Ten:
So this chapter is a little on the weirder side but nothing I'm sure you guys weren't expecting. I really hope you like it. Perspective changes a bit in this one but we haven't heard from Gold in a while so I decided that the whole first part could be devoted to him and the second to Belle. Now, enough from me… enjoy my lovelies.
The Dark One was back. Robert could feel him pushing at the boundary of his consciousness and fought desperately to keep it at bay. It taunted him and bullied him, fought savagely then retreated to lull him into a false sense of security but Robert had been through all this before. Never before had any of his episodes triggered such a fast response nor had they expelled so much rage. The Dark One would bide its time, either until Robert was too tired to hold off or he simply gave up trying to hold it back. The barrier he'd erected between his two consciousnesses had thinned drastically over the past months, during a long period when he hadn't needed it, and now he was paying the price.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" He pleaded to the silent room and buried his face into his hands. The effort it took to control his mental actions was astronomical and Robert could feel it slipping as he maintained his quiet vigil by the door. Belle. Dear god, why had she come up here? Why had Mrs Lucas bring her up here last night? It wasn't safe, even on a good day. Looking around the room he saw the torn covers and pillow innards scattered across the grey stone floor. The bed itself was skewed and the mattress had been ripped apart. He rubbed his face tiredly. Definitely not safe. He sighed. He was simply too tired to maintain the front against his other self and finally, much to the monsters delight, relaxed. The pain was less intense this time and although he writhed against the wall feeling the familiar throws of the change wracking his body, the transition was far less agonising and far easier than it had been the first time around. As per usual, he thought dismally as he was banished into the back of his own mind. The Dark One stretched and then stood, pushing off the wall with hands comprising of broken nails and bandaged palms, before striding to stand in the centre of the room. It gazed around and chuckled. Robert scowled inwardly and that only set the bastard off again.
"Oh Robert, I'd apologise for breaking your toys but we both know I wouldn't mean it." The words spilt from Robert's mouth and Robert growled.
"True, you always were a bastard… I'd expect nothing less." He said thinly and the creature gasped in mock outrage even going so far as to press a hand to the area of its chest directly above its heart. It then moved to crouch by the overturned table. It dabbed bravely at one of the many spilt concoctions and brought the substance contemptuously to its nose to smell.
"Hm, I would have gone the laudanum rather than morphine." It muttered and Robert swore violently.
"Yes, thank you for that… now I'm back about 6 months." He snapped angrily and the Dark One smirked. Smugly the beast stood up and moved to the door. In a rushed panic Robert put as much of his influence into his limbs as was possible in this state and 'their' body froze on the spot. Stuck mid-stride, the Dark One growled.
"Really Robert, so stubborn… something you don't want me to see out there, or perhaps… someone?" He taunted but Robert refused to let up his control.
"Fine, I'll stay here. Just remember it was you who hurt her, not me." It retorted smartly and Robert faltered. His control slipped and the creature sprung for the door and wrestled with the knob.
"You swore." Robert yelled and the creature froze. With a bellowed curse it flung itself back and slammed its fist into the wall. Robert winced as the stone cracked beneath the Dark One's fury and knew instinctively that the hand was broken.
"Happy now?" He asked dryly and the creature sniggered.
"Very. I don't have to deal with it." It retorted mockingly and Robert cursed. Truer words had never been spoken. While in this particular state his body was, as far as he'd ever been able to tell, in a state of hyper ability. His pain receptors were blocked while under its thrall and, after much internal hypothesis, Robert had concluded that the muscles trains throughout his body and the synapses that lined them were more relaxed allowing the chemical messages to slid through completely uninhibited. Thus, he was not only faster in his synaptic response time and stronger than ever but unable to feel pain when his body pushed itself past humane lengths. He also speculated that it was this blocking of pain that gave his body it's enhanced capabilities, as was originally intended, but the reason was probably more psychological than physical. Without the fear of injury none of the brain's habitual fail safe messages were sent out to muscles which would usually contract to avoid the actual blow and so all the force of a movement was behind his actions… hence the added strength.
"You think too much Gold, it's rather endearing." The Dark One muttered and moved to languidly drape itself over the remains of the mattress. It crossed his legs and rested them on top of the foot board while it sprawled lazily across the bed, reclining against the torn mattress with his hands behind its head. Robert sneered and ignored the quip.
"So, now you've got time to kill but nothing to do, what do you plan on doing?" Robert asked and the Dark One waved a hand indolently.
"Whatever I want Robert, whatever I-" He broke off and Robert froze. A faint scratching could be heard from the wall across from the bed and Robert felt his figurative gut clench. It was the second time they'd heard those sounds and Gold realised that Belle had finally found the passageway between their rooms.
"Oh naughty Robert, did you intend for her to find it… rather poetic don't you think?" The creature asked languidly.
"Shut up! You think this is funny?"
"Uh… yes." The Dark one said and Robert felt his facial features forming into a perfect 'well-of-course' expression. He struggled for control. There was a fault to this; he could only control one function of his 'other personality', as Dr Hopper had called the Dark One after their single session about five or so years ago. Either the body stopped or the voice and right now it was imperative that Belle not know that he was still here. So he clamped down on the voice and the Dark one visibly growled even though no sound escaped its lips. It threw itself off the bed and stalked to the wall. It toyed with a circular stone set at about waist height, the button that would swing the door open and reveal them to Belle, and Robert panicked. Through the wall both could hear something moving and Robert prayed desperately that it was rats.
"Damn this building." It was Belle and Robert's knees would have buckled if it weren't for the fact that his body wasn't actually under his control.
"You could stop me." The Dark One taunted, manipulating the smooth stone teasingly, and Robert bulked at the thought of releasing the monster's voice.
"No." He said and the creature shrugged.
"Let me talk to her, you could make sure I don't open the door and I can finally have a little chat with our Belle." It said innocently and Robert shook his head.
"No. Why do you care?"
"Why do you? She's just a Bronx girl, nothing overly special about her… why should you care if she runs into us or not?" The voice was sickly sweet, trying to wheedle information and Robert caved.
"Fine, but… behave."
"Don't I always?" It quipped and Robert didn't even lend it the dignity of an answer. Regretfully he relented his control over the beast's mouth and their body froze.
"Come on Calico." Belle said as the creature spoke.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" It asked and Robert jumped. The voice that issued from the creatures mouth was not his usual voice but a strange, high pitched warble. It was a distinct, unstable falsetto and Robert hated it. Thankfully however, it also meant that his voice was utterly unrecognisable.
"Hello?" Belle was back, her voice closer now. Robert could almost see her now, pressed up against the slimy wall, eager to hear the mysterious voice through the wall.
"What's your name girlie?" The beast asked.
"Belle, Belle de Boire. Who are you?" She asked and Robert knew he was going to have to have a chat to her about giving out her name to strangers.
"I don't go by any name that you would like dearie… though I would like to know what it is you are doing behind a stone wall Belle?" The thing asked and Belle sighed heavily.
"There's a passage back here but it doesn't lead anywhere, or rather it just leads to this dead end… why are you behind a wall?" She asked quizzically and the Dark One giggled. Actually giggled. Robert hoped to high heaven he never had to hear such a revolting sound issue from his mouth again.
"Well Belle, that's an interesting story but you probably wouldn't like it, its horribly frightening." He said candidly and Belle gasped.
"Are you trapped?" She asked and Robert scowled.
"In a way, I suppose I am." The Dark One said as though pondering this for the first time and there was a mad scrambling on the opposite side of the wall. Evidently she was still trying to open the door.
"Are you alright?" Belle demanded and Robert felt pleasant surprise filter through him that most certainly hadn't originated from him. The Dark One was almost glowing; Belle's innocent words had apparently struck a chord deep inside the monster.
"Yes dearie, I am fine." It said softly and Robert glowered. Easy for it to say, it wouldn't have to deal with a broken hand.
"Although, if it's possible Belle… would you do something for me?" It asked and Belle's scrambling stopped.
"Of course, but what do I get in return?" She asked and Robert almost cried with joy. Clever girl. The Dark One however glowered at the wall and cursed him inwardly.
"That's my Belle." Robert crowed and the beast growled.
"Undying gratitude not enough dearie?" The beast quipped, a small, uncontrolled giggle breaking free from its lips and Belle laughed with him.
"Gratitude's not much of a currency in this place… it doesn't seem to get you very far when people don't trust you." She said bitterly and even the Dark one paused slightly at that. It wasn't like his Belle to be bitter, frustrated or exhausted, but never bitter. Robert had a niggling feeling that this was somehow tied to him.
"Belle, if I ever meet you in person… you may ask a single favour of me, that I will never be able to dispute or disobey. You may enact this favour at any time and I will be honour bound to obey it, whatever you choose it to be." The Dark One said and even Robert was stunned.
"Alright, a favour for a favour… I like it." Belle said, not realising what she'd just agreed to.
"What do you need?" She asked and the Dark One smiled.
"I would like you visit me again… if you don't mind of course." He asked and Belle gasped.
"Of course I will… oh god, I'm so sorry, I have to go but I'll be back promise." She said breathlessly and her fading footsteps receding rapidly into the distance until even the Dark One couldn't hear her anymore. When she was gone Robert released his hold on the Dark One and the man moved back from the doorway to pace the room cockily.
"Oh Robert, I think… I'm in love." It crowed smugly and Robert grumbled.
"My only question is, if she loved you back… what would you do? Run and hide like the coward we both know you are or tell her, everything?" It asked casually then giggled half-hysterically before skipping merrily to the bed and throwing itself merrily upon its surface. Robert withdrew deep into his mind and ignored the Dark One who chortled to itself and hunkered down for an extended stay.
OoOoOoO
"Belle?" Ashley's flushed face appeared in the hole in the floor that marked as her door as Belle threw the trap door open to answer the flurried knocks upon its surface.
"Yes?" She asked and Ashley bit her lip nervously as she waited at the bottom of the ladder, twisting her delicate fingers into knots as she peered upwards.
"Can I talk to you please?" She asked and Belle nodded. She stepped aside and helped Ash into the room.
"Sorry, I only have the bed or the chair." Belle said and Ash gingerly sat down on the bed. She gazed around the room and smiled.
"This is nice, much nicer than mine anyway… I hate pink and for some reason the whole second floor is divided into a mixture of gold, red, black and pink. Guess what I got?" She asked rhetorically and Belle smiled thinly. Ash's grinned broadened and she pointed an accusing finger at Belle.
"I saw that, you can't take it back." She teased and Belle rolled her eyes.
"What's the situation Ash?" She asked and Ashley shifted testily on the bed spread. Calico hopped onto her lap and tilted his head quizzically at the intruder. Ash smiled and tapped him gently on the head. Looking up at Belle her pretty face broke into a wide, excited smile and she was visibly shaking.
"I need your help Belle." She said and Belle started in shock. Of all the things that she'd expected Ashley to say, it had not been that. She leaned in over the back of the chair to fix her with a stern gaze.
"Really?" She asked and Ashley shrugged sheepishly.
"Yes, you remember New Year's Eve?" She asked and Belle stared at her in shock.
"Parts of it Ash." She reminded her stiffly and Ashley's sapphire blue eyes flew wide with horror.
"Oh god Belle I'm sorry." She exclaimed and Belle waved it away tiredly.
"What's the problem?" She asked and Ash's expression became dreamy.
"There's no problem… I need to sneak out tonight and I was wondering if you'd be able to help me." Ash asked and Belle stared at her blankly.
"Sneak out?" She asked and Ash nodded excitedly.
"I met this guy and, oh Belle, he's perfect." She sighed and Belle felt her mouth twitch upwards as she surveyed the girl's happiness.
"What's his name?" She asked and Ashley rested her chin into her palms.
"Sean, he works at a factory in the Meat Packing District and we met on New Year's Eve… after you told me to go and find him." She said and Belle frowned.
"I don't remember that." She said and Ash smiled.
"I do though, you told me to go and find a guy worth my time and I did." She said and Belle forgot her hostility towards everyone in the building for a few moments and walked over to sit down beside Ash. She'd never had all that many friends growing up and this was the first time she'd been privy to a girly talk between friends. Ashley grabbed her hands and bobbed excitedly on the bed.
"Oh Belle, it was so romantic. I saw my Step-sisters Olga and Titania as I was moving through the park… did I ever tell you about them?" She asked and Belle shook her head.
"Bitches." Ashley spat and a dark cloud descended over her pretty features. Then she shook it off and her bright smile returning as suddenly as it had disappeared.
"Anyway, I saw them and they saw me, I must have looked terrified because all of a sudden this guy just steps over to me and asks if I'm okay." She said and wrapped her arms around herself happily.
"He took my arm and walked me down to the pier, I thought he was going to do something then he just walks over to a drinks stand and orders us both hot chocolates." She said and Belle smiled.
"Then?" She pressed and Ashley sighed dramatically.
"Oh Belle, we talked all night. He works at a canning factory but only because his Dad disowned him when he refused to marry some jumped up heiress from Boston. I told him straight up where I worked and do you know what he said?" She asked and Belle smiled, grasping Ashley's shoulder she smiled.
"What?" She asked and Ashley squealed, flinging herself back onto the pillows and grinning stupidly up into the ceiling.
"That it didn't mean shit to him and that I was still one of the most real girls he'd ever met." Ash said dreamily and Belle laughed. Ash sat up with a frown and Belle sobered.
"Oh I'm not laughing at you, in fact, I couldn't be happier for you… I just don't know how I can help; you seem to be doing alright by yourself." Belle protested and Ashley went back to twisting her fingers.
"We've been seeing each other ever since, he comes here and we just chat the night away, but tonight he's going to take me out for dinner, just the two of us, but I have work and… oh Belle what am I to do?" She asked in despair and buried her face into her hands. Belle moved forward and wrapped her arms around her friend's shoulders.
"Chin up Ash, we'll think of something." She murmured and frowned at Calico who was hopping excitedly up and down on the cover.
"I was wondering… if you'd mind taking my place… I'd do all your chores tomorrow and you wouldn't have to do it ever again." Ash asked pleadingly and Belle pulled up short.
"Me?" She asked and Ash nodded, drawing back to look at her imploringly.
"Oh please Belle, please." She asked and Belle shrugged.
"I wouldn't know what to do." She protested weakly and Ash gave her a look that plainly told her she didn't believe a word of it.
"Belle, we've seen you watching and you'd be fine. There's not a lot to men when it all comes down to it." She said bracingly and Belle blushed.
"Would I have to… you know?" She made an uncomfortable gesture and Ashley's eyes flashed wide.
"Absolutely not, you're the caretaker here, not a work girl… Ruby will keep an eye on you and if you run into any trouble you just signal." Ash told her and Belle nodded.
"I only foresee a single problem with all this." Belle said and Ash looked at her oddly.
"What?" She asked and Belle raked a hand down her dress.
"What the hell am I going to wear?" She asked. Ashley's face brightened and Belle felt her stomach sink slightly.
"Come with me." She said and grabbed Belle's hand, yanking her from the bed and dragging her down the ladder.
OoOoOoO
"Ash, are you sure about this?" Belle asked worriedly and Ashley nodded happily, her deft hands moving away from Belle's face for what she hoped was the last time. She'd just put the last touches of make up on Belle's face and was smiling brightly.
"Here, take a look at yourself." She said and held up a silver-backed handheld mirror for Belle to peer into. Belle's mouth fell open.
"Is that really me?" She asked and Ash laughed.
"Of course it is silly, I told you I knew what I was doing." She said and Belle was unable to respond, her tongue completely tied with shock. Her continued silence seemed to worry Ash whose face fell sharply.
"You don't like it." She said miserably and Belle hurriedly place a hand on her friend's sleeve.
"No I do, it's just… so different." She said and turned her head this way and that to better see her newly styled hair. Gone was the unruly mass of russet curls. In its place was a smooth, sleek up-do. All her hair was swept back, away from her face, and twisted into a neat bun on the top of her head. Her make-up was simple but elegant. Dark, smoky eyes with glimmers of gold eye-shadow and bright red lipstick that made her azure eyes pop. There was a light covering of blush over her pale cheeks that made them flush prettily, not like her actual blush which made her look like a walking tomato.
"Yeah, but that's half the fun… now for the other half." Ash said and pulled out a black costume from the overflowing cupboard under her floor boards and handed it to Belle. Belle had been astonished to know that each room house one of the marvellous wardobes, which was about a metre or so deep and comprised on numerous shelves and sections that served different fashionable functions. Belle stared at the costume in Ash's hands apprehensively before gingerly stripping down to her brassiere and panties.
"Oh Belle." Ash said and Belle flushed. Ashley hugged her tightly and Belle smiled, hugging the girl back.
"It's okay Ash, Mr Gold made sure that I was alright." She said and Ash smiled cheekily.
"Oh yes, we know. You gave him one hell of a turn Belle, I've never seen him like that." Ash said as she helped Belle into her costume. Perturbed Belle didn't answer. She connected the garters to the belt and fiddled nervously with the buttons of the black overcoat she wore. A lacy black choker went around her neck, effectively covering the bruises that still lingered there. Ash grabbed her hands and smiled at her.
"You look amazing." She murmured and Belle grimaced. Ash held up the mirror again and Belle looked down herself cautiously. Her eyes widened when she saw her whole ensemble for the first time.
"Oh my." She said and Ashley laughed delightedly.
"Man, Mr Gold's going to be pissed that he missed this." Ash said and Belle turned to her in a whirl.
"He is never to know about this… ever." She said firmly and Ash nodded mutely. Belle looked at herself again and nodded. It was perhaps the most scandalous piece of clothing she'd ever worn. A pair of sheer, nylon stockings were connected by a garter-belt to lacy black, French knickers. Over this she wore a white business shirt with poet sleeves and a tight-fitting, thick-strapped corset that made her curves just that little bit more pronounced then need be. The corset was silky to the touch and pitch black. It was elaborately stayed and matched the knickers and the pair of dangerously high heeled shoes she wore. Belle felt her stomach roil and bit her ruby, red lips nervously. She touched her hair and sent a sideways glance at Ash who smiled and held up her thumbs reassuringly. She herself was dressed in a beautiful chiffon dress that came to just below her knees and a pair of sensible, black shoes with pearl buttons. Although demure it was lovely and Belle thought its colouring, a sweet shade of summer blue, simply delightful. It criss-crossed off her shoulders across the bust to cling tightly around Ash's slim waist before falling in neatly pleated lines to the knee length hem. A pair of dainty white gloves covered her hands and a string of Woolworth pearls encircled her neck. Her blonde curls were held up in a neat French twist by a series of sparkling blue pins and Belle smiled at her friend's obvious pains to impress this Sean.
"Well don't we look a treat?" Belle said bracingly and Ash's cheeks flooded with red.
"You think he'll like it?" She asked and Belle nodded.
"If he doesn't then he's not worth it." She teased and Ash's smile became breathtaking. She wrapped her hand around Belle's waist and, grabbing the beaded purse from the bed, escorted her out of the room and into the corridor. In the girl's common-room Belle was swamped by people she'd only seen in the halls but never actually stopped to speak to. Ruby and Mary Margret were seated in a quiet corner and moved like lightning to push the swell of women back.
"Hey girls leave her alone, you know how nervous you all were on your first nights, give Belle a chance to breath for goodness sake." Mary Margret ordered and Belle sighed with relief when the press backed off a bit. She moved back to sit with Ruby, Ash and Mary, taking a small glass of sherry from the low slung table and sipping it quietly. It was musky and cheap but Belle didn't care, she needed something to stem the nervous quivering of her hands which were now shaking quite badly from nerves. Mary saw it and reached out to hold them tightly.
"Remember, you only need to be there for a few hours and if anyone bothers you, just wave at Ruby and she'll sort it out." Mary said and Ruby nodded vigorously. Belle breathed a little easier and smiled, taking another sip of her sherry. Ash stood and wished her luck. Belle smiled and kissed her cheeks fondly. Waving to the other two she moved off towards the door and disappeared through it.
"Belle…" Ruby began and Belle held up her hand.
"No, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have yelled at you." She said and Ruby shook her head.
"No Belle, you were right… I forget that you barely see anyone around here. You're not one of the girls and more often than not the only person who talk to on a regular basis is Gold and everyone knows what a bloody ray of sunshine he is." She said and Belle frowned. Ruby shook her head when Belle went to open her mouth.
"No let me finish. I understand now, Henry is a great kid. I'm sorry to have forced you to give up seeing him, this last day when you wouldn't speak to me was hell and I'm so sorry Belle, I truly am." She said and Belle's anger wore off entirely.
"I just felt like you didn't trust me; that you thought I was stupid for letting him in." She said and Ruby hugged her tightly.
"I do trust you Belle, and I hope he comes back." She admitted. Mary watched them and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Excellent, with that little drama out of the way… shall we?" She asked and Ruby nodded. Belle's nerves came flooding back to her and she followed Mary Margret down the set of stairs that led to the club room and into the glittering night life of the Palace. The place was entirely different at night and seemed to come to life in a way that Belle couldn't understand. The tables were filled with black suited men and the girls moved through the room dressed in shimmering dresses and scandalous underwear. Ruby whispered her good luck and moved behind the bar, immediately smiling and flirting with the patrons that surrounded it. The dim electric lights made the atmosphere appear hazy and the strong smell of liquor, sweat and cigar smoke made Belle gag slightly. Despite all this she was entranced. Everything seemed to teem with life and vitality. Sounds seemed extra sharp and people somewhat surreal in the semi-darkness. It was a glittering fairy tale room and Belle took a deep fortifying breath as she flowed Mary Margret into the centre of it all. Turning to face her Mary pointed to one of the platforms.
"Now you know how to use it, just let it happen and smile. Never ever let them know you hate it." She said quietly as a patron passed by and winked at them. His hand groped at Belle's buttocks and she jumped, biting her tongue to keep from calling out. Before her eyes she saw her attacker, felt his hands crawling over her body and she backed away from the man until Mary caught her roughly.
"Belle, pull it together. You don't want to be touched? Okay, get up there and sell it. They cannot touch you up there." She said and Belle swallowed her terror. She nodded and stiffened her upper lip.
"Okay, I can do this." Belle muttered and walked over to the platform she and Henry had used only the day before. She climbed up, aware of the catcalls from the surrounding men and tried her best to smile. The band kicked up and a new, jazzy tune filled the room. Belle jumped and gazed around her nervously.
"Come on darlin' show us what you got." A man at a nearby table called and his friends all laughed. It was an ugly sound that made Belle cringe slightly.
"Yeah, smile for us." Another called and Belle forced herself to smile. She grasped the pole gently in one hand and swung herself around it tentatively. They whooped and she grew a little more confident. Turning to face them she sank down the length of the pole and waved delicately at them. They hollered and she peered over at Mary Margret who was busy with her own group, swirling around her platform like some dazzling Queen of the Nile. She nodded at Belle and smiled encouragingly. Belle slowly worked her way back up the pole and, bringing her knees up slightly, circled it again. The music swelled and she allowed herself to just get lost in the music, swirling and twirling. She never once approached the edge of the platform and her audience chorused many times for her to come closer but Belle was terrified to let them near her. The song changed, becoming slower, and Belle's movements coincided with the change. She slowed her movements and allowed her body to sway and bend with the soulful melody. For the first time she actually detached herself from the pole and approached the edge of the platform. Slowly she eased herself down to sit on the edge and reached out to grasp at one of the men's hats, tilting it on a coy angle and winking at them. They laughed and she crossed her legs, holding out her arms towards them. Two rushed forwards and she grasped their shoulders, pushing herself off the platform and onto one of the tables she'd polished the day before. She twirled slowly for them and propped her hands on her hips, surveying them all pensively.
"Now I could dance or someone could buy me a drink and be my hero." She said coyly, batting her eyelashes at the nearest fellow who jumped up and all but ran to the bar. She crouched on the table in pointed at one of the men.
"What's your name?" She asked sweetly and he stammered.
"Thomas." He said and she smiled beguilingly, or at least she hoped it was beguilingly… all this was still new to her and she was conspicuously watching Mary Margret out of the corner of her eyes in order to pick up a few tips and hints about what to do.
"Well Thomas, can you guess my name?" She asked and sat down before him, propping her hand on her knee and cradling her chin in her palm.
"Delilah?" He asked and she shook her head, playfully poking him in the chest and smoothing his cheek.
"What about you?" She asked the man next to him whose eyes were bleared with the copious amounts of whiskey he'd already consumed.
"Bettie?" He asked and she shook her head. Laying back down on the table she met the gaze of the man sitting directly behind her and crossed her arms over her chest, pouting slightly.
"They keep getting it wrong… can you guess?" She asked and he tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Well it has to be something beautiful… so I'm going to call you Beauty." He said and Belle smiled.
"I like that, Beauty." She said and grinned wickedly at him. Thomas ran his hand up her thigh and she gasped. Her leg kicked out before she could stop it and the chair toppled back with a crash. People turned to stare and Belle tried to cover her mistake with a genteel laugh.
"Oh Thomas, I should have said before… you can look but you must never, ever, ever touch." She said slowly and the men at her table chuckled as Thomas was helped dazedly to his feet. Belle wondered at herself. Maybe it was the glitter or the sherry or maybe it was just the atmosphere of the place but for some reason she was no longer afraid. Outside this room she was plain, insignificant Belle de Boire but in here, she was Beauty. She could dance and beguile these men if she wanted to and they could never, ever touch her. She could speak her mind and play with them… she didn't have to be alone anymore. The man she'd sent off arrived with her drink and Belle smiled brightly at him as she accepted it gracefully. Taking a sip she smiled and stood, twirling on the table top and laughing delightedly. Her audience laughed with her and Belle felt adored. Oh yes this was the life, she thought and took another burning sip of her sherry, smiling as the buzz made her distantly happy. She indicated that she wanted to step back onto platform and was instantly lifted up onto the stage. She flinched slightly but managed to smile at them, gripping the pole tightly in one hand and spinning happily around it, her small glass of sherry held in her other hand. She was taking another sip when something she hadn't been expecting occurred. She nearly choked and was suddenly frozen to the core as a familiar face appeared at the doors of the club room and peered across the ocean of tables, immediately spotting her across the room. She dropped the glass which shattered into a thousand glittering pieces. As he approached, Belle stepped back, running into the pole and gripping it tightly behind her back.
"Gaston." She breathed and her eyes flashed over to Ruby who was staring at her expectantly. Belle shook her head and cautiously hopped down from the platform.
"Sorry boys… but I'm afraid I must love you and leave you." She said and tottered towards Gaston on her tiny heels, apprehensive and embarrassed beyond all belief. He looked good, dressed in a sleek evening jacket and a dark blue shirt he stared down at her in shock and she bit her lip.
"Belle?" He asked and she nodded.
"I think you and I need to have a chat." She said and he nodded.
"Yes, I think we do." She said and he grasped her arm. She flinched and tore it from his grasp. She met his gaze coldly and stalked away, peering behind her once to see him pursuing her through the crowd. She moved to the door and pulled him up the stairs, hoping against hope she'd be able to explain this.
OoOoOoO
Well who'd have known it, Belle de Boire had breasts and rather nice ones at that. Gaston couldn't take his eyes off the soft mounds that seemed almost ready to burst out from beneath the black corset and low cut shirt she wore and his member hardened at the sight of her long, shapely legs which seemed to go on forever now that he could see them. Gone, it would seem, were the modest gowns she'd inherited from her mother and in their place… pure heaven. Gaston followed his fiancé up a flight of carefully concealed stairs and into a room hat smelled storngly of perfume and sherry. Belle moved quickly through the room and out into a brightly lit corridor. She opened one of the doors and held it open for him, revealing a small bedroom with bright wallpaper of stunning shades of gold and black. He turned to face her and crossed his arms over his chest, taking in her remarkable changed appearance.
"Well, it good to see you Belle." He said and she flinched.
"It's good to see you too Gaston." She replied and her delicate fingers twisted themselves into knots. She looked up at him and tried to smile.
"Why are you here Gaston, you shouldn't." Belle said and Gaston moved forwards to clasp her shoulders. She flinched again and Gaston sneered inwardly. Heartless bitch, couldn't she at least pretend to like his advances? It wasn't as if she could play the modest virgin card now; that ship had apparently sailed. Instead he smiled and stroked her cheek.
"I've been so worried about you Belle, your father he told me about the deal and I swore I'd stop at nothing to bring you home." He said and her ruby red lips parted in surprise.
"Gaston I…"
"I know, you can't now… that monster Gold has you trapped here but this is just a recona-reconencess mission." He said and Belle stared at him uncomprehendingly for a moment. Then her brow cleared.
"Oh you mean reconnaissance." She said and he nodded. A small smiled touched her lips and she turned to walk over to the door, pulling the silk robe on its back over her clothes. With her body tucked out of sight Gaston was able to concentrate on the mission at hand.
"Oh Belle, you've missed so much." He said and turned away, sinking his dejectedly onto his chest. From behind him he could hear Belle shuffling towards him. Her slim hand touched his shoulder and he turned to face her slowly.
"What is it Gaston?" She asked softly and Gaston faked a smile of remorse.
"I don't want to alarm you; it would be fair since you couldn't do anything about it even if you wanted to." He said and Belle's cheeks blanched.
"Has something happened?" She asked, appalled, and Gaston nodded regretfully.
"I'm afraid it's your father Belle, he's very sick." He said and Belle cried out, her hand coming to rest over her mouth as she stared at him in horror.
"Papa! How? When?" She demanded and Gaston sighed heavily.
"He started to drink again, after you left… it broke his heart to see you go and now he can barely get out of bed, we're all worried about him." He said sadly. He decided to drive the point home.
"Didn't Mr Gold tell you?" He asked and she shook her head. Her azure eyes were wide and full of hurt.
"He's away." She said numbly, sitting down on the black cover of the bed and grasping the footrest so tightly her knuckles glowed white in the dim light of the room.
"Oh Belle." He said and moved to sit next to her. She flung herself into his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Her shoulders shook and he patted her triumphantly on the back.
"It's going to be okay Belle." He said and she stared up at him through tear reddened eyes.
"How?" She demanded and he pulled the box Regina had given him out of his pocket and handed it to her. She took it and opened it, gasping at the sight of the necklace it held.
"Oh my." She breathed and looked up at him.
"Gaston, this is lovely." She said and he smiled.
"When I free you Belle, I want you to be my wife… say you'll wear this, as a promise." He said and she stared down at the box for a long time. He suddenly felt quite nervous.
"It's okay Belle, I understand… I just want you to know that there is someone outside this wretched place that still loves you." He said. Damn, this wasn't going o plan at all. Any other woman would be jumping at the opportunity to marry him and here she was, trapped into harlotry and mulling idly over marriage as though it were a shopping list. His blood boiled until she glanced up at him and he saw that her eyes had begun to fill with tears again.
"I'll wear it Gaston, for you and Papa." She said and he smiled. She pulled it out of the box and turned her back to him.
"Would you mind?" She asked and he carefully linked the chain together. His hand lingered on her neck for a moment longer and she shivered slightly. She hurriedly got up off the bed and stepped away.
"You have to go now Gaston, it's not safe for you here." She said and he frowned.
"But Belle, when can I see you again?" He asked and she shrugged.
"I don't know Gaston… when Mr Gold comes back, it's unlikely that I'll ever see you again." She said and Gaston shook his head.
"I refuse to believe that." He said and she smiled softly.
"It's not all bad Gaston, Mr Gold is not the monster everyone claims him to be." She said and he snorted.
"Oh and that little performance downstairs was 'not all bad' was it?" He retorted snappishly and she flushed, her cheeks glowing like twin coals.
"He, he doesn't know about that." She said and he coughed disbelievingly.
"It's true, he's never approve of me doing it but I needed to, for a friend." She said and Gaston chuckled.
"It's okay Belle, I don't blame you for what he's forced you to do… I promise one day we'll be able to look back on all this and laugh." He said and her face went cold and mask-like.
"Thank you Gaston, take my love to Papa and I hope I see you again." She murmured, ushering him to the door and down the corridor to the elevator. At the atrium she paused and remained enclosed by the golden gates.
"Go now." She said and he stepped out to race across the room, at the door he turned and blew her a kiss. She seemed frozen to the spot and then he turned to stride boldly from the building into the winter night.
OoOoOoO
When Gaston was out of sight Belle slammed the elevator doors shut and made her way up to the top floor. Not even pausing she began to strip off her clothes, leaving a solid trail of finery in her wake until she arrived at her room. She scaled the ladder and threw herself at her wash basin. Furiously, she tore her hair out of its neat bun and shook her curls free. Next she picked up the wash cloth and ran it over her face, drawing from it a smear of make-up that made her almost physically ill to look at. She repeated this until her face was clean of filth and she was staring at her pale face in the dim mirror. The Belle that looked back at her appeared awfully young. The Belle that stood staring at herself had to remind herself that she was only eighteen. Tonight she'd made an absolute fool of herself and yet, there was a part of her that desired to do it all over again. The thrall she'd place on those men, the power she'd held over them and the adoration she had seen in their eyes had been marvellous. For the first time in her whole life Belle knew why the girls in her finishing school had tried so hard to impress men, they had seen the looks men gave them, felt the rush of adrenalin when a man became putty in their hands but most of all, they felt like real women. Belle realised that until now, she'd been living as a child. She'd never woken up from her silly dreams, never understood that the world around her was never going to change. The real adventure was love, or at least finding it. She sat down heavily on her chair and stared up at the ceiling. Calico flittered nervously on the window sill and Belle smiled at him.
"Alone Calico, I've been so alone." She said and he chirped. She frowned and he hopped down onto the bed. She followed him and her eyes alighted on an object she most certainly hadn't seen before. She got up and moved towards it. By the shaft of pale moonlight sliding through her window, Belle saw that it was a rose. A single blossom with a long green stalk laid lovingly over her pillow. She stretched out a trembling hand and picked it up, holding it delicately to her nose. It smelled of her mother, sweet and fresh like spring rain, and Belle felt her tears begin anew. She stroked the petals, which she couldn't see very well in the dark and smiled. Who had put it here? Her eyes widened and she peered around the room nervously, as though by some miracle the answer would just appear out of thin air. Unsurprisingly, nothing happened. Unable to think of a better plan she carefully chopped the end of the stalk with a pair of sewing scissors and placed the beautiful flower into the basin of water on her desk. Smiling she stepped back and surveyed it. Who would give her a rose? Maybe it was Ashley as a thank you present or Ruby by way of an apology? She shook her head, that wasn't right but she didn't have anyone else to go off and so, curious but no longer unhappy she crawled into bed and settled beneath the covers. For the first time in weeks she prayed. She prayed that Mr Gold might come back soon because try as she might she couldn't forget him. She prayed that Gaston would come back, just to know that people missed her. But most of all, she prayed for her beloved Papa, who for all she knew, was lying in his bed at home, dying. When Robert returned she'd ask for some leave, a few days at the most, and if he refused… she shuddered to think. As Calico settled in next her Belle closed her eyes. Exhausted she relaxed into the lumpy mattress and drifted off into a deep but troubled sleep.
Two chapters in a few hours, man I'm on fire. I hope you liked this one, plot's kicking off and I'm really looking forward to the confrontation between her and Gold. Did you like my Robert/Dark One relationship… honestly those boys crack me up… in a totally normal way –rolls eyes at self- Anyway, love to all and please review, it makes me so happy.