His discolored, jagged nails drummed against the table as Rumpelstiltskin's hooked beak twitched. He sniffed as he continued to read...and read...and read... He hadn't realised the hours that had ticktocked away as he poured over the ancient tombs. His dreams had confirmed it. True love was within his grasp... Or at least it would be, if he were patient, which he most definitely was not.

The evil Queen's daughter was the key...well... her step-daughter, but he didn't give one whit about that.. just a formality...a simple one, she was a royal that was all that mattered. Soft as porridge was the heart of a mortal royal. All they cared about was true wuv. Well, he cared about it too, just not in the same way...It was some of the most powerful magic...that is if he could just procure some of it, and now he had his chance, thanks to his little helper downstairs sleeping away the day in his rooms like a lazy little princess would.

His thin, gossamer hair hung around his face in untidy strings as he carefully added a drop of Belle's precious blood into his vile. A faint hissing noise could only be heard by his seasoned ears, years of black magic swirling in his veins giving him super senses, the sound letting him know that he was indeed succeeding. He smiled. Not a pleasant one, but a smile just the same, sliding up the corners of his face, distorting his sharp features into something that resembled the lonely, humble spinner he once was... But now he was a spinner of a different sort...

He could see the future. The Princess Snow White would come to him, she would be needing something from him and he needed to be ready because he needed something from her...and he would get it.

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Belle's eyes fluttered, once, twice...then beemed open wide. She pawed at the sheets, her fists grabbing at the soft fabric, snatching handfuls of it in a vain attempt to escape the monster and his morbid intentions. Her brain caught up with her body as she dropped the sheets and went for her throat as she felt around for the large gash he must have made before she fell under his spell. She found none. Hardly a mark was left on her pretty white flesh that had not been soothed away by her captor. She was unaware of this of course as she sat up in the bed trying to still her rapidly beating heart and gather her wits about her.

She only then realized she was still naked. Her eyes darted around the room in search of his lanky form waiting to pounce upon her once more, she breathed a small sigh of relief to find herself for the moment alone. Belle was sure that was not to last. Other than a lingering sleepiness she felt the same, although she was sure he had taken her blood. She gathered the thin sheet around her, wrapping it tightly around her small frame to cover herself as best she could. Her face reddened thinking of his eyes roaming over her unclad form the night before. She wondered briefly if he indeed assaulted her physically while she had been unconscious but felt no sharp stab of pain between her legs which would signal an intrusion had occurred there.

Her hands wrapped firmly around the knob of the oversized door and tugged hard...nothing. She yanked on the door harder, bracing her feet and slipped as she stepped upon her make-shift gown. She staggered backwards and landed hard on her rump, her arms and legs sprawled out every which way in a very undignified manner. It was no use.

She decided a different approach, she looked around the room and spotted a window. She cast one more glance toward the large door that failed to cooperate and walked over to the window, pausing to take in her surroundings with more clarity.

The room of torture was gone, replaced with casual furnishings, a bed, simple although elegantly made. An exquisitely hand carved desk with a dainty chair to match sat beside the large gothic styled window. It's panes of glass lay in their fame a multitude of colors shown around the floor and walls as the rays of light danced through to put on a rather spectacular light show display. Sadly there seemed no obvious way to open it, except by destruction.

Another, much smaller door sat quietly on the other side of the bed and at once Belle abandoned her ideas for the window to advance on the door and discover its hidden contents. She was mildly surprised when the knob gave no resistance but her face soon fell to discover only a small chamber obviously meant for cleansing and an odd looking privy pot. Well, if he thought a luxury or two would make up for the undignified display she suffered last night, then he had another thing coming. She would rather die than use his facilties...she slammed the door loudly, the sound vibrating through the walls, making its way up to the west wing.

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Rumpelstiltskin's ear drum caught the faint sound, its vibration as soft as the flapping of a butterfly's wing and surged past him as quick as a hummingbird. He turned toward the sound, his eyes narrowed suspiciously at the foreign sound. She was awake...good. Time to begin again. The commodities she possessed were beyond measure. Her body held properties untold, much more than just the liquid gold that ran through her veins. Her skin, her hair...her feminine blood which was almost priceless...other body parts...All valuable, very, very valuable. He snickered under his breath as if he were afraid someone would over hear, except he cared not if anyone did, she was his to do with what he wanted...and he wanted, very much.

Then a faint sound smothered out the old one. A soft mewing it started out but as it increased a frown replaced the slick black grin.. It was crying...faint but unmistakable.

His head whipped around to look toward the door that blocked out the rest of the world so that he could remain undisturbed whilst he dabbled in his black arts. He did not like being disturbed under any circumstances and by the gods she was bothering him...he had hacked people to pieces for less. He slid his chair back so hard that it toppled to the floor as he stalked over to the door and jerked it open so hard the hinges securing it to the castle cracked.

He looked back for a brief second at the vile sitting on his table, now discarded in exchange for his little princess who at the present was fucking with his concentration. He would fix that immediately, he had very important work to do and he could ill afford her caterwauling hurting his ear canals.

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Belle beat against the impervious door with her small fists. Small bruises already forming silently on her knuckles. Helpless tears rolled down her cheeks. If he meant to keep her here than so be it, she could endure anything for the sake of her kingdom but damn it, he was going to feed her and clothe her, she deserved at least that much. Her belly lurched in hunger and she was almost dancing in place in want of a chamber pot, her stubbornness had won out earlier but now the body was fighting against her will with a furious force that was soon to beat down her defences with a vengeance, not only had she lost the battle, she was quickly losing the war.

Her fist swung toward the door once more but never connected as she found herself flying through the air in an instant, the breath knocked out of her lungs with force as she landed on the bed , pinned to it as if she were sewed there by a needle and thread spun by the gods themselves. A sharp cry of pain was the only sound that escaped her lips at the door, but now all she could do was try in vain to grasp for air. She had wanted an answer from him, her new master, well she got one.

The door burst open and she could only watch with wide, frightened eyes as he entered her quarters. Her eyes being the only thing she could move as she peered as best she could. She tried in vain to shrink back as he approached, a look of self-satisfaction etched upon his sharp features. If she could have moved an inch she would have tried to scratch it off his face...that smug expression, he was nothing but a mongrel, a cruel, twisted imp.

"Ah, pardon me, but did you need something dearie? In case you were not aware I am quite busy." He stood over her, observing the sheet fashioned into a dress giving her some measure of dignity, well, he could fix that. "I'm going to let you talk in a minute and I refuse to listen to mindless chatter, I have no disposition for it you see." Belle gasped when he waved his hand over her form and she was allowed to swallow and catch her breath. Rumpelstiltskin looked only mildly irritated and a little more curious than he really should have been.

"May I at least sit up ...Please?" Even though her voice did little to hide a hint of sarcasm in her voice, Rumple considered her request, it was after all only his to consider. She belonged to him and if he felt like she should remain confined to the bed, then she would certainly have no other choice than to comply.

"You may dearie, but I feel it's in your best interests to warn you that if I hear so much as one more tear filled cry then I will appear before you before another can reach your cheek" he leaned down close to her face, his large unhuman like eyes so that she would have no doubt that he told the truth, even though he had been accused of the opposite, "and the next sound you make will be your last as I smother your royal highness, is that clear.?"

Belle shrank back in fear, knowing good and well that he meant every word he spoke. Her only response was a simple quick nod of her head. Rumpelstiltskin smiled sweetly at her, "I'm hungry if you please...sir."

Ahh, much better Rumpelstiltskin thought...good. He stepped back and waved his hand lazily at the desk and a tray appeared with an assortment of fruit and hot pork and a pot of what appeared to be tea, with little whiffs of steam rising out from under the lid. He turned back to her, "Better?" he asked. Belle nodded.

Belle decided to make one more petition, hoping he would be as hospitable with her second request as he had with the first. "If you don't mind I'd like my clothes back, or since mine were ruined I'd at least like something suitable to put on." She gave me a small but cold smile hoping he would consent quickly, but he just eyed her sheet up and down before peeling off a mad, loud cackle. He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye as if her request was the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

"Dearie, we are far from done and your attire is of no consequence to me, your sheet will suffice nicely untill I once again require your services, which will be soon, so eat up, you'll be needing your strength."

Belle gasped before staring at him in astonishment, how dare he...what was she expected to do, wear a bed sheet forever? She dare no shed a tear as he watched her for fear he would make true on his promise. Her frown was reward enough for him as he leant down close to her. She turned her head not wanting to meet his eyes, but he forced her face round to meet his once more, his fingers digging into her cheek painfully.

"Your very fortunate that I allow you the sheet princess, because I don't even have to give you that, but I will out of the goodness of my little black heart." He snickered at her wince of pain as he shoved her away. "For now."

He walked to the door before turning back, "Take your fill, I'll be back quicker than you think, we have much to accomplish tonight, it's a full moon." With that he vanished leaving Belle alone.