Once Upon A Time: The Devil's Next Step, Part Sixteen
By Rebekkalee Mouri-Hibiki
Mr. Gold sat in the kitchen, carefully preparing the pills under a work lamp he had brought in and placed on the kitchen island. Each kind had a separate container and he was working on filling the third one, halfway through the chore of crushing all the drugs to be used to help Belle instead of harm her. It really wasn't that far removed from the way he had used to make potions in The Enchanted Forest so he relied on that knowledge to guide his hands. His mind kept wandering to Emma and her predicament, making him continuously have to refocus his attention on the task at hand.
He had chose not to try to see what was going on for he knew it would just made him feel helpless. He couldn't leave Belle, not the shape she was in. He had another car but was not going to use it. He had already decided on not setting foot outside, sure Regina had some of her cronies waiting to ambush him if he did.
No, he could do nothing but wait. He hated to but he also could not be rash and act without thinking. He had to have faith that Emma could handle the situation with Frederick's help. For someone who had kept telling Emma she needed to have faith, he was having a hard time having some himself.
~Frederick can do this, ~ He told himself again and again. ~He can keep Emma safe.~
As he continued to work, he got the feeling he was being watched. He set down the spoons he had been using to crush the pills and scanned the room, peering deep into the shadows that the highly focused light from the lamp made. The light only fingered over the edges of the island, making the kitchen seem darker than it was. He scooted the stool he was sitting on back, taking up his cane as he stood up.
Again, he looked around the room and found no one. He looked to the windows but there was nothing there either. He frowned, knowing his senses were never wrong. He scanned the room one more time, an idea coming to him.
He picked up the light from the island, aiming it so it lit the room and moved it slowly. A flash under one of the cabinets caught his eye and he set the lamp down so it was still shining in that direction before walking to it. As he got closer, he could see a sliver of light on the counter. He frowned again, realizing it was a reflection... a reflection like a mirror would make.
He moved closer, squinting underneath the cabinet to find a small piece of mirror affixed there, angled in a way that made it undetectable from a distance. It was, however, angled just right to watch the room. He reached up and ripped it down, glaring at it for a moment. He then grabbed a meat tenderizer and smashed it against the black marble counter, shattering the glass into tiny fragments.
He watched as a black fog rose from the bits before vanishing. The glass turned black, just like the hand mirror's glass had, a sure sign it had been enchanted by Regina. His question of how Regina had breached his defenses was now answered and he also had a pretty good idea of who was responsible. He could do nothing more to the girl now though... she was already dead.
He walked to the kitchen window, looking out across the expansive backyard. " Just how many more pieces did you plant in my house, Jasmine? And where? "
Emma thought the hallway would never end. They had been walking for a while, taking a couple of turns and descending more steps in the process. She now knew why there was no one buried remotely close to The Mills' mausoleum. It was because there was quite an underground bunker built beneath it.
It made her wonder if she was walking through what remained of Regina's dark palace. She found it fitting that the graveyard sat upon it if that were the case. She then wondered if Mr. Gold's old estate still existed somewhere beneath the surface and how much of it as still intact. It was thoughts like that one that kept her from thinking about the armed madman at her back, practically walking on her heels.
She wanted to cut Jefferson some slack, she really did. After all, he had brought her here in her best interests and to save Mr. Gold from Regina's sick plans. She wanted to believe that anyway. She wanted to think he was trying to help her out even if he had knocked her around and threatened her most of the night.
Of course, he had his own reasons for helping her. He needed her magic to get back home and take Grace with him. She couldn't discount him for wanting to be with his child. She could however do so because of the tactics he had employed.
Thankfully, the hallway finally ended at the bottom of another set of stairs, leading into a room lined with shelves that were just big enough to hold one item each. Most of those shelves were filled with objects she would have found fascinating if they hadn't belonged to Regina.
" So this is her junk room? " Emma asked as she looked around.
" This is where she took my hat from me, yes. It's also where I helped her get that apple, " Jefferson walked the perimeter of the room, looking at the things on the shelves. " And if you knew what half of these things were, you wouldn't call them junk. I'm sure even your... precious lover wouldn't mind getting a hold of some of these things. "
" He's not my lover, " Emma muttered. She didn't like the way he had purred the last part of the sentence. He was teasing her and knew she was too scared of him to fight back.
" Oh? So what you did was simply a one-night stand? " Jefferson smirked. " Oh, of course it was. With Belle back in the picture I guess the chances of that happening again are next to none. "
Emma wanted to punch him in the mouth, the only thing keeping her from it was the knowledge of the gun, the knife and whatever else he had hidden in his coat. " I didn't come down here to talk about that. I came down here to get her heart and free her from Regina. "
" Right, " Jefferson nodded. " And then what? Watch Mr. Gold fall in love with her and live happily ever after while you have no one of your own? "
" It doesn't matter. I've been alone so long, I could really care less about that, " Emma said. It was true. She hadn't been with anyone like that in over three years and certainly not any serious relationships since she was betrayed by Henry's father so many years before. The alone thing was working quite well for her until the kid showed up at her apartment.
" You haven't been alone since you got here, " Jefferson reminded her. He quirked his mouth, " You think you could go back to that now? "
" That's different, " Emma said. " I have family and friends now. I don't need a man to make me happy. "
Jefferson chuckled, " Right. Just keep telling yourself that. But you'll always wonder what could have been only if Rumplestiltskin had chose you instead. "
" Stop taunting me or I won't help you, " Emma hissed, starting to not really caring about how Jefferson would react. He may have watched the things going on with her but there was no way for him to know the things she had said to Mr. Gold or the things he had said to her.
Jefferson frowned, " You have no choice in that matter. You'll help me until I get what I want. "
" What if I decide not to? " Emma challenged.
" Then there will be consequences, " Jefferson said in a low even tone that made Emma feel her defiance was a bad idea after all.
She stepped back, " Fine. So where do you think she hid it? "
The pills were crushed, the bottles were labeled and a dosing plan written but there was still no word from Frederick. It wasn't like Mr. Gold to worry but he was becoming greatly concerned with the state of things. He walked over to the telephone, picking it up and dialing. Frederick's phone rang and rang until it went to voice mail.
He hung up and tried again, getting the same result. He put the receiver back in the cradle, deciding to go check the rest of the house for mirror pieces. He went to the drawer next to the stove and opened it, finding a flashlight. He took it and switched it on, checking the kitchen one more time.
He walked out of the kitchen when he was satisfied it was safe and went to the dining room, checking every inch of it carefully. He found one shard hidden in the chandelier and he destroyed it. He then moved onto the den. Jasmine had been quite brave and put three there, all of which met the same end as the first two. He then went to the back bathroom, relieved when he found nothing.
He checked it three more times to be sure. He couldn't afford to hurry though his mind was going a million miles a minute, imagining the things that could have happened to Emma. It wasn't like Frederick to not answer his phone so it struck him as odd. He tried to tell himself it had been dropped or something else mundane and innocent.
He then moved to his office, again finding nothing. He wondered just when Jasmine had began to plant to mirror pieces and it was beginning to look like she had only just begun. He went to the study next, silently hoping she had not made it to that room. He had avoided going downstairs after catching Belle in there without permission, afraid she would somehow discover his secret magic room if he did.
He swept the beam over the shelves three times over, no reflection returning to him from anywhere. He sighed, glad his secret was still just that. He walked out to the hall, closing the door behind him. He then went to the stairs and climbed them, deciding to check the upstairs for any shards.
He checked the first guest room but found nothing. Jasmine knew no one ever went into that room so it would have been stupid of her to put anything there. He then moved to Belle's room, opening the door slowly before looking in on her. She was still sleeping, looking very serene.
He slipped inside and closed the door quietly. He approached the bed, placing his fingers on her throat to check her pulse. It was still normal so he was relieved. He then went about looking for any shards, again finding nothing.
It seemed Jasmine had only done a little each day, possibly not to raise suspicions. He had to applaud her for not being too reckless, even if it all ended up being for naught. He started looking around the room carefully when a sighed drew his attention to the bed. He watched as Belle's eyes fluttered open and she blinked them sleepily.
" Rumplestiltskin, " She breathed his name in a delicate way that made his heart jump. " What happened? "
Mr. Gold frowned, " How much do you recall? "
" The maid, " Belle said then frowned. " She was scolding me for... for not taking my pills and then I felt a pinprick. I... remember you came in to confront her but I slipped into darkness. "
He was relieved just slightly, wondering if she was telling the truth or she had heard everything and was too scared to tell him. " I see. Well, the maid has been... dismissed. As it turns out, she was working for Regina. "
Belle looked away, " I... know. When I escaped from the house, she was the one who picked me up and took me to town. "
Mr. Gold arched an eyebrow, acting clueless though he knew it to be the truth. " Was she now? "
Belle sat up slowly, looking like she was thinking hard, as if she were trying to remember. She looked down at the bed, " Yes. She told me what Regina wanted me to do and gave me some things. "
" What kind of things? " Mr. Gold moved closer to the bed.
Belle clutched the sheets in her fingers so tight, her knuckles were turning white. " Pills, " She whispered. " Pills like they forced me to take in the hospital. She told me to keep taking them or I would get sick. "
" And you didn't take them, did you? " Mr. Gold asked gently.
Belle shook her head slowly, " I hated them and the way they made me feel... like I wasn't in control of myself so I stopped. Everything was fine until today. "
" If you call the way you've been behaving 'fine', " Mr. Gold replied as he thought of the crushed pills downstairs and was silently debating whether or not to just flush the lot of them. Knowing Regina, she had quite possibly put an enchantment on them to keep Belle under her control. He hadn't sensed anything but she had hidden things from him before.
Belle released the sheet and sighed, " I've been fighting her influence. I know I have done some things I shouldn't have but it wasn't me doing it. "
" I see, " Mr. Gold nodded once. " Well, hopefully that will be remedied soon. "
There was a long silence before Belle lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. " Are you still mad at me? "
Mr. Gold thought about it. He really wasn't mad at Belle, just angry with the things Regina had done to her. The line between her actions and the things she had been told to was still a bit blurred but it was becoming clearer with each discovery he made. Just as the silence was starting to become uncomfortable, he sighed. " I'm mad at the things you did for Regina. "
" I couldn't help it, " Belle started as her voice cracked like she was about to cry.
" I know you couldn't, " Mr. Gold cut her off gently. He moved to the side of the bed and sat down. He hesitantly reached for her right hand with his left, his fingers hovering over her skin before he made the decision to take it. She gasped as he held it in a firm manner that was not too tight but surely gave her the assurances she so desperately needed.
Belle looked up from the bed, her eyes locking with his. " Rumplestiltskin... "
" Shh, " He murmured. " You must remember I have dealt with Regina's treachery for many, many years. I think I can see who the victim is here. "
Belle blinked for a moment, her face blank as she processed his words. Slowly, a relieved smile spread across her lips. " Oh Rumplestiltskin... so you believe me? "
Mr. Gold nodded, " I do. Now, you must rest. We have much to do to get you out of Regina's control. "
Belle fluttered her eyelashes, " Could you please stay with me until I go back to sleep? "
Mr. Gold quirked his mouth, " Yes. "
Everything from the shelves was now scattered around the room, none of it containing what Emma was looking for. She looked at the mess then glared at Jefferson. " So now what? "
Jefferson ran both his hands through his hair, his fingers snagging in his curls. He looked confused and frustrated. " But this is where I saw her with it... when she was talking to Belle through the mirror. "
" Mirror? What mirror? " Emma looked at him then around the room. " There's no mirror here. "
" But there WAS, " Jefferson said sharply. He motioned to an alcove next to the stairs. " I hid right there and watched her tell Belle to get rid of you... to do something to get you out of her way. She said she would crush her heart if she didn't. I saw it with my own two eyes this morning. "
Emma went cold, " Maybe she knew you were here and moved it somewhere else. "
" I saw her put it in something on these shelves, " Jefferson motioned to the empty shelves wildly. " But it's gone. "
" Listen to me, " Emma said sharply. " She moved it. It's the only explanation. She probably knew you were here and just put it here temporarily then moved it once you were gone. "
Jefferson gripped his hair in his fingers, " But Grace... how am I supposed to get Grace back if I can't save Belle... Rumplestiltskin won't help me if I don't. "
" You already said he wouldn't help you so don't worry about that, " Emma took a step towards him.
" But I thought he would if I helped save her, " Jefferson sounded more like he was talking to himself than anything. " I just wanted to go home... I just wanted to take Grace and go home. "
Emma reached out to him slowly, unsure of what he would do. " Shh, just calm down. I said I would help you so don't worry about Mr. Gold... I mean Rumplestiltskin. I promised I'd make you a hat that works and I will. "
" It's not about the hat, " Jefferson said. He then frowned, " Okay, maybe it is. It's also about how everything I try just blows up in my face. I'm trying to help... really I am. "
Emma nodded though she wasn't sure what to say in return. She sighed, " You will get home... somehow. "
Suddenly, the room was filled with cold, evil laughter. The laughter sent a chill down Emma's spine for she knew who it belonged to. She looked around the room, " Regina? Where are you? "
" Right here, " Regina replied without showing herself. Her voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. " I have been watching you the whole time. "
Emma scanned the room again, her eyes falling on a mirror affixed high on the wall to her left. It was angled in a way so it could see the whole room. Emma grabbed one of the trinkets from the floor, a heavy wooden box and flung it at the mirror. The shot was dead on, shattering the mirror on impact.
" Such violence! " Regina exclaimed sarcastically. " But that's not the only one. "
" Show yourself, you coward! " Emma called out. " I want to see you face to face! "
Regina sighed, " If you insist. "
Emma's eyes grew wide as a heavy wooden door at the end of the room slowly opened, revealing another passageway. It was sparsely lit but he could see it was long. " Are you going to face me? " She called out.
" You come to me and we will talk, " Regina replied. " Come on now. I haven't got all night. "
Emma looked down the corridor, taking a step towards it. She startled when she felt Jefferson grab her right arm. She turned to face him, " What? "
" Don't go, " He said quietly. " It's probably a trap. "
Emma blinked, " But I have to help Belle. "
" But think about what you'll be losing if you do, " Jefferson's grip didn't relent. " She'll become the woman Rumplestiltskin loves and he'll want to be with her, not you. Are you ready to face that kind of pain? "
" I don't care about me, " Emma shook him off. " I can't let Regina use anyone like she used Graham and how she's using Belle. "
Jefferson squared his shoulders, " Then I'm coming with you. "
" Fine, " Emma said. " Just don't get in my way. "
Jefferson scoffed, " I would never dream of it. "