Surprise chapter! Just in time for Glee day! Huge props go to the ever awesome GleekMom for being a top notch beta and got this chapter done lickety split for me. I'll try to get the next one up as soon as I can. I hope everyone enjoys the season premiere of Glee tonight, I'll be watching it right along with you.
To say Blaine was worried was a generous understatement. As they raced through the forest, they came across a few magical traps; walls of thorns, enchanted swarms of bees and sinking sands all intended to slow them down. Thankfully Shannon could disarm any peril they came across, but each took precious moments away from rushing to Kurt's side. It also gave further proof that the Council cared not for breaking any laws restricting the use of their powers. His dismay did not lessen when he saw the state of the gate or the wounded men who rushed through it. He pulled apart the demolished gate and charged through, abandoning Pavarotti to the lawn when he spied the Council standing in front of the manor, obviously conspiring. He yanked Lord Figgins away from the huddle and launched a punch at his face.
"What have you done to Kurt!" he screamed, shaking the man while Santana and Cooper held St. James and Baptiste respectively. Figgins smirked, saying nothing, so Blaine dropped him and gave a swift kick to his ribs. "Tell me what you've done, or so help me, you will not live to see another dawn." Blaine's voice seethed with rage, his eyes burned in anger.
Figgins coughed, a trace of blood coming from his mouth. "Hummel is protected from all magical attack, so we merely informed Hunter that he was vulnerable to mundane weaponry. If he fails, well, we have shortened how long he has left to free himself. After the clock strikes noon today, if his curse is not broken, it never will be." Both Santana and Dani looked confused by the mention of a curse, and Cooper looked a bit pale, but he had come to terms with Kurt's form, in the hopes that it would not always remain as it was.
Shannon yanked Figgins by the collar. "You have no right to do that! He was given until he came of age! You have no power to change that! You cannot change it so he has mere minutes!" she bellowed as the clock in the village began to chime five minutes to the hour. Figgins merely laughed. Shannon looked at Blaine, as if searching him for something on his person. "Go help Kurt. I can deal with these buffoons, now go!"As a roar rocked through the courtyard, men scrambled past them and Blaine wasted no time in rushing off to Kurt.
She then turned to the three members of the Council with an almost malevolent smile. "Now, I have the pleasure to inform the three of you that you have been dethroned. Your Council positions are no more. Normally that would be the end of things, but since you have broken our laws, conspired against your lord and now are helping a man commit treason, I get to take your powers and banish you. The new Council will be elected, but they told me I could carry this out. Give my regards to Terri and Sue." She shot a blast of power at all three as they disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Now let's go make sure Hunter has not harmed Kurt, or else we are all up shit creek with no paddle."
When various inanimate objects started coming to life and attacking his men, Hunter was dumbfounded. The Council looked to be quickly scurrying from the fray and Hunter scoffed. They were cowards. Cowards who could have at least warned him this place had been put under some sort of protection spell. It seemed no broom or fireplace poker was gunning for him, so he slinked up the stairs, determined to look for Kurt and let his men handle a few pieces of enchanted cutlery. He came to a long hallway, most doors closed, but there at the end, one was ajar. Hunter smirked. "Found you Hummel, and now there's nowhere to run."
Hunter crept down the hall to the open door, pushing it quietly and peaking inside. What he saw astounded him. It seemed it was not just the objects of the household who had become enchanted. Before him sat, at a table in the corner, a great beast. Its fur was the colour of chestnuts, with a long mane tied back in a blue bow. The sun caught on shiny horns, sharp fangs and fearsome claws. A tail was threaded through simple breeches and the plain tunic the beast wore did naught to hide the powerful build underneath. Hunter shook with fear but stayed rooted to the spot, taking in the monster before him.
"I suppose I should thank you for eliminating the competition for me," he spoke with far more bravado then he felt though his voice still wavered. "But I cannot allow a monster such as yourself to roam free in my land."
The beast smirked, then spoke, its voice melodic yet rough. "Your land? You are a mere caretaker. And I am no monster. I am Kurt Hummel, Lord Magistrate of this kingdom." The beast whirled around, his eyes flashing pale fire, his stance broad and firm.
Hunter gaped in shock. He had expected to find a weakling boy on the cusp of manhood who would gladly surrender to save his own life. Instead he found this beast who looked determined and fierce. Hunter knew he could not hold his own in any fair combat against this monster. So he would have to be sneaky and get a shot in when he could. He began to circle Kurt, who stood proud and straight, but kept a constant eye on Hunter's location. Hunter assessed the best way to catch him off guard as the two regarded one another as predator and prey.
"Well this explains so very much," Hunter said, determined to goad Kurt into making some fatal error in judgment. "Including Anderson's obsession with helping you, I always knew those of his sick persuasion were a few short steps away from mating with the animals. When I have your head mounted on my wall I shall make sure all who are known to share this proclivity are put to death. Blaine shall be the example to all not to defy Lord Hunter Clarington!"
Kurt knew he was being played, but rage erupted in his blood, and he let out a window shaking roar before charging at Hunter, swiping at his chest. Hunter jumped to the side at the last second, a rip in his doublet, but no scratch marred his skin. Kurt slammed into the nightstand behind him, sending the washbasin careening to the ground, smashing into pieces. He stood, shaking his head, looking at Hunter and lunged again, grasping the other man by the arms and shoving him against the bedpost. Hunter was struggling, but his eyes betrayed his absolute terror. Kurt smirked as he spoke. "You shall never harm Blaine. Or me. Or anyone again. Lord Hunter Clarington I hereby charge you with destruction of private property, trespassing, kidnapping, torture and, oh yes, treason. I would normally allow you to stand trial, but seeing as most of those charges are a result of today's little foray, I think a lifetime in your own dungeon shall teach you that no one pushes the Hummels around."
Kurt drew back his fist as if to punch Hunter when a voice rang out, "Kurt!" He stopped and turned. Seeing Blaine standing there his strength grew even greater and he beamed before slamming Hunter against the bedpost and flinging him to the side. He gathered Blaine up in his arms, swung him around and pulled him in for a kiss. When he pulled away Blaine's smile could have blotted out the sun it was so bright. Kurt opened his mouth in preparation for those three words to finally erupt from his being when Kurt let out a pained roar.
Hunter had grabbed a piece of the shattered basin and stabbed Kurt with it from behind. He was grinning maniacally and looked poised to stab again. An enraged Kurt whirled around and used almost the last reserves of his strength to pick Hunter up and fling him out the door of his room into the arms of a waiting Shannon who disappeared with him in a flash.
Kurt collapsed, Blaine rushing to him to break his fall. He pulled his love close cradling his head in his lap, pressing his hands into the wound at Kurt's side.
Kurt's breathing was laboured as he weakly lifted a paw to Blaine's face. "You came back." he said, running his fingers through Blaine's curls. He felt weak, wondering if it was just the blood loss or if it was something much more sinister at play. Blaine nuzzled his face into Kurt's paw, pressing a gentle kiss there.
"I promised you I would. Now we need to get you patched up. Can't court me properly if you have a big old hole in you." Both men gave a weak laugh until Kurt started to cough. Blaine held him, knowing their time was limited, but wanting nothing more than to avoid reality for just a little while longer. "I'm here now, it'll be alright."
Kurt smiled sadly, feeling himself lose consciousness as he lost blood too fast. He knew this would be the last time he would hold Blaine. Kurt's head dropped back, a single tear falling from his eyes as they began to close. His heart slowed as even the firm pressure to his wound did little to stem the bleeding. But he could not leave this world without saying the one thing he had been longing to say for so long. "Blaine. I wish I could hold you forever, but this one last time will have to be enough. Just know...I love you Blaine. Love you so much."
Blaine had tears streaming down his face. "No! No you can't leave me! I love you! Please Kurt, don't leave me here alone, I love you so much!" he shouted, bringing his hand up to push their mouths together in a sweet, final kiss. Kurt barely responded and Blaine began to sob as the hand that had been holding Blaine's curls dropped.
The clock struck twelve and Kurt was gone.