Here's chapter two! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT or its characters.


Rumplestiltskin landed in a dark room with only a single candle burning in the corner. Glancing around, he did not see a single living soul, though the air stunk of whiskey and something else. He clenched his teeth, feeling the fury burn through his veins at the thought of his Belle being taken against her will by some drunken sod. Rumplestiltskin already knew the git wouldn't walk away from this encounter with his life. A cruel smirk twisted his lips as he backed into the darkest corner of the hovel to wait out his prey.

It didn't take long for the man in question to come stumbling through the door in an alcohol-induced stupor. Rumplestiltskin waited until he had stumbled his way to the table in the center of the one-room house, watching with narrowed eyes as the burly man tipped back a decanter of cheap whiskey.

Fresh from the bar and still going like he hasn't had drop in his life, the Dark One thought disgustedly. He decided now was as good a time as any to make his appearance. He stepped forward and stood just shy of the candle's feeble light.

"Lovely little place you have here. So very…quaint."

Rumplestiltskin had to commend the git. He'd yet to see anyone so intoxicated move as fast as this one did, spinning around and fixing the Dark One's corner with a rather unfocused glare. Rumplestiltskin smiled nastily and stepped into the light.

The lout's fists clenched and he glared even harder. "Who are you? What are you doing in here? Get out!"

"Tsk, tsk, dearie, now that's no way to greet your guests." Rumplestiltskin flourished a clawed hand, twirling it nonchalantly as he skipped closer. The man snarled at him, attempting a threatening step in his direction, and promptly stumbled. He managed to catch himself before falling flat on his stinking face, but it was a close thing.

"Who are you?" he repeated. He was trying to sound menacing, but rather failed when the last word ended in a loud hiccup. Rumplestiltskin sighed melodramatically and a flicked a clawed finger at the drunk. The man stood straighter as all the liquor evaporated from his body and sobriety returned. He blinked several times in bewilderment, staring around the room like he had never seen it before. Or perhaps trying to figure out how he got there. "What—"

Rumplestiltskin cut him off mid-splutter. "Can't have you all dizzy and stupid while we chat, now. That just wouldn't be fair." He giggled in that unnerving high pitch that made everyone distinctly uncomfortable. "Now that you're all there in the head, let's try this talking thing again, shall we?"

The git's now clear gaze landed on him. His eyes clouded with confusion. "Who are you?"

The Dark One rolled his eyes and scoffed, mildly affronted. "Who doesn't know me? I who snatches babes in the night, whose notorious dealings are highly sought after by those most desperate souls? Really, dearie."

It was plainly evident when realization hit the sorry lout. His face paled considerably as he took a wary step back and bumped into the table.

"The Dark One," he said slowly, a trace of fear lacing his voice.

"Ding ding ding! So glad you figured it out," Rumplestiltskin tittered. He grinned evilly, all his blackened teeth on display.

The man fidgeted nervously. "But…but why are you here? I did not call you. There are no deals I want to make."

"Oh, but I am not here to deal, dearie, no. Especially not with the likes of you." Rumplestiltskin steepled his hands in front of him and slowly circled the man. Predator and prey. Just how I like it. Dark eyes followed his movements warily. "I am here on account of damaged property," he continued. A tiny voice in his head argued that she was most certainly not damaged, and definitely not just property,but he wasn't about to let this pathetic welp know that. He was supposed to be terrifying. His feelings had no place here. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about a young maiden passing through now would you? Young and beautiful, eyes like the sea, wearing this lovely cloak?" With a wave of his hand Belle's cloak lifted from the dusty floor where it had been tossed aside and floated to his waiting claws. He thrust it forward for the man to see.

The already pale face took on a rather sickly pallor. He didn't even glance down at the garment, but instead seemed frozen to the spot, eyes locked with the Dark One's unblinking gaze. He must have known what was coming.

"I—I didn't—she was yours?" he squeaked.

If it weren't for the circumstances, the sight of this bulky, hardened criminal reduced to a shivering, stuttering puddle would have been comical.

The nasty grin disappeared from Rumplestiltskin's countenance. He was done playing games. Belle's cloak poofed away in a wisp of purple smoke. "Yes. She belongs to me, dearie. And you dared to touch her?" In one swift movement, he was nose to nose with his victim, claws digging into the man's throat. Frantic hands immediately flew up to tear at those claws in a futile effort to relieve the pressure.

"I didn't know she was yours!" he choked out desperately.

Rumplestiltskin growled. "You think you can take just any woman against her will? Snatch them off the streets and force them to endure your filthy attentions? Strip young maidens of their virtue?" He slammed him into the table, knocking the empty whiskey bottle to the floor. The sound of shattering glass echoed around the empty room. The man cried out in pain as his head collided with the hard wood. Rumplestiltskin glared down at him, raw fury rolling off him in waves. Magic crackled around them.

"You're more of a monster than I will ever be, dearie," he snarled.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" the man whimpered. "Please! I'll never touch another woman again!" He struggled weakly under Rumplestiltskin's unrelenting grip.

The manic grin returned to the Dark One's lips. His eyes gleamed. "You're right, you never will touch another woman again. You will never touch anyone again." He leaned down next to his victim's ear. "Because I am going to put you through the hell you put my Belle through, and then I am going to tear you limb from limb and listen to your screams of agony as you die slowly by my hand. You will wish you were dead ten times over by the time I finish with you. Does that sound fair?"

His answer was a pathetic cry for help and more scrabbling at the claws still holding his throat. Rumplestiltskin chuckled darkly.

"No one is coming to your rescue, dearie." He put a finger to his chin in pretend thought. "In fact, I sincerely doubt anyone will even miss you. Certainly not the poor maidens whose lives you ruined," he hummed.

"Don't do this!" the sod pleaded.

"Too late," said the Dark One.

Unfortunately for the man, nobody was around to hear his bloody screams. Not that anyone could have helped him, anyway.


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