Chapter Five: Strong Hold
"Love is not consolation. It is light."
~Friedrich Nietzche
Chernabog stood off a little ways from Main Street and watched the small mortals run around still trying to live through day to day interactions. He could laugh at them if he didn't think it was so pathetic. The whole day he had watched them do mundane actions, some repetitively. There was no magic in this world, not even the smallest bit that was useable, besides what was brought over by his old vessel. He wouldn't be able to feed off of that without some control over that intolerable imp. Once he got control he would be doing existence a favor by wiping this insignificant community out.
Wait…
He took a long inhale of the scent through his nose and smiled. There was nothing like the smell of unused magic. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together was if he was about to partake in a delicious meal. He looked around his immediate surroundings. Whoever the scent was dripping from was close. Something that strong had to be close.
He saw a few children playing in a playground with what looked like a nanny nearby. He's had children's souls before; they never smelled like this one. This magic was an older, deeper and darker than any one child could have. He soaked in the feeling of the darkness that stemmed from the core of the scent. What he would give to have useable power back.
He shifted his view and scanned the area again. There it was. There was a woman who stepped out from the sidewalk and crossed the street. She stood straight and tall as if possible royalty, but wouldn't catch anyone by the eyes. She was trying to lay low and that intrigued him. If she had that sense of power and was a royal, she should have been able to stare anyone down to their knees. Chernabog straightened his jacket against his back and followed closely after her. He ran his tongue over his human canines at the thought of the possible meal. He followed her back to the largest house on the street of an old neighborhood. Classic royalty, he thought. There was no way that they would live in a small apartment if they had a choice in the matter.
She quickly entered the home and shut the door behind her. Even at his distance he could hear the lock shift into place. He waited to feel the settlement of a protection spell to ward off whatever it was she was hiding from, but it never came. She wasn't using her gift. No wonder the scent was so powerful on her; it must be building up from misuse.
He walked up smoothly to the front door and knocked on the door. He cleared his throat and tugged at the front of his jacket to make sure that it was straight.
The woman came to the door and opened it half way to look at the strange man on the other side of her door. She looked him over as he flashed a sharp predatory smile. Which she returned in full. This was going to be more fun than he thought.
"I am guessing you are the new face that everyone has been talking about," she nodded toward him, still not relinquishing any more space on the door, "What can I do for you this fine Friday evening?"
"I see that you're smarter than most of the mortals around here," he looked her over from what he could see of her. His eyes lingered at the bottom point of the v-neck and on the curve of her hip. He then immediately went back to eyes, "I want your magic."
"I'm afraid I am a little low on that at the moment," she said with a bob of her head though it made her a bit dizzy. She put and hand to head and then shook it a little and pointed toward the street, "I hear that there may be a man in town that can help you-"
"Rumplestiltskin and I are bumping heads at the moment," he cut her off before she continued too far. He pushed himself forward and his face was right in front of hers, "You aren't at a loss of it."
She gripped the door firmly in one hand as he had taken the step closer.
"You're absolutely saturated with it," he whispered and took a long sniff by her face. She closed her eyes at the action and felt sudden want rush though her body.
"What do you want?" she asked in a deeper voice and opened her eyes again- a voice that spoke of warning and promises of something primal. The air became charged with her own magic as she knew a seduction when she felt one. She had done too many of her own.
"Exactly what you're going to give me," he smiled again before he pushed the door open without effort. She felt the magic drain from her fingers as he began to kiss her and push her into her home. Lips crushed together and tongues mingled. Regina never felt the want or the need that exploded from her core before. She felt her arms hold no resistance as they wrapped around the stranger's neck. He smirked against her lips as the door closed behind him.
An hour later, Chernabog left the ex-mayor's home and licked his lips. He smirked and closed the door behind him. No use locking it. He cracked his knuckles and then popped his neck before he strolled down the street. The magic that ran through his being gave him an instant recharge. It was time to test just how well this magic would play for him.
"I wonder what Rumplestiltskin is doing…" he smiled and flashed his teeth again. He settled in a dark alleyway and closed his eyes to connect to his own magic through the help of another.
"You just so happen pick a restaurant with my favorite dish for our second date?" Belle asked as Rumplestiltskin held her chair out for her. She sat and watched him with an amused grin until he sat down.
He leaned forward in his chair just a bit before he put his cane off to the side. He furrowed his brows and gave her a playful smile, "Is it scoring me any points towards redemption yet?"
"You're getting there," she kept the playful banter up and looked at the menu that was laid in front of her, even if she already knew what she was going to get.
"Good," he said with a sigh, "You nearly had me thinking that my efforts were for not."
They both looked over their menus at one another. He was challenging her to continue. They had played this game with each other many times before in a castle far, far away.
"I was just wondering if you were trying to butter me up for another revelation later," she raised her eyebrows.
"That isn't a bad plan," he sighed as if he was thinking it over.
She smirked and quirked up her lips in a silent, temporary surrender to which he shifted his eyes down to actually look over the menu.
"I am thinking that a red wine may go with your dish quite well," he began common table conversation and she rolled her eyes at it.
"Come on, Rumple," she put the menu down and leaned over it, "No ideal chit-chat. We are too far past that stage."
"What do you suggest as dinner conversation?" he asked and mirrored her movements from his side of the table.
"What deals have you made today?"
"Nothing too horribly exciting, I'm afraid," he leaned back easily in his chair, happy that he could tell her the truth without feeling guilty, "No babies to barter or children to skin. Not to mention the lack of royalty that doesn't already have a deal or two under their belts. I am at a horrible disadvantage here, darling."
She giggled at that and she saw his face light up at her laughter.
"No word from you-know-who?" she asked in a more serious tone.
"Hasn't darkened my doorstep lately, no," he shook his head as the waiter came over to their table. He shifted his head up to order, "The lady will have the mushroom risotto and I will have the filet mignon."
"Anything to drink, Mister Gold?" the waiter asked carefully. The last time Gold had been here was before the curse was broken and now that people knew who he really was, they were even more wary around him.
"I think a bottle of yourChianti Classico, Luiano," he handed the waiter their menus and added on a, "Please."
"Coming right up, Mister Gold," he nodded and raced to the back.
"I see you made an impression here too," Belle couldn't help but smile just slightly.
"I have you know, I never once threatened this establishment," he waved a finger at her.
"Good for you," she tipped her head at him and sipped at the water that was just dropped off at the table.
He chuckled lightly and took a breath as if to say something back to her when he gripped his head.
"Rum?" she asked and put a hand out and over his other hand that was still on the table. He shook his head and felt a splitting action at the back of his skull. He yelled at the sudden pain, "Rum, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, dearie," his head turned up at her and his eyes flicked from the brown she knew to an angry auburn. His hand turned over and caught hers in a crushing grip. He brought her head forward and pressed his mouth hard against her lips in a stolen kiss. She pulled back her head and looked at him surprised. He sneered and chuckled slightly, "Just showing the real monster."
She gasped and her eyes grew large. She stayed brave enough to keep her hand next to his and not pull away even after the forced kiss, "You aren't Rumplestiltskin."
"Now what gave you that idea?" a deep voice growled from his throat.
He closed his eyes tight against the invasion overcoming his mind. His other hand released hers and went up to his temple as he tried to find a way to settle the raging thoughts. Some were his, but the animalistic ones, the ones that pounded at the forefront were not. Those that spelled out destruction and pain and… Belle- Belle writhing under him, being marked in the most brutal and animalistic of ways.
"No!" he screamed loud enough to gain the server's attention. He fell from his chair and hit the ground with his hands still over his face and head.
"Somebody do something! Call the sheriff!" Belle yelled as she launched herself from her chair and landed beside Rumplestiltskin. She leaned toward him, "Fight him, Rumple. Fight him. You are stronger than he is and he knows it."
"Are you so sure of that?" the voice growled again through his accent. He shook his head again and gritted his teeth, "Don't you talk to her…"
"Ma'am, his majesty is on his way," her server reported and tried to figure out what was going on to his patrons.
"Good, please, give us some room until he gets here," she put up her hand to push him back and he followed her order.
Rumplestiltskin finally opened his eyes and looked up at Belle, his breathing irregular and sweat over his brow.
"Rum?" she asked with a waiver to her voice.
"He's gotten stronger. He's found a source of magic somehow. Can't… can't hold him," he whispered and his eyes rolled back in his head before he slumped over and toward her. She caught his upper body and held him to her.
"Rumple?" she asked and ran and hand through his hair, "It's okay. I am here."
"Belle?" a voice rang from the front of the restaurant.
"James?" she called from the floor. He rounded the tables and knelt down next to her.
"What happened?"
"Chernabog," she whispered and nodded to the unconscious man in her arms, "He's fighting him right now."
"How do you know?" James asked and helped her get Gold from the floor, "What do you mean?"
"He talked to me through him," Belle said in a low voice so others wouldn't over hear, "Showing me the real monster. Rumple said that if he ever found magic, a good amount of it, he may try to take him over. Take stake in what was his."
"Let's get him out of here," James nodded to her and headed out to the front where they had Gold's Cadillac out front.
James took the driver's seat as Belle held Rumplestiltskin against her in the back seat. James kept taking looks back at her and the unconscious man whose face showed the massive battle he was fighting in his own mind. Gasps and growls raged from the man as Belle rocked him in her arms. His teeth snapped and grinded as murmurs of the inner fight flowed over the occupants of the car. Even so, she kept a determined face, ran her hand through his hair and whispered encouraging words of strength to him.
He cleared his throat from the front seat and gained her attention, "Are you sure you should be that close to him if Chernabog is trying to take control?"
"I trust Rumplestiltskin will keep him in check," she said as she looked down at the man in her lap, "He has beaten him from his mind before, he can do it again."
James heard the pride in her voice and shook his head a little in acknowledgement.
After a few more minutes on the road and some strangled cries and haughty laughs from Rumplestiltskin, they arrived at his Victorian home and dragged him up the stairs and into his bed. After they got his tie, jacket and shoes off they laid him against the pillows. Belle tossed off her shoes and light jacket before she climbed in next to him.
"I really don't feel comfortable with you that close to him," James said and had a hand on his hip as if his sword was still there.
"With all due respect, James," Belle began in a calm tone before he gave him a cold stare, "I will not leave him to fight this alone. So unless you want to carry me off screaming and lock me in the basement, I suggest you let me help him."
"She will be begging," the other voice gritted out between Rumplestiltskin's teeth as he whimpered from the struggle, "Oh yes, she will beg for more… for me."
James looked worried, but it didn't seem that Chernabog had enough power to take his body, or Rumplestiltskin was fighting too hard against him for him to break completely through. Belle stroked more hair from his face to keep it from the sweat now beaded on his forehead. James quickly went into the adjoining bathroom, and brought out a damp wash cloth. He handed it to Belle who swiped at his face with it.
"You can't stop me, mortal," it spat in a higher tone and twisted his face into something wicked. It cackled and then sputtered as it was reined back.
Belle's forehead scrunched in worry. She was hearing more from Chernabog than she was hearing from Rumplestiltskin. Was he still holding on? Was he being overrun in his own mind?
Her face turned determined and she leaned down to put her lips right next to Rumplestiltskin's ear. She swallowed and took a deep breath before she began to whisper to him.
"I know you are in there," she started and his twisted face began to falter, "You are stronger than he is, Rum. You have pushed him from your mind before, latch on to what had made that possible and come back. Come back to me."
"Belle…" he broke through and she smiled with a nod even though his eyes were still closed. Then the frown creased and Chernabog growled and snapped at her, "He is nothing without me! Without my power!"
"Rumplestiltskin, you listen to me," she turned stern, "You may not think highly of yourself, but you mean a heck of a lot to me. Get. Back. Home."
"He can't hear you, dearie," the voice sung its way to the surface. She shivered. He never called her 'dearie' like that.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before she leaned forward again to touch her forehead to his, "Let me be your light."
"… always were."
"Then prove it and follow me. Come back to me, Rum," she pleaded with him and left a whisper of a kiss on his lips as she pulled back just slightly. His lips followed hers gently and pleaded against hers to touch once more. She acquiesced just slightly and pressed her lips soothingly against his for a few moments before she felt something shift from her to him and she leaned back.
Another scream erupted from his mouth, but it was a different one from what she had heard at the restaurant. Then his body went slack and his face went peaceful. She touched a hand to his face as James reached forward and checked his neck for a pulse.
"He's alive," James sighed.
"Of course he is," she nodded, "Chernabog needs him alive for now."
His head began to wobble to the side and opened his eyes slightly to see Belle and Charming in front of him.
"Belle?" he asked a little groggy.
"Yeah, I'm here," she smiled.
"You… I followed…" he reached up and she grabbed his hand to hold it to her chest.
"Shhh," she cooed and kissed him on top of the head, "Go to sleep. I will be here when you wake up."
With her reassurance, he closed his eyes and went into a restful sleep.
Chernabog screamed and gripped at his face as if he could tear out his eyes to spare them the pain. His voice now hoarse from his scream, he growled and shook his head from the backlash of the bright light. He had nearly covered that man in complete darkness and planted a stronger hold over him. Then a bright light streamed through his darkness and broke his hold completely. It was as if the sun had been thrown at him in the middle of his beautiful night.
"That little whore," he swore and shook his head again to clear it. He heard some shifting behind him and noticed that the light was so surprising that his wings changed back to their original form unconsciously. He took a deep breath and the wings molded back around him and settled into his leather jacket.
He pulled out the small mirror and threw it to the ground, almost breaking the small bauble. It expanded and rippled as the person on the other side turned their attention to him.
"She is almost ready," the voice called out in report.
"That's good because you are coming," Chernabog snapped and looked toward the direction of port, "Tonight."
Belle rung out the wash cloth into a small bowl to the side of the bed on the nightstand and then dipped it in another bowl of cooler water. She applied it to Rumplestiltskin's forehead and wiped off the last of the sweat.
James stood by the window and watched the streets below and around the home. His arms were folded in front of him. Belle flicked her eyes up to the man by the window.
"Thank you for your help and coming so quickly, James," she said in a quiet voice as if she would wake him if she talked any louder.
"I promised," he shrugged.
"You can go home to your grandson," she said with an understanding nod, "Rumple has enough enchantments over the house where we will both be safe for the night."
"If he becomes more violent in the night?" James asked as he stepped away from the window.
"He won't hurt me," she repeated again with a patient sigh and looked at the prince in the eyes, "Even Chernabog can't reach past true love. Don't worry, sheriff. I will be fine. We are both in good hands. It's my turn to take care of him since he has been taking care of me."
James hesitant to leave thought to himself and then looked back at her, "Have you used a phone?"
"I have had a few interactions with it, yes," she nodded.
"I am leaving my number," James announced and wrote down some numbers on a piece of paper and set it on the dresser. He looked at it and then looked pointedly at her. She nodded in understanding at the action. He looked at Rumplestiltskin and the easy way she took care of him, "Take care of him well. I have a feeling that we will need him."
"No doubt about that. You will," she assured him.
James left pretty quickly and she heard the door shut and instantly lock. Yes, there were enchantments over the house just as she thought. Enchantments that were made to keep the both of them safe when they were inside the sturdy walls and away from the possible and certain dangers of the world outside. She knew that he had put a few over the library and her apartment as well as the doors always seemed to be locked when she goes to secure them, when she knew for certain they were unlocked before. She asked him about it during a shared lunch one day and he answered that he had no idea what she was talking about.
"You should have left me."
Belle looked down the instance the words left his mouth. The cool compress was still over his forehead and his eyes still drooped a little despite his effort to stay awake. She frowned slightly at the words and she pushed back a few pieces of hair. When she didn't speak, he continued.
"He had a hold of me," he said calmly and looked up at her as she leaned over him.
"You broke through," she reminded him and took off the cool compress. She saw the fight still in his eyes and she shook her head, "Let's not get into it tonight, Rum. We are both tired and you shouldn't have to battle twice in one night."
"Yes, dearest," he let it go for the time being and let his head fall back into the pillow.
"How are you feeling?"
"Drained, but somewhat fulfilled," he answered truthfully, "It took a lot of my strength to keep him back. He found a wealth of magic from somewhere and he used it well. It seemed familiar."
"He can use other magic than his own?"
"If given the opportunity," he gave a slight shrug with his shoulders against the pillow. He paused a moment in thought and shifted his eyes to her, "He interrupted our date. The bastard."
She smiled and chuckled with him. She leaned back against the headboard, "Thank you."
He shifted a little and pushed himself up on one side to look up at her, "For what?"
"For keeping to your word to not magic me away," she said and fiddled a little with her fingers and her dress, "And for coming back."
"I didn't need you rushing head first into the battlefield. Charming had enough on his plate as it was," he looked around the room and noticed that the man wasn't there, "Where did the prince go?"
"I told him to go home to his grandson," she said and helped him prop up on some pillows and against the headboard at her side. At his frown she smirked, "I could handle you. Besides, you got out of there and beat him again just fine."
"Belle," he took a hold of one of her hands and kissed her knuckles to gain her full attention, "I wasn't the one who beat him back this time."
"But you came back."
"You brought me back. Two different things, love," he looked at her in the eyes, "He had me covered in darkness. I couldn't see anything except for glimpses of you and Charming. It took all I could to keep him from taking over my body. It was you who led me out of that. When you told me to follow you, a bright light filled the darkness and he released me. You were the one, not me. Are you sure you aren't magic?"
She nearly snorted at the notion of her having a magic bone in her body.
"I just am glad that I was bright enough," he kissed his forehead again. He felt the small pang of regret that the kiss wasn't upon his lips. She made to get up, but he kept hold of her hand.
"Are you going back to your apartment tonight?" he asked without thinking. Of course she was going back to her apartment. She didn't live with him anymore. His hand let hers go immediately after his thoughts settled.
"Are you joking?" she asked with a slight laugh. He looked up to find her with her hands on her hips and ever the same brave woman he fell in love with. She tilted her head, "I am watching you like a hawk tonight. Make sure that you can find your way out if you should need it. I just wanted to get these bowls out of here."
She picked up the two bowls and dumped them out in the bathroom. She was soon back with her hair down and a set of pajamas for him, "Change and then sleep."
"And you?" he asked as he took the pajamas.
"I won't be that far behind, believe me," she smiled and walked out the door to the stairs.
He changed quickly and yawned. A few minutes later and she was back with a cup of water for him in one hand and a used copy of 'Wuthering Heights' in the other; more than likely barrowed from the library. She must have moved on from one Bronte to the next. He also noticed that she had changed. He had given her all her clothing, at first thinking that she never wanted to see him again. She had found one of his old shirts and a pair of sweat pants tied tight over her smaller frame.
"Comfortable?" he asked and nodded toward her.
She didn't answer and held out the cup to him, "Drink."
"Taking the role of caretaker a bit far, aren't you?"
"Someone's got to look out for you if you don't do it," she reasoned. She sat on what was once her side of the bed and bumped his hip with her own, "Now scoot."
He did so and she propped herself up against the headboard closest to the lamp still on next to the bed. She watched him as he made himself comfortable on his side and looked at her expectantly, "You are not reading all night long."
"No, I'm keeping an eye on you all night long," she reminded him and reached over him to turn off his light, "Go to sleep, Rumple."
He turned towards her as she opened her book and began to read. She often did that before bed when she still lived with him. He would often find himself falling asleep watching her read, the light from the lamp creating a halo around her face and hair. His living, breathing angel of mercy who refused to leave him.
"You're still not sleeping," she smirked with her eyes still on the pages of the book.
He smiled and without much thought of the action or of the consequences, he reached up and cupped her face with one hand. He turned her toward him and returned the kiss that she had given him in his fight. It was a soft touch of lips against one another with no further intention. Just a kiss that was a kiss and meant to show how much one is cherished by another. He breathed her in as his hand sunk from her face to her neck and he pulled away.
"Goodnight, Belle," he whispered and waited for her to argue with him and shove him off as she ran for her apartment. His hand dropped to the spot between them and he laid back on his pillows.
She smiled and shook her head with a sigh as she turned back to her book, "Goodnight, you difficult man."
He smiled along with her and closed his eyes. After a few moments, he felt her hand slip into his and a bit of warmth and untold hope planted itself in his heart. She wasn't back in his arms, but it was still her touch. In the end, that's all he could ask for.
A large truck rolled to a stop at the welcome sign and a body jumped out from the passenger side. He closed the door and waved back at the driver still in the cab as a thank you. The driver flashed his lights and began to back up to turn back to the main road and interstate. The young man looked down at the road and noticed the bright line crossing just on the other side of the town line. He pondered over it for a moment and then took out a post card that was buried in his jacket pocket.
The postcard was folded and crunched from its journey in his pocket, but other than that he could still read the one word message on the back of it:
'Broken.'
He took a deep breath and stepped over the borderline. When nothing happened, he took a look back down the road where he can from. He felt that the border was more than that. It was more of a warning, a line that should not be crossed; from either side.
"Now, to find who sent this to me," he gripped the postcard again, shuffled the bag on his back and looked for the first sign of life. First step was sleep. First thing in the morning, he would find him.
A/N: Sorry, this one is a little late, but better late than never. I hope you all enjoy. And look forward to a new fic that will be a redcricket, so if you are a fellow shipper of that fandom, I hope you will read that one too. It will be a while, but I am working on it. Please review and enjoy. Happy reading, as usual, dearies!