Prologue

The Dark One stared at the plump lord through the bars of his caged prison with pure hatred. His nimble and bony fingers, each equipped with blackened claws, gripped the metal bars as he pulled himself forward. The grimace on his face spoke of threats and violence if the lord's control were lost and he were to break through the cage.

The face of the Dark One barely resembled a man. His irises were much too large to be considered human and the color a mix of gold and brown, his skin was a sickly greenish-gray color that glistened in the sunlight, and his lips were stretched over his stained teeth in a sneer. "Careful with magic, dearie. You may end up with more than you bargained for." His tone harsh, but frivolous as soon as the giggle rose in his throat.

"Keep quiet, demon!" Sir Maurice ordered, extending a finger at the imp. The commands immediately silenced him, and the hostile expression became one of neutrality. This was the second time his command worked. However, Sir Maurice remained uneasy about releasing the beast from its cage, regardless of the object resting in his palm.

Sir Maurice turned the dagger over in his hand, the sunlight glinted off the silver metal. The name Rumplestiltskin was etched across the dagger in dark writing. He would have to test it a few more times before he became comfortable commanding Rumplestiltskin to protect his daughter. He controlled him enough to get him in the cage, but how would such control fare around his only child?

Maurice climbed onto his horse, and with a gesture of his hand the carriage carrying Rumple's cage lurched forward, making the imp tighten his hold on the cold metal. He rested his head against the bars, wondering how he got himself into this mess.

He had been mixing potions in his laboratory at Dark Castle, minding his own business, when he felt the distinctive pull of the dagger. His head shot up as his focus changed from his work to whatever poor soul beckoned him to appear outside. When he arrived outside his castle cloaked in receding purple smoke, that's when he saw the dagger in the hand of someone he wanted to kill in that split second. Which he would have, if it weren't for that kris dagger. Oh, how his thoughts were filled with visions of him wrapping his clawed hands around the lord's throat and squeezing the life out of him if he ever broke the control of that cursed dagger.

His thoughts wandered through the possibilities of who knew his secret. It had to be someone who knew him, someone who had sought his secrets and grabbed them right from under his nose. He had plenty of enemies and former apprentices, who he regretted ever teaching. They were power hungry and wretched, all of them.

Now Rumplestiltskin found himself occupying this musky and small cage, thanks to the snitch who ratted him out, but he hoped to get his vengeance sooner rather than later. He had important work to do in order to find his long lost son. It was his life's work, the very air he breathed.

He remained silent for the duration of the trip to whatever noble filth lay ahead. The rocking and the jolting prevented Rumple from being comfortable, not that a cage provided comfort to begin with. The path became smoother before it turned into cobblestone, making him curse and sit up straighter against the bars.

The castle came into his view, which brought forth more curses from his mouth. The frigid air of the coming winter would have chilled a normal man, but he still wrapped his cloak tighter around him as if it would protect him from the future he faced now.

The carriage came to halt once it passed through the castle gates. Maurice walked to the cage, drawing the kris dagger and holding it out. Rumple tittered, sneering at the lord. "As long as you have that dagger you control me, no need to get your hackles raised with suspicion, dearie."

"I'm merely taking precautions, Dark One. Any man would in the presence of the most powerful creature to ever stalk these lands," Maurice retorted, glaring at him.

"Well, at least you're not the dunce I expected you to be. Don't fret….master," he spit the word out through his dark lips, leaning heavily against the bars, "though I would like to know as soon as possible why you have use of me, when all you had to do was strike a deal."

"Why strike a deal, when I can easily control you instead of paying a price?" Maurice said, waving the dagger in front of Rumple.

A high-pitched giggle sounded in his throat,"well, you'll still have to pay a price. Just because you are controlling me doesn't mean you're exempt."

Maurice let out a long sigh and opened the cage, releasing the small imp from his prison. "Leave the cage, and walk straight to the main hall," he demanded, gripping the hilt of the dagger tightly, as if doing so would increase the sway he held over Rumplestiltskin.

Rumple turned on his heels, walking swiftly through the large double doors and into the Great Hall. Just as he suspected, everything about this castle told him Maurice and his kin were noble filth. The hall was laden with various trinkets and decorations, all expensive and bright. He had become used to the darkness and gloom of Dark Castle, and this cheerful castle would be the death of him before long.

" Stop, Dark One. Don't go any further," Maurice ordered. Rumple stopped, but not before a low growl rumbled in his throat.

"You may have control of the dagger, Master, but my patience wears thin. I want to know what I'm doing here, under your irritating commands," the imp said, turning around to point a long finger at Maurice.

Maurice stood up straight, letting the dagger hang loosely in his grasp. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smug grin. "My daughter needs protection. It's as simple as that."

A vexed expression appeared on his odd face, his anger rising. " You couldn't find a baby sitter? There's something else you're not telling me sir knight. Spit it out!"

"My daughter is a grown woman of nineteen, not a child, but she's come under the threat of magic. You don't need to know the details of how that happened. Just know that I'm ordering you to protect her."

"Well, I can only imagine how that may have happened, considering you seem to act before you think when it comes to magic, so I don't need the details," he tittered, waving his fingers in the air. "Where is the young lass? I might as well meet her and get it over with if I'm to look at her everyday until she dies."

Sir Maurice fetched one of the nearby maids, telling her to go get a woman named Belle. Oh great, one of those girls, he thought to himself as he dreaded the appearance of the spoiled brat he would play guard dog to. He heard the clicking of heels on the marble floors, the sound alone nearly confirming the reason for his dread.

A young woman with auburn curls, and a pretty face featuring large, blue eyes and a pretty pink mouth stepped into his view. A blue gown clung to her, accentuating her curves. He expected a beauty, but not one of this magnitude. He almost forgot how to breathe as he noted her flawless porcelain skin.

"This is my daughter, Belle, and you will be protecting her for as long as I have you under my control," Maurice explained, putting a hand on her shoulder and drawing her in close. Belle looked up at him, her eyes observing him, taking him in. Oh yes, the quicker he got out of Maurice's control, the better. The beauty standing before him already had him under her thrall.