A/N: I am so happy with the reviews and very glad I got some motivating reviews!
WARNING: I should've warned you before this but I'm not promising anything. Just because it's rated M doesn't mean I'm promising sex, or timely rescues, or rape, or whatever your fantastic mind can come up to.
If you're cool with that then please enjoy reading through!
Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon A Time just playing with the toys before me.
"Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't"
– Proverb/Idiom
CHAPTER 1: …the Devil you don't
Rumplestiltskin spinned the pain away. Belle wasn't coming back. She was safe in her castle. Away from him. Away from the monster. His hands delicately moved his fingers through the straw. Feeling the magic between his fingers as the straw turned into gold. The drapes that Belle risked her life to take off stayed that way. Even when she was gone, he didn't cover up the light that invaded his house.
It wasn't fit to be called a home since Belle left. He's still hurting so much. He hoped his favorite hobby would help him forget about her but even the one thing that made him forget was of no effect. The pain felt like being stabbed in his cold black heart over and over again as time grew. The silence was unbearable. He would've loved this moments of peace but it still wasn't the same without her.
My power means more to me than you.
He relieved that day over and over again, telling himself it was true. It was only now that he doubted the words he spoke to Belle the day he sent her away. He wished that he could turn back time to tell her he was wrong. Tell her that maybe she's right. Tell her that he'd give her a chance. But wishes don't come true for a creature such as him. He was the dealmaker, a wish granter, for a price; no one would grant a wish to him. It was silly of him to still be thinking of her.
"You're not supposed to fall in love, you're supposed to keep on going," he scolded at himself.
Then in this painfully quiet travesty he felt a change in the atmosphere. He wasn't alarmed that someone had gotten inside. Before Belle, he would've been happy that someone would be stupid enough to invade his dark castle. It gave him a reason to torture the pestilence alive. But it was another kind of pestilence that met him- Regina.
The double doors opened wide on its own accord then in went the evil queen in all her dark, malicious glory.
"Flimsy locks," she stated.
Walking with a finesse that would break a dancer's heart, she went directly to the end of the long table, keeping an eye on the tea. Rumplestiltskin sneered inwardly at her but still kept a hand on his spinning wheel.
"I have a deal to discuss. A certain…mermaid," she said grabbing a cup.
"I'm not dealing today," he replied, trying to keep the sorrow from his tone. He didn't want the queen to even get a whiff of how that girl affected him in anyway. He kept spinning the wheel, avoiding her. It wasn't working. The queen was surprised. For the first time in her life, the Dark One wasn't the one who would turn down a deal. She smiled.
"Are you angry with me?" She asked. "What is it this time?"
He wanted so badly to drive a knife to that black heart of hers, he almost did it.
"Your little deception failed," he sneered. Rumplestiltskin stopped spinning the wheel and turned to her. Yep, he would be happy to hand the Dark Curse to her. He would make sure that how much he suffered would return to her ten folds.
His attention was focused on her, "You can keep trying, dearie, but you'll never gonna beat me."
The queen's smile grew. He DID love that girl. How pathetic but at the same time invigorating. He thought she wouldn't beat him but, at this round, she did.
"Is this about that girl I met at the road?" she teased complete with a pout.
The Dark One continued spinning the wheel, unable to look her in the eyes. She laughed quietly to herself. When she met the girl, she knew that she would become a valuable chess piece to this dangerous game she would be playing against this man.
"What was her name?" She kept on going. She needed him to believe that she wasn't interested at Belle at all. Eventhough, she would be taking her after her problem with Ariel.
"Margie?" she asked. "Verna?"
"Belle," he answered her quietly. Even the mention of her name intensified the pain in his heart.
"Right." She pretended to be interested in his tea set.
She smiled to herself. Time to put the plan into action.
"Well, you can rest assure that I have nothing to do with that tragedy."
Rumplestiltskin stopped spinning. His heart stopped beating. It can't be, he thought. He stood up Regina still didn't look at him, looking nonchalant as much as possible. She tasted the tea before turning to him.
"What, tragedy?" She knew that look. Everyone who knows him, knows that look. It was the look that would've made any person ran a thousand miles away for fear of being caught in his rage. The beast was loose. Perfect.
"You don't know!?" she looked surprised but continued on with the tale.
"After she got home, her fiancé had gone missing. And after her stay here, her association with you, no one would want her, of course. Her father shunned her, cut her off, shut her out," she relayed, taking her sweet, sweet time with each word.
The Dark One's eyes widened. This is WONDERFUL. She would have no choice but to come back to him.
"So, she needs… a home?" He tried to keep the excitement but he just couldn't. But the moment Regina gave out a mocking laugh all those thought were thrown out of the window.
"He was cruel to her. He locked her in a tower and sent in clerics to cleanse her soul with scourges and flaying. After a while, she threw herself off the tower." She knew what she was doing. She knew how much she can lose when he found out the truth that she is still alive. But he never will because she would get the girl before he can even step a foot in Avonlea.
"She died," she conluded.
She took a sip on her tea and leaned on the wooden table. Her eyes were focused on Rumple. She was still wearing that stupid smile on her face that Rumple would take pleasure in ripping off of her face.
"You're lying," he said firmly.
For a second Regina felt nervous. She thought he'd seen right through her. For a second she thought her plan had come to an end before it even begun. But only for a second.
"Am I?" She still kept on smiling. Still trying to show him that she didn't care of his love affair at all.
His pupils wide and uncertain. Rumplestiltskin felt like his whole body was going to shut off. Every fiber of his being wanted to break down. He shook his head and pointed at the doorway. The doors opened.
"We're done," he said walking away from her to see her out. To make sure she wouldn't be there when he breaks down.
Regina smiled. She knew she won this round again. Rumplestiltskin foolishly fell into her trap. She set the teacup down and followed him not before running her finger over the polished table. She rubbed her fingers together.
"This place is looking dusty, Rumple," she observed.
One more mock to show him that she's won without him even knowing he was playing her game.
She stopped in front of him, facing the monster and said, "You should get a new girl."
She smiled, he sneered. Regina closed the doors behind her and walked as slowly as possible, hoping to hear Rumple throw a tantrum. To her dismay, she didn't. She stopped then waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. Still, nothing. She started walking again. A sob was heard. She smiled. She broke him. Her heels were echoing on the empty hallway as she began walking again.
It was only on her way back to her castle that she realized, she didn't get the bracelet she needed. It was already sun down and she debated which would be more of a priority. Ariel and Snow planning to go to the ball. Should she even stop them or should she wait to make it more painful? For Snow to think that she had relented. Belle, on the other hand, should be waiting for her now. She didn't need to spy on the girl to know that she would accept the clerics deal. After some time thinking she finally came to a conclusion that, this time, Snow would wait.
She turned to leave.
For the first time since she had been locked up inside the tower, Belle was actually away from her bed. She never left it in the month she had been locked up. If she feels sore lying there, she'd sit up. If she needed to do her womanly business there was a chamber pot near her bed just one step away from her but standing up to witness the sun go down… well, she hadn't done that since being in the Dark Castle. She remembered sharing a cup of tea with Rumple while watching the sun go down. Since she wasn't allowed to leave the castle, she would watch it from the drape less window, that she risked her life to remove, reclining on the table. Sometimes he'd talk to her about his day telling her of a deal he just made and she'd do the same. Other times she'd ask him of his life or what he did and he'd just giggle or make a joke to change the subject.
She smiled to herself at the memory. Oh, how she wanted her imp back. If only he wasn't so stubborn. Her hands tightened around the sheet wrapped around her body and she bit her lower lip. The pain of rejection was still left a big scar in her heart- a scar born of hatred, betrayal, pain, love, and longing.
Belle watched as the orange sky turned pink and purple as the sun disappeared in the shadow and the moon became known in the sky. Normally, she would clutch her legs to her chest and rock back and forth to forget about the pain that would happen tomorrow but not tonight. Tonight was a night to celebrate. Someone would rescue her. Take her away. In her mind she already said her goodbyes to her father, the priest who helped her, and to her kingdom. Too bad there wasn't a pen and paper to write these words she longed to tell them.
She closed her eyes, a sigh escaping her lips as the sound of waves hitting the rocks soothed her nerves.
For the first time since she was locked up, she felt content.
Midnight came so did The Fog. As the kingdom sleeps the night away, the blackness it contained creep at every open hole they can seep into. The people were clueless that they have been invaded. That evil has followed the princess here. It covered the kingdom in black mist. Then the nightmare ensued.
"Hey, Albertus," the guard standing at the left post called his friend on the opposite side.
"What is it this time, Magnus?" He said a tad bit bored and tired.
"Did you see the red head in the tavern?"
"You mean, Ana? Yeah, I saw her."
"Makes me wanna do a tergo with her. Aaahh, aaahh, aaaaaaahhhhhhh," Magnus wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. His friend yawned.
"Meh, probably just the missionary," he said, nonchalant. "She's really boring once you get to know her. Always talking about herself. Probably won't even touch her at all"
"That bad, huh?" Magnus tried to not to sound let down. He was planning to court the girl.
"She almost talked my ear off if I hadn't left the tavern," he scoffed.
On second thought, maybe courting the girl would be a bad idea. Magnus began rethinking his decision and they fell into silence once again.
Then they felt it. A presence unknown. Calm, cold, and dangerous. The hairs at the back of their neck stood up. What's even worse was that it took away their hope. Even without sight of the danger, they knew it would kill them.
Albertus and Magnus had positioned themselves in an attack. Both their hands were trembling. Albertus felt cold sweat trickling down his forehead. Then a shrill laugh! A laugh of darkness startled them out of their stance.
They turned to run. To run far away from whatever it is. To warn the whole kingdom that something had perpetrated their defense. But The Fog! The fog caught up to them. When they saw it, they tried running to the opposite direction.
A dark beauty blocked their path. The woman had a sinister smile perched on her face. She had black hair contained in a high ponytail making her hair flow down like silk that stopped in the middle of her back. She had eyes that were slanted slightly giving an exotic and dangerous tint on her face. Soulless, angry, dark. She was the Evil Queen standing before them.
Regina.
Both the guards stood before her, locked in place- the fog catching up to them and Regina blocking their escape. She stood before them with confidence and stride in her walk.
"Hello, boys," she said with a calm demeanor.
They didn't have the courage, much as the guts, to fight her.
"Please, d-don't…don't hurt us," Magnus said.
"We'll do whatever you want," Albertus agreed.
Both had been resigned to begging on their knees. The queen smiled at their quivering form. She liked seeing the prey beg for their lives. Begging means breaking. Regina loved breaking people. She savored the feeling of having the upper hand.
"Is that so? Well, help me find the princess… and, maybe, I'll think about it," she said.
The mist began creeping closer and closer. As it got closer the screams got louder. Families had been screaming out of pain. Everyone had been alerted! The warning bell rung, the people had been awaken and scampering to the castle for safety. Everything was in complete chaos!
"Albertus! Albertus!" Magnus's voice was desperate as he shook Albertus. Albertus was still in shock.
"Albertus! Snap out of it!" He felt his friend hit him but he just stood there looking at the dead bodies that stared at him.
"Albertus!" Magnus called his name a dozen times but Albertus seemed to still be in a daze. One of the Evil Queen's magic spell had hit Albertus. Now, all he can see was death and destruction, and leaving him looking everywhere but at his friend.
Magnus pointed his spear at the Evil Queen.
"What did you do to him?" he asked quietly but still full of venom in his voice. He didn't want to alert the kingdom. He didn't want them to know that this vile creature had set foot in Avonlea and killed half of the royal guards.
In his eyes, it was Rumplestiltskin looking back at him with a smirk in his face. In his eyes, they have been invaded and defeat was close. He was lifted up in the air by some kind of force field getting tighter and tighter until he couldn't breathe.
"Listen here because I am not saying this again. You will help me find the princess. You will give her to me. And you will not remember a thing," Regina said before dropping him to the ground.
Magnus fell to his knees breathing heavily. Albertus was still in a daze.
"Are we clear, dearie?" he heard him give a giggle. All he could do was nod.
Belle was sitting in her bed having her doubts. What if Nathan was lying and he did this to test her if she would still go? What if she would be punished for hoping to escape? What if this Regina was some kind of spy that would help her escape then bring her back?
She never should've hoped. Her head fell to her hands and she started crying again. She should've said no. They would torture her tomorrow and they would know. Nathan might be telling them about the plan already to the other clerics. This was a test. This was a test. This was a test. Those words keep coming to her mind.
"She's in there," Magnus pointed to the tower. Regina grabbed his arm and they teleported inside. They were outside Belle's room. She smiled and turned to the guard.
"I won't be needing you, anymore," she said and passed a hand at his face. Thump. Magnus fell to the ground unconscious. Tomorrow he won't remember a thing.
Regina opened the door and saw Belle in her bed with nothing but a blanket to cover her. For a moment, she actually felt sorry for this girl. Belle was caught in the battle between evil and evil. For a moment she considered to rethink her decision but only for a moment.
When the door opened Belle looked up. Her eyes red and raw from crying. She gasped. The princess didn't expect to see her. She was filled with rage at the sight of the woman.
"You!" she cried out. "What are you doing here!? Haven't I suffered enough!?"
Regina smiled sympathetically at her. Instead of using aggressiveness she used another tactic.
Pity.
"My dear, I came here to rescue you," she said. Coming towards her slowly she sat at the edge of the bed.
Belle didn't believe her.
"Someone would already come to my rescue," she said, "Regina would come I don't need you."
"Dear, I am Regina," the queen laughed.
Belle's eyes widened. It can't be. She was Regina. The Evil Queen she met on the road when she fetched straw for Rumple was Regina. Regina was the Evil Queen. The Evil Queen was Regina. Suddenly, she didn't know what to do. This was the same woman who Rumple thought was her associate.
"Cat got your tongue?" she taunted.
"Leave," she said quietly. "I don't need your help."
It wasn't entirely true. From all the things that happened to her in this tower, the only option would be death. Between death and her, maybe she'd consider her.
The queen raised an eyebrow at her. Obviously not believing a word she says. After being around with the imp for so long, training her, she knows how to recognize a desperate soul.
"Are you sure?" she said and looked all over the room before looking back to her.
"Tell me, did it work? Did I help you with your master and lover problem?"
"You drove him away from me," she said quietly, glaring at her.
Regina smiled at her in a sinister way, "No, dear, Rumple drove himself away."
Belle was shocked. So, she really is the queen Rumple had been so enraged with.
"It was true, though, I did it because I plan to exploit his weakness and use it against him," she added. Regina got up from the bed and started exploring her cage.
"Weakness? I'm not Rum's weakness," she stated. A little bit confused. She looked at the queen. She had heard tales of her and her famous heart collection. It made her afraid. Would she steal her heart then use it to command her.
"He loves you."
"If he loves me he wouldn't have let me go."
"Of course he would, Love is weakness, and Rum can't have that," The Evil Queen sneered. "I know what you're thinking, dear, and one thing I can promise you is that your heart would be safely tucked in your body."
"What use would I have of you, if he finds out I have your heart," the queen tilted her head as she looked down at Belle.
Belle was shocked. Of all the things Regina said, she only heard Rum loves her. How could he? He let her go, didn't he? If you love someone, you don't let go of them, you keep fighting.
"What makes you think I'll be a part of your scheme? What makes you think I'd go with you?" she challenged. She's already considering to go with the queen. There may be a way to escape her castle. Maybe.
The queen dropped the potion she was looking at on the far end of the table across from her bed. "What other choice do you have?"
"It's death for you in here and you know it. How much can you possibly take? Belle, dear," she added.
Belle didn't answer her. She looked away. Regina was right. It's Regina or death. What other choice does she have? What about Rumple?
"It's death if I go with you too," Belle looked glaringly at the Evil Queen.
"True… Then I guess you should choose the path that would give you the best chance to live," Regina smiled, not really denying it.
After a few moment of silence, Regina spoke again. "It's in here," she referred at the room. "Or with me."
Belle was silent. In here or with me. The words resonated in her head. In here or with me. Rum left her. He let her suffer. And he was the reason she was suffering here. In here or with me. No more. She knows her best chance is with the queen. She might not like it but Regina may be right.
"Would I be tortured the way I'm tortured here?" she spoke up looking at the queen.
The queen smiled. "No harm will come to you… At least not when Rumple isn't there."
Belle bit her lip. At least when Rum isn't there. It would be almost impossible for her and Rum to be in the same room together. So, she came to a conclusion. I'm sorry, Rum.
"I'll go with you."
A/N: Looks like we're in for a ride. Don't worry Belle would be fine; at least on the next chapter. ;)
Reviews are unicorns and rainbows!
