Claims of the Heart

Warnings: Angst

Chapter Three: The Plan

Duo sat up in bed and ate the soup that his mother had brought him. He wasn't hungry, but she insisted that he eat, that he get his strength back. It was only that morning that Tharaes agreed to remove the vines, but now there were vines over the windows and the glass balcony door. Duo knew that he couldn't move them, nor could he break them. 'Heero can.' Duo thought and swallowed back the sob that wanted to come.

Duo quickly finished off his soup and got out of bed. His leg wobbled a bit and he was still shaky, but he managed to get to his wardrobe to get dressed. He didn't want to spend another day in bed. He was getting tired of it. He dressed as quickly as his body would allow him. He braided his hair in a tight braid that reached the back of his knees and the smiled to himself, only to frown again when he saw the mark on his neck and his pale reflection.

Duo placed a hand on the mark and poked at it. It didn't hurt when he touched it. Only when others touched it, like G had the day before, or his father this morning. Duo decided to cover the wound with his collar, then made a face. "I look stupid." Duo huffed out.

"No you don't." Solo said quietly. Duo turned to look at his brother.

"Can we go out to the town today?" Duo asked.

"Maybe, we will have to talk to father, and he'll insist that you have some guards accompany you. Maybe a few wizards as well." Solo said. Duo sighed and sat in his chair, his arms resting on his knees.

"I don't want to be treated like some princess, just because I was-." Solo was in front of Duo in an instant.

"Duo you were attacked. You've been claimed by a Vampire, there is nothing light about that. Father only want to protect you from him coming back." Solo said. Duo stood up and tried to meet his brother eyes to eye, it was hard for he was a few inches shorter then his brother, but it didn't stop him from glaring.

"You don't think I don't know that. I've heard him in my head for more then a day. I feel pain every time I try to deny that he his my master. I feel weak and useless. You don't think that I understand that I am in danger of never seeing my family again." Duo said seriously. Solo sighed and took a deep breath.

"Duo I think it would be a good idea for you to stay in the castle." Solo said. Duo looked hurt.

"What I need is some sun to ride me of this pale skin and some fresh air." Duo said.

"Duo he could call you to him." Solo pointed out.

"I don't care anymore, I don't want to be stuck in this room. I want a different room, I want to be away from here, he knows I'm here." Duo said tears coming to his eyes. Solo grabbed Duo and pulled him into his arms.

"Duo, well do everything we can to help you get away from him. If switching rooms with me will make you feel better then so be it." Solo said. Duo nodded, then shock his head.

"He could kill you. If he thought you were me, he could kill you." Duo said with a sob.

"I'll be ready Duo, I'll kill him before he even has a chance to try to kill me." Solo said with a smile and he rubbed duo's back.

"No you won't." They both looked over to see Tharaes standing in the door way.

"But father-." Solo started

"Enough Solo. Duo has a point, but I will not loose both of my sons because one of them thinks they can fight off a master vampire." Tharaes said. "Duo will be spending the night in your room with you, there will be a wizard and a guard at your door, both the front and the balcony. There will be a fake in Duo's bed."

"But, they can't risk there life for me." Duo said. "I'm not weak, I can ha-."

"No one is calling you weak Duo, but compared to this vampire you do not have a chance. You are eighteen years old and this vampire is hundreds of years old. He has mastered things that even the elves have yet to master." Tharaes said. Duo and Solo looked shocked.

"How is that possible?" Duo asked, once again loosing all hope. "How do you intend to defeat him?" He added.

"Duo, everything will be okay?' Tharaes said.

"I'm going outside." Duo said and pushed passed them. Solo and Tharaes, just let him go.

"Father, you know the Vampire will be very angry if this decoy cannot kill him." Solo said giving his father a look.

"Yes I know. That's why the decoy is going to be G, he believes he knows a way to kill the vampire." Tharaes said. "And if he cannot achieve this, then I am afraid Duo will be taken from us." With that Tharaes left the room, his eyes down cast with sadness.

"Not if I have anything to do with it." Solo whispered. He too left the room in search of someone he thought could help him.

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Heero's eyes snapped open, seeing in the darkness with no problems. That's all it was, darkness. No sounds meet his ears, no smell to his nose, and no warmth for his body. Everyday the same thing, the quiet darkness that consumed his heart, his mind, and his soul. Heero blinked, getting out of the bed and leaving his room quickly, trying to escape the void that has been his ever lasting life.

He quickly walked down the all, seeming like he was floating. Maids scurried out of his way, not saying a word to him. They all starred at him, whispered behind his back. He didn't care, they were useless, and would soon die, though he knew he would just find more, and they same thing would happen over and over again.

"What's on your mind?" Heero didn't look over his shoulder he just kept walking.

"Duo." Was all he said.

"That elf. Are you sure this is a good idea. I mean you know they will prepare for your next visit. And you know you'll get mad, and you know you'll probably hurt him." Trowa said with a roll of his eyes.

"I know." Heero growled out.

"So what's the point of doing it.?" Trowa asked getting into step with Heero. Heero blinked a few times, thinking of an answer to Trowa's question.

"The void." Was all Heero said to that. Trowa nodded.

"Yeah, that was the answer to mine as well." Trowa said with a smile. Heero froze and looked at Trowa.

"Yours?" Heero asked.

"Yes. Found a sweet little desert sprit. Tasty little thing, very feisty as well. I keep loosing him in the sand, but I have a feeling that I'm close to capturing him." Trowa said with a smile. Heero gave him a small smile.

"That is good." The father clock began to chime. "I must go, I'm going to speed the process up a little. His blood returned faster then the humans blood did and he's walking about again." Heero said.

"Just be careful Heero." Trowa said. Heero nodded and disappeared into a shadow. "Just be careful." Trowa whispered to himself.

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Duo laid in bed with Solo and laughed a bit. "This reminds me of when we were little and I would sneak into your room because of nightmares about fairies." Duo said with a smirk. Solo started laughing. After a minute Solo looked over at Duo and ran his hands through his hair.

"I will protect to Duo." Solo said.

"I know." Duo said and snuggled into his brother, feeling safe for the first time in two days. They laid there, solo rubbing Duo's back, until Duo was fast asleep. Solo stayed awake, not wanting to be caught off guard.

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Next chapter attack number 2