Chapter 17: All Magic Comes With A Price
000
Jennifer felt the softness of the sheets embrace her body as she lied in the bed, her body aching. She chuckled as she felt her back pop, muttering, "I forget I am no spring chicken." And it was just as well, knowing she turned 122 years old today.
122 years. Phew, where had all that time gone. Jennifer had outlived her friends in the old village, outlived her parents, and the children born from people the same age as her, and even maybe their children. A century and two decades...god, that sounded impossible if Jennifer wasn't alive to see it for herself. And yet, despite her age, she still appeared eighteen years old.
She pulled the cover over her head as the sun was setting, hoping she could find some sleep. It was hard to sleep when she knew Rumplestiltskin was gone from the castle. In her mind, she told herself over and over that he could take care himself. For crying out loud, he was the Dark One.
But that was just it. When she saw Rumplestiltskin, she didn't see the Dark One—well, she did, but there was more to him. She saw the man she had fallen in love with all those years ago, before their marriage, before the Dark One, and before a vampire had transformed her into a life she'd never thought would be worth having. Before all of that, Jennifer had fallen in love with a man who had run from the battle lines, injured himself intentionally so he could be with his son. She'd fallen in love with a man, and while the reptilian orbs and gold shimmer that was his skin could hide it all, underneath that shimmer was warm flesh. And, sure, he had become a little more eccentric over the years as the Darkness pulled at his heart strings, but he felt just as deeply and strongly for her as he ever did.
The years they had spent together—all eighty-two of them—had shown this.
Her heart would surely break and shatter if anything ever happened to him. If someone hurt him—if someone tried to even lay a hand on him—Jennifer would lose this human part of herself and unleash the beast for certain. The human part of her had maintained the vampire...the logic and reason behind emotion and passion was forever locked into her heart, thanks to the conditions she had set before taking the vampire bite. And while it had served her well, Jennifer knew that if something ever happened to her True Love, that human part would leave. All that would remain in her body would be a vengeful, sadistic, blood thirsty beast of a vampire.
That, in itself, only made Rumplestiltskin more important to her.
The Darkness between the two of them had only grown stronger. Jennifer had become aware long ago that she had felt stronger, faster, and more light on her feet the day after he and Jennifer would spend hours together. She practically fed off the power of the Dark One, and the wedding ring that symbolized that she would forever have his heart and he would have hers) only made it more powerful. The Sun's Kiss would glow brightly in the day time, giving Jennifer the power to walk in the sun. It was a gift from her husband to offer her one of her happy endings.
The first had been him.
The second was to see and live in the sun again.
And while the third had yet to happen, Jennifer was certain that after this Curse was enacted, maybe they would one day have another child. Baelfire was never forgotten, and until he was returned, the idea of having another seemed spiteful to his remembrance. But Jennifer desired a child with Rumplestiltskin more than anything in the world.
She would walk in the dark forever if that's what it took for her to be able to give Rumplestiltskin a son or a daughter, to give him what he missed out on all those other years. They would have a second chance to have a family they never had the chance of having, and with Baelfire back, they could be even more.
Jennifer smiled in spite of herself. Sleep never came to her when she wanted it most. Her thoughts kept her up. Thoughts of Baelfire, which made her sad. Thoughts of her mother, which brought out her anger and fire, and sometimes, regret. Thoughts of her love for Rumplestiltskin, and what they deserved most.
Eventually, they would get what they felt they deserved. But it would take time. And time, she had—122 years had passed. 104 of those years were spent as a vampire. She could do it. She could wait. After all, she had told Hook the same thing: "Things worth having were never easily obtained."
Somehow, this thinking calmed Jennifer's mind. She turned on her side, ready to embrace a good night's sleep.
000
Time had passed...a great deal of it.
Jennifer looked through her dresses, not sure what to wear for the day. She felt a breeze, the cold nipping her skin as she was only wearing a simple black night slip. By now she could recognize when it was a draft and when it was Rumplestiltskin appearing in usual array of red smoke. She turned casually to see him smiling widely at her.
"What?" Jennifer asked.
Rumplestiltskin strolled to her with a bounce in his step, taking her hand and he twirled her around before tilting her back into a professional dancer's dip; Jennifer giggled when he kissed her. She returned it as he lifted her back so she could stand at her usual angle.
"Someone's happy," Jennifer noted.
"I am. And you should be too." Rumplestiltskin told her.
He snapped his fingers and Jennifer looked down at herself to see she was in a long red dress. She gave him a curious look. Then he held up a scroll, smiling at her. Jennifer's eyes widened.
"Oh my god—is that it?" Jennifer explained.
"Indeed, it is." Rumplestiltskin returned, smiling at her.
Jennifer smiled when he gave it to her so she could hold it. She giggled quietly. The power of this Dark Curse, even though useless to her for she held no magical power, still felt dark and delicious. Knowing what it could do...of what it was capable, Jennifer felt a little empowered.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Rumplestiltskin asked, winking at her.
"Very," Jennifer returned, handing it back to him. "I thought it would look more...you know...fiendish. Covered in flames with a nice skull on it. Some cross bones." She looked down at her red dress—the hem itself stopped at her knees, but the veil around her hips fell past her feet, creating a devil's bride look.
"Not all curses appear to be curses." Rumplestiltskin said. "You'd be amazed just how unpredictable fairy dust can be."
"It is pretty," Jennifer uttered, thinking about it. She looked at him curiously. "Did you go alone?"
"Of course not. The 'Queens of Darkness' came with me."
"And how did that go?" Jennifer asked.
"Good for me. Not for them."
"That's a shame," Jennifer said sadly. "I started to like Maleficent."
"A means to an end but the end is justified."
Jennifer folded her hands together, the fingers of her right hand caressing the wedding band on her left. She would have exclaimed that leaving a friend to die for something as evil as a curse would have been unnecessary and the wrong thing to do. But these days—maybe it was just Time—she had grown to accept the Fate of most things. Jennifer knew that in order to get what they wanted—Baelfire—no one would stand in their way. Sometimes, sacrifices had to be made.
Hearing Jennifer's silence, Rumplestiltskin looked at her.
"Do you think they all died—Ursula and Cruella too?"
"If they didn't—I'm sure we'll see them again." Rumplestiltskin said.
"I have my concerns about that."
"About what?"
"Seeing people again—in this new land." Jennifer remarked uncomfortably. "If Regina gets what she wants, this Dark Curse takes away our memories. How will I remember who I am? How will I remember you?"
Rumplestiltskin could see her worry. She was not showing anything short of an emotion but as many years as he'd been with her and had gotten to know the true Jennifer, Rumplestiltskin knew she was starting to doubt. She didn't seem to doubt him, but the Curse made her unsure. Rumplestiltskin folded the scroll into his hands, allowing the magic to swallow it so it was no longer in the room, then he wrapped his arms around her.
Jennifer met his gaze.
"I can't imagine a world where I don't have you," Jennifer uttered quietly. "It's unthinkable."
"You will always come back to me, Jennifer. In this land. In the next." Rumplestiltskin reassured. "And I..." he caressed her face with his hands, his thumbs stroking the corners of her lips so she instinctively smiled, "will come back to you—The Dark One and Rumplestiltskin."
"I'm so glad I've collected the love of both your good and bad side." Jennifer mewed.
"I consider you an incredibly large part of me, dearie. That..." he kissed her "Has never changed. Nor will it ever. As I have always said: You are my heart. You always have been, and always will be."
"Always?" Jennifer whispered.
"Always." Rumplestiltskin promised.
He held her in his arms as she placed her head against his chest. If anything, he would make it so she would be with him in this next land. She may not remember who she is or who he really was—and vice versa—but the cursed memories would have kept them together. He'd make sure to make a deal with Regina about that. Anything to put his wife's worries to rest.
Jennifer said softly, "I love you, Rumples."
"I love you too, Jennifer." He said.
After their moment passed, he looked at her saying, "Why do you still call me 'Rumples'?"
"It's like 'cuddles' but less wishy washy." Jennifer offered, smirking. "We've been together nearly 96 years and you're saying something now?"
When he shrugged carelessly, she giggled.
He kissed her cheek.
"So why am I wearing a red dress?" asked Jennifer.
"Oh no special occasion," Rumplestiltskin returned. "You seemed to have a hard time with your selection so I chose what I thought looked the best on you."
"Oh—my hero."
"Not a hero, sweetheart." Rumplestiltskin returned. "Villain."
"Right," said Jennifer, smirking. "I think you look more villain-y anyway."
Rumplestiltskin rolled his eyes as she made little devil horns with her fingers. This woman never failed to amuse him.
000
Jennifer laced her fingers together as she sat at the long table for what felt a few more minutes before she moved her hands again and again, her nerves refusing to calm despite her better efforts. Rumplestiltskin had gone to collect a debt from the newly married Cinderella. Sometimes, these matters would take a couple of weeks, sometimes as long as a month, but Jennifer had something important to talk about whenever he had gotten back.
And yet...
What if something happened to him?
He's the Dark One, Jennifer's logic began the debate, he'll be fine; he can take care of himself.
And what if he can't?
What would keep him away?
A deal that had taken too long?
A deal that has GONE wrong, perhaps.
He said he would come back. I'll just wait here patiently.
You may have waited too long.
Jennifer cursed her worrisome nerves. Damn it, what if those thoughts were right? What if something did happen to him? Her heart suddenly started racing...what if someone else had taken his dagger, stabbed him, and the murderer become the Dark One? She'd have never known. She would never know.
Jennifer glanced at her wedding ring.
Then again, maybe I would.
Jennifer smiled. The ring on her hand was forged by the Dark One's power and pixie dust. If this ring was still held intact, that only meant Rumplestiltskin was still the Dark One, still able to hold a part of his power—a part of himself—in this ring so she could walk in the sunlight.
So at least he was alive.
Alive...so far.
"SHUT UP!" Jennifer screamed. "That's it. I'm not waiting to find out. I'm leaving now."
Jennifer marched up to the bedroom, pulled on her hunting uniform, laced up her boots, and placed a knife in her boot and one against her belt. She braided her hair into one long tail, the end of the long rope swishing left and right along her lower back as she jogged out of the Dark Castle.
If he would not come back to her. Then she would just have to come back to him. Or find him, really. Wherever he was.
Jennifer's first stop was clear.
She had to visit little miss thang, Cinderella. Or 'Ella' as she was told by a few people. Some claimed she had been living a destitute life, serving under her wicked stepmother and stepsisters and a fairy had come to her, giving her a way out of her miserable life. She had gone to the midnight ball, had fallen in love with the Prince, her True Love. She was pregnant, they said.
Jennifer sighed. Rumplestiltskin was no fairy god mother—the story was already wrecked from the get-go. Rumplestiltskin had mentioned a deal with Cinderella, the whole reason behind his leaving. After giving her the life she wanted and saying she could shoulder the consequences of the deal, Rumplestiltskin had gone to collect the debt. Jennifer figured it was something more than just jewels—he could spin straw into gold; such things didn't matter to him.
But a child...
Ah, yes. That definitely sounded more like him.
Jennifer stopped at the palace, sneaking into the gardens. She could hear someone talking...two people actually. One was a woman, a girl who looked no older than eighteen years old. Jennifer bent down at her knees when she heard the second voice.
It was Rumplestiltskin. Jennifer's loins burned when she saw what he was wearing. Those leather pants of his—damn it. He had a darker look to him, not the other flamboyant colors he wore. This one matched her interests, the dark look of his tunic, the way it would simply cling to his skin. Jennifer shuddered, but ignored (somehow) her baser urges. What this man could still do to her when he didn't even know she was here.
"You know," Rumplestiltskin pointed out, holding a red quill in his hand. "Only magic can stop me."
Cinderella said uneasily, "I..I'm not trying to stop you."
"Of course you're not," Rumplestiltskin stated, but he still sounded suspicious. "Because as everyone knows, 'all magic comes with a price'. And if you were to use this quill to say—imprison me—your debt to me..." he placed the quill underneath Cinderella's chin, clearly (and successfully) intimidating her "Would only grow. And we wouldn't want that now, would we?"
Cinderella shook her head, stepping back to get away from the infernal quill and said quietly, "Sign the contract, please."
Jennifer watched Cinderella intensely. Why was her radar going off around this girl? Jennifer shifted her position to a more comfortable placement and the twigs underneath snapped. Cinderella glanced sideways in her direction as though knowing someone was there, but at the same time...Jennifer hardly doubted Cinderella knew it was her. This only made Jennifer more suspicious.
And who would offer a second child for something as simple as crops? Never the less a child for riches. Some people took their children for granted, but not Jennifer. And certainly, not Rumplestiltskin. Cinderella—the princess...tsk tsk tsk. Rags to riches, but they all stay bitches.
"Are you sure you are happy with this new arrangement?" Rumplestiltskin questioned.
Pointedly, Cinderella held up the contract indicatively.
Rumplestiltskin beamed, taking the parchment from her.
"So it shall be!" Rumplestiltskin uttered with a small giggle. He signed his name. As he tapped the parchment with finality, Jennifer gasped as his entire body suddenly became immobilized.
Cinderella then started shouting, "THOMAS!"
Rumplestiltskin said dangerously, "No one breaks deals with me..dearie."
Jennifer glared as Cinderella's lover boy, Thomas, a dwarf and a man came to assist. Jennifer's disgust deepened when she saw Prince Charming (or rather, David) come to the princess' aide. Jennifer kept her stance, however...fighting the urge...for now.
Rumplestiltskin told Cinderella darkly, "No matter what where you are, no matter where you go, in this land or in the next, I will have that baby."
Cinderella screamed for them again. Jennifer watched as they pulled Rumplestiltskin into a carriage, bars on it like a jail cell. He looked so different behind bars...like a caged animal. Jennifer's heart raced, and her blood began to boil. She stood from her hiding place. Rumplestiltskin was leaving her—and not by his intentions. That only meant that Jennifer would lose him.
And she wasn't going to have any of that.
Not when they had come this far—and so close to getting what they wanted, to getting the family they needed back together again.
Jennifer started forward, her eyes flickering to the yellow bright orbs. Her fangs lengthened. Her feet remained quite stealthy. While Charming, the Dwarf (they called him "Grumpy" for some damn reason) and Thomas were locking and securing the gate, Jennifer sneaked up behind Cinderella. The scream from the princess made all of the men look up, including Rumplestiltskin, who grinned widely and giggled when he saw Jennifer.
"NO!" Thomas shouted, and he ran forward.
Charming snatched his arm and pulled him back.
"Don't, Thomas—no, stop...wait..." Charming ordered.
Jennifer held Cinderella in front of her. Her hands were wrapped around Cinderella's throat, her fingernails were more claws than nails. Those eyes of hers practically glowing in the pale moon light. Jennifer was—for lack of a better phrase—pissed off.
"Let him go," Jennifer growled.
"Who the hell is she!" Grumpy exclaimed, staring at Charming. Then, knowing better, he turned to Rumplestiltskin. "WHO IS SHE!"
Jennifer growled in response, "I'm his wife. Now let. Him. Go."
"Thomas!" Cinderella cried. "Thomas, help!"
"What's her name?" Grumpy asked quietly. "We could reason with her."
"You can try," Rumplestiltskin said lightly. "But I don't see that happening, dearie."
"Shut up!" Grumpy snapped.
Jennifer looked at Cinderella, smiling at her.
"You agreed to a contract, little girl," Jennifer mused. "And you wait all of this time to go back on a deal? That's bad business."
"I'm...I'm not a little girl," Cinderella uttered. "Your the same age as me."
"Hardly," Jennifer returned. "I may look 18, but I haven't been eighteen for decades." She looked at Charming and Thomas, saying coldly, "You want your precious princess back. You let my husband go. If you don't, I will make you wish you had."
Thomas glanced at Charming uneasily, whimpering, "David, she's going to hurt her."
"No, she's not," Charming returned carefully.
"I wouldn't put it past her though!" Grumpy told him impatiently.
Jennifer suddenly felt a pain shoot up her shoulder. She threw Cinderella across the yard—unintentionally in the arms of Charming and Thomas—and whirled around to see Snow White holding a bow and arrow. It did explain why Jennifer felt pain; the woman had shot her. Jennifer jerked it out of her arm, hissing, then went after her.
"Oh!" Snow gasped, and she started running.
Rumplestiltskin giggled at the sight. Jennifer tackled Snow to the ground, straddling her waist.
"As if you can fight me off," Jennifer growled. She stood and threw Snow White up in the air and snatched her so she could slam her into the ground. "As if you could outrun me!" She let Snow get to her feet for sprinting start, but Jennifer caught her hair and pulled her back, punching her hard. Snow was down, almost unconscious.
"Thomas! Please, don't let her take my baby."
Jennifer advanced towards them.
"Don't happen to have a stake on you, do you, Charming," Grumpy muttered.
"If you do," Rumplestiltskin offered, "I advise you to get it right the first time. She gets temperamental."
"Thanks," David said sarcastically. Breathlessly, he reached for his sword, as did Thomas.
"Come on, you fanged bitch," Grumpy muttered. "We've got this!"
Jennifer moved forward.
"Too bad we don't have any of that squid ink for her," Grumpy whispered.
"Wouldn't work," Charming responded. "She's not magic. She's a Vampire."
"Damn right I am," Jennifer growled.
She shot forward, but she was stopped by something. Jennifer glared daggers at Charming, who held two swords in his hand and aimed them at the cage in which Rumplestiltskin was imprisoned. Rumplestiltskin, himself, looked a little impressed, but clearly not happy with what now was being threatened. Jennifer stared at Charming.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Jennifer questioned darkly.
"You don't care what happens to you," Charming whispered. "But you obviously do care what happens to him. If you harm Cinderella...or any of us...I will hurt him."
"He means more to me than you can possibly understand," Jennifer whispered coldly. Her hand touched her shoulder where the arrow had pierced her, and the other remained on her stomach.
Jennifer frowned, looking at Rumplestiltskin who shrugged as Charming pushed the sword's tip against Rumplestiltskin's body. He wouldn't die from it, but he'd feel every bit of it. Imagining Rumplestiltskin being tortured over and over through stabbing was something Jennifer couldn't even bear. Jennifer glanced behind her to see Snow White stirring.
"You leave now..." Charming ordered. "And he will be unharmed. If you don't..."
Jennifer emitted the growl of an angry bear. It was deeply terrifying; even Charming, as brave as he was, backed up a little bit. Cinderella's eyes widened in horror. Jennifer's form began growing; Rumplestiltskin watched—impressed and a little shocked—as large bat-like wings extend from her back. Her face contorted as her nose became bat-like, her eyes becoming full-fledged brazen yellow embers. Her fingers extended and from them grew large, black claws; her ears became pointed and gray, as did the rest of her skin. In minutes, a winged beast with large fangs stood before them.
"I didn't know she could do that..." Grumpy gulped.
"I didn't either," Rumplestiltskin muttered.
The men and Cinderella stared at him, taken aback. All of them had a look of 'oh shit' on their faces. But that all seemed to go away when someone shot a large steak into Jennifer's body. The sound was gut wrenching as it tore through flesh and organs.
"No!" Rumplestiltskin shouted; he grasped the bars of his cage, trying to get out.
Jennifer echoed out an animal gutteguttural crying, falling forward to reveal Snow White holding a cross bow.
"Where did you get that?" Charming demanded. "That would have been helpful two seconds ago!"
"I fashioned it a while back," Snow informed. "Red and I already encountered her like this before. I didn't have one then; I'm glad I have one now. Ella, are you all right?"
"Jennifer!" Rumplestiltskin called out. His voice broke a little as he called to her again, "Jennifer!"
The Charmings and Cinderella glanced down at Jennifer, who was no longer this wretched beast. Instead, they saw a woman wearing a tattered, torn hunting uniform, lying on her stomach. At first, she didn't move. She didn't move at all.
"Did you...?" Cinderella whispered.
"I don't know," Snow muttered.
She bent down, touching Jennifer on the shoulder. Everyone, including Rumplestiltskin held their breath. Jennifer suddenly inhaled deeply and sharply, looking up and at Snow White. Seeing her, she reached out to swipe at her, but Jennifer suddenly cried out, holding her stomach. She stood to her knees, glancing down to the stake having open a part of her belly, but the rest had been uninjured. Even then, Jennifer had started sobbing.
Jennifer began to stand, looking at all of them with murder in her eyes, but something brought her back down onto her knees. She groaned miserably. They watched her suddenly dig her hand deep into her stomach as though to find the wretched thing that was causing her so much pain. Cinderella looked away while the men stared at her, too horrified to speak.
"Jennifer?" Rumplestiltskin said her name, more out of concern than horror. But he watched his wife pull something out of her belly.
Snow put a hand over her mouth when Jennifer held in her hand something small enough to hold in her arms but no bigger than her hand. Rumplestiltskin lowered his head sadly as Snow White, Charming, Thomas, Grumpy, and Cinderella saw Jennifer holding a half-formed baby.
"You..." Jennifer whispered. "You killed her."
"Jennifer...Jen..." Snow began, walking towards her.
Jennifer put the little thing down, glaring at Snow White.
To prevent her from attacking again, Cinderella quickly took the cross bow from Snow White and shot it at Jennifer's other shoulder. The vampire went down easily. Quickly Charming and Thomas took her and pushed her into Rumplestiltskin's cage, locking it back. Rumplestiltskin had no words—or maybe, he could not say anything. He placed his hands over Jennifer's shoulder and stomach and what little magic he could produce, healed her.
Cinderella stopped at the cage, looking between Rumplestiltskin and Jennifer and to the both of him said shyly, "I'm...I'm sorry." And she quickly left before anything else could be said.
As the carriage pulled forward, going to place the both of them in the cell, Jennifer laid her head down on Rumplestiltskin's lap.
"You were pregnant?" Rumplestiltskin asked softly.
"4 weeks..." Jennifer whispered, her voice breaking. "I was going to tell you when you came back."
Rumplestiltskin exhaled deeply, combing his hand through her hair. He couldn't think of anything of comfort. He couldn't even tell her everything would be okay.
"The same reason why I couldn't let them keep you," Jennifer wept.
"I thought your vampirism made you barren," Rumplestiltskin said softly.
"I thought so too." Jennifer mumbled.
She turned on her back so her eyes looked up at him from his lap.
"Apparently, as bad as Dark Magic is...if you will it, it does what you want." Jennifer said quietly, smiling sadly at him.
Rumplestiltskin smiled at her saying, "Magic is emotion."
"It also comes with a price," Jennifer whispered. "I can't have one happy ending without sacrificing the other."
Rumplestiltskin pulled her to him and she lacked any kind of motivation to help. He had her rest his head on his chest, taking her arms and placing them around his waist. He didn't cry although a big part of him was hurting a great deal. Not just for the loss of yet another a child...a daughter this time around.
"I hope Regina casts this Curse of yours, Rumple." Jennifer uttered emotionally. "I hope she does. And when she does, I hope she hurts Snow White in the worst way possible."
"We will see," Rumplestiltskin told her. "But in a way, my dear, you did get what you wanted."
Jennifer stared at him incredulously, saying, "How?"
"You got yourself locked up in the same cage as me," Rumplestiltskin returned. "You never wanted to leave my side—and now you never will. Not even when the curse is enacted."
"But our child..."
"I know," Rumplestiltskin uttered. "It will hurt no matter what I say, Jennifer. But...we still have Baelfire. We'll find him, and we will be a family again. You, Bae, and me. Together like it should have been from the beginning."
Jennifer nodded, but her sadness remained.
"Out of curiosity," Rumplestiltskin said, "What were you going to name her?"
Jennifer paused a long moment before speaking in a voice softer than a whisper, "Lydia."