Chapter Twenty Two
"This place looks like someone tore a page out of an Edwardian history book and brought it to life," Kurt said as they settled into Dalton's apartment.
Blaine chuckled. "At least it's nice. And rather spacious. I don't think I've ever seen an apartment this big."
"I do love the kitchen area," Kurt admitted, glancing at the old wood burning stove and spacious work area.
"I'll have your dad make arrangements for groceries to be delivered, Blaine, if you want to make a list," Wes said.
Blaine nodded his head. "Sounds good, Wes. Um, will we still need a guard down here?" he asked, frowning a little bit.
Wes sighed. "I'd prefer it, but you'll at least have more privacy with the extra rooms, so you don't always have to be crowded in one room."
Kurt sighed. "I guess it's better than the alternative."
"It's time for a shift change anyway," Wes said. "Since they're done with the focus spell, Trent will stay with you for now." He paused a moment. "I think I'll take Jeff and Nick off the rotation though. I don't trust them in this apartment."
"Why not?" Kurt asked.
"Because these are the original furnishings, which makes them very valuable. With their antics, I'd be worried they might break something," Wes said.
Kurt frowned, but didn't say what was on his mind. He knew Nick and Jeff were the youngest members of The Circle, along with Trent, but in the short time he had been around them, they really hadn't displayed any kind of behavior that would lead Kurt to believe they would wreck the place. Jeff did act somewhat immature now and then with his teasing and inappropriate reactions, but he seemed harmless enough.
"As soon as Trent gets here, I'll leave you to it," Wes said.
Kurt just nodded and joined Blaine at the dining table, where David had left a tray of breakfast foods before heading back upstairs to get ready for classes. Jackie had left as they were getting ready for the move to the new room. She was going to spend the day with Burt, guarding him and educating him on his history.
"Talk about home away from home," Kurt said, admiring the antique dining table for a moment.
"The furniture all belonged to Henry Dalton's great great great grandfather, who hand crafted each and every piece," Blaine said.
"Wow, that must be really antique. If Henry Dalton came here in eighteen-seventeen, his great great great grandfather must have been around in the sixteen hundreds or something." He ran his hand over the smooth wood. "I always wanted this kind of furniture for my future home, when I'm a famous Broadway star."
Blaine smiled at him and reached out to take his hand. "I think you're going to be amazing," he said sweetly. "Just like you are now."
"And that is my cue to exit the room," Wes muttered, rolling his eyes and heading towards the door just as Trent knocked and let himself in.
Kurt and Blaine paid him no mind, not really noticing that he'd left the room at all. "You're so sweet, Blaine," Kurt said.
"I wouldn't go in the kitchen if I were you," Wes told Trent.
"Oh?" the younger boy said with a raised eyebrow. "Are they having eye sex again?"
"That, and the conversation is mush-central," Wes said.
"I'll take your word for it. I'll make myself comfortable in the parlor, I have a bunch of homework to catch up on, anyway."
Wes nodded. "Text if you need anything. And make sure Blaine gets me that grocery list."
…
Friday went by with little notice as Kurt and Blaine explored the apartment, and compiled a grocery list, which included ingredients for peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and cheese souffle, among other things. Mercedes and Santana came by in the afternoon to check out the new living arrangements. They each carried overnight bags with them, having been given permission from their parents to spend the weekend at Dalton. They were invited to stay in the guest room in the apartment, both for their protection, and to help guard Kurt and Blaine.
So Friday night it was just the four of them in the apartment, Kurt taking the time to familiarize himself with the kitchen, since he was going to be spending a lot of time in there. Blaine spent a lot of his time just watching Kurt with a smile on his face.
Santana observed the two of them from where she and Mercedes were working on more protection charms for The Circle. "They already act like an old married couple," she said softly to Mercedes.
"You can't deny that they're cute together though," the darker skinned witch replied as she set down one of the pendants she'd been working on.
"My Mexican psychic third eye is telling me those two are the forever type. I can almost see them all domesticated, with half a dozen kids running around."
Mercedes laughed. "Well good, because you and I both know how much Kurt deserves that."
Blaine set the table for four as Kurt pulled the casserole he'd made out of the oven. As he watched the auburn haired witch toss the salad, Blaine couldn't help thinking about what it would be like if this was their home, and they were having friends over for dinner to celebrate an anniversary or some milestone. He could picture being married to Kurt, and the thought sent a thrill through him.
"Hey, Frodo!" Santana quipped. "Are you going to place that knife or just stand there hovering it over the table?"
Blaine was startled, and turned to look at her, not realizing that he'd once again been channeling Kurt's telekinetic magic, and that the silverware he'd been placing was floating three inches off the table.
"Wow, hobbit, you're getting pretty good at that," Santana said, staring at the floating silverware. Kurt turned from his preparations at the kitchen counter.
"Blaine!" he cried out.
Blaine finally looked at the silverware, and after a moment, it settled neatly on the table. Kurt frowned. "Why can't I do that? How is it you have better control of my magic than I do?"
Blaine approached him and wrapped him in a tight hug for a moment. "Because you're special, Kurt," he said gently.
Kurt sighed. "Yeah, so special I can't even control even the slightest bit of my magic."
Mercedes stood and moved over to stand next to them and place a hand on his shoulder. "You will learn to control it at some point. For now it's just so new to you, you have to get used to it."
Santana nodded her head. "Besides, you seem to do remarkably well when you're not thinking about it." She paused. "Wait a minute, that's it! I think the key to learning to control it, is to stop overthinking it so much. You do perfectly when you're not even realizing you're doing it."
Kurt frowned. "Wes said my instincts were pretty good, and that my magic would react to those instincts."
"There's no one way to learn to use your magic, Kurt," Blaine said. "Everyone has their own tactics and ways that work best for them. Wes also said he didn't think you would have complete control over everything. But maybe that's because none of us have been thinking about how your control would work for you."
Kurt sighed again. "I do tend to overthink things, especially when circumstances are beyond my control. Maybe you didn't notice, but I hate not being in control."
"No, really?" Santana said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Blaine giggled as Kurt threw the Latina witch a glare. She laughed, and Kurt couldn't help but join her, giving her a one armed hug.
"Just remember, white boy," Mercedes said. "All of us are your family now too. Now let's eat. I'm starving and it's been forever since I had a Kurt Hummel meal."
They all laughed and sat down to enjoy the meal. Blaine took his first bite, and couldn't hold back the moan of pleasure. "Oh my Goddess, Kurt! So good!"
"Wanky," Santana smirked. "Food orgasms already. Should we leave you boys alone to eat in pleasurable peace?"
"Watch it, Satan. My instincts are kicking in, and there is a chocolate cake just behind you on the counter. Wouldn't want it to drop on your head, would you?"
"Oh look, more Harry Potter references!" Blaine said cheerfully.
"I loved Dobby," Mercedes said, taking another bite of casserole.
"I don't know anyone who didn't love Dobby," Blaine said. "I mean, how can you not love Dobby? He's Dobby!"
Mercedes nodded her head. "He and Hedwig deserved better. And Madeye."
"At least Dobby got a burial," Kurt said. "Hedwig didn't get one. And Harry felt guilty because she was mad at him at the time."
They spent the rest of the meal talking about other books and movies they'd all enjoyed, and for just a little while forgot about prophecies and demon vessels, and just let themselves be normal teenagers.
After the meal, Kurt was doing the dishes and the girls had excused themselves from the kitchen. Blaine still sat at the table, head resting on his hand.
"Are you alright, Kurt?" the curly haired witch asked after several moments of silently watching the taller boy washing the dishes. Blaine had offered to do them as Kurt had so kindly cooked dinner, but the other boy had insisted, saying he needed to do something with his hands at the moment.
Kurt glanced back at him, smiling. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about my mom. She and I used to do the dishes together, and she would sing to me."
Blaine got up from where he was sitting and approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She sounds like she was amazing, Kurt. Which kind of explains a lot."
Kurt smiled at him. "What about your parents? And your brother? I met your dad, and he seems okay. What about your mom?"
Blaine's own smile waivered, dropping from his face as he started drying some of the plates to keep himself busy. "She left," he said. "She was always sketchy with the magic thing and had kind of hoped for a daughter so she wouldn't be alone. Then when I was born…" He trailed off, thinking that he probably wouldn't have to elaborate.
"I'm sorry," Kurt said, taking his hand and giving it a little squeeze. "What about your brother?"
That pulled a snort from the younger witch. "Cooper? Let's just say you'll never be bored if he's around," he said. His brother was a handful, and not really someone he thought he could do justice by description. "You have to meet him to really get him," he said.
"I'd like that," Kurt said, half laughing. "If he's important to you, I want to meet him."
Blaine smiled at him, and squeezed his hand back. "It's not really all bad. My stepmom is the greatest. I often forget she's just my stepmom," he said.
"I'm fairly certain I'm going to have a stepmom in the not too distant future," Kurt said. "Carole is great. She's kind and sweet, and makes the best Mexican rice, next to Santana's grandmother, of course. And Finn, her son, isn't too bad now that he's been in Glee for a while. I don't think he was ever really comfortable with the bullying."
"That's great Kurt. Having a mother's love is really important and I'm sure she'll be wonderful for you." He smiled at the other boy, drying another plate. "I do sometimes wish I got the chance to know my actual mother though."
"If she couldn't see what a wonderful son you are, then you really don't need her. It sounds like your stepmother really loves you, though."
Blaine offered him a small smile. "I really love her too. She's amazing. However, I've noticed that even though she's my stepmother, I look a lot like her." He frowned in confusion.
Kurt just shrugged. "Genetics can be funny sometimes. Ethan and I look like identical twins, but I look more like my mom than my dad."
"But you are all witches," Blaine pointed out. "My stepmom is a human, like my mom was."
"And she knows about your magic?" Kurt asked.
"She does," Blaine said, with a fond smile. "And it doesn't bother her in the least. Says it makes her that much more proud to be the lucky woman to raise me."
"She sounds amazing. I can't wait to meet her." He frowned slightly before asking his next question. "Does she know you're gay?"
To Kurt's surprise, Blaine laughed. "She does," he said. "Told me by taking me to the gay youth center in Columbus once and then said she had a transgender cousin."
Kurt smiled. "I'm glad she accepts all of you, just as you are. I'm happy for you."
"She's the best stepmom I could ask for, Kurt. We'll have to have you over for dinner sometime," Blaine said, smiling at him.
…
While Kurt and Blaine were relaxing with their friends in the hidden apartment, Wes, David and Jackie were in the Sanctuary, where they could have some privacy.
"I need you to try and read my memory of Kurt's first day here again," Wes said.
The older woman adjusted the glasses she was wearing and straightened in her seat. "I hope that your mind is not quite so occupied this time," she said, giving both Wes and David a knowing look.
Wes let out a sigh. "I guess we aren't hiding anything from you. But that was one reason I wanted David to be here. At least if he is here, I don't have to worry about Andrew getting to him, or anything bad happening."
"Do you really think you can figure out what that spell was the vessel was chanting?" David asked, sending Wes a momentary side-glance.
Jackie shrugged. "If his mind is clear, I can read what he remembers. It will be up to you to decipher the meaning."
Wes nodded. "Let's try." He took a deep breath, and held his hand out to the older woman.
Jackie took it lightly, studying his face. "Think of the day Kurt arrived. The moment you first spotted him. Think of nothing else." She turned his hand palm up, and placed her other hand above it. As the memory played through her mind, she focused on the detail they needed. Suddenly, both she and Wes began chanting in unison.
"Ishna, torreh, somnu, torreh. Bahdu, torreh, ichna, torreh."
David frowned as he wrote down the words. He recognized the ancient language, of course, but it wasn't a spell, at least not one he had ever heard before.
Jackie released Wes' hand a few moments later and looked at the two boys. "Well, did you get anything out of that?"
"I'm not sure that was a spell, exactly," David said, holding up the paper, still frowning. "It doesn't sound like one I've ever heard, at least."
Jackie looked it over, frowning. "The cadence is wrong for a spell. Perhaps some kind of chant? For focus in some specialty magic? Healing perhaps?"
David and Wes glanced at each other. "I don't think it's healing," Wes said. "We've heard Beatz and Thad using healing magic dozens of times and, I don't recall hearing anything that sounded like that."
Jackie shrugged again. "There are numerous powers that use chanting for focus. Perhaps check with some of your other Circle members to see if they recognize it."
"Guess we'll have to," David said, holding up the paper and nodding.
"I'll call an emergency Circle meeting tomorrow morning," Wes said. "It's getting late, and it's been an eventful week. Let's all get some sleep and get a fresh start in the morning."
…
When Saturday morning finally came around, Wes was pacing the Sanctuary, looking very much like he hadn't even slept the night before. The moment they spotted him, Kurt and Blaine exchanged looks before retreating to their own seats at the front. Santana and Mercedes also exchanged looks, joining the rest of the boys as David stood at the front watching Wes pace with a worried expression on his face.
"Will you calm down? You'll wear a hole in the floor," the dark skinned witch said. He was really starting to hope that they could just solve this already because Wes really needed that vacation he talked about.
"Why don't you explain why you called the meeting?" Blaine said.
Wes' hands went up into his hair and he shook his head slightly violently. If he was being honest, all of this chaos and confusion was starting to get to him. "We found out what the vessel was chanting that first day that Kurt was here," he finally said, sounding remarkably calm despite his physical state.
"Well?" Jeff prompted. "What kind of spell was it?"
"David doesn't think it's a spell per say," Wes said. "He didn't recognize it. So we wanted to know if any of you might have a better idea. David, would you show them please?"
David nodded and handed the notebook he'd written it down in to Trent, who looked it over and passed it onto the boy next to him. "Jackie thought it might be a focus chant, but wasn't certain what kind."
"She thought it might be some sort of healing chant though," Wes said as the boys continued to pass it around.
Beatz glanced at it, and shook his head. "Not one that I recognize, anyway." He handed the notebook to Thad, who also shook his head.
"I'm pretty sure if there was something like this, one of our parents would have taught us," Thad said, passing the notebook onto Nick.
Nick frowned. "It's not a healing chant. And it's not a focus chant. It's for fine tuning scrying or pendulum work." He showed it to Jeff, who nodded in agreement.
Wes looked confused. "Why would the vessel be chanting something like that?" he asked.
It was Kurt who spoke up. "Maybe it was trying to locate something."
"And it may not have been the vessel itself chanting," Beatz added. "I talked to my uncle last night. If someone is trapped in the vessel, they may be attempting to communicate."
David furrowed his brow. "What are they trying to tell us though?" he asked.
Kurt's eyes suddenly widened. "The box! The box I saw in that vision or whatever it was. It wasn't still on Ethan's desk in reality."
"What box?" Wes asked.
Kurt frowned. He'd forgotten to tell them about it. "Ethan had a small black box, about four inches by four inches, and flat. He was debating giving it to Devon. I don't know what was in it, just that it seemed very important."
"Why didn't he give it to Devon?" Jeff asked.
Kurt frowned. "That black smoke filled the room, sending him to sleep. Maybe he forgot about it afterwards?"
Trent turned his eyes swiftly in Kurt's direction. "Wait, the black smoke put him to sleep?" he said.
"Yeah, I told Wes that yesterday when I woke up."
Trent stood up and started pacing much like Wes had before, but his hand was on his chin in thought. "That's odd," he said. "I don't know any sedative spell that produces black smoke. I don't think my dad or grandfather do either."
David was frowning as well. "Come to think of it, neither do I, and I'm pretty sure if there was, I would know about it."
Kurt was frowning now too. "You were there yesterday when I mentioned it. Why didn't that occur to you until now?"
David shook his head. "I'm not sure. I guess we just weren't thinking too much about the spell itself, but concentrating on why he would have been sedated."
Kurt shook his head, muttering under his breath about a Confundus charm.
"What was that?" Wes said, looking over at Kurt.
Kurt frowned at him. "I said I wonder if there really is something like a Confundus charm."
The boys all exchanged looks. "You think that might be why David didn't mention anything yesterday?" Wes said.
The pale witch frowned. "I wasn't actually thinking that, but now that I think about it, why wouldn't someone who is supposed to be an expert in spells not realize what I was talking about at the time?"
Nick shook his head. "So what, Andrew is casting spells on us from outside the school now?" he said.
"Are we sure he is outside the school?" Blaine countered.
The entire group exchanged looks, and Santana stepped forward, looking at David. "You better cast another reveal spell, Jamie Foxx."
David nodded and gathered the candles, setting them up on the main table. He quickly performed the spell, and they all waited as the wind whipped around the room and throughout the grounds and building above. It seemed to take longer this time before the red candle was extinguished, signaling that there were no imposters among them.
"Well," Kurt said, "that answers that question." He glanced over at Blaine.
Wes was frowning. "Yes, it proves there are no imposters present, but the question remains, could someone have cast a spell on David to make him forget?"
The room fell deadly silent for several moments before Mercedes said something. "Do you think Jackie might be able to find in David's memories when that could have happened?"
"She's not here. She's spending the day with Kurt's dad again," Trent said. "But Kurt might be able to read what happened."
Kurt frantically shook his head. "Are you nuts? I'm not ready to try anything like that! I haven't been able to do anything on purpose yet."
You read Jeff's memory the other day," Blaine reminded him.
"Huh?" he said, not sure what Blaine was getting at. So much had happened in the last week, Kurt could hardly keep up with his own memories.
"When Jeff had been impersonated by Andrew. You saw him drawing on a map with his finger, remember?" Nick said.
Blaine nodded. "It led us to find Matthew's journal and the emotion cage at your house."
"Did I do that on purpose?" Kurt asked, not entirely sure whether he had or not.
"It doesn't matter if it was on purpose or not. Your magic worked on instinct. You could just try reading David, and see if anything happens," Trent said.
Kurt moved towards David but then stopped. "Wait, if David wasn't even aware anything happened, would it even be in his memories?" he asked.
Trent, Wes, David, Beatz and Thad all glanced at one another, uncertainly. "Perhaps you'll be able to tell if there are any anomalies in his memory," Trent replied.
There was really only one way to find out so Kurt just nodded and took a hold of David's hand, shutting his eyes for a moment. The whole room was still for several moments until Kurt's eyes popped open again out of nowhere, and he shook his head in confusion. "David, what did you do Thursday night? The whole window after dinner is nothing but black until Friday morning when it comes back into focus."
Wes shook his head. "That's not possible. I spoke to him a couple hours after dinner regarding a homework assignment."
"I swear, that whole block in his memory is just black. Come here, I'll show you." Once again, Kurt took David's hand and then he grabbed Wes' with his other and shut his eyes.
Wes frowned. "Uh, Kurt? I clearly see David and I talking about the history homework."
Kurt's eyes popped open again, releasing Wes from seeing what he was, and he frowned. "I don't see anything in that period. It's just black from after dinner Thursday to Friday morning."
Trent furrowed his brow. "Someone's trying to block you from seeing what happened," he said.
Kurt shook his head. "I don't think so." He released David's hand and just focused on Wes. After a moment, he opened his eyes again, looking even more confused. "I can see everything you and David did through your memories, but when I try to see David's, it's black," he said.
Trent swore. "Andrew. He must have done something to David and impersonated him. What else did the two of you discuss Thursday night?"
Wes shrugged. "It was mostly just homework and some stuff about what we would do when break came." He paused and then frowned. "But then he started asking me all these detailed questions about Kurt, like he was suddenly more deeply interested in him."
"What did you tell him?" Kurt asked.
"I remember frowning and being very vague about stuff I did know. And I was honest about the things I didn't. But after David left for the night, it occurred to me that everything I knew about you, he should have already known himself."
"And yet you didn't bring it up with anyone until now?" Blaine asked.
Kurt smirked. "I think we've established that Wesley doesn't think straight when it comes to David."
The older boy let out a sigh and dropped his head. "I probably deserve that. But the truth is, I meant to mention it to you yesterday, but got distracted after you told me about the vision."
"The vision thing, you mean," Kurt said. He was still more convinced he'd gone back in time than had an actual vision. Why else was he able to actually communicate with Ethan?
Nick cleared his throat. "Not to say all of this isn't important right now, but if the vessel was chanting a scrying chant, don't you think we should be trying to find what it wants us to find?"
Kurt turned his head in Nick's direction. "It's got to be that box! But when I looked, I didn't see it in Ethan's room anywhere!"
"Well," Jeff replied, pulling a pendulum crystal from his pocket. "Let's find out where and what it is." He focused on the crystal, and began chanting the same words David had written down the night before.
Everyone waited in silence, wondering what exactly the spell would do and if it would tell them anything.
After a few tense moments of the stone just hanging still from the boy's fingers, it began to slowly spin in a circle, before swinging in an arch towards the doorway.
"Do we follow it?" Mercedes asked, looking around at the others.
Nick shook his head. "Not all of us. Too much energy. Kurt, Blaine, Mercedes and Santana, follow us. The rest of you, try and figure out what Andrew was up to and how he managed it."
"Right," Trent said. The rest of the boys nodded as Kurt, Blaine, Mercedes, and Santana followed Nick and Jeff out the door, Jeff leading the way by the guiding crystal.
It didn't take long for them to realize it was leading them back to Ethan's room.
Kurt was shaking his head. "This doesn't make sense," he said. "I could swear it wasn't in there."
"Maybe Ethan hid it," Blaine suggested.
Santana stopped in her tracks. "The desk. It's identical to the one in Devon's room."
"So?" Nick said, not picking up on what she was getting at.
"Oh my Gaga!" Kurt cried. "She's right! And if Devon's desk had a secret compartment…"
Blaine walked faster, Kurt on his heels.
"Hold up, white boy!" Mercedes said. "Just because you two had an epiphany, doesn't mean we're letting you out of our sight. Wait for us."
They reached the room, and the two boys quickly set to work examining the desk. Kurt opened the bottom drawer and slammed it shut, as he had done with Devon's desk a few days before.
And just like with Devon's desk, a secret compartment opened in the top. "Bingo," Kurt said. Inside was a flat black box, about four inches by four inches.