I grabbed her forearm and bent it toward her hips. "Stop saying stuff you'll regret." Is all I said. My firm was tight, up until a few moments later I decided it would be best to let go.

She gave me a look of pure hatred, which I didn't exactly blame her for. I went back over to Nicholas and gave him a look like I was done with absolutely anything and everything.

"I need to get out of here." I said to Nicholas. He turned back to me with a concerned face. I dashed through the crowd of people at the quickest walking pace I've ever bestowed.

The look on my face was probably that of pure hatred. I swung the door open and walked quickly down the hallway. I had to get out of there. It was too crowded, it was too loud.

The hallway was dead silent, aside from the click my heels made with every step. I turned a sharp corner which immediately brought me into one of the many courtyards.

I only realized my mistake of taking that turn when heavy rain began pouring onto my face and body. Of course, out of all the nights, I decide to walk aimlessly into the courtyard while it's pouring rain. Just my luck.

Since I was already drenched, I came to the conclusion that walking further couldn't do me any harm. I walked toward the center, where a row of trees stood, accompanied by four dark oak benches.

It was pitch black, and because of the rain I could only see a few feet in front of me. But it was strangely enthralling. I didn't know what lurked behind the shadows of rain and darkness.

I took a seat on one of the benches, studying my legs with my eyes. Lightning striked not far from the school. It was so close that the blink of light allowed me to see that I wasn't alone.

I could see four figures, all masculine frames. Now that worried me. I stood up from the bench and tried to check my pockets for my wand, only to realize I was wearing a dress, and I hadn't brought my wand.

The four figures stepped into view, and in that moment I knew nothing good was about to happen.

On the far left was Adam. He was the shortest among them, but still tall enough that I had to look up to meet his eyes.

Next to him stood Zachary, who wore a blank expression. His brown, curly hair was flattened against his face, soaked with water.

Next to him, Nicholas. He had a face of worry. His white collared shirt was soaked to the point where it was completely see-through. Due to the presence of others, I couldn't allow myself to look.

And lastly, Tom. He was holding an umbrella, which I immediately concluded he was prepared for this weather. He wore a long, black leather trench coat.

"What's the occasion?" I asked loudly, my voice making an incline over the rain. They didn't stop looking at me. This only worried me more. Had I done something bad?

"We're ready for you to make your choice." Tom replied. As the words exited his lips, a large eruption of thunder echoed across the courtyard. My choice? As in who I'm being forced to marry?

"No." I replied firmly, looking directly into Tom's eyes. He tilted his head slightly to the left, raising an eyebrow. There's no way I'm making this choice, at least not until I know.

"Then are we going to have to make it for you?" Tom asked with a sly grin. I pinched my brows together. "We will duel, like Wizards, to earn your hand." Tom finished with a glance toward his brothers.

He couldn't be serious. But Tom is always serious.

"There's no way that's happening." I said angrily. Tom closed his umbrella and sat it on the ground, then took out his wand.

"Brothers." He said, looking down the line. They all hesitantly grabbed their wands. This couldn't be happening. I watched closely as they turned and began walking away from one another.

They were truly dueling. I couldn't let that happen. I knew only one would make it out alive, or perhaps something would happen and they'd have to stop. But what could stop a Riddle.

Then I realized I might not have a wand, but I do have something greater. Myself.

As they were counting their steps away from one another, I stood in the middle, likely where the blasts would be fired. I clenched my fingers into fists.

I allowed my mind to wander to the dark places. The places where so much anger and hatred has built up over time. My family, the Riddles, my friends, my enemies. To all the places I wouldn't allow myself to remember.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I could feel the heat swirling through my body. The anger was allowing me to actually do something good for once.

I opened my eyes to see the flames covering my legs, slowly making their way up my chest. I turned to my left, they were still walking, but the count was almost , and when the count is over, the killing begins.

The flames engulfed my arms and hands. Last time I could barely see or hear, but this time all my senses were of control. My body began lifting itself off the ground, but I only made it a few inches until I didn't want to go up anymore.

The counting had stop.

I looked to my left, the way Adam and Zachary had gone. They were standing still, wands extended, looking at me. I looked to my right where Nicholas and Tom were. They were doing the same thing.

"I won't allow you guys to die. Not for something I don't want." I said, referring to the marriage. I couldn't see myself falling into the arms of a guy who had just killed three of his brothers to win my favor.

"I won't let this happen." I finished quietly. They all exchanged a look to one another. I breathed slowly, calming myself. This blocked the anger, and allowed me to stand on the ground once more.

The flames had vanished, and again I was just a girl. A girl who has four brothers, prepared to kill another for me; for my power. That's insane.

I took off back inside the school. Though my feet ached with pain, I kept running. I didn't know where I was going, but I needed to get out of there, away from them.

I made it all the way to the stone bridge leading up to the main doors. I took a route through the woods, which is the only reason I had gotten past the school security.

I looked over the side of the bridge, at the rain that turned into a calm rain, no longer a downpour. The sunrise was upon me, in shades of light pink and yellow. Despite everything that had just happened, it was beautiful.

I turned my head as the sound of shoes kicking the gravel of the bridge caught my attention. My eyes landed on Nicholas, who's hair was now almost completely dry, as was his shirt.

I narrowed my eyes and began walking in the other direction. I wasn't in the mood to talk to him, or anyone for that matter. I didn't even want to talk to Cho or Kiara.

"Anastasia wait. Please." Nicholas said from behind me. I could hear the eagerness and regret in his voice. I stopped walking once I heard his footsteps stop.

I turned around to face him. His face was covered in worry. "I didn't have a choice." He said firmly. I nodded. I knew he didn't. But that didn't change my feelings in the slightest. I was filled with anger again.

"Why can't you just leave like you wanted to? Why can't you just run for your sake?" I yelled. I had no idea where my sudden tone in voice came from, but I was just being honest with him.

There's no reason he should stay and risk his life just to try and win my hand, not when he should be running. Tom will never stop trying to kill him, not even if I do end up wedding him.

"Because I love you!" He yelled back.

This definitely caught me off guard. I had to replay the scene in my mind again. There's no possible way he just said that. I couldn't believe it.

"I would've left the moment you got here, but I couldn't bare to leave you!" He yelled again. I shook my head in disbelief. I was the thing keeping him here all this time?

"Then just stop loving me! It's only hurting you!" I replied with his tone. Nicholas narrowed his eyes at me, inhaling a deep sigh. I too had to take a large breath of air. The whole situation seemed to have knocked the wind out of me.

"I wish I could stop loving you, I really do. But, I could never stop loving you, no matter how hard I try." He said in a lighter tone. I tilted my head. There were tears foaming in his eyes, which only seemed to make me more emotional. I hated seeing him sad.

"I love you too." I said softly.

His gaze sparked with a hint of vibrance. I took a few steps toward him, and he took a few steps toward me. We met in the middle of the bridge.

The sun was beaming with brightness, but the only thing I was focused on was Nicholas. The rain had finally lightened to a sprinkle. It was just perfect.

As he finally became close enough, his hands slid onto my cheeks. I stared at him with tears in my eyes. I don't know why I was crying, but it felt good.

And just like that his lips pressed against mine. The sunlight tried to seep through our kiss, but our lips were so close to one another not even a single breath of air could come between them.

I kissed him so passionately, so lovingly. And he did the same.

I thought coming here had been some kind of mistake, at first. I thought being hunted by the Riddles would take my life or make me miserable. But in the end, I realized I just hadn't looked hard enough.

Nicholas' love was there all along, but my vision was too blurred with worry to see it. But in that moment, my vision was crystal clear. I could finally see what he had been trying to show me all along.

~ Six months later

"It really is beautiful." Nicholas said with a smile. I smiled back with joy. I turned my head to look at it; the eiffel tower. It's even more precious than I had remembered.

"It has onto become more so." I replied with a hint of laughter. He looked down at me and kissed my forehead. I could see a question forming in his lips. And I knew exactly what he was going to ask.

"Dance with me?" He said with a charming grin. I couldn't refuse such an offer. I nodded and took his hand in mine.

He led me into the square. I kept my right hand locked with his, and slid my left hand onto his shoulder. His left hand rested on my hip. I closed my eyes with pure delight as we waltzed around below the night sky.

Even the man in the moon was watching us, a twinkle of amusement behind his eyes. Neither of us thought we'd be each others other half in the end, but the best endings always have the most twists and turns throughout the story.

"Let's go to Italy next." I whispered. I've taken on a new fondness of travel, ever since Nichols and I have traveled all along Europe. One of the last places on our list is Italy.

I looked up as he began to speak. "I'll go wherever you go." He smiled. I grinned as he twirled me in a circle. That's the best part about love, it's not a feeling, or an emotion, it's a person. As long as you're with that person, you're at peace.

And that's where my story ends, beneath the night sky of Paris, while the lights twinkle down onto us as we dance in the nearly deserted square.