As soon as her head stopped spinning and feeling there was firm ground under her feet, Belle pushed Rumpelstiltskin away, throwing both of her arms out and taking several steps back to increase the distance between them. Her eyes were swollen from tears but she was no longer crying.

"You killed him," she accused.

Rumpelstiltskin looked at her, his expression blank. Why did she even care? She was free like she wanted but instead of feeling happy, she decided to lecture him.

"After all, maybe you are the monster everyone says," Belle added angrily, her words burning like acid.

"Pray tell, what on Earth has ever had you thinking otherwise?" He spat, pointing a finger at her. He was irritated to notice there was still some of the guard's blood on his skin and he shook his hand, making it disappear.

"Didn't you think I'd turn into your lap dog just because you're so willing to spread for me?" His words were sharp and cutting as shards of ice.

He may as well have hit her. Rumpelstiltskin immediately regretted saying it. Belle's face turned pale and the look of betrayal in her eyes was more than he could stomach. She spun on her heels and strode away, not caring where she'd end up as long as it was as far from the man as possible.

"I'm sorry, look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," he ran after her, grabbing her wrist and turning her to look into her face.

Belle pulled her hand free of his grasp, wiping it on her breeches as if she touched a slug or his touch was contagious, polluting her skin, before pressing her hand to her chest protectively. This small gesture pained him for some reason.

"You repulse me," was all she said to his apology.

He was sorry for what he said, but nothing else. The guard's life meant nothing to him and he didn't understand why it would be any different to Belle. Clenching his teeth, he seized her upper arm and dragged her upstairs shoving her into the room.

"Rest, change and come down for lunch," he ordered.

Belle looked at him angrily and offered no reply.

"You will come down for lunch!" Rumpelstiltskin shouted as the door slammed in his face.

Belle fell onto the bed and let her tears run again. She felt so small, helpless and confused. How could the same man who was so kind to her, so heartlessly take someone's life and pretend like nothing happened? She craved his touch hours ago but now the idea of his hands on her made the girl physically sick. She was in prison only several moments ago, but everything that happened to her seemed distant, as if it was in another world with another Belle. Her life was now split into a before and an after.

Belle had encountered death previously, but violence was something alien to her. Her mind kept going back to the body of the guard, grotesquely spread on the floor with a frozen look of ultimate terror and disbelief on his face. He probably had a family, someone who loved him and looked forward to him returning home every evening. It was too easy to imagine him at a large fireplace with a wife serving him a bowl of hot soup, their children playing nearby. The cozy image was replaced by his dead eyes, unmoving and blank. Belle felt a knot tighten in her stomach and thought she was going to be sick.

Her thoughts switched to the Rumpelstiltskin she knew. He had always been kind to her. At first his words were prickly and biting, but as she learnt to ignore them, he began speaking to her calmly- the cruel mocking gone from his voice. The man shared his scarce meals with her, healed her and tried to keep her warm. He'd listen to her and do the small things she asked. Did she just choose to forget that the same man was the Dark One who'd been terrorizing the people of the Enchanted Forest?

Back in the cell she had simply known him as the man who cared about her, no matter how reluctant he was to admit it. He showed her another side of himself, something no one could expect to find in the Spinner. Or was it just pretense?

Belle shuddered as she remembered his face contorted by rage. His expression was almost primal, his teeth were bared in a snarl and there was a demonic red glint in his squinted eyes. That picture just did not agree with the man who sighed and held his breath when she touched him, whose kisses were so sweet and tentative.

His hand trembled lightly when he first touched Belle, as if he didn't believe he was allowed to, as if she had been made of china and had to be treated with the utmost care. She smiled humorlessly. She was right about his hands; they were capable of many things indeed, for there was no hesitance or trembling in them when he choked the life out of another person.

She was so happy when he suggested she should come with him. Belle imagined being his apprentice would be exciting. They'd practice magic together, and maybe talk for hours about it. And when they'd get tired of words, they'd sit in the comfortable silence in one of the castle rooms, or take a stroll around the grounds. There would be laughter, and soft touches and many kisses.

But now Belle regretted it for she did not know what she had asked for. She merely traded one prison for another, the only difference being that this particular prison was more spacious and better-decorated.

She could no longer cry, her eyes burning. Belle felt numb and tired and she did not want to think what kind of year lay ahead for her.

She must have dozed off, for when she opened her eyes her neck ached from the uncomfortable angle. To her shame she felt well-rested. Rising from the bed, Belle walked to the large window and tugged open the heavy velvet drapes. It was hard to tell whether it was dawn or twilight outside. She didn't know where exactly the Dark Castle was located, but she could make out some misty grey shapes or snow-capped mountains.

Belle returned to the bed and poured some water into the bowl standing on the bedside table. She splashed cool water onto her face and sighed. Rumpelstiltskin ordered her to come downstairs. She wasn't a bit hungry and did not fancy the idea of meeting him. Belle was sure he would not hurt her or made her do anything by force.

As much as she did not want to, she sighed and thought it would be best to leave her room. She didn't want Rumpelstiltskin to believe she was afraid of him.