Claims of the Heart

Chapter Warnings: AU, Small amount of violence, blood, and angst, vampire

Authors Note: Okay I know I already have a vampire story, but I didn't really like how it went so I'm working on a new one. This is one that I started years ago and never finished, so I did a little revising and added a shit load of detail. So I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter One: The Claim

A castle sat on the top of a large wide hill, walled in by beautiful cobble stone walls, with glorious archways, and statues carved from hand out of Marble and Onyx. Marble tower after marble tower peered over the wall and down on this garden's and cities below them. Each window carved delicately, each glass cover spotless of marks. The marble tiles roofs gleaming in the sun, and the white, black, and red flags, waving slightly in the gentle evening breeze. Around the base of the castle laid gardens of monumental proportions. Flowers blossoming in the late spring season, the grass growing from it's once yellow dormant state to it's lushes green color. The fragrance itself was intoxicating and soothing. A cobble stone pathway lead down the hill into the large surrounding city.

The city itself, though planned out for a battle, was gorgeous. It too was walled in by beautiful cobble stone walls, that shone in the settling sun. The streets were clean as well as the houses. Each house containing a garden of some type, weather it grew tomatoes or a tree of oranges. There was no sign of wear, of age, or of weather, it looked new, elegant, and rich.

The people looked the same, all well dressed and feed, all happy. Trade was the main source of income. A sheep for a bundle of cloth, or a basket of carrots for a yard of silk. Never a coin or a paper bill to be passed around in this city. Children ran the streets playfully, and animals sang and roamed freely around the city. It was harmony, pure and simple.

The city was known as Eilaer, named after the first Elf Queen Eilaer Maxwell. Currently Tharaes Maxwell ruled over Eilaer, most called him Father, for he loved his people and they loved him back. Tharaes had two sons. Solo Maxwell, the oldest of the two boys, with hair down to the middle of his back, kept in a ponytail at the base of his neck, and shimmering blue eyes that could see through anything the courts threw at him. He had a knack for talking people out of conflicts, and resolving them without blood shed. Then there was Duo Maxwell. The youngest, with hair to the back of his knees usually kept in a braid and large violet eyes that made people want to give him everything. He was kind and forgiving, but was usually the one getting into the most trouble. Then there was their mother, Vaeria Maxwell, the most elegant women in Eilaer. She was kind, and gentle, and never raised her voice.

Duo Maxwell, the youngest, sat out on his balcony watching the sun setting on the distant horizon, the gentle breeze running it's figures through his unbound hair. He watched the people below him with an amused smile, he could hear what they were saying from that distance, but he enjoyed watching them and making up stories for them.

"What are you doing out here, little brother." Duo turned and smiled at Solo. The taller boy was leaning against the balcony door frame.

"Watching the sun set. With the storms on the horizon the colors are magnificent." Duo said with a smirk.

"Oh, learn a new word did we?" Duo asked with a smirk of his own. Duo glared at him.

"Well that would mean that I'm smarter then you, wouldn't it, would you like a definition, or shall I spell it for you." He growled out, though his voice sounded amused. Solo laughed and walked over to his brother, leaning on the marble balcony railing. Duo turned and did the same. "It's hard to believe that they are out there." He whispered, almost as If he was trying not to let 'them' hear him say the words. Solo sighed and his head bowed his eyes closed.

"They are Duo, you have to be careful. They can come here and you know it." He said. Not opening his eyes he lifted his face to the wind.

"But they won't, they now it is too dangerous for them here, with Father and then the wizards, they wouldn't stand a chance in escaping with their life. " Duo said starring out at the forest that he could barely see in the dimming light.

"It doesn't mean they won't try Duo. And even with father here, all they have to do is kill you or me, even both, and they would have succeeded, then send another in to kill who ever is left. They could keep sending in drones until all of the royal family is gone, then taking over Eilaer would be a walk in the garden." Solo said with a sigh. "Wizards don't stand much of a chance against Vampires." He added quietly.

"Why is that, I thought they were just blood suckers." Duo said, looking over at Solo. Solo opened his eyes and lifted his eye brow in amusement.

"Blood suckers, yes, but they are not mindless Duo. Most Vampires have lived a lot longer them most wizards and have mastered most spells themselves. They can also control your mind by looking you in the eyes, and they travel through shadows, so they can go from place to place undetected. " Solo said, Duo looked amazed and then shivered.

"Maybe we should go inside. I don't care much for being out here any more." He said wrapping his arms around himself. "And I thought werewolves were bad, I think I would rather face the werewolf over the vampire." He said headed back into his room. Solo followed him.

"Let's just hope you don't have to face either one." Solo said, placing a hand on his younger brothers shoulder. "But for good measure, make sure you practice your defense and your spells, it wouldn't do to have yourself killed because you neglected your studies."

"Yeah." Duo agreed weakly. Solo laughed a bit and left the room, saying his good nights to Duo before closing the door.

Duo plopped down in the large chair next to the empty fire place and pulled open his book, deciding to read before going to bed, it was still early. He missed the shadow move across his window, and was completely oblivious to the piercing blue eyes that watched him.

Duo didn't know how long he had been reading before his eyes started drooping lazily. He closed his book and made his way to his bed, shedding off his shirt and his pants, folding them up and placing them on the table next to his four poster bed. He yawned, stretching his arms above his head and climbed under the sheets, snuggling into his pillows for the night.

Duo was just drifting to sleep when he heard his balcony door creaking opened. His eyes popped open and he sat up quickly, looking around the room and seeing nothing. He cautiously got out of bed and moved to close the glass doors. He locked them tightly, double checking to make sure they were locked and turned to go back to bed, but came face to face with a man dressed in a black cape, with a white puffy shirt and skin tight black pants with knees high boots. His hair was messy and hid his eyes from view, as his head was lowered slightly, a smirk across lips, pulled back to show his pointed canines. Duo felt his breath quicken and he backed up.

"Wh-what are you doing here!?" He demanded. Backing away even further as the man approached him.

"I've come to clam what belongs to me." He said lifting his head to look into Duo's eyes. Duo saw the piercing blue eyes and panicked. He took off for the door, but the man was there. And he seemed mad now, the smirk was gone and now there was just a snarl and a glare.

"Leave me alone." Duo yelled out. He turned to head bock towards the balcony, when he was forced to the ground. The two fought for a second, or rather Duo tried to fight and the man struggled to pin Duo down to the floor. Quickly Duo found himself on his back, his hands pinned above his head in one of the man…no the Vampires hands, the Vampire was straddling Duo's hips and smirking down at the youngest son.

"I don't know why I couldn't turn you, but you will wish that I had." He growled out. Duo tried to fight against him, earning him a smack in the face that sent his head to the side, his lip spilt, and his neck exposed. Duo was stunned for only a moment. As soon as the Vampire was about to bite into him, he brought his knee up into the vampires lower back.

To his horror the Vampire didn't even flinch. That was when the thought to scream came to mind, but He suddenly found a hand over his mouth, squeezing his jaw forcible. Duo's eyes watered with the pain, and he continued to struggle. The vampire lifted Duo's jaw so that he could reach Duo's neck, and sank his teeth in. Duo closed his eyes tightly in pain and tried to get his hands free of the vampire's grip. He could feel the blood leaving his body, it was leaving him weaker, and weaker. He could feel his heart straining to keep beating.

Finally the Vampire moved away from Duo's neck, licking the wound, which stopped the bleeding. He watched with piercing eyes as black lines formed on Duo's neck. The word Tastaer was written in ancient letters above the wound, meaning 'Claimed', and 'Col Jhys Heero Yuy' formed along the bottom of the wound in the same writing, meaning: 'High Lord Heero Yuy'. Heero smiled and stood bringing Duo up as he went and carried him to the bed, tucking him into the sheets. Duo eyes him lazily, tired beyond all belief, but to afraid to sleep.

Heero leaned forward, cupping one of Duo's cheeks and kissed him lightly on the lips, then moved his lips to Duo's ear. "You belong to me, I will return to take your blood again in three nights, do not lock your door." Heero ordered, his voice was cold and threatening. Duo flinched a little and turned his head away from Heero.

Heero stood up straight and walked out of the glass balcony door. Duo watched his shadow jump off the balcony and disappear. He sighed with relief that Heero was gone, and he drifted off to sleep, a tear slipping down his cheek.

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Duo didn't wake on his own the next morning. In fact he woke to the scream of the made, who usually came in to make his bed. He slowly opened his eyes, but did little more. He tried to speak out but failed to do so. The maid ran from the room and Duo could only imagine where she was going. His father, his brother, his mother…the wizards, then guards, they could all help him. Help in keeping Heero away from him.

It was only a few minutes before Solo came running into the room, half dressed for the day, wearing only his leather pants and his shirt was unbuttoned, and missing shoes. He ran to the bed and moved Duo onto his back. Duo closed his eyes in pain and winced. Solo gently moved away Duo's hair and spotted the marks on his neck.

"Damnit!" He cursed under his breath. Duo lazily looked at him with worried eyes. "Duo say something." Solo said gripping his brothers shoulders.

"Water." Duo managed, his throat felt dry, and he felt extremely tired and weak. Solo left his side for a moment and returned with a glass of water. Tharaes ran into the room then and over to his sons.

"What happen?" He demanded drawing his youngest son into his arms.

"Father." Solo said, moving Duo's hair again so that Tharaes could see the bite marks. "Vampire." He said.

"Solo, go fetch Professor G. he can try to remove the claim, that the vampire has put on Duo." Tharaes said. Duo panicked and tried to pull away from his father. Tharaes struggled to get Duo to lie back down.

"Duo you have to hold still, you've experienced a major blood loss." Tharaes tried.

"NO! I don't want G touching me." Duo cried out. "No one can touch me…no one but He-." Duo froze and swallowed. He was going to say Heero. The thought of his caused him to break down completely and cry. Solo watched the entire thing mournfully and left the room to get Professor G.

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Yeah so I hope this one turns out WAY better then Bloodbind. Review please, I want to know if I should even consider continuing this one.