Chapter 13

Once dinner came to a close, I tried to sneak away from the small party that was moving toward the family room for tea and conversation, but Madara noticed me and spoke above the light chatter in the dining hall so everyone would notice, "Where are you headed, Miss Sakura? Perhaps to grab a book before joining us all by the fire?"

My hands curled into fists behind my back and I forced a smile onto my lips. Everyone was staring.

"I simply wanted to take a moment to freshen up, Sir."

I glanced at Sasuke, who returned my look with one that made it obvious he wished to escort me, but was stuck listening to Kankuro explain in detail the difference between the behavior of women in Konoha compared to his home. I tried to reassure him wordlessly before offering those paying attention a quick yet respectful bow and skipped away in a hurry toward the staircase.

Before I could take the first step up, I noticed the laundry room's door was ajar and a broomhandle was lying on the floor. The room was also where the cleaning supplies were stored. I glanced behind me in time to see the last shadow of the party turning the corner into the hall and felt slightly more comfortable now that I had a moment to myself.

A sigh slid past my lips as I bent to grab onto the forgotten broom before pulling the door the rest of the way open so I could see where it was supposed to go. I rested the wooden piece firmly against the wall next to the mop and its bucket and went to leave the room, only for something under said mop bucket to capture my eye. The corner of what seemed to be a door was peeking out from under it.

I chanced a glance out of the door to make sure I was still alone before closing it so no one would interrupt as I let my curiosity get the best of me. Careful as to not make a lot of noise, I rolled the large mop bucket away from the wall to reveal exactly what I'd thought it was: a door.

It was large enough that a person could very easily fit through it, but not so large that it was very outstanding visually, which was probably why I hadn't noticed it until now.

I inspected the two latch-locks, one on the right and one on the left of the door, very carefully. Neither was rusty or covered in dust, so this door must've been used recently. Maybe this is the wine cellar! The latches came undone easily and I lifted the door up just enough to slip down onto the awaiting stairs and gently set it back in place above me so it wouldn't slam.

What I'd thought to be a wine cellar was clearly anything but. The floor was concrete and wall sconces every yard or so left the hall dimly lit just enough that one could make their way without running into any walls.

The hall went on for what felt like ages, so much so that I was tempted to just turn back and head upstairs so the group didn't notice how long I was taking, but again my curiosity took control and I eagerly tiptoed forward. I finally came upon a turn in the hall that split off left and right. I opted to go right and walked for another minute before coming upon a small open room.

Fear froze me in my tracks at the gruesome sight that waited for me there. A man, seeming to be somewhere near Itachi's age, with dark brown hair, dark eyes, and light scarring covering nearly half of his face was chained by the ankles to a bed. The shackles and chain were much thicker than usual ones and looked really heavy. His tan skin was dusted with cuts and bruises.

A gasp slipped past my lips in shock and his eyes snapped open to lock onto mine.

Before I could move a muscle, a snarl left his lips and he lunged toward me. My eyes squeezed shut and I prepared for the pain that was surely about to come, only for it not to.

Opening my eyes just a creek, I saw that the chains on his ankles had stopped him just far enough away that he couldn't reach me with his extended arms. The expression on his face was terrifying to behold and animalistic snarls came from his mouth.

My eyes widened at the familiar sound.

The only reason I'd left Sasuke's room the night Sai accidentally attacked me was because I'd heard what I thought was multiple animals fighting within the castle walls. It must've been this man.

The whites of his eyes began to darken, a sign that I'd recognized as a dead give-away that a vampire's eyes were about to turn red. I clenched my eyes shut again so he wouldn't have a chance to order me to come closer and spoke in a panicked whisper, "Who are you?!"

A deep voice from behind me stole me of what little bravery I'd been clutching onto, "You don't recognize him? Maybe I should have him take off some of your clothes. I'm sure that would help jog your memory."

My eyes shot open in surprise and I spun around to meet Madara's cocky grin.

My body unconsciously moved a few steps back, remembering how he'd mistreated me in the laundry room. Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around my torso and pull me back against who Madara had insinuated was the Obito he'd described from the night I'd almost been raped.

The black ribbon tied around my neck was ripped away and the all too familiar sting of teeth sinking into the crease of my neck had me crying out in a sick mixture of fear and pain. I clawed at Obito's hands on my body and begged for him to stop, sobs interrupting my words. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't get out of his firm hold. He was letting out a constant slew of growls and moans as though he were just saved from a desert and my blood was the first sip of water he'd had in a week.

"Release her."

Madara's voice was calm and collected.

To my surprise, the teeth that were embedded in my flesh were suddenly gone and my body was released to fall to the floor. I felt the concrete scrape both of my knees and my palms. I glared up at Madara, piecing together what was going on. Obito's under his control. It made me think that the Uchiha royal must've had something to do with Itachi's incident with Mina as well.

Before he could spit out whatever mocking retort he'd prepared, the sound of quickly approaching footsteps drew all three of our attention.

Sasuke came around the corner, quickly scanned the room, and quickly pulled me up to my feet by my arm. He pushed my body behind his, putting himself in between me and the other two Uchiha vampires in the cellar, "What the hell is going on here?" His voice was dangerously low, almost beastly.

I pressed one hand over the bite mark on my neck in an attempt to slow the freely flowing blood and left my other hand clasped tightly in Sasuke's.

Madara quickly put on a facade for his nephew, "I just stopped Obito from draining her dry!" He dramatically threw a glare at Obito's shaking figure. The younger man's entire body was shaking as he glared at me with his eyes still a bright red. My blood was still on the corner of his mouth.

I tried to argue, "He's lying! He's controlling him!"

Sasuke looked back at me with a quick expression of masked surprise before looking back over to his uncle in disbelief, "Is that true?"

Madara sheepishly put his hands up in defense, "The blood loss must be making her delusional."

Sasuke was silent for a moment, body going rigid, and I honestly thought he might believe him. Madara must've thought the opposite because he continued with a smirk, insinuating brazenly that he may be the cause for all of this, "You know, if you'd just claim her already she wouldn't keep getting into trouble like this." I glared at him from behind my protector, causing his grin to widen. "Well, it would at least lessen the danger."

My face erupted in heat and I took a slight step away from Sasuke, freezing in fear when he squeezed the hand that he had a hold on to stop me from backing away further. His voice was deep and gravelly in anger once again, "Uncle, tell me now that you have nothing to do with this." He wasn't attempting to control his elder, but was challenging him in the most respectful way he knew how.

Madara's eyes began glowing and I felt Sasuke's grip go limp on my hand.

My eyes danced between the two Uchiha men quickly before it clicked in my mind what was about to happen. I grabbed onto Sasuke's shoulders with both of my hands and attempted to pull him away, but it was as though he were made of concrete.

Madara's voice was like ice running down my body in the worst of ways, "I've done nothing to harm anyone in this home. If Sakura tries to convince you otherwise, I want you to drink from her until you're completely satisfied. If she's still alive when you're done, I want you to bring her to me. Are we understood?"

Tears brimmed in my eyes and I let out a choked sob, "N-NO! Sasuke don't listen, close your eyes!"

His nephew nodded stiffly in response to his orders so he turned to face his other prey, Obito. Sasuke's body stayed stiff and I continued to try and pull him away, but the handsome prince just wouldn't budge.

"Obito, you will remain focused on Sakura. If you ever encounter her I want you to finish what you started the last time you met." Obito's dark eyes lit up almost instantly and landed on my own.

I squeezed them shut, tears now falling freely down my cheeks, "Sasuke, please! Let's go!" I tugged and tugged on his arms, his clothes: anything I could get my hands on, but nothing was working. Madara's chuckle just angered and frightened me further and the familiar feeling of helplessness began to settle in.

In a flash, my body was tossed away from Sasuke and against one of the walls. Before I could fall to the ground, Madara's body was pressed against mine and his lips were moving roughly against mine. I slammed my fists against him in protest, but he seemed unphased. After a moment, he swiftly pulled his lips away and wrenched his teeth into my skin directly over the bite Obito had caused.

I let out a choked gasp, but no sound would come out. Just like last time, I found myself clinging to his clothes in an attempt to hold onto my consciousness. The older vampire seemed to like this and pressed against me further, one of his hands curling up in my hair and the other snaking down to my lower back to press my body more firmly against his.

My sight began to dim when he finally licked the bite marks closed and whispered breathily in my ear, "If you keep clinging to me like this, I'm not going to be able to hold back much longer." His blood red eyes faded back to black and I felt my legs give out from under me as I fainted from a mixture of exhaustion and blood loss.