Kurts walk soon turned into a jog and then a fully fledged sprint as he left the woods and went back to the mansion where hed left an injured and bleeding Blaine. Kurt could only make out Blaines prone figure on the bluff by the light of the moon as he skidded to his knees beside him. Cooper was right behind him, but Kurt didnt pay him much attention in his concern for Blaine.

"Blaine?" He called, leaning over him. "Blaine?"

Blaine blinked his eyes open a slit; his face was white, his shirt and jacket and the scarf Kurt had left behind were crimson red, drenched in blood. Kurt took a shuttering breath at the sight, he knew Blaine had told him this couldnt kill him, but it still tore Kurt apart to see him so hurt.

"You…" Blaine tried to speak, but his voice was weak and gravelly. "You shouldnt be…."

"Shhh," Kurt hushed him, running a hand gently down Blaines cheek. "Everything is okay. Let me help you."

"We should get him into the house," Cooper said, standing over them. "I can carry him."

"You dont touch him," Kurt snapped, getting his hands under Blaines body to lift him. He wanted to trust Cooper, but he wasnt sure of him, and his worry for Blaine was overwhelming all other thoughts at the moment.

"I… who else is here?" Blaine asked, his eyes looking at Kurt but seemingly unfocused.

"Just dont worry, trust me," Kurt said as he attempted to lift him. In the end, Cooper did have to help a little, but Kurt mostly got Blaine back to the house on his own. He went straight to the drawing room because he remembered a pretty sturdy-looking sofa in there.

He placed Blaine down carefully on the couch and started taking off his ruined coat and shirt, the wounds he saw were enough to make his heart sick. "Can you heal him?" Kurt asked, glancing at Cooper. Blaine had lost consciousness on the way in and Kurt was out of options.

"Heal him? Of course not."

Kurt huffed in frustration. "I thought you had magic."

Cooper narrowed his eyes at him. "I do. I used to be able to heal, but not now. I have very little magic that actually helps others now… Im not human anymore you know."

Kurt shivered at those words, here he was with an injured Blaine and one of the monsters theyd been avoiding all this time was right there with them. Kurt just hoped that somehow he was in the presence of the one good Dontizu because he knew he didnt stand a chance against him.

"Are there other Dontizu nearby?" Kurt asked as he got the last shreds of Blaines shirt off of him.

"Dontizu." Blaine murmured, halfway unconscious. "Run Kurt." Blaines eyelids fluttered but he didnt wake up. Kurt looked at his troubled face to his torn up chest and felt like he was going to burst into tears. He couldnt, though, Blaine was counting on him.

"The one I killed was a scout," Cooper answered, standing near the sofa and looking down at his brother. "When it doesnt return, the others will come."

Kurt closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. Blaine said he healed quickly. He hoped it was really quickly.

"How many?"

"Fifty Id say? Not nearly as many as there used to be."

Fifty? Kurt held his head in his hand a minute and took a few calming breaths, he couldnt panic now. "Okay, we need…. Light… and I need to treat Blaines wounds," Kurt said in a shaky voice. "How can you help me with that?" He looked up at Cooper expectantly.

Cooper narrowed his eyes at Kurt for a moment, not threateningly, more like he was appraising him.

"Cooper. Your brother needs help!"

"I have candles and I think I have a first aid kit. Ive been living here off and on for the past few years. There is a water pump outside to the east of the house, it still works."

Kurt glanced down at Blaine, he didnt want to leave him, but he couldnt just sit there either, and his wounds needed to be tended to. "You get the candles; set them up in here and bring the first aid kit. And that fireplace," Kurt said, pointing, "Can you get it lit?"

Cooper turned to look where Kurt was pointing, but then his eyes traveled up to the portrait of his family. "I had that covered for a reason," He said darkly.

"Yes, you seem to have an abundance of reasons for the things youve done. Now will you help me with Blaine or not?"

Cooper turned and glared at him, a sight that should have made Kurts blood chill: his face still covered in Dontizu blood and his blue eyes flashing an angry purple, but Kurt was too concerned about Blaine to let it shake him.

"Ill get the candles and the kit. See if you can gather some firewood when you get the water." Cooper turned away and stalked out of the room. So far meeting Blaines only remaining family wasnt going anything like Kurt had imagined.

Kurt leaned over Blaine and kissed his cold forehead. "Ill be right back love."

He got up and checked that the heartstone was still safe in the pocket of his slacks-it was a deeper red than normal and it was glowing faintly-Kurt had no idea what that meant. Then he went outside to get wood and water. When he came back in with a full pail and awkwardly balancing a pile of wood under one arm, he was glad to see the room illuminated by candles and Cooper, his feet bare, and wearing jeans and a t-shirt, leaning over the fireplace and cleaning it out.

"I brought a pot to heat the water in," Cooper said, not looking up.

Kurt placed the pail down next to him and dropped the wood. "Thank you." He turned to check on Blaine who seemed to still be asleep. Or at least he was telling himself it was just sleep. He kissed his cheek and went back to the fireplace where Cooper was stacking the firewood, stuffing an old cloth under it as kindling.

As soon as they had water heated, Kurt started cleaning Blaines chest, remembering when hed done this just a couple of days ago for a burn. This was much worse, though: long scratches from his right shoulder down to the left side of his hip. They were deep and looked painful, and Kurt was sure that if Blaine had been anyone else, he would have bled out by now. Even with Blaines magical power, these wounds would probably never heal completely, more scars for Blaine to carry as reminders of horrible things. Kurt, filled with worry over him, kissed Blaines face again.

Coopers first aid kit was limited, but he was at least able to wrap the wounds up after cleaning them to try to keep them from getting infected. And they seemed to have stopped bleeding.

Cooper watched him the whole time. Not saying a word. Once Kurt was satisfied that hed done as much as he could, he sat on the sofa lifting Blaines head and resting it in his lap so he could play with his hair. It was comforting.

He glanced up to see Cooper pacing back and forth across the room.

"Whats your problem?"

"Its hard to stay in this human form so long." Cooper stopped and snapped at him, his voice rough like a growl again. "I need to change."

"Well, get far away from here first!"

"I wont hurt you, or him, in my animal form. I didnt before, even when Blaine used magic against me."

"I… I dont think he knew it was you."

"No, I dont think he did. Im just saying you can trust me."

"How long have you been…. When did…" Kurt stopped and swallowed.

"Five years," Cooper answered.

Cooper had been a Dontizu for five years… how was Blaine going to handle this information when he came to?

"And the Dontizu feed on other peoples life force right? Or their souls or something?" Kurt asked, remembering everything hed been told about them.

Cooper didnt answer but his face grew dark.

"So in the five years you havent been human, have you ever fed off of someones soul?"

Again Cooper didnt answer, but he didnt have to. Kurt was surprisingly good at reading Anderson facial expressions.

"Thats why I cant trust you."

"Fine," Cooper said, turning to storm out of the room. "Ill be back before he wakes up." He stripped off the t-shirt and left it behind and Kurt imagined the jeans were probably abandoned on the floor in the hall.

"Wake up soon," Kurt said, looking down at Blaine and brushing some curls off of his forehead. "I have no idea what Im doing here."

Kurts eyes stung from weariness, it wasnt really that late, but the last few days had been very stressful. He must have nodded off for a little while because he came to when Cooper barged into the room again. He was wearing the jeans again and he scooped the t-shirt off the ground.

"Feel better?" Kurt asked, looking at his messed up hair, a few leaves stuck her and there. Hed washed the blood off of his face though, so that was a relief.

"I havent bothered with looking human from a while now it… its difficult for me."

Kurt nodded, wondering in how many ways it was difficult for him. Did he even feel human anymore? That was a thought that made the hairs on the back of Kurts neck stand on end. He was putting a lot of trust in a man hed never met before.

Kurt got up from the sofa, gently laying Blaines head down, to stir the fire. He heard a groan and quickly spun around. Blaine was trying to sit up, looking down at the bandages on his chest. The light from the fire and candles lighting his bronzed skin; in the dark, the shadows made his bandages look even grimmer.

"Hey squirt," Cooper said and Blaines head snapped up immediately. Kurts heart skipped a beat as Blaine jumped up from the couch, heedless of his injuries, and rushed towards Cooper, pushing him backwards until he was pinned to the wall, Blaine panting and glaring at him. Cooper lifted his hands in a sign of surrender.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Blaine demanded.

"See and here I thought youd come to find me."

Blaine shoved him harder against the wall and Kurt watched as Coopers lip curled up in a snarl- and okay that was a bad thing. Cooper pushed Blaine off of him and let out a low growl. Blaine took a step back in surprise.

"Stop!" Kurt came up behind him and Blaine turned to look at him; immediately, his face grew pale and his eyes widened.

"Kurt!" He grabbed Kurt by the arms. "Youre hurt. Where are you hurt? Sit down" He led him to the couch, practically pushing him to sit, his eyes wild and panicked.

"Blaine Im fine-" He didnt know what was going on-Blaine was the one injured not him-then he glanced down to see streaks of blood soaking his shirt, but it wasnt his blood, it was Blaines from when Kurt had carried him in. "It isnt my blood," he said. Blaine had knelt on the floor in front of him, looking for injuries and Kurt tilted his face up to get his attention. "Its your blood, not mine. Im okay. You were hurt badly and I brought you into Bryn o Wyrdd," Kurt answered, and he could tell by Blaines immediate smile that hed butchered the pronunciation.

He let out a sigh, "I thought I told you to get away from here."

Kurt shrugged. "I did. And then I came back."

Blaine looked him over as if still checking him for injuries.

"Im fine Blaine. Youre the one that got torn up by a mythical creature. And your heartstone is safe too." Kurt said, pulling it out of his pocket to show him.

Blaine blinked at the stone, it was glowing faintly and Kurt thought Blaines face was even more beautiful than usual in its light. Blaine took the heartstone carefully, and looked at Kurt with round eyes. "How are you here and safe? I sent you away with the faint hope that youd be alright but I didnt really think-" Blaines voice broke and he just shook his head. Kurt hushed him, leaning down and kissing his lips softly.

"We arent out of the woods yet," Kurt said tenderly. "But I promise Im okay."

"The Dontizu?"

"Its dead."

"There were two. And how…. Wait, did you kill one?"

"No." Kurt shook his head and looked back up at Cooper who was still standing near the wall silently watching them.

"Someone else killed it, and saved me in the process."

Blaine glanced back at him. "You saved Kurt?"

Cooper folded his arms across his chest and nodded.

"There were two Dontizu… and if you killed one…" Blaine processed out loud and swallowed nervously; from this close, Kurt could see his eyes tearing up before they fluttered closed. "Oh god no."

Blaine sat still and rigid next to Kurt on the couch, pushing down his desire to take Kurts hand and run as fast as he could to somewhere Kurt would be safe and far, far away from everything that was going on.

Across from them sat Cooper, legs crisscrossed on the floor, his dark hair long enough to reach his shoulders and his face patchily shaved. Blaine had never seen his brother look so disheveled, wearing just a white t-shirt and some tattered jeans. Then again, he wasnt sure this was actually his brother, not anymore.

Cooper and Kurt had explained what had happened after hed been injured, and while he was relieved Kurt was alive and unharmed, that knowledge came with a heavy price. Cooper was a Dontizu, one of the very monsters he was set to destroy. His stomach hurt at the thought.

"So your whole theory as to why we can trust you is that you didnt kill us when you could have?" Blaine finally said, breaking the awkward silence that had been growing in the room. "Youre a monster, Cooper." The words hurt his throat to force out.

For the last eighteen years, hed been furious with his brother. Hed yelled and ranted and cursed his name, but never in all that time had he wanted... this. The Cooper he knew was gone, left in his place was a creature that looked like him.

"I am a monster," Cooper said, his blue eyes flashing in anger. "But Im still me. Im still your brother." As if he knew what Blaine was thinking-and maybe he did-who had known Blaine longer than his brother? Theyd spent decades together; if there were anything left of his brother in this monster, then Cooper would know what kind of doubts Blaine was struggling with.

Blaine shifted uncomfortably on the couch and Kurt squeezed his hand. They had explained that Cooper had been the Dontizu they had first encountered upstairs, and yes, Cooper was right; he hadnt attacked them even though he had time. They also described how Kurt had been trapped between a creature and a cliffs edge, sure he was going to die. The thought made Blaines heart pound painfully as he scooted closer to Kurt on the sofa. Kurt had survived, though, because Cooper had saved his life.

"How?" Blaine asked as the silence started again. "How did this happen? How are you even… just sitting there talking to us… youre… youre…" Blaines throat felt tight with tears and he couldnt keep speaking. He lowered his head and held it in his hands as Kurt started rubbing comfortingly up and down his back.

"The Dontizu werent always just creatures," Cooper answered. "I can keep a human form for a while, though the other Dontizu dont bother with it anymore. They were once mostly people, only sometimes creatures. You know that."

Blaines head snapped back up. "They were always evil."

Cooper clenched his jaw and looked away and Blaine regretted his words, even if they were true.

"Maybe I am evil. I still dont want anything to happen to my kid brother." Cooper looked back at him, and Blaine was shocked by the intensity of his eyes. "Think of it as my last remaining human characteristic. I want to protect you, Blaine."

Blaine took a deep breath and wiped his eyes, not letting any tears fall. "And Im supposed to believe thats why you stole my heartstone and let me leave with the wrong charm all those years ago, to protect me?"

"It worked," Cooper answered simply. "If you had faced the Dontizu eighteen years ago, all bravado and anger, they would have demolished you. Besides, I put a spell on your heartstone so it would go to a pure heart, the one who would care for it most. That seemed to work out. You and Kurt seem to be…" Cooper cleared his throat. "More than friends." They both glanced at Kurt.

Kurt was looking down at his lap with a blush high on his cheeks, when Kurt looked up at him with a small smile it made Blaines heart flutter.

"Youre saying you brought Kurt and me together?" Blaine said smiling softly at Kurt.

"That seems to be the end result of my spell." Cooper sighed.

Blaine turned back to him. "So, instead of letting me face the Dontizu all those years ago, you faced them yourself and became… this." He gestured towards him.

"I didnt face them on purpose. They found me. And destroyed my heartstone, and before I could stop them… I was one of them. I hate myself Blaine, for what Ive become and what Ive done these past five years, but the one thought that kept me sane, kept me almost human… was you. The knowledge that one day youd need my help. I knew it was coming, the day you couldnt run anymore. I just got back to Wales you know? A little before you? Ive been in America the past few months watching over you."

"Wait, watching me?" Blaine said his breath catching in his throat.

"Mostly in my animal form." Cooper shrugged, "I cant count the number of nights I stood outside of your apartment building keeping guard. And never once have I done you or Kurt or anyone you know harm."

"But you have done harm," Blaine said, his throat dry. The idea of Cooper looking out for him even after all this time was warming, but he knew that Cooper was leaving some things out.

Cooper shot him a glare. "Im a Dontizu… you said it yourself, a monster," Cooper said, his eyes losing their anger and turning mournful. "Its my nature."

Blaines chest ached as he turned to Kurt. He didnt know if he trusted Cooper, but he wanted too so much. He needed someone more rational to help him. "Kurt… could we talk for a moment?" He glanced at Cooper. "Out in the hall maybe?"

Kurt arched an eyebrow question, but he nodded and followed Blaine out.

"What do you think?" Blaine asked once they were out of Cooper earshot.

"I…" Kurts eyes widened in surprise. "What do I think?"

"I trust you more than anyone, Kurt. Id love to know what you are thinking right now."

Kurt quickly glanced back towards the drawing room and then to Blaine again. "Well, I know Cooper saved my life..." He answered slowly, thinking it through. "Id be lying at the bottom of a cliff right now if it werent for him."

"Dont," Blaine said, reaching for Kurts hands and kissing his knuckles. "I cant even think about that."

Kurt smiled faintly and continued, "And I know that you are acting tough but that youre still injured. Whether you heal quickly or not, you arent healed completely yet. I know the rest of the Dontizu are on their way to kill you. I know… it would be really great to have someone else on our side. Especially a shapeshifting magical creature."

Blaine nodded and a small smile grew on his lips. Kurt made sense; facing the Dontizu with Cooper at his side… after everything theyd been through over the past hundred years – it just seemed right – Blaine supposed that this was Coopers fight too. And here was Kurt thrown into the middle of all of this standing next to him and confidently discussing matters that he hadnt even believed in a few weeks ago. It was all so overwhelming.

"I can put my life in his hands," Blaine said. "But I cant risk yours." It was time. "You have to go back home."

"No," Kurt said, taking a step away from him.

"Kurt." Blaine sighed. It was too dangerous-he hadnt expected to confront the Dontizu right away-he had to send Kurt home. He closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath; he didnt want to do this, but he told Felix if Kurt wouldnt leave on his own hed send him to safety using magic and the Dontizu could literally be there any moment. He dug deep inside of himself, summoning a magic he hadnt used in years, a magic he hated. He opened his eyes and looked straight into Kurts, still holding both of his hands. He could do this, he could tell Kurt to go home and Kurt would go. Hed be compelled to.

"Blaine?" Kurt asked, looking worried.

"I…" Blaine could taste the words on his tongue, the magic stirring in him, he just needed to say it. Go home Kurt. Find Felix. Be safe.

Kurt reached out and cupped Blaines cheek in a gentle hand. "Are you alright?"

Blaine let out the breath he was holding and pushed the magic back down again. He needed Kurt to be safe, but he couldnt, he couldnt force him to do something he knew Kurt wouldnt chose on his own. He wouldnt do that to him.

Blaine felt shaky from head to toe; without using magic to force Kurt to safety, he had no idea how to keep him from harm.

"What just happened?" Kurt asked, his eyebrows furrowed and his expression worried.

"Huh." Cooper spoke up from behind them. Blaine snapped his head towards him, Cooper was leaning casually on the door frame with his arms crossed.

"Cooper you were listening?" Blaine asked in frustration.

He just shrugged like eavesdropping should have been expected. "I really thought you were going to do it."

"Do what?" Kurt asked, looking back and forth between them.

"Compel you. It is something Blaine can do."

"Cooper." Blaine scolded, in the past years of being separated from his brother hed forgotten just how annoying and intrusive he could be.

"What? He should know. Compelling people is a magic that Blaine up using decades ago." Cooper continued and Blaine watched Kurt for his reaction. "If he uses the right words with the right magic he can make someone do what he says."

"What?" Kurt looked sharply at Blaine. "You were going to do that to me?" He quickly took yet another step backwards letting go of Blaines hands.

"Kurt…"

"No. No! Were you going to use that magic against me?"

"I didnt do it, Kurt."

"But you thought about it!"

"To keep you safe. Im sorry, Kurt, I just… I need you safe."

Kurts face was red and blotchy, his fist curled and his eyes flashed in anger. "How dare you. If you ever ever use magic against me, Blaine… I… Ill. You just cant! Dont you see! Ill never trust you!"

Blaine felt like hed been slapped in the face. Hed done so much to gain Kurts trust against all odds. He couldnt lose it now. "But if you die here it will be my fault!"

"I am my own person, Blaine, and if I chose to stay when I know full well what could happen, then that is on me, not on you. And you want me safe. I know. But I want you safe too. And god! I am so mad at you right now! But Im not leaving. I am not leaving you."

"Im sorry," Blaine said, his stomach feeling empty.

"Promise. Promise me that you will never use magic on me without my permission, even if you think it is for my own good. Promise." Kurt demanded.

"I promise, Kurt."

"I have to be able to trust you." Kurt pleaded, his eyes misty.

"I know… thats why I didnt use it on you, and I never will." Blaine was near tears himself. He meant it, he wouldnt do anything to jeopardize Kurts trust.

Kurt nodded and folded his arms across his chest. "Unless Im dying and unconscious and need you to heal me or something," Kurt murmured.

"Thats a good exception," Blaine said, smiling and trying to catch Kurts eye.

"What do we do now?" Kurt asked, clearly keen on changing the subject.

"I know what we need," Cooper said, smiling the first smile Blaine had seen from him in years. He nodded back towards the drawing room and then disappeared into the room. Blaine sighed but followed him in, Kurt beside him. Cooper walked towards the mantel, reaching up for the Anderson family portrait and unhooking it from the wall; it came down quickly.

"What are you doing?" Blaine asked.

"I think you need Fathers real charm now dont you?" He brought the portrait to the middle of the room and laid in on the floor. Blaine knelt beside him and Kurt came and joined him. Blaine looked at him and smiled, and Kurt smiled back. Blaine reached for Kurts hand and squeezed it, hoping to communicate a silent I love you.

Kurt leaned in and bumped their foreheads together, his anger apparently quickly dissipated.

Blaine turned back to his brother. "What does the portrait have to do with-" Blaine stopped short as Cooper hovered his hand over the picture and let his fingers grow out into long black claws. Blaine clenched his jaw and swallowed. Cooper really was a Dontizu, not that he doubted it, but seeing even just this small demonstration made it hit home. He felt like he might be sick.

Blaine had asked Felix to kill him if that ever happened to him, and now here he was, reunited with his estranged brother, only to learn that Cooper had lost the battle against the Dontizu…. And Blaine hadnt even been there to help him.

Cooper slid his claw down the portrait, ripping the canvas over their fathers chest. "What are you doing?" Blaine asked, flashing him an annoyed glance, but Cooper didnt pay attention to him; instead, he dug into the torn painting and extracted a round stone charm on a gold chain. The charm withdrew from the portrait right where it had been hanging on their fathers chest.

"Looking for this?" Cooper said with a smirk that made Blaine smile. Cooper looked like his old self.

Cooper held the charm up by the chain and Blaine reached for it. After all this time, he finally had his heartstone and his fathers charm.

"You hid the charm, in the painting of the charm?"

Cooper winked. "Clever right?"

Blaine just rolled his eyes and grasped the charm in his hand.

"So… that means its time for the ritual, right?" Kurt asked nervously.

"The Dontizu are on their way, we have to move quickly," Blaine answered. He wanted to ask one more time if Kurt would please leave for safety, but he knew better. If the roles were reversed, there would be nothing in the world that would make Blaine leave Kurt.

Kurt nodded and moved from his knees to sit crisscrossed on the floor, and then he held out his hand. "Magic is easier with someone else right?"

Blaine looped the chain around his neck and pulled the stone out of his pocket before taking Kurts hand; he glanced at Cooper to see him holding out a hand as well.

"Let me help squirt."

Blaine laughed a little sadly; he used to hate it when Cooper called him squirt, but now it made his chest ache. He handed the stone to Kurt. "You just have to hold it to my chest and against the charm. It wont hurt you." Kurt nodded and did as he was directed as Blaine used his free hand to hold onto Cooper.

Blaine closed his eyes and started to focus.

"Wait!"

His eyes snapped open to see Kurts face close. Kurt dove in and pressed their lips together, kissing him soundly and making his head spin a little. His lips were eager and he lifted a hand to hold the back of Blaines head, and Blaine didnt even care that Cooper must be watching, not when Kurts lips felt like this. Soft and fervent and full of unspoken love and desire. Slowly Kurt pulled back looking at him with bright eyes and rosy cheeks.

"What… was that for?" Blaine asked a little breathlessly.

"Youre about to become mortal… I… it was… an encouragement to live through whatever comes next," Kurt answered softly.

Blaine nodded, not able to think of what to say, Kurt didnt want to lose him and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure they both lived through this.

Blaine took a deep breath and closed his eyes again. Kurt pressed the stone to the charm against his chest and Blaine focused on becoming whole. On how splintered hed felt all his life. He focused on healing fractures and making things new and being himself again. Fully, completely himself. He heard his heartstone start drumming loudly and even with his eyes closed, he could tell there was a bright light in the room.

Then, the pain came, the searing heat from the charm, burning into his bare and bandage-wrapped chest. He kept focusing on becoming whole even as a pained cry tore from his lips. This would hurt regardless, but on top of his current injuries, it was even worse. Be complete, be you, focus. Blaine thought to himself. For Kurt, do this to get your magic fully returned so you can keep Kurt safe.

The light grew brighter, piercing through his closed eyelids and the beating grew louder, raging in his ears. If it werent for the tight grip of Kurt and Cooper on either side of him, he would have felt lost in the noise and light. He shouted in pain again, he really couldnt take this much longer - and then… with a sharp wrench in his chest everything seemed to stop.

The beating quieted.

Blaine opened his eyes. The room was bathed in bright rosy light. Kurt sat beside him, but unmoving, like hed been paused, frozen in time; he was holding Blaines hand and leaning forward with his other hand on Blaines chest and there was a frightened look on his face. Blaine blinked and turned to look at Cooper who was also bathed in light and frozen, his face was also worried, and his teeth were bared in a snarl –as if that was his only defense mechanism left.

Blaine looked quickly back at Kurt. "Kurt, its okay-" he started to say, and then the moment was over. The light vanished; Blaine saw a burst of glowing mist and then the pain in his chest disappeared. He let go of Kurt and Cooper and fell backwards on the ground.

"Blaine!" Blaine blinked up at Kurt who was staring down at him in concern. "Blaine."

Blaine smiled up at him reassuringly, he felt… weird, different, he felt good. "It seems like Im always waking up from being hurt or ill, to find you looking down at me."

Kurt let out a breath of relief. "Yeah, you need to cut that out already."

Blaine sat up and shook his head.

Kurts hands were on his chest and his brows were furrowed. "So that was… did it work?" Kurt asked.

Blaine couldnt really explain how he was felling. His chest felt kind of full, like hed taken the deepest breath of his life. And he felt warm head to toe, warmer than he could ever remember feeling. He felt like he did the first time Kurt had put cinnamon in his coffee, or the way he had felt when they danced together at the Broadway Ball, or the way he felt every time Kurt told him he loved him … he felt happy. More than happy. He felt – complete.

"I think it must have worked," Cooper answered, "Your heartstone is gone."

"It just disappeared from my hand," Kurt said, his eyes wide and his face a little pale. "It became this red mist that just sort of… moved into your body. Are you sure youre okay? Because it was actually kind of frightening and you were obviously in pain and- why are you smiling like that?"

Blaine realized hed been smiling at Kurt like an idiot the whole time he had been speaking. Blaine tilted his head back and laughed, really laughed, harder than he had… well harder than he ever remembered laughing. "Yeah Im okay. I great. Im fantastic!"

He got on his knees and then held Kurts face in both of his hands, bringing their lips together, and then parting his to allow Kurt access. He pressed forward, kissing him deeply and nipping at Kurts bottom lip a little. Kurt only hesitated a moment before his arms were around him and Blaine deepened the kiss. He moaned; he would have kissed Kurt down to the floor if it wasnt for Cooper sitting nearby. He sighed as they parted and Kurt looked at him, eyes wide and his cheeks flushed.

"Okay… that was…" Kurt cleared his throat. "Wow."

Blaine just grinned at him. He couldnt help it. He wanted to get up and dance around the room, sing and spin Kurt in his arms. He felt amazing. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a long breath. He felt excited and jittery – he felt like taking hold of Kurts hand and running away with him. Somewhere safe where they could just be together in peace. Safe and happy. That wasnt an option, though; the Dontizu would find them no matter where he went – especially now that his full power was restored. He could feel his power too, sparking inside of him down to his fingertips. The Dontizu could no longer turn him into one of them, but his immortality was gone, they could still kill him to feed off of his powers.

He opened his eyes to find his brother and Kurt watching him. Cooper was twitchy and his eyes were a strange purplish color.

"Whats happening to you?" Blaine asked, his spirits falling a little.

"I need to change soon," He said.

"Good – do that." Blaine nodded. "Youll be able to fight them better. I can feel them, theyre almost here."

Kurt reached for his hand and squeezed. "Should you somehow test to see if your full magic has returned?"

"It has," Blaine answered; he could feel the power pumping though him, and he felt stronger than he ever had. Kurt looked scared, though, so he stood to his feet taking Kurt with him. "Ill show you."

He stood back from Kurt and glanced over the dark and desolate room, remembering, with a tug at his heart, what it used to look like over a century ago when he lived here happily with his family. He lifted a hand and the candles that were clustered around the room lifted into the air, hanging suspended for a moment until Blaine flicked his wrist and they started spinning and circling the room, faster and faster and faster. He glanced at Cooper who watched them, arms crossed over his chest, and then back to Kurt whose eyes were wide and full of awe as the candles rushed together making one great silver light that burst in the air.

Kurt let out a gasp as beads of silver light started raining down in the room, and each drop that touched down transformed the room to its former glory. When the silver rain stopped, the room was lit by the lamps on the wall, the furniture was uncovered and looked as new as the day it was purchased, the rugs were no longer torn or dirty, and the wood walls were polished and gleaming. Best of all, the portrait of his family was back on the mantel where it belonged, no longer torn by Coopers claw.

"This, this is how it should look," Blaine said with a hitch in his throat.

Kurt was still holding his hand when he turned to look at him. "Its beautiful."

Cooper cleared his through like he was fighting back some emotion and Blaine turned to him. "You have your magic back." He looked around the restored room, probably struggling with memories, the same kind of memories that where rushing through Blaine right now. "Not a bad job."

Blaine opened his mouth to respond when he was cut off by a harsh howl from outside.

Everything seemed to happen at once.

Kurt spun around to look towards the window and Cooper immediately growled, eyes flashing red.

Blaine turned to Kurt whod gone a little pale. "You have to stay back-you cant fight these monsters-leave it to Cooper and me. Understood?"

Kurt turned to him. "But-"

There was another howl from outside and then another and another. They were close and getting louder. God, this was it – after all of these years, he was going to face the creatures who had killed his parents and destroyed his life. He had to live through this, not only for his sake, but for Kurt, it was the only way Kurt stood a chance.

"I love you," Blaine said quickly, and at the same time, there was a loud crash as glass from the large nearby window shattered and a huge creature burst through.

"Get back!" Cooper shouted stepping in front of Blaine and Kurt and growling loudly even though he was yet to transform into his animal form. Soon, though monsters were streaming through the window-one, two, three… and still there were howls from outside.

Blaine turned to Kurt. "Upstairs – third door to the left. The door is solid and strong – lock yourself inside."

"Blaine."

"Go! How can I fight them if all I can do is keep my eyes on you? RUN!"

Kurt only hesitated a moment, his tearful eyes searching Blaines, and then he spun around, racing for the door. A Dontizu sprang towards him, but Blaine lifted his hand and pushed his power forward, causing the creature to fly sideways and hit the wall. Kurt ran from the room. Blaine didnt have time to check if he made it to the stairs or not because he and Cooper were surrounded by Dontizu all snarling and hunched as if ready to spring forward; he lifted both of his hands and let his power thrum and spark through him. It was time to fight. It was time to win.