Chapter 2
"You should consider closing your eyes for this, princess" Rumplestiltskin sneered in what Belle had called his "Dark" voice.
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked warily. Before she could get an answer, she found herself in a dark, crowded room. "Gold, where are we?"
"It's a broom closet, dearie," He said with a flourish. "You didn't think I'd just pop in to the Great Hall unanounced, did you?"
Emma was a bit flabbergasted for a moment, but upon assessing the situation asked, "let me get this straight-you just zapped us into Regina's castle, in the broom closet, and your plan is, what, exactly? Storm in guns and magic blazing? And why are you talking like you've just sucked half a tank of helium?"
"I'm just getting into character for the big show, princess." When this explanation failed to get a response, Rumplestiltskin relented. "Fine, we'll do this the boring way," he said, switching back into his non-magical tone, "Belle is in here somewhere, and I think I know where Regina will have her. Time is of the essence Ms. Swan, so we have to move. Follow me and watch my back-I trust you're armed?" Emma raised her eyebrows and revealed the gun holstered under her jacket. "Good. Now, I need you to promise me, consider it that favor you owe me, promise me you'll do everything in your power to make sure Belle gets out of here alive and well if my plan fails. Don't worry about me, the Queen and I have a lot of experience dealing with each other, but get Belle out of here alive and keep her safe. Do we have a deal?"
Emma pondered that for a moment. "Only if you promise that me and my family aren't part of some sort of exchange deal."
"I wouldn't dream of it Ms. Swan. You and your family are key to bringing down the Queen after all, it would hardly be in my best interest to let her keep you to rot in her dungeon. You have my word, Ms. Swan, you and your family will remain uninvolved in this rescue as long as you keep up your end."
"Fine. Deal." Emma couldn't see Gold to shake his hand, so she made no attempt to. "Where are we going?"
"Just follow me, Ms. Swan, and stay hidden if you can. I'll do my best to make your mission easier, but I can't make any guarantees."
"Thanks, Gold, but I can take care of myself. Let's roll."
Emma followed Gold-no, Rumplestiltskin, she reminded herself-down the stone corridor to a room that looked like it was taken out of the Spanish Inquisition. There was even a pristine, mint-condition, iron maiden in the corner where Regina sat, ironically, in her trademark pantsuit. Emma ducked into an alcove in the corridor and waited for her moment to act.
Rumplestiltskin did his best to make a suitable entrance, even dulling the pain in his leg so that he could walk without his cane and returning his skin to its former greenish hue. He knew he only had one chance to make this work, or he and Belle would be separated again. He, unfortunately, did not get the first word.
"Rumple! How nice of you to show up," Regina drawled, eyes practically glowing. "Your little girlfriend and I were just getting acquainted," she pulled a large whip out from under her chair, "weren't we, dearie."
To her credit, Belle didn't make a sound, even though her face and bare arms showed the results of Regina's "acquaintance." Struggling to maintain his cool, Rumplestiltskin slid into the familiar impish banter. "Yes, well, as much as I hate to interrupt your playtime, majesty, I have a proposition for you."
"Let me guess, you want to make a deal for her release. You must know why I brought her here, what could you possibly have to offer me in exchange?"
"Why, me, of course. What else?"