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treatian · 5 years ago

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The Chronicles of the Dark One: The Dark Curse

Chapter 92: Favors From An Old Somebody

As long as Light and Dark Magic existed, there were two kinds of people in the world.

There were heroes, those that did what people considered to be "the right thing" like it was a hobby. Heroespath he wa were princes who saved towns, shepherds who saved damsels, even retired barmen that spent their lives stealing from the rich and giving to the poor before somehow magically falling in love with a Queen who wanted to murder her step-daughter.

He was not one of those people.

Though he believed that his quest for his son was the meant to be on, endless as it seemed, he was aware that there were quite a few who would refute his methods. Heroes would never help him get his son back. Which was a shame, because after several long hours of sitting in his Tower, he had come to the conclusion that this was something he couldn't do alone. He needed help. Blood Scarabs, Dragon Fire, at least one unknown piece of Fairy Magic, Natural Magic, and a Chernabog-it was too much even for the Dark One to handle.

But if heroes wouldn't help him, he had to find someone who would.

Fortunately, there were two kinds of people in the world, not just heroes, but those that often saw in shades of gray instead of black and white, those who focused on their own interests instead of others, those who were likely to start the fire that those heroes so often found themselves running into. They were the villains.

If he wanted something done "the right way" he'd call a hero. If he wanted something done, period, then there was no better way than to enlist a villain.

The only problem with that was that villains were self-serving. They didn't think of others, only themselves. He'd need a special argument, some kind of special arrangement in order to get a team to work together and after hours of thinking, he had come to the conclusion that he needed a team and a unique one at that. The cavern could cancel or mess around with most magic, not allowing spells, and therefore he needed villains who didn't need spells but had natural talents. The cavern was a place where natural magic was enhanced, it was likely if he chose individuals with the right abilities, they would become stronger and wouldn't suffer as he had. A terrifying thought, setting himself up in a place like that with no way out, but he'd make it work. For Bae. They didn't need to know what he knew about the cavern, and before he went he could take potions to help keep him on his feet. He could at least appear at full strength, and they'd never be the wiser. As for the "they"…

He had an idea of who he could use for each of his tasks, all of them women, none of them Regina, though it would have been nice to use her for this. No, for this he had three particular women in mind. The problem, aside from the fact that he was certain they didn't like him or even each other, was that one of them wasn't in this realm.

He'd spent an hour muttering curses under his breath for Robin of Locksley, and whatever ignorant Dark One had thought it was a good idea to send him on a wild goose chase over a pain in his chest he'd scarcely felt again forcing him to waste the one potion that could take him to any realm of his choosing! With no way to the London his target lived, he was left with one option. One that he wasn't thrilled with for many reasons, one that he would love to search for a way around, but with the clock ticking, he simply couldn't.

In the daylight hours, he worked. He prepared. He created potions to defend himself against the rigors of Natural Magic. He wrote two nearly identical letters for two very different people. For one, he summoned Pirithous, and ordered him to take it to a particular spot on the coast where he knew his first target liked to sunbathe. He obeyed and it was done. For the other letter, he sealed it, watched his crystal ball until the sunset and the time was right, then placed the letter in his jacket and let himself travel to a far away wood within Regina's Kingdom, to a small house with smoke rising from the chimney.

He could have knocked, but considering what he knew had just happened inside, he felt it better to let himself in.

"Well, well…Matrimony seems to be working quite well for you," he smiled as the familiar man sitting in a chair beside his daughter's bed jumped and twisted to get a good look at him. His tension faded the second he saw who it was. Jefferson wasn't the person he'd known what felt like eons ago. He was still young but seemed to have aged decades since he'd last seen him in person. It was cruel what he'd said to him. That much he knew. He wasn't sure how much Jefferson knew about what he'd known, but he had kept an eye on his former ally. He knew his wife was dead. He knew it was an accident after the pair had tried realm jumping and stealing again despite saying they wouldn't. He knew that he hadn't done a jump since then. In truth, he would be happy to leave Jefferson to mourn in peace with his daughter at his side if that was what he chose to do. But this was for Baelfire, and no matter what their relationship was or had been he needed him to do what only he knew how to do. There wasn't any time to find someone else.

"Tell me…is it everything you asked for?" he questioned, looking around the small place they now called home. They used to own a bigger house, he'd seen it in his ball after they'd married. But after the accident, he'd moved his daughter here, away from memories he imagined.

"Go away," Jefferson insisted as he rolled his eyes and moved away from his sleeping child. He moved to what could have been called the kitchen and dipped a gourd into a bucket of water. "I'm not in the mood."

"Well, now aren't we fussy."

"Fussy," he chortled as he dropped the gourd once more. "Can't imagine why. It's been…what?! Four…five years since we last saw each other? So can you just tell me what you want so I can say 'no' and get on with my evening?!"

"So glad you asked!" he smiled, ignoring the rest of what he'd said purposefully. "I have need for a man with your talents."

"Yeah…you forget that we've been here before, but this time things have changed. I'm retired."

He had a feeling he'd say that, even if he'd hoped he wouldn't. Truly, he'd wanted to be able to come here and leave on good terms and not use what he knew he had to, but then again that was why he'd done what he'd done all those years ago. He'd always been prepared for this moment.

"Thought you might say that, which is why I came personally to remind you…you owe me a favor."

"A favor!"

"Several actually. You accumulated quite the debt in your heyday!"

Jefferson's eyes went wide as he sucked in an audible breath and he straightened his back as if he'd been slapped. "You can't be serious! That was a joke!"

"I'm always serious, dearie! I take my deals quite literally. I thought you would have learned that in your time."

"Yes, but…" Jefferson stopped before he could finish his sentence. He'd been building up to something, he could hear that in his tone but suddenly his slumbering daughter had moved. It demanded his attention and reminded him not to raise his voice. He knew because he'd once been in a similar situation with Baelfire, which was probably why this seemed so difficult. "I have Grace," he finally went on in a quieter tone, looking over to where the child still slept. "And I gave you a potion that could take you anywhere, to any realm you want to go, you don't need me! Not unless…no…you didn't. You used it already?!" he exclaimed with bulging eyes. Jefferson stepped closer, but he didn't allow himself to be moved.

"I had a need to get somewhere and you weren't around, I had little choice in the matter. Really, it's your own fault-"

"No!" Jefferson refused, shaking his head and stepping away. "No, I don't take responsibility for your slip-ups. I gave you enough of my life, I don't have to do it anymore. I have my daughter and no wife, I can't be running around chasing after who knows what for you, not anymore! If something happens to me, like it happened to Pricilla, then Grace has nobody."

But that was the thing about their deals, magically Jefferson was bound to do what he wanted. He had no choice in the matter. A deal had been struck, and according to his abilities, he was entitled to do anything that he pleased in order to get him to pay off that debt. He could imprison him, take his daughter, destroy his home…anything.

But he didn't want to do that. Weakness. He could feel his own kind sneering at him for such sentimentality. Anyone but Jefferson and he would have taken the girl or thrown him in his dungeons already. But for Jefferson…he supposed he felt for him in some odd kind of way. He didn't want to, he didn't know how, but he did feel something, and that was clear. Very rarely in life had he had the urge to help other people but watching him sit by his daughter's bedside, a widowed man just trying to do what was best for his daughter despite who he'd been…yes, that sort of thing was a weakness.

"I also thought you might say that which is why I've come to make another exchange…I'm not a cruel man-"

"No, never," he commented sarcastically, rolling his eyes so far back into his skull he might have been able to see his brain. It reminded him of when the man before him had been nothing but a boy, and they'd joked at their first meeting in his Uncle's cabin. Jefferson had never feared him. He was one of the few; a rare person indeed.

"This particular deal, if done well, could be significant. So, in addition to forgiving another of your favors, I'll also pay handsomely."

"All of them."

"What?!"

"All of them!" he repeated slowly and loudly. "You'll forgive all my favors…and pay handsomely."

"A bold request."

"Not bold, just wise. You know I did learn a thing or two when we worked together all that time. Buy low, sell high, always start the negotiations cheap, never let them see what you really have. I do know how you work, Rumpelstiltskin. You said this deal was important to you, so I'm betting you're willing to pay for it, you just wouldn't make it your first offer so I'm going to jump through all that negotiation and arrive at our final deal. Being forgiven of my debts and having you out of my life completely…that's what is important to me. If I do this for you, then you will forgive my favors in addition to paying handsomely."

He swallowed hard. Jefferson was maybe a foot in front of him, his gaze held steady. Anyone else and he'd feel threatened abut at this moment the feeling ballooning in his chest was pride. He had learned something from him. Something he wasn't exactly pleased with at the moment because it meant he lost, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to care. He was impressed. And somehow he felt like he bore the weight of what had happened. He was a man of his own making. It made him miss Baelfire. And that was unexpected.

"Well, well…when did you get teeth?" he questioned sinisterly instead.

Jefferson shrugged a shoulder just like he always used to in his younger days. "Probably right around the time I stopped spending time with you and focused on my family." Yes. That tended to happen to men. Another victim of love, just as he'd always suspected. "What would you need me to do? If I agree to all this, of course."

If. If was good. There was no more discussion of price. It was all the favors in exchange for what he wanted, and right now, talking to him, he wanted Baelfire back more than anything! He wasn't the one in control, and Jefferson knew it. He was going to give him anything he wanted to do this task for him. All his favors as payment was a cheap price.

"You recall fetching a medallion for me from the home of one woman named-"

"Cruella De Vil, from the London Realm, black and white hair, controls animals with her breath, yeah…she's kind of hard to forget."

"Good. Now I'd like you to fetch her for me."

Jefferson groaned and sat down in a chair, rubbing his face. "You can't be serious."

"I believe we've already had that conversation. Let's not have it again," he responded quickly with a roll of his eyes. Somethings never did change. "You will fetch her for me from that world. You will bring her back to this world, leave her outside the Forbidden Forest with this!" From beneath his cloak, he brought forth the sealed letter he'd worked on. "Then you are free to leave her. As soon as you let me know she's here, I'll do the rest."

"And how is she supposed to get back without me."

Now it was time for him to offer a shrug. If she survived the Chernabog…that wasn't really his concern at the moment. "That will be her problem, not…not yours." He had to catch himself, to bite his tongue to keep from saying "ours". They weren't partners, not anymore, not by a longshot. This was now strictly a professional deal. Jefferson had seen to that. "However, I don't recommend telling her that right way. Remember, I only offer payment once the job is done as agreed to. If you don't get her here, then it's no deal."

"So you accept my terms then…"

His terms. All the favors owed and handsome payment in return for this one favor. What choice did he have?

Favor! The Seer shouted in his mind all at once. One day he'll return a favor!

After so many years he'd learned not to change his facial expression when the Seer spoke, but even he had trouble with this one. He hadn't expected the "unacceptable deal" cry to come from her! Nimue or the other Dark Ones perhaps, but not her! What had she said. One day he'd return him a favor. How was he to do that when he was about to give them all away? For a moment, he didn't answer. For just one moment, he waited, hoping that the girl would offer some further words of wisdom or perhaps a vision, but he wasn't surprised when she didn't. That particular power enjoyed being suspicious and prophetic. She enjoyed speaking in riddles and he knew she wouldn't give him the answer. He could ask, he could alter the deal and ask to save one…but he was so close to getting what he wanted, to getting Baelfire...

The future be damned! Everything that she'd predicted was within his grasp and time was running out! He needed this done quickly. What choice did he have?

"I will accept our terms, if you'll accept my mission…" he answered, offering him the letter.

With a sigh, Jefferson reached out and took it from him. He looked the plain white envelope over in his hand as if staring at it might bring him some solace or comfort. Finally, he glanced back up at him.

"You know I used to look up to you," he muttered softly, his eyes suddenly reminding him of Bae's when he'd been as small as Jefferson was in his chair. "There was a time I thought that we were friends, you and I."

"This old argument again…" he grumbled.

"No. Not the old argument," Jefferson refuted quickly. "Not the old argument because I've changed, I know the difference now. Having Priscilla in my life, even for the little time I had her…it was the best time of my life. I wouldn't have traded it for anything, no deal could ever be enough. And being a father…" he looked over his shoulder to where the girl was still miraculously sleeping soundly. "Now that Grace is all I have of Priscilla, I will cherish her forever."

He knew the feeling, at least where his daughter was concerned. And he felt a small flicker of happiness inside of him at the memories of days like he was experiencing. All the days he'd had with his son after Milah had gone and before things had gotten bad with the war. It had been the greatest feeling in the world. He'd been the best person he could ever be. He was happy Jefferson got to experience that. Love had made him a fool, but part of him knew that it also had forced him to grow up, and that wasn't a bad thing either.

But he'd never let Jefferson know that. Not before. And not now either.

"What is the point of this conversation?" he questioned dully.

Jefferson smirked and let out a soft snort before he rose to full height, and suddenly he was reminded of all the ways he'd grown. He'd been a boy when they met, child. Today he stood before him a man. And he knew their relationship would never be what it once had been, but he knew he'd had a part in the man Jefferson was today. And he was proud of that. He was proud of Jefferson.

"Call it friendly advice from someone you never considered a friend. I've seen what love and true friendship can do, Rumpelstiltskin, I know that you don't really value them; otherwise when Priscilla died, you'd have been here with me. But I hope one day you'll have what I had. I hope one day you know what it is to love everything that you despise now. I hope that what you face isn't…" he turned around to look at his daughter again before slowly letting his eyes roam around the house they stood in. He saw Jefferson's chest quiver. "I hope it isn't this."

He was right. They weren't friends. They never had been. If he had then he would know that he'd already suffered this and more. He'd suffered worse. But right now, there was no point in rekindling what had never been in the first place. Though his throat felt thick with emotion, he pushed it down.

"Touching…so you'll be going then."

Jefferson glanced down at the envelope in his hand, tapped if a few times against his palm, then nodded.

"I'll make arrangements for Grace come morning and be gone. I'll be paid, and my favors will be forgiven."

He wanted so badly to order him to go now, but with the girl asleep, the father in him knew it wasn't a possibility unless he wanted to stay and babysit. And he did not. It was going to take more of his precious time to wait for him, but the important thing was that it would happen. That was why he reached out his hand for Jefferson to shake and uttered only one word before going.

"Deal."

#Rumbelle #Rumple #Rumpelstiltskin #Dark One #Jefferson #Mad Hatter #Grace #cruella de vil #ouat #ouat fanfiction #fanfic

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