Chapter Ten: The Truth Unfolds

' What do you mean he escaped?'

Jack cringed at his father's harsh tone, holding his ground as he stared down at the ground, the marble floor reflecting the candles that lit the otherwise dark, echoingly large room. Karofsky and Azimio stood behind him, recovered from their minor injuries, knelt on the ground and bowing their heads, and behind them, other members of their coven, eyes dark and faces hidden by the shadows.

' We…we were surrounded and would have been overpowered, we had to retreat' the blonde boy explained.

The king, sat upon his throne, surveyed his son, eyes red and angry, letting out a heavy sigh and smirking when his young son winced at the disappointment prominent there. he stood, his footsteps loud as he walked down the steps and towards Jack, who squeezed his eyes shut. Again, the king took pleasure from his son's fear, reaching out to cup his chin, forcing his head up, those bright eyes looking up at him.

' You have failed me Jack'

' I'm sor…'

' Do not apologise. Do not speak. All I want from you is your brother' the king snapped, the vampires in the room bristling as his voice echoed around them, sending shivers down every one of their spines. The king smiled at the feel of Jack's shiver. ' Any other time, I would punish you, all three of you, and send someone I believe to be more…capable of subduing your brother, but this time…this time I shall make an allowance. It still falls upon you to bring your brother back, and I want it done right Jack, understand?'

Jack tried to nod, but his father still held his chin, forcing him to speak. ' Yes father'

' Good, otherwise I shall send your sister, and I know you do not want that' the king chuckled, releasing his child and turning back towards his throne, crossing his arms behind his back. ' Funny, how you wish to protect your sister so much, yet you know what I shall do to your brother when you return him to me. Blaine may be my better child, stronger than you Jack, and most of the others, but that does not excuse what he has done…he has betrayed me' the king sat back down on his throne, looking down at his blonde son again. ' How much pushing would it take for you to betray me Jack?'

' I would never betray you, father'

' Hm…we'll see, bring your brother back, and you may get the praise you think you deserve'

' Yes father'

' Dad, I'm sorry…'

' Sorry doesn't cut it Kurt! I can't believe you could have done this! You Bonded! You Bonded without my permission, with a boy not part of our coven, who I don't even know!' Burt bellowed, pacing back and forth, fists clenched in his anger. ' Kurt! What were you thinking?'

' I wasn't thinking, I was going on instinct and I'm sorry…!'

Burt ran a hand across his head, glaring at Blaine and the way his son stood slightly in front of him as he passed. They had moved to Burt's office on Carole's insistence, Carole, Finn and Puck standing anxiously beside Burt's desk as the coven leader paced, growling angrily to himself. Blaine shifted anxiously, wanting nothing more than to reach out a touch Kurt, but he didn't dare move under the eyes of Kurt's father. He knew that the Warblers – the conscious and capable Warblers – were just outside the door, but the leader…Kurt's father, looked like he wanted to rip him apart.

' Dad, I didn't know that Blaine was the son of another coven leader until afterwards, but…but I trust him, he's not here to spy or…' Kurt cut off, shrinking away from the frown on his father's face. He hated when he looked like that, he looked disappointed in him. ' Dad…'

' Kurt, I'm not upset because you Bonded with the son of another coven leader; I am upset because you know what has happened in the past. You know what I have done to punish those who have done the same thing you have! You have always asked me to treat you the same as every other member of this coven…so what would you have me do now? Would you have me banish you as well? Would you have me punish you…my own son, in the same way?'

Behind him, Carole clutched her hands to her chest, eyes filling with tears as Kurt stared at his father, his own eye wet. Burt sighed, seeing this too.

' How could you do this Kurt?' he asked quietly.

' I…it happened so quickly…I didn't think. Dad I…you always told me that Bonding is instantaneous, and it takes a lot of control not to let it happen straight away. I'm weak and we were out in the town, and wasn't able to stop myself, I'm sorry!' Kurt exclaimed, a few stray tears rolling down his cheeks. Blaine winced at the sadness in Kurt's voice, clearing his throat nervously, trying not to wince as Burt hard gaze jumped to him.

' Sir, it wasn't just Kurt's fault, I didn't stop it either and I am sorry for putting your coven and your relationship in jeopardy' Blaine said, trying to keep his voice steady and hold Burt's gaze, even as the hardness turned to a glare. '…But I love your son, and I am willing to do anything to stay with him and be with him. I am very sorry sir, but please do not put all the blame on Kurt, I have seen how hard it has been for him to keep this from you, he just didn't know how to tell you, sir'

Burt stared at him for a long moment. The boy was just that, a boy, just like his son. He was strong, Burt could tell from his muscle, holding himself in a way only apparent from years of living in the spotlight as the son of coven leader. The boy stood close to his son, as if wanting nothing more than to reach out and touch him, and Burt was sure that this was what the boy wanted.

' How can I trust you boy? You say that your father wants to collect my son, to build an army, how can I trust that you won't steal my son away, when you have already kept this from me?' Burt growled.

Blaine took a shaky breath. ' Sir, my friends and I used to belong to my father's coven, we used to live in what we called a school…with forty-eight other boys, all purebloods and half of them with Gifts. They were all my friends, I loved them like they were my brothers, and my father had them killed in the Purge…he ripped them apart and burned them all, and would have done the same to myself and my friends if we hadn't been tipped off my Jeff and escaped…trust me sir, after what happened to my friends…to my brothers, I have no allegiance with my father, and the fact that he has now started to use my younger brother…that is unforgivable' Blaine gritted his teeth, dragging a hand through the side of his hair. ' I have not had an allegiance with my father for over a century sir'

Burt listened closely to the boy, surprised by his story. He had not expected that. He had expected a succession of excuses and reasons why he was a good person. He glanced at Kurt, who had taken Blaine's hand now, squeezing it comfortingly.

' I don't want to question you about what your father did, as I cannot imagine a father doing that to his own son, so I will ask you this, who of your friends are Gifted?'

' Jeff, Wes, Trent and Cameron, the rest were killed'

' Their Gifts?'

' Wes is able to speak telepathically with others but not read minds, Trent is immovable when on the ground, Cameron is able to put a trace on people, he touches them and he can find them easier than any trained tracker, and Jeff is able to predict things, not the future but he can sense things that are about to happen, which is why he was able to warn us about the Purge' Blaine explained. ' I'm assuming that's why they are the ones who were the most injured'

' You know of Kurt's Gifts?'

' I know he has one, I haven't asked him what it is. The other guys don't really like talking about their Gifts so I figured Kurt might be the same'

Burt sighed again, biting his lip and looking back and forth between the two boys before glancing over at Carole, tears still on her cheeks. She gave him a reassuring smile, nodding, and Burt hung his head, growling in frustration. He hadn't wanted his son to find a Bond Partner like this. He had been willing to wait until Kurt was older before he found his Partner, knowing that there were not many gay vampires in the state of Ohio, now this had happened. He hated that he hadn't been able to get to know this boy who obviously loved his son. He hated that everyone would judge him for banishing other members of the coven and not his child. But there was no way he could bring himself to banish his son, to send him away because of something he hadn't been able to control.

Elizabeth would hate him if he did, and the idea of his wife's spirit hating him made his old heart hurt.

He pointed at Kurt. ' You are grounded. No leaving the estate, I mean it. You will drink from blood bags and no T.V. for a month, and that's me being lenient, okay son?'

Kurt nodded. ' Yes dad'

' Okay' Burt repeated, looking at Blaine. ' And you, you will move in here'

Blaine glanced at Kurt, who smiled, before nodding as well. ' Yes sir'

' You and your friends'

' Of course sir'

' You don't have to join our coven but you will swear your temporary allegiance to me and my family'

' Yes sir'

' We will protect you here, from your father and any other attacks from anyone else he sends, but you have to be completely honest with me, about everything, and I mean everything. I may not be the smartest man in the world, but I am no fool, and I do not like people thinking that they can keep things from me' Burt told him sternly. ' I can see that you love my son, and I know that you didn't mean this to happen, but it is your job to protect him now, understand?'

' Yes sir, of course sir'

Burt nodded. ' Okay. I am disappointed…with both of you; make that disappointment go away by proving that you do care for each other, and never keeping anything as big as this from me again. Okay?'

' Yes sir'

' Kurt?'

' Yes dad'

' Okay. For the month of your grounding, Blaine is not staying in your room Kurt…'

' But dad…!' Kurt began to protest, cutting off when his father gave him a look. A "do not push me" look.

' I will have some of the maids make up the guest rooms. Some of the boys will have to stay in the medical rooms for now but hopefully that won't be for too long. Blaine can move into your bedroom once the month is up and you're no longer grounded, and I am only allowing this because you are already Bonding, if you weren't then you wouldn't get this privilege, so do not make me regret this decision'

' Thank you sir' Blaine said quickly and Kurt smiled in amusement at his politeness. Burt grunted, turning towards his desk. ' Sir, I'm sorry for bringing this all on you. Jack – my brother – and whomever else my father sends, they will come eventually, and hopefully they won't be able to find us here very easily, but…I'm sorry if anything happens to jeopardise your coven, and thank you for offering us sanctuary, we are very grateful'

Burt turned back to look at him as he spoke, the boy stared hard at the floor. He smiled slightly. ' You're welcome Blaine, and as for any attacks, we'll deal them. Now I'm sure you want to see your friends so both of you can go'

Blaine nodded, heading towards the door, stopping there when Kurt didn't follow him, going to his father and wrapping his arms around his neck. Burt looked stunned for a moment, before smiling and hugging his son, stroking his hand down his hair and rubbing his back.

' Thanks dad, I'm sorry I kept this from you' Kurt whispered. Burt nodded.

' I forgive you'

' I love you dad'

' Love you too kiddo'

' So we're staying here then?' David asked, slumped in a chair, a blood bag held loosely in his hands. Blaine nodded, looking round the medical room at the boys. Half of them were almost completely healed, the small cracks slowly healing over as they drank from the blood bags. Cameron's whole left side was heavily wrapped in blood soaked bandages, trying to heal the burns, his brother at his bedside, gripping his right hand tightly, trying to distract him from the pain of it, Flint doing the same for Trent, whose arm was wrapped in the same crimson bandages. It hurt for cracks and burns to heal, the others could bare it because they were only small but Cameron and Trent's faces were contorted with pain, the boys occasionally letting out a sharp gasp as something in his arm set or snapped back together, and as the burnt skin grew back. Jeff had woken up only half an hour ago, and only then had Emma been able to persuade Nick back into a bed rather than a chair, the blonde climbing in alongside him as soon as some of his strength was back, curling up beside the brunette. Kurt was sat on the end of Nick's bed, smiling occasionally at the blonde.

' Kurt's father has permitted us to stay here, only if we swear our temporary allegiance to him and his family, I have agreed to it, but I am giving you permission, if any of you do not wish to stay here, for whatever reason, I'm not going to ask…you can leave, but you have to tell me now if that is your wish' Blaine told the full room of vampires. None of the boys said a word and Kurt's smile got wider.

' Blaine, mate, we've been through enough, we can't stop now' Thad said, grinning. Blaine nodded his thanks.

' Okay, thank you, all of you. I'm sorry this has happened and I am so thankful that you are all okay. Right, Kurt's father is preparing rooms for all of us, Cameron, Nick and Trent, you'll have to stay here until your injuries are healed properly, Jeff I'm assuming you want to stay here as well?' Jeff nodded silently. ' And the woman…what was her name Kurt?'

' Emma, she's Bonded with my father's second-in-command and has medical training' Kurt explained.

' Okay, Emma wants you to stay here too Wes' Blaine finished, looking over at his taller, Asian friend, slumped in a chair beside David, sucking from his own blood bag, his shirt open and showing off the wrappings of white bandages. He glared at Blaine, shaking his head.

' No way, I'm fine'

' Wes, you have a huge gash across your chest, you've lost blood that you need to replenish, you are staying here until Emma says that you're okay' Blaine ordered. Wes huffed, still glaring, wincing when David patted his arm.

' You'll be fine dude, it'll probably only be for one day' he laughed. ' Wes doesn't like hospitals' he explained to a confused looking Kurt.

' What if Jack comes back?' Sebastian spoke up, throwing his empty bag into the trashcan.

' Then we'll deal with him. Father is manipulating him, I just know it, maybe I can talk to him next time…'

Kurt pulled a face. ' I don't think that's a good idea Blaine, Jack is…' he shivered. ' There's something about him. I don't like it'

Blaine shook his head. ' No, what you've seen is the Jack who is being controlled by our father; Jack is a kind and loving boy, albeit a little crazy. The only reason he's being used by dad is because he's Gifted' Kurt raised an eyebrow. ' He can create fire. A kind of ironic Gift really. He's the one who set fire to the house'

' That's an impressive Gift' Kurt muttered under his breath. Visible Gifts were almost unheard of.

' So what do we do until then?' James asked.

Blaine shrugged. ' We wait, we swear our allegiance to Kurt's father, we behave ourselves and we wait and see what happens. It won't be long before something else happens, I'm sure'

' Looks like you got your way'

Kurt tipped his head back to look at Blaine, smiling cheekily. He knew what he meant, but let an innocent look grace his young features. ' What ever do you mean Blaine?'

Blaine grinned, digging his fingers into Kurt's ribs, making him squeal and giggle, wriggling in his lap. ' You know what I mean, you cheeky thing. You wanted me to move in, now I'm here, under the watchful eye of your lovely father'

The brunette grinned. ' Ah, then yes I did get my way, it's quite a common thing around here'

Blaine laughed. ' I'm sure it is little prince…Kurt?'

' Yes?'

' What is your Gift? I know it's rude to ask but I was just wondering'

Kurt had stiffened in his arms, rolling and pushing himself up on an arm so he could look at the boy beneath him, biting his bottom lip. He glanced down at Blaine's neck, raising a hand to run his fingertips across the bite marks and smiling at the shiver that ran down the other boy.

' I can control people's minds…hypnotise them, to do my bidding' he explained quietly, shifting so he was knelt between Blaine's legs, hand slipping down to his shirt, trailing up and down his chest. ' I've never done it to you…just so you know'

' I wouldn't think you did babe…that's a pretty…interesting ability'

' Yeah dad thinks so too, that's why he's so worried' Kurt shrugged. ' My mother had the same abilities, telekinesis too…very powerful'

' Had? How'd she lose her powers?'

' She didn't, she died' he sighed, playing idly with a button on Blaine's shirt. Blaine winced.

' I'm sorry Kurt. But who's that woman with your father then? The brunette?'

' Oh that's my stepmother, Carole, she and dad got married a few decades ago. Finn's my stepbrother but we're pretty close by now…sweet guy looks out for me as much as Noah does' Kurt explained, frowning suddenly. ' Why are you asking me all this?' he asked, suspicion in his voice. Blaine shot into a sitting position.

' I'm not going to betray Kurt, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it seem like that…I just want to get to know you more' he gasped, cupping Kurt's pale cheeks gently in his hands. ' I will never betray you Kurt, I'll never give you to my father…he's a monster and I never wanted you to get caught up in all of this…you're mine now, my baby, my love, my beautiful boy…I would never hurt you like that, and I will always protect you…I've sworn that to your father and I swear it to you as well' Kurt smiled, touching the hands still covering his cheeks.

' Thank you Blaine' he whispered.

' For what?'

' For agreeing to come here, I know you could have just taken off but you didn't so thank you'

Blaine smiled back, leaning in and pressing his lips to Kurt's. Kurt leaned into him, dropping his hands to Blaine's chest, pushing him back on the couch again, and hovering over him, their lips still connected. Blaine let his hands fall from his cheeks, sliding down his body and wrapping round his waist, humming happily as Kurt's body pressed against his, the slender boy's tongue slipping past his lips and over his own.

' OKAY ENOUGH OF THAT!'

Kurt growled against Blaine's lips, pulling his mouth away and looking up to glare at Finn and his friends in the doorway. The girls all had smirks on their faces, slightly glazed over looks in their eyes, whereas Finn looked annoyed and Puck amused.

' What?'

' Finn! We said not to disturb them!' Mercedes exclaimed, swatting his arm.

' You just wanted to watch them make out, perv!' Puck laughed, coming into the room and throwing himself down on a couch opposite, as Kurt lifted himself off of Blaine. ' And Finn's right, no making out in the living room'

' Fuck off Noah, I've seen you doing worse on that very couch' he snapped, giggling when Sam froze halfway down onto the couch, eyes widening before changing his mind and sitting in the armchair. ' Slightly safer Sam, good choice' the blonde pulled a face.

Finn cleared his throat, taking up one of the other armchairs, Rachel perching on one of the arms primly. He was eyeing Blaine closely, cracking his knuckles half out of nerves and half trying to be threatening. Blaine raised a curious eyebrow at Kurt who just rolled his eyes, leaning against his side and wrapping an arm around Mercedes' shoulders when she came to sit beside him.

' Go ahead Finn' he sighed.

Finn ignored him, still staring at Blaine hard. ' I don't trust you'

Blaine scoffed. ' Yeah? Well I think I'll still be able to sleep at night knowing that' Most of the other vampires in the room laughed, ignoring the hard look from the couple in the armchair.

' It's not funny dude, why should any of us trust you after all of this?' Finn demanded.

The curly haired boy began to answer, mouth snapping shut when Kurt leant forward, glaring at his brother with clenched fists. ' Because I trust him and love him, so if you don't trust him then you don't trust me, and if that's true then you can get out now'

Finn gaped at him. ' You'd throw me out because I don't like him?'

' No, I'd throw you out if you don't trust me!'

Blaine laid a hand on Kurt's knee, rubbing his thumb across his jean-clad skin. He didn't want Kurt fighting with his brother, not after admitting that they were close, that Finn protected him. Blaine wanted to like the boy, the brother of his love, and he wanted him to like him as well. He didn't intend to leave the estate; he wanted to stay with Kurt. That would be harder if Finn hated him. He looked across at the much taller boy.

' I'm not going to hurt Kurt…I'd rather hurt myself…and I am grateful to you all for coming to help my friends and I, you didn't have to put yourselves in that danger but you did so thank you…'

' Don't try and sweet talk us mate' Puck told him.

' I'm not trying to sweet talk you, and I know it's going to take a while before any of you trust me…'

' I trust you Blaine!' Brittany exclaimed and he looked over in surprise at the girl, smiling. ' You make Kurtie happy'

Kurt blew a kiss to the blonde.

' Okay…' Blaine smiled at her before looking back at the boys. ' I know it's going to take a while before most of you trust me, but I'm willing to work to gain your trust, just tell me what to do'

Puck shared a grin with Mike and Artie. ' We're gonna have to put some thought into that dude'

Artie chuckled. ' This is going to be fun'

Blaine turned to Kurt, eyes wide, hand squeezing his knee. ' Am I going to enjoy living here? I'm starting to doubt it'

' You'll be fine sweetie'

Blaine frowned at Puck, standing up. ' I'm gonna check on the guys' he mumbled, hurrying out the room, leaving a gang of laughing vampires behind and Kurt's voice yelling at them loudly.

' Stop trying to haze him!'

A/N What will Blaine have to do to prove he can be trusted to the other vampires? Any ideas, give me a review and I'll see which one I like best! Ooh! And will Jack succeed this time? Dun dun dunnnnnnn!

Sorry it took a while, I've started writing a novel and I have exams at Uni so a lot of my time is being taken up! I finish Uni soon though so lots of time to write!

Keep reading and reviewing! Love to all! XD x x