Kurt watched as Blaine rushed around the bedroom, opening drawers and throwing things into the suitcase hed opened on the bed. Tossing in clothes from the closet without even a second glance at them.

"Blaine," Kurt called, trying to sound calm even as Blaine was very obviously on-edge. "Blaine," He called again as Blaine brought some toiletries out of the bathroom. "Blaine, talk to me! What are you doing?"

Blaine finally turned around to look at him. He looked healthier than he had in days, but there were still dark rings under his eyes that worried Kurt. Kurt walked up to him, placing his hand on his chest and then pulling it back quickly when Blaine let out a hiss.

Kurt wordlessly opened the top few buttons of Blaines shirt to reveal a fresh circular burn almost directly over his old scar. "Oh Blaine."

"Its fine," Blaine said, moving to button up his shirt again.

"No, it isnt," Kurt said, looking from Blaines chest to his eyes and trying to wear an expression that said, dont you dare argue with me on this, "You sit down on the bed while I treat that burn."

"Kur-"

"And it will give you a chance to explain what is going on."

Blaine hesitated for only a moment before slumping down on the bed. Kurt smiled at him. Blaine liked to act tough, but he usually did the sensible thing in the end… and by "sensible thing," Kurt meant agreeing with him.

Kurt went to the master bathroom and dug around a little before he found a first aid kit. He went back to Blaine with the kit and a damp cool washcloth. He sat down next to Blaine on the bed and unbuttoned the rest of his shirt before he started caring for the wound. "Why are you packing?" Kurt asked, glancing at Blaines face-Blaine was staring intently at him, his eyes soft. "And what went wrong with the ritual? Im assuming the charm shattering and you hitting your head on the floor wasnt really the plan."

The tiniest smile curved on Blaines lips before he let out a sigh and ran his fingers though his curly hair. "It wasnt my fathers charm. Its a fake," Blaine started to explain as Kurt cleaned his wound and then very gently started smoothing aloe vera over it. "It was a good fake; he even put a little magic in it so I wouldnt realize."

"Who? Your brother?"

"Yes. Ive been so rash. I should have been able to tell the charm was a fake, but Ive been so focused on finding my heartstone, I just took it for granted."

"Why would Cooper give you a fake charm?" Kurt asked as he cut a piece of gauze to cover the burn. When Blaine didnt answer, Kurt looked back up at him. "Whats wrong?" He asked, seeing Blaines eyes tracking his every move.

"Im still not used to you taking care of me."

Kurts heart tightened and he leaned forward to press a kiss to Blaines lips. "I love you Blaine," He whispered as he pulled back. "Helping to take care of you when you need it comes along with that."

Blaines cheeks had taken on a rosy hue that always made Kurts heart skip a beat and Blaine smiled for real now. "I love you too," He said, brushing his knuckles down Kurts cheek.

Kurt had to clear his throat and focus on the information he was trying to get from Blaine, when what he really wanted to do was kiss him right down onto the bed. "And why are you packing?"

"Im going to find Cooper. Cooper has had a plan all along, a plan to keep me from reconnecting with my heartstone. I didnt even consider that he would have thought this all through so thoroughly… It is time I find him and get the real charm. I cant do anything else without that."

Kurt couldnt help but feel relieved; this meant a delay in Blaine going to face the Dontizu – and anything that postponed that event was a good thing in Kurts eyes. "Okay… you need to find your brother you havent seen in years, how do we do that?" Kurt taped the bandage in place and placed a kiss over it for good measure.

"We dont do anything. Im going to London," Blaine said, lifting Kurts hand gently from his chest so he could stand and finish packing.

"I dont think so. Ill pack up my things here and well have to swing by my place for a few more essentials and my passport, but Im coming with you."

"Kurt," Blaine said sternly. "I thought we agreed youd find somewhere safe after the ritual?"

Kurt shrugged, "Well you havent completed your ritual yet have you? Besides you dont own London, I can go if I want to." Kurt knew he was being stubborn, but there was no way he was letting Blaine out of his sight now. If Blaine went to find his brother and then to confront the Dontizu, Kurt didnt know if hed ever see him again. Kurt shuddered at the thought, he wasnt going to lose Blaine.

Blaine shook his head and then chuckled, "I dont know what else I expected from you. Hurry up and pack then, I want to catch a flight this afternoon."

Kurt quickly - and much more neatly than Blaine - packed his belongings and then they took a cab to Kurts apartment so he could grab a few more things and his passport. Kurt made Blaine come up with him with the excuse that he could use his help, but really he couldnt settle the fear that, if left alone, Blaine would rush off to London without him.

London.

Kurt had never been there before, and while a romantic getaway with his boyfriend to London sounded nice, that wasnt what this was. Still, as they rode to the airport and stood in line to board the plane, Kurt couldnt help but bounce on his toes a little bit.

"Excited?" Blaine asked, reaching out to hold Kurts hand and grinning at him.

"I know, I know, the circumstances arent good, but Ive never been to England." Maybe they would go back someday when this was all over just to enjoy being there together… assuming this all ended well. "How do you know Cooper will be in London?" Kurt asked to distract himself from his nerves.

"I dont know where he is." Blaine answered, "But I know someone in London that will be able to find home. Since Cooper and I went our separate ways, Ive never tried to find him, but Ive always know I could if I wanted too."

"Why not find him when you were looking for your stone then?"

Blaine was quiet for a moment, and Kurt watched him swallow before he finally answered. "I knew that seeing him again would mean a confrontation, and as angry as I am with him…" Blaine looked Kurt in the eyes and shrugged a little. "He is still me bother, and a fight would mean… Im strong than him you know, magically, and I didnt want…" Blaine trailed off again.

"You dont want to hurt your brother even though he betrayed you." Kurt finished for him.

"We spent a lot of time in London while I was growing up." Blaine said changing the subject, "Im originally from Wales, but we couldnt stay there, not with the Dontizu looking for me. It couldnt turn out he is there."

"Youre Welsh?" Kurt asked in surprise, allowing the subject change. It seemed like he was never going to come to an end of things about Blaine that surprised him. "You dont have an accent."

Blaine shrugged and handed his plane ticket to the flight attendant as they moved up in line. "I like to fit in where I am, and Ive been in America so long, it feels natural to talk this way."

Once in the plane, Blaine was kind enough to give him the window seat. They were flying first class since Blaine had bought the tickets-another first for Kurt.

"So we are going to see this friend of yours in London then?" He watched Blaines profile as his jaw clenched and his eyebrows furrowed. Since Blaine only recently started opening up to Kurt, hed become an expert at reading his facial expressions, "Not a friend then…"

"No, she is not a friend, but she can be useful." Blaine placed his hand over Kurts in his lap and squeezed his fingers gently. "She isnt safe… none of this is safe."

"I know," Kurt answered and squeezed Blaines hand back.

Kurt had made a valiant effort to stay awake for the seven-hour flight to London, but he eventually succumbed and fell asleep, his head leaning against the cabin wall. Blaine was tired himself, but too high strung to relax. Theyd get to London and get a hotel room, and hopefully a little rest before they went and saw the soothsayer. Last time Blaine was here, shed told him she knew where Cooper was; he was just hoping that it wasnt a lie.

Blaines stomach was tied in knots. Everything was moving so quickly; hed found his stone, hed attempted the ritual, and now he was on his way to find his brother, a man hed sworn hed never speak to again. It was a lot to come to grips with.

And then there was Kurt.

Blaine would never have imagined hed be on his way to so much danger with the man he loved by his side. Of course, hed never imagined hed love someone the way he loved Kurt. He hadnt thought he was capable of this kind of love at all.

There had been men in Blaines long life – of course there had been men, Blaine had been alive for a long time - thered even been a few semi-relationships. Before Kurt, he occasionally hooked up with a nameless, faceless stranger in New York just to feel something. But none of it compared to Kurt. Kurt who came into his life like a comet and completely stole his heart.

Blaine hated bringing Kurt into danger, but honestly, Kurt might be in danger at home, too; besides, there was this look Kurt got on his face sometimes that Blaine knew better than to fight with. At least thats what he told himself when it was too hard to admit that maybe he didnt want to face all of this alone -hed been alone too long.

Blaine glanced over at Kurt, his usually pristine hair smashed up against the wall and his mouth open as he very softly snored. Blaine smiled, and he could feel his chest expand with happiness. Kurt would be mortified at his appearance right now but… what had Kurt called him before? Cute? That wasnt quite right. Adorable, Kurt looked adorable like this.

Blaine would do anything he had to do to get the Dontizu off his back, he had so much more to lose now and so much more to fight for.

Blaine wasnt sure when it happened, but he eventually fell asleep himself, only waking up when the wheels touched down at Heathrow airport. He groaned and glanced up to find his head resting on Kurts shoulder and Kurt looking down at him with rosy cheeks from napping and a sleepy smile.

"Good morning sleepy head," Kurt said as Blaine sat up and stretched his arms over his head. "Is it morning? I actually have no idea what time it is. Thats kind of a strange feeling."

"Around 4am London time," Blaine said standing up and still stretching. Non-stop flights always made him feel a little compressed.

"We arent going straight to see this contact of yours, are we?"

"I thought wed get a hotel room and crash first."

"Oh thank goodness." Kurt sighed as he stood and then immediately crumpled back down in his chair again. "Ow."

"Whats wrong?" Blaine asked, quickly sitting next to him.

"My leg is asleep." Kurt laughed.

Blaine smiled and leaned in, placing his hand on Kurts leg right above his knee. "Here let me." He watched Kurts face as his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open.

"What…" Kurt looked around as people started filing out of the airplane and then lowered his voice, "How did you do that, what did you just do?"

"Does your leg feel better?"

"Yes, much."

Blaine tried to hold back his smile, Kurts face looked astonished, raised eyebrows and parted lips, but he didnt look afraid. It had been a long time since Blaine really had someone who he could be this open with about his magic. "I just did a little minor healing spell. No biggie."

"No biggie?" Kurt deadpanned. "Yeah, a healing spell, thats an everyday thing."

Blaine just smiled at him. Kurt was handling the whole magic thing better than he could have hoped, and Blaine loved to see the surprise on his face. Though, really as far as magic went, Kurt hadnt seen anything yet.

"If you can heal me, why cant you heal yourself? Like that burn on your chest?"

Blaine shook his head. "It just doesnt work that way. Though I do already heal faster than most." Blaine stood again and held out his hand to Kurt who willingly took it and they walked off the plane together.

After taking a cab ride and checking into their hotel room, Blaine was exhausted, even though hed slept on the flight. He flopped down on the bed – a big king bed, he didnt think Kurt would mind sharing – and watched Kurt as he actually unpacked his suitcase, putting his clothes neatly in the dresser.

"You know you could stop being so goddamn charming and get over here and rest," Blaine said. "We have a big day tomorrow… or today."

Kurt turned and lifted his eyebrow at him before crawling up the bed to Blaine. "How is unpacking my suitcase charming?" He said with a smirk looking down at Blaine and Blaines stomach swooped.

"Most people just keep their things in the bag."

"My clothes will get wrinkled," Kurt answered indignantly.

Blaine couldnt help himself; he lifted a hand to cup the back of Kurts neck and pulled him down for a kiss. Kurt hummed into it and then melted down, his body spread over Blaines. They stayed like that, lazily kissing, Kurts lips soft and tasting of mint chapstick, until Blaine couldnt stifle a yawn. Kurt laughed at him and got up, grabbing two pairs of pajamas and tossing one to him.

"Sleep. Like you said, we have a busy day today."

Blaine slipped on the pajamas and then got under the covers where Kurt joined him. He laid his head on Kurts chest as Kurt played with his hair. His body was so relaxed being this near Kurt, but his mind was a mess of emotions. Soon, hed hopefully find Cooper and he hated the thought of what could happen there, and then it was on to meet the Dontizu… because he would face the Dontizu once and for all, even if it was the death of him…

After getting a few hours of sleep, Blaine woke up warm and happily snug against Kurt. He blinked his eyes open and found Kurt watching him with a soft smile on his face.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Off and on for a while," Kurt answered. "I feel… anxious."

Blaine nodded and leaned in quickly to steal a kiss. "Lets just get this started then, okay?"

Kurt took a long deep breath and then nodded as well. Once they were both showered and dressed and had grabbed some breakfast, Kurt strangely quiet the whole time, Blaine knew it was time to go see the soothsayer. They hopped on the Tube and Kurt seemed to relax a little bit, maybe he felt a little more at ease because it reminded him of New York.

Once they got to their stop, Kurt reached for Blaines had and held on tight.

"Kurt, I promise Im not going to let anything happen to you. Dont be worried."

Kurt stopped dead in his tracks and stared at him for a moment before rolling his eyes. "Im not worried about me. Im worried about you. You need to protect yourself just as much as you would protect me. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Promise."

"I promise Kurt," Blaine answered, letting his hand cup Kurts cheek for a moment. "The soothsayer isnt a problem… well she shouldnt be. So lets just focus on that part, one step at a time."

Kurt didnt let go of Blaines hand but his shoulders did seem to relax a little as they walked down the street to the psychics shop.

Kurt laughed out loud when he saw it. Tacky lettering and blinking neon open sign. "Blaine, if you needed a strip mall fortune teller, I dont think we had to come all the way to London for it."

Blaine could see Kurt was joking and it made him feel better about all of this. "Im very particular with who I let tell me my future," Blaine answered with a wink.

They walked into the dark front room; there was one other person there, an old woman sleeping in the corner, but it didnt look like anyone else was waiting to get their fortunes told. Blaine kept moving forward through the beaded doorway and into the even darker room where a table with the crystal ball was set up. The same woman from when Blaine was here last, wearing the same scarf over her head and big gold hoop earrings, looked up from where she was laying out tarot cards.

"Youve got to be kidding me," Kurt said, looking around at the room that was so stereotypical it was almost comical.

"My grandmother isnt home," The woman said, not looking up from her cards.

"She should have been able to tell I was coming."

"Why do you think she isnt home?"

Blaine glanced at Kurt who seemed to actually be relaxed by the absurdity of this place. He was glad for that. "Well wait then."

"Means very little to me if you do," The woman answered, finally looking up from her cards. "You brought a… friend." Her eyes landed on Kurt. "You should sit, friend, let me read your cards while you wait."

"I dont know about that," Kurt said with a smile.

"You can if you want," Blaine answered. "What she does is little more than parlor tricks."

The woman sneered at him. "I may not have the skill of my grandmother, but Im not completely without knowledge."

Blaine took a step forward and the woman leaned back in her chair as if being this close to him made her uneasy. "Well wait in the kitchen."

"Three cards," The woman said, looking away from Blaine and towards Kurt. "Just choose three cards."

Kurt hesitated a moment, but then stepped forward. "Fine," he said, but he didnt sit down. The woman smiled and shuffled the cards before fanning them out on the table. Kurt pointed to one and the woman turned it over.

"The lovers," she said.

Kurt smiled.

"Another."

Again, Kurt pointed and the woman turned over The Fool card. Kurt pointed for the last time and the woman turned over the Three of Swords. Blaine grimaced.

"So what is all that supposed to mean?" Kurt asked, crossing his arms over his chest and looking unimpressed.

"The Lovers card indicates new love in your life, new but strong, centuries deep."

"How can it be new and centuries-" Kurt started, but the old woman flashed him a warning look and then continued. "The Fool card is you of course."

"Excuse me?" Kurt arched his brow and Blaine held back a smile. He wouldnt want to be on the receiving end of his expression right now.

"The Fool doesnt always mean foolish – it could also mean innocence, inexperience. Someone unacquainted with the ways and dangers of our world."

"Okay…"

"The Fool may also run head first into trouble, especially paired with the Lovers card. We all know love makes you blind."

Kurts expression was bored, but Blaine could tell behind his eyes he was actually interested. "And what about that sword one," Kurt said, pointing to the card with three swords piercing a heart.

"The Three of Swords…" The woman grinned maliciously, her dark eyes sparkling and the winkles around them creasing with mirth. "It means painful separation, sorrowful heartbreak, grief. For the Fool and his lover."

Kurt glanced back to Blaine, his eyes worried.

This was a bad idea, Blaine may not trust anything this fake psychic says, but Kurt really didnt need to be hearing this right now. He took Kurts hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "Well wait in the kitchen."

Kurts face had gone a little pale and Blaine had him sit down at the little kitchen table. It was brighter in here and didnt smell oppressively of incense, he hoped it helped Kurt calm a little. "Dont listen to her," Blaine said, taking a tea kettle from the stove and filling it up with water. "She isnt the soothsayer, she was just messing with you."

"But she was right about us being together and about me being the fool."

"You arent a fool," Blaine said, lighting the stove and placing the kettle on to heat up.

"I am ignorant of all of this though, magic. Fake soothsayers, real soothsayers…"

"Ill teach you," Blaine said, looking through the cabinets for tea. "When we have a chance and things settle down, I can teach you more about it than youll ever want to know. I could even teach you a little magic."

Kurt looked up from the table top where hed been staring. "But I dont have magic."

"Everyone has a little magic, most people just dont know it. Ah ha!" Blaine cried triumphantly when he found some Lady Grey.

"Are you making tea in someone elses kitchen?" Kurt asked, finally distracted from that terrible tarot card reading.

"Sessions with the soothsayer are very pricey, the least she can do is let us drink some good tea."

The water started boiling and Blaine poured in some tea and let it seep for a little while, grabbing two tea cups, and then pouring tea for himself and Kurt. Kurt took a sip and hummed, "This is good."

"We may drink coffee back home, but here we drink tea. Like the locals."

"So that woman we spoke to, her grandmother is the soothsayer?"

"Yes."

"She must be very old."

"She is."

"It isnt polite to gossip about a womans age."

Kurt jumped in his chair a little and Blaine casually looked up from his cup of tea as the soothsayer walked in the room. She shrugged of a jacket, hanging it on a row of pegs attached to the wall and then looked them both over. "I see youve made yourself at home."

"You could have been here to stop us."

"I dont schedule my life to be at your beck and call."

"But you knew we were coming."

She ignored him, narrowing her eyes and turned to Kurt, her heavy dark hair swinging behind her. "Youve brought a mortal with you? Interesting."

"Youre the soothsayer?" Kurt asked in surprise. "That woman in the other room is your granddaughter?"

"Did you not hear what I said about talking about a womans age?" She swept past Kurt like royalty and grabbed her own cup from the cabinet before sitting down and pouring herself some tea. "You know I dont want you here and yet you insist on coming. You better have something very good for me this time." She glanced at Kurt again, and so Blaine gave him a small encouraging smile. "Unless the mortal is your gift." She scanned Kurt up and down. "Ive had worse."

Kurts back straightened, and before Blaine had a chance to respond, Kurt spoke up, "Im not here to be a bartering chip and dont talk about me as if Im not sitting at the same table as you."

Blaine smiled and the soothsayer barked out a laugh. "Oh you deserve the fate coming for you."

"What does that-"

"She speaks as many lies as truths," Blaine said to Kurt; she was just trying to rile him up. Blaine leaned towards her, "Leave him alone." He didnt have to raise his voice, he just looked the soothsayer steadily in the eyes until she blinked first.

"Fine. What have you brought me? Something of your mothers again?" She lifted the tea cup to her lips and his mothers pearls shimmered from her wrist. It hurt to see them there.

Blaine withdrew a little velvet pouch from his pocket and slid it across the table. The soothsayer picked it up and poured the contents into her hand. It was the broken fragments of the fake charm Cooper had made.

"What is this to me? It is broken, and not even old."

"Look again." It may not be the real thing-hed never let her get her hands on that-but it was a good replica, and even broken, it still vibrated with the remaining magic Cooper had poured into it to fool him.

The soothsayer looked up sharply. "Your magic?"

Blaine didnt answer.

"No, but someone near to you. A family member..." She smiled. "Your brother. I could do many things with this..." Her eyes flashed and looked a little pale for a moment, before she looked back up. "What do you want for it?"

"Last time I was here you said you knew where Cooper was."

"I lied," She said with a wave of her hand. "But yes, I can use this to tell you where to find your brother." She stood from the table, her chair legs scraping the floor beneath her. "Follow me."

Blaine got up from the table and turned to Kurt.

"You doing okay?"

Kurt rolled his eyes a little. "I can handle a cup of tea and a diva."

Blaine grinned at him-he smiled almost all the time when Kurt was around, it was getting ridiculous-and then they followed the soothsayer through a door at the side of the kitchen and up a creaky narrow staircase.

She led them to a sitting room; it brought Blaine back to a previous time, the whole place looked to have been decorated in the 1920s. The soothsayer unceremoniously pushed everything off a wooden table in the middle of the room, books, papers, a few jars – unlike the kitchen downstairs this room was cluttered and messy.

She opened a trunk in the corner, pulled out a few old maps, and spread one over the table.

"You know, you have more magic than I do. With this broken charm, you could find him yourself.

"Not if he is shielding himself from me, which he probably is, and we only get to one try."

"And he has to be here for this," she said, glancing at Kurt.

"Hes with me," Blaine said, and his voice almost echoed off the walls, filling the room with its vibration, and okay that was a little more force than he meant to put into it. Kurt looked at him in surprise and the soothsayer clenched her jaw.

"Fine." She closed her eyes and took a long breath in through her nose as she tilted her head back. The lights flickered. Blaine scowled. More parlor tricks meant to intimidate. He took a step closer to Kurt, who, so far, seemed to be mostly unafraid, or at least, hiding it well. She started murmuring under her breath and then lifted her fist to cast the broken pieces of the charm over the map.

They seemed to fall through the air in slow motion, spinning and twirling, until they hit the map with the sound of bells. Blaine took a breath and looked at the area on the map the pieces encompassed.

"Wales?" the soothsayer said, pointing to a seaside city that Blaine knew well.

Blaines stomach tightened. "Youve got to be kidding me."

"I can get a map of Wales and we can cast again to see the exact position."

"I dont know that there is any need for that," Blaine said under his breath.

Kurt squeezed his hand, "What wrong?"

The soothsayer spread-out a new map and lifted her first with the broken pieces in it again.

"I think I know where Coop-"

Before Blaine could finish his sentence, the soothsayer opened her fist, and there was a flash of piercingly bright light that filled the room along with a loud clap of noise. Blaine was immediately knocked off his feet. He reached out trying to grab for Kurts hand, but he grasped nothing but air. He hit the ground and tried to stand but something was wrong with his legs. All he could see was blinding light, his eyes impaired by the blast. He scrambled around on his hands and knees not able to see anything - then his heart froze when he heard Kurt scream.

Kurt wasnt sure what had happened. One moment, he was standing next to Blaine about to find out where Blaines brother was, and the next moment, there was a bright flash of light and Blaine wasnt beside him anymore. The light faded quickly, and once Kurts eyes had readjusted, he looked down to see Blaine fumbling on the floor, his face ashen and confused.

"Bl-" Kurt started towards him but was immediately pulled back by something so strong it knocked the breath out of his lungs. It slammed him back-first against a wall and he couldnt move, frozen in place and helpless to get to Blaine. The soothsayer was walking towards him, her arm outstretched as if holding him against the wall without touching him, Kurt was scared, but it wasnt until he saw her face that he screamed.

Her eyes had gone white, completely white like the life had been sucked out of them and her skin was gray, cracked and brittle like dry dirt. It looked like her face would crumble to dust if you touched it.

Kurt struggled to move, but he was fully plastered to the wall, his arms and legs as if frozen, he couldnt even move his head. His heart was beating so fast that he could hear it in his ears. He was doing everything he could not to panic, but it was hard with the monster the soothsayer had become drawing closer. He tried to look back over towards the table to see if Blaine was still on the ground, if he was alright, but he couldnt see from this angle, not with the soothsayer in front of him.

She walked right up to him and smiled, or at least Kurt thought it was a smile, it was hard to tell; her lips were charcoal-colored and fractured, and when she moved them, Kurt could hear them cracking.

"What- what did you do to Blaine?" He asked as she stopped in front of him.

"Just a spell to incapacitate him," she answered, her voice a raspy hiss. "So I can call the Dontizu."

No no no. Kurt pushed down his panic, that couldnt happen, if the Dontizu got to Blaine while he couldnt even defend himself…

"What? Are you too afraid to face him yourself?" Kurt asked, trying anything to stall until he could think of a plan – but what kind of plan could he come up with when he was stuck to this wall?

"Im not stupid," she barked. "I couldnt take him myself." She lifted her hand and moved even closer as she curled her long dry fingers around Kurts neck.

"Why didnt the spell work on me?" Kurt squeaked out, still trying to do anything to delay what was coming next. She was going to kill him, he knew that, and then she was going to send for creatures that would destroy Blaine.

"Why waste a spell on you? Youre mortal." She smiled again with that dry crackling smile and then took one more step towards him. Kurt was wracking his brain for something else to say, something else to do. But he was out of options, and it didnt really matter anyway, because the soothsayer ran a dry thumb down his neck and then squeezed.

Kurt tried to take in a breath but she was pressing against his windpipe too hard. He sputtered and opened and closed his mouth uselessly not getting in any air. She just stared at him with her dead eyes and splintered smile, it wasnt long before his eyesight started getting a little blurry and his lungs burned.

"I love killing mortals," the soothsayer hissed, her voice slithering into Kurts mind and making him fuzzyheaded. Or maybe that was the lack of oxygen.

Kurt was sure that he was going to blackout any second when the room started to tremble - no not tremble… shake, violently. The light hanging from the ceiling started to swing, casting weird shadows around the room, and a big book shelf in the corner toppled over. The smile on the soothsayers face vanished. She turned her head, and behind her, stood Blaine, his eyes a little bloodshot, but thankfully looking unharmed.

The soothsayer whimpered a little as Blaine took a step forward. He seemed taller somehow, bigger, like he was actually physically taking up more space than he normally did. His hands were clenched and his face was dark, eyebrows drawn, lips pursed and eyes flashing. He looked terrifying.

"Let him go!" Blaines voice was like thunder ripping through the room and making it shake even more, pictures fell from the wall, breaking glass, the windows cracked, and the soothsayer immediately let go of Kurts neck. Kurt took in a long deep breath and his mind started to clear.

"How- how…" The soothsayer stuttered, her face was still gray and broken, she didnt look human, but she did look horrified. She looked like she might pass out.

Kurt tried to move, but he was still stuck to the wall.

"I said let him go!" Blaine shouted, and with each word, the soothsayer stumbled back as if the words themselves had physically pushed her.

Kurt almost lost his footing, his release from the wall was so immediate.

"Im sorry. Im sorry!" The soothsayer shouted, raising her hands in surrender as Blaine stormed towards her.

"You tried to use magic on me? And you – you tried to hurt him?" Blaines eyes were blazing, and even Kurt took a step away. Not that he was afraid of Blaine, it was just the natural reaction to seeing him this way. Blaine was trembling head to toe and it was as if his rage itself was shaking the room.

"Im sorry," the soothsayer whimpered, covering her face with her hands. She didnt have time to say anything else as Blaine grabbed her by her neck and pushed her against the wall. He was holding her in place with one arm as she opened her mouth and tried to suck in air.

"Pl-ease," she croaked out, and her face returned to normal, young and beautiful, but terrified.

Blaine didnt let up. "How dare you!" Blaines fingers tightened their grip.

Kurt swallowed deeply, the room was still quaking, and the light swaying made him fill a little dizzy, and Blaine was about to kill someone. He walked towards Blaine and he placed a hand gently on his arm. "Blaine, dont."

Blaine broke his gaze from the soothsayer and turned to Kurt. He took a few deep breaths before he was able to speak. "She was going to kill you." The light bulbs in the ceiling light burst with a loud crack that made the soothsayers face go a shade paler.

"I know," Kurt said, lifting a hand to his still sore neck. "But you arent her. Dont do this."

Kurt watched Blaines eyebrows furrow deeper and his jaw flex as the soothsayer gasped for air. Then, he let go and she slumped to the ground as the room suddenly stopped quaking, and Blaine, who had never actually changed size, seemed his regular height again.

"Thank you," Kurt whispered and Blaine turned away from him to kneel to the ground.

"You should know it is his mercy that saved you and not mine. Remember that if you ever even think of coming after either of us again Taika."

The soothsayers hands were at her neck and she was still gasping to fill her lungs with air. "No one is meant to know my name. It weakens my powers. How did you-"

"No one is meant to try to hurt me or the man I love Taika. Remember." Blaine stood again and walked over to the now knocked over table and gathered the fragments of the broken charm. "Also, you dont get to keep this now."

He pocketed the pieces and then turned to Kurt and held out his hard. Kurt let out a deep breath at the fact that they seemed to be leaving, and then noticed that Blaines eyes looked worried, and though hed calmed down, the hand he held out to Kurt was trembling. Blaine was looking at Kurt like he was the thing in this room to be scared of.

Kurt walked forward and took Blaines hand, and Blaines eyes immediately closed in relief. "Lets get out of here," he whispered.

Blaine was silent the whole way back to the hotel and Kurt just kept hold of his hand. Once the door was closed and locked behind them, Kurt sat down on the bed, and he couldnt help the tremors that ran through his body. Hed almost just been killed.

Blaine came and sat down next to him. "May I see?"

Kurt turned to look at him. "See what?" He asked and realized it hurt to talk.

"Your neck?" Blaines voice was calm and quiet, but he wasnt meeting Kurts eyes.

"Of course."

Blaine lifted his hands and undid the buttons at Kurts neck. He silently appraised Kurt for a moment, making Kurt wonder how bad it was. It really had started to hurt. "I can help with the bruising."

"Theres bruising?"

Blaine finally looked up at his face and his golden eyes were so miserable that it hurt Kurts chest.

"Yes, theres bruising," Blaine whispered and then touched Kurts neck so gently it made chills run down his back. There was a kind of tingling fuzzy feeling like when Blaine had done this for his leg on the plane, but greater this time and it took longer. Then, Blaine withdrew his hand and Kurt swallowed, the ache in his throat gone.

"Thank you," Kurt said with a smile as Blaine looked down at his hands in his lap.

"You stopped me with Aaron too," Blaine said, glancing up at Kurts healed neck but not meeting his eyes.

Kurt tilted his head, not understanding what Blaine was talking about. "With Aaron?"

"You told me not to hurt him, which I didnt really want to do anyway. But today… I would have killed her if you hadnt stopped me. I was just… so angry, and scared. She was… she was killing you. I lost my sight and my body wouldnt work correctly for a moment, and when I came to, that monster had you pinned to the wall and… and…" Blaines voice gave out. "Thats twice now, god I cant even imagine what you think of me after that.

Kurt lifted his hand and smoothed it down Blaines cheek. "Hey, look at me?" Blaine sighed and then slowly glanced up. "What do I think of you? I think that you saved my life."

"I would have killed her. Arent you afraid of me?"

Kurt bit his lip, putting his thoughts together. "Maybe you would have killed her, but Im not afraid of you. I think that sometimes you just need someone to remind you who you really are. And I didnt stop you either time for Aarons or for that soothsayers sake. I did it for you, because I wouldnt want you to do something you would regret later. I dont care about them. I wasnt saving them, I was saving you."

Blaines eyes were a little teary when he closed them and leaned his forehead against Kurts, "I love you."

Kurt slipped his hand down to rest on Blaines chest over his heart. "I love you too." Kurt closed the inch between them with a kiss, soft and tender, wanting Blaine to feel how much he loved him. He wasnt afraid of Blaine even after everything that had happened at the soothsayers. He just loved him.

Blaine moaned into the kiss and then pressed Kurt down onto the bed as his lips started to explore. Tomorrow, they would probably go find Cooper, and then things were going to get even more frightening. But all of that was far from Kurts mind with the man he loved in his arms.