The Frog Prince // Mr. Gold

008. 300 YEARS

ONCE UPON A TIME

// RUMPLE'S POV //

              Tiana wasn't given the option to sign a contract because I wanted to see her again. In my mind, she'd call out for me again and accept a second deal. When she spoke about leaving, going back to her life, panic fell on my shoulders. Giving me an outburst of rage. I need her to remember and this new deal will make her do just that—remember everything that could bring her back to me. She needed to do this, no one else. In time, she'll understand why.

We walked in silence for a long while. I would look over while she would slightly stray away to pick up a wild mushroom. Despite her life of being sheltered and pampered, Tiana knew what to look for. If she found something suspicious or known to be poisonous, she'd leave it be. She shook her head before meeting back with me.

The sun began to settle behind the treeline and she shivered. Unlike me, who walked through the forest without breaking a sweat, knowing exactly where we needed to be. But she did slow me down often. Every two hours she requests a break to rest her feet or stop to pick something up. I'm nice enough to conjure water for her. Although she slowed me down, I'm not going to complain nor will I dig my glare into her.

Up ahead while we continued, the sound of someone asking for help caught our attention. Tiana's feet came to a pause while we listened. My head turned to watch her once I noticed she no longer followed behind me.

"Ignore it—"

I'm unable to finish my sentence due to her lack of interest in whatever I had to say. She moves through an invisible path of where that cry came from—fighting through the branches and brushes with urgency. My hand reaches out to shout for her to stop, but my mouth shuts, throwing up that same hand in defeat. I can see she is brave but stubborn, she could have been a great queen if she kept her wits about.

With no hesitation, a cloud of black smoke form around me and in seconds, I'm standing before a man who hung upside down by one leg. His ginger hair swayed, freckled face already turning red from the blood rushing to his brain and the sight of me; The Dark One.

Tiana broke from out from the trees. New wounds sliced across her left cheek bone caught my attention. The bottom of her dress is torn and her basket of mushrooms is gone. She heaved her lungs, darting her curious eyes from me to the man who hung by his leg.

"Well?! Help him!" Tiana tells me, pointing her hand in his direction. However, I do not do what she demands. Instead, my hand presses underneath where his ankle is located and I twirl him around. I don't help anyone. Especially not men like this one. He is weak, a nobody. A reflection of my older self. I'll never dirty my hands for men like that.

"Could you at least say please?" I tease, leaning forward with my ear pointed in her direction and my palm beside it. The man whimpered, he sobs even—delight appear on my face. Enjoying every moment of fear. I thrive on it. It's how I know no one will make a fool out of me again. Tiana doesn't smile or laugh. She doesn't share my enthusiasm. The woman with doe eyes perched her hands on her hips, frizzy strands of hair fall from her braid going down her back. I could have sworn her look of disapproval made me feel bitter.

"You do not have to be cruel to everyone, you toad! Let him go!" She huffs, giving me a warning glare. I've never had someone so innocent threaten me with so much bravery in their chest.

With one arm bent across my chest, the other props my elbow against it. A finger taps my chin and my eyes search upward, pretending to think hard about my decision. In the end, my head shakes while my mouth tilts side ways with a shrug.