Chapter 3: Everything Will Be Fine

Present:

Kurt wasn't sure what he expected when Sebastian stormed out of Thomas' bedroom. However, with the taste of breakfast still on his breath and Ellie fusing in her pajamas, it was easy for Kurt distract himself and pretend that everything would be fine. He needed to stay positive and believe that Sebastian would return with good news, and then the happy family of four would go to the horse stables. Thomas would ride Snowy, and Ellie would marvel at the gigantic creatures. After a full day of fun the family would return home and eat dinner then cookies for dessert. Everything would be fine.

Everything will be fine. Kurt told himself when he finished dressing Ellie in her pink dress and white leggings.

Once Ellie was fully dressed the one year old slithered away from her father and walked towards her brother. Thomas was sitting hunched back on his knees and sourly playing with his toy building blocks. It was one thing for the five year old to be denied playtime with the horses. It was an entirely different matter to be snapped at by his papa. The latter never happened unless he did something bad, such as breaking something and then blaming the damage on Ellie.

The sun left its position in the eastern horizon and slowly moved across the grey sky. When the sun was at its highest peak a brave maid gingerly knocked on the bedroom door with lunch in hand. The children were quick to eat. Thomas was over the moon that he was allowed to eat in his bedroom. His previous sulking was past and forgotten.

Everything will be fine. Kurt repeated to himself when the maid collected the dirty dishes. According to the woman it was quiet outside and a hunting party to catch the beast was in effect.

Kurt's struggle to keep control of his internal worries and fears went unnoticed by the children. Adam, however, didn't miss the twitch in Kurt's legs or the sideway glances that the twenty-four year old kept doing.

Seven hours later and Kurt continued to pretend that the scars on his left hip weren't tingling with the remembrance of the beast's unforgiving strength and aggressiveness. In addition, words of encouragement repeatedly flashed through his mind like a flying banner. Sebastian knows what he is doing. Everything will be fine.

The sun continued to move further and further across the sky and towards the western horizon.

"Daddy I'm bored. I want to go outside." Thomas whined for the fifth consecutive time. "Daddy, why are we staying in my room? Where did papa go? When he is coming back? Is he still mad at me? Did he go to the horses without us?" Thomas asked his side-by-side questions in a single and rapid breath.

Ellie was sound asleep on her brother's bed.

"He will be back soon." Kurt promised and Thomas crawled onto his father's lap. For the past few hours Kurt has been sitting on the floor with his back pressed against the wall.

Meanwhile, Adam continued to stand in the corner. Irritation was clear in his observing eyes.

"Close your eyes and let me sing you a lullaby." Most days Thomas would refuse the recommendation. However today the five year old agreed and he didn't resist the honey sweet lullaby as it lured him into a peaceful sleep. "Everything will be fine." Kurt promised and then laid his son next to his daughter on the bed.

Thomas wasn't a sleep for a minute before Adam reminded Kurt of his presence.

"Three months," Adam leaned forward and coolly whispered to his friend's husband.

After setting down for so long, Kurt was having trouble standing straight.

Ellie rolled onto her stomach and made a loud sigh.

"What about three months?" Kurt quietly asked. He didn't like the look in Adam's eyes. It was the same look the blond did whenever he was mentally and shamelessly picturing the younger man naked and in compromising positions. The sultry stare happened frequently in front of Sebastian. However Adam did not limit himself, and he had no ashamed in lusting after a father in front of his children. Kurt didn't want to know the exact details crossing Adam's perverted mind.

Too disgusted to keep looking at Sebastian's friend, Kurt looked away and back towards his sleeping children.

"Three months." Adam stalked around the lean body and then pressed his chest against Kurt's back. Similar to a snake, Adam wrapped his right arm around the twenty-four years old waist and his left arm secured itself around his prey's upper chest. "Three months is the amount of time the public expects one to mourn the death of a spouse." The blond relished the feeling of Kurt trembling in his arms. Smirking, he continued. "After three months the public also expects the best friend of the departed to step forth and take care of the lonely widow and his brats." Kurt unintentionally stiffened when Adam tightened his hold of him. "As I see it, the nanny can take care of those two and I will take care of you." Adam's breathe was hot air against Kurt's right ear.

"Sebastian knows what he is doing. Is that how you treat your friend?" The Kurt from seven years ago would have punched Adam and then he would have taken his children away from such foul company. The new Kurt only whispered and watched his children peacefully and innocently sleep. "Sebastian has done so much for you. He helped you buy a house and land. Now you wish his death."

"He didn'tbuyme anything. Do you want to know what he did? Heboughtyou. Well more like took you away from me, and then paid for you later. You see," Adam kept his voice low and he gently pressed his hips inward. Kurt bit his tongue when he felt Adam's tight jeans touching his backside. "I saw you first. The first time I saw you, you were walking hand-in-hand with your former and coward prince. I took one good look at you and your tight ass and knew I had to have you and it. After that I used to follow you around and watched you work at the library." With his words the older man knowingly grinded his hips forward. "I would touch myself to the memory of you reading in the town square. I later told Sebastian that I planned to take the beautiful librarian and make him mine. The fact that you had a fiancé was just an insignificant detail in my future plans."

The children were too close for Kurt's comfort. Thomas could easily open his eyes and see what his 'Uncle Adam' was doing to his daddy.

"He's your friend. Get away from me." Kurt whispered in a panic. His heart was racing too fast to count the beats and he felt like his eyes were going to pop out of his head. "Not in front of the children."

More or less Adam followed the order. He relaxed his arms around the younger man. However he spun Kurt around and cornered the younger man against the wall.

"Sebastian may be a companion to me, but I wouldn't go so far to call him my friend. He took you away from me and do you want to know what else he did?" It was clear that Adam didn't want Kurt to answer. "He used to brag about you."

Kurt wished Adam would stop talking. He loves Sebastian, but there are certain traits about his husband that Kurt did not want to think about or remember.

"When you two returned from your honeymoon he invited me and the guys out for drinks. I wasn't even drunk yet, nor did I have a loose twink on my lap before he started bragging about you." Adam didn't even try to hide the envy in his voice. "He explained in vivid detail of your intimate times together. My so calledfriendgloated about the sounds you make and the positions you favor. He even told us that you give the best blow jobs."

Kurt paled at the crude statement.

"He knew I deserved you. I should have been the one receiving your first class blow jobs." Adam licked his lips and closed the gap between the two the bodies.

Thanks to every blessing and good grace Thomas and Ellie continued to sleep.

"Before you came along luck was never on Sebastian's side and he was a genuinely nice person." The older man leaned his lips closer towards Kurt's. "Not any more. He still brags about you. You are after all, his greatest victory. He likes to makes sure that no one forgets it. When he leaves the windows opened at night, it's not because he's hot. No, it's because wants everyone to hear you scream his name and to remember that you belong to him. I'm sick of it."

"Don't," Kurt whispered, "Please, Adam, stop talking." Kurt knew Thomas and Ellie could wake up any moment. "Sebastian is strong. He's a good fighter. If..if..anything bad were to..." Kurt couldn't finish the statement, "Then we would all be killed."

Adam smirked. "Your dear husband was unsuccessful in killing the beast seven years. What makes you think this time will be any different? If you ask me the big difference between then and now is that now the beast is older, and I imagine stronger and wiser." Adam took a step backwards, allowing Kurt to catch his breath. "When the beast invaded the castle seven years ago, it didn't take any of the royal jewels or treasures. Last night the same creature ransacked an old house and the library, but nothing was reported missing."

The older man's head was too far down in the gutter to realize that the 'old house' was Kurt's childhood home. Thankfully Burt moved out of the house shortly after Kurt and Sebastian's wedding. Burt moved out firstly because the house was close to the forest and thus close to the beast, and secondly Burt knew grandchildren were in his future and he wanted to be closer to them once they were born. Grandpa Burt is a favorite adult for Thomas and Ellie.

"The monster is clearly after something." Kurt stared over Adam's shoulder and checked on his children. Ellie was starting to rub her closed and sleepy eyes with the backside of her hand. "The secret to get rid of the beast is give it want it wants. Too bad Sebastian isn't smart enough to figure that out."

"And what is that?" Kurt can still remember the hollow stare in the beast's eyes when it first attacked him all those years ago. The beast did not look like it was searching for anything.

"I don't care what it wants. If it makes you a widow and an active member my bed, then the beast can have whatever it wants." The blond paused and smirked. "Sebastian has been out there for almost eight hours. He's probably dead already. I wonder if that crossed his mind before the beast ripped him in half."

"Stop it!" Kurt screamed and violently pushed the blond away from him. The shove must have caught Adam off guard or otherwise the older man wouldn't have stumbled backwards and confusion wouldn't be on his face.

Once realization returned, Adam straightened his posture and masked his surprise. "You better be careful. I don't take kind to little twinks who don't know their place. Clearly Sebastian hasn't done a thorough job in pounding you into submission. When you're mine..."

"Daddy!" Thomas shouted. The five year old stood on top of his bed for added height. In combination of his statue and the bed, Thomas was only a few inches shorter than Adam. "Is he being mean to you?" Thomas accusingly pointed his index finger towards Adam. Sebastian's eagerness to fight and defend in family was clear as day in Thomas' voice and posture.

Adam rolled his eyes and stepped away from Kurt and the children. He never liked children to begin with.

"Da-da, loud," Ellie opened her blue eyes and loudly complained.

"It's okay." Kurt stepped away from the wall and rushed towards his children. Ellie was quick to grab onto her father. Thomas kept his ground and his green eyes on Adam. "Adam, get out of this room now." Kurt ordered.

"But Kurt, your dear sweet hubby told me to protect you." Adam scolded, "You are everyone's pretty red rose and we don't want you to get damaged in the storm."

The temperature in Thomas' bedroom was past the point of comfort. The small room wasn't designed to entertain two adults and two children for an entire day. To make matters worse the window was facing west where the sun was beginning to set.

"Pa-pa!" Ellie screamed and tried wiggled out of her daddy's arm. Kurt didn't loosen his grip on her. "Pa-pa is there!"

Kurt, Adam and Thomas looked towards the direction Ellie's chubby finger was pointing towards. Thomas was the first to react. The five year old jumped off his bed, raced across the room and pressed his palms against the glass.

"I want papa!" Thomas cried and knocked on his window on the third floor in hopes that his father would see him and wave back.

Kurt and Adam had to stretch and angle their necks in order to see a group of men standing in the backyard. In the center of the group was Sebastian. He was instructing orders and pointing in different directions. The tall man looked exhaustive and stressed. His outfit was dirty and wrinkled. Kurt, Thomas and Ellie were too excited and relieved to see Sebastian that they didn't hear Adam curse to the knowledge that Sebastian was alive and well.

"Thomas, you need to get away from the window." Kurt closed and curtains once he regained himself. As far as Kurt knew the beast was on the Smythe property and he didn't want to attract unwanted attention. The closed curtains made the bedroom a tad darker, but the sky was darkening anyway.

"Pa-pa!" the small girl shouted again. "Where did pa-pa go?" Ellie asked after the curtains were closed and her view of the outside world vanished.

"Ellie, sweetie," Kurt whispered into his daughter. "Please don't yell." Kurt knew yelling or making any form of loud noise could entice the beast. "Do you want to sing with me?" Thomas stubbornly stepped away from the window and joined his father and sister. "Let's sing softly, okay." Kurt purposefully ignored Adam grunt in the background and trio began singing simple lullabies. The sweet songs kept Thomas and Ellie distracted for a short while.

As the final outline of the sun slinked below the western horizon the peaceful lullaby was replaced with the horrible sounds of glass shattering and a woman screaming. The volume of the scream was smothered by an unknown force - preventing the men on the ground from hearing the distress call. However, the sound was perfectly loud and clear to the occupants in Thomas' room.

...

Seven years ago / 14 days before the rise of the beast:

"Seven or eight, I'll settle for six, but no less than five." Blaine kissed Kurt's ear.

Kurt laughed and nestled deeper into his favorite place in the world - his fiancé's arms. "We're talking about dogs, right? Goodness I don't think I could handle that much wildlife. I can hear them barking already."

"Of course not," Blaine corrected. The dark haired eighteen year old was peacefully setting against a weeping willow tree and the tips of his toes were barely avoiding the water from the neighboring lake. Within his arms was his relaxed and closed eyed best-friend and fiancé. Kurt legs were comfortably bent and together resting on top of Blaine's right leg. Similar to his fiancé, Blaine closed his eyes.

Together the boys harbored within a cocoon of hanging weeping willow branches that were full of summer leaves. They were not only isolated from their town, but they were also hiding within their secret haven located in the far corner of the forest. In order for the boys to get to their secret hiding place they had to ride their horses for three hours along the forest edge and towards a thin stream. It was this little stream where they got off their horses and entered hand-in-hand into the forest. After an additional hour of hiking and stumbling over rocks and dead branches the thin stream gradually widen into a river. Eventually the river turned into a waterfall that cascade over a short boulder cliff. As the water cascade over the edge it would slash against rocks extending from the cliff until it collide against the rippling water. Faint mist surrounded the bottom of the waterfall. Around the lake was a series of trees and cave-like boulders. Together Kurt and Blaine would climb down and into their secret valley.

Blaine discovered this little piece of heaven when he was fifteen and running away from his mother. However after living here for two days, Blaine realized that he missed his father and he returned home. Ever since when Blaine wanted to be alone he would come here. After he met Kurt, Blaine began inviting his best-friend to join him for the day trip. It was here where Blaine slowly and then suddenly fell in love with his best-friend. This was also the place where they shared their first kiss and where Blaine proposed.

The shady region between the tree and the lake was a small area of wild grass and white dandelions. Perfect for nothing less, Blaine would lay down a soft blue blanket and he and Kurt would cuddle on it, or if Kurt allowed - make out.

"What kind of person wants eight dogs?" Blaine asked and Kurt contently hummed along. "I want twelve dogs. While we're at it I also want fifteen cats, and if you really love me, then you would even allow me to get a few pigs, horses and cows."

Kurt kept his eyes closed, but he lifted his left hand upwards. "Is it too late to take this off?" Blaine lightly laughed and reached for Kurt's extended hand. The younger teenager smiled when he felt Blaine's lips kiss his engagement ring. "I mean, that is a lot of animals. Would you even have time for me? Would you even have time for children?" Kurt opened his eyes wide with horror and his face turned four shades of red when he realized what he just said. "I don't mean that we have to have children or anything. It's okay if you don't want any. I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't thinking."

"Kurt," Blaine interrupted by leaning forward and tenderly kissed Kurt's pink cheeks. The younger boy realized Blaine's intentions and turned his head sideways so that he could return the kiss. The simple kiss under the summer breeze calmed away Kurt's previous embarrassment.

Once the kiss ended, neither boy said anything right away. The sun was warm and the day's responsibilities were low. It was a day driven on future hopes and dreams, not expectations or demands.

When Blaine first revealed his special hiding place to Kurt, Kurt used to refer to it as 'Blaine's hideaway.' With time Kurt began calling it 'their special place.' It only seemed fitting after Blaine carved their initials into the weeping willow tree they were currently resting against.

"Kurt, do you want children?"

A small feeling of disappoint dropped in Kurt's heart. "Yes, but we don't have to. I mean if you don't want anything then I wouldn't complain..."

"Seven or eight," Blaine playfully squeezed Kurt's waist. "I want seven or eight children. I'll settle for six, but no less than five kids."

"Blaine!" The pale boy screamed. Kurt quickly pulled himself out the warm arms and turned around. Blaine was grinning at him like a wild man. "Are you crazy? Eight kids?" The dark haired boy smiled and rubbed his hand up and down the Kurt's neck. "Do you have any idea how outnumbered we would be? That is four kids per person! Well, more like nine children and just one me." Kurt jabbed Blaine in the chest with his finger. "I think one kid is better."

"One kid," Blaine whined. "One kid is boring and not to mention lonely. We were both the only child. We know how lonely it can be. If we have one child, then we need to have a second so the first can have someone to play with. If we have two kids, then there isn't a sound reason not to have eight children. Common Kurt, how cute would it be to wake up every morning with kids running down the hallway with loud feet. Wouldn't it be fun to watch them get really excited about something as simple as dessert?"

Kurt wrinkled his nose, "One, two and eight there is nothing logical to that reasoning. Although, I agree two kids would be a good number." Blaine opened his mouth, but Kurt spoke first. "No more than two." Kurt paused when Blaine smiled. "Why are you smiling?"

"I convince you from wanting one kid to two kids, now I only have to talk you into six more until I reach my goal." Blaine noticed an untellable emotion cross Kurt's blue eyes. "What's wrong?"

The pale boy turned around and rested his back against Blaine's chest. "I'm not an expert in the reproduction system, but I do believe a woman is involved in the makings of a child."

"When were older and ready to start a family we will find a woman who will carry our children. I'm sure we could find someone who would volunteer for us."

Kurt took a deep breath. "How do we get her pregnant? Can we just look into her vagina and then she'll become pregnant? I don't want you to...you know." Kurt rambled the last part of his sentence.

The couple has yet to advance beyond a heat make out session - something that Kurt was very thankful for. Whenever the boys had conversations that acknowledge sex, Kurt couldn't stop himself from blushing. From the time they first meet Blaine has never stopped being a gentleman and he never pressured Kurt to do something he was not ready for. Having said that, Blaine was excited for the day when Kurt would be ready for more.

"I have thought about that." Blaine lowered his hazel eyes to the brown haired boy. "I wish there was another way, but for the time being there isn't one."

"Excuse me," Kurt cried, "Is that why you want so many children? Should I be jealous?" He was partly joking and partly serious.

The older boy recognized Kurt's worried expression. "Of course not, I'm just saying it is something that will have to happen if we want to have children in the future. I really want a little Kurt running around." Kurt smiled as Blaine tightened his protective grip around him. "In case you are wondering, you are the only person I think that way about. When we share our first time, it is going to be beautiful and special." Blaine smiled and Kurt turned red again.

"Now I'm starting to question your intentions are with me." Kurt teased and turned around. Much to Blaine's surprise, Kurt straddled himself on top of the eighteen year old. The older boy welcomed the intimate gesture.

"My intentions, you ask. Well, I intend to love you, make you happy and to protect you." The dark haired boy finished his promise by gently pressed his hand against Kurt's heart. He could feel the precious organ beating beneath his palm. "I also intend to kiss whenever I want."

To prove his point Blaine leaned forward and kissed Kurt's soft lips. The kiss would have stayed chaste if Kurt didn't open his mouth and lick Blaine's lips for permission to enter. Entrance was immediately granted. A series of wet kisses lasted for several minutes.

Once they boys surfaced for fresh air and Kurt caught his breathe and replied. "I was talking to Sebastian yesterday." Kurt slightly leaned back. "He mentioned something about how the beast is starting to wake up... and soon it will be attacking us...and you will leave..."

The mention of the arrogant and condescending brat sent a hot wave of irritation and jealousy up and down Blaine's veins and arteries. Sebastian Smythe, Blaine has yet to officially meet the other man, but from what Kurt, his mother and friends have told him about the twenty-four year old Blaine already knew he wouldn't like him. According to Kurt, Sebastian was full of himself, flirty and hands grabby. This made a collection of characteristics that Blaine didn't want his fiancé to be exposed to.

The queen, Queen Alexandra to get technical, never busied herself with town gossip or Blaine's love life - unless of course she was trying to persuade Blaine to end his silly engagement. According Alexandra it was high time for Blaine meet a respectable girl that is both within his social class and of proper gender. However last week Alexandra did make comment about the new boy in town. "From what I've gathered his is a charming young man. Some people saw him and Kurt talking, they said the duo made a cute pair. It's a shame you're still misleading Kurt on with this foolish engagement. You're not gay and you don't love Kurt. Why don't you end this relationship and give Kurt the chance to be happy with Sebastian. They would be good for each other." Blaine didn't respond to his mother.

According to his friends who've meet Sebastian, they described the man as both humble and polite, and arrogant and rude. One minute Sebastian was wearing dirt covered clothes and volunteering his aid to strangers, and the next he was strutting in the riches of fabrics ignoring everyone he deemed unworthy of his attention. Blaine's friends they didn't know how to label Sebastian, or his parasite lurking friend - Adam Crawford.

"Kurt, we discussed this. There isn't a beast. Sebastian is just a jerk. I want you to listen to me," Blaine did not continue until their gazes met again. "I will never abandon you, hurt you or do anything that will put you at risk for danger. Next, there isn't a beast. Our soldiers have searched high and low and never found anything. If there was a beast do you honestly think I would have taken you out here?" With Kurt still straddling him, Blaine was finding it hard to be jealous of the other rumor that Sebastian was trying to steal Kurt away from him.

"If there was a beast...do you think it would attack children? I don't want to bring children in this world if there is a beast that would harm them."

"There isn't a beast," Blaine repeated. "Even if there was a beast, something tells me that it wouldn't harm children. "

Kurt reached out and touched their initials that were carved in the tree. "I hope you're right. If we ever have two children, then I want to know that they will always be safe."

"They will be safe because I will always protect them." Blaine leaned forward for a quick kiss. "We should probably go back home. The queen wants me to help her organize her birthday party." Blaine long ago stopped calling his mother 'mom.' "I don't understand that lady. She is always so eager to celebrate her birthday, but she claims to be the same age every year."

Kurt didn't want to move. He liked being closed to Blaine and he loved spending lazy days in their special place. However, all good things must come to an end and Blaine would unlikely have another day off for a while. Together the boys stood up.

"Before we go, and to prove my confidence that there isn't a beast." Blaine neatly folded the blanket they were laying on and tucked it into a duffle bag. "It was on this blanket we shared our first kiss. I'm going to leave this piece of treasure behind. By leaving it here then I will have to return to the forest to get it back. If I believed there was a beast out here, then I wouldn't leave it behind. The next time we come out here this duffle bag will be safe."

The simple gesture had its flaws. Bugs could craw into it, a bear could snatch it away or rabbits could mate beneath it. However Kurt smiled nonetheless and removed his thin light green summer scarf.

"This is my favorite scarf, but it's old and the colors are starting to fade. If you think it will be safe from a beast, then I'm going to tie it around this tree." True to his word, Kurt tied the fabric around the weeping willow that had their initials carved in the bark. "As long as this scarf is safe, then there isn't a beast. Assuming a mother bird doesn't lay her eggs in it first."

"There isn't a beast." Blaine repeated and kissed his best-friend and fiancé once more.

...

Present:

Kurt and the kids stopped singing when the terrifying sound traveled from its source, down the hallway and into the bedroom. The scream itself did not scare Kurt. Instead it was the object or being that muffled the high pitch shriek into submission. The sound, unfortunately, didn't hold the promise that it would be loud enough to penetrate the stone walls and alert everyone outside.

"Daddy?" Sensing that something was wrong Thomas scooted closer to his father and hesitantly hugged Kurt's trembling legs. Ellie mimicked her brother's actions and she wrapped her arms and legs around her father. "What was that?" Thomas asked his daddy. "Daddy?" The young boy tried again, and then stopped when he heard a loud thud hit the floor. "What was that?" Kurt lost his voice and his blood ran cold when he heard the haunting sound of nails scratching against the locked nursery door. "Daddy!"

"Shh," Kurt gently whispered to his son and repeated the words he has been saying all day. "Everything will be alright."

Kurt hesitantly stared at Adam. The older man seemed to be weaving on the lines of detachment and excitement. It wasn't a secret to Kurt or anyone who knew Adam that Adam has been waiting for the day when he would stand up and become the hero he always wanted to be. When the beast came about seven years ago Adam would glare and scuff at his undeserving 'friend.' Sebastian did nothing, except scare the foul creature into the forest. As far as Adam was concerned, Sebastian wasn't heroic, he was a failure. The only way to restore peace was to get rid of the beast once and for all, and then to kill Sebastian. Adam smirked and pulled out his weapon. By the end of the night, he would be dubbed the protector of the town and everyone cute boy would fall before his feet. For the first time in his life he would be give first servings instead of second scrapes.

"Adam," Kurt spoke a little louder. The sound of Kurt's voice only excited the scratching against the door. Adam snapped out of his daydream when Kurt trapped his shoulder. "Adam what should we do?"

"For starters, keep your mouth shut." The blond spat aloud. "I'm going to do what I said I would do. I'm going to give the beast want it wants. It can have anything and Sebastian's head for all I care. But first," with strong determination and without warning Adam roughly grabbed Kurt by the upper arm. The sudden jolt caused Thomas to lose his hold on his father's leg.

The sudden and unexpected grasp scared Kurt and stimulated a sharp inhalation from the younger man. On cue with the sudden breath, the claw marks against the bedroom door loudened and became more urgent. From Kurt's vantage point the door was vibrating.

"Shut up," Adam wasted no time and dragged Kurt towards Thomas' oak wardrobe. The closet space was small, but large enough to fit Kurt and the children.

"Thomas, come here." Thomas tried to run to his father and Ellie squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her nose against Kurt's shoulder.

Before Thomas could reach his father and sister Adam stepped in front of him. "Adam, what are you doing? Thomas, come here now."

"No." Adam gently pushed Thomas aside. Kurt was too focused on his son, that he wasn't able to think fast enough when Adam pulled Ellie away from him. The one year old in the pink dress hysterically screamed when she was pulled out of her father's arms. The screams only loudened when she reached out for her daddy and realized that Kurt was too far away for her little arms to reach. "The three of you cannot fit in there. They're small, can hide behind the curtains." Adam sat Ellie next to her brother and forcefully grabbed Kurt's arm again, no doubt making a bruise on Kurt's pale skin. "And to think that Sebastian said you were passive and the children were obedient."

Adam didn't realize what happened until a cold stinging sensation slapped him across the face. "Don't you dare and touch my children again! You are a disgusting monster!" Kurt could have said more, however he was forced to stop when the tasted of iron filled his mouth and his jaw was suddenly throbbing.

"I can do whatever I please! Don't forget I'm the real man here. I'm the protector. You're just the bitch who takes care of the brats during the day, and the warm hole real men fuck at night." Adam whipped Kurt's blood off his fist and on to his pant legs.

Kurt's teary and blurred vision prevented him from seeing the scared and pleading expressions on his children's faces. Nor was he able to see that Thomas and Ellie's arms were wrapped around each other.

"Adam, please."

"Shut up," Adam swung open the wardrobe and pushed Kurt inside. "Be the quiet little bitch I know you are." The locked of the wardrobe clicked loudly after Adam slammed the door shut.

"Let me out of here!" Kurt cried and pushed his weight against the wooden door. The fine craftsmanship wouldn't budge. "Adam, please!" Thomas and Ellie cried and screamed for their daddy. Tears freely rolled down Kurt's face and the younger man didn't even try to wipe them away. "Adam, my children need me! Let me out." With little else to do then to cry in his dark cage, Kurt shouted. "Thomas, I want you and your sister to hide behind your curtains. Cover your eyes and ears."

With nothing left but desperation Kurt pressed his ear against the wood and tried to listen. He could no longer hear his children, which Kurt hoped to be a sign that Thomas was keeping his sister quiet and the two of them were well hidden. Adam's footsteps were loud as they continued to pace back and forth in front of the door that was beast was trying to break down.

"I'll let you in!" Adam shouted to the source of the scratching. "You can come in here and take what you want. Don't hurt us and I won't attack you."

A string of no's streamed through Kurt's mind."This is a ridiculous, insane, and poppycock. Adam is asking for all our deaths. Where is Sebastian? The beast can have me, but don't let him take my children" Kurt turned his mind off when he remembered Blaine's long ago promise that the beast wouldn't attack children. Blaine's former promise meant nothing. Like most promises Blaine gave, it held no truth or value.

"I'm unlocking the door..." Adam shouted. Much to everyone's surprise the violence against the door lessened.

For a brief moment time felt like time was still. Kurt couldn't feel his heart beating and his lungs were motionless. The only sound keeping Kurt grounded was the blood loudly rushing to his ears. The moment snapped back to high speed reality when the door loudly squeaked opened and Adam let out a blood chilling scream. The scream was short living when the fierce creature growled and attacked Adam to the floor.

"What do you what?" Adam managed to whimpered, then screamed again. "Ah, no-no-no-no!"

Kurt closed his wet eyes and listened to Adam's pleas become quieter and quieter as the beast dragged him out of the bedroom and down the hall.

"Kids, I'm coming." With more vigor than before Kurt aligned his back against the wall of the closet and his feet against the door.

"Daddy, can we come in there." Thomas voice muffed through the wood and he gently knocked on the door.

Kurt relaxed his pressure in fear that he would kick the doors open and hit his son "I'm trying Thomas. Please go and hide until I can open this." Kurt ordered between gritted teeth and continued to push when he heard Thomas step away from the wardrobe.

"Daddy," Thomas stepped back towards the wardrobe. "Why is the big dog smelling Ellie?"

"Oh no, no, no, Thomas I'm coming right out now."

"But why is he smelling her hair?"

A slight budge clicked in the wardrobe door. "I almost have it, stand back I don't want to hit you." With a few additional pushes Kurt forced the door open. Thomas' bedroom was darker than before. However in comparison to the wardrobe it was also lighter. It did not take Kurt a long time to adjust his eyes to the horrifying situation involving the beast and his daughter.

Ellie was softly giggling as the large animal playfully sniffed her hair. The 'dog', as Thomas describe, was larger than a big dog. It was a little over five feet tall and had solid black fur. Its legs were tone and muscular.

"No," Kurt barely breathed, "No."

The back legs of the animal stiffened and flexed when it heard Kurt's voice. Ellie stopped laughing when the animal removed his nose from her hair. "Da-da, look, it's a big dog. Can we keep him?" Ellie smiled, completely unafraid of the ferocious looking animal that could easily eat her.

The animal transitioned his weight and stood up so that now he was standing on two feet, nearly doubling his height. Sharp pearly fangs extended from his lips and his eyes glowed. This was the beast.

"Please," Kurt whispered, "Please don't hurt my children." The beast growled at the wordchildren."Please let them go. Take me instead." The beast reduced his height and relaxed back onto his four legs. Slowly and gingerly the black furred creature crawled towards Kurt frozen body lying in front of the wardrobe. "Thomas, take Ellie and hide until Papa finds you." Kurt hated giving his son this much responsibility, but Thomas and Ellie couldn't stay here and watch the beast do whatever it came here to do.

The beast did not show any interest in Thomas as Thomas slipped his hand into Ellie's hand and pulled her out of the room. Nor did the beast show any emotion when he stepped over a piece of Adam's pants. It was the very same piece of cloth where Adam had previously whipped Kurt's blood onto.

"What did he do with Adam?"Kurt internally panicked."Please don't let Thomas and Ellie find Adam's remains. Why did I send them away? Where is Sebastian?"

Just as he did with Ellie, the beast lowered his nose towards Kurt's hair. With nothing else to do Kurt closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to the floor and stayed still. Meanwhile the beast moved its nose from Kurt's hair and to the back of his neck. Hot breath tickled the pale skin, but unlike Ellie, Kurt didn't laugh. He couldn't laugh even if he wanted to. From Kurt's neck the beast's nose and mouth traveled to his prey's left ear and cheek. The nose stopped wondering when it smelt the dry blood on Kurt's lower lip. Kurt tightened his closed eyelids when he felt a warm tongue lick it his chin and lips.

Adam was right. The beast was after something, or more appropriately, someone, and he found it.

The beast purred with satisfaction and then he sunk his sharp fangs into the pale neck. The bite wasn't as painful as one might expect, but it did cast Kurt into a temporary world of darkness.

...

Twenty-minutes later:

"Adam, I have to admit you had me fooled." Sebastian spoke when he reached the top of the stairway and onto the third floor. He immediately spotted his friend setting on the floor with his back against the wall, just around the corner to Thomas' bedroom. After an entire day a searching for the beast the hunting party came up empty handed. From past experience Sebastian knew that the beast was tamer at day and wilder at night. As a precaution and once the sun settled over the horizon Sebastian set up special protection around his home. As long as it was dark outside, he wouldn't allow Kurt or his children to leave his sight. However, Sebastian would never allow Adam to see his true fear of losing control or Kurt.

"When you arrived this morning wide eyed and so scared, I should have known you made up the whole beast story. The beast isn't dumb enough to show himself. I would be mad at you for ruining my day off, but you're forgiven because I know Kurt is going to be extra sweet and complying in bed tonight. I've wanted to try something new for a while and Kurt always said 'no'. I think tonight might be my lucky night."

Adam said nothing to Sebastian tantalizing jock. "What are you doing on the floor anyway? Did Kurt kick you out? He's never liked you."

The closer Sebastian advanced towards his friend the bettered he realized something was wrong. Apart of Adam's pants were ripped off and a large pool of blood was soaking his shirt.

"Adam?"

The younger man hesitantly approached the blond. Sebastian didn't need a check of Adam's pulse to tell that the other man was dead. Adam's skin was white as snow, his face was violently scratched and his eyes were completely vacant.

"Kurt!" Sebastian uncharacteristically screamed and raced around the corner towards his son's bedroom, the place he last saw his family.

All the doors within the hallway stood proud and strong, except one. The threshold into the room was stretched up with sharp claw marks. The door associated with the threshold was badly injured and beaten up.

"Kurt, sweetie, where are you." Sebastian hated how scared and vulnerable his voice sounded. His couldn't lose Kurt. Kurt was his rose, heart and love.

Without much force Sebastian pushed Thomas' bedroom door open. The piece of wood carelessly swung and the remains of Thomas' room came into view. Anger and fear raged though Sebastian's body as he observed the damage in his son's bedroom. The room was a hopeless mess. Broken pieces of wood from the wardrobe littered the floor and building blocks and dolls laid scattered among the debris.

"Where are you? Show yourself beast!" Sebastian shouted.

Instead of a harsh animistic growl Sebastian heard a soft mummer. "Papa?"

A beacon of hope illuminate within the older man's soul. "Thomas, where are you?"

"Over here."

Sebastian followed the sound of his son's voice and walked towards a closet in the hallway, thankfully in the opposite direction where Adam's body was laying. As fast as he could Sebastian opened the door that was perfectly intact and unscathed. Behind and below several thick winter coats sat Thomas holding Ellie. Thomas and Ellie both looked up with wide eyes when Sebastian opened the door.

"Pa-pa!" Ellie cheered with the same eagerness when she first saw Sebastian through the bedroom window.

"Oh, thank goodness," Sebastian fell onto his knees and engulfed his children with wide arms. "I was so scared."

"Daddy, said to hide in here until you found us. Were you daddy playing a new game?" Papa did not answer Thomas's question, instead he scoped both children into his arms.

Sebastian nervously glanced over his shoulder to see if Kurt was hiding somewhere else. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, but it wasn't a fun game." Thomas answered innocently. "Ellie did like big dog."

"You saw a dog?" Sebastian would hardly describe the beast as a 'dog,' but he could understand the confusion for a child. The creature was large, covered in fur, and he walked on four legs. If Sebastian were to describe the monster he would compare it to a cross-mix of a wolf and a bear.

Ellie smiled at the reference of the dog. "I want big dog to come back. Big dog goes..." Ellie mimicked the creature by exaggeratedly smelling the air. "Why did the dog like da-da better than me? When is da-da going to come back? It's not nice for him not to share the dog with us."

"Daddy isn't here?" Sebastian stared into Ellie's eyes, Kurt's eyes.

"The dog took him." Thomas answered on behalf of his sister. "When will daddy come back?"

Guilt and rage both chocked and consumed Sebastian. He was foolish to trust Adam with his family, and he should have never left his family in the first place. He knows the beast better than anyone. If anyone were to be able get into the mindset of the foul creature and discover the monster's plan, it's him. For better or for worse Sebastian has his ways in knowing how the beast's instincts work.

"I know how to get daddy back." Sebastian kissed both his children's foreheads. Similar to his husband, Sebastian promised. "I'm going to rescue him. Everything will be fine."