At least they had stopped laughing.

Finally.

"Are you sure everything is alright, Prince?" Anon asked his nephew as the boy stood rooted before the stranger. The old man's eyes narrowed as he watched that one. There was something strange about him; something not right. He moved too slow and quick and graceful as water. His face was flushed, as though he had been running, but, as they emerged from the folds of his cloak, Anon saw how pale and cold his hands appeared...And for a second, his eyes, as they turned his way, had flashed...red...

Phelios didn't even look at his uncle. "Everything is fine, Anon. Please leave with the guards. I need to speak to Lord Du...Lord Lezzud in private."

"Phelios...are you sure...?"

"Uncle." Phelios said, still without peering at him. The word held a commanding note Phelios never used with him.

"Very well...Prince..." Anon said and signaled to the guards who begrudgingly fell in step behind the old man. They cast the stranger narrow looks as they passed by, the hair standing up on the backs of their necks. In other words, they cast him dirty looks and gripped their swords as they passed because it was better than the alternative-snivel in fear however apparently illogical. To add insult to injury, it was obvious the man knew the effect he had on the men and his smile at their departure seemed dark and amused.

Phelios barely heard the door close behind them.

What was the Vampire King doing here? Why in the world had he told...ordered his uncle and the guards to leave? Why couldn't he look away as Duzzel's gaze shifted from the closed door to him?

Why, in his mind, did the moon loom huge and full, overwhelming?

"Phelios?" Duzzel said in a low voice and the prince started.

He flushed as Duzzel laughed again and said, "Why did you come here Du...Vampire King?"

"'Vampire King'? So formal, young prince...As for why I am here..." Duzzel suddenly closed the space between them. His lips hovered for a moment above the prince's own, then suddenly turned and dove to the curve of his neck. It wasn't until Phelios felt their light touch that he started, like one from a dream and pulled away, losing his balance. Duzzel laughed again. "Stronger than I gave you credit for, Phelios. Usually once I have caught someone with my eye, they act with as much intelligence as say...your palace guards."

Phelios didn't answer right away. His hand was on his neck where even now, he could feel Duzzel's lips, feel the cold breath. His heart was pounding so loud it seemed to drown out everything...He closed his eyes, then, hung his head, "Go away..." he said faintly.

"Now, Phelios." Duzzel said and the prince heard his approach; felt the shift in the air as he knelt before him and reach towards him. Phelios pulled back as he felt a cold hand on his cheek, "I've come all this way and I haven't even been able to speak with you about the purpose of my visit and besides...Is that what you really want?"

No, is what Phelios wanted to say. No, he didn't want Duzzel to leave. Last night, with the moon filling half the sky and the dark and the stars, he didn't want to leave, but he had, telling himself it had been some strange dream, brought on by stress or heartache or indegestion...

Life and love...

What did he know of such things?

"Why are you here, then, Vampire King? Say it and go." Phelios said, peering up at Duzzel suddenly. It seemed at his glance that the vampire checked himself, as if something in his gaze bothered him, but as soon as Phelios saw it, it was gone.

"Very well," Duzzel said, his face suddenly businesslike, a mask, "I am here to declare war with your Kingdom, Phelios..."

"What!" Phelios jumped to his feet, his hands suddenly pulling the vampire close again, "What do you mean? War? Why? Why war?"

Duzzel laughed at the panic in his face, he would truly enjoy this. Making the human turn on a dime was almost better than the feel of his mouth, or his throat, "You did not let me finish, prince..." Duzzel said, gripping the prince's wrist and easily forcing it up. He met the prince's eye, "I am here to declare war, but I will relent on one condition."

"Condition...?"

Duzzel nodded once, then brought the prince's wrist to his lips and kissed it, feeling a wicked thrill as the human suddenly closed his eyes and shivered. He ignored the sudden confused, guilty look that descended on his face as those eyes reopened and fastened on Duzzel. The Vampire King's mouth suddenly ached and he rubbed his fangs against that wrist before Phelios wrest it away, "I am here to declare war with you, Prince Phelios, unless you agree to become mine."

"Yours? What does that mean?" Phelios said in a quiet, shocked voice.

Suddenly Duzzel was closer than he had been before and when he spoke, his voice was a whisper as much in Phelios' mind as his ears, "Many things." Duzzel said and his head dipped to the prince's throat.

When the bite came, Phelios did nothing more than close his eyes and say to the moon flooding his thoughts a single name that should've meant so much more than it did at that moment, "Anne..." he whispered and then, "Forgive me..."

Life...love...war...

What did Phelios know of such things?

He would soon discover exactly that.

To Be Continued…

Author's Note: Hi! This one's been in my head for a while, so now I'll write it. Hope you enjoy it! If you do hope you review! (Hey, that rhymes ) Laters!