Chapter 2

Rumpelstiltskin was annoyed when he heard a knock at the door of the dark castle. He stormed to the door and with his dark magic he flung it open. He was surprised to find a maid on his doorstep. He squinted his black eyes at her.

"What can I do for you dearie. Do you need wealth? A magic potion to turn you beautiful? Or perhaps you need a poison to rid yourself of a bad employer. Well dearie you have come to the right place. But I do not make deals for nothing dearie. There is always a price."

The maid looked even more frightened at the idea of making a deal with the Dark Imp. In a voice barely above a whisper, shaky and filled with fear she began to speak "It is not for me my Lord. It is for my employer. Lady Belle. She requests your presence at her castle. She asks that you come straight away. That she will pay you anything you require from her."

An evil grin passed over Rumpelstiltskin's face. "Lady Belle eh'. Last I heard of her she was being hidden away by that oaf Count Gaston. I heard she was pregnant. Was she able to provide him with a son?" The maid seemed to pale at this. With that Rumpelstiltskin could sense the cause of the good ladies distress. "Alright then Dearie, let's not keep your lady waiting." With that he swept up his cloak and in a flurry of smoke they arrived at the door of Belle's Bedroom. The sound of a baby crying could be heard from the room. Along with that sounded like the cry of its mother. It was faint but with his ears he could hear everything. Slowly he opened the door. A woman with long auburn hair was holding her baby close. Her eyes were red. Rumpelstiltskin could see that she was desperate. It was something he could use to his advantage. "It seems Congratulations are in order" The woman jumped when she heard him speak. Protectively clutching her baby, she asked. "Who are you?"

"Do you not know?" He smirked. "You sent for me dearie."

"Rumpelstiltskin" she whispered with disbelief.

"The one and only dearie, how may I assist you?"

"I want to make a deal with you. For my daughter."

"Contrary to belief dearie I do not take children for a profit. There is something to evil about that." Belle's eyes widened in shock at this.

"NO! I mean I want you to save her not to pay with her. I was supposed to have a son. I was sure I would have a son. But alas here she is. A perfect girl. My little Emilie. You have to save her. If my husband finds her she will suffer far worse than anything she would if you took her away. He would treat her as he treats me. He may even kill her. I am sorry to say my husband is just that unpredictable."

Rumpelstiltskin eyed the new mother. "And what would I get in return for this deal?" he asked her.

"I will give you anything Rumpelstiltskin. Anything just make sure that my daughter has a good and happy life with a father and a mother to love her." Her voice cracked at the mention of a mother that was not her but she would have to endure it. For the sake of her little girl.

"What makes you think you have anything that I want dearie?"

"I will give you gold, jewels, anything. I will give you my life if that is what you require. I just want her safe." His eyes darkened a bit at her desperateness. Her willingness to give her life was something Rumpelstiltskin was not expecting. But it was something he would play on. It was worth making a deal.

"Well then dearie. I have a deal for you. I require someone to look after my rather large estate. It seems like you fit the profile."

"You mean go with you?"

"Did I stutter dearie? Yes you would go with me. You would cook and clean and do anything I require of you. In return I will make sure that your daughter has the best life possible. With parents that will love her as her own. She will never know of you or the life she would have had. She will be happy."

Belle thought it over. She knew that any life was better than the life with Gaston. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She kissed her daughter on the head. Looking up at him with determination she said, "I will go with you."

"It is forever dearie."

"My daughter, she will be safe? Gaston will not go after her… Or me?"

"I will make sure of it dearie."

"Then I will go with you." As the words exited her mouth a sense of relief flooded through her. At least until she heard the doors to the castle being opened. Soon her husband's loud voice filled the halls. "I heard of Belle going into labor. Tell me where is my wife and my son?"There was a pause "WHAT!" he yelled. "Where is she? Where is that whore? Belle how dare you not give me a son! I will make you pay for this!" Belle's eyes widened with fear. She clutched tighter to her daughter.

"Please you must help us. I will do as you as I promise. I will go with you forever. Please He will kill me if he finds me!" Something about her made his heart ache for her. A feeling he did not like. But deep inside he wanted to protect her from the monster downstairs. They call him a beast. But this Gaston was something different. Something truly evil, maybe even more evil than him.

"Give me the child." He asked. Belle's tears were falling freely. She kissed her daughter for the last time. Whispering her love to her she handed her over to Rumpelstiltskin. Wrapping the baby in his cloak he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Belle broke down. Her body shook with the force of her tears. She could hear Gaston stomping up the stairs making his way to her room. The sound of things breaking followed him. He reached for the door handle to her room, only to find it locked. "Open the door Belle!" he waited only a second before banging on the door. "Open this damn door NOW Belle I will not ask again!" Belle reluctantly moved from her bed to the door. As she was reaching for the lock a hand clutched her wrist. She followed the hand to its owner, Rumpelstiltskin. She pulled back in shock. He mistook it for fear. "Do you fear me dearie?"

Belle pondered this for a second before saying, "Not nearly as much as I fear him."

He backed her away from the door. "Then lets us be off. You have a castle to care for."

The door to her rooms burst open. Gaston had kicked it in. In fear Belle gripped Rumpelstiltskin's arm. Gaston took in the scene his anger only fueled by the sight before him. "What is this Belle? Where is my daughter that you dared to grace me with? And WHY is this... this... BEAST in my house? How dare you!" Belle backed away in fear. So sure that he was there to kill her.

"Your daughter is no longer your concern, and as for Lady Belle here she has agreed to come with me."

"I will not allow it Belle! Get your ass over here NOW!" Gaston started to reach for her as she tried to hide herself from him. All of a sudden Gaston stopped, frozen to the spot.

"Now, now dearie. If you were to hurt dear Belle that would be in violation of my deal! And I do not take kindly to people damaging my property! So you will stay right there as Lady Belle and I take our leave." With that Rumpelstiltskin and Belle were gone in a puff of smoke. Gaston fell to the floor a scream of pure hatred erupted from him.

"You can run Belle. But I was promised you. And I will have you!"