Belle rolled over, onto her stomach, sunlight streaming across her bed. The way the sun filled the room betraying that it was late in the morning, almost afternoon. Normally this would likely anger her master but considering that Rumpelstiltskin had spent the night in her bed, she doubted he would mind.
She remembered him burying his nose in her hair and tracing the curve of her jaw before leaving. He had tucked her in and whispered, "I take my leave now, little maid, sleep as long as you please."
Belle grinned and hid her face in the pillow. Her master was turning out to be quite soft. That, Belle mused, and he most likely wanted to hide that he's stolen one of her books.
…
After finding the book, Rumpelstiltskin spent the rest of the day reading and re-reading it. He searched for deeper meaning in the word choices; foreshadowing in the metaphors. This book was his key the to mysterious Belle-shaped lock. This book was his guide to seducing her his dark ways. This book was only part one.
The book was dark and sensual, but it didn't end with Hades claiming Persephone in an intimate manner. Yet Rumpelstiltskin read it again, taking notes, it was all good advice.
How to Seduce Belle (he wrote) and make her my dark goddess:
Step one, make my intentions known. Just because I will make her mine, doesn't mean I will note be a gentleman.(Does giving her the pomegranate count?)
Step Two, almost seduce her, then stop. (I kind of already did this with the pomegranate.)
Step Three, ignore her. This will drive her mad.
Step Four, begin slowly increasing my affections towards her. This will take patience, but is doable. A touch here, a kiss there, a rose, a book. But never take her. She will grow impatient and wanting.
Step Five, make her my queen
The last step wasn't based in the book, which ended during step four with Persephone restless and lusting for Hades. Rumpelstiltskin rubbed his hands together. Yes, the obvious ending to the story would be Persephone begging to be his and Hades making her his queen. He didn't need the second book.
Looking up, the dark one notice that it was now late afternoon. Where was Belle with their tea? He need to get started ignoring her. Rumpelstiltskin headed downstairs.
…
Belle climbed the tower stairs looking for Rumpelstiltskin. She had brought their tea. His tower room door was ajar and, per normal, she let herself in.
"Hello?" she called. Silence. Rumpelstiltskin was not in.
Belle moved forward, putting the tray on the table. But in doing so, a skinny leather bound book caught her eye.
"Oh so this is what you stole," she said to herself, aloud, "The first volume in the Hades and Persephone story. Why would he want this?"
She flipped through the pages, looking for clues to her master's strange behavior. First he'd given her the pomegranate, knowing full well that she knew what it symbolized. She had already pledged forever to stay with him, why reinforce it with the fruit? Plus, she had wanted to see what it tasted like.
Now stealing her books. (His books really.) Odd.
A piece of parchment fell from the tome and curled on the floor. She stooped to pick it up and read it. The ink was fresh and a letter smudged, slightly, under her fingers. The title stood out, bold and exciting: How to Seduce Belle.
She bit her lip and flushed, reading the page. Rumpelstiltskin planned to make her his! But if he was going by her books, he was doing it all wrong. In the second volume, Belle knew, Hades planed to seduce Persephone, but Persephone, fed up of waiting, takes matters into her own hands. It's Persephone, in the end, who seduces the god of the underworld.
Belle giggled. Now that she knew his plan, she had some things to do.
…
A week went by. Rumpelstiltskin ignored Belle and Belle ignored Rumpelstiltskin. But she smiled when ever she caught him looking at her. Her eyes sparked like she knew a secret. It was driving him mad.
Belle flitted around the table, reaching over too far to poor his tea. She was everywhere. She didn't touch him. Normally she was very tactile but now she didn't give him a second glace. She would just smile, knowingly, into her tea cup.