life demon. I would like to keep it that way," she growled.
It hesitated slightly, but Santana knew it would not leave unless her father commanded. She rolled her eyes and flicked her wrist. A small ball of fire crashed into the demon's chest. It didn't do damage, but the demon got the point. It shimmered out of sight. She took a deep breath before she left the bathroom.
The day passed as she expected. Beyond a few comments from Kurt and Mercedes, Rachel was left alone. Most people thought she was having another breakdown, which was fine by her. They weren't exactly that far off. She was freaking out on the inside. She still had no idea what was happening to her. It was a lot, but no one else approached her. By the time Glee arrived, Rachel had gained a wide berth from the rest of everyone. She sat in the corner, head against the wall, and she halfheartedly listened as Kurt and Mercedes gossiped about her like she wasn't even there. Santana, Quinn, and Brittany were on the other side of the room with Blaine, Sam, and Mike in front of them. It was odd. They were all silent and tense, more so than usual. She kept one eye on them and one eye on Finn, who was dead set on getting her to go out with him later than evening.
"Alright everyone! You know the rules, anyone have a song today?"
While Rachel kept her eyes on Mr. Schue, everyone else turned to her.
"No," she wheezed.
Mr. Schue seemed disappointed, and a little angry, but he covered it with a smile. A hand rose in the corner and Rachel saw Quinn stand from her seat.
"Quinn?" he asked, surprised.
She nodded and Rachel couldn't help but feel pride and a little excitement. Quinn rarely spoke, and if she did, it was on a paper. She never sang and had it not been for Sue, Rachel was sure the girl wouldn't even be in the club. Quinn stood in the middle of the room and began to sing acapella.
Rachel's jaw dropped. Her voice was so beautiful and so hypnotizing. Her shock turned to confusion as Puck and Finn dropped first. Then Tina. Then Kurt. Then Mr. Schue and Mercedes. Lauren fought it as long as she could, but soon she fell to the side. The only people left conscious were Mike, Blaine, Sam, Rachel, and the Unholy Trinity. Quinn stopped singing and sat down on the piano bench. She pulled a water bottle from her backpack and drained it in one sip. She put the bottle back in her bag and acted as if nothing happened.
A tense beat passes.
"What the fuck was that!" Rachel shouted.
The glass protecting the trophies shattered and the others covered their ears. Rachel winced.
"Sorry," she whispered.
Once they recovered, Mike came over and kneeled in front of her. "For us to help you, we need to know what happened to you. You've always had a loud voice, but not like that."
"I don't- I just…I woke up and I was like…this," she stammered.
"Like what?" he asked.
Rachel huffed. She removed her hood and sunglasses, gesturing to her face. "Like this," she sighed.
Instead of screams or fear, Rachel could only see awe on Mike's face. She looked around and saw even Quinn staring at her in disbelief. She reached for her hood, but a hand gripped her wrist. She looked up and found Santana standing over her. There was something in her gaze that made Rachel weak, and she swallowed the urge to whimper. Santana's eyes flashed black before they returned to brown. She stood up and backed away. Brittany took Santana's place.
"Do you know what a Phoenix is?" Brittany asked.
"A bird, right?" Rachel said softly.
"Yes, but," she paused, "but there have been rumors of a family who liked to combine Phoenix magic with non-avian species. Specifically, human. Many have died, either burning alive or descending into madness, but you are the first person to survive this long. The magic of a Phoenix flows through your veins."
Rachel couldn't believe it. It seemed impossible.
"Impossible is something I deal with on a daily," Brittany said with a smile. "Which is why I'm going to help you. Come to Blaine's house tonight, and you'll get the answers you need. I promise."
Rachel hesitated.
"And if you don't want to go alone, you can bring your father, as it seems he already knows."
Rachel felt a small amount of relief, but then she frowned. "How-
"I'm telepathic," Brittany answered. "Among…other things."
There was a snort and Brittany flipped off Quinn without turning around. She kept her eyes on Rachel.
"Tonight, nine. We'll all be there."
"All of you?" Rachel repeated, glancing at Santana.
Brittany had a secret smile on her face. "All of us."