Chapter 6: To Fear and Loath Against

"Kurt, you are going to spend the day with Sebastian's pet." Blaine softly ordered. "I want you to be my good little pet."

Kurt nodded his head in agreement and Blaine smiled.

"What a good little boy you are. I'll be back at the end of the night." Blaine didn't want to leave, but when it involves work and his social and financial status, there were certain matters he needed to keep. To the best of his ability, Blaine tries to keep his work life separated from his Kurt life, and so far his efforts have been a success. Kurt doesn't understand the concept of employment and Blaine has no intention to ever teach Kurt what his occupation consists of. It doesn't matter as far as Blaine is concerned.

Kurt's lips wobbled. "You will come back... right?"

Blaine leaned down and kissed the top of Kurt's head that smelt like strawberry shampoo. "I love you and I will always come back for you. You should know that."

"Where are you going? Will you promise me that you will come back?" Wide eyes and temporary tame hair begged in the form of a seven year old boy.

"I will not promise to come back. I told you that I will come back and you need to trust me when I say so."

With nothing else to do or the power to stop him, Kurt watched his vampire leave the dimly lit playroom. Of all the emotions to feel, Kurt absolutely loathed the evenings Blaine left him. It was a worrisome feeling and he hated to be scared. Without anything else to do or additional protest to say, Kurt turned back to his simple toys and emotionally prepared himself to face the mysteries of the day.

The consistencies of his days and nights were an absolute and without negotiation. Yet thanks to the manipulation of careful design, subtle mayhem was forever present within in Kurt's schedule. The consistencies began with meal time, play time and sleep time, and continued into Kurt's social company. He was always well nutrition, entertained to some degree, properly rested, and most importantly he was never alone.

The disorder drew from the fact that traditions were never kept, and patterns never had the chance to form.

One day Kurt might eat breakfast in the evening and dinner in the morning, and the next day breakfast in the morning and dinner at night. To this day, if someone were to ask Kurt if pancakes were to be eaten after waking up or before going to bed, he would be confused by the question and off topically clarify that 'pancakes are delicious.'

Aside from food, there is the sensitive topic of toys. Kurt absolutely loves his toys. In particular he loves his scratch paper and box of crayons. When the bright colored objects were first introduced to him, Kurt was beside himself. When the colors were able to transfer from his hand onto the white scratch paper, Kurt was completely boggled and astounded. Immediately after this discovery Kurt began to draw wild circles and squiggly lines. Then as a gift, he would give the artwork to whoever was watching him at the time.

Unfortunately for Kurt, and to his great confusion, no one showed interest in his art. Whenever he offered a drawing to the aloof women who cooks him meals, she rudely walked away from him. The old man who dusted the table tops frantically shook his head and unceremoniously ran off. Kurt's feelings were not truly hurt until he tried giving his drawings to the fleeting men who took turns watching him. The man with the cocky smirk ripped the paper in halves, and the man with the stern exterior wadded the paper into a ball and tossed it into the trash. The other two boys who keep an eye on him were not as cruel. The awkwardly quiet blonde smiled and distracted Kurt with a colorful toy. The other boy, the brunette with the nice smile, politely told Kurt to keep the drawing somewhere safe for him.

Blaine on the other hand, was a different story. The first time Kurt handed him a colored paper the vampire smiled and told Kurt that his picture was beautiful. From that day forth Kurt loved making pretty drawings for his vampire. As far as Kurt was concerned, Blaine was the only one who appreciated his hard work and company. In addition, Blaine was the only person who would play with him, sing his lullabies and tell him stories. His vampire deserved a gift for all of his efforts.

Blaine was also the keeper of Kurt's heart and the person he loved above all others. In a distant second, the next person who brought positive attention into Kurt's heart and world was the brunette with a nice smile. His name was Daniel, but a formal introduction was never made and Kurt was told to refer to brunette as 'Sebastian's pet.'

In terms of daily inconsistencies, crayons were not always available for him to play with. Some days he would open his toy box and crayons and paper would be waiting for him. Other days they would be gone and substituted with dolls, building blocks or music boxes. In the beginning, Kurt would cry and stump his feet when his crayons were gone. With his tantrum he hoped and expected that his crayons to materialize at his demand. All his little mind could comprehend was the memory of putting the crayons in the box and expecting the crayons to be found where he left them. The first time this happened Blaine was watching him and he carefully explained the truth of what happened.

Kurt may have been five at the time, but he will never forget that conversation.

"Where did my colors go?" Kurt looked over his shoulder towards the dark haired vampire. "They're not in the box. I put them in the box before."

"Of course, they are not in the box. They left a little long while ago." Blaine replied as if the box of crayons had a personality and control of its own actions. "I'm not sure if or when they will come back. Did you do anything to upset them?"

Unsatisfied by the answer Kurt turned back to the box and began rummaging through the toys for the second time. The crayons were still not there.

"The colors aren't here!" Kurt stomped his right foot and slapped the box with both hands. "I want my colors! I want my colors!"

"Kurt, don't yell." Blaine scolded and Kurt stopped telling. "Very good. Come here please." Blaine's words were strong and they freed him from the unpleasant task of tugging on Kurt's heavy leash.

"Do you have my colors?" Kurt looked around his vampire to see if Blaine was holding the desired object. He couldn't find them. "I don't see them."

"You're colors aren't here." Blaine showed his hands to the small boy. "The colors go bye-bye for now."

Kurt widened his blue eyes. "Why did my colors go?"

Blaine smiled and kneed down to become eye level with the young child. "The colors are hiding from you."

"Where did the colors hide? Let's go find them."

Blaine did not answer the question right away. "Where do you think they went?"

Kurt sucked his lips in and silently thought. Where else could his crayons go? There was nowhere for them to hide. Kurt's entire world was summed up in this dark candle illuminated estate.

"The colors don't like you." The vampire said with complete ease. Kurt completely froze at the harsh words. "Come with me." Blaine wrapped his arms around the tiny boy and lifted him up. Together they sat on a large chair, with Kurt on Blaine's lap. "They don't like you, just like Sebastian, Nick and their pet's don't like being around you."

"What?" Kurt asked with a watery voice. "Why don't they like me?"

"Because," Blaine attentively kissed Kurt's hair, "They don't like you because they aren't like me. They don't love you." The vampire smiled when Kurt leaned his back against him. "If someone loves you, then they don't want to leave you. That is why they take turns in watching you. They don't like being around you."

The tiny boy paled several degrees. "You leave me sometime."

"I know where all your toys hide. When I'm gone I trying to convince your toys to come back and play with you. Unlike them, I always come back and tuck you in bed and sing you bedtime lullabies. Does anyone else do that?"

"No." Kurt whined. "Why don't they like me? What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything." Blaine answered. "They just don't like you, nobody likes you. Do you ever wonder why no one plays with you? Or why they always seem irritated when they are around you? Or why Kitty left you?"

"Is that why Kitty left me? She didn't like me?" The five year old screamed. Kurt loved his kitten and to the best of his ability he tried taking good care of her. All his efforts came to a crashing halt when the cat escaped from her leash during nap time.

"Yes." Blaine tightened his hold "That is why Kitty left you. She didn't like you." The vampire chose to leave out the little detail that he didn't like all the attention his blue eyed human gave the white fluffy critter. "What about your sitters? They only watch you because I asked them to." Blaine cleared his throat and returned to the matter at hand. "The colors will only play with you when they have nothing better to do." Blaine answered soothingly.

Blaine gently wrapped his arms around the shaking boy. "You don't need them. I will always be here for you. At the end of the day everyone and everything will leave you, but I will always be here for you. I'm here because I love you. Do you love me?" Blaine smiled when he felt the tiny head move against his chest. "Kurt, I want you to use your words."

"I love you."

It has been two years since that conversation and not much has changed. Some days Sebastian would watch him, or maybe it was Nick, Daniel or Jeff. In all honesty it didn't matter. They were all the same and they never played with him. Why would they give him special attention? Blaine said it best, they hated him.

Kurt silently opened his toy chest. Today there were several tiny plastic horses and cows waiting for him. With sad disappointment Kurt reached into the box and grabbed the toys. There was no longer a point in complaining. He knew his place, he should be happy and thankful that these farm animals agreed to play with him in the first place.

"Why are these things calledcows?" Kurt howled the word 'cows' and held the tiny toy cow upwards. Kurt was used to Daniel ignoring him, but Daniel would occasionally smile at him - unlike everyone else. It was these little smiles that dared Kurt to image that maybe Daniel didn't fully hate him. "I wish cows were real. That would be really funny." Kurt giggled and motioned the cow along the top of the toy box lid, acting as if the cow was running.

Daniel bit his lips and stayed silent. There was so much that he wanted to say, but it felt like the right time would never come. Kurt was so young and unable to keep secrets; and if Blaine has it his way, then Kurt will forever stay mentally young and naïve.

"I'm sorry you have to watch me today." The plastic cow stopped running and crawled down the side of the toy box by the guide of Kurt's hands. "I know you don't like me. Why did I do?"

Every fiber in Daniel told him to stay silent. The seven year old couldn't tell the difference between friend and enemy, and he only knows the things Blaine wants him to understand. With unintentional power Daniel whispered. "I don't mind watching your." It broke Daniel's heart to hear Kurt say that no one loved him. In a small corner of Daniel's mind he knew some people did not like Kurt. It wasn't that these individuals had anything against the child, but rather their distaste was due to the fact that loving Kurt had a heavy price. Being mean to Kurt made everyone's lives easier. Against his better judgment Daniel added, "And I do like you." Kurt quickly turned around. Daniel softly smiled to the blue eyes. "Please, don't tell anyone I said that."

Kurt dropped the horse and ran to Daniel. Daniel's request fell deaf to Kurt's ears. "Maybe you could play with Blaine and me." Kurt smiled. "We have fun with the blue doll and pink doll, but green doll gets lonely." Daniel stayed horribly silent. What did he do? "Blaine tells me that blue and pink dolls are master and pet and that they don't need anyone else. I told Blaine that green doll is lonely, but Blaine tells me that green doll hates pink doll." Sad realized dawned on Kurt. "Do you hate pink doll too?"

The brunette sadly shook his head. He should not have said anything. "I image pink doll is really sweet and nice. What kind of stories do your dolls share?"

Kurt traded the cow for a horse and resumed fiddling with it. "Yesterday we played a story about the bedtime cookie thief."

Daniel silently nodded. Regrettably encouraging Kurt to share private details of what was sure to resemble brainwashing. "What is that story about?"

"It's the story of when the pink doll got hungry one night and snuck out of bed and went to the kitchen for some cookies." Kurt quickly interjected. "I really like cookies. Do you like cookies?" The other boy kept quiet. Sebastian never gave him dessert unless it was compromised to some degree. "You see, pink doll was bad in the story and he allowed any dessert that night. Instead of waiting for the next day, the pink doll broke the rules and left his bedroom for some cookies. He didn't get very far before the blue doll heard him." Kurt fell silent and traces of sadness and fear clouded his eyes.

"What did blue doll do?"

"Oh, blue doll rescued pink doll." Kurt immediately answered. "Blue doll returned pink doll to the safety of his bed. He then told pink doll that ghosts haunt the hallways and monsters like to hunt in the kitchen at bedtime. You see, the ghosts and monsters don't like pink very much. Only blue likes pink. If blue doll didn't come and recue pink doll, then pink doll would have gotten hurt."

The question didn't need to be ask. "When you play, which doll are you?"

"Pink doll."

As if there were no similarities Daniel casually inquired. "Have you ever snuck out of bed for cookies?"

Kurt motioned his head in agreement. "Yes, but Blaine saved me. I don't leave my bed at night anymore."

"Ghosts and monsters sound really scary."

"Oh, they are very scary, if the pink doll wants to be safe, then he has to do whatever the blue doll tells him to do. That is very important." The child informed the adult.

"Who is the green doll?

Kurt did was not fazed by the eeriness in his situation. "Green doll is mean to pink doll. Would you be a nice or mean green doll?"

Daniel carefully weighed his words. "I think green doll secretly wants to be nice, but he is waiting for the right moment." Kurt shoulders dropped at the rejection. "Please, Kurt, don't tell Blaine that I talked to you."

"Why don't you want to play with Blaine? Don't you like him?" Kurt gasped. How could someone not love Blaine?

The innocence in Kurt's voice stung Daniel. "I think it would be best if we stayed secret friends." Daniel intentionally avoided the question. No he did not like Blaine.

...

A loud a boom sent a vibration against the covered glass window.

Kurt snapped his eyes opened and let out a loud terrified squeak. This was not the first time he heard this sound, but it stilled scared him as if it was the first. The small boy immediately set up and hugged his legs under the warm blankets on his bed. Another loud snap and crackle sound echoed on the other side of the bedroom walls.

"Oh no," Kurt whispered and sat on his knees. "It's the soun!" Kurt moaned and rocked his body back and forth in a soothing manner.

The only visible comfort in the room was the glowing fireplace nightlight.

A soft snore reminded Kurt that he was not alone. He was never alone. Across the room in another bed laid one of his sitters. Normally Blaine slept in that bed, but today his vampire needed to sleep in the guest room and Nick was his replacement. Kurt didn't understand why Blaine needed to be alone some nights. It didn't make sense and he didn't like it one bit.

"Nick." Kurt whispered loudly from under his bed covers. "Nick."

A third roar was too much for Kurt to tolerate. In a swift motion Kurt kicked the blanket off the bed and tumbled onto the floor. Kurt did not care that the marble floor was cold against his tiny feet. He had scarier fears to face, fears like the loud monster invading outside his bedroom.

"Nick!" Kurt cried and frantically shook the other vampire when he was close enough. "The monster is back! You have to stop him!"

Nick's brown eyes regrettably opened and surveyed his surroundings. Much to his dismay he was not naked and spooning with his equally naked Jeff. Instead he was dressed in cotton and sleeping in a kid's room. "What?"

Kurt did not have time for this. "The monster is back!"

"What monster?" Nick's question was answered by another loud boom. "Good grief kid, it is just thunder." The vampire brushed Kurt's hands off his shoulder and roll to his side.

"Yes, it's the monster Thunder. He's going to eat me!"

"Go back to sleep." Nick huffed and tightened his hold on the pillow. Kids are annoying little creatures.

Kurt nervously tapped on his feet. "No, you're supposed to protect me from monsters. Blaine protects me."

Nick rolled back over and stared at the scared boy standing next to him. "Do I look like Blaine?" Kurt shook his head. "Exactly. I don't know what is so special about you. If it was up to me I wouldn't be here and you would in Thunder's stomach."

The pale boy gasped at the news. Blaine did not lie to him. Nick, as did everyone else, didn't like him.

"Go back to bed."

"But Blaine..."

"...Is not here." Nick interrupted and rolled away. Declaring his exit from the conversation.

An unsettling feeling dropped in Kurt's stomach when another thunder roared on the other side of the stone walls.

"I want Blaine." Kurt cried, but no one was listening.

Kurt did not move right away. Instead he silently tried to remember just how far the guest room was from his bedroom. Maybe two minute walk, but he if ran and did not encounter any monsters then maybe he could get there in thirty seconds.

Very carefully Kurt opened the bedroom door. The hallway was darker then the bedroom, but a few handing candle lanterns were burning. The young boy tightened his grip on the door handle and poked his head out. There was nothing to be seen or heard. There were no scary monsters or looming ghosts.

In a brief moment the silence Kurt almost convinced himself that the monster had left. The moment vanished when another snap and crackling boomed roared loudly above him. Forgetting everything that he knew, Kurt bolted out the door and raced down the hallway as fast as his short legs could carry him.

The thirty second sprinted turned into a minute jog up the hall, down the stairs and around the corner. Thanks for the burning lanterns Kurt was able to safely find the bedroom door he knew Blaine was e in. The same time Kurt reached for the door handle a violent rumbled echoed over him and an unknown sound came from the other end of the hallway.

With his best effort Kurt tried to turn the door handle, but it was locked. "Blaine?" Kurt whispered into the key hole. "Are you in there?"

After whispering Kurt put his ear onto the wooden door. Instead of an answer, all Kurt could hear was the sound of someone moaning. Soon the moaning turned into a pleasurable scream. Pleasurable or not, all Kurt could hear was a scream.

"Blaine!" Kurt frantically screamed and kicked at the door. Kurt's heart was racing fast and his eyes were flooded with terrified tears. What was happening to his Blaine? Was he caught? Was a monster eating him? The panic of many horrific thoughts prevent Kurt from noticing the sounds of soft cursing and bodies frantically getting dressed. "Blaine! Thunder is back! Please save me!"

Kurt continued to shout even after the door opened and a messy looking Blaine picked him up. The fire from the burning mantle revealed that the taller man's shirt was inside out and his sweat pants were too long to belong to him.

"Kurt what are you doing out of bed?" Blaine did not mean to yell.

"The monsters were coming to get me; and Nick wanted to feed me to Thunder!" Kurt cried and tightened his legs around Blaine's hips.

A disgruntle sigh left the vampire and he patted Kurt on the back. Together the two left for the guest room. They weren't very far Kurt before heard something moving about in the guest room.

"Blaine," Kurt whispered and pointed at the guest door. "Someone is in there. What if it's a monster?"

"It is a monsters." Blaine lied. In truth he was the monster and the poor boy in his bed was homeless and willing to offer his body and blood for a warm place to sleep for the night. "By leaving your bed you enticed many foul creatures to come out. I told you to never leave your bed at night Kurt. You could have gotten injured or you could have injured me. Do you want me to get hurt?"

The vampire and child did not say much until they reached Kurt's bedroom. Nick was sound asleep and the fire from the mantle was still glowing. The thunder stormed had calmed and the sound of rain hitting the covered glass windows stopped. The room no longer looked scary.

"Do you think you can go to bed now?"

Less scared and tense, Kurt relaxed in Blaine's arms. It was then he noticed something unsettling. There was a drop of blood was rolling down Blaine's chin and his master's teeth looked sharper than normal.

"What is that?" Kurt pointed at the blood on Blaine's face.

The vampire licked him lips and tasted the sweetness of blood. "Remember, I had to fight the monster. He was trying to hurt you, but he ended up hurting me."

"You got hurt?" Kurt cried with guilt.

"Yes, I got hurt." Blaine hummed. "I probably wouldn't have gotten hurt if you stayed in your bed. I told you before and I'll tell you again. The monsters and ghosts won't hurt you if you stay in your bedroom. If you stay in there, then you will be safe."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't sneak out of you room again. You don't want me to get hurt do you?"

"No." Kurt silently answered again.

"Good, now I want you to go back to sleep. I need to go finish taking care of the monster who attacked me. We don't want him to get away do we?"

"No. Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome." Blaine smiled at his tiny human and finished tucking him into bed. "Good night Kurt. I love you."

Kurt did not need to be told twice. "I love you too."

The vampire closed the door behind him and walked back to his real bedroom. His unfortunate pale skin blue eyed 'monster' was waiting for him with wide legs and fresh blood.