Look Death in the Eye
TAGGING → Ophelia Lane, Santana Lopez, Brittany Pierce
NOTES: Ophelia sets a trap for Santana, locking her in a burning house. Santana has to fight her worst fear to escape and make it back to Brittany.
Ophelia: Ophelia might seem arrogant and reckless, but she considered herself to be indulgent and noble. That was the exact reason why she didn't put Rosemary out of her way right away and decided to give her time to think instead. While that time was ticking, Ophelia evaluated Rosemary's decisions by how Santana was acting. If thing were to end badly Ophelia wouldn't have much time to prepare Santana, so she had to start now. Alistair already delivered the note for Santana to come to Ophelia's cave.
Santana: Santana was sticking as close to Brittany as possible, almost hovering over her to make sure nothing could hurt her again. She felt sloppy and weak. If she couldn't protect all the goodness that is Brittany, what right did she have to call the girl hers? She talked herself into these circles often. She just wanted to be her best self for her girlfriend, because Brittany meant so, so much to her.
So when she saw the raven on her kitchen windowsill with a dirty scroll, she was not happy. Didn't Ophelia know she needed to be with Brittany? She grumbled about it and nearly tossed the note back out the window with Alistair. But she had to go. She wouldn't let Ophelia think she was lazy. And after making sure Brittany was okay as can be, she used the portkey to get to Ophelia's place.
"What do you want?" she snapped, standing outside the door to her boss's cave.
Ophelia: Ophelia heard Santana's annoyed voice and stepped out of her hut, squinting from the bright light and fresh snow sparkling around her. "Ask that question again and I'll tear your tongue out," Ophelia's statement was calm but firm. She basically hired the girl, so she wasn't going to put up with her disrespectful behavior. "Follow me, it's time for your first serious mission." She announced and walked into the woods. Alistair with a judging croak swooped down on her shoulder.
Santana: Â Santana never really took Ophelia's threats of bodily harm seriously, though at times she wondered how far her new mentor would go to teach her a lesson. But before she could reply, Ophelia was saying something that stirred the excitement deep within her. Her first serious mission? Santana's mind skipped with dangerous scenarios, and she quickly caught up to Ophelia as they ducked into the woods.
"What is it?"
Ophelia: Ophelia held back her vicious smile when she spotted Santana's excitement. She almost felt bad that she would have to disappoint the girl. On the other hand, it was for her own good. "One snitch has been spotted not far from here. According to my sources he's been hiding in the abandoned forester's hut." They got to another portkey Ophelia was hiding in the woods. She motioned for  Santana to hold onto the stone and prepare for a jump.
Santana: Â "Who did he snitch to?" she asked eagerly, wanting to know what kind of criminal they were dealing with. If it was to the Death Eaters... well then Santana knew she was in for something big. She grabbed the stone and held her breath and she was squeezed and stretched through the air until she felt solid ground beneath her feet.
Ophelia:  "To whoever offers him more money," Ophelia explained. "He knows something about our target. And  you..." Ophelia looked at the old hut from the distance, "you are going to explore. And then we'll see what you found. If you're lucky he might be there and you can ask him all the questions you have. Don't be nice, because we don't want to spend our money. But be careful." After giving vague instructions Ophelia nodded towards the hut.
Santana: Santana nodded, committing everything Ophelia had said to memory. She lifted her wand and stepped forward, creeping past the creaking porch and sliding into the house, on high alert for any sign of movement.
Ophelia: Ophelia waited for a couple of minutes before throwing a powerful inflaming spell. In seconds the house was on fire, all exits and windows blocked by spurts of flame. The woman chuckled and turned back to the portkey. If the girl was worth her time she would come back to the cave.
Santana: Santana turned with a gasp the second she heard the loud whoosh of flames erupting. She immediately panicked, running back down the hall to get to the front door, but it was too late. Every direction she spun in seemed to bring her more flames. Flames. Fire. Her biggest fear. She felt tears of panic spring to her eyes, fear choking her as badly as the smoke. Santana could hear her ancestors screaming in her ears, could hear the flames roaring, rendering her deaf. Every bad feeling and memories surfaced in her brain and she dragged her body through another hallway, desperately searching for a way out. She screamed but no one could hear her.
Brittany:Â On Monday Brittany went back to work and the first thing she did was asking Rosemary about the necklace. The girl remembered very clearly that her mentor took the necklace to examine it, that is why she was surprised when Rosemary pointed out that it was on her table all along and she just forgot it there. Brittany accepted the information without arguing, the main thing was that she got the necklace back.
She carefully looked through the samples of blood when she felt the stone heating. Her heart started beating fast, she couldn't breathe. She opened her mouth, but could barely inhale because awful taste of smoke filled her mouth. She coughed and tried to stand up, but her hand slipped and she fell down on her knees on the floor. Her throat was burning and eyes filled up with tears. Santana! she screamed in her head.
Santana: Santana collapsed on the ground, drawing her cloak around her to try and block herself from inhaling more smoke. She couldn't breathe, couldn't see, and everything felt like it was burning even though the flames haven't reached her yet. She wanted to close her eyes and wake up in a better place, but she had no energy to apparate and would without a doubt splice herself and make everything worse. She lied there for a few minutes as everything got hotter. She was on the edge of what felt like life or death, but she didn't know how to get out of this.Â
Her mind went to Brittany. If only Brittany were there, maybe she could help her, but Santana knew that Brittany was far away and wouldn't be able to get to her. Her girlfriend's voice was weak in her mind, it sounded like she was calling her name. "Britt," Santana said, coughing and lifting her head slightly. She needed one big burst of something, anything, to get out of her personal hell.Â
With a cry, she swung her left arm as hard as she could, sending a blast to the wall. It crumbled away but sent more oxygen to the flames, making them burn hotter and wilder. She swung her wand again, breaking down more of the structure of the house. She could see the world outside through the thick black smoke. She just needed to get to it.Â
Santana stood on weak and wobbly legs, her throat scorched and her face covered in soot. A beam from the ceiling fell and clipped her face, opening a big gash across her forehead. She cried harder, scared and riddled with pain as she continued to drag herself through the opening. When she finally made it to the edge and was able to see outside again, she noticed how far from the ground she was, and how far the flames reached. But this was her only way out. If she didn't jump, this burning house would collapse with her inside of it. Without a second to spare, Santana jumped, aiming her want at the ground and sending strong blast that bounced her farther away from the flames. It was just enough, and she landed in a heap on cool soil and leaves, but her eyes were closed and she slipped out of consciousness, shivering and burned, but alive.
Brittany:Â Brittany was on the floor, shaking from fear and pain. It felt like walls were closing in around her and she couldn't get out. She couldn't hear Santana, but she knew it was her pain she felt. After what felt like endless struggle Brittany felt fear backing away, but pain didn't stop. Her neckless was burning against her skin, but she only felt coldness. She couldn't understand why it was so cold. Only if... Brittany gasped and her heart clasped painfully. Santana, say something!
Santana:Â Santana didn't wake up until the next morning. Her eyes slowly opened and she was greeted with the terrifying smell of smoke. She jolted, and cried out in pain as every muscle in her body ached. Everything hurt and her heart was racing remembering what happened. But now the burning house was just a piles of smoldering wood and ashes. Santana narrowed her eyes and struggled to stand up. Ophelia. That woman set her up. That woman tried to kill her. Rage replaced her fear as she limped to the portkey, sending herself spiraling to Ophelia's place. She landed with a thud and Santana hissed in pain, but she stood up again and faced the door, waiting for Ophelia to show her face so Santana could blast it off.
Ophelia:Â Ophelia heard a thump outside and waved a wand. The door opened slowly with a long loud creak. "Alistair darling, looks like we have a visitor," she complacently.
Santana:Â Santana stared her down as the door opened. She kept her wand in her hand but didn't raise it. "You want me dead? You're gonna have to try again," she spoke in a harsh whisper, her voice ragged and gone from the smoke.
Ophelia:Â Alistair's eyes, little black beads, stared at blood on the snow with hunger. The raven croaked, but Ophelia raised her hand warningly. "You're going home now? After you faced your biggest fear and succesfully beat it? You are a silly girl after all... or a masochist."
Santana:Â Santana shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. She wasn't in the mood for games, she just needed to be with Brittany. "I don't care what you call me. I'm going home to Brittany."
Ophelia:Â "If you leave now, don't even think about coming back here ever again," Ophelia warned. She wondered whether Santana realized that she would have to go through another torture if she decided to leave.
Santana:Â "What the hell?" she challenged, stepping forward with her wand pointed at Ophelia's face. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't drop your ass right here in the snow. What do you want from me?" she growled, eyes flashing as she stared at the other woman with hate.
Ophelia:Â Ophelia rolled her eyes in her usual lazy manner, but then with a surprising rapidity of an attacking cobra caught Santana by the wrist, wrenched it and squeezed until the wand fell out of her hand. "I don't need cowards and cranky unreliable pawns here," she growled, wrenching Santana's wrist even more so that her knees bent a bit. "You either accept your tasks or you leave now and I wipe every bit of information you got from me out of your stupid head," Ophelia slapped Santana's forehead lightly with her free hand.
Santana:Â Santana bit her lip when everything inside of her wanted to scream or cry. She had just suffered through something so awful and all she wanted was to go home and let Brittany take care of her, but this woman was relentless in her torture. She stayed silent, breathing heavily through her nose.
Ophelia:Â "Are you with me or against me?" Ophelia demanded, her eyes buried heavily into Santana's.
Santana:Â "What do you think?" she asked quietly, no sarcasm or sass in her tone as she matched Ophelia's gaze.
Ophelia:Â "Don't give me reasons to doubt you ever again." Ophelia let go of Santana's wrist. She said it, but the fact that Santana couldn't stop whining about Brittany was still concerning. Rosemary was running out of time really quickly. "Go home and get some rest. I want to see you at the end of the week."
Santana:Â Without another word, Santana yanked her arm back and walked to the portkey, nearly falling against it and squeezing her eyes shut as it spun her until she was sick to her stomach. She landed on the kitchen floor with a cry, bumping her head against the tile.
Brittany:Â Brittany didn't remember how she got to St. Mungo's ward. But later one of the nurses told her that her colleagues spotted her unconscious on the floor and brought her there. As soon as she woke up she started wondering about her girlfriend, running and bursting into every ward, looking for Santana. She was lucky that she wasn't transferred to psych ward after what happened. After drinking a calming potion she explained the situation and was sent home.Â
For a torturing 14 hours she was sending owls and trying to feel where Santana was. She was about to go to the Ministry and declare that the person was missing when she heard a yelp from the kitchen. Brittany rushed there and fell down on the floor next to her girlfriend. "Santana!" She held her head and rested it on her knees. "Baby, I thought... I... what happened?"
Santana: All the exhaustion and pain and fear boiled over the second she heard Brittany. She reached for her and tried to bury her face in Brittany's warm sweater so she wouldn't see her sob as hard as she was.Â
"Britt..." she cried between heaving breaths that shook her entire small frame. Her robes had holes in them where flames had fallen and sizzle through the fabric of her tight dress underneath them, burning her skin in raw patches. She was covered in ashes and mud and leaves. Her hair was a matted mess with dried blood from the deep cut on her forehead. Her hands shook like they would never be still again. "Don't make me go back," she whispered, clinging tighter to Brittany.
Brittany:Â Brittany's stung with upcoming tears. It was heartbreaking to look at Santana. But after all she was alive and back home, so the blonde inhaled deeply and looked at the ceiling for a moment to stop tears from falling. She picked up Santana's little body and took it to their bedroom. She put Santana in bed and stroked her hair.Â
"Wait here, I'll be right back," she went out of the room and came back with a bowl of water and a sponge. She placed it on the bedside table and sat down on the bed next to Santana. "What did she do to you?" it was more of a statement than a question. She reached for Santana's back to unzip her dress.
Santana:Â Santana cried into the pillow, not even caring that she was making the biggest mess on their bed. She didn't notice Brittany come and go, only images of fire closing in on her playing over and over again in her head. Each pass of Brittany's warm hands soothed her though, and she grabbed hold of her again, clinging to her for dear life. "S-she... locked me in a burning house. I.... I couldn't find a way out. The f-fire was everywhere," she managed to say between her tears, holding Brittany tighter.
Brittany:Â Brittany stroked Santana's back and her hair, listening to those terrible things she was describing. Rosemary was an angel comparing to Ophelia. How in the world Ophelia found out what Santana's biggest fear was? Was she trying to kill her? What the hell happened? She had all these questions, but didn't think it was the right time to ask them. "Shh, shh, it's over, you did it, you're home," she whispered, "I'm so proud of you," she kept saying. "Look at me,. baby," Brittany took a sponge, dipped it in the warm water and pressed it to Santana's face, carefully wiping away soot and blood.
Santana:Â Santana stayed quiet as Brittany softly cleaned her. Her tears slowed and deep exhaustion settled into her bones. She was content to just look at Brittany's face, knowing that she was safe now. She shivered, trying to meld into Brittany, her goodness and her warmth. She was so good, so sweet and perfect. How did she deserve her? Santana's mind threatened to go into her old spiral of self doubt and crushing fear and she clutched her head, stopping Brittany from wiping away more blood. "I'm weak," she cried, "Stupid and weak." Santana was getting worked up again, taking deep breaths as her panic made her unable to breathe properly.
Brittany:Â Brittany put the sponge back on the bedside table and pursed her lips, listening to Santana's words. She took Santana's hands to stop her from emerging even deeper in that complicated and paranoid mind of hers. "Can the person who knows how to fight their biggest fears be stupid and weak?" she asked quietly, the question wasn't even directly for Santana, "even if you are, I still love you the most," she said, decided not to argue. She shifted closer to her girlfriend, rubbing her shoulders. "Shhh, just breathe, baby. I'm with you, I love you so much."
Santana:Â Santana tried to catch her breath, her watery eyes staying locked onto Brittany's clear blue ones. She nodded quickly, trying to follow her words. "I love you too," she cried, falling forward and hiding her face in Brittany's neck. "I just... I just want to sleep."
Brittany:Â Brittany's muscles relaxed and the fear of Santana's being gone was finally gone completely. "Are you sure you're not hurt?" she wanted to make sure that taking care of Santana could wait for tomorrow.
Santana:Â Santana slumped against her girlfriend, tired beyond words. She decided just to rest and close her eyes, and if Brittany wanted to keep fixing her, she could. Santana briefly thought that if anything, she could heal herself completely tomorrow. For now, she just wanted to escape into sleep.
