Chapter 20: Golden stories

She was blown away by the grand castle. Taylor had got an invitation for the East kingdom's ball. She walked up the grand staircase with her pure red ball dress, paired with her silver heels and heart necklace. Her hair was pinned up in this elegant curly hairstyle with pearl details. She forgot her gloves, but the crowd didn't seem to care.

"Welcome Miss." And the servant bowed for her as he opened the door for her. She thanked him with a sweet smile and a little nod.

The ballroom was amazingly big, and there were a lot of royalties. She was there on her own, only knowing the king and queen who she greeted with a bow and a small conversation. Everyone knew she had ran away, but she was still welcome. They kept it a secret for her father, that she was here on the ball.

Just when she was about to grab some punch, someone grabbed her waist with two soft hands "Good evening Miss..." a male voice said. She turned around facing Killian Jones in a loving outfit. "Care to dance?" he said reaching out for her hand, which she took.

They danced the whole evening, hugged each other tightly and whispered in each other's ears so no one could hear their deepest secrets. It should've been the night of her life, but of course the black knights showed up. She kissed Killian goodbye, took a white horse which the servant offered her. And she ran away.

"Good morning Mr. Gold." The bells of the door rang as Taylor walked through the door of the Pawn shop.

"Well what a pleasure, good morning Miss. Allingswood." He took a brief pause "Don't you have to serve Regina?"

"Madame Mayor? Oh no it's Sunday. I have my day off on Sundays." Taylor walked over to the counter. Her black heels clicked on the floor. They were paired with a dark red skater skirt, transparent black tights and a white soft sweater. Her hair was pinned up in a lower messy bun. It suited her very well, those clothes.

"I see, what can I do for you?" How he loved to just hug her tightly and tell her how much he missed her.

"I was wondering if you own any fairytale books, with different stories than the original ones."

"Such as Henry's?" he asked.

"Only a specific story, Beauty and the Beast with a twist I guess. Do you have anything like that?"

"I'm not sure I have such a book." He said as Taylor's face began to grow sad, "But, I can tell you the story I've been told once? If you like."

She smiled "I would love to…"

"Well, if you come here around noon we can have a lunch together. I can tell you about the story you're looking for."

"Well thank you so much Mr. Gold!" she walked out the Pawn shop in a rush.

Weeks had gone by, Mr. Gold told her the most amazing stories. About Belle from Beauty and the Beast, about her sister and their parents. They lived in this land called Mist Heaven, which was settled in the Enchanted Forest. She loved how he told her those stories, she had always loved stories. Maybe that's why she liked Henry so much, he had this huge imagination. How could Mr. Gold ever have this fantasy? It sounded so real, like he really lived in the story.

It was late in the evening, Taylor heard someone knocking on their apartment.

"I get it." She said to her friend Alison.

Taylor opened the door and saw the mayor standing in front of her "Oh good evening Madame Mayor, can I help you?"

"Well I think I can help you. We need a little talk Miss. Allingswood."

"Oh I almost forgot that uh… that thing I had with that other girl in Granny's! So I think I must go." Alison stood up, grabbed her bag and jacket, and walked out giving Taylor a wink.

"Well she didn't learn how to lie." The Mayor said after Alison had closed the door.

"Can I get you any drink Madame Mayor?" Taylor already walked over towards the kitchen.

"An Americano Coffee please, just black." She said as Taylor nodded, poured in the coffee and made some tea for herself.

She placed them on the dining table as the mayor took her place their, on the head seat of course.

"So…" the young girl said taking her seat. "Where do we have to talk about? Is it something with work? I'm sorry I picked up Henry a bit later at school the other day… Emma waited with him as she came by…"

"No it's nothing like that, it's about your connection with Mr. Gold... You two seem, very close lately."

"Oh yes, he has all those nice books about stories I've never heard before. I can borrow them."

"Be careful honey, if you make a deal with him… Well let's say it will turn out different then you might want."

Taylor took a sip from her mint tea, "Oh we didn't make a deal, he kind of offered me to…"

Regina interrupted her, "Anyway, I just want you to be aware. Mr. Gold isn't who you think he is. And I think you're a very smart girl. And also my employee, so listen closely. If Mr. Gold ever asks you anything about me or Henry and you give him an answer? You're fired."

"Yes… Madame Mills." She said afraid. Of course, she knew the mayor was strict and kind of a queen in town. But she couldn't tell Taylor what to do out of work, could she? That meant she had to stay away from Mr. Gold, before he starts asking questions. But her heart still believed there was a good man in him, that he did something for her earlier. She couldn't tell what he did, but it felt like he saved her life once.