Chapter 2 – Let Your Power Shine
Damien hid behind a thick oak tree. His predator's footsteps getting closer and closer. He dared to look over his shoulder, to see how close he was from the tree. He could hear it breathing, his breaths small, but fast. The footsteps stopped. Damien froze, holding his breath. He could see its short shadow only about a foot and a half away from him. Then it moved.
"Found you!" I girl cried out jumping onto her father. Damien caught her as she began to tackle him to the ground. He cried for help jokingly, playing along with his daughter's game, "I found you, daddy!"
"Yes, Rapunzel," Damien laughed, "Yes, you did."
Rapunzel smiled widely, her face shining with delight. Her golden hair fell over her shoulders as she leaned over her father, sitting on his stomach in victory. Damien began to tickle her and she shrieked with joy, laughing as she toppled off of him and into the leaves below.
"Rapunzel!" a woman called, "Rapunzel! Damien!"
The pair of them looked up to see Helen walking by. She wore an apron over her dress, her hair high in a bun. Damien helped Rapunzel onto her feet then lifted her up onto his back. She grinned as he carried her towards Helen.
"Dinner is just about ready," Helen said, walking beside her husband.
"Can I help, mum?" Rapunzel asked.
"Help?" Damien exclaimed, "It it your birthday! There is no need for you to help this night."
Rapunzel smiled, "But I want to."
"Come on, Rapunzel," Helen said, placing her hands on her hips, a sweet smile on her face. Damien set her down on her feet and she began to scurry away as Helen called after her, "Wash up for supper!"
Helen sighed as her daughter disappeared behind the wooden door to the cottage. Damien stared after her also, his mind elsewhere. Helen looked to her husband, staring at the bridge of his nose, the way his brow was furrowed, his wide jaw clenched. She took his hand, sensing that there was something wrong. She pulled him near, getting on her toes to gently kiss his cheek. She pulled away slightly, her nose still brushing against the stubble of his beard.
"What is that matter, Damien?" Helen asked, concerned.
"Nothing," Damien replied, shaking his head and returning back to his wife. He kissed her on the forehead, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer against him. She still looked up at him, her face full of concern.
"You have not been yourself this day. Are you feeling ill?" Helen guessed, placing a hand on his forehead as if to find a temperature, but he was fine.
"Everything is all right, Helen," Damien laughed lightly, putting his forehead against Helens, "I guess I am just upset to see her grow so fast."
Helen grinned, nodding her head in agreement, "It has been eleven years. She has grown up into a beautiful, young girl."
Damien nodded his head slowly, his jaw clenched as he tried to hold back his tears. His tears of guilt, regret. He remembered the deal he had made with the Dark One. He would come this day. He would come and take Rapunzel away, his daughter, his golden flower.
"Are you sure you are all right, Damien?" Helen asked once more as she studied his eyes.
"Positive, Helen," he forced a smile upon his face and kissed her on the lips quickly, "Now come, let us celebrate our daughter's birthday."
Hand in hand, they walked to the cottage, opening the door. All eight dwarves sat around the table with Rapunzel, singing songs, and banging their hands on the table. Rapunzel had joined in, beaming as she sang along with the dwarves;
You can drink your fancy ales
you can drink em by the flagon
but the only brew for the brave and true...
comes from the green dragon
"All right," Helen said, clapping her hands along with her husband, "That's enough now."
Damien sat at the head of the table, between Helen and Rapunzel. Helen sliced up some meat and passed it down to all the dwarves, placing some of the chicken on Rapunzel and Damien's plate also. Rapunzel dug in, ripping the meat off of her chicken.
He watched as she placed a pile of peas onto Doppy's plate. She had such a kind heart, such a beautiful soul. Damian swallowed hard, trying to shove down the lump that had formed in his throat. He was angry with himself. How could I be so foolish, he thought, kicking himself for making that deal. But if he hadn't made it, there would not have been a Rapunzel. He would never have had eleven years to spend with her.
You cannot break deals with him. He has powerful, dark magic.
I will find a way, no matter what it takes.
Damien rose from the table. All eyes looked to him. His met with Rapunzel's. Her little smile made his heart leap. He loved her so much. He couldn't give her away. He promised Helen the child. He tore his eyes away from her.
"Excuse me," Damien said, his voice cracking, "he left the room and entered into the kitchen. He picked up a plate and threw it as hard as he could at the wall. It shattered into millions of pieces. He picked up another one, but a hand was placed upon his. He turned quickly, looking down at Helen.
His eyes were full of tears as she carefully took the plate from his hand and set it down on the counter top. She pulled him against her and hugged her husband tightly. Damien sobbed as he stroked her hair, holding her equally as tight.
"Can you please tell me what is wrong?" Helen asked, pulling back from him. She placed both her hands on his face, forcing his eyes to only gaze upon her, "Please, Damien. Tell me what bothers you."
I swallowed hard. Could he do it? Could he tell her? It had been eleven years and only he, Doc, and the man who had made the deal knew about it. It must be done, Damien told himself, I have to tell her.
"We need to leave," Damien said, flatly.
"L-Leave?" Helen sputtered, blinking her pretty eyelashes quickly as if she had heard him wrong.
Damien nodded his head, "Eleven years ago, when I went to go and get the flower, the golden flower that saved both you and Rapunzel, I made a deal with someone."
"Who?" Helen asked curiously, crossing her arms over her stomach.
"The Dark One," he responded, grimly. Helen's mouth went agape, her eyes wide in shock.
"What did he ask for," it was not a question, but a demand. Helen was worried, she feared what Damien was to say next. She hated the feeling that she had in her heart, the aching feeling that aroused as Damien's head turned to their daughter.
"Our child?" Helen exclaimed.
Damien looked into her eyes, nodding his head.
Helen brought a hand to her mouth, trying to cover up the sob that came from her mouth, but didn't succeed, "You promised, Damien," she cried, "You promised my daughter."
"I know what I have promised, Helen," Damien shouted. The heads in the dining room all turned to see what was going on. Damien pulled Helen by the shoulders further into the kitchen. He placed a knuckle under her chin, forcing her head up towards his, "That is why we need to leave, get her out of here and fast."
"When will he come?"
"He said on her eleventh birthday," Damien answered, his voice had so emotion as he spoke. He felt numb as the words poured out of his mouth.
"He will be here soon, Damien," Helen said, "There is no time!"
"We will get out of here, I promise, Helen."
"Where will we go?"
"The never-ending forest," Damien answered. Helen knitted her brows in confusion, "I went there once when I was young. My father took me deep into those woods. There was a tower in a small clearing. We will make for that."
"Will he not find us?" Helen asked, still not too sure about this plan.
"Not in that forest," Damien smirked, "I promise, Helen. I promise that we will get there. But we must leave now," Damien paused, glancing out the window at the sun that was hanging dangerously too low in the sky, "Before it's too late."
Damien drove the carriage down the dirt path into the deep forest. He looked around the woods every so often, making sure that they weren't being followed. He glanced back at the little cottage that sat in the distance. He sighed, silently saying goodbye to the dwarves once more.
Rapunzel lay over her mother's lap. Helen stroked her long blonde hair that reached her waist, petting her head gently. Rapunzel didn't understand why they had to go, why her parents moved out in such a rush. Thoughts and memories of the dwarves appeared in her mind and a tear trickled down her face.
Helen noticed the tear and her heart broke. She pulled back Rapunzel's hair and kissed her forehead gently. No Dark One was going to take her daughter away from her. Helen would fight to protect Rapunzel, to make sure that she wasn't taken away. Helen would fight to the death even. She would rather die than see her baby girl in the hands of a wicked soul.
What did he want with a child anyways? Helen thought as the carriage went over a large bump. What would a wicked man like him want with an Eleven year old girl?
The carriage came to a slow stop. Helen quickly looked out the small window in the carriage, but all she could see were dark shapes of trees in the woods. She swallowed, fear rousing over her. She jumped when Damien opened the door to the carriage and took Rapunzel's hand, helping her out of the carriage. He placed her onto the ground and took Helen's hand to help her out.
"Wow," Rapunzel exclaimed, staring up at a large tower in awe. Helen came up behind her, smiling in relief. They had made it. They were safe.
"This is going to be out new home, Rapunzel," Helen smiled, kissing Rapunzel on the head. They began to walk towards the tower together, Rapunzel's hand tightly interlocked with her mother's.
Damien pulled a large bag out from the carriage and placed it on the ground. He went for another bag, but stopped before he could get his hands on it. He heard something, a rustling in the woods. He dropped his hands, slowly placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. He heard a stick crack in the trees beyond the carriage. He squinted his eyes, trying to place a figure to the noises. He heard a high pitched chuckle and he knew who it must have been.
Rumpelstiltskin.
"Helen, take Rapunzel into the tower. Quickly," Damien urged as he hurried towards them. Helen looked over her shoulder at her husband, their eyes meeting. She saw the fear, the worry in them as he drew his sword from its sheath.
"What is going on, daddy?" Rapunzel asked.
"Come," Helen said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"What about-"
"Come, Rapunzel," Helen insisted, grabbing her hand and pulling her daughter away, "Come," Helen said more calmly as she and Rapunzel moved towards a small door at the foot of the tower. Helen pulled on the handle, but the door did not budge.
"Damn," Helen exclaimed under her breath. She felt around the grass, looking for a key of some kind.
As she did so, Rapunzel looked over her shoulder at her father. He stood at the ready with his sword gripped tightly in his hands. As if sensing his daughters gaze, he glanced over his shoulder, meeting her eyes. A small tear slipped down his face as he looked at her.
Damien felt a jolt in his chest as a blade drove into his heart.
"NO!" Rapunzel screamed. Helen whipped her head around to find a man with shoulder length greasy hair, scales covering his face, his sword driven right through Damien's heart.
"Damien," Helen cried under her breath. She quickly returned to the grass, desperately trying to find the key. Tears streamed down her face as she did so. She dug up a pile of dirt and under that was a silver key. She turned to the door, fumbling with the key as her shaky hand placed it into the keyhole. She turned the lock and opened the door.
"Quickly Rapunzel," Helen sniffled, grabbing her daughter by the arm. Rapunzel cried out as she stared at the blood pouring out of her father's chest and running down the Dark One's sword.
"No one breaks deals with me," Rumpelstiltskin sneered into Damien's pale white face, "No one."
Helen quickly pulled a hand over Rapunzel's mouth, muffling her scream.
"Shush. Shh. Shh," Helen whispered through sobs into Rapunzel's ear. She removed her hand, placing Rapunzel in the door way, "He hasn't seen you yet. Rapunzel, flower, look at me."
Rapunzel lifted her golden eyes to her mothers.
"Run up the stairs and hide," Helen whispered urgently, "Go and hide."
"But-but what about" Rapunzel stammered, breathing heavily as the tears streamed down her soft cheeks.
"Do not worry about me, Rapunzel," Helen replied. She cupped Rapunzel's face in both her hands. A small, sad smile grew across Helen's face, "I love you so much, my flower. Do not forget that, Rapunzel. You are strong, beautiful, and special. Daddy and I both love you," Helen leaned down and kissed Rapunzel's cheeks, then her forehead, crying as she did so, "Now go," Helen urged, "Go!"
Rapunzel hesitantly turned away from her mother, looking over her shoulder as she scurried up the stairs.
Helen closed the door gently, turning her back to her little girl, praying that she would be all right. That she would be safe.
Helen rushed over to Damien, wrapping his dead body in her arms.
"So you must be this man's wife. The one he traded your child for," Rumpelstiltskin said, his voice eerie. He circled Helen as she cried over her husband's body. She grabbed his sword that lay beside his body. Helen was on her feet in an instant, pointing the blade at Rumpelstiltskin, "Oh, no, no, no, dearie. You don't want to end up like your husband, now do you?"
Helen didn't answer. Instead, she took her husband sword and slashed it at Rumpelstiltskin. He turned into purple smoke, vanishing before Helen could strike him. She stumbled forward, still gripping the sword until her knuckles turned white. She turned around, but she was not fast enough. Rumpelstiltskin shoved his hand through the left side of her chest, through the skin, the muscle, and the bone. He gripped on tightly to her heart.
Helen gasped at the pain as Rumpelstiltskin squeezed tighter.
"Where is the girl?" he sneered, "Rapunzel. Where is she?"
Helen remained silent, clamping her lips shut. Rumplestiltskin growled in frustration. He pulled hard on her heart, yanking it out of her chest. Helen breathed heavily, holding her chest where her heart had once been. She stared at the glowing red heart that sat in the palm of Rumpelstiltskin's hand.
He squeezed it tightly and Helen lurched forward, falling on her knees to the ground. Soon, her heart had turned to dust in Rumpelstiltskin's hand. The dust flew away with the wind. He sighed, grinning. His eyes scaled the tower up and down. He stepped over Helen's dead body and started towards the tower.
Rumpelstiltskin pulled open the small wooden door, ducking as he moved through it. He started up the long wooden stairs to the top of the tower. It was dark. The only light came from the red sun outside. It seeped in through the window, reflecting off of a mirror that sat against a wall next to a blue wardrobe.
Rumpelstiltskin tapped his lips, his eyes locked on the wardrobe. It was a perfect hiding place for a little girl. He remembered that Lucy girl he had met. He hoped that this wardrobe was nothing like that one. If it was then he would never get his prize.
He advanced towards the wardrobe, placing his hands on the handles and wrapping his long fingers around them. He counted in his mind; one... two... three...
He flung the closet doors open, expecting to find a little girl to smile down on, but he only found an empty closet. Only hangers hung in it, no clothing attached. Rumpelstiltskin moved away from the wardrobe slowly, running a hand through his hair.
She wasn't here. He shook his head in astonishment.
"They tricked me," he whispered angrily to himself, "They tricked me," he then gritted through his teeth, "Where ever you are little Rapunzel, I will find you. I will get my half of the deal," and with that, Rumpelstiltskin vanished into that purple smoke and he was gone from the tower, gone from the woods.
The tower was silent, so silent that you could even hear a pin drop.
Rapunzel poked her head out of her hiding spot behind the wardrobe. She looked around the tower, making sure that the coast was clear. When her gut was certain she was alone in that tower, she slipped out from behind the wardrobe. She ran to the window, the floor boards creaking beneath her feet. She looked down at the grass beneath the tower. There, she saw two bodies sprawled out upon the floor. A strong man and a beautiful woman. Rapunzel sobbed and pulled away from the window.
She dashed towards the stairs, her long blonde hair flying behind her. Rapunzel hurried down them, running as fast as she had even ran before. Her eyes were blurry with tears and she could no longer see the steps beneath her. She tripped over one and tumbled down the stairs, wincing when she hit the bottom.
Rapunzel sat up, feeling a pain in her knee and elbow. Both were scraped badly, blood dripping out of each wound. Rapunzel sniffled and forced herself to rise off the ground and back onto her feet. She rushed out the open door and into the opening in the woods. She ran towards her father who lay with his arm sprawled out over his head.
Rapunzel reached him and began to shake his body.
"Wake up, daddy," she sobbed, "Please, wake up," she shook him, but his eyes did not lift. She leaned down towards his chest, placing her ear to where his heart was. She closed her eyes, ready for his steady heartbeat that she liked to listen to, but there was no thump thump. No heartbeat to listen to. Rapunzel slowly lifted her head off of his chest. She looked down at her hands. They were covered in blood... her father's blood.
She began to shake rapidly, fear taking over her mind, her thoughts. She cried, her bottom lip wobbling as she stared down at the red blood that stained her hands, "Mommy," she said, her voice so quiet, "Mommy," she called once more.
She looked to her mother's body. Helen's blonde hair surrounded her like a halo of gold. Rapunzel crawled over to her on both her hands and knees, despite the wound on her kneecap. The pain in her heart hurt much more than a few scrapes. Rapunzel sat next to her mother, pulling a strand of blonde hair from out of her face.
Rapunzel cried, calling only her mother's name. She shook her head as she did so. This wasn't happening to her. Rapunzel's heart ached as she looked down at both of her parents. She as alone. All alone. The only company she had was the crickets that hopped in the grass around her.
Rapunzel covered her eyes with her hands, the hot tears slipping through her fingers. A single tear, glistening in the light of the red sun fell from her eye and landed on the wound on her knee. Seconds after the tear fell, the scrape on her knee began to heal. The skin, sewing its self back together. Rapunzel uncovered her eyes and stared down at the wound, her eyes widening at the sight of what it was doing. She looked to the one on her elbow. It did the same thing as her knee. Rapunzel gasped, not understanding what was happening.
You are strong, beautiful, and special. Do not forget that, Rapunzel.
Rapunzel breathed in heavily as she remembered her mother's words. The tears no longer fell from her golden eyes. There was no more left for her to release.
You are strong. You are special. I love you so much, my flower. Daddy and I both love you.
Do not forget.
Do not forget...
Rapunzel found herself reaching for her father's sword as her mother's last words to her played through her mind like a broken record. She could still feel the kisses that her mother gave her on her forehead, on her cheeks as she pulled her mother's long fingers off of the hilt of her father's sword. Rapunzel wrapped her small hand around the hilt of the sword. She grabbed it with both hands, lifting the heavy blade up towards her with all her might. She grunted, feeling the weight of the blade and of the grief in her heart.
Rapunzel held the sword tightly, closing her eyes, making a promise to herself as she did so.
"Mom, Dad, I will get this man," she whispered to herself, over the noise of the crickets around her, "I promise that I will use this sword and fight him, killing him as they did to you. I promise," Rapunzel sighed, feeling the harshness of her words, but she knew it needed to be done, "And when I promise something, I never break it. Ever."