III

Unwelcome Company

Rumpelstiltskin schooled his weathered features into a bland mask, but nothing could disguise the bitter animosity in his narrowed amber eyes. Apparently, he was going to have to strengthen the wards around the castle … again! The queen prowled around Belle's library, making herself at home, a venomous smile upon her ruby lips. "What is it you want, Regina?" he fairly snarled between clenched teeth as he gave the wheel an idle spin. "I don't remember summoning you, nor sending you an open invitation to visit."

"And since when do I need a reason to visit?" she asked sweetly, that peculiar twist of her lips somewhere between a smile and a sneer turning his way. "I haven't heard from you in nearly a month. I was … concerned."

He cast her a blank stare before turning his attention back to the wheel. If there was one thing the queen hated, it was being ignored. After their last meeting in the forest when he'd been so sure she'd been the one to kidnap his Belle – Belle! – he could well imagine why she was here now. "I grow weary of your false sentiment, dearie. State your business and be gone."

Regina clucked her tongue, tsking him in an effort to hide her amusement. She couldn't help but notice the tensing of his shoulders as she reached out and picked up the book Belle had left on the end table. She arched a brow, daring him to comment. He abandoned the wheel and stalked over to her to snatch the book from her hands, glaring at her through slitted lids.

"My, aren't you a bit testy today, Rumpel."

"Then stop touching my things!" he growled, tucking the tome away on his worktable. He'd make sure Belle got it back later.

"Your things … or Belle's?" she asked, drawing out his maid's name in a seductive tone, her musical laughter reaching far into the rafters. "By the way, dear, did you ever find her? You were in a right fit state when you thought I had made off with her."

"My maid is none of your business, your majesty, and if that's why you've come – " He groaned as the sound of the door at the bottom of the stairs opened, the creaking of the hinges causing dread to curdle in his belly. How could he have forgotten he'd sent her for their afternoon tea?

"Rumpelstiltskin," Belle called softly when she was halfway up the staircase. "We're out of peach tarts, so I hope the cherry danishes will suffice. I'll have to bake more this afternoon, and … Oh, forgive me. I didn't know you had a guest," she said, lowering herself into a hasty curtsy.

His eyes softened just the tiniest bit as they came to rest upon her as she set the tray down on his worktable and began to pour tea into his chipped cup. "It's fine, dearie. Why don't you run along and start dinner, hm?"

"Of course," she quickly agreed. She didn't like the raw power which seemed to emanate from the woman in black.

Regina stepped into her path, however. "Don't be silly, girl. Stay for a moment. I've been rather anxious to meet you, after all," she purred silkily.

Belle's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would you wish to meet me? I'm just the maid," she intoned, wondering over the woman's motives. Her master was coiled tightly, barely disguised anger humming beneath the surface. It was evident he didn't like the woman, much less trust her.

Regina feigned surprise, her hand rising to rest at her throat. "Don't you know? No, I suppose not," she murmured more to herself. "When you were missing, Rumpelstiltskin was frantic to find you. So, so worried over the loss of his little Belle."

A smile bloomed on the girl's lips before she could bite it back, her earlier hope that he cared for her springing back to life within her chest. "My master doesn't like his things to go missing, m'lady," she answered simply, refusing to give this woman any ammunition to use against him.

Rumpelstiltskin inwardly cursed himself as he took Belle's elbow in a tight grasp and spun her around to face him, the lines of his face harsh with an anger he didn't feel towards her. Yet, he had to show Regina that Belle didn't mean as much to him as she actually did. "If you've time to stand about in idle chit chat with my guests, apparently I'm not working you hard enough," he growled, his eyes manic.

Belle braced her hand on his chest, hurrying to catch her balance. It was then she saw it, the small twitch at the corner of his right eye which betrayed his ploy. "Forgive me, master," she breathed out in a timid whisper, her thumb brushing back and forth against the bared patch of skin beneath her hand to convey to him that she understood.

He shivered under her soft caress, his fingers loosening on her arm. He gave her a gentle push towards the stairs. "Go … and my dinner had best be on time, girl."

Regina watched the girl scurry from the room, her head low as she rubbed furiously at her arm where her master had gripped her a bit more forcefully than necessary. She didn't miss the concern in the imp's eyes however he tried to hide it. Nor had she mistaken the shiver which had passed through him when the girl had touched him. He was far more interested in the little maid than he was willing to let on. She merely smiled at him and poured herself a cup of tea as he whirled on her.

"Now, if you've no other business than to bedevil me with your presence, I do believe you know where the door is, dearie," he all but snarled, moving back to his precious spinning wheel.

"You really should try to be a bit nicer to the help. It can't be easy to find pretty girls to serve you. Y'know … like your Belle."

"Regina!"

"Oh, Rumpel, there's no need to get so defensive over your little maid," she simpered, sipping at the warm brew in her cup. "I'm only teasing."

His lip curled in disgust. "I'm not in the mood for your games, Regina."

"Very well," she sighed. "Perhaps you can help with my little problem. I am in need of scarab venom … you know the one. I need it for a potion I'm brewing, and I have no desire to travel to Agrabah to get more."

Rumpelstiltskin narrowed his eyes speculatively. "You're trying to poison the girl now? I thought you just wanted your stepdaughter to suffer."

"No, I plan to use this particular poison on her charming prince. If I kill her true love … well, what could be more horrible than that? With him out of the picture, she will truly suffer. Nothing is worse than losing a true love and I'll have my revenge for years to come," she sneered. "Now do you have what I need or not?"

The mage went to his potions cabinet and cast a cursory glance inside. "Which will it be? The Agrabahan royal gilt scarab or the lilac moon scarab?"

"Is there a difference?"

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head. "Do you remember nothing I taught you, Regina? Those are the only two scarabs known to be poisonous and their venom works differently in several potions." He closed the cabinet. "Perhaps when you study up on exactly what venom it is you need, we might be able to make a deal."

"Couldn't you give me a bit of both?" she asked with a shrug.

"Regina! Go. Home."

She set her cup down with a clatter. "Fine! No need to be rude." She reined in her temper and smiled for him once more as she turned to leave. "I'll just leave you here … alone with your … Belle." Her laughter followed her down the stairs, surely setting the imp's teeth on edge. She could hear the shattering of glass as she closed the door behind her.