Veins
Written by: Adventure-Seeking-Juliet
When: Listening to Marina and the Diamonds.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time. Only the strange world involved in this story belongs to me.
A/N I'd like to thank all fifty-two of you who have reviewed so far! I'm amazed at how support you guys have given me for this AU. I hope you continue to enjoy the story! (Also, I'm sorry for the slight stall in updates. I had some school stuff going.)
This chapter mentions Augusta, Maine. I've never been there, so none of the sights should be accurate or anything.
Belle crushed her bag to her chest as she left her childhood home.
The temperature had dropped slightly since she'd left the limo, and the wind was so cold that the air burned in her lungs. It was utterly frigid.
Despite her discomfort, Belle couldn't drag herself away from her home. She turned back one last time, to gaze at the tiny house she'd been born in.
Her eyes wandered over the faded gray shingles, most of which were old and cracked, then over the crooked stone steps that served as a porch. There was a dead plant in a pot by the door...
Belle used to look after it, until she'd had to take on her second job. Belle sighed, and watched her breath fog around her.
She was just about to head back to the steps and grab the plant (in case she had time to care for it at Gold's estate) when she heard the limo door open.
"We don't have all night, dearie," Gold said," We do have to be home by dawn."
Belle bit her lip, feeling guilty for being thoughtless," Of course."
She walked back to the limo at a pace much brisker than she had intended.
Gold was leaning against the limo door, his arms crossed across his chest. His face was passive, but his hands were busy twittering and folding a piece of string.
Belle tried to catch a glimpse of the string...but Gold hastily pocketed it as she drew near."
"I had to do something to amuse myself," He explained," What were you doing in there? Packing up your entire house?"
Belle frowned at him," I was saying goodbye to my father."
Gold's face remained impassive, but his voice was a bit softer when he spoke again," Right. Well, if all of your things are in order, would you mind taking your seat?"
He gestured toward the limo, but Belle didn't budge.
When it became apparent she was not going to do as he said, Gold fixed her with an annoyed glare," What is it now, Miss French?"
Belle met his gaze," Are you going to take care of him, Gold?"
The Dark One stared at her, as if amazed that a mere human female was talking back to him.
When he spoke, his voice was hard," You have my word, Miss French. I never go back on an agreement."
" How do you intend to care for him? You're a vampyre...you can't possibly imagine that you could-"
Belle felt a sudden whoosh of air against her skin. The next thing she knew she was pinned against the leather seats of the limo, with Gold on top of her.
Belle tried to groan, but his hand was covering her mouth. She hated it when Vamps used their abilities against a human.
His body was sprawled on top of hers, making it impossible to move, but Belle knew there were other ways to force herself free.
She tried to ignore the tingling feeling spreading through her limbs. She assumed that it must have been human instinct taking affect-
Belle was the prey and Gold was the predator. It was no surprise that her adrenaline had kicked in.
Still, she had never imagined that a Vamp's body could feel so warm. She'd always thought they were cold. All of the Vampyres she'd dealt with had been like stone- cold and un-mercilessly apathetic .
The more Belle tried to struggle, the more Gold's smile grew. His fangs, one normal and one gold, she noticed, were extended.
Belle continued to flail beneath him, annoyed by his show of dominance. It was a typical Vamp thing...they liked to remind humans who was in charge.
Belle finally let her body go limp under his. She was breathing hard, but he was barely breathing at all.
He laughed, and Belle could feel the vibrations rumble through his chest. He had let his guard down. Belle took her chance and bit down on his middle finger. Hard.
Gold sucked in a harsh breath," That's not very nice, dearie." The sides of his lips were raised in a snarl.
Had removed his hand, giving Belle the freedom to talk.
"It's not very nice to pin me down and laugh at me, either!" Belle snapped.
The Dark One's snarl faded," My apologies, I'm not used to dealing with obstinate little girls. "
Belle groaned," I was not being obstinate! I just wanted to speak with you about my father."
Gold looked perplexed now. He had one eyebrow raised and his mouth was quirked at a strange angle," You would not do as I ordered. I would call that being obstinate."
"I am not some animal you can order about!" Belle answered, unable to keep a note of anger out of her voice.
Gold looked at her as though seeing her for the first time. Slowly, he pushed himself off of her and leaned back in his seat, putting as much distance as possible between them.
Belle scrambled to sit up, her chest still heaving. Her adrenaline mixed with her anger made for a volatile reaction.
She and Gold sat in silence for the next hour, allowing Belle to spend her time trying to catch glimpses of the world outside Storybrooke Ghetto.
For the most part, it seemed the same, except the outside world was much bigger. The roads had three or four lanes...filled with sparse traffic.
Belle could only guess that Vampyres didn't often use cars to travel often.
There were huge lights lining the roads...and of the cars she did see, most of them were new and expensive. Vamps only traveled in style.
They passed through one town, which, according to signs, was called Morteville. Belle remembered her father once telling her that Morteville had been called Augusta before the Vamps took over.
It was a strange city.
There were huge buildings in the middle of the city, adorned with all sorts of flashing lights. Belle had read about skyscrapers in books...but she had never seen them in real life.
Besides the main district of the city, the rest of it was quiet and peaceful. There was an array of quaint houses, all in different colors and styles. Belle amused herself by picking out which ones she would live in if she allowed.
She counted five parks. Five. So far as she knew, Storybrooke didn't have any. It was considered unsafe to play outside.
There was a multitude of blood-themed restaurants, night clubs, and stores. Belle was mesmerized by the sights.
Gold did not speak again until they had left the city.
"We will be home soon."
Belle continued to stare out the window.
Gold made a sound of exasperation, forcing Belle to turn her attention back to him. He was playing with the string. Again.
When she didn't say anything, he tried again," Tell me about yourself."
Belle gaped at him," W-what?"
Gold looked pleased with himself. He smirked," I asked you to tell me about yourself, dearie."
Belle nodded," I heard you," She was silent for a moment, thinking," I've lived in Storybrooke my entire life. I was born there."
Gold snorted," I figured as much. What about your family...? You mentioned your father, but no one else."
Belle averted her eyes," It's just my father, now. My mother died a few years ago."
Gold looked momentarily sympathetic," What happened to her?"
"She was killed by a rogue Vamp," Belle said simply.
Gold froze, looking almost...scared. He stared at Belle with wide eyes, studying her face. Belle moved closer to him, worried.
She had never seen a Vampyre act like that. He was shaking, almost, and his hands were fidgeting nervously with his string.
Belle reached out and touched his shoulder," Are you alright?"
Gold instantly reared back," I-yes, of course. I'm fine."
Belle knew he was lying, but she decided not to push it, instead she asked," Tell me about yourself."
Gold shook his head," There's not much to tell, really."
"I'm sure that's not true."
Gold looked up at her, his eyes dark with anger," I am a monster. I've killed more people than you could possibly even meet in your lifetime."
His anger was directed more at himself than her, but Belle still felt uncomfortable. His voice was full of self-loathing.
Belle couldn't say she liked the Dark One too much, but she had seen his sympathy. His nervousness. He was more human than any Vamp she had met before.
"You're not a monster."
Gold was gazing at her with an expression so confused and disbelieving that Belle felt the need to reach out and comfort him, but she restrained herself.
"If you knew what all I've done...you would not be so quick to be kind, dearie."
Belle was about to admonish him for saying something so stupid, but before she could, she was knocked to the ground.
There was a series of crashes and bangs, but Gold remained in his seat. The limo swerved dangerously, then tipped...
Belle held on to the leather seat, desperately. She could feel the limo leaning to one side...then in a moment of breaking glass and squealing tires, the car crashed onto its side.
Gold was unscathed, and he easily lifted Belle out of the mess of broken glass," Are you hurt?"
Belle shook her head," Just a few scratches. I should be okay. What happened?"
Gold waved a hand," Nothing serious. I'll deal with it," His eyes strayed to her hand" You are bleeding."
Belle glanced at the thin cut," It's fine. I must of hit some glass-"
Gold did not appear to be listening to her. Supporting her weight with one arm, he lightly snagged her wrist with the other.
Belle's heart stuttered in her chest.
He smiled, as if he had heard it, then touched his lips to her cut.
His lips were soft, and his breath was warm against her skin. Belle shivered in his arms, unable to control her body's reaction. Many Vamps had fed from her in the past, but none had made her feel.
It had always been job. There had been no pleasure in it whatsoever.
Belle took a deep breath, trying to tell herself that it was the same way with the Dark One. She did not enjoy his lips on her skin, of course not. That would be ridiculous. Masochistic, even.
Gold's lips parted and his tongue slithered over Belle's skin, caressing her wound.
When her blood touched his tongue, a deep sound emanated from the back of the Dark One's throat."
He stared into her face, his brown eyes vibrant with hunger, then put her down.
Much to Belle's dismay, she nearly protested when he let go of her.
"I'm going to check on the driver," He said, quickly.
Luckily enough, he was gone before Belle could say anything stupid.
She leaned back against the cool leather, lightly touching her hand. She felt only smooth skin under her fingertips, the cut was gone.
A/N Whew. I wrote this in one sitting, so I could get it up today. Sorry for any mistakes!
