Chapter Four: A Gift, Not A Curse

A/N: For those investing in the future of my story:

My story is AU where Belle and Rumplestiltskin are concerned. My OC, Jennifer, replaces Belle as Rumple's true love. My recommendation: f you don't like the story—i suggest you stop wasting your time and find a fanfiction more suited to your desires. Okay—for those who aren't hating this story—please continue. Review, don't review—it's completely up to you, dears.

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Jennifer stood on a large oak branch, stooping as she was perched several feet above the knights' camp. She giggled quietly as Hordor alerted his other men to the grisly sight of their fallen companion and as they vomited their dinner into the earth, Jennifer straightened, smirking in satisfaction. The dried blood of their fallen knight streaked her hands, her mouth and neck. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as she cherished the alarm that spread through the camp. First there was panic, then bouts of rage—most of this chaos was released by Hordor, who vowed to 'kill that little demon bat' when he saw her next. Jennifer shrugged carelessly, feeling pretty damn good about herself. It was amazing how she would feel shitty one moment, then how yummy she'd feel after drinking so much blood the next.

It was like taking a long bubble bath, soaking in bath beads and salts as the world around oneself dissolved into a different reality. Her skin had a new glow, no blemish of any kind as the blood coursing through her veins made her flesh flawless. Her hair was fresher, blacker even, as though she'd gotten a whole new due. The strength she had been lacking was back. What puzzled Jennifer since her vampire turning days had started was that every single time she committed her dangerous deeds, her despicable murders, was how horny she felt afterwards.

Jennifer glanced at her hands again, smirking as she licked a finger, tasting the leftovers of what had been a rather gruff-looking knight. She'd given him plenty leeway to escape her clutches. She'd thought of how Hordor had made Rumplestiltskin kiss his boot, and then the taunting words he'd used on Baelfire about his father being a coward and how his mother despised his father greatly for his cowardice. She thought of Hordor all the while she'd taken her sharp talons into the man's gut, carving his stomach like a pumpkin just so she could rip out his organs and force feed them to him. The man had screamed; he'd begged her to stop, that he would do anything if she would let him go.

"Anything?" she had asked darkly.

Ignorantly, he had nodded.

She returned dangerously, "I want..."

"Hmm?" he begged to know her request as his mouth was muffled by his own organs.

"I want you to die." Jennifer breathed into his ear. And then she'd ripped out his heart with her hand, leaving a large gaping hole in his chest.

The sensation of destroying something made her feel alive, it gave her the release she wanted. But now, Jennifer knew, she was aching for a different kind of release. Why was it that when she committed a murder—especially something so ravenous as this—would make her feel so desirable, so seductive...maybe it was a vampire thing? Jennifer wasn't sure, but the feeling remained. The blood lust she'd feel had originally frightened her but now she sometimes looked forward to it. It was liberating, a different kind of freedom—to do whatever she wanted...being a vampire had its benefits.

She stooped again to watch Hordor look around quickly, to search the skies for an answer—or maybe he was searching for her. The darkness of the night kept her hidden, and the large branches and their conspiring leaves obscured his vision, but not hers. Her vampire eyes watched the man take out his sword, cursing everything she held dear.

"Tomorrow," Jennifer heard him say, "We're getting that kid. Fiendfire...Rarefire..."

"Baelfire," corrected one of the guards, which made Jennifer chuckle.

"Whatever," Hordor snapped angrily. "He's turning 14 tomorrow; we'll take him. If we run into any trouble, we'll have the Dark One."

"Are you going to use him against the vampire?"

"No," Hordor growled. "I have something far worse to use on her."

Jennifer narrowed her eyes to slits, but didn't listen anymore. The night was still young; she had promised her special someone that she would return home when she was through. She'd keep that promise. Growling quietly, she hopped from the branch of the tree and when she was a mile from the knights' camp, she hit the ground, literally running; the wind of her speed shook the bushes around her, and as she sprinted past a carriage, drawn by horse, the animal reacted, neighing and nearly steering the carriage itself off course.

Jennifer heard a sound. She was a good distance away from the village, and knew she was closer to the Duke's castle where he kept all of his possessions. She heard talking, some ramblings of a man and a familiar voice. Jennifer stared in disbelief as the Duke's treasured tower of things was burning on sight. She stood back when she saw two men wrestling on the ground and then the one who had the dagger stabbed the one dressed in a dark cloak. Taking cover, Jennifer stepped back into the brush.

The scene before her had distracted her, and Jennifer stepped back right into three knights.

"How many of you people are there?" Jennifer snapped furiously.

"Kill her—stake her in the heart!"

"I'm trying!" said the second knight, quickly grabbing his sword.

"Not with that—the wooden stake! Get it!" The first knight that spoke and the third unspoken knight had taken Jennifer's arms, and with the force of both of them, they'd pinned her down on the floor.

Jennifer jerked her arms and flung them back. They grunted with the impact as their backs hit the trees. Jennifer took a fighting stance, ready to eat their faces off—literally—then the brave second knight, stepped forward. He held a stake in one hand, a hammer in the other.

"Back off," Jennifer growled quietly. "Or you'll die like the one in your camp."

"It was you," whispered the knight, shaking his head. "You are a monster—you...you were born a monster!"

"Evil isn't born," Jennifer snapped. "It's made! People judged me. They laughed at me, bullied and abandoned me. They forced me to be this way. I tried to forgive—i tried to forget, but it's just too hard." She smiled darkly, adding, "But why should I try to deny what everyone tells me I am, especially when I can embrace this darkness and splash in it a little? Or maybe, a lot?"

She walked towards him threateningly.

"A monster," she drawled. "It's scary, isn't it?"

"What are you doing?" The knight questioned—no doubt the fear in his voice was unable to be stifled. He watched her eyes become bright yellow, her fangs to grow from her upper jaw as she smiled evilly at him.

"I've stopped being the sweet, innocent, vulnerable woman I was—why should I be?" Jennifer asked the knight honestly. "Why? Can you or your moronic buddies think of a damn good reason why I would want to go back to my normal weak human self?"

"Yeah..." the knight responded, surprisingly brave.

"Why?" asked Jennifer.

"Because you wouldn't be about to die right now," he said, smirking at her.

Jennifer grunted as his two back-up parties had drawn their swords and each had taken a slice of her with them. One sword had nicked the left side of her abdomen, and the other caught her shoulder; simultaneously, the knight who had been distracting her, brought down his sword into the back of her knees so she was forced to kneel, in pain. Jennifer winced, biting back tears of pain—she would not be giving them the satisfaction.

"And," Jennifer muttered, "People call me a monster."

She closed her eyes quickly when the knights all took out their stakes, raising them above their head, ready to find her heart no matter how many times they'd have to stab her. However, in that moment—what might have been only seconds—all three knights screamed in agony as their hearts were stabbed, and one of their necks had been broken; all three fell down simultaneously, dead.

Jennifer managed to get to her feet, impressed—but equally startled. She cringed as she ignored the pain in her shoulder, hip, and the back of her knees, turning circles to find her rescuer.

"Who are you?" she questioned. "Show yourself."

From the shadows, stepped a figure. His wavy hair framed a pale, gaunt face; his eyes were masked with golden green reptilian-like eyes, and his skin was flexed with gold over a pale green shimmer. In his hand was a dagger, flickering a glare from the moonlight. Jennifer's eyes widened when she realized she stood before the Dark One.

She became even more surprised when she got a closer look at the Dark One.

It was Rumplestiltskin.

He stepped towards her, smiling.

"Are you all right?" asked Rumplestiltskin, looking her over.

"Fine..." Jennifer returned slowly, still shocked. "I'm fine...Are...Are you okay?"

"You know," Rumplestiltskin began, looking at the dagger which titled his name and was covered in dripping blood, "I'm more than okay."

"How is that?" Jennifer asked, watching him carefully.

"I feel great," he said, chuckling. "Better, even." He stood in front of her.

She observed his current appearance, looking something out of a dream (or maybe a nightmare, but she couldn't talk—her vampire form scared the shit out of a lot of people...) and then she smiled, surprised, saying, "You don't have your cane."

"I don't need it," Rumplestiltskin replied as though this was obvious but to prove a point, he made a bounce and said, "Dark One's magic has made me stronger."

"Fantastic," Jennifer returned. "Well, as you know, I was intercepted by these knights in dull armor, and I had every intention of going to your cottage afterwards, but...mmm!"

Rumplestiltskin stopped her in mid-sentence as he wrapped his arms around her waist, the flat side of the dagger loosely pressed against her back as he was pulling her into him and then shoved his mouth hard against hers. It took a moment for Jennifer to realize what was happening but then she grinned, kissing him back; her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him to her, even closer.

Energy between them seemed to increase tenfold—it was like she'd been hit by lightning. Her heart was racing, her mind was a buzz, and the arousal she'd felt from killing earlier stirred within her once more. Jennifer felt their passions heighten as he pushed her back against a tree, fueling the spark between them. Jennifer chuckled darkly as his hands left her waist to move between her legs, separating them so he stood between them, enacting something both of them have thought about for years.

"I've wanted to do this," Rumplestiltskin uttered in a low growl, "for a very long time."

"Then do us both a favor," Jennifer urged desperately, "and stop wasting time."

He ripped the already half-torn seam of her dress, throwing the material behind him. Jennifer didn't question his newfound direct approach, or his confidence—she'd already suspected it was from the power he now controlled. Such darkness could do that to a person. Jennifer was an expert on that.

Jennifer moaned when he pushed himself, still fully cloathed, against her, allowing her to feel just how much he'd wanted to do this. Her moans perpetuated the moment, making it last only a little while longer. Rumplestiltskin smirked when her body became flushed with color, her fingers grabbing at his clothes, removing them as quickly as he was removing hers. The forest would shroud their exposed bodies, but they weren't even thinking of the display—only of each other.

She pushed him down onto the forest floor, her vampire strength being a perk—always. She was a little surprised, however, when he turned positions on her; She'd forgotten somehow that the Dark One was a lot stronger than a simple little Vampire. The lust buried inside grew.

"I want you, Rumple." Jennifer uttered breathlessly.

Rumplestiltskin smiled at her. Somehow his normal self returned to the surface as he lied himself on top of her, although withholding a great deal of his weight from crushing her. Jennifer felt his lips touch the lobe of her ear, his breath on her skin tingling her spine and bristling the hairs on her neck. His voice was low, spoken softly although the lust was surfacing.

"I love you, Jennifer." he said.

Jennifer smiled at him.

"I love you too, Rumplestiltskin."

"Good," he said with a dark chuckle: "Because what we are about to do has been plaguing my mind since the day I met you. What happens beyond this point—I won't be able to stop."

Jennifer lifted her hips, inviting him.

"Good," she said with the same dark laugh. "I don't want you to."

Rumplestiltskin lowered his body against hers. Jennifer was perplexed that despite the considerable reptilian look of his skin—the green and gold shimmering—it was soft against her own flesh. His hands rubbed her shoulders, her arms, touching her breasts, cupping each then groping the rest of her body as though they had the insatiable need to cover every inch of her flesh and the hunger to do it all at one time and yet savor it as well. Jennifer's body responded to him. With a nibble on her earlobe or suckling on her neck, her lips would part slightly without her knowledge; when he brushed his fingers down her sides, even over the wound, she would sigh softly. Rumplestiltskin cupped her breasts, enjoying the handful, and how hard her nips responded when he circled his fingers around them.

Was it so wrong to think how great having a vampire lover would be when his companion had been bitten at the perky age of 18?

"Stop toying with me," Jennifer growled.

"Shh," Rumplestiltskin whispered, "I'm enjoying myself."

"But..."

"Shh!"

Jennifer raised her eyebrows, surprised by his dominant stance. A few days ago, he hesitated to even kiss her, and now he was commanding her to be silent while he tormented her with foreplay—although she could hardly complain but the aching between her legs was becoming hard to ignore while he enjoyed the scenic route. Jennifer whimpered when his hand moved down her belly, and cupped her sex, his fingertips teasing the entrance.

"You know," Rumplestiltskin said quietly, "I am the Dark One now—I can do so much more for you when all this is said and done...for us."

Jennifer leaned forward, digging her fingernails into his shoulders and forced him on his back. She gave him a challenging glare and when he simply smiled at her, she continued on with her plan.

"Are you sure you want to be with a Vampire?" Jennifer questioned quietly as she straddled his waist. "The blood lust can be a little..frightening to some."

"Not to me, dearie," Rumplestiltskin returned pointedly. "I found your vampirism to be less frightening and more...beautiful'." His voice deepened on the last note, and Jennifer felt her loins burn for him.

"All that strength and vitality, all this power in one woman," Rumplestiltskin pointed out when Jennifer gave him a curious look; he made a purring sound.

"You've changed a great deal," Jennifer whispered, leaning down so her body was lying on his.

"For the better, I trust?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"I like this side of you...It's so dark." Jennifer stated. "Now, if you through talking, would you fucking please make love to me?"

Rumplestiltskin looked a bit taken aback by her language, but smirked at her.

"If you wish it," he told her.

"I do." Jennifer growled.

He pushed her onto her back, and slid himself into her. Jennifer felt no pain—she was already soaking wet from the little talking they did, and his ministrations earlier had made her hotter than she'd ever felt with any man. He moved in and out, slowly at first, and when she was whimpering for a harder feel, he did as she wanted. Her legs wrapped around his waist, allowing him to go deeper inside, and he groaned when she dug her nails into his back. Jennifer was moaning loudly, only muffled by their chaste kisses, their need to heighten the pleasure. Rumplestiltskin caught her wrists and pinned them above her head; her hips moved in sync with his, and when her back arched, he thrusted into her harder.

"Oh my god..." Jennifer whimpered, and she moaned his name.

Rumplestiltskin watched her for a brief second, never stopping, but he noticed her eyes becoming bright yellow, and as her mouth fell open in lust and pleasure, her fangs lengthened. In her deepest senses—of anger, of hatred, or heightened pleasure—Jennifer's true form of blood lust and sensuality came out as a vampire. And seeing the darkness within her match the darkness inside him, Rumplestiltskin felt a deeper attachment towards her, which only excited him further.

Their hands clasped together above Jennifer's head as she found her peak, pleasurable moans exhaling from her mouth and then vibrating into his when he kissed her on the lips. Jennifer parted them and he took her invitation to deepen the kiss. Sweat rolled down their bodies; Jennifer moaned in protest when Rumplestiltskin finished, and pulled out of her, lying beside her, panting as quickly as she.

"That was..." Jennifer began breathlessly. "You were...I..."

"I know," Rumplestiltskin returned, smiling at her.

Jennifer giggled, rubbing sweat off her face, sitting up. Rumplestiltskin watched her, his eyes taking in the magnificent sight of the pale figure before him. Jennifer saw him looking at her; she noticed the moonlight seemed to make his new skin glitter in a way. In some ways, it was beautiful—in a masculine kind of way, and it wasn't too long before Rumplestiltskin stood to his feet, and began dressing. He held out a hand to her, and Jennifer thanked him for the help; Then she was only reminded of her wounds made by the guards.

She hissed in pain.

Rumplestiltskin looked at her, concerned. He stepped towards her to help, but she shook her head.

"Give it a couple hours," Jennifer said quietly. "I just had my fill earlier tonight—I'll heal faster this time around than I would a few days ago."

"Who did you kill?" asked Rumplestiltskin blatantly.

Jennifer looked at him, surprised and when he looked at her knowingly, she blushed.

"One of the knights that was with Hordor," Jennifer said. "Gutted him—fed him his own intestines before he choked on them."

Rumplestiltskin whistled low, saying, "I thought you were bluffing."

"So did he," Jennifer returned darkly. She shrugged, saying, "Do you think I was too harsh?"

"Not at all, not...at...all," he reassured. "You threatened Hordor that death sentence."

"Well," Jennifer mused, "I thought I would leave him alone for later, and I am glad I did. Now you get to exact a little vengeance."

"How does it feel?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"Liberating," Jennifer uttered delicately as though the word could tempt any man into killing just for the hell of it.

Rumplestiltskin smirked at her.

Jennifer knelt down to pick up her clothes. She remembered the torn dress—the heat of the moment had really gotten to them. Rumplestiltskin saw it, and he said, "oh...that." He waved his hand and the dress turned from the brown rags it had been to a simple, light blue dress.

"You have magic," Jennifer realized.

"All kinds," Rumplestiltskin drawled, wiggling his fingers. "And more to come when I learn how to wield it. We can have everything, Jennifer. Anything you desire..."

Jennifer pulled the dress over her head, and spun around, watching the dress flow along with her. She walked towards him, and Rumplestiltskin watched her with a smile.

"Well, being a woman, I naturally desire everything." Jennifer stated pointedly. "But as for whom...you and you alone, Rumple. There is no one else." She shrugged, saying, "Well, except for Baelfire—but I swear, other than him, you are the only man for me."

Rumplestiltskin smiled at her.

"Speaking of which..." Jennifer uttered, looking up at the sky. The sun was starting to rise.

"Of course," Rumplestiltskin said. He bowed to her, hands extended out on either side of him, a playful demonstration of what these 'nobles' would do when the lady would leave. Jennifer returned the playful tease, making a deep curtsy.

They shared a laugh.

"Will you come home once you are through?" asked Rumplestiltskin, referring to her daytime slumber until the sun would set.

"Of course, Rumple," Jennifer whispered. She cradled his face in her hands and said, "I will always come back to you."

He took one of her hands in his, kissing the back.

Blushing like a school girl, Jennifer smiled.

"I love you, Jennifer."

"And I, you," she returned sweetly. "It's a curious thing though...our love."

Rumplestiltskin tilted his curiously at her.

"True love," Jennifer specified. "It's suppose to fix curses, isn't it?"

"I imagine there's a great number of loopholes around this," Rumplestiltskin summoned an answer, although he seemed just as perplexed as Jennifer. However, the two simply gazed at one another, then simultaneously shrugged.

"Maybe," Jennifer said softly, "True love's kiss only breaks what people may consider a curse?"

"Do you consider me cursed?" asked Rumplestiltskin curiously, indicating his appearance and his obvious gain of power.

Jennifer smiled, saying, "If it makes you feel stronger, Rumple, I would consider it a blessing."

"And what about you?" Rumplestiltskin asked, gesturing to her. "Do you consider yourself cursed?"

"Maybe I am not," Jennifer offered, shrugged. "Not anymore? Vampires thrive in the night, but I am not anxious to test it and if it didn't turn me from my vampirism, and if I don't leave now, I'll be ashes by morning."

Rumplestiltskin nodded, agreeing with her. One last kiss was exchanged between them, then he waved her off, and she took off like a speeding bullet, disappearing into the forest as blur of pale skin and black hair. He turned around, heading for the village. It was time to rescue Bae.