𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 ✔︎ ━ 𝖱𝖨𝖣𝖣𝖫𝖤

𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍: 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒

I followed a few paces behind Zachary, hoping to somehow slip into a corridor so we'd be parted from one another.

But, since unfortunately he kept turning his head to check on me, I wasn't presented with a clear path out. We walked in silence, which was almost demanding to be broken.

He led me inside the completely empty common room. Not even the fireplace was burning, which it almost always is. The windows inside had pale moonlight streaming through the glass and projecting onto the walls.

"Why have you brought me here?" I asked with a raise of my eyebrow. Worry grew inside of me as he closed the door to the common room. I hadn't even brought my wand to defend myself if need be.

"Because I need you to hear my proposition away from the Great Hall." He said with an even tone. He sat one of the couches in front of me, but I continued to stand.

"I don't want to kill you. None of us do, but we will if we have to. I don't want to take your life, I want to give you the chance to rule armies by my side." He said firmly, eyes piercing into mine.

I couldn't help but wonder why they all had such a change in agenda with me. Maybe they had just realized that killing me wouldn't give them all my power.

"How can I trust you when just last week you were trying to kill me?" I said back, though my tone was dipped in anger. He let out a slow sigh, looking over me with ease.

"You can't just blame me. I think everyone was trying to kill you last week." He replied. Truthfully, he did have a point, but that didn't make things much better.

"Now will you at least think about-" He was beginning to ask, but I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. A thought had just circulated in my mind.

Zachary and Nicholas were always together, especially at events like these, so I couldn't help but wonder why they were separated. It didn't sit right with me.

"Where's Nicholas?" I asked. His eyes locked on mine instantly, and he stood up from the couch, leaving only two feet between us. His height made me feel small, but he's always made me feel that way.

"Can you stop with the bloody questions? Am I going to have to tie you up just so you'll listen?" He asked, placing his hands over his head. I weakened my gaze on him, training my eyes to the floor.

"I just want to know where he is. That's all." I said, allowing my eyes to meet his again. His expression changed from calm to angered. I could tell he was finally reaching the point he had always been at; angry.

"That's it!" He yelled, grabbing my wrist. I struggled against his grasp, trying to use my other hand to pull it off, but his anger and pure strength was no match for my measly touch.

"Let me go!" I yelled back as he practically dragged me across the floor. I was still trying to pry off his fingers, but I knew he wouldn't budge.

He opened a closet and grabbed a string of dark brown rope. I clenched my jaw, remembering the time when Tom had done the same thing to me at the Riddle Estate.

He sat me down in front of one of two pillars that stood near the staircases leading up to the dormitories. I didn't even fight it anymore. I knew one way or another I'd still end up tied to a pole.. Again.

He wrapped the rope around my hands and the pillar, tightening it. I kept my gaze locked on him as he did it, hoping he'd feel some kind of gratitude toward me and let me go.

"Now, you see, this is why I don't like you. Because you do things like this." I said as he finishing tying the rope. He nodded with a terribly fake smile and cocked his head a little to the right.

"You truly don't know when to shut up, do you?" He asked, squatting right in front of me. He was so close I could feel his breath on my face, yet there was nothing I could do about it. I was stationed to a pole with no clear way on how to get out.

"I do, actually. I just think it's hysterical when you're angry." I smiled back, presenting the same fake smile he used. His expression changed back to a deep-rooted anger that has been there since long before he's ever met me.

"You know Anastasia, usually I'm a pretty fair guy, but there's something I'm still jealous about." He said in a whisper. His words streamed into my ear like music, soft, sweet, and gentle, which I must admit was an odd thing to hear.

"I'm jealous that Tom got to touch you." He said quietly, his voice not becoming anymore than a whisper. My body shuddered at the pure thought of him doing anything of the sort that Tom did.

I don't regret what happened between me and Tom, but I would take it back if I could, because now I know he was just trying to win my attention so he could kill me in the end.

"You don't know anything, Zachary." I said in a whisper, though my tone was much harsher than his. He smiled and looked at the floor for a moment, then back to me.

"I saw everything, dear Anastasia." He replied. "He didn't even make you scream." He said in a fake saddened tone. I bit the inside of my cheek to refrain from saying anything dumb, but even then I didn't know what to do.

I knew Zachary would likely tell Tom about what would happen if he were to do it, and perhaps that would send Tom away for good, then I'd only have three brothers to worry about.

But at the same time, I absolutely despise Zachary. From the moment he read about me in that book, his mind has been trained to end me.

But now, since I'm free of that- mostly- and able to live, I might do it just to get back at Tom. He's been deviant lately, trying to win me over in this way and that, but i'm tired of being used like that.

"Under one condition," I whispered back, my breath shaky. He looked up at me, eyes looking into mine. "You tell Tom about what will happen." I said firmly. If there was one thing I'd get out of this, it would be the reaction I'd get when Tom finds out.

"That, m'lady, I can do." He said with a half-smile.

We were so close that it only took him a few seconds for his lips to pursue mine. I wasn't expecting it that soon, but I wasn't exactly complaining about it either.

His lips drew mine in with such passion and anger mixed into one. I was drawing for breath every few moments because his lips were so full of desire. My head was pinned against the pillar.

He was sitting right in front of me, and my legs were crossed. "I think we should probably go upstairs, just in case." I said between breaths. He nodded and reached behind me, untying the rope. During the action he didn't even pull away from me.

The moment my hands were free he used his hands to grab onto my waist and lift me up from the floor. I didn't expect it, but his strength wasn't deceiving.

We finally broke apart while walking up the stairs, but the moment we reached the top his lips were already pooling into mine again.

As if I couldn't expect anything better, he brought me through a door once we were in the dormitory. He led me into a room, which I assumed was his private quarters. Of course he had one, but I was still surprised.

He closed and locked the door behind us, then led me over to the large queen sized bed that was placed against the furthest wall.

I was pushed onto the center of the bed, to where my back was on the black comforter and my head was toward the ceiling. He hovered on top of me, just staring down at me with his eyes.

It was almost completely dark, aside from the light of a lamp in the furthest corner of the room. He loosened his tie from his neck and sat it on the comforter.

Then he brought my arms up to the headboard, which consisted of three wood pillars going in a diagonal line. He used his tie to tie my hands to the headboard, so I was unable to move.

I could've broken out of the knot if I tried hard enough, but I assumed he just enjoyed seeing me in such a state; tied up, unable to move unless he were to move me.

His hair streamed down his face as he looked down at me, eyes burning with desire.

He bent down again and pressed his lips against mine. His hands slid underneath my back and began untying the strings that were once used to tighten my corset- now it was being loosened.