𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 ✔︎ ━ 𝖱𝖨𝖣𝖣𝖫𝖤

𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍: 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑

We sat in silence for what seemed like at least two hours, but in reality it was only about thirty minutes.

Tom continued flipping through the pages of the book, and I continued to stare blankly at the fireplace. Though I was staring at it, my mind was twisting with possible ways to escape.

Of course, the house is spelled, so making an escape wouldn't be easy. I could try and use Tom's wand to dis-spell them, but it's always on him, and he'd probably kill me before I could lay a finger on it.

"What are you reading?" I asked plainly. If there was any way of getting him out of his power mindset for me to escape, it would probably be small talk.

"A book about traitors. It's called Deadly Pride. It's about a group of King's knights who kill him and take his place as ruler." He answered slowly, eyes trained to the pages.

I inhaled a weary breath. That definitely sounds like something he would read. "Do you like Nicholas or Zachary more?" I asked, tilting my head.

Immediately as I spoke his eyes shot up from the book. My heart skipped a few beats. "I don't have a favorite. I hate them both equally." He replied firmly. I could tell he was getting annoyed, but that's just what I wanted.

"And which one do you-" I began speaking again, only for Tom to cut me off. "Shut the bloody hell up!" He yelled, voice booming across the room.

I closed my lips as his voice towered across the room. My plan had gone South. Tom slammed his book shut and threw it across the room, then leaned back into the cushions.

His fingers lightly massaged the bridge of his nose as he stared blatantly at the fireplace. I slouched my posture and watched as his fingers massaged rhythmically on his nose.

"Well, will you answer my question now?" I asked. I still hadn't given up on the fact that I was basically pushing Tom over the edge, reeling to make him so angry I could escape.

The moment his eyes opened and landed on me I knew I was in grave trouble. The terrifying look he gave was enough to let me know that he wasn't going to break, and that this has only given him more anger issues.

He got up from the sofa and grabbed something from the floor. A rope. He walked over to me and lifted a brow, as if telling me to get up from the sofa.

I did as he suggested. Tom then led me to the furthest corner of the living room, where a large brown pillar was.

"Sit." He demanded. I did so, sitting with my back against the pillar. He bent down and tied the rope around my arms and the pillar, so I'd be unable to move.

Great. My plan didn't work and now I'm tied up to a pole in Tom Riddle's hideout. Just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, he grabbed a cloth and pushed it into my mouth.

I let out a huff of air, my gaze deadset on Tom as he smiled with delight at the fact that I was helplessly tied to a pole with a cloth in my mouth.

"Now if you try anything else you'll be sitting like this in the basement." He said, turning away and walking toward the couch.

Thankfully, Tom hadn't stuffed the cloth too far into my mouth, so with a bit of maneuvering of my tongue I was able to push it from my lips and onto the floor.

He had only made it halfway across the living room, so I took advantage of the situation, and the fact that he had no idea I pushed the cloth from my mouth.

"I think the cloth just technically fell from my mouth." I said evenly, trying to hide the pure delight I had inside of me.

He turned immediately, eyebrows furrowed together as he looked from me to the cloth laying on the ground next to me.

He quickly walked back over to me, only taking a few strides before reaching the pillar I was tied to. He stood above me pridefully, shoulders broad.

"I don't know what game you're trying to play here, Greendale, but know that I will kill you if I must." He said grimly, lips pulled back as he spoke.

Finally I could tell I was getting on his nerves- nipping at his skin. Though my hands were still tied to the pillar, I rose, as did the rope my hands were harnessed to.

"No you won't." I replied with a slight smirk. For a moment, just a single second, his expression was repulsed. But just as quickly his face went back to evenly subtle.

"What makes you think I won't dive a knife through your heart?" He asked, arching an eyebrow. I didn't answer for a moment. I just let the silence stretch out between us as he awaited an answer.

"Because if you do Zachary and Nicholas will throw you from your high horse." I answered with a smile- a very daring smile. I knew he wouldn't kill me, not yet at least, not until he's secured his position as the leader.

"Maybe I won't kill you, but I'll make you wish you were dead." He said with a dawning tone. I could hear bubbling anger in his last two words.

I kept staring at him, and he kept staring at me. This went on for so long it's almost like his face began to twist. I was staring so much my eyes began hurting.

I knew exactly what he was doing. He was trying to assert dominance by being the last one staring. It's like a children's game- a game I would usually loose at.

Eventually my eyes ached so much I looked to the floor. Though my eyes couldn't even see Tom, I could see the smirk he was wearing so proudly.

I looked up as he walked toward the fireplace, watching closely as he stared at the fireplace. "Anastasia, do you know what makes a good leader?" He asked out of the blue.

I answered quickly. "Someone who is ambitious, somewhat ruthless, and willing to go all the way." I said evenly. I didn't even have to think on my answer. I just pulled characteristics from Tom's personality.

"Precisely. They also must be cunning, willing, and able to see all sides of the story." He continued, voice almost sounding like a narration from a movie.

I nodded in agreement, mostly out of fear. Those are all characteristics he has, except maybe the fact that he never sees all sides of the story.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, tilting my head. He turned from the fireplace to me, half of his face dark from the lack of light, the other side bright from the fire dancing on his face.

"I'm going to be wiling," He said. My heart skipped a beat. I thought willing like he would let me go, but of course, I was immensely wrong on that part.

"I'm going to have you come with me. I'm going to keep you, at least until Zachary and Nicholas decide to resign from the Dark Army." He finished with a demoness grin.

My heart must've dropped into the pits of my stomach at that very moment. Hearing those words slip from his mouth may have been worse than any punishment.

Knowing Zachary and Nicholas, even though I don't know them much, I know enough to say it may take a Civil War- probably even more- for them to leave the Dark Army.

They are ruthless and ambitious, just as Tom is. I may have to die before the twins decide to take a step back and look at things. Tom taking me could put myself and him in jeopardy.

"Where will you take me?" I asked, my voice now creaking with a bit of fear. Wherever this place is, it'll be hidden from plain sight- down in the depths of somewhere so cold and dark no one will dare ever venture there.

"That's a secret I cannot tell you," He spoke plainly, looking deeply into my eyes. "But what I will tell you is that no one will find you unless I want them to." He finished with a twinkle of greatness in his eyes.

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