Veins
Written by: Adventure-Seeking-Juliet
When: While listening to Within Temptation, you know, to set the mood.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to ABC and the writers of Once Upon a Time
A/N Much thanks to all of my lovely reviewers! I'm glad you all seem to like the story so far. Most of your plot questions will be answered in the following chapters, and to clear some things up, the story rating will be changed to M at some point, but for now it isn't yet necessary. If you disagree, please let me know and I'll change the rating immediately. So, here is chapter three, pleas enjoy!
Belle could hardly keep up with Gold's fast pace. He had given her just a second to grab her coat, then demanded she follow him. Apparently, he had urgent business to attend to.
Though he wasn't a tall man, he certainly walked like one- with long and agile strides. Belle felt silly as she shuffled to keep up with him.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked, as she just narrowly avoided tripping over another pothole in the aging asphalt.
He didn't even turn to look at her," To the limo, of course."
Belle's brow furrowed in confusion," What is a limo, sir?"
She had never heard of one of the those contraptions. Cars were considered a novelty in Storybrooke, only the richest people owned them, and the few cars in the city were old and dilapidated.
Only then did Gold pause in his walking. He looked at her incredulously, with his mouth gaping and one eyebrow raised," You've never heard of a limo before?"
She shook her head, but remained silent. Something told her Gold was a man of few words, he probably wouldn't care for her incessant questions.
" A limo is a vehicle. Usually they are black, with an engine like a car," Gold explained. He was surprisingly helpful in his descriptions. He didn't seem to be annoyed by her question, though he did throw his hands up in a twittering gesture when he finished his explanation.
Belle found him to be a strange type of Vampyre. Many of the Vamps, especially the older ones, tried to downplay their humanity, in any way possible. They were like emotionless statues, but the Dark One expressed his thoughts in a theatrical manner.
Belle found his movements laughable really, but figured it would be best to hold her tongue, lest he become the emotionless statue she so feared.
"Are limos...big?" Belle asked," I've never been in a large car before. We had a VW beetle when I was a little girl, but-"
Seeing his odd expression, Belle closed her mouth. She had a terrible habit of babbling when she was nervous.
He merely laughed," You'll see soon enough." He had a dark laugh, low and deep in his throat.
Gold was true to his word, they turned a corner a block from Vein, and there a long and sleek vehicle was waiting for them.
It was black, just as Gold had described, with vibrant gold plating around the windows.
"It's beautiful," Belle gasped, before she could stop herself. She had never seen anything so extravagant.
Gold snorted," I wouldn't call a vehicle beautiful, dearie."
He casually opened the door, looking at her expectantly. Belle blushed, embarrassed by her outburst.
The inside of the limo was just as lavish as the outside, perhaps more so. The seats were made of slick black leather, and there was an array of crystal glasses and gold decorations.
Belle slid inside, trying not to touch anything. She knew how Vampyres worked. She was to be seen, not heard. She was to be a meal, not an equal.
Gold, to her surprise, slipped in after her, instead of taking the wheel.
He remained several seats away, but Belle could feel his eyes on her as the limo pulled away from the curb.
After a few minutes, he finally spoke," We will be leaving immediately. The trip is fairly long, so I suggested to our driver that we stop and allow you to buy food supplies."
Belle shook her head," There's no need for you to spend your money. If we could just stop by my house, I could get some food...and say goodbye to my father."
He fixed her with an empty stare," Very well, but make it quick. I don't have time for your petty emotional entanglements."
After that, the ride was silent.
When the limo finally pulled to a step outside her home, Gold had opened the door and slipped back onto his seat at a speed too fast for Belle to see.
She decided to ignore it. She stepped out of the limo without saying a word.
Her house was small, but it was comfortable. Like everyone else in Storybrooke, her parents had painted the outside a dull color, so that Vamps would be less attracted to it. The law of Storybrooke was to fit in.
Anyone who stood out, in any way, ended up dead.
Belle struggled to unlock the door with her shaking hands. She dropped the key twice before she finally managed to get the door open.
"Papa? I'm home!"
Belle didn't bother to take her shoes off at the door, like she usually did, instead she walked straight to her father's room.
It was the largest room in the house, but a large bed took up most of the space. Her father was nothing but a pale blob, mostly covered by linens and pillows.
Belle rushed to his side.
"Belle, m'dear, what is the matter?" He asked, stifling a cough. Her father had been sick for a long time, but the hospital had demanded a fortune for medicinal care, so they'd had no choice but to bring him home.
"Papa, I am leaving Storybrooke."
Moe French struggled to sit up in bed," What? You cannot leave, Belle! I-if it's about the annual fee-"
Belle shook her head, blinking back tears," It's not the money. I was offered a new job."
Moe deflated. He fell back on the bed, his expression blank and unfocused," Oh, I see. And...what kind of job have you taken?"
" A Vampyre has asked me to become his private donor. He promised to make sure you were cared for."
Her father spluttered," You think I'd worry more for my health than your safety? Belle, you cannot sacrifice yourself for me! I am old, I have lived my life!"
Belle touched one hand to his face," Papa, let me do this for you."
Moe shook his head, as if trying to ignore her words," Belle, you cannot go with that- that beast. I forbid it."
His voice became a croak and he was wracked by a string of coughs so violent he lost his breath.
When he had taken a drink of water and quieted, Belle leaned down and kissed him on the cheek," No one decides my fate but me. I'm sorry, papa."
He continued to argue and call for her, but Belle knew she would never leave his side if she waited any longer.
She shut the door to his room firmly behind her. She had never lived anywhere but her old, dull house.
She'd lived there with her mother and father. Then, after her mother's death, she lived there with her father. It was hard to leave home, even if it meant saving the only family she had left. A part of her wanted to do nothing but curl up in her father's arms, to let him take care of her, like he used to. But somewhere during the last few years, Belle had stopped being the child.
Now, she had to take care of her father. It was least she could do for the man who had protected her for so long.
She leaned her forehead against the wooden door, listening to his cries for her, and for the first time since her mother's death, Belle cried.
And this time, her father wasn't there to comfort her.
Belle was still crying when she went to the kitchen and packed some food into a paperback. She couldn't bear to take any more of the food, for fear her father would go hungry.
She had no idea how Gold would go about facilitating her father's care, but with a resolve she was surprised she could muster, she decided to speak to the Dark One about it as soon as she could.
Then, Belle gathered some of her clothes. She did not have very much, and she was reluctant to bring her threadbare t-shirts and jeans.
Instead, she grabbed a few of her mother's old dresses, her nicest pair of jeans, and her only extra pair of shoes.
She covered her gold undergarments from Vein with a t-shirt and the jeans, then stuffed the rest in a small bag.
She grabbed the only picture of her parents she had, a snap shot from her tenth birthday party, then was gone.
A/N Sorry for the quick end, I had some things come up, but I wanted to update today. So, the next update will be longer, do not worry! Leave a review and let me know what you think! :D
