Durza rarely lent himself to fear. He was an unstoppable force capable of crushing his enemies with a mere flick of his wrist.
But all the power in the world would not help him today, for he had failed his master. The elf bitch managed to transport the egg away, causing him to fail. He pleaded with the king, asking for another chance, and by the grace of the higher power, he received it.
Time pressed on, the egg having hatched. He had a new mission - kill the boy.
He stormed into his chambers, waving his hand to burst the door open, slamming it shut again. Any other day, he would pour himself a stiff drink, but this time he required the ultimate soothing.
The sound of his boots stomping awakened his precious treasure, and he could feel a disturbance past the secret door. Sensing to make sure his wards were still in place, he touched the wall, melting it away. No one but he knew about this place, and the gods would not save him from Galbatorix should he find out.
As soon as the wall came down, he was subjected to an onslaught of fists and screaming. He quickly caught his treasure's wrists, slowly backing her to a wall.
"Let me go, damn you!"
He shushed her, softly, stroking her hair, using his magic to incapacitate her. This, this was what he needed: his elf princess. Or whatever she claimed to be. He found her wandering the Spine, lost and helpless, his own sacrificial lamb.
This Belle was so beautiful, and so soft, and he needed to have her. In an instant, he swept her away, hiding her even from the Ra'zac, who served him.
He thought her an elf at first, her ethereal beauty a trait of their race. But her coloring was too dark, and she did not know the language. She could not be a mortal, she had been touched by magic. He could still feel it running through her as one long fingernail traced an imaginary line down her arm. Each day he interrogated her, wanting to learn all of her secrets for the sake of understanding his most precious treasure.
"Do not fret, my Belle," he whispered. "You will hurt yourself."
She spat in his eye. Snarling, he released her, and she dropped to the floor. The minx fought him still, her spirit never breaking. And gods help him, he found it thrilling. Torn between loving and hating her resistance, he hauled her to her feet, slamming her back to the wall.
"Rumplestiltskin will come for me," she said.
Yes, her True Love, she called him. Rumplestiltskin. He hated that name. Fire burned him from the inside every time that name passed those sweet, pink lips. No one, not even he, Durza was reluctant to admit, deserved this woman's devotion. That did not stop him from wanting to corrupt her, twist her, until she lost sight of everything she knew, and he became her whole world.
"Your sorcerer will never find you," he returned to stroking her hair, his other hand tightly gripping her chin. "I am too powerful for him. Give up on this silly dream... and give in to me."
His treasure clenched her teeth, glaring at him. Her anger felt like a caress, his desire growing. Unable to take anymore, he leaned in for a kiss. He needed to sample her sweetness, to chase away the demons in his heart and in his head. She was this flicker of light amidst his darkness, and he wanted to swim in her.
Before he could kiss her, one word broke through her lips, the heat of her breath on his face.
"Coward."
He jolted, stepping away from her, surprised to find her smirking. She was definitely pleased with herself, knowing the one thing that would make him stop.
"What was that?" He spat the question, the day's frustration building in him.
"You," Belle came forward, unafraid and unfazed by the power glowing in his fists, "are a coward. A real man wouldn't need to practically tie a woman down for a kiss. It's pathetic, really."
"Stupid girl," his magic threw her to the bed, and he left. Restoring the wall, he tried in vain to block out her laughter.
Belle did not know who she was dealing with. So, she thought him pathetic? He would show her. Durza did not give up easily. He would have her, if it was the last thing he did.