Title: Thicker than Blood.
Rating: T (M)
Prologue: Long Time Gone Till I Come Changed.
(Set in Fairytale Land)
"Regina mother wants you," Clara called from her horse as she tried to catch up to her sister, who was riding on her own prized steed. "REGINA!" She was getting upset, her mother had told her that she was to find Regina and get her home before nightfall; the problem was that she was looking for her beloved Daniel. "REGINA it's time for supper."
"Clara go tell mother that I'll be back in a few minutes!" Regina called back as she continued riding her horse, she was always a bit better at that than Clara was seeing as Clara was kept inside most of the time, always the horrible disgrace child. Regina urged her steed onward, her aim apparently not far ahead.
"REGINA! MOTHER EXPECTS US BOTH!" Clara exclaimed as she urged her own horse forward as fast as she could make it go. Her black hair whipping behind her as she rode, she hated the feel of a horse under her and really hated riding them at these speeds. "REGINA DON'T MAKE ME CALL FOR MOTHER!" Regina pulled to a stop quickly as Clara muttered the last word; she knew that Regina would come if she threatened to call their mother.
"Fine Clara, let me just tell Daniel that I'll have to finish our lesson tomorrow," Regina muttered as soon as Clara was close enough, Clara nodded her head, she was the younger sister and therefore usually got the short end of the stick. "I'm so sorry Daniel; I'll have to finish my lesson tomorrow." She got off her horse and walked to Daniel, who had also dismounted his horse; they hugged briefly and then mounted their respective horses again. "Let's go Clara."
"Very well Regina," Clara stated with a hint of malice in her voice. She motioned her horse to turn around and go back toward home. "You know, sometimes I wonder which one of us is the actual big sister here." Clara was actually the younger one, at twenty one years old and Regina was older by a few years at twenty five.
"We both know whom the older one of us is," Regina sneered, she may have disliked how their mother treated her and tried to rule her life, but she despised her sister even more than she disliked their mothers treatment of her. "And you'll do well to remember as well." Regina was usually quite vicious toward Clara and she had gotten use to it, she didn't like it that Regina got special treatment just because she was older and had better social graces, she'd have decent social graces as well if she hadn't been kept away from people for most of her life, like an unwanted step child.
(A few minutes later at the house)
"Good job Clara, now go finish supper," The girl's mother, Cora, stated as soon as Regina and Clara came through the door to the house. Clara nodded and hung her cloak up before going to the kitchen and finishing up the stew for supper, she had to add the last few things and slice the bread. "Clara hurry up with supper, your sister looks ready to faint with hunger." 'That's a lie; she eats at every meal and nibbles at other foods throughout the day.' Clara thought as she pulled the pot off the fire and set the table.
"Supper's ready," Clara called into the rest of the house. She set about filling everyone's bowls full of stew. "Mom, dad, Regina! Supper is ready." Clara was waiting for her family to come into the room so that they could eat, the first one in was Regina, she took her seat and then she was followed by their parents who took their own seats. Clara sat down last and they all began eating.
(A few days later)
"Mother why must you keep them apart?" Clara asked as she watched her mother storm toward Regina and Daniel, her riding instructor. Clara followed behind slowly, hoping that she'd be able to possibly turn their mothers' attention from Regina and Daniel long enough for them to plan something for themselves; she wasn't going to stand in the way of love.
"Regina, you come off that animal right now," Cora stated with a tone that said not to test her, Clara always got that tone so she knew not to try anything, Regina however never got that tone so she stayed on her horse. "Regina you get off that animal right now or I will make you get off." Cora raised her hands to perform magic against her oldest daughter.
"Mother my lesson isn't finished yet," Regina replied cautiously as she watched her mother's hands. She was preparing to unmount from her horse as she spoke. "Let me at least bring my horse back to the stables." Just as she finished her sentence a horse ran by in wild abandon, atop that horse was a small child who looked frightened at first glance. Regina righted herself on her horse and rode off after the child and horse. "Come on take my hand!" Regina exclaims as she holds out her hand for the child to take, the child takes it and the horse continues to run off but the child is safely on Regina's horse.
(Storybrooke (The curse has been broken))
(Clara's P.o.V)
"Where am I? How did I get here?" I asked myself as I walked in the woods, I was near a well. I walked toward where I heard noises; I felt a nagging feeling in my gut, an overwhelming hunger. 'What is this place?' I asked myself as I walked toward the noises hoping to find the town. I walked into the town and looked around.
"Who are you?" A woman with short cropped black hair, she was familiar but I couldn't place who. "Are you new in town?" The woman was walking up to me.
"My name is Cl... Rose," I replied as I looked at the woman. "Where am I?" I kept looking around, feeling like I was being watched, smelt power and felt my mouth water. I hadn't given my name because names hold power and I don't need someone having power over me. "Could you please point me in the direction of the town hall?"
"Of course I can Rose, it's right down the street on the left side of the road," The woman replied happily, she was almost overly happy but I would get past that eventually. "I'm Mary Margaret by the way." I nodded and looked at her, again she looked familiar but I couldn't quite place where I knew her from. She smiled again and held out her hand. "I'll see you around Rose." She walked off toward wherever she was going before she had stopped to help me. I followed her directions and found myself in front of the town hall; it was marked as such at least. I walked in and looked around only to be stopped by a woman who also looked familiar.
"Can I help you miss?" The woman asked as she looked at me. She looked very much like my sister from what seemed like forever ago, she was part of the reason why I ended up where I am in life. "Miss, you look familiar do I know you?" I looked at her and smirked.
"What is this place?" I asked as I looked at her, she was strikingly similar to my sister down to the last detail. "I need to know where I am!" I wasn't frightened per say, more worried that I would never return home; I had been pulled from my place in time, to this new place and time. "What is this town called and how did I end up here?"
"This is Storybrooke, I am Mayor Regina Mills, and as for how you ended up here I can't answer that," The woman that I now knew to be Regina, replied. She motioned for me to follow her so I did; she led me into a room that held a desk. "Where did you come into the town from Ms.?" She didn't recognize me apparently, if she was my actual sister, they shared a name and I knew that where I was from it wasn't a common name.
"My name is Clara, Regina, I know you or at least I knew you," I replied as I watched her sit down behind the desk. "I came to be here in the woods next to a well." I put my hands on the desk; I didn't want to be here I wanted to be at home even though I no longer lived with my family, they had gone away. "Magic, I need magic to get back home…" I flicked my wrist and a glass of spirits appeared, I picked it up and drank it quickly.
"Clara!" Regina exclaimed, a look of shock gracing her face, then I remembered when I last saw Regina I couldn't do that. "How did you get here Clara?" Her tone was demanding, and short, she still didn't like me apparently. "And a little lesson, magic comes with a price." I shook my head, my magic never came with a price, and I had already paid it and would continuously pay it for the rest of eternity. I smirked at her with a glint in my eyes.
"Your magic may have a price, but I pay mine every day," I muttered as I looked at her, it never cost me anything other than the standard that I paid every time I ate something. "I'll leave you now, I'll go look for a place to stay until I can get back to our land, and I'll see you around Regina." I turned and walked out of the room, my cloak spinning around me as I left, my heels clicking lightly on the floor. I was waiting to see if she would stop me.
"Clara wait!" Regina called as I reached the door. I turned around with a smile on my face that many people feared. "Why don't you go ask at Granny's for a room, she'll probably give you one for a decent rate." I looked at her slightly confused as to what a decent rate was. "It's the local inn in town. I'll take you there if you like." I shook my head, my nose always led me to food and I didn't want Regina's help.
"No need Gina," I muttered, she would help me but it would cost me, I didn't do that, I didn't make deals with anybody, especially not my sister. "Now if you excuse me I have a room to acquire, through force if necessary so I'll be seeing you." I nodded curtly as I turned back to the door, cloak still winding its way around my legs. I opened the door and walked out, I left the town hall and headed toward the main street, I would follow it up and down until I found this Granny's place that Regina had spoken about, I didn't have money but I could offer something in returns. "Someone tell me where Granny's is." A woman with blond hair who was walking with a small boy with black hair walked up to me.
"I'll take you there," The woman stated as she ruffled the boys' hair. "Just let me get him on the bus." I nodded, and walked with them toward a big yellow metal object. "Go on kid, off to school." The boy nodded and smiled after hugging the woman before getting on the metal object. "So what's your name, I know you're new in town. I'm Sheriff Emma Swan." I nodded with a small smile as we watched the boy get on.
"Rose," I muttered, I would keep up the fake name as long as I could or needed to. "Rose Mills." I might as well continue my family relationship with Regina, it might get me somewhere. A look of fear crossed her face at the second part. "So to Granny's shall we?" I looked at her with a smile and a rumbling in my gut.
"Are you related to the Mayor?" Emma asked as she looked at me. I nodded with thoughts of disgust running through my head, my head was also clouding with hunger and the smell of power, there was someone very nearby who was very strong and I also intended to find out who that was. "There's two of you?" Her tone was demanding and worried look crossing her face. I shrugged and looked at her as she started walking down the street.
"You could say that, only thing is that I'm worse than she is," I mumbled as we walked toward a little out of the way place. "But not in the I want it my way or no way… no happy endings for anyone but me… I just worry about me and only me." Her look got slightly less worried and then more worried within a few seconds. She led me toward a delightfully charming little shop, it was cute. "Um… do they except coins?" I was worried about possibly not being able to afford anything if nobody would accept my coins. Emma nodded and looked slightly confused, I pulled out a small bag from my side, and pulled out a few of the coins to show her.
"I don't know if Granny will accept those, but since the curse is lifted maybe, if you need cash I can help you though," Emma stated as she looked at the coins. She opened the door and both of us walked in and sat at a booth. "Hey Ruby can you get us a couple coffee's over here." A girl with red clothes nodded with a smile and came over to our booth with a pair of cups and a dish of something in little white packages. "Thanks Ruby." The girl nodded with a smile.
"Well, I'm her sister that much is to be certain," I replied as I picked up a fork and began eating. "However I'm also quite less than human, I'm a vampire and Regina is clearly not, though it may seem that she is." Emma's eyes widened at that little confession, I knew that telling these people so much about me that I could get in trouble in the near future. "Now I'd like to eat and then perhaps get out of your hair and out of your way." She nodded and looked at me before she started eating her own meal.
(About an hour later)
"Thank you for lunch Emma," I stated as I stood up from the table, I had to find a place to stay the night, but I also wanted to find where that power was coming from. "I'll see you around some time I suppose." She nodded as she looked at me, the power feeling was leaving, and so was an older man who looked none too powerful on his own, but I would investigate. "Excuse me sir, do you happen to know where I may find a place to sleep for the night?" I had to try to see if he could help me, even if he couldn't it was always worth a try, plus he might know where I could get a nibble in as to what I actually needed for food.
"Well I do own most of the apartments and houses in town dearie so yes, I suppose I could," The man stated as he turned to look at me, I took a long look at him, he wasn't all that old as I thought he was. He looked me up and down as well, he reminded me of someone my mother had told me about from her youth. "What type of place were you looking for and how much are you willing to spend?" His tone had a casual charm to it, sort of a magical charm if you would. We continued to walk, people stopping to stare, I was wearing a rather peculiar outfit I supposed, and it was a black cloak with a black corset over a blood red shirt and a black skirt that fell to the sides revealing a pair of red pants along with rather loud boots. "Do you happen to have any other clothing dearie?" The man asked as he looked me up and down again. I shook my head with a shrug of my shoulders.
"I came here by accident, complete and total accident," I muttered as I adjusted my cloak about me so that I could continue walking. "I have no clothes, no provisions, no way to get home and my family will surely get worried and tear apart the land to find me." I had just thought of that, my family believed me to be going on a trip to a neighboring kingdom to make a deal with them over some protection. A confused look crossed his face at the mention of family. "Oh right, Regina… well I mean my new family seeing as my mom left and so did my sister." I looked around and saw a few more familiar people and watched them amble about their lives. "Now about a place for me to stay, I'm just looking for a room I don't know what an apartment is so do you have any rooms available at the inn?" He looked at me and then gained a calculating gaze.
"There's not an inn here dearie, however I'm sure that we could find you a room somewhere," He replied with a happy look. I nodded and we continued walking toward a little shop, it was tucked away in a corner of an out of the way road. "Well this is my shop, I'll find you a place to stay out of the list I have." He led me into the shop and toward the room in the back.
(General P.o.V)
"Um… what kind of shop is this?" Clara asked as she looked at Mr. Gold, who was ushering her to sit down in the chair on one side of the desk. She had taken a few quick glances around the shop and found it filled with amazing objects and charming odds and ends. She looked intently at Mr. Gold with a smile on her face.
"An Antique Shop dearie," Mr. Gold replied calmly as he began to leaf through the papers on his desk trying to find the ones he wanted. "I sell various odds and ends from all over the world, little trinkets that I've collected." He finally found the set of papers that he wanted, he looked them over and made mental note of a few to tell Clara about. He set the papers out in front of them and then continued to look for more. "Are you looking to take on a roommate?"
"I would rather live alone... or with someone whom has power enough to stop me if need be," Clara replied quietly as she looked at Mr. Gold with a small smile. This admission gave Mr. Gold pause and made him something to think about. "A small place would also be preferable because I don't need a lot of room. However it is late and I really need to rest, if you could help me find a shelter for the night and I will look at some of these places tomorrow afternoon." Clara looked at Mr. Gold with a smile and batted her eyes.
"I'll make you a deal dearie," Mr. Gold replied with a small smile, even after the curse broke few people knew who he was. Clara nodded with an apprehensive look, she hated cutting deals and she wouldn't agree if she felt there would be consequences that she couldn't handle. "You tell me your name and I'll let you stay in my spare room." Red flags went up in Clara's mind, only a few people would ever ask for a name as payment for something. "And none of that Rose nonsense, we both know that's not your real name." He was a smart man, Clara now knew who he was.
"Rumplestiltskin... why do you want my name?" Clara asked quietly as she looked at him, she didn't readily give out her name to many people, however she had two names that she could give and she decided which to give.
"How did you know dearie?" Mr. Gold asked in calm reply as he looked Clara up and down. "And a name holds power dearie... and I like power." He was concerned that she was able to name him so easily, but would ask her about it in a little while. "So do we have a deal?"
"I knew because after the curse many people flocked to me to break their deals with you," Clara replied cautiously as she pulled her cloak from her shoulders and laid it across her lap. "Do you know how many days I spent pouring over your old contracts?" She crossed her legs and her arms and looked at him. He looked at her expectantly. "Weeks and weeks, everyone that was left that you had made deals with wanted out because, low and behold the Dark One wasn't there to collect." She uncrossed her legs and continued to stare into the eyes of the only man her people feared.
"Why would they go to you? Why not just break the deals themselves?" He replied soundly as he looked her in the eye as well. He knew why they didn't just break it themselves but he wanted to know why they went to her. "And I ask you again, what is your name dearie?" He smiled at her, baring his teeth for a moment.
"They came to me because after you disappeared I became the best deal cutter our world had and my people needed it," Clara replied with a satisfied smirk. She looked at the pile of papers on the desk. "My name is Clara. That is the only name you will ever know and the only one you will ever call me." His face showed a shock for a split second before it was gone. "Now for your end of the bargain, I really do need some sleep." She knew how his deals worked, she had upheld her end of the verbal contract she had told him her name, it wouldn't get him anything but she had held her end.
"I'll get your real name dearie just you wait," Mr. Gold replied with a soft smile, she had in fact told him her name but even he didn't feel any power from it. "But nevertheless I'll show you to my spare room, my home is only a bit away from here." He put his papers in a folder and tucked them into his desk drawer, he would grab them before he showed her around the places he thought would work. "Though perhaps we should find you some clothes first, I imagine that you wouldn't want to sleep in those." He was trying to be personable at the very least and her clothing did look like it would be a tad bit uncomfortable if slept in.
"I'll be just fine for now, if I decide I want clothes then I'll go to Regina's and steal some of her things from my world," She stated as Mr. Gold stood up, she slowly followed and pulled her cloak back on. "Or better yet, I could just create them with magic." This intrigued him and also worried him, she was another magic user in this world and even though he and Belle had brought magic back, he didn't like the idea of many people having power. "Don't worry, I won't use my magic against you, Regina maybe but not you. I know my betters, few though there are." They walked out of the shop and down the road, he was leaning heavily on his cane and she watched him favor one leg over the other. "Are you okay Rumplestiltskin? You seem in a bit of pain." Her tone was hushed as she said his name, she knew the power of a name and would never use it if she could help it.
"I'll be just fine dearie, just my consequence for using magic willy nilly, " Mr. Gold replied quietly as he looked at her, he couldn't help but think she was important, or would make a good ally. "Please call me Mr. Gold, and maybe something else when we know each other better." He led her down a side road, he lived a bit out of the way and because of the time was regretting not taking his car today. "So how old are you dearie?" He was going to find out as much as he could about this new girl.
"A lady never reveals her age Mr. Gold," Clara replied with a chuckle as he led her down a dirt path that led to his house. "Would you happen to know where I could get some blood?" She was feeling tired and didn't feel like trying to cover up a murder or injury. He gave her an odd look with slightly wide eyes, that wasn't something he expected to be asked.
"Why do you need to know where you can get that?" He asked as he led her toward his home, it was a larger home in the Victorian style. "I do know but you'll owe me something." He had a small smirk on his face, he would get her name even if he had to make deals with her daily. She looked at him with an eye roll and raised her eyebrow. "I'll take you to get blood if you tell me why and you tell me your name. No name no blood." Her eyes went wide.
"I'm a vampire, I need blood to survive," She whispered as he opened the door to his home and led her in. Blood was the one thing she couldn't create yet. "But my name isn't worth that, I'll take my chances finding my own." She began to turn around and head back outside.
"Clara you can trust me you know," Mr. Gold murmured as he looked at her, he had grabbed her arm and was holding her where she was. "I only want to know your name because you know mine." He looked at her with a soft look, she made him want to help her and that concerned him. She looked at him, she felt her eyes darkening and felt a gnawing feeling in the pit of her gut.
"I need blood now Rumplestiltskin!" Clara exclaimed as she looked at him with a glare. He looked at her and was surprised to see her eyes going from their natural color to a reddish hue. "It's been days since my last feeding." He looked alarmed, in their world a hungry vampire was a dangerous thing, he had never dealt with that sort of thing. He could probably set something up with the hospital but he didn't really think that people would want a vampire among them.
"Clara, calm down please," Mr. Gold muttered gently as he looked at her, he was worried for his own safety at the moment, he had made deals with the vampires before and they were the worst sort to break that deal with. "We'll get you blood so calm down." He knew that he had some of his own blood in his basement that he used for his own personal use and he would give that to her if he needed to.
"I can't take your blood Rumplestiltskin," Clara growled, there was one person that her family had told her never to drink from and he was it. She pulled her arm away from him and headed toward the door, she would go after an animal. She ran out the door and into the nearby woods where she looked for a larger animal.
"Where is she going?" Mr. Gold asked himself as he watched her leave. He continued to watch the door hoping that she would come back quickly, he was waiting for her. A few minutes later she came back in, wiping the corner of her mouth of the last trace of blood as she did, she had a smile and her eyes were their original color. "Feeling better?" She nodded with a slight grin, she hated drinking animal blood. "Then why do you look ready to vomit?"
(Gold's P.o.V)
"Do you know how bad deer blood tastes?" She asked with a slight sarcasm to her voice as she closed my door. "And never offer me your blood Rumplestiltskin. It could be dangerous for everyone." She was looking at me with a look I couldn't quite place, I was slightly confused because, to my own knowledge at least, blood was blood no matter where it came from. "But I am no longer tired it would seem, so care to explain this place to me?" She waved her hand over herself and her clothes changed to a loose fitting shirt and what looked like leather pants, very reminiscent of what I wore myself in the Enchanted Forest. She was also now barefoot and her hair was a bit disheveled.
"Magic comes with a price dearie," I giggled out, she rolled her eyes at me and bared her teeth, which had become fangs where her canine teeth had been. "Don't roll your eyes at me dearie." My voice more like my old self than the pawn broker of a sleepy Maine town. She rolled her eyes again and flicked her wrist creating a glass and filling it with a clear liquid and handing it to me she then made one for herself and drank some of it. "This place is Storybrooke, several denizens of the Enchanted Forest now live here. The once evil queen is now the mayor and the curse that she placed is now broken."
"Well well well, how the mighty have fallen," Clara muttered with a gleeful giggle as she finished her drink. I led her toward the room I would let her stay in. "I would have paid to see her brought so low. Perhaps I can cause a bit of trouble to get to her." I pushed the door to the spare room open and motioned her inside. She looked around with a smile and then turned to look at me smile still on her face. "This room is amazing, now when would you want the rent?" She looked like someone I had dealt with in the Enchanted Forest but I couldn't remember the name she looked ecstatic about the room and I hadn't even thought about the rent yet.
"Rent will be due monthly, and we'll work out some form of payment," I replied calmly as she spun around the room, she nodded and waved her hand again her clothes changing again the shirt becoming a lighter material and her pants becoming knee length. "Come to my office and we can hammer out the details." She nodded again and looked down, her feet were now clad in soft leather boots. There was a knock at the door and I suddenly remembered that Belle was supposed to come over tonight. I made my way to the door and opened it ushering my darling Belle into my home.
(With Regina and Emma) (Emma's P.o.V)
"What can I help you with Madam Mayor?" I asked as I opened the door to my office. I hated when Mayor Mills decided to pay me a visit but as town sheriff it was my job. "I met your sister, she seems very nice." It wasn't a lie, she did seem nice, a bit confused and a cause for concern, but nice. Regina rolled her eyes, and walked up to my desk.
"Sheriff Swan I need you to keep an eye on my dear sister," Regina replied as she looked at my desk. "She's not to be trusted. And I have reason to believe that she's in with Mr. Gold." Regina actually looked mildly worried and a slight bit scared. I sat at my desk and looked at a few papers as Regina looked around.
"Mayor Mills, I won't go chasing after your sister just because you don't like competition," I grumbled, Rose seemed perfectly fine to me and I didn't want to have to waste time following a new to town person. "She's new Regina, she's not going to try to steal the town and I highly doubt that she's going to try anything." Regina looked worried still, like there was something she wasn't telling me.
"Just remember Ms. Swan, I warned you about her," Regina stated as she put her hands on the desk. "If anyone finds dead animals then you arrest her, she's also not to get a job in a place with lots of people." The look in her eye told me that she was afraid, of what I had no idea. I shook my head from what I knew of vampires, it would be better if they fed off animals rather than humans. "I mean this Swan, if you don't do as I said then you'll be in a world of trouble."
"I'll keep that in mind Madame Mayor," I replied as she turned to walk out of the office, I would try to meet up with Rose tomorrow and see what the story was with her. "You make me so angry sometimes Regina, but I may ask Mary Margaret what she knows about Rose." I filed the papers I needed to and headed home.
(General P.o.V)
"Rumple, what's she doing here?" Belle asked quietly as she saw Clara sitting in the living room wearing a dress like she herself use to wear. "I mean I love meeting new people as much as the next lonely girl, but I honestly don't trust her people Rumple." Her tone was hushed and she hoped not to offend anyone, it wasn't that she didn't trust Mr. Gold, it was just that she didn't trust random girls, that she somehow felt that she knew this girl.
"I'll take my leave Mr. Gold we can hammer out those details later," Clara stated calmly as she stood up with a slight bow to both Mr. Gold and Belle each as she passed them. "It was delightful to see you again Princess of Avonlea." Belle's eyes went wide at the respect she was being shown by this woman that she didn't know, or rather remember. "Please try to keep it down, whatever it is you're going to be doing." She made her way back toward the room that Mr. Gold had let her stay in.
"Wait Miss please," Belle whispered as Clara skirted past her to make her way toward the room. Clara raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Belle, she was surprised. "I was merely surprised that you knew of me. Could you please tell me your name?" Clara tried to remember when exactly she had met this girl, she knew who it was but she had been asked her name and didn't want to confuse the poor girl.
"Clara, my name is Clara," Clara murmured as she looked at Belle, she gave the safe answer and hoped that she would be okay. "Now by your leave, I desire sleep and really need to head to bed." She waited for Belle to reply, which she did, she then proceeded to resume her trip to her quarters. As she walked she waved her hand over her clothes and they became her sleeping outfit.
"Rumple, why is she here?" Belle asked quietly as she looked at Mr. Gold. She sat in the chair next to his and waited for his response to her question. "I just don't want you getting hurt Rumple, I worry about you." He looked at her with a raised eyebrow, he wanted to know how Belle knew Clara.
"How do you know Clara dearie?" Mr. Gold asked as he looked at Belle with a curious gaze. He held his hand out for her to take, he knew that she had come for supper. "She seemed to know you well enough but how well do you know her?" Belle thought for a moment and then realization hit her like a rock to the head.
"She was there when Regina locked me up," Belle muttered quietly as she took his hand. She tried to remember all the details so that she could thank Clara, however she was confused as to why she had been given a different name. "Her name wasn't Clara though, she had me call her something else." Mr. Gold gave her a surprised look and motioned for her to continue.
"What did she ask you to call her?" Mr. Gold asked as he cocked his head to the side, he could always get her real name out of someone else. She raised an eyebrow and then looked at the ground. "You can tell me Belle." She looked back at me with a surprised look but then lost herself in thought. She was trying to remember the name that she had been told.
"Avyanna… she said to call her Avyanna," Belle stated as she looked at Gold. His eyes brightened, he had her now. "I believe she told me Avyanna Aoife was her full name. But I owe her a large favor for what she did for me." This gave Mr. Gold pause, what could Clara, or rather now Avyanna, have done for Belle that warranted a favor. "She helped me after the curse, became a friend when I had nobody. I have no idea how she got in but she did, she was always so peculiar but I found it charming, just like I find you charming." She looked at Mr. Gold for a few moments before they got up and walked into the kitchen.
"Belle, did she ever ask for anything in return?" Mr. Gold asked as he walked to the fridge and pulled out the food he had prepared for them. Belle shook her head with a smile, and that concerned Mr. Gold, people didn't just not expect anything in return for help or a service. "You should be just fine then, you don't need to pay her back then." He put the plates of food on the table and grabbed silverware, they sat down and ate.
"She never asked for anything specific she just said that I could pay her back whenever I could," Belle replied as she wiped her mouth gently. "And it didn't have to be a physical thing, it could be friendship or a place to stay." Mr. Gold's eyes went wide at hearing that, most vampires didn't ask for friendship, they asked for power. "Would you mind if I chatted with her for a bit a little later?" He shook his head with a slight smile. Minutes later Clara walked into the room and to the table.
"Please don't think I'm after something Belle," Clara murmured as she looked at Belle with a gentle gaze, she remembered the scared girl that she helped in that cell. "I'm truly not after not after anything but friendship, I'm lonely most days Belle. Also I was a bit hungry and I was going to raid the food stores." She walked to the fridge and opened it hoping to find food, she wasn't disappointed she grabbed a piece of ham.
"Not a problem Avyanna," Mr. Gold stated with a smile as he watched her nibble at the piece of meat. Her eyes went wide and she dropped her food, and began to shake gently. "Are you alright dearie?" Clara lunged at Mr. Gold and grabbed him around the throat, her face shifting into a more animalistic form. She tightened her grip on his throat and pulled him close to her face. "Let me go."
"Who gave you the permission to use that name?" Clara growled out after she had brought Gold close to her face. Her face was hard and her gaze demonic, it made Gold give a shudder but try to stop her from grabbing his throat any tighter. "Tell me!" She felt her fangs coming out and threw Gold away from her harshly, she glared at him.
"Avyanna Aoife calm down," Gold, or rather Rumplestiltskin, giggled out as he looked at her. He watched the girl physically calm even if her gaze and face showed a promise of a painful death. "Well, I've never seen knowing someone's name to have that ability. Care to explain Clara?" Clara's face went back to her more elegant face. She sank to the ground and brought her knees to her chest, she had only given her name once because she knew that person wouldn't use it against her, she didn't like more people knowing her name and she didn't know how to handle it. "Please explain this to me Clara." Clara's shoulders were shaking with her silent sobs, she never should have accepted his offers, she buried her face in her knees, she hadn't done this for she didn't even know how many years.
"Miss, are you alright?" Belle asked as she knelt down and put a hand on Clara's shoulder. Clara looked up at her with tears streaming down her cheeks and shook her head. "Rumple could you please give us a few moments alone?" Mr. Gold nodded and walked out of the kitchen. Clara sat with her legs straight after he left, Belle noticed an immediate change in her demeanor. "Avy, I'm worried about you."
"I'm just fine Belle, how did he learn my name?" Clara asked gently as she looked at Belle, who looked about ready to cry, she looked sheepish for a moment before looking away. "Did you tell him Belle?" Belle had been the only one that Clara had ever told her name to, her own community already knowing it. Belle nodded and looked at the ground. "It's alright Belle, I'll find a way to fix it but please tell no one else." Belle nodded again and helped Clara up off the ground. "Because as it stands now, I am no more than a servant to him now, he knows my name and in my people a name is power over another." Belle looked both confused and horrified, she had told me that she was his caretaker in the Dark Castle so I knew that she would understand somewhat. "I'll tell you more later, however I need to go speak with him." Belle nodded again and hugged Clara before walking into the living room and sending Mr. Gold in.
"Yes Clara?" Mr. Gold asked as he looked at her, a glint in his eye, it worried her greatly as she looked at him. "What can I help you with?" She had bent down to pick up the dropped piece of ham and found a trash bin to get rid of it.
"Please don't use my real name Rumplestiltskin," Clara replied quietly, she was looking at the floor, intent on not looking him in the eye. "As it were, you knowing my name makes me little more than a servant to you… I can imagine that you know what that means." He nodded with a giggle. "I hope that you won't take advantage of that fact." He looked at her with a slight smirk, she became afraid, but wouldn't show the fear. "Always remember Rumplestiltskin, this name thing works both ways and I'm at the advantage in this trade off." His eyes went wide as he thought on it and realization dawned on him. "That's right Rumplestiltskin, I have the power in this one because I have no limits." The last part was whispered in his ear as she passed him, she was leaving.
"Avyanna stop," He growled, it caused her to stop where she was, he realized that it was similar to the power he had over Regina. "Now turn around and look at me." She followed his orders with a death glare on her face, her delicate features contorted into a look of rage that screamed she would kill him. "You don't leave until I say you can." She was looking at him with a glare. Belle walked into the room to see what was going on.
"Rumple stop," Belle stated as she looked at him. "Rumple please." Mr. Gold turned to look at Belle and found her close to tears. She hated to see her friend like that.
"Clara, go," Mr. Gold stated, Clara sped away, she wanted to get out of there. "I'm sorry Belle, I know you don't like my power hungry side." Belle looked at him with sad eyes but hugged him to her and comforted him. Clara was making her way back to the room she was staying in. "I should go apologize shouldn't I?" Belle nodded with a smile as she looked at him. He slowly pulled away from Belle and walked toward the room that he was renting to Clara. "Clara?" He knocked on the door and waited for a response. "Clara I need to talk to you." The desired female opened the door, dressed in the clothes that he had met her in and holding a bottle of something him her hand.
(Mr. Gold's P.o.V)
"What can I help you with Mr. Gold?" Clara asked quietly, her voice slightly slurred and I looked at the bottle in her hand and saw that it was alcohol. "Come to embarrass me have you?" She drank from her bottle and glared at me, apparently she handled her problems by getting drunk. I looked at her outfit and noticed that she was wearing no shoes.
"No Clara, I came to apologize," I stated as I held out my hand. "Please give me the bottle Clara." She handed me the bottle and glared at me, she was upset and looked ready to stab me. "Now come talk with us down in the kitchen please." Clara nodded with a slight smile and followed me back down to the kitchen; Belle was sitting at the table.