5 Fic Day Writing Challenge
Round Two
4
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
This story is older than most in today's collection. I began it back before the September ordeal and it's taken a great deal to be able to re-write it. Everything I had – everything I 'd ever written - was destroyed that day but finally I began to re-look at the OUAT fics I once had. This is just one of the many I hope I'll be able to re-write.
Enjoy!
Dance With The Devil –
Laughter flowed from the tavern the cool night air flowing around Jefferson's feet as he hid in the shadows of the night. Lying in wait for his target to emerge from the country tavern out amoughts the woods.
He had little time to ponder the misfortunate events that had lead him to this moment as the young girl he was waiting for pushed the tavern door open and stepped out. He wasted no time, three long stride brought him right into her path and their bodies collided. Her small petite frame hit him swear in the shoulder. Jefferson smothered a grunt of pain as his recently wounded arm protested the impact.
"Oh I'm so sorry!"
He exclaimed with the well played charm of a gentleman he took the young girl by the arm and steadied her on her feet in the damp ground.
The young brunette smiled sweetly, her soft blue eyes reflecting the brilliant moon as it crept from the clouds dosing them in pale blue light.
"No, it was my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going, my apologies."
Gently she brushed off his hold on her arm and took a step back. It was then he realized this young maiden wasn't as naive as she seemed. Realizing he'd have to up his game he put on a endearing smile.
…
Belle politely smiled back at the man, but something made her weary. Though the man before her was appealing, with chestnut saggy hair and inviting green eyes, something told her he couldn't be trusted. Strange, she thought. She should feel that way about Rumpelstiltskin but didn't, and yet here she was feeling decidedly unsettled by a man who could very well be harmless. If his appearance was an accurate reflection of his inner good though Belle highly doubted it. Appearances were after all only skin deep.
"I really should be going." Though where she didn't know, since Rumple had forced her out of his castle she didn't have any where to go. She could return to her father, she thought. Then quickly discarded that notion. She had no wish to return to that life, to continue with her arranged marriage to Gaston - another tarnished soul in cogniteo - Belle's heart sank at the thought, she could not marry anyone else, even if she wished to. For she knew however foolish it was, however crazy, she was in love with Rumpelstiltskin and always would be.
Perhaps though she could simply visit her father, she mused, she did long to see him. Nodding politely at the man then stepped back and turned in the direction of the forest path.
…
Jefferson stood frozen for a heartbeat, not for the first time, he wondered at how wise it was to be doing this, but then he thought of his daughter and how he'd do anything for the Queen if it meant keeping his daughter safe. Instantly he set after the girl.
…
"Please let me go." The young girl begged, though her voice was strong and steady.
In the light of the candle lit tower room Jefferson was able to look upon the girl he'd been forced to kidnap. There was something to her that plagued in the back of his mind, as he cuffed her wrists in irons, a sense of familiarity he could not place.
"I'm sorry I can't."
He avoided the girl's gaze as he shackled her ankle to the steel bed frame, ashamed at what he'd done. But the Queen had assured him she'd tell him where his daughter had been taken if he'd just done what she'd asked. And he had, despite his better judgment.
"I won't tell anyone I promise-"
"Well isn't that nice." Both of them jumped as the tower room door opened then slammed shut as the Queen walked in.
Jefferson glared at the dark haired woman by the door. Feeling a chill shiver through him as he looked into her cold, piercing eyes.
"I did as you asked. Now where is my daughter?" He demanded.
The raven haired woman laughed. The sound hollow and chilling as it echoed off the bare brick walls.
"You fool, Your darling daughter never left. I meagerly made you think she had." The woman said with scorn and Jefferson's blood boiled.
"You-"
"Aha, I wouldn't if I were you."
She chanted as a cloud of purple mist formed around her raised hand. "Unless you'd prefer to remain a white rabbit for the rest of your life…"
The woman in the glamorous dark blue dress with a white sequences bodice lowered her hand and tossed back her head laughing heartedly.
"You'd fit right in with the rest of the moldy crew in wonderland then wouldn't you." She laughed. A evil gleam in her eyes as she opened the door.
"Now leave before I change my mind."
Jefferson cast a glance behind him to the terrified girl on the rickety bed.
"What will you do with her?" He asked, surprised to find he even cared.
The Queen raised a brow at him. Tension brimming between them all.
"Why should you care?"
Jefferson had no answer to give. With his eyes focused on the Queen he walked away from the girl and out the door. It was no longer his concern.
He just wanted to see his daughter.
…
The man was intolerable! More so than usual. Something wasn't right. Jefferson looked upon the closest thing he had to a friend, confused and unsettled. As he watched Rumpelstiltskin glare at him then tossed back another gulp of alcohol from the apparently self-refilling enchanted bottle.
Jefferson gulped down a nervous batch of air, trying to clear his throat. Something had obviously happened, something that set the man on edge, something that had ruffled his feathers, something that made him more unpredictable and dangerous than ever. Jefferson's eyes widened in surprise as his friend took half a dozen more big mouthfuls, oddly showing no ill effects from the drink other than a growing impatience and heightened irritability.
"What do you want. I'm not in the mood for making deals today."
Unsure what to say or even do Jefferson watched silently as Rumple stared absently at a small chipped cup. Jefferson frowned deepened. Noting how odd it seemed to see such a man so transfixed and apparently crushed by such a friverlous (I know this one's not spelt right but spell checker ant helping. I might be pronouncing it wrong too like I do with fertile and futile. But it is a real word I hope you can interpret what I'm trying to say) object. But anger about his daughter over shadowed his curiosity and confusion.
"Well, I'm afraid it can't wait." He commanded.
Finding his courage in the fear and anger over the safety and whereabouts of his daughter he took a determined step forward. Now more than a little uncaring of the pain his friend was clearly in. He'd done his job for the Queen, he wanted his daughter back, he knew he should have been surprised to find she'd lied about Gracie being safe at home but when he'd discovered his daughter was still gone all he'd felt was a deep seeded anger. Rumpelstiltskin just happen to be the only one who could help him.
The man turned a dark dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Is that so." He said in that soft but menacing tone. Instinct demanded he take a step back, but he refused, staring down his friend with the same determination and anger.
He was tired of this dance with the Queen, he'd lost too much, he wasn't going to lose his daughter too.
"I said I'm not interested."
Rumple growled stepping up to him till they were less than an inch from each other. Rumple's eyes glowed that dangerous gleam all vile and venom to his tone.
"Now get out."
Jefferson didn't move.
"She has my daughter I want her back."
Rumple huffed and turned away.
"You're daughter will be dead by now, forget her, move on."
He said his voice strong and vile until the end where it broke. Jefferson wasn't effected he knew his Gracie still lived and he'd get her back. He couldn't bring himself to think otherwise least of all believe it.
"Magic can't bring back the dead." The haunted, heartbroken tone in his friends voice had him baffled.
Only then did he cast a look around the great hall of the Dark One's castle and really take in the hollow emptiness of it. For a moment Jefferson was caught up in the memory of the last time he'd visited and the shocking truth he'd discovered.
The two of them had been hagering over the finder's fee of a rare enchanted object when a young pretty girl had brought in tea. She'd smiled in welcome to them both but it had been the smile Rumpelstiltskin had returned that had amazed Jefferson the most and revealed to him the astonishing truth. The kingdom over thought that the dark one was incapable of true love. They had no idea how wrong they were.
With that memory came realization and the dreadful fear of reprimand. The girl that clearly meant so much to Rumpelstiltskin was the same young girl he'd just kidnapped for the Queen.
Jefferson's intake of breath was harsh and sudden, it attracted Rumple's attention and when the Dark One turned Jefferson panicked.
Oh, no
"You're right now's not the time."
With that he escaped as fast as he could. Out in the forest that surrounded the Dark One's castle he pursed for breath by a large tree. His heart thundering in his chest.
What had he done? He'd sentence his friend's true love to a fate worse than death and to what end he still didn't have his daughter back.
Slowly – with deep deep breathes - panic subsided and a plan took hold. If he saved the girl from the Queen he'd have the Dark One indebted to him, then he could get the Dark One to bring back his daughter.
Perhaps then they could all stand a chance at a Happily Ever After…
END
Eliana Robinson
6/6/19
CREATION DATE - 16/1/13
PUBLISH DATE – 6/6/19
Dance With The Devil Disclaimer
DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - is a Fanfiction of ONCE UPON A TIME I do not own the characters or original plotline.
PLOTLINE: Belle and Jefferson are thrown together in a dangerous, manipulated dance with the Evil Queen. Their loved ones are held at ransom, their freedom stolen but The Evil Queen underestimated her victims, who will win the battle, who will survive. Magic, lies and deceit.
Love and freedom come with a price, but are they willing to give their lives to pay it?
This story is NOTfor official publication or profit.
DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is purely meant as entertainment.
CREATION DATE – 16/6/13
PUBLISH DATE – 6/6/19