When Rumpelstiltskin reached the front doors of the castle, he already knew who the visitor was. His suspicions were confirmed as the doors burst open with the breath of his magic. Six magnificent horses, dark as a night itself and decorated with tall colorful plumage pulled a carriage. He was a bit of a show man himself, but Regina took it to another level.
The coach came to a stop, the large wheels rustling on the gravel. The door opened and a graceful foot appeared, clad in the softest-looking black leather of high-heeled boots. Rumpelstiltskin could make out Regina's blood-red lips even before her features were truly visible. She put her slender arm out, the diamonds on her silk glove capturing the rays, as she waited for the Dark One to assist her.
"Un-bloody-likely, dearie," Rumpelstiltskin muttered to himself through his gritted teeth.
After a few seconds the woman realized that she'd not get any help but just laughed at it, undisturbed by being so openly ignored. Unlike Belle's laughter, Regina's was high-pitched and not truly humorous. It sounded vicious and false.
"Charming, as always," she teased, narrowing her heavily-lined eyes as she climbed out of the carriage elegantly on her own. She did not wait for an invitation, which was hardly going to happen judging by the absence of any welcome and strode past him, her black cape fluttering behind her like a sail. It was an impressive sight, beyond doubt, but it only made the man even more annoyed.
Doing his best to keep calm or at least seem indifferent, he followed Regina inside the castle.
"You seem more gloomy than usual, Rumple," she drawled in a sweet sing-song voice, settling at the table and summoning a tea tray, not fooled by his blank expression. He hated how she made herself home even under his heavy glares. "I did not disturb you from something important, did I?"
As a matter of fact, she did interrupt him at the worst moment possible, but he'd sooner swallow his tongue than let the bitch know it. She even batted her eyes at him innocently which did nothing for his mood. Her perfume was too strong, her voice sickeningly sweet and he could already feel a headache starting to throb deep in the back of his head. He wanted to get rid of her and return to Belle. He hoped the girl would stay away and not let herself be seen.
"What do you want, Regina? Name it, hear me say no and get out," he spat.
"Is that a way to treat a guest, Rumple? No wonder you've got so few of them around," she slowly dropped a cube of sugar into her tea and watched as it dissolved in the amber-colored liquid. Then she became serious, her voice back to ordinary with no hints of sweetness or playfulness remaining.
"You know what I want. Help me defeat Snow White."
There they go again. Rumple, I need a poisoned apple. Rumple, I need some efficient charm to get Snow out of my way. Really, the woman was too blinded by her hatred to see that Snow, in fact, was no threat to her. The way of trial and error taught her nothing, she was stubborn and persistent to get her vengeance - no matter the price.
"I've already told you I was not interested," he said, scowling. "Is that all you want? In that case, have a good day, you can go cause trouble someplace else."
Regina leaned over the table, closer to him as if by cutting the distance between them she could somehow deliver her point better.
"I need a curse," she said slowly, carefully shaping the words with her painted lips. "Something strong and irreversible, something only you could cast."
"Not interested. There's nothing for me in it."
"Oh?" One of her carefully plucked eyebrows went up in silent amusement. "How about your own vengeance? Don't you want payback for being captured, kept behind bars and fed irregularly like some animal?"
Rumpelstiltskin wasn't surprised the woman knew about it. If Regina wasn't so centered about removing Snow from the throne, he'd even suspect she had a hand in his imprisonment.
"Worried about me, weren't you, dearie?" he spat and pressed a hand above his heart. "So touched, I am truly. You must have spent dozens of nights restless, thinking about me perishing in the dungeon. I could bet you were on a rescue mission just when I managed to escape." Rumpelstiltskin did not even bother to disguise the mocking in his voice. He knew Charming would probably follow him, if not for his pregnant wife, but he did not require the witche's assistance to deal with the prince.
"Rumple, you have to help me. Look…"
"I absolutely do not have to do anything," he interrupted Regina before she could finish the sentence. "Now, leave."
Of course, she did not obey him. She tried pressing her point, searching for the words to convince him to cooperate but Rumpelstiltskin ceased to listen. Unfortunately, he noticed some movement at the entrance of the room. His heart sank. Belle. Damn the girl's curiosity, why couldn't she just stay in the lab? He shook his head, indicating she should leave, hoping that she'd go away before she was noticed. False hope, of course. Regina instinctively followed his gaze and looked at the doors. Her lips drew back in another sugary smile (teeth-rotting, if he was to be asked) and gestured to Belle to come closer.
"Hellooo there, little one. Come, let me have a better look at you." She turned to Rumpelstiltskin while Belle approached them. "Did you get yourself a caretaker, Rumple?"
"She's my new apprentice," the man admitted reluctantly.
"A trainee? Well, she looks more like a new pet." Regina actually snorted at her own words, amused by her wit. "Have you broken into her already?"
Rumpelstiltskin felt like he could hit the former queen. "How dare you…" he growled, surprised that either of them could make out the words. Regina only laughed at it, waving her hand dismissively.
"Silly me, of course you didn't. Otherwise you'd have already lost interest and discarded the poor thing. I know how you like to play with innocent souls."
Before Rumpelstiltskin could come up with an appropriate answer or just send all the moral standards – or whatever he had left of those – to hell and hex Regina into next week, Belle approached them and gave the woman a polite curtsy.
"Ah!" This time Regina sounded genuinely surprised when she made out Belle's features. "My little failure of an assassin. I didn't realize you picked up my leftovers, Rumple. I'm afraid she's hopeless. Even the village idiot could stab a sleeping woman with a dagger, besides, I granted her an easy admittance to the castle." She turned to Belle, who stood there too shocked to offer a reply. "I was true to my words, sweetheart, and did not burn your useless village down. But Snow lives and it means you still owe me a favor."
Regina rose and straightened her clothing, picking off an invisible speck of dust that wasn't there.
"I suppose I am done here for today. I have few other calls to make. My regards." She walked away with the smuggest smile and more dignity than Rumpelstiltskin could imagine. Regina may have not achieved her original goal, but she'd done enough harm with her words and he wished he had never let her in the castle in the first place.