Empty Eyes: Book 1

The Final Chapter-Mature Content

Someone was frantically shaking my shoulders in an attempt to wake me. My eyes shot open as I recalled the events that lead up to this moment.

Ino looked relieved, but a cry of pain came from my lips at the sharp ache that ran through my torso. Orochimaru must've broken some ribs when he hit me carelessly like that.

My sister helped me sit up, "I know it hurts, but we need to move!"

Finally, I realized that both Sasuke and Madara were fighting Orochimaru while Itachi, Sai, and Temari held off a small group of his followers. We were still in the ballroom and if we didn't move, we'd undoubtedly get caught in the crossfire.

Ino's hands were firm as she helped me upright. She took on most of my weight as I struggled to overcome the pain and then we were slowly making our way toward the stairs. The beautiful chandelier has fallen from the ceiling and broken shards of diamond and ruby littered the floor while a small fire burned about the chandelier itself.

Someone's body hit the ground with a sickening thud and I fought my sister's hold to turn and see Sasuke get up from the ground, blood splattered about his entire body. My heart rose in my chest and I tried to pull away to go to him, but Ino wouldn't let me.

My eyes widened as Orochimaru then landed an incredible hit to Madara and he was thrown in our direction as quickly as a bullet. We couldn't get out of the way in time and tumbled to the ground in a pile. A groan left my lips and my eyes crept open slowly after taking a moment to gather my strength.

Ino rolled the Uchiha elder onto his back in between us. His glowing red eyes faded down into their usual black as I sat up with shock on my features. A large hole went through his entire body to the right of his navel and blood was pooling at an alarming rate around him. My sister frantically tried to put pressure on the wound in hopes it'd start healing, and it did, but the speed obviously wasn't quick enough.

I struggled up to my knees at his side and argued with my own emotions. This was the vampire that's been a source of my distress for nearly a year now and has committed unforgivable atrocities. There shouldn't be an ounce of me that cared about his well being. As he blindly reached over for my hand, though, I couldn't stop the tears that rose up in my eyes as I firmly grasped it between both of mine.

Our eyes locked for a moment and I froze, only to be shaken free of my daze by Ino's panicked breathing, "He's dying..." She doesn't like Madara just as much as me, but ever since our return he's been defending us without ulterior motives. She seemed to be struggling with the same dilemma as me. Her blue eyes were desperate as her bloodied hands pressed against his stomach.

My chest tightened in fear, but I tore my hands from his and shoved my wrist toward his face. Both he and Ino looked at me with wide eyes. My limbs shook nervously, but I spat out in as firm a voice as possible, "Drink."

He only hesitated for a moment before I felt his teeth slide into my skin. Even though I couldn't hold back the wince from the sensation, the pain was nothing compared to everything else going on with my body at the moment.

Ino looked between us with an expression of understanding before returning to her actions of aiding his wound. After a moment, she gasped, "It's working!" I looked back down at Madara and his eyes were once again glowing as he stared up at me with both of his hands holding my wrist to his lips.

Sasuke's body hitting the ground with a loud thud pulled my attention back to the fighting pair. I tried to pull my arm from Madara's hold, reaching my other hand out toward the prince, who quickly sprung back to his feet so he could continue fighting. His movements were becoming noticeably slower. Tears filled my eyes as he and the doctor exchanged hit after hit. The sound of their skin hitting each other was so loud and painful sounding that it took everything in me not to cover my ears.