DISCLAIMER: I do not own NARUTO. I only own my story ideas.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Dear reader, I thought it would be cool to have a vampire themed fanfiction that for once, does not include romance. It will be a long fanfiction and I hope that you will stick with me to the end. But for now, please enjoy and don't forget to R&R at the end. THANK YOU!
~PROLOGUE~
The Carriage turned onto the dark, snowy lane that ran from the main road to the stable some three hundred feet behind the dark manor that belonged to, as the villagers gossiped, the dark lord of vampires, who lived in solitude, killing or bewitching all those who dared disturb him. No one knew of the youth who had been scooped out of misery and torment and brought into the manor by Orochimaru. All the village folk knew was that a mysterious someone or something lived in that dark manor that overlooked the village. So, as the black carriage passed, the villagers hid themselves in shops and houses until it had disappeared from view.
*CHAPTER 1*
Sasuke pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped into the silent, dark mansion. He stamped his winter boots on the dark velvet carpet and stood still as one of the servants brushed the now-melting snow off of his long black winter cloak. It was a very cold day, so cold that the usual bustle in the town that lay at the foot of the mansion was gone and only one or two villagers could be seen crossing hurriedly from one building to another at a time. Sasuke walked across the hall and to the large fireplace that where a fire was roaring in the grate.
The servant reappeared and Sasuke let him take the cloak off of his shoulders, his muscles relaxing as the heat engulfed him. The servant left and a different one walked in with a tray of hot tea and biscuits and set it down on the hearth. Quickly he poured a cup of tea for his master and then hurried out of the room. Sasuke glanced at the clock that hung above the fireplace mantle. It was almost suppertime and he wondered if the master f the house was in. Like Sasuke, he too had left the mansion soon after the midmeal to ride in the woods; or so he claimed.
Sasuke didn't believe him but what could he say? He apparently wasn't much more to the master than one of the fine stallions in the stable so he kept his mouth shut. All he knew was that the master would go "riding" almost every day and he wouldn't be back until late, often not returning until the middle of the dinner hour. Those were the days Sasuke disliked the most. Many a time he would go to bed exhausted because the master had kept him up studying. Not that studying was bad, but it often robbed Sasuke of his much needed rest.
The double entrance door creaked open again and Sasuke turned to see who had entered. As he had assumed, the master of the manor stepped, followed by a gust of cold air and flurries of snow that blew across the room; causing the master's cloak to swirl around his legs and the full sleeves of Sasuke's white silk shirt to ripple.
The main servant, Kabuto Yakushi, shut the door and instantly the wind stopped and the room was again still. Orochimaru crossed the room and, after letting Kabuto take his cloak, sunk into the large velvet chair that was standing right in front of the fireplace where Sasuke was standing. They sat in silence for several minutes both staring into the fire, almost mesmerized by the crackling flames. Then, finally Orochimaru spoke "Tomorrow is a half moon Sasuke." He said quietly. Sasuke stiffed but otherwise showed no sign of hearing.
Orochimaru smiled "Tomorrow I am going to visit the governor of the next village. Will you be coming?" Sasuke shrugged. "I'll take that as a yes" Orochimaru said "I'll be leaving before daybreak tomorrow." With that, they lapsed into silence. Several minutes later, Kabuto entered the room "lord Orochimaru, master Sasuke, it's time for supper." He said quietly. Orochimaru waved Kabuto away "Of course, we'll be there shortly" he said. Kabuto nodded, bowed and backed out of the room. As soon as he was gone, Orochimaru stood "come Sasuke" he commanded. Sasuke stood and obediently followed after Orochimaru, both of their heels clicking on the stone floor as they crossed from the hall to the dining room.
*Later*
By the time all of the servants had gone to bed and both Orochimaru and Sasuke were asleep in their rooms, it was well past eleven o'clock. After supper Orochimaru had kept Sasuke up to study for several, seemingly endless hours until Sasuke was literally falling asleep over the books. It was only then that he allowed Sasuke to stop.
By that time, Sasuke was so tired he just collapsed into bed without bothering to change out of his day clothes. That's how it was most evenings; although occasionally, Orochimaru allowed Sasuke to retire early and arise late. Of course, he usually did that around the time when Sasuke was beginning to fail in his studies or sleep during the day due to exhaustion. Naturally, he had a reason for that strenuous schedule but he never would tell Sasuke.