AN: Oh my gosh it has been so long since I updated! I am so very sorry. If you follow me on Tumblr you know I ran into some issues with this story, namely I lost three chapters I had written and couldn't find the motivation to re-write them. I finally kicked myself in to gear though, with the help of my wonderful Beta TheatreVicki, and hope to get back to a regular posting schedule now.
Thank you all for your patience with me!
"All the ancient classic fairy tales have always been scary and dark." - Helena Bonham Carter
The air was heady and too sweet, like a room full of dying flowers. Blaine blinked his eyes a few times to make out where he was in the darkness. It was cold, and the ground was spongy and damp, but as he turned in a slow circle, he realized he was indoors – or at least surrounded by stone walls on every side. His heart rate quickened; something about this wasn't right, he wasn't meant to be here.
"Hello?" Blaine's voice was stuck in his throat. "Hello!" He tried again, but the words came out as little more than a hoarse whisper. Something really wasn't right. He needed to get away from this place, but as he continued to scan the area, he realized none of the walls had doors or windows. A shiver ran down Blaine's spine; there was no way out.
"Blaine." A soft voice called out behind him and Blaine spun around, his heart in his throat. Suddenly, he wasn't alone; a woman with graying dark curls and green horn-rimmed glasses smiled at him. "Oh sweet Blaine, you shouldn't be here."
"I… don't know how to leave."
She held out a hand towards him, "Let me help you."
"Blaine!" Another voice cut sharply through the heaviness of the room; Blaine gasped and turned again. Another woman, this one young and beautiful with golden hair and golden eyes that seemed to burn right through him in anger. "Come with me Blaine." There was a mirror behind her, not just any mirror, but the tall, looming silver glinted mirror from the third floor. "Come to me."
"No." Blaine answered, starting to break out in a cold sweat, even as he took a step towards her.
"Yes Blaine." The young woman's ruby lips curved up into what was probably meant to be a smile but the baleful expression just made Blaine's stomach tighten. "It is your destiny."
"Blaine don't," the woman behind Blaine called. Blaine turned to look at her, but Aunt Helen was gone.
"Blaine!" Saffron screeched to get his attention again and Blaine's eyes snapped open as he sat up quickly.
He was sitting in bed, breathing fast and shallow, fear thrumming though him. There was a hand on his back, rubbing softly in circles and a sweet voice in his ear.
"It's okay Blaine, it was a dream. You're okay."
Blaine swallowed and looked up to meet Kurt's gaze-his blue eyes filled with worry and his brow furrowed. Behind him, Blaine could make out the curtains in the room fluttering heavily as if carried on a breeze not coming from the window. But they died down quickly.
"Blaine are you okay?"
He looked back at Kurt who was sitting beside him in his pajamas, his hair sleep mussed and his lovely face illuminated by the light of the moon streaming in through the window. "Blaine?"
Blaine's tense muscles relaxed a bit as he remembered falling asleep next to Kurt in his bed. They hadn't done anything more than some light making out before bed, but still, it felt wonderful to sleep so close to Kurt.
"Blaine, talk to me," Kurt said tensely, his jaw tightening, "Are you alright?"
That's when he noticed that Kurt didn't just look concerned, he looked scared.
"Fine. I'm fine. It was just a dream."
Kurt let out a breath of relief, his hand moving from Blaine's back to brush some curls away from his face. Blaine shivered pleasantly at the touch. "It wasn't just a dream," Kurt said quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"I woke up because you were tossing and turning in your sleep, but then I saw that there was some kind of… of wind coming into the room from the hall, it kept circling like it was waiting for something and I…" Kurt swallowed deeply and scooted closer to Blaine, "I would have sworn I heard a woman's voice calling your name."
Blaine nodded slowly, "Saffron. In my dream… she wanted me to go to the mirror… and I wanted to."
Kurt's eyes widened and he quickly got up from the bed, Blaine leaning a little after him. "That's it. We're leaving."
"Wait… what?"
Kurt pulled his suitcase out from under the bed and then plopped it down on top of the dresser, opening drawers and tossing his things in. "We're leaving. We can't stay here. Not when the mirror is after you."
"It isn't-"
"First with the lights, and now with that wind circling the room and someone calling your name. And your dream."
"I think I've had that dream before and just didn't remember, maybe that's why I'm always tired here."
Kurt took a moment from his packing to glance at Blaine, and Blaine could see his blue eyes that were pale in the moonlight, his hair, soft and hanging over his brow, and his beautiful lips that were pursed. And Blaine's pulse sped up looking at him. "It wants you Blaine, we should have left as soon as we realized that."
"Us."
"What?"
"It wants us," Blaine said, thinking it over as he slowly got out of bed. "The lights drew you in too, and your brooch back at the museum, which led you to the mirror."
"Okay… maybe," Kurt said, considering it, "Or maybe I'm just a bystander. Either way it isn't safe here." He started packing again. In the short time he'd known Kurt in person, Blaine had already learned that his clothes were very important to him, but now he was just piling them in his suitcase without a second thought.
"We can't just leave." Blaine glanced to the ceiling, picturing the mirror upstairs. He had wanted to leave before, he'd wanted to burn the whole place down, but now… now he wasn't sure. The mirror was fascinating and powerful and Blaine was so intrigued by it.
"Blaine. Blaine," Kurt called to him and then snapped his fingers in front of his face – that got Blaine's attention. "We are leaving."
"But the mirror."
"Will still be here in the morning. I'm not saying we give up, but I don't think staying here is a good idea. Let's find a hotel or something."
Something hot and irritated turned over in Blaine's chest and he almost wanted to shout at Kurt; he could leave but Blaine wasn't going anywhere. Blaine shook his head and took a step back, the strange anger in him dying down as quickly as it started, "Yeah, um… okay. I'll go pack."
"Thank you." Kurt sighed. "We'll bring the magic books and Saffron's diary. We aren't giving up, just playing it safe."
"Okay," Blaine repeated and smiled, reaching out to take Kurt's hand in his own and giving it a squeeze, "Thank you for looking out for us."
Kurt blushed a little and smiled tentatively, "Just go pack, Blaine."
"Got it!' Blaine said with a salute, and then he turned on his heels to go gather his things, but not before noticing the small shy grin that spread over Kurt's face.
Kurt didn't relax until they were in the truck and pulling up to the White Pinecone Inn, a beautiful, spacious Victorian home that had been converted into a small hotel. They wheeled their luggage in and Blaine greeted the woman at the front desk.
Kurt leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, "We only need one room." Blaine's stomach swooped and he tried to keep the silly grin off his face as he checked them in.
Once safely in their room, Kurt fell down backwards onto the bed as Blaine slung the duffle bag of books he was carrying down on the table in the corner.
"Look at that," Kurt said, pointing, and Blaine looked at a large mirror over the dresser. "A nice boring, non-magical mirror. I bet if you tapped it nothing would tap back."
Blaine smiled and walked up to the mirror, tapping on the glass. It was of course silent in return.
"Amazing. Who knew I'd be so excited about an object that doesn't have magic." Kurt grinned at him from the bed and then patted the mattress next to him.
Blaine came over and sat down, Kurt still ginning up at him.
"You're in a good mood."
"I feel suddenly reenergized and free."
Blaine glanced at the clock on the bedside table, "It's 3:30am."
Kurt sat up enough to lean back on his elbows, smiling at Blaine. "Do you want to go back to sleep?" His eyes scanned over Blaine's body in a way that made goosebumps rise on Blaine's skin.
"I… um…" Blaine swallowed and glanced to Kurt's lips, "Did you have something else in mind?"
Kurt sat up all the way, leaning in so his face was just a breath's distance away from Blaine and he ran his hand down Blaine's chest stopping at his belt buckle, "I might."
Blaine chuckled nervously, "Um… really? This is sudden."
Kurt quickly withdrew his hand, "If you don't want to-"
"No! I wasn't saying that." Blaine scooted in closer to assure Kurt that it wasn't that he didn't like the idea of them doing something, "I just don't know where this is coming from."
Kurt quirked an eyebrow and Blaine wanted to kick himself for putting a stop to what Kurt was trying to start. Eventually, Kurt's face softened and he let out a sigh, "When I woke up and you were stuck in that dream and some creepy voice was calling your name… I… god Blaine, I was terrified. And I was mad at myself for letting it happen-"
"You didn't-" Blaine tried to interject but Kurt kept going, determined.
"When you touched the mirror and it seemed like it wanted to pull you in, I should have known right then that you were in danger. I guess, I don't know. We are both here and we're safe and I was just feeling… grateful." He shrugged and looked up at Blaine with deep blue eyes that were so earnest Blaine's heart stuttered a little.
Blaine swallowed deeply, glancing from Kurt's eyes to his lips, not knowing what to say. His mind was full of shining mirrors and gold fiery eyes and the fear and excitement he'd left Callaway Place in, but Kurt seemed to want to put that behind them for now.
Kurt tentatively placed a hand on Blaine's arm, and when Blaine smiled at him, he leaned in to brush his lips ever so softly against Blaine's lips. Blaine's eyes fluttered closed as Kurt's hand ran up his arm to cup his neck and move in for a true kiss, lips only slightly parted as they fit perfectly against Blaine's.
Blaine smiled into the kiss, his mind slowing down and Kurt coming into focus, the house and the magic and the mirror fleeing his thoughts as Kurt moved his soft lips against Blaine's.
"Blaine I…" Kurt whispered, warm and tender against his skin. "God you feel good."
Blaine wondered if that was really what Kurt had meant to say, but he wasn't going to press; he brought his hands up to hold both of Kurt's arms.
Kurt kissed him again and then pulled him down on top of him until they were both lying on the bed. Blaine's hands moving all over, trying to find one place to linger, Kurt holding him lightly around the back as their kisses deepened.
If Blaine hadn't been sure what Kurt wanted already, he would have figured it out as soon as Kurt rolled his hips and Blaine felt him hard and wanting against him.
"What do… do you… think?" Kurt asked breathily as Blaine kissed down his neck. "It could be fun. A good stress relief."
"Yes," was all Blaine could manage to say; it was more than just fun stress relief for Blaine and he had to ignore the way his heart twisted at those words, but he wanted this and would take what Kurt was able to offer. He'd be a liar if he'd said he hadn't thought about this before. About Kurt's lips and skin and body. He would have never made a move, though, not when Kurt seemed so unsure of Blaine, when he still seemed to be holding back something.
"Are you sure you want to?" Blaine asked even as Kurt flipped them over and slowly started unbuttoning Blaine's shirt, "Because we don't have to- ohgod"
Kurt had ducked his head to sweep his tongue over Blaine's nipple.
"Blaine, I'm a grown man and I know what I want and right now it is you."
"O-okay," Blaine breathed.
Kurt ran his hands up Blaine's arms, taking his shirt with him; it slipped off easily and was tossed aside. Kurt kept undressing Blaine, swatting away his hands when Blaine tried to help. He took off his shoes and undid his belt and then pulled off Blaine's pants painfully slow. Then he was back kissing Blaine needily as Blaine's hands tried to get under Kurt's shirt.
Kurt, for his part, didn't seem interested in undressing yet; instead, he started to place hot kisses all over Blaine's skin from his jaw to his chest to his sensitive stomach and the insides of his thighs. Blaine was squirming and panting, each kiss like a spark that ran through his whole being "Please, please Kurt."
Kurt looked up at him with a playful smile, "What do you want?"
"Could we at least… take your shirt off?"
Kurt laughed and then sat up, straddling Blaine's hips, as he slipped off his shirt and then started unfastening his belt. Blaine put his hands over Kurt's, stilling him for a moment, and then he just let his eyes graze over the beautiful smooth skin of Kurt's defined chest. "You are so fucking gorgeous."
Kurt laughed again, his cheeks reddening, as he slipped his pants down over his hips and lifted himself up so he could kick them off. They were both left in nothing more than their underwear now as Kurt laid himself over Blaine and tangled both of his hands in Blaine's hair and kissed him deeply.
Blaine let his hands wander again down Kurt's strong back, up his smooth sides, and then down again over Kurt's underwear to lightly squeeze his ass. Kurt moaned and bucked his hips at that and soon they were rutting against each other, their gasps and groans filling the room. Blaine's body was trembling, his skin hot, as Kurt pressed his lips against any patch of skin he could reach, and they continued to rock against each other.
"So… hot…" Kurt said as he lifted his body up to straddle Blaine again, and Blaine didn't know if he meant what they were doing or the temperature, as both of them were glistening with sweat. Kurt quickly pulled off his underwear and Blaine's eyes grew wide as he took in the sight of him. Perfect. That was the only word for Kurt Hummel. Perfect.
"Yours too?" Kurt asked, and Blaine was nodding like a mad man and lifting his hips to pull his own briefs off.
Kurt was laughing at him and the sweet sound made Blaine's heart grow warm. He stopped laughing, though, once Blaine was completely naked, and Kurt moved his hand down, his fingers gently tracing patterns over Blaine's erection. Blaine lost track of all rational thought after that-Kurt's naked body moving against him, fitting perfectly against him-and with each drag and roll of his hips, Kurt was taking Blaine apart. He'd never felt like this with anyone, he'd never felt like this about anyone.
Kurt was his best friend, his childhood friend and his childhood love. And he'd grown into a man that Blaine couldn't help but fall for all over again. Strong and brave and snarky-Blaine loved all of it. And god, Blaine didn't know what to do about anything going on in his life right now… but he did know one thing for sure...
Kurt was trembling now, their bodies a heated concerto of increasingly erratic movements. Blaine was close-he knew he wasn't going to last long. He crushed his lips against Kurt's as Kurt rolled his hips against him again, and then Kurt was coming, gripping Blaine's shoulders tightly, his mouth open in a breathy cry of pleasure, which was all it took for Blaine to shout Kurt's name before he bit down on Kurt's shoulder and fell over the edge himself, relishing the perfect culmination of Kurt's skin against his, his scent around him and his lips sliding over him.
They were both breathing deeply, trying to catch their breath, as they lay on the bed unmoving. Kurt was heavy and hot on top of him, but Blaine would rather be smothered by him than dare ask him to move from where he was. They were quiet for a moment. The world was still and quiet and perfect.
Blaine leaned up to kiss Kurt's brow, still coming down from his high, but he was sure in what he knew and how he felt. "I love you, Kurt Hummel," he whispered.
Blaine's heart sped up as Kurt was silent in return… he wasn't going to say it back. Blaine let out a long breath. Kurt wasn't going to say it back, and that was okay; it didn't stop what Blaine said from being true.
Kurt lifted himself up, and instead of speaking, he just kissed Blaine, slow and tender and passionately, as if he was trying to put everything he wasn't saying into that one kiss. And that was good, that was okay; Blaine had foolishly made Kurt wait on him for six years. He could be the patient one now.
Eventually, Kurt did roll off of him; he scrunched his nose and looked to Blaine next to him. "I feel sticky."
Blaine laughed and got up from the bed, kissing Kurt quickly and hurrying to the bathroom. He brought back two wet cloths and they cleaned off, Kurt yawning as if he wouldn't be able to keep himself awake much longer.
They both scooted themselves under the covers, not bothering with pajamas. Kurt draped an arm over Blaine's stomach and pillowed his head on his chest, "Thank you." Kurt yawned and Blaine laughed lightly, not sure what Kurt was thanking him for.
"Thank you," Blaine answered, and soon they were both drifting off to the most peaceful sleep Blaine could remember having in a very long time.
Kurt woke up feeling cozy, content, and satisfied all the way down to his toes. There was something warm and pliant beneath him and he snuggled in closer craving that warmth. Kurt smiled as his head rose and fell with each breath Blaine took and he realized he was nestled closely against his chest. Blaine's strong arm was around his back and keeping him close, as if letting go were impossible.
Kurt was fine with that; he couldn't think of anywhere he'd rather be than safe and warm under the comforter with Blaine. He couldn't remember ever waking up feeling like this, so safe and happy and peaceful. Blaine just made him feel that way, and last night… oh god last night had been amazing, it had been everything, it had been perfect… almost.
Blaine's hot skin against his own, their lips sliding together, their bodies in unison, and then Blaine had said I love you.
Kurt's stomach plummeted at the memory.
Blaine had been so sweet and sincere and he looked at Kurt as if he was the only person in the world. Kurt had wanted to say the words back, he could feel them lodged in the back of his throat, but he couldn't. He just couldn't. Not this soon. Not when the future was still so unknown.
Instead, he had kissed him and held back the words that were ringing like bells in his mind, and Blaine had accepted that. He just held him tighter and kissed him deeper and made Kurt feel like he was coming apart but also being put back together again.
Kurt closed his eyes at the memory, they stung a little with unshed tears, and tilted his head to place a soft kiss on Blaine's chest, right over his heart. He felt, rather than heard a chuckle rumble through Blaine.
"You're awake then?" Kurt said, looking up at him and blinking his tears away, as he found a smile on Blaine's lips even though his eyes were still closed.
"Almost."
"Hmmm… maybe I can help with that." Kurt kissed his chest again and then traveled up his neck and over his jaw until he reached Blaine's lips, kissing him sweetly.
"Awake now?"
Blaine opened his beautiful golden eyes. "Very." He lifted a hand and traced his fingers down Kurt's face. "This is perfect."
"I was just thinking that," Kurt said, kissing him again—long and deep—and he could feel himself stir against Blaine's still naked body. He broke the kiss, panting a bit. If he didn't get up right then, they were going to end up in bed all morning. He wasn't sure his heart could survive that.
He rolled away from Blaine and out of bed, looking around the room for his boxer briefs that had been so quickly discarded the night before. He found them and pulled them on, turning to look back at Blaine who was lying on his side, his head propped up on a hand and the sheets draping low over his hips. He was breathtaking, all that tan skin and firm muscles. Kurt had known, of course, that Blaine was gorgeous, but seeing him last night, and now knowing what that beautiful body felt like moving against Kurt – his throat suddenly felt dry. "I'm going…" He coughed, "Um, I'm… to take a shower."
Blaine's eyes were roaming over him as if hungry for him. "I'll take one after you." He smiled and got up out of bed, completely nude and completely dazzling.
"Uh yeah!" Kurt squeaked, grabbing some clothes without even looking at them and his toiletry bag and rushing to the bathroom.
Kurt scrubbed his hair roughly under the cold spray of the shower, as if he could wash the tangled thoughts out of his head. Last night had been a mistake… hadn't it? How could something so pure and wonderful be a mistake? But Blaine had said I love you, and that wasn't okay. Even if something deep inside of Kurt had wanted to echo the words back to him.
What had he done? Why couldn't this just be a fun fling? Why did it have to mean something? But sex always complicated matters even without an unrequited I love you. Kurt got out of the shower with a sigh, towel dried himself, and pulled on his clothes. He'd do his hair back in the room so Blaine could shower next.
He was relieved when he entered the bedroom to find that Blaine had at least pulled on some pajama bottoms. He wasn't sure what he'd have done if greeted by the very agreeable sight of a naked Blaine again.
"There is a breakfast buffet downstairs until ten," Blaine said as he grabbed his things for a shower.
"I'll wait for you."
Blaine shot him a stunning smile and Kurt all but melted down into a chair as Blaine disappeared behind the bathroom door.
"Fuck," Kurt hissed to himself and hung his head in his hands. He was in deep, and it wasn't just the sex – though that had been incredible – it was Blaine. Silly and sweet and handsome and brave and just Blaine. Everything Kurt remembered of him and so so much more. Kurt had been a fool to think he could actually guard his heart against the romantic onslaught that was Blaine Anderson.
He groaned and reached over for the duffle bag on the table next to him. He just had to think of something else, and a powerful, dangerous, cursed mirror seemed like a good distraction. Besides, he'd seen something in one of the books yesterday that he couldn't stop thinking about.
He flipped through, skimming over passages about glass magic and reinforcement symbols and traveling mirrors, until he found it. A strengthening spell, not for people, but for spells. It was meant to be used in combination with any other spell to make it twice as strong. Maybe with this spell and the spell Kurt had already tried on the mirror, he could actually destroy it. He'd hurt it last time, he was sure of that, having twice the power might finish it off for good.
There had been nothing in Saffron's journal about removing magic for the mirrors, though there were missing pages. Maybe they had been torn out by accident over the years, maybe on purpose, but they were lost now. Meaning, his magic destroying spell still seemed like their best shot.
Blaine came out of the bathroom dressed casually with his hair in wet ringlets over his head. Kurt had to let out a long breath as he closed his book and looked up at him.
"Find anything interesting?" Blaine asked, nodding to the book in Kurt's lap, his dark eyelashes framed against his tan skin and biting his lip shyly in a way that made Kurt want to get up and bite it for him. Pull yourself together Kurt!
"Maybe."
Blaine's eyes locked on Kurt's. He walked over and straddled Kurt's lap in the chair, his arms looped around Kurt's shoulders. "You should tell me all about it," he said, kissing him.
Kurt moaned and wanted to just melt into the kiss. But honestly, they couldn't be distracted; they had an evil mirror to destroy.
"I think… I have..." Kurt said between kisses, "An idea."
"Yeah?" Blaine kept kissing him.
"Why don't… we talk about it over breakfast?"
"Okay." Blaine stood and Kurt wanted to whine and pull him back down. He didn't.
Blaine smiled at him and rubbed the back of his neck shyly, "Maybe we could talk about some other things too?"
Kurt's stomach twisted, "Yeah… okay."
They sat across from each other, brushing hands and feet and smiling and flirting like they had been all week. It felt different now, though, more charged and electric. Kurt knew what Blaine looked like under his jeans and purple Henley, he knew what his skin tasted like, he knew the sounds he made when… Kurt cleared his throat and glanced down at the book of spells he'd brought down from the room with him.
"I think I found a spell that could help us."
Blaine took a bite of his English muffin and nodded, "What kind of spell?"
"It is a pairing spell, meaning you use it in conjunction with another spell – it makes the spell you combine it with stronger."
"And… how does that help us?"
"If I use it with my spell to destroy dark magic, I think we could finally destroy the mirror, Blaine."
Blaine put his muffin down and folded his hands on the table, "What if... what if we didn't destroy the mirror."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, every time we've tried, it's fought back. And now it seems to be working against us even when you aren't throwing spells at it. It's dangerous." Blaine's face and voice were solemn but there was a spark behind his eyes Kurt couldn't place.
"I know it's dangerous, that's why we have to destroy it."
Blaine chuckled and looked away from Kurt, pushing hash browns around on his plate with his fork. "First, I want to leave, then you want to leave, and then I want to leave." He looked up at Kurt, his eyes earnest. "Maybe that means we should just leave it."
Kurt shook his head, not believing what he was hearing, "We can't just leave it."
"I could rent a storage space; we could lock it up there. Board up Callaway Place, put up 'No Trespassing' signs and be done with it."
"That isn't a long-term solution." Kurt's pulse was starting to pound; was Blaine really giving up now, after all they'd learned?
"Why not? I'll pay for the damn storage unit for the rest of my life if I have to."
"And what if the mirror starts calling out to other people?" Kurt's voice was raising a little, "What if someone decides to break into Callaway Place? Blaine, I understand why you don't want to go back, I do." He reached out towards Blaine, but Blaine moved his hands back. The gesture stung more than Kurt would have thought. He cleared his throat. "But what you're suggesting is just a band-aid not a cure."
Blaine sighed and kept looking down at his plate.
Kurt pressed on, "The mirror does seem to have really woken up though; it is far less passive than it once was. And I truly do believe it is after you. I don't know why. Because the house is yours? Because you're a Callaway? In any case," Kurt tried to meet Blaine's eyes but he wouldn't look at him, an idea that had been floating in the back of Kurt's mind was coming together. "I don't think going back to Callaway Place is a good choice for you."
Blaine finally looked up, "So then you agree? Lock it up and throw away the key?"
"I don't think you should go back," Kurt said tentatively, watching Blaine's expression closely. "I still could. I have to finish this, Blaine. I can't leave that kind of magic just lying around, it's my duty to-"
"No," Blaine said sharply, surprising Kurt with the abruptness of his reply.
"No?"
"Like hell am I letting you go back there alone to face that… that thing. It's my fault you're involved in this at all. I won't allow it."
"You won't allow it?" Kurt said, bristling, "You won't allow it?" He let out a hollow laugh, "You don't get to dictate what I do."
"Kurt. You are not going back there."
Kurt's jaw dropped; Blaine's face was fierce, his eyes flashing and his jaw set. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Kurt knew Blaine was only saying this to keep him safe; still, he'd never been good at taking orders.
Kurt shook his head and scoffed, "I get to do whatever I want with that mirror." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away from Blaine. "I mean technically the mirror belongs to me. I own it. It was my bonus at work."
"Well, it's my house."
"And it's my mirror."
Kurt heard Blaine's chair scrape against the floor abruptly, and when he looked up, Blaine was standing. There was a brief moment where they locked eyes before Blaine grabbed the magic book off the table and started marching out of the dining room. "Blaine! Wait!" Kurt stood hurriedly, what was left of his breakfast long forgotten.
He followed Blaine outside and hurried to catch up until he was able to meet his purposeful strides.
"You know, Kurt, I could just destroy this book and Saffron's diary. I mean technically they do belong to me, my Aunt left them to me."
"Blaine, please. I shouldn't have said that. Don't be mad."
Blaine stopped walking and turned to face him, all trace of annoyance leaving his face. "I shouldn't have tried to order you around or fight about whose house it is. I'm not mad, Kurt, and I don't know why I'm getting so upset about this…" Blaine trailed off with a long intake of breath. "I'm scared. I'm scared for you. If anything happened to you… I…" Blaine swallowed deeply, the apples of his cheeks red. "I just want you safe."
Kurt stepped close to Blaine, pulling him in with a hand on his waist and one on the back of his neck. "I just want you safe," he said, whisper close, before brushing his lips against Blaine's. It was true, he needed Blaine to be safe he couldn't bare the though of anything happening to him. The intensity of his own emotions were worrisome to him, but he'd have to short that out at another time. He could feel Blaine's whole body relax as he leaned forward into Kurt's embrace. "But I can't leave the mirror." Kurt continued, "It has to be stopped."
"And I can't let you go back to Callaway Place alone."
Kurt nodded, his nose bumping Blaine's, there was no deterring either of them. "So we finish this the way we started it. Together. Okay?"
"…Okay." Blaine nodded and then surer, "Okay."
"I'll need some more ingredients for this strengthening spell. Some fresh herbs and some pyrite."
"Pyrite?"
"Fool's gold."
"I know what it is, I'm just not sure where to get it."
"A jewelry store maybe?"
"Okay," Blaine held out a hand for Kurt, "Jewelry store and then the farmer's market it is."
Kurt wanted the morning to last forever; they dropped by a small touristy jewelry shop where Kurt found a necklace with a pyrite charm that would work perfectly. He also couldn't help but admire a Victorian serpent and acanthus leaf brooch, which, despite his protest, Blaine insisted on buying for him. Blaine pinned it to his coat as they stood in the parking lot.
"We still haven't talked about what happened last night," Blaine said, hands softly moving down Kurt's chest.
"Your dream?"
"Kurt."
"That voice calling your name?" Kurt said, going for teasing.
"Kurt."
Kurt nodded; he knew what Blaine meant. "I know... I mean, I know what you said and I know I didn't say it back and-"
"Kurt, no. No, no. We don't… I didn't expect… I…" Blaine sighed and reached out to adjust the brooch on Kurt's lapel, "I just mean us sleeping together, don't we need to talk about that?"
"Yes," Kurt breathed, looking Blaine in the eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. "But not yet."
Blaine nodded, "I can wait."
Next, they went to the Farmers Market, which was full of colorful fall vegetables and fresh smelling herbs. Kurt bought the ingredients he would need and a few small Asian pears for them to munch on since they didn't finish breakfast. They walked, swinging their clasped hands between them and smiling at everything. Kurt so wished that the rest of his visit to Maine could be like this. Just being with Blaine, peaceful and sweet, getting to know each other better working out his muddled feelings for this man who was so important to him.
"There is this beautiful old lighthouse down the coast," Blaine said, licking pear juice off his lips. "I'd love to take you there."
Kurt closed his eyes and sighed, "I would love that too."
"We could go this afternoon," Blaine suggested tentatively.
Kurt opened his eyes and looked at him.
"Or not."
"I want to, Blaine, really."
"When this is all over?"
"Yes. It's a date."
"A date?" Blaine grinned at him and Kurt's heartrate sped up.
"Um, well you know… I mean… it's just what people say."
"A date." Blaine winked at him and Kurt just chuckled and shook his head.
They grabbed a late lunch and headed back to the Inn where Kurt decided to practice the strengthening spell. Blaine helped him put it together. "Okay, now mix the lavender petals in with the rose oil," Kurt instructed as he read over the spell.
"This smells really pretty."
Kurt glanced up at Blaine and smiled, "We haven't added the beet juice yet."
Blaine's nose scrunched up, "I hate beets."
Kurt laughed and stopped himself from swooping in and kissing him; he didn't want to get distracted in the middle of putting a potion together. "Well, we aren't going to eat it."
"What are we going to do with it?" Blaine said, glancing over to the book as Kurt dangled the pyrite over the potion and murmured something.
"We're going to dip these in it," Kurt said, finishing with the charm and holding up two nails.
"Nails?"
"Iron. We have to coat iron in this potion and then recite a spell over them."
"Of course we do." Blaine laughed and Kurt's stomach swooped again. He was in so much trouble here.
Once they were done with the mixture and Kurt had dipped the nails in it, he held them out on his palm and recited the charm; they immediately buzzed and bounced in his hand, the potion evaporating off them in a little puff of steam. "Now we test them," Kurt said, closing his eyes and curling his fingers around the nails while he chanted the word of the light brightening spell he often used.
The lights in the hotel room buzzed and immediately grew brighter and brighter until several of the bulbs burst, filled with too much power. Blaine gasped and Kurt's eyes snapped open. "Oops."
Blaine smiled at him, his eyes warm as he leaned forward ever so closer to Kurt, "I guess it works."
Kurt bit his lip and smiled back, "Good."
All too soon, it was time to head back to Callaway Place. They wanted to get there and perform the spell before nightfall. Kurt gathered the books and Saffron's journal as they prepared to go back to the old mansion.
Kurt thought about the day before, first those lights drawing Blaine to the mirror and then the voice calling out to him as wind rushed through the bedroom. Kurt trembled thinking of it. He'd been terrified for Blaine, and he'd still much rather go finish this on his own. But he'd never let Blaine go back there by himself, so he couldn't expect Blaine to be alright with him doing that. They kept their room at the White Pinecone Inn just in case they needed to come back that evening.
They'd only been gone a day, but walking into Callaway Place, it already seemed like a foreign place. The downstairs wasn't so bad, well windowed and bright, it felt lived in; however, the closer they got to the third floor, the heavier Kurt's stomach became.
They stood outside of the doorway, their hands clasped, "This could be it, Blaine. After this, the mirror could be destroyed."
Blaine nodded but didn't say anything.
They walked up the stairs together until they got to the mirror and Kurt's spine prickled. That morning, when he decided they should use the strengthening spell, Kurt had been sure it would work; he knew he could destroy the mirror, but now, standing in front of the gilded glass, it seemed stronger than ever.
"Ready for this?" Kurt asked and turned to look at Blaine. He only had eyes for the mirror, though – shining, almost feverish, eyes. "Blaine?"
Blaine blinked and turned to look at Kurt, "I almost hate to do it."
"What?"
"I mean you've said yourself there is so much we don't know about this mirror, it's almost a shame to destroy it."
"I don't feel that way anymore," Kurt answered.
"Right, right. It doesn't matter anyway; I know it has to go, Kurt."
Kurt leaned in and placed a soft peck on Blaine's cheek. Almost tempted to pull him away from this place and talk to him – really talk to him – about the night before, about the trepidation that Kurt had been approaching their rekindled friendship, about the fluttery feeling he got in the pit of his stomach every time Blaine said his name.
"Want help putting the spell ingredients together?" Blaine asked, nodding to the bag in Kurt's hand.
"Yes. Sure," Kurt smiled. They had a lot to talk about, but it could wait.
They sat on the ground and started mixing ingredients-the toadflax and spider legs and everything Kurt had become so practiced with by this point.
"I'm going to hold one of these," Kurt said, fishing the iron nail out of his pocket, "And you hold one too.
"Why do I need one?"
"Because I'm going to hold your hand as I perform the spell, and maybe you holding the iron will give me… it extra strength." Kurt didn't really know that it would work that way, but Blaine sighed in relief as he took the nail, and Kurt knew he was glad to have something to do that felt helpful.
Kurt took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Blaine squeezed his hand. The last two times they'd tried this, the mirror had fought back; there was no way to tell how it would try to ward them off this time, especially now that their magic had extra punch to it.
Kurt opened his mouth to start the chant, but just as he did, a heart-piercing wail sliced through the air.
Kurt's eyes snapped open.
"You haven't even started," Blaine breathed, his hand gripping Kurt's.
The mirror was shaking clattering, as its legs bouncing against the ground.
"What's happening!"
"I don't know!" Kurt answered, heart hammering.
Then the mirror became completely still.
Kurt's pulse was pounding in his ears, something was wrong, something was very wrong.
Another wail pierced the silence and Kurt's heart all but leapt out of his throat. "That… that didn't come from the mirror."
Blaine was staring at him with wide eyes, the blood drained from his face. "Was that from downstairs?"
A cold shiver ran down Kurt's spine like ice, and then in an instant, both he and Blaine were on their feet. Another yell was echoing through the house and very obviously not coming from the third floor.
"There is something in the house," Kurt said, his voice coming out barely audible.
Blaine shook his head minutely in disbelief and then rushed towards the stairs. Kurt's hand was still in his, so he had no choice but to follow. They ran to the second floor and past the portrait of Saffron Callaway – Kurt craned his neck as they passed her because he could almost swear that her eyes were glowing. Blaine wasn't stopping, though. Which was a good idea, they needed to just get out of there.
Kurt had been so foolish to come back, to think that he was strong enough to face such ancient magic. Was that part of the mirror's enchantment? To make you think that it wasn't all that powerful when you weren't near it? Or had it just been Kurt's own stubbornness that had led them here? Blaine had been right; they shouldn't have come back. That noise, that cry that had filled the house, was both angry and terrifying, and Kurt did not want to face whatever was causing it.
Blaine came to an abrupt stop at the top of the wide open staircase to the first floor.
"Come on!" Kurt said, tugging his hand, but Blaine didn't budge.
"Do you… do you hear that?"
Kurt's heart skipped a beat as he stood and listened, but there was no more wailing; he didn't hear anything outside of his and Blaine's labored breathing.
"Blaine, let's go."
"No." Blaine shook his head. "Someone is calling to me."
Kurt was already terrified, but those words made his mouth go dry and his stomach drop. "Blaine."
"Come on," Blaine said, starting down the stairs again.
"Are we leaving?"
"Not yet."
"Blaine!"
Blaine had let go of Kurt's hand as he rushed downstairs and to the back corner. Aunt Helen's room had to be his destination.
"Blaine, you were right!" Kurt said, following him and then stopping as Blaine came to an unexpected halt outside of the bedroom's closed door. "We should lock the place up, leave it be. And get away from here!"
"Not y-" Blaine started but stopped, the words cut off as a scream came from behind Helen's bedroom door.
"Oh my god." Kurt was trembling from head to toe; he could tell that Blaine was every bit as scared as he was, from his colorless face to his unsteady hands, but still, he wasn't moving from the spot where he was standing. "Don't!" Kurt shouted as Blaine lifted a hand to push open the door. He grabbed Blaine's arm with both hands and started to tug, but it was too late, the door swung inward.
For one terrible moment, Kurt held his breath expecting some kind of creature to burst out of the room, but nothing happened; it was deadly quiet again.
All Kurt saw were walls lined with mirrors – nothing moving, nothing changed. Blaine took a step forward and Kurt followed him, his feet working as if on their own accord. They stood in the middle of the silent, dusty room and looked at the mirrors covering every empty space.
"Nothing's here," Blaine said, sounding almost disappointed.
"The mirrors." Kurt sucked in a breath as realization struck him. "The noise came from the mirrors."
"The magic moved down here," Blaine said, gesturing to the over two dozen mirrors in the room. "It's like it knew you were coming to try the spell again and it ran from you."
"Oh god oh god." Kurt reached for Blaine's hand. "I can't even destroy one magic mirror, what am I meant to do against a room of them?"
Blaine, who hadn't met his eyes since they left the third floor, finally turned to him. "You don't have to do anything, Kurt. You don't have to solve this, it isn't on your shoulders."
"Then let's leave. I don't understand this magic, Blaine. Magic that flees one magical object and goes to another? It isn't right. Magic just doesn't work that way – not on its own at least – it would…" Kurt trailed off as things started coming together in his mind. Of course. The magic wasn't working on its own, it had never acted like regular magic. The way it kept Kurt and Blaine from knowing where each other were when they were growing up, the way it sent them new and creative roadblocks both to keep Kurt from destroying the mirror and to draw them in when their defenses were down. The magic was being strategic and magic wasn't like that. It didn't have a mind of its own. "Someone is controlling all of this." Kurt said, finally realizing the truth.
Blaine nodded his head. "This whole time, I thought we were fighting magic, a something, but if we are fighting a someone," Blaine grinned, his eyes dancing in a way that sent a shiver down Kurt's spine, "A someone can be dealt with."
"No." Kurt felt frantic, "We're leaving." Just as the words left Kurt's mouth, one of the mirrors directly across from them started glowing, and then little golden lights began to dance in its reflection. That was proof enough for Kurt that they should leave. If the mirror was trying to draw them in again, it was time to run.
Blaine took a step towards the mirror.
"No!" Kurt hurried to move in front of him, his arms out and his hands flat against Blaine's chest, Kurt's back to the mirror with glowing lights. "We're leaving," Kurt said very deliberately.
Blaine blinked a few times as if clearing his head and then nodded.
Kurt lowered his hands from Blaine's chest just as there was an unsettling tug at the base of his spine and then he was yanked backwards, there was the clash of breaking glass and everything went completely dark.
Kurt blinked his eyes a few times as a cold breeze glided over his shoulders. He was surrounded by complete darkness, the only light a rectangle of color a few yards in front of him. He ran towards it, not able to understand what had just happened. The light was shaped like a door, no not a door – a mirror.
Even as Kurt ran forward, he instinctively lifted his hands, as if he somehow knew what was going to happen. His hands bounced off of the glass and Kurt fell down with a hiss of pain. He looked up to see the rectangle of light, which was like a window; he could see through to the other side, but he couldn't get there. Kurt stood, tears making his vision blurry and his throat ache.
He could see back into Aunt Helen's room with the mirrors and… Blaine. Blaine stood in the center of the room staring at him with his jaw dropped and terror in his eyes.
"Blaine!" Kurt shouted and banged his fist against the glass.
Blaine moved forward and started doing the same thing from the other side, pressing against the mirror as if it would let him in. He was shouting, or at least it looked like he was, Kurt could see him but not hear him.
"Blaine, help me please!" Kurt cried on the edge of panic. He didn't know where he was or what was going on.
Blaine was crying, and then a long crack ran down the mirror and across it, and smaller cracks started bleeding out through the glass. There was a frozen moment where Kurt and Blaine just stared at each other in terror –then the pieces of broken glass started to fall.
They were dropping on Blaine's side; he tried to catch them – Kurt saw him cut his hand—and as each piece dropped, a black space was left in its place, allowing Kurt to see less and less of Blaine and the room he was in.
"Please no!" Kurt pounded against the glass again, but it didn't matter. The pieces kept falling. He got one last glimpse of Blaine's horrified face as the last piece fell and Kurt was left in complete and utter blackness.
