Hello ladies, gentlemen and others!
I know a lot of you are here because the ever lovely dizzy recommended this fic, something which just made my day, so I hope you have enjoyed the story so far, and will stick around for the rest!
Guys, I cannot say enough nice things about my beta, GleekMom. Without her, this story would not be nearly as good as I hope you think it is. She was a giant help with this chapter, so if you aren't giving her some love, then I suggest you do it after you finish reading.
Blaine was glad he had grabbed his satchel before he left, intending to smack Cooper upside the head with it when he found him. He began towards the forest leading to the Hummel manor from the tavern, grabbing a lantern he knew would not be missed from the collection outside, left by the drunkards who frequented the Lima Bean. He lit the lantern and prayed he found Cooper quickly, since he was not much of a fan of wandering around in unknown territory while it was dark. He considered whistling but thought the better of it, figuring he need not attract the attention of any unwanted predators. Instead he stayed alert, keeping his eyes and ears open, all whilst thinking murderous thoughts about his brother, whose promises, he knew now, were worth nothing. If he didn't love the man he would leave him to rot the night away, but Blaine knew he would hate himself for doing so, especially if Cooper happened to be hurt.
Suddenly Blaine found himself staring at the gates of the Hummel home, surprisingly open, where Pavarotti was currently hitched. The horse looked fine, though asleep, with the grass below him looking well chewed upon. He rubbed down the horse, but left him to sleep, figuring he had earned a rest. He then began walking towards the decrepit house that stood before him. He was amazed that no one had been hired for upkeep, and wondered if the rumours surrounding the death of young Lord Hummel were factual. If so, Blaine was sad to see it virtually confirmed. He had pinned his hopes on Kurt fixing the many problems that Lord Clarington had caused with his hateful laws and raised taxes. He only hoped that either the rumours were false and the boy had merely left, not wanting the role of Lord Magistrate, or he had not suffered when he met his end.
Blaine was fairly certain his brother had been there. The front door had been left ajar, as Cooper so often did at home, and he quietly pushed in. He took in the destruction of the great hall. Footprints in the heavy dust in several directions, told the tail of obvious exploration. He laid his now extinguished lantern on a table, lamenting he had not grabbed a fuller one for his travels. Blaine decided to take a chance and called out. "Cooper? Are you here? Listen, I am so mad at you right now, but I am worried too, so if you could answer me, it would be great!" Hearing no response, Blaine continued on, following the footprints' trail until it lead to a grand staircase. It was then that he heard murmurs.
"Oh great, there's another one. Kurt's gonna kill me!" one voice said.
"Okay, one, why would Kurt kill you, it's obvious Ken's not on the job," a second voice responded. "I don't know why Kurt isn't tracking him down right now to give him a piece of his mind. And two, if you don't want the guy to hear you, may I humbly suggest you shut your big mouth!"
Blaine whirled around, looking for the source of the voices. "Hello?" he cried out. "I really don't mean to trespass, but I'm looking for my brother. I think he's in here somewhere, and he may be hurt. I just want to get him home safe and leave! I will give him an earful about intruding on private property later, but if you could please help me find him, I would be grateful."
Blaine couldn't see much with night having fallen, and there being no candles lighting the hall. However, he could see a light burning up the stairs, so he decided to follow it. It seemed to move further up the hall, so Blaine began to chase it until he came to a door. A lone candelabra stood outside, whoever moved it apparently in hiding. He tried the door, but found it locked. Figuring it couldn't hurt, he knocked upon the heavy wood and again shouted out, "Cooper? Cooper if you're in there please let me know!"
"Blaine?" a weak voice answered, muffled by the thick door and possible overuse. "Squirt, you have got to get out of here! There's some psycho who locked me in, told me I'm not allowed to leave! You need to get out, go home. Or go get a mob together to get this guy!"
Blaine sighed. "Cooper if you locked yourself in this room in a pout over being fooled I will so be kicking your ass later. Hold on, I think I have a lock pick. I am getting you out of here. Besides, the two of us can probably handle one guy who is probably just mentally disturbed." Blaine extracted his lock pick, something he learned early in teaching to carry, given the children's ideas of a joke to lock him in closets to avoid scales.
After a minute the door gave a satisfying click and was able to be opened. Blaine warned his brother to get out of the way before he swung it open and stepped inside. He was immediately grasped into a hug by Cooper. "Blaine, I told you to go, but I can't say I relished staying stuck in there, so thank you, and let's get the hell out of here before the master of the house returns and locks up us both!" Cooper tugged Blaine along down the now dark hall, the candelabra gone. Blaine wished he could thank whomever it was that had led him to his brother but they would probably be in trouble for helping, so he let it be.
They reached the base of the stairs when their path was blocked by an imposing cloaked figure. Cooper let out a yelp and dove behind Blaine. A candelabra sat on a table to the side next to a small barrister clock that was sparkly and black with gold features. Blaine thought it better not to grab the light source and held up his hands to show he meant no harm. "I'm sorry sir, I did call out when I entered. I just came to fetch this idiot," Blaine said as he jerked his thumb at the still shaking Cooper. "I really did not mean to intrude on your space, but he really can't stay here. He shouldn't have been here in the first place, and is very sorry. Our parents raised us better than this," he said with a glare in Cooper's direction, "and if you will let us pass I'll make sure he gets an earful about any disturbance he may have caused."
The figure did not move, nor could Blaine make out any features as it spoke. The voice held a bit of a growl, but was otherwise melodious and beautiful. "He should have left when I gave him the chance, but he had to go asking questions. Your brother is stubborn and unwise. No one is supposed to set foot in this place, I thought this was well known. He needs to be taught a lesson."
"If you feel that way sir, we can take the issue up with Lord Clarington, but I cannot let you keep him prisoner. Though I feel Lord Clarington would have something to say about you being here as well, as unless you are Lord Hummel or answer to him, you've no business on these grounds either," Blaine said, hoping to avoid any encounter with Lord Clarington.
"...and if I was Lord Hummel?" the figure asked, his voice gone soft, but still not moving from his spot in front of the brothers.
Blaine paused. If the man was Kurt Hummel then Blaine would have very little influence to change his brother's fate. "Well then you would have your right to punish Cooper as you see fit. But I do believe that the punishment for trespassing to this degree is a mere day in the stockade rather than life imprisonment. It is up to you what we do sir, but I am anxious to resolve it before it becomes far too dangerous to travel home in this darkness," Blaine replied, trying to keep his tone from going clipped, just in case he was offending his future ruler.
"Well yes, that was true...during my father's rule," the figure stated. Blaine felt his heart both sink and soar, the man's identity now confirmed as future Lord Magistrate Kurt Hummel, and his mind swirled with questions. "But Lord Clarington altered the ruling, stating that any man found entering the property of a higher official without express permission from said official would suffer for his crimes by serving two months time in the dungeon. Seeing as I possess no dungeon and had no wish to transport your brother to any such locale in the dark, I did what I could. Even gave him a one time offer to forgive and forget. But none will respect my rule if I do not uphold the law, as twisted as Hunter has made it."
Blaine prefaced his next words with a low bow, nudging his brother to do the same, though Cooper could still be heard whimpering. "My Lord, I do apologize, I did not realize. Of course you are entitled to exact justice as you see fit. Even though it seems you do not agree with the ruling."
"Do not presume boy, I had intended to release him in the morning, but you push me too far! If you feel it pertinent to speak to me as such, I can extend the sentence. Perhaps you would like to join him in imprisonment as well?" Kurt's voice was full of snarl, and he stalked towards the door, intending to close it before making any ruling.
Cooper finally spoke up. "Blaine had nothing to do with it! But he has a point, if you don't think it's fair, then don't do it! You're going to be in charge before too long, set a precedent that you don't stand for how Lord Clarington has altered the laws! Stand up to him!"
Kurt whirled at Cooper, the cloak falling from his face. The light hit and illuminated his features. Blaine gasped as he could make out horns, fur, fangs. He was staring at a beast. To his side he heard his brother faint, hitting the floor, but Blaine stood his ground. He didn't know if this creature was in fact Kurt Hummel somehow transformed or an evil beast assuming the Lord's identity, but either way he'd read enough about fantastical beasts and where to find them, to not be afraid.
Kurt's voice as he answered was a hoarse shout more than anything. "The last time I stood up to someone in my home I ended up like this!" Upon noticing Cooper's prone form, he rolled his beastly eyes. "Your brother is a useless waste, fainting again. He'll never last as a prisoner, but his sentence must be served by someone." Kurt glanced over to Blaine, his eyes studying the boy, growing dark with determination. "I suppose you'll have to do."
Blaine's eyes grew wide at this, and was about to protest it when Kurt continued "If you take his place, he'll be free to go. If not, then I cannot guarantee he will ever leave this place. Or that I will not turn him over to Hunter. And who knows what he'll do with him."
Blaine looked at his brother, the man who had continually disappointed him, the man who never kept his word, who valued himself above all others. Then he truly looked at his brother, remembering the Cooper who had vowed to love him no matter what, the man who had taught him to ride a horse, who had shown him the magic of music and reading. Blaine would do anything for his brother, this was just one more thing, only two months of imprisonment to possibly save his brother's life. It would be worth it even if it meant being trapped in a crumbling manor with a beast who had threatened him, with the man who could rule this kingdom.
The man who could maybe make this land a better place to live.
He realized that he'd known from the moment Kurt had laid eyes on him that this would be his fate. He had no choice.
"If I agree," Blaine questioned, "you'd free me after your name day? And no harm will come to either of us?" Kurt nodded. Blaine let out a sigh. "Then we are agreed. I will be your prisoner." Kurt's face showed no sign of emotion, but he stuck out a paw to shake, a gesture Blaine nearly ignored. He may be doing this for the right reasons, but he had no wish to touch the creature he now must acknowledge as his jailer. However, he knew things would be worse for him in the long run if he refused, so he gave a quick shake then retracted his hand like lightning. If he noticed the pained expression on Kurt's face at that, he refused to comment on it.
Kurt stamped past him, growling as he went "Wake him up, I'll prepare my stable hand to bring him to the forest edge. Get your goodbyes out now. Make sure he intends to keep quiet about all he's seen, can't have the place stormed by an angry mob, might just fall in on us." With a flick of his cape, Kurt slammed the outside door with enough strength it echoed throughout the manor.
Blaine looked at his brother, tears coming into his eyes as Cooper began to stir. What in the world had he done?
Kurt wondered to himself why he had reacted the way he had. He thought his days of tantrums, of acting every bit the beast he was, were behind him. Was it really so the law would be appeased? Or was it, if he admitted the truth to himself, a way to keep the handsome Blaine around longer? He had to admit, Blaine was gorgeous and caring and snarky and very potentially not interested in boys. Kurt could feel his heart pounding, wishing to give itself to the handsome boy, wondering why Kurt's brain was making him act so idiotic. Why was he torturing himself by imprisoning this boy-nay man into his home for the next two months only to get his heart broken? Even if Blaine would have had any remote interest in him before his transformation, there would be no way he would fall in love with a...monster. Especially one who had just imprisoned him. Kurt put all hope for a cure to his curse in the back of his mind and went off in search of Artie.
Artie had been a childhood friend of Kurt's whose parents had been in charge of the stables and other livestock on the estate. Shortly before Kurt's own parents had been killed, Artie had been in a horse riding accident, making him unable to use his legs and forced to use a chair with wheels to get around. Now that the curse had taken hold, he had been transformed into a stage coach, a cruel form of irony. Shannon had apparently explained the situation to his parents, who had been the next town over selling off one of the brood mares, but they had refused to reenter the grounds, fearing they would be caught up in the Mages' Council spell. Kurt had found them more useful on the outside than they would be inside, so he did not order them back. Instead they sent letters keeping Kurt informed of the goings on in the village and Hunter's reign, as well as buying for the household, loading up what was once their son up with supplies once a week. No one in the Abram's family like the situation, but they accepted it for what it was, and lived in hope that Kurt would someday be able to break the curse. But time was running out...
"Artie?" Kurt called out as he entered the stable turned coach house, hating that his friend was forced to reside there with naught but the ageing horses for company. He found his friend asleep, a gentle snore echoing through the stable. Kurt shook his head and smiled, hating to wake him up, but there was work to be done. "Artie I have a job for you, come on, wake up." Kurt tapped on the coach's front, avoiding where Artie's features could still be seen, though lax with sleep. "Come on, if you don't wake up I'm going to have to tell your parents on you. Paint a big sign right on your side saying 'I did not listen to Kurt' or something. Now wake up!"
"Yo, I'm up! No need to give me a paint job! Knowing my luck it would still be there when I changed back and then I'd have to go through life with paint all over me. Now what in the world do you need me for in the middle of the night? I'm not due to get another supply delivery until Friday. " Artie asked, rolling his eyes at Kurt.
"Okay, first off, it's not even ten yet, so I'm not sure why you were sleeping so early. Secondly, we have intruders, and I need you to escort one of them back home. Or well, to the edge of the forest, and make sure he does not try to sneak back in as soon as you dump him. Get to the front of the house, I'll shove him out the door and you take it from there," Kurt said, turning to head back inside the main house when Artie spoke up.
"Wait, we have an actual human being, one of your preferred gender and you are kicking him out? Are you insane! You only have like two months to break this stupid curse! You should be trying to woo the guy for all of our sakes!" Artie exclaimed.
"Artie..." Kurt sighed. He hated to dash the hopes of his staff and friends, they had never asked to be trapped as enchanted objects. The Mages had thought tying his loved ones' return to human form to his own would motivate him to find love faster. But well meaning as Shannon had been to warn people off when he was still having tantrums in his beast form, it had also kept away any hope of finding love. He had grown bitter, hopeless about being anything more than the monster he was. Now Kurt's hopes laid solely on Blaine, but they were such dwindling hopes that he didn't see much point in pursuing such a pointless road. No man could love his jailer, no man could love a monster who held the key to his freedom. "It is not up for debate. He has to go."
"And what about the other one?" Artie asked, giving an almost sly grin, "Don't think I didn't notice you said intruders plural." Kurt groaned and gave a pleading look not to push. "Oh don't even try with me boy, we've known each other since we were in diapers, so spill."
"Brothers. One broke in for an audience or some such, the other to save the first. I have to keep one as a prisoner for trespassing. So the younger one stays, just until the sentence has been served. If something happens between us then check the sky for flying pigs and a frozen layer of Hell. Now leave it," Kurt snarled before stalking off hoping to just end this whole evening and get the next few weeks of self-torture over with.
As he rounded the corner to enter the great hall, he could hear voices raised in anger. "What do you want me to do Cooper? Let you rot in Hunter's dungeon for who knows how long? If I stay, you live, simple as that. You made a promise, so you go home and keep it!" Blaine shouted, and Kurt could see he was getting a bit red in the face.
"Blaine, I would rather accept my punishment than leave you here with some...monster who may have you for supper!" Cooper screamed back.
"You can't be within viewing distance of him without fainting Cooper! He'd sooner kill you than deal with that! I can hold my own with some monster for two months. Hell, we're lucky he's not doubling the sentence for the both of us breaking in!" Cooper's face crumbled further at Blaine's words and Blaine realized he had to somehow convince his brother that he'd be okay. "Look, it gets me away from Tina for two months. You know she won't be happy without my ring on her finger but if I'm not there she'd rather marry Puckerman rather than go without her parents' money. So by the time I'm free from here she'll have to have at least been promised to another, if not wed"
"You don't deserve this," Cooper said, his voice soft.
Blaine didn't say anything. He knew he that none of this was fair, he didn't deserve to lose his freedom, especially like this. But he'd do anything to keep his brother safe. "Just keep quiet about where I am, and what happened here. Lie if you need to. Keep out of trouble and for goodness sake, stay away from Santana." Blaine whispered, running his hands through his curls in frustration. "If you piss her off I won't be able to rescue you."
Kurt stepped into the room. Part of him hated separating these two men, but how dare they break his solitude and make him hope for more than the life he was living. He didn't even care that the men had broken in, but to make him alive, make him believe in the chance to be a man again? That was worth punishment of the highest order, for he knew it would only end in his disappointment. He threw his hood on again and grasped Cooper by the arm, dragging him towards Artie and tossing him inside. Both brothers were shouting at each other, Cooper struggling and Blaine running after him, but neither were nearly strong or fast enough to truly halt Kurt. "Take him now, and make sure he doesn't follow you back. Bring the horse in when you return," he said as Artie rolled away amidst screams of Blaine's name.
"Cooper!" Blaine shouted, watching the horseless coach roll away with his brother, leaving him alone, a prisoner. He whirled towards Kurt who was stalking back towards the house, and his eyes filled with angry flame. "You could have at least let me say goodbye! I won't see him for months, won't be able to talk to him. Why couldn't you have at least let me say goodbye?" he cried, tears beginning to fall as Kurt stood by, ashamed.
Kurt didn't want to be cruel, but he knew it was the only way he could get through the next few weeks. Kindness would be his undoing. Yet his heart revolted, screaming at him to show some mercy, show that he was not all monster, that he was once a man somewhere deep inside. He gestured for Blaine to follow saying in a gruff voice "Come along with me, I'll show you to your room."
"So you weren't lying about the dungeon? Or do you just intend to lock me up like you had done to Cooper?" Blaine replied, his voice dripping with venom, reluctantly following behind, his body tense with hatred towards Kurt.
"This manor is your home now, you can go anywhere you like," Kurt continued, choosing to ignore Blaine's question, "All I ask is that you stay out of my room, and out of my things. A simple respect of privacy. If you require anything, my servants will attend to you. Rachel should be able to find you some suitable garments to wear, just ask, but do not trust her sense of fashion, it was deplorable ten years ago, and I very much doubt it has improved in time. I will expect you to join me for dinner every evening. Good night."
Blaine had not even realized they had reached their destination, a room across the hall from where he had rescued Cooper. The door was opened for him, and all Blaine could do was glare at Kurt and sneer, "This place will never be my home," before he entered the room, slamming the door behind him. Blaine cared not for the fine room, taking in none of the fine decorations as he flung himself onto the bed to finally give himself over to crying.