Blood Ties: Prologue 2/2
Title: Blood Ties: Prologue
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Length: Chaptered
Summary: They were born to different worlds: one to rule, the other to serve. A twist of fate united them in a bond that was not only taboo, it was forbidden. With danger constantly nipping at their heels, they must fight not only for their own survival but that of the people that depend upon them. Will their love survive the coming battle? Will they?
He opened the door and stepped out, making his way slowly back to the guest chamber. Just as he got there, the maid arrived with the goblets of blood. He glanced at his father out of the corner of his eye and saw his brow lifted in question but he said nothing, for which Jae was grateful. He opened the door and allowed the maid to enter, cringing inwardly at her startled gasp when she saw the boy lying on the bed, still as death.
“Place the tray down on the table and leave” Gregori ordered in clipped tones. “And don’t repeat anything you’ve seen here, am I clear?”
The maid nodded, bowing hastily. “Yes, my lord.”
She scrambled for the door, shutting it behind her.
“You’re far too careless for your own good,” Gregori said to Jae as he stood at the side of the bed looking down at Yunho. “That could’ve been disastrous if word got out.”
“But she promised not to say anything, Father. She’s terrified of you so I’m sure she’ll keep her word.”
Jae sat on the bed beside Yunho and picked up a goblet, sipping deeply of the thick, rich substance. It had apparently been warmed to give the impression of being straight from the vein. He gagged slightly, still not used to the texture and taste of it. Until the change, he’d lived entirely on food. Now he was forced to add blood to his diet to replenish his strength more quickly and completely but he avoided consuming it as often as he could.
“Still, she’ll be dealt with,” Gregori stated, his voice final.
Jae swung around to look at him. “Father?”
Gregori ignored Jae and continued looking at Yunho.
Jae turned away from his father, absorbing what his words meant. All he’d wanted to do was save Yunho but he may have inadvertently caused the death of an innocent maid as a result. He placed his goblet back on the table, suddenly feeling to cry, mourn the death of the poor maid though it hadn’t happened yet.
Unable to ignore the daunting presence of his father beside him, he picked up another goblet and put it to Yunho’s lips, placing a hand behind his head to lift it.
“Come, Yunho. You have to drink this. It will help.”
He wasn’t sure if Yunho had heard him at first. He was so quiet, his skin cool to the touch. But his heart was still beating, his breathing slow and deep, so at least he knew that he wasn’t dead. Again.
“Come on, Yunho,” he encouraged gently. “Open up for me.”
This time Yunho’s lips parted, just barely, but enough for him to drip the blood into his mouth.
Gregori stood back, watching as his son, the Prince, played nursemaid to a peasant. It was against the natural order of their society. The strong did not care for the weak. They annihilated them. And yet…his heart was strangely touched. Perhaps because he was so used to males becoming more aggressive after the change, as had been his own personal experience, whereas Jae… He stayed the same. Nothing had changed about him.
His son worried him. There was something very unnatural about him. From his blond hair and green eyes, both out of place in their world where the Royals were dark haired with blue eyes and the peasants, also dark haired, had gray and brown eyes, to his ability to walk in the sun even after transitioning. He’d never seen it happen before, never heard of it. A day-walker. They were a suspicious lot, his people, and while he might be able to protect Jae from speculation as a result of his appearance, it wasn’t that big of a deal though he did stand out, his ability to walk in the sun was not something that could be explained away or ignored if it was ever found out. And that wasn’t his only secret. He knew his son thought him harsh but he did what he had to to protect him.
Sighing inwardly, his gaze shifted to the boy on the bed. He was small, as most vampires were prior to transitioning. As he drank the rich blood Jae fed him, Gregori could see life returning to his prone body right before his very eyes. His skin was pinkening again, his features firming up. As he looked at the boy’s face, ‘Yunho’ Jaejoong had called him, there was something oddly familiar about him. He wondered if he’d ever seen him before. Perhaps his father worked in the castle.
Deciding that he’d seen enough, Gregori said sternly, “This is the last time I will make excuses for you, Jaejoong. I expect you to do as I say from now on, to the letter. Understood?”
Jae looked up at his king. “Yes, Father.”
“Get him out of here as quickly and quietly as you can then return here immediately.”
Jae nodded.
Gregori walked to the door.
“Father?” Jae called.
“The maid…she really won’t say anything. Please…” He let his unspoken words hang in the air.
Without any indication as to his course of action, Gregori opened the door and left.
Sighing, Jae brushed off his guilt and focused on the task at hand. After the first goblet was empty, he immediately fed Yunho the second one. He was looking much better. He looked alive. It should hold him until he was able to get him to his family.
Once Yunho had drained the second goblet, he went to the armoire and looked for something to wrap around Yunho’s shoulders to ward off the chill until he could get him home. There were a couple of old cloaks hanging in a corner and he snatched them, taking them back to the bed.
“Yunho,” he called softly.
When Yunho’s eyes opened this time, his gaze was clear, stronger than it had been any of the previous times.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” he replied, his voice strong and clear as well.
Jae smiled. “Good. Now we just need to get you home to your family. Do you remember where you live?”
“Yes.”
Jae nodded, his smile widening. “Good. Well, let’s get you up and see if we can’t you there.”
He threw on one of the cloaks, making sure to pull the hood over his bright, yellow hair and helped Yunho sit up, then stand and wrapped the other cloak around him. The only way for them not to be seen was to pass through the passageway again but now that Yunho was lucid, he would be exposing one of the castle’s secrets to an outsider. He contemplated what to do for a second then decided he didn’t have the time to be paranoid.
“Yunho, whatever you see or hear tonight must go with you to the grave, understood?”
Yunho nodded, though his eyes were clouded with confusion.
Jae led the way back through the armoire again, supporting Yunho with an arm around his waist as he led him down the stairs and through another maze of dark, wet hallways. Yunho didn’t say anything and didn’t ask any questions, for which Jae was grateful. The entire compound was bustling with noise now: he could hear sounds of life all around him.
He exited the passwageway in the depths of a dark alley, clinging to the shadows in order to escape notice.
Yunho leaned against the boy, still weak though he felt much better than he had less than an hour ago. The boy had asked him if he remembered where he lived and though he’d answered, he hadn’t given the boy directions but he seemed to know where he was going so he said nothing and saved his strength.
The boy…
He had finally figured out who the boy was: the Crown Prince. Jaejoong, he’d said his name was if he remembered correctly. He didn’t know what the Prince had been doing out alone in the middle of the woods but he was happy he had been. If not, he’d definitely be dead. He thought of his mother, how she must be worrying about him, and felt both guilt and gratitude flourish in his chest. He would pay him back somehow, he decided.
Jaejoong stopped in front of a small cottage just outside of the castle gates. He hadn’t expected it to be so close. Only servants of the higher households or respected members of the peasantry resided that close to the castle. He glanced down at the bent head of the small boy leaning against him. Who was he?
He walked up the short flight of stairs to the front door and knocked. No sooner had he done so than they were flung open.
“Yunho!” a woman exclaimed, snatching the boy out of Jae’s grip and holding him to her bosom.
Taking in her tear-stained cheeks and worry crumpled features, Jae knew that she had to be his mother. She looked a lot like him, the eyes, chin and lips especially.
She led her son inside, murmuring to him as she went along, leaving Jae standing on the stoop staring after her until a tall man appeared in front of the door.
“Please, come in,” the man invited cordially.
Jae hesitated. Yunho was home, he’d done what he’d come to do, and his father had warned him not to tarry.
“I…”
“Please?” the man begged. “My wife will want to express her gratitude once she catches herself.”
Five minutes, Jae thought as he stepped in and followed the man down a short hall.
He ended up in a cramped bedroom consisting of only a bed and a nightstand, upon which a lamp was lit. Yunho was on the bed, dressed only in his trousers, as his mother bathed his flushed body with a damp cloth.
“The change,” she said over her shoulder to her husband. “Of all the days and times for it to happen…”
“Thank goodness this young lad came along when he did,” his father said.
“Oh, yes,” his mother began, putting aside the cloth and jumping to her feet. She turned to Jae and bowed her head slightly. “Thank you so much for your assistance.”
Jae blushed. “I’m happy I could help.”
Mrs. Jung stared at the young boy in front of her intently. He looked vaguely familiar…
A switch turned on in her head and before she knew it, her hand snaked out and knocked back his hood.
Green eyes. Blond hair.
She immediately dropped to her knees, head bowed. “Your majesty.”
Her husband, realizing exactly who stood in his humble home, followed her movement. “Your highness.”
Startled and extremely uncomfortable, Jae leaned down and took the woman’s elbow, urging her back to her feet.
“Please. None of that is necessary.”
When she didn’t budge, he turned to her husband and tried to pull him back to his feet but he was impossible to move as well.
“Mama, Papa…” Yunho spoke up from the bed, watching a flush spread across Jae’s pale cheeks. “You’re making him nervous.”
“Shush, Yunho,” his mother scolded him gently.
“Please, Madam, Sir. He’s right,” Jae readily agreed.
Grudgingly, Yunho’s parents stood.
“Thank you, my liege,” Yunho’s father spoke, still not looking Jae in the eyes. “If it weren’t for you, our careless, precious son would be lost to us.”
“We’ve told him many times not to go off on his own during the day, especially since he’s not supposed to leave the compound,” Yunho’s mother admonished, her voice still gentle.
Jae noticed the speculative look she was giving him and wondered if she was pondering his own reasons for being out during the day. Or worse. Did she know that he had transitioned already? It had happened months ago so he assumed it had reached down to the ears of the peasantry by now. His father was right. He was too careless. He didn’t want to embrace the new restrictions on his life but by resisting them, he was endangering everyone that he came into contact with. He knew that his father would go to any lengths to protect him. He thought of the poor maid and his heart clenched. He had very well signed her death warrant.
“I’d better get going,” he said, not wanting to risk his father sending guards after him.
“Your majesty,” Yunho called softly to him, holding out a frail hand.
He was fading again, Jae thought as he approached the boy. He took Yunho’s hand, held it gently.
“You saved me,” Yunho whispered. “With your help, your blood…”
Mrs. Jung gasped, exchanging an alarmed look with her husband.
Jae froze at Yunho’s words but with his back turned, missed his parents’ reactions.
“You went above and beyond what is expected of a ruler,” Yunho continued. “I am eternally indebted to you.”
Yunho raised his free hand and pressed it to his chest, just over his heart. “I swear my allegiance to you.”
It was Jae’s turn to gasp now, his eyes going unbelievably wide.
“Until the day I die, I will be your faithful, humble servant.”
“Yunho…” Jae stepped back, stumbling beneath the force of his words, but Yunho tightened his grip on his hand, refusing to let go.
Fierce gray eyes bored into frightened green as Yunho said solemnly, “Only in death will the debt be repaid and if you should die before me, then I will follow you, into the next life and the next.”
Jae shook his head. “Yunho, I…”
“Henceforth, my life… is your own.”
A/N: If you've read Forbidden, you'll notice that there are similarities between the two but I actually started writing this long before I ever dreamed of Forbidden.
Chapter 1
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Length: Chaptered
Summary: They were born to different worlds: one to rule, the other to serve. A twist of fate united them in a bond that was not only taboo, it was forbidden. With danger constantly nipping at their heels, they must fight not only for their own survival but that of the people that depend upon them. Will their love survive the coming battle? Will they?
He opened the door and stepped out, making his way slowly back to the guest chamber. Just as he got there, the maid arrived with the goblets of blood. He glanced at his father out of the corner of his eye and saw his brow lifted in question but he said nothing, for which Jae was grateful. He opened the door and allowed the maid to enter, cringing inwardly at her startled gasp when she saw the boy lying on the bed, still as death.
“Place the tray down on the table and leave” Gregori ordered in clipped tones. “And don’t repeat anything you’ve seen here, am I clear?”
The maid nodded, bowing hastily. “Yes, my lord.”
She scrambled for the door, shutting it behind her.
“You’re far too careless for your own good,” Gregori said to Jae as he stood at the side of the bed looking down at Yunho. “That could’ve been disastrous if word got out.”
“But she promised not to say anything, Father. She’s terrified of you so I’m sure she’ll keep her word.”
Jae sat on the bed beside Yunho and picked up a goblet, sipping deeply of the thick, rich substance. It had apparently been warmed to give the impression of being straight from the vein. He gagged slightly, still not used to the texture and taste of it. Until the change, he’d lived entirely on food. Now he was forced to add blood to his diet to replenish his strength more quickly and completely but he avoided consuming it as often as he could.
“Still, she’ll be dealt with,” Gregori stated, his voice final.
Jae swung around to look at him. “Father?”
Gregori ignored Jae and continued looking at Yunho.
Jae turned away from his father, absorbing what his words meant. All he’d wanted to do was save Yunho but he may have inadvertently caused the death of an innocent maid as a result. He placed his goblet back on the table, suddenly feeling to cry, mourn the death of the poor maid though it hadn’t happened yet.
Unable to ignore the daunting presence of his father beside him, he picked up another goblet and put it to Yunho’s lips, placing a hand behind his head to lift it.
“Come, Yunho. You have to drink this. It will help.”
He wasn’t sure if Yunho had heard him at first. He was so quiet, his skin cool to the touch. But his heart was still beating, his breathing slow and deep, so at least he knew that he wasn’t dead. Again.
“Come on, Yunho,” he encouraged gently. “Open up for me.”
This time Yunho’s lips parted, just barely, but enough for him to drip the blood into his mouth.
Gregori stood back, watching as his son, the Prince, played nursemaid to a peasant. It was against the natural order of their society. The strong did not care for the weak. They annihilated them. And yet…his heart was strangely touched. Perhaps because he was so used to males becoming more aggressive after the change, as had been his own personal experience, whereas Jae… He stayed the same. Nothing had changed about him.
His son worried him. There was something very unnatural about him. From his blond hair and green eyes, both out of place in their world where the Royals were dark haired with blue eyes and the peasants, also dark haired, had gray and brown eyes, to his ability to walk in the sun even after transitioning. He’d never seen it happen before, never heard of it. A day-walker. They were a suspicious lot, his people, and while he might be able to protect Jae from speculation as a result of his appearance, it wasn’t that big of a deal though he did stand out, his ability to walk in the sun was not something that could be explained away or ignored if it was ever found out. And that wasn’t his only secret. He knew his son thought him harsh but he did what he had to to protect him.
Sighing inwardly, his gaze shifted to the boy on the bed. He was small, as most vampires were prior to transitioning. As he drank the rich blood Jae fed him, Gregori could see life returning to his prone body right before his very eyes. His skin was pinkening again, his features firming up. As he looked at the boy’s face, ‘Yunho’ Jaejoong had called him, there was something oddly familiar about him. He wondered if he’d ever seen him before. Perhaps his father worked in the castle.
Deciding that he’d seen enough, Gregori said sternly, “This is the last time I will make excuses for you, Jaejoong. I expect you to do as I say from now on, to the letter. Understood?”
Jae looked up at his king. “Yes, Father.”
“Get him out of here as quickly and quietly as you can then return here immediately.”
Jae nodded.
Gregori walked to the door.
“Father?” Jae called.
“The maid…she really won’t say anything. Please…” He let his unspoken words hang in the air.
Without any indication as to his course of action, Gregori opened the door and left.
Sighing, Jae brushed off his guilt and focused on the task at hand. After the first goblet was empty, he immediately fed Yunho the second one. He was looking much better. He looked alive. It should hold him until he was able to get him to his family.
Once Yunho had drained the second goblet, he went to the armoire and looked for something to wrap around Yunho’s shoulders to ward off the chill until he could get him home. There were a couple of old cloaks hanging in a corner and he snatched them, taking them back to the bed.
“Yunho,” he called softly.
When Yunho’s eyes opened this time, his gaze was clear, stronger than it had been any of the previous times.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” he replied, his voice strong and clear as well.
Jae smiled. “Good. Now we just need to get you home to your family. Do you remember where you live?”
“Yes.”
Jae nodded, his smile widening. “Good. Well, let’s get you up and see if we can’t you there.”
He threw on one of the cloaks, making sure to pull the hood over his bright, yellow hair and helped Yunho sit up, then stand and wrapped the other cloak around him. The only way for them not to be seen was to pass through the passageway again but now that Yunho was lucid, he would be exposing one of the castle’s secrets to an outsider. He contemplated what to do for a second then decided he didn’t have the time to be paranoid.
“Yunho, whatever you see or hear tonight must go with you to the grave, understood?”
Yunho nodded, though his eyes were clouded with confusion.
Jae led the way back through the armoire again, supporting Yunho with an arm around his waist as he led him down the stairs and through another maze of dark, wet hallways. Yunho didn’t say anything and didn’t ask any questions, for which Jae was grateful. The entire compound was bustling with noise now: he could hear sounds of life all around him.
He exited the passwageway in the depths of a dark alley, clinging to the shadows in order to escape notice.
Yunho leaned against the boy, still weak though he felt much better than he had less than an hour ago. The boy had asked him if he remembered where he lived and though he’d answered, he hadn’t given the boy directions but he seemed to know where he was going so he said nothing and saved his strength.
The boy…
He had finally figured out who the boy was: the Crown Prince. Jaejoong, he’d said his name was if he remembered correctly. He didn’t know what the Prince had been doing out alone in the middle of the woods but he was happy he had been. If not, he’d definitely be dead. He thought of his mother, how she must be worrying about him, and felt both guilt and gratitude flourish in his chest. He would pay him back somehow, he decided.
Jaejoong stopped in front of a small cottage just outside of the castle gates. He hadn’t expected it to be so close. Only servants of the higher households or respected members of the peasantry resided that close to the castle. He glanced down at the bent head of the small boy leaning against him. Who was he?
He walked up the short flight of stairs to the front door and knocked. No sooner had he done so than they were flung open.
“Yunho!” a woman exclaimed, snatching the boy out of Jae’s grip and holding him to her bosom.
Taking in her tear-stained cheeks and worry crumpled features, Jae knew that she had to be his mother. She looked a lot like him, the eyes, chin and lips especially.
She led her son inside, murmuring to him as she went along, leaving Jae standing on the stoop staring after her until a tall man appeared in front of the door.
“Please, come in,” the man invited cordially.
Jae hesitated. Yunho was home, he’d done what he’d come to do, and his father had warned him not to tarry.
“I…”
“Please?” the man begged. “My wife will want to express her gratitude once she catches herself.”
Five minutes, Jae thought as he stepped in and followed the man down a short hall.
He ended up in a cramped bedroom consisting of only a bed and a nightstand, upon which a lamp was lit. Yunho was on the bed, dressed only in his trousers, as his mother bathed his flushed body with a damp cloth.
“The change,” she said over her shoulder to her husband. “Of all the days and times for it to happen…”
“Thank goodness this young lad came along when he did,” his father said.
“Oh, yes,” his mother began, putting aside the cloth and jumping to her feet. She turned to Jae and bowed her head slightly. “Thank you so much for your assistance.”
Jae blushed. “I’m happy I could help.”
Mrs. Jung stared at the young boy in front of her intently. He looked vaguely familiar…
A switch turned on in her head and before she knew it, her hand snaked out and knocked back his hood.
Green eyes. Blond hair.
She immediately dropped to her knees, head bowed. “Your majesty.”
Her husband, realizing exactly who stood in his humble home, followed her movement. “Your highness.”
Startled and extremely uncomfortable, Jae leaned down and took the woman’s elbow, urging her back to her feet.
“Please. None of that is necessary.”
When she didn’t budge, he turned to her husband and tried to pull him back to his feet but he was impossible to move as well.
“Mama, Papa…” Yunho spoke up from the bed, watching a flush spread across Jae’s pale cheeks. “You’re making him nervous.”
“Shush, Yunho,” his mother scolded him gently.
“Please, Madam, Sir. He’s right,” Jae readily agreed.
Grudgingly, Yunho’s parents stood.
“Thank you, my liege,” Yunho’s father spoke, still not looking Jae in the eyes. “If it weren’t for you, our careless, precious son would be lost to us.”
“We’ve told him many times not to go off on his own during the day, especially since he’s not supposed to leave the compound,” Yunho’s mother admonished, her voice still gentle.
Jae noticed the speculative look she was giving him and wondered if she was pondering his own reasons for being out during the day. Or worse. Did she know that he had transitioned already? It had happened months ago so he assumed it had reached down to the ears of the peasantry by now. His father was right. He was too careless. He didn’t want to embrace the new restrictions on his life but by resisting them, he was endangering everyone that he came into contact with. He knew that his father would go to any lengths to protect him. He thought of the poor maid and his heart clenched. He had very well signed her death warrant.
“I’d better get going,” he said, not wanting to risk his father sending guards after him.
“Your majesty,” Yunho called softly to him, holding out a frail hand.
He was fading again, Jae thought as he approached the boy. He took Yunho’s hand, held it gently.
“You saved me,” Yunho whispered. “With your help, your blood…”
Mrs. Jung gasped, exchanging an alarmed look with her husband.
Jae froze at Yunho’s words but with his back turned, missed his parents’ reactions.
“You went above and beyond what is expected of a ruler,” Yunho continued. “I am eternally indebted to you.”
Yunho raised his free hand and pressed it to his chest, just over his heart. “I swear my allegiance to you.”
It was Jae’s turn to gasp now, his eyes going unbelievably wide.
“Until the day I die, I will be your faithful, humble servant.”
“Yunho…” Jae stepped back, stumbling beneath the force of his words, but Yunho tightened his grip on his hand, refusing to let go.
Fierce gray eyes bored into frightened green as Yunho said solemnly, “Only in death will the debt be repaid and if you should die before me, then I will follow you, into the next life and the next.”
Jae shook his head. “Yunho, I…”
“Henceforth, my life… is your own.”
A/N: If you've read Forbidden, you'll notice that there are similarities between the two but I actually started writing this long before I ever dreamed of Forbidden.
Chapter 1