The weather had been dreadful for days, but at last a break in the clouds brought some sunshine, despite the chill in the air as winter approached. Belle had cleaned thoroughly throughout the day, and after they had eaten a late lunch she joined Rumple in the library, choosing a book to read while he was spinning. An hour or so passed in comfortable silence, but he found it difficult to keep his mind on what he was doing. He watched her, hair gleaming like brushed copper in the late afternoon sunlight that shone through one of the windows. She was sitting in a soft leather armchair with her shoes off and her feet curled underneath her, wearing a dress of dark green wool, tight in the bodice and with soft white lace at the cuffs and around the bosom, reminding him of snow-covered pine trees. She was biting her lower lip absently as she read, the tips of her small white teeth pressing against the deep pink softness, and he watched her, fascinated, turning the spinning wheel almost without thought. He wanted to take that lip between his own and treasure its soft fullness, press his mouth to hers and explore the warmth and taste of her. She let out a tiny sigh, stretching slightly, the tip of her tongue briefly moistening her lips. He swallowed hard. Without warning she suddenly raised her eyes to his, devastating pools of blue ringed with sooty lashes, and he gave a start of surprise before immediately dropping his own. It was a minute or so before he looked at her again, and although she had turned back to her book, a small smile was playing around the corners of her mouth.
"Did you want something, Rumple?" she asked quietly, looking up at him again. "You only have to ask, you know."
"Would you make us some tea, dearie?" he asked, with relief, and she continued to smile as she put aside her book, pulled on her shoes and trotted from the room. He leant his head against the spinning wheel with a sigh and called himself every name for idiot he could think of.
When she returned with the tray of tea things, he was glad to accept a cup from her, to give him something to concentrate on. She leaned close as she placed it on the stool beside him, the scent of roses wafting from her. He was reminded vividly of her hugging him after he had let the thief escape, the warm softness of her pressing against him, her fragrant hair brushing his face, and her skin, soft and smooth as silk against his cheek. Her fingers touched his as he reached for the cup and he started as if she had scalded him.
"Are you alright?" she asked, amused, and sat back down as he nodded silently. "You're not used to company, are you?"
"Company," he said, with distaste, "means somebody wanting something from me, which is only of any interest if they have something I want."
Belle smoothed her skirts. "Well, you already gave me what I wanted, so I have no ulterior motive. There's no need to be so jumpy."
"I'm not – ". He broke off at her smile. To his relief, he suddenly felt that he needed to be elsewhere; Regina wanted his help. He stood up quickly and Belle gave a start of surprise.
"I have some business to attend to," he said abruptly. "I'll be back later."
Belle barely had time to open her mouth before he vanished.
To take her mind off her argument with her father, Belle kept busy, tidying up the last of the books that had been donated by the townsfolk, updating the library catalogue and putting them on the required shelves. She thought about other titles she wanted to acquire, and started making a list on the office computer, making a mental note to ask Rumple if she could send off for some of the more important ones. The children's section was somewhat sparse, and there were several classic novels missing. She jumped as her phone rang loudly, and picked it up.
"Belle?" Her father. She frowned.
"Yes?" Her voice was acidic.
"Belle, I'm sorry about earlier. Please – let me make it up to you. I won't mention – him – again, I promise."
She sighed. "Okay, what do you want to do?"
"Can we meet after work?" he asked. "Granny's, or – "
"That's fine," she interrupted. "I'll shut the library up around five."
"Okay, then I'll be there." He rang off, and she sat for a moment, her face pensive. She wanted to be on good terms with him, wanted her whole new extended family, as she saw it, to get along, but she couldn't see how that was to be achieved in the near future. She picked up a stack of books and carried them to the shelves, and was startled by a grating noise and what sounded like a muffled shriek which seemed to come from beneath her. Belle listened intently, but heard nothing further. Shrugging, she turned back to her work, shelving each book in its place.
There were further strange noises throughout the afternoon. At first, she thought one of the mining tunnels must run under the library, but then she remembered that the tunnels turned away from that area and headed towards the town hall. At four-thirty the noises were growing louder, and she became concerned. She slipped out of the library, jogged over to the sheriff's station, and asked for David. She had to wait some time to speak with him, as he was dealing with another matter. He had a harassed look on his face when he came through from the sheriff's office, but he smiled when he saw her. Belle explained the situation in a few sentences, and he looked puzzled.
"What does it sound like?" he asked, and she made a face.
"Sort of a scraping, shrieking noise," she said uncertainly. "I'm not sure if it's metal on metal or if it's something – alive."
He looked worried then. "You mean, something from our world?"
"Perhaps Cora left us more than some spells and magic potions," she suggested, and his face turned grim.
"That would not surprise me in the least," he said flatly, and buckled on his sword-belt along with his gun holster. "After you, Belle."
They made their way quickly back to the library, Belle pulling out her phone as she walked. The door to the library was ajar, but she couldn't recall leaving it open when she had left.
"I'd better call Father, tell him I'm going to be late," she said. "We planned to meet at Granny's at five."
David looked over his shoulder at her. "Well, it's gone five now."
"I know," she listened to the ringing at the other end of the line as he pushed open the library door, and stopped, surprised, as she heard an echo of the ring within the library itself. She hung up the phone.
"That's weird," she said slowly. "Papa? Are you there?"
"Belle…" David's voice was strange, his gaze fixed on a bundle of clothes on the floor. She frowned, trying to see past him to what it was. The ringing was coming from beneath it, and she stepped around David before he could grab her.
"I don't – " She noticed the jeans, the familiar figure, the baseball cap lying on the floor several feet away. Then she noticed the blood, spreading in a thick pool around the body. The body. The air seemed to disappear from her lungs and she stumbled, David reaching for her. Her foot slipped as she trod in the blood – oh dear Gods, she was standing in it! There was a terrible high ringing in her ears, drowning out everything else, as though she had been too close to an explosion.
"Belle, go outside." She could hear David speaking as though from a million miles away, but she took no notice. She bent to take the shoulder of the figure on the ground and, with a strength she hadn't realised she possessed, she turned it over. Shock hit her like a physical blow as his dear face stared upwards, his blue eyes wide, sightless and terrified. She heard a strange moaning, keening sound and took a while to realise that she was the one making it. Hands grasped her shoulders roughly, spinning her around, away from that terrible sight, the white face and the dull eyes and the red, gaping hole in his chest. David propelled her from the library and around to Granny's, and she walked with him in a daze, barely hearing as he explained to Ruby what had happened and drove the two of them to Gold's house. Once inside, Ruby sat Belle down on the sofa and rifled through Gold's liquor cabinet, pulling out the brandy and pouring Belle a generous measure.
"Drink that," she admonished, and Belle obeyed meekly. Ruby poured her another, and, after a shrug, one for herself. She tried calling Gold, tried calling Emma, but her calls simply rang out with no answer. She hung up, frustrated, and turned back to her friend.
"Belle, I'm so sorry!" she said, close to tears. Belle did not respond, merely gazed at nothing, her eyes far-off and dull. Ruby put a hand on her shoulder, making Belle turn slowly to face her.
"Is there anything I can get you?" asked Ruby, and Belle shook her head.
"I think," she said slowly and calmly. "That I'll go upstairs now. When Rumple gets back, will you tell him where I am?"
"Of course! I tried calling him, but – ," Ruby broke off as Belle stood up and made her way stiffly up the stairs, brandy glass in hand, the half-empty bottle clutched in her other.
The spell took over a day and a half to complete, by the end of which both Gold and Emma were exhausted, but pleased with their work. Enchanting the town line that ran out over the ocean had been tricky; Gold had conjured a platform for them to stand on, which had meant dividing the flows of his magic. Emma had had to take more control over the spell itself during this period, and it had left her drained, yet exhilarated. She now stood on the outer edge of the line, looking inwards.
"See, I know it's there," she said, looking in vain for the town. "But I can't actually see it. Even the sign is gone."
Gold smiled wearily, stowing both wands back in his inside pocket. "And if you hadn't cast the spell, you wouldn't be able to enter," he added. "The road simply loops around the town and continues on the other side. One of my more ingenious spells, if I say so myself." He grinned at her. "Good work, Emma. I'm proud of you."
Emma was absurdly pleased at the compliment and rare use of her first name, and returned the smile. "Come on then." she patted his shoulder and started making her way towards the car. "First round at Granny's is on me, if we can stay awake long enough."
Gold turned the Cadillac into the main street and they immediately saw a small crowd gathered outside the clock tower, an ambulance parked on the street and David shouting and waving people back.
"Something's happened," said Emma, at once, and Gold pulled the car over, his heart thumping with fear, all weariness gone. The library. If anything had happened to Belle... Emma guessed what he was thinking, and put her hand on his arm.
"Stay calm," she said gently. "We don't know anything yet."
His nod was curt, and he wrenched open the car door and got out. A trolley was being wheeled from the library towards the ambulance; a body lay on it fully-covered with a sheet. Someone was dead, then. He strode as quickly as he could to the ambulance and David held up a hand.
"Gold," he said warningly. "You can relax. It's not her. She's safe."
Relief washed over him, and he let out a long breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding.
"Who is it?" asked Emma.
"Moe French," said David grimly, and Gold felt a stab of sorrow for Belle. She wouldn't get to make things up with her father.
"How did it happen?" he asked quietly, and David pulled a face. He stopped the paramedics loading the trolley into the ambulance, and drew back the sheet. Emma gasped, and Gold took in the blood-stained hole in the chest, broken ribs protruding from it like rusted railings, the sightless eyes.
"The heart looks to be completely gone," said David. "We'll know more when Whale's done the autopsy. He did some preliminary investigations here in the library, and I've been collecting evidence since yesterday when the body was discovered. I thought it best not to move it until that was finished." He looked at Emma. "I could use your help."
"The heart," said Emma flatly. "It can't be Regina. Not after everything she's -"
Gold shook his head. "This wasn't taken by magic," he said. "This has been ripped out physically, while he was still alive." He turned to David. "I take it no trace of the heart has been found?" At David's nod of confirmation he continued. "And have there been any other mysterious deaths while we were away?"
David's expression was shocked. "Yes, seven. They just seemed to collapse, though. Whale originally thought it was heart attacks, but they were all young men, none past forty. That, and the fact that they all happened at the same time… Do you know what this is?"
"Not yet," Gold said grimly. "But the clues help to narrow down the list of suspects."
"I'll start searching for whatever caused this," said David. "Get some rest. I have a feeling we'll need your help."
Gold turned to face them both. "I suggest you warn people to be on their guard and not to go anywhere alone, until we figure out what caused this. Now, where's Belle?"
"Ruby took her to your place," said David. He hesitated, then added: "Belle – was the one that found him."
Rumple found that he liked having the curtains open. Sun streaming through the windows bathed the great hall in a cheerful light and glinted off the gold thread spooling from the spinning wheel. It picked out copper highlights in Belle's hair and lit up her creamy skin. She was polishing the long table in front of him, her marvellous little rear end wiggling from side to side as she did so, and he was enjoying the view. He frowned as his foresight suddenly gave him warning of what, or rather who, was coming to the castle.
"Belle, do you recall that delicious cake you made for me last week?" he asked, and Belle turned around with a beautiful smile. He decided that he should make her smile as often as possible.
"Would you like me to make another?" she asked, pleased that he had enjoyed her baking, and he returned her smile.
"If you would be so kind."
She nodded, trotting happily from the room, and he stood, stretching. Now that he knew that she would be downstairs in the kitchen for a couple of hours, he could attend to his visitors. He strolled casually to the entrance hall and leant back against the round table, waiting. After a minute or so he waved his hand theatrically and the great door swung open, revealing a heavyset, middle-aged man and a tall, handsome young man, fist raised to pound upon the door. Sir Maurice and the fiancé, Gaston. Posturing fools, the pair of them. Maurice swallowed hard upon seeing him, clearly scared. The boy simply glared, seeming unafraid. But then, he was not all that bright.
"And what can I do for you two gentlemen?" inquired Rumple.
"We're here for Belle," snapped Maurice, his voice wobbling only a little. "You've no right to keep her here!"
"Indeed?" Rumple tapped his lips thoughtfully as anger flared in his belly. He tamped it down. "Are you seriously asking me to break a deal?"
"This man is her fiancé," added Maurice, as though that made a difference. Rumple tutted sadly, and addressed himself to Gaston.
"It'd never last, dearie," he said kindly. "I suggest you find someone as vacant and vapid as you are."
Gaston hesitated, seemingly unsure whether he'd just been insulted.
"I want my daughter back!" Maurice barked. "She didn't know what she was agreeing to, she…"
"She knew exactly what she was agreeing to," interrupted Rumple. "And it was with her that the bargain was struck, not you, I might add."
Maurice took a deep breath. "Have you – touched her?" he asked weakly, and Rumple giggled delightedly.
"What a high opinion you have of your only daughter!" he chuckled. "Do you really think that such a virtuous, pure young maiden would offer herself to the Dark One?"
"Not willingly," snapped Gaston, his fists opening and closing with rage.
"Ah!" Rumple tapped his fingertips together, amused. "So what you're asking is have I plucked the fair young rosebud, do I ravish her nightly in my dungeon?" He leant forward, giving them his most unpleasant smile. "What do you think?" he asked lasciviously.
Maurice went white, and Gaston launched himself forward with a strangled cry, resulting in Rumple waving his hand with a bored expression and Gaston catapulting back out of the door.
"You – you've ruined her!" babbled Maurice, anger and shame making a red blush spread up from his neck. "You're a beast! My only daughter! Now, give her back to me, you've had your fun!"
"I think not," said Rumple cheerfully. "I'm full of ideas, you know, and there are many things we have yet to try!" A statement which could, of course, mean anything from flower-arranging to the most depraved acts known to man. He watched as they jumped to the worst conclusion possible, and leaned back again, folding his arms, enjoying the sickened look on Maurice's face. People were always ready to believe the worst of him. It made them easy to manipulate.
"In addition," he added. "I should warn you that, should you seek to break Belle's deal with me, I can simply return the ogres to your village. I doubt she'd thank you for that."
Gaston pushed himself to his feet. "I will come back!" he spat. "Belle is mine! You're nothing but a monster!"
Rumple decided how he was going to kill the man. Not the father though; Belle wouldn't like that. "And how do you propose to take her away from the hideous beast?" he enquired, gesturing extravagantly. Gaston's mouth opened and closed, his expression vacant.
"I won't let her stay here, not while I have breath in my body!" he managed eventually.
"Well, we'll have to see what I can do about that," said Rumple, with a nasty grin, and the door slammed, shutting them out.