Blood Ties (Chapter 4)

[vampiremadonna]

Title: Blood Ties
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: Rated-R
Genre: AU
Length: Chaptered



“Yunho...”

“Jaejoong?”

Jaejoong groaned, trying to move but unable to do so, his body feeling incredibly heavy. He struggled to open his eyes, immediately closing them when the brightness of the room pierced his skull. The windows should have been shuttered since it was daylight but it was an oversight that he and Yunho often made since the sun was no danger to him.

“Too bright,” he moaned.

He heard the shuffling of feet, then the sound of the shutters closing. He sighed softly, relieved to no longer have light beating at him through the thin skin of his eyelids. Moments later, the bed dipped beside him and he felt a warm palm at the side of his face.

“I’m sick, Yunho,” he whimpered brokenly.

Yunho continued to stroke his cheek gently. “I know.”

Jaejoong opened his eyes, his gaze bloodshot, teary and tormented. “I feel like I’m dying.”

“You’re not,” Yunho assured him softly. “Your body’s just not used to it.”

“He made me kill that girl.” There was fire in his voice now: anger, both directed towards his father for what he’d forced him to do and himself for being too weak to fight him. His eyes began to glow that startlingly bright green it always did when he was brimming with emotion.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Yunho soothed. When the King had summoned him and he’d walked into the room, empty but for father and son, and found Jaejoong covered in blood on the floor, his heart had stopped, his thoughts immediately jumping to the conclusion that Jaejoong was dead. That his father had, for some reason, killed him.

“It’s not his,” Gregori had stated flatly.

It was only then that Yunho had noticed the body on the table. He could barely recognize her as the maid who had served Jaejoong the poisoned wine. All that remained of her was her face, blood-streaked hair, bone, sinew and bloody chunks of flesh that had somehow managed to escape the gullet of the ones who’d consumed her. Yunho knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jaejoong hadn’t been alone.

“What…” he’d started to ask, momentarily forgetting himself.

“Take him to his room. See that he’s cleaned up.” Those were Gregori’s only words before he’d exited the room.

Yunho had rushed to Jaejoong, searching first for a pulse and sighing in relief when he’d found one. Then he’d looked at his Prince, his friend, his handsome face also barely recognizable, covered as it was in blood and torn flesh.

“What did he do to you?” he’d asked, but Jaejoong was out cold.

Now, hours later, he’d finally awakened but first, Yunho knew that he would have to get past the horror that he had endured. Feeding was a normal and expected part of their existence as vampires but Jaejoong had always struggled with it and, thus, didn’t consume human blood if he could avoid it. To have been forced - and Yunho was certain without being told that he’d been under Gregori’s compulsion - to do what he hated most would take some time to get over, assuming he ever did. Killing the maid in the midst of his bloodlust had undoubtedly been an accident, and her life had already been forfeit for her part in his attempted assassination, but Jaejoong wouldn’t see it that way. To him, it would be murder, plain and simple.

“I’m sick,” Jaejoong said again.

Yunho frowned, watching as sweat broke out on his skin, the muscles beneath the pale, flat expanse of his belly suddenly contracting.

“I think I’m going to…”

Before the words were out of his mouth, Jaejoong lurched to the side of the bed and spewed the bloody contents of his stomach onto the floor, the rich satin sheets unfortunately getting caught in the spray.

Yunho patted his back as he heaved, his jaw clenching in anger while he watched his friend’s suffering continue. It was times likes this where he felt most powerless. Gregori might be his King but sometimes he couldn’t help disliking the man. He ruled with an iron fist and his methods were often questionable, to say the least, but it was his treatment of his children that Yunho disapproved of most. Grace was a lovely girl, beautiful in body and spirit, yet her father treated her as no more than a commodity, chattel. For years he’d had to watch Gregori try to whip Jaejoong into the son he wanted him to be, always finding fault with the young man that he was. As his friend, it was painful to watch, but as a soldier in the King’s command, and a low born one at that, there was nothing he could do about it.

“I hate him,” Jaejoong said hollowly, dropping back against the pillow as he fought to regain his breath. The tears that had shone in his eyes were now slipping silently down his cheeks. “I hate him with every fiber of my being.”

“Jaejoong…” As a friend, Yunho understood. But Gregori was still Jaejoong’s father, for better or worse. “You don’t really mean that.”

“I do.” His hand clenched in the bed sheets, squeezing so hard that his already pale knuckles turned ghostly white. “I hate him for what he did to me, for what he made me do to that girl. I hate him.”

“Okay,” Yunho murmured soothingly, pushing back a lock of long, white-yellow hair that had come loose from its binding. He hated seeing Jaejoong like this. It wasn’t just that he was physically upset. That would pass. The emotional upset, the feeling of betrayal that Yunho was sure plagued him, doubly so after what his cousin had done to him, was what bothered him the most. And there was nothing that he could do to ease it.

“I hate him,” Jaejoong said again, sniffling softly.

Yunho gathered him close and held him as he silently wept into his shoulder, patting his back comfortingly. It comforted him too somewhat. Though he couldn’t help Jaejoong in any real sense, at least he was always there to help him pick up the pieces. He could do that much for him. Jaejoong was only just quieting down when he suddenly pulled away, barely managing to put enough distance between himself and Yunho before his stomach upended its contents again.

Helpless and once more frustrated at his own impotence, Yunho patted his back again, holding him as he rode out the nausea.

“Where’s my son?”

Yunho took one look at the King’s face and knew that lying wasn’t an option, not that he’d ever considered lying to the man. The fact that Gregori’s face was almost always expressionless, emotionless, was what made him so terrifying. One never knew what he was thinking. When he did show emotion…well, more often than not it was better not to be on the receiving end.

Even so, he couldn’t sell his friend out without even an attempt at prevarication.

“Your Majesty?” he queried, as blankly as he could manage.

Gregori’s lips twitched. “I know you know, Yunho. You always know where he is. That’s the downside of being so good at your job. You are, shall we say, too good?” Steepling his fingers, Gregori rested his chin on them and perused his son’s friend. “Now… Where is he?”

Yunho took a deep breath, mentally cursing his friend for being so selfish - even though he understood - before answering. “I don’t know, Your Majesty. He was still sleeping when I checked on him this morning. I left to report to the General to see if he had any orders for me and then I immediately returned to the Prince’s room. I’m positive that it didn’t take more than an hour but he was gone by the time I got back. I looked everywhere for him but he hasn’t been found and no one saw him leave. This leads me to believe…” Yunho trailed off, becoming extremely uncomfortable since he knew that his suspicions were likely to anger the King.

“…that he’s gone outside of the palace,” Gregori finished for him, knowing his son all too well.

Yunho nodded silently. “Yes, Your Highness.” He waited a beat. “Should I go out and look for him?”

For a moment there was deafening silence, Yunho bracing himself for a potential explosion as he kept his eyes glued on the King for a warning sign of some sort while Gregori gave his son’s loyal servant and closest - only - friend a long, considering look.

If anyone could find Jaejoong, it would be Yunho, Gregori thought. He knew him best, probably better than he knew himself. He was also the only one in the palace, aside from domestic staff, who could go out during the day. Despite his low birth, it made him invaluable.

“No,” Gregori finally said, rising to walk to the large stained-glass windows on the east side of his study. Because it was day time, the windows were shuttered to prevent sunlight from streaming in so he couldn’t actually see anything but his own reflection. “Let him indulge in his childish temper tantrum. See that he’s brought to me upon his return.”

Yunho bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And Yunho?”

Yunho paused in his retreat, turning back to his King who still stood facing the blackened window. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“There’ve been rumors that the rebels have spread their influence amongst the crofters. I know that they are your people but do not let your sympathy for them override your duty to the throne. To me. I expect you to keep your ear to the ground and report anything that may be of concern.”

Color heated Yunho’s cheeks and he was glad that Gregori couldn’t see it. At the word rebel, his immediate instinct had been to deny any knowledge of such but of course, it was Gregori that he was dealing with. There wasn’t much that went on that the man didn’t know. That he was a commoner was something Yunho went nary a day without being reminded of so, naturally, Gregori took it for granted that he would know the sentiments brewing among the people, which he did. But being put in a position where he had to choose his allegiance, to put his loyalty to his King above his loyalty to his people, was not one he was entirely sure he was prepared for. It was a slippery slope he’d chosen all those years ago when he’d declared his fealty to his Prince. At the time he’d been innocent and naïve of the ways of the world, thinking only that he would lay down his life to protect the person who had saved it. He’d never spared a thought as to exactly what that would entail. He could never have begun to imagine.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he replied softly, bowing once more before he took his leave.

Jaejoong kicked a stone out of his way as he trudged through the woods, disgustingly aware of the pout he wore yet unable to do anything about it.

He felt like a recalcitrant child and was positive that the King saw him as such. He hadn’t left the palace in an attempt to get back at his father, not consciously anyway. He’d simply wanted, needed, some time alone, away from the depressing weight of the palace and his responsibilities. That it would irritate his father was merely icing on top of that very appealing cake. After spending almost an entire day vomiting the gory contents of his stomach, and another two days recovering from that ordeal, in addition to his still weakened state from his near death-by-poison, he’d had enough and needed a break. He only regretted not telling Yunho that he’d gone out because he knew that he would worry. They, Yunho and his father, would figure out where he’d gone since they were the only ones who knew about his ability to walk in the sunlight. Yunho might even come looking for him. He would deal with that if and when the time came, however. For now, he was simply enjoying the peace and quiet.

He’d been walking for a while, stopping occasionally to admire a patch of beautiful wild flowers or watch a mother deer walking with her young. He loved nature. He could never achieve this level of calm and contentment in the palace. The only other place he found any kind of solace was Yunho’s house. Perhaps he would stop by to see Mom later that night.

He came upon a cushy-looking pile of leaves at the base of a tree and decided to take a nap. He was about an hour away from the palace and, having walked the entire distance emotionally swinging back and forth between happiness and sulking, he suddenly found himself weary once again. Sitting, he pulled out a canteen of water and a roughly tied bundle of food: the breakfast that had been on his side-table when he’d awoken close to lunch. He made quick work of consuming the meal, fighting to keep it down afterward when he felt his stomach threatening to, once again, evacuate itself. Several gulps of water later, he sighed in relief, sure that the food would stay in his belly. Rolling up his satchel into a make-shift pillow, he laid back against it, closed his eyes and lost himself in the soothing caress of the gentle breeze that lulled him to sleep.

Some time later, nearby voices stirred him from his slumber. He opened his eyes, staring up at the wide fan of the trees’ branches, but made no attempt to move or announce his presence.

“Everything’s falling into place. The rebels are preparing to make their move. Pretty soon, this is going to become a dangerous place to live, my friend,” a voice said matter-of-factly.

“It was inevitable,” a deeper voice agreed. “Change, revolution, is both necessary and inevitable. The King would have to be a fool to not see it coming and Gregori is no fool.”

Whatever drowsiness might still have been swirling in Jaejoong’s mind completely cleared at the mention of his father.

“What are the chances that the rebels will win?” There was a soft rustling and a snap of twigs on the other side of the large tree where Jaejoong rested.

Jaejoong heard a sigh and then the deep voice said, “I don’t know. The rebels’ numbers are impressive. They may actually stand a fighting chance. At the same time, Gregori’s soldiers are well-trained, heavily armed and, more importantly, ruthless. The rebels will do their utmost to spare those who surrender. Gregori and his men will not show the same leniency. Then there’s Gregori himself. He’s said to have unimaginable, terrifying powers.”

“There’s nothing to be done about it, then,” the first man said, his voice echoing with a grim acceptance that chilled Jaejoong for some unknown reason. “It’s going to be a bloodbath any way you look at it.”

Noiselessly, Jaejoong rolled to his side and stood, picking up his satchel and slinging it over his shoulder.

Rebels? He had no idea what they were talking about. He was curious and considered sticking around to find out more but a small part of him was fearful, warning him that he should not be listening to their conversation and that he needed to get as far away from the two as possible. He had no idea who they were and if they spotted him, he could be in danger. He was confident in his ability to defend himself but there was always the risk of being overpowered.

He started away from the tree, intending to walk in the opposite direction before circling back to make his way towards home but before he could get more than ten feet, the first voice called out,

“Hello there!”

Jaejoong paused. He was dressed as they were and his hair was covered so for all they knew, he was indeed one of them but the minute he turned around and they looked into his eyes, they would know who he was. There really wasn’t much of a choice to be made.

He sprang into action, running as fast as he could, picking up speed when he heard them chasing behind him, calling out to him to stop. He didn’t know why they were pursuing him but he supposed that it was suspicious that he’d run away to begin with. If he had been in their shoes, he might have done the same.

Thankfully, he knew the terrain like the back of his hand and was able to lose them after a few minutes. He kept going for another five before he finally stopped to catch his breath. He sat on a nearby stump and pulled out his canteen, looking up at the sky as he drank. The sun was finally beginning to dip. He would make it back to the palace before sunset, which he hoped helped to abate some of his father’s anger. He would not mention his near run-in for that would surely escalate it. He would, however, ask Yunho what he knew about a possible rebellion. He knew of rebel factions, it was part and parcel of any government, but he hadn’t heard of any strong enough to be a real threat to Gregori’s reign. From what he had overheard from the men, there was a real possibility of a war, a revolution as they’d put it, in the near future. That was the last thing he’d want, the last thing the people needed. Like the men, he knew that his father wouldn’t take kindly to having his power usurped, or even an attempt at it, and would make sure that the commoner’s paid dearly to ensure that no such uprising took place ever again. At least not while he sat on the throne.

Sighing, he packed up his canteen, stood and began making his way back to the palace. He stopped only to feed on a large, plump rabbit that hopped across his path, taking only enough to rebuild his strength, but not enough to kill the small animal and waiting a few minutes to make sure that his stomach remained settled, before continuing on his way.

Getting into the palace unseen was not a problem since he used his private passageways to move in and out as he pleased during the daylight hours. When he reached his bedroom, he was surprised to find it empty, Yunho not laying in wait like he’d expected him to be. However, he wasn’t surprised to find a neatly written summons waiting in the middle of his bed. Sighing, he stripped off his clothes and walked to the adjoining bathing chamber. He drew a bath, making do with the cold water since he didn’t want to call upon a maid to fetch hot water for him, and scrubbed thoroughly, washing away the day’s dirt. Afterwards, he spent another ten minutes just lounging, working up the courage to face his father. He should probably eat before he sought the King out, he thought. Arguments with Gregori tended to kill his appetite.

But if I eat, I won’t have any room left for Mom’s food.

With his stomach as sensitive as it currently was, he wouldn’t be able to handle two large meals.

Deciding to skip supper at the palace, he climbed out of the tub and dried off. Walking back into his room, he selected simple trousers and a loose cotton shirt. Because he knew that his father would disapprove of his wardrobe, he threw on a jacket. Dinner at the palace was always a formal affair but he wasn’t going to dinner at the palace, he was going to Yunho’s house. No one expected him to wear full military regalia or ballroom-ready attire there.

As he made his way down the hallway, he stopped a passing maid to inquire as to his father’s whereabouts. The King was in the solarium, he was told, so he changed course and headed in that direction. That the palace even had a solarium was a bit of an oxymoron considering that the majority of its occupants couldn’t use it for its intended purpose. But the solarium also doubled as the greenhouse so it did serve a purpose. One of the most surprising things about Gregori was his love of plants and gardening. He was meticulous with his care of his precious blooms but didn’t hesitate to snip a bud if it began showing even a hint of decay.

Much like he does with people, Jaejoong thought wryly.

He stopped outside the solarium and knocked, waiting for his father’s admittance before entering.

Gregori was in the process of pruning a row of blood-red roses when he approached him so Jaejoong quietly stood back, waiting for him to finish. He wasn’t afraid that his father would turn the shears on him but why take the risk of getting too close? There was no need to tempt the man.

After some time, Gregori set the shears aside and turned towards his son. His face was a closed mask, expression unreadable.

“So…” He began to remove his gloves, taking his time as he pulled the tips of each finger before slipping his hand free of the sheath. “The Prince has returned.”

Jaejoong said nothing. He held himself stiffly, hands clasped tightly behind his back as he tried to put on a fearless front. Showing weakness in front of his father was a tactical mistake that he was too experienced to make.

“All better now? After your little fit of rebellion, I mean. Am I forgiven?” Gregori asked sarcastically, Jaejoong clearly knowing that he didn’t care if he was or wasn’t. No one’s opinion mattered to Gregori except his own, not even his children’s.

But Jaejoong couldn’t help appreciating the irony of Gregori likening his disobedience to a rebellion when there was, by all accounts, a very real one headed his way.

“Yes, Father,” he replied calmly. “All is well.”

Gregori’s eyes narrowed slightly but he didn’t reprimand Jaejoong for his cheekiness. If anything, he admired it. These little bursts of courageous temper were the only assurances he had that his son did have the strength of character to one day be King, the spine to stand up for himself. He just needed to rid him of that inherent softness that prevented him from truly being great and he would be the perfect heir.

Gregori nodded. “Very well. I will indulge you this one time, Jaejoong. Don’t do it again. Or, if you do…” He smiled slightly. “Don’t get caught.”

Jaejoong blinked in surprise. Seeing a smile upon his father’s face was a rare occurrence. Well, a genuine one. He did tend to smile mirthlessly just before he did something unspeakably cruel, especially if he wanted to make a point or set an example.

“In the meantime,” Gregori continued, “Now that you’re back on your feet again, there are some things that I need to discuss with you.”

“Things?” Jaejoong repeated.

Gregori waved a dismissive hand. “It can wait until tomorrow. For now, go get ready for supper.” His cold blue eyes made a head-to-toe sweep over Jaejoong’s body. “I expect that you don’t plan on wearing that to dinner?” he remarked pointedly.

“I’m going over to Yunho’s house,” Jaejoong calmly informed him. “I’m sure he’s been worried sick looking for me all day.”

“Can’t it wait until you’ve eaten? I’m sure he’ll be back shortly. He shouldn’t even have left the palace until you’d returned to begin with. Whatever happened to his pledge to protect you with his life?”

Slight color tinged Jaejoong’s cheeks. “Yunho is the best at his job, and one of the best soldiers that you have overall. I give him permission to go home whenever he wants. His home is just outside the palace gates anyway so he isn’t so far that I can’t find him if I need him.”

Gregori grunted but said nothing.

“I’ll be taking my leave now. Oh, and the reason I’m dressed like this is because I’ll be having supper at Yunho’s house.” He smiled.” His mother’s a fabulous cook.”

Bowing slightly, he took his leave before the King could stop him.

Jaejoong all but raced through the palace corridors, down the stone staircase and out through the large front doors. Once he had put some distance between himself and the palace, he slowed his stride and took his time as he walked, basking in the simple joy of it. He didn’t even let the fact that everyone he passed stopped what they were doing and bowed get to him, smiling and nodding to them in return.

When he reached Yunho’s house, his smile widened, anticipation kicking in. He wondered what Mom cooked for dinner. It would be nice if it was one of his favourites but it didn’t really matter. Everything she made was excellent.

Not bothering to knock to announce himself, he opened the door and walked in.

“Hello?” he called as he closed the front door behind him.

The cottage was modest but comfortably furnished, much smaller than the palace but roomy enough for the four people who lived there.

“Maybe they’re in the kitchen,” he mused when no one replied.

He started towards the back of the cottage and was just rounding the corner to the kitchen when he heard voices coming from the direction of the bedrooms.

“They’re not going to wait forever, Yunho. The people are tired. They want change and they want it now. There’s no point in all this planning if they let it go to waste and trust me, they don’t intend for it to.”

Nikolai? When did he get back?

Nikolai, or Niko as he was fondly called, Yunho’s older brother, had gone to visit family in another village and as far as Jaejoong knew, he wasn’t supposed to return for several more months.

Changing direction, he quietly he made his way down the short hall to the bedrooms.

“I know but it’s too soon. And he’s already suspicious. It may be better to hold off for a bit.”

Yunho sounded tense to Jaejoong’s ears and he became even more curious as to what they were discussing.

“Then now is the perfect time to hit him,” Niko countered. “He’s not prepared so the impact will be that much greater. I know that you know this, Yunho. You’re not stupid.”

“I just don’t want innocent lives to be lost due to carelessness,” Yunho said softly. “They’ve waited all this time, can’t they wait a little longer? Just until we’re sure the time is right?”

“There’s never going to be a right time, brother. We have to make it right for ourselves. I appreciate your concern but…” Niko paused. “Are you sure you’re worried about us and not your beloved…”

“Niko!”

Jaejoong stopped short when he heard Mom’s voice. She had actually snapped at her son. In all the years that he’d known her, he’d never heard her raise her voice to anyone. Moving closer, he stopped just outside the door, which was slightly ajar giving him a narrow view into the room - Yunho and Niko’s - and its occupants. Though he hadn’t spoken yet, Yunho’s father was also there, his expression grim as his two sons faced off, their mother standing between them as if to keep them apart.

“Leave him out of this,” Yunho said between clenched teeth.

“Why? Why not just be honest with yourself? He’s the reason you don’t want us to move in. How can I leave him out of it when everything comes back to him?”

Yunho didn’t say anything. He just continued to stand stiffly, glaring at his brother.

“It doesn’t have to be this way, you know,” Niko said, his expression and tone gentling. “You can bring him in. He isn’t like them. He’s a decent person, someone who genuinely cares about the rest of us. He could be a great help in ensuring that we’re successful.”

“I…we can’t,” Yunho stammered.

“Why not?” Niko demanded.

“He doesn’t know about this… He doesn’t know anything.”

“Well he’s going to find out soon enough and he’s going to have to pick a side whether he wants to or not. He’s either with us or he’s with them.”

“I can’t ask him to do that,” Yunho whispered. “I won’t.”

He?, Jaejoong thought. Who were they talking about?

“Then I will,” Niko said, a challenge ringing in his words.

Yunho took a step towards him, holding himself back when his mother placed a hand on his chest.

“Don’t,” Yunho warned. “It’s going to be difficult enough to hear it. It needs to come from me.”

“Then you know what you have to do.” Niko chose his words carefully before continuing. “I’m not the enemy here, Yunho. You know that I’m right. There’s no way that he can straddle the fence, nor can you. Everyone is going to have to decide who they’re loyal to and be willing to put their lives on the line to defend them.”

Are they talking about the rebellion?, Jaejoong wondered. It was the only thing that made sense.

“I can’t ask him to choose between his father and his people,” Yunho said quietly.

Jaejoong frowned. Father? People? What…

“When he hears the kind of man the King is, the choice should be clear.”

Jaejoong’s heart stopped, his breath freezing in his throat.

Father…the King. Him…they were talking about him.

Robotically, he pushed open the door and stepped inside the small room, his confused gaze immediately going to Yunho’s stunned one as a round of gasps broke the sudden silence.

“Yunho…What’s going on?”

A/N: So I know it's been 6 months since I updated, which is a record for me. Sorry about that. I don't really have an excuse except I did warn you guys that I was losing my YJ motivation. I still love them, but the juice just isn't there anymore, sadly. However, I didn't want to abandon this outright so I'm going to finish it off, maybe with less chapters than originally intended but the same general storyline and events.
Again, sorry for the long wait :(