The Dark Princess {OUAT AU}

Chapter 28

"So I will." She says, her mind jumping to the man she called her husband. He sits down in the dungeon this very minute. She should feel regret for putting him down there but she doesn't. The moment she got her memories back she the weight of everything he's done to her flooded her sense. He will pay.

~~~

Valerie debates going down to visit her lovely husband in the dungeon but decides against it. As much as she hates him now, her heart hurts to much to deal with his betrayal. So instead she dresses in a pair of leather pants, a tight shirt and jacket, and makes her hair and makeup fascinating and striking. Then she goes up to her tower, the ascent up the stairs a welcome burn in her legs. It's been too long since she last stepped foot in this room, and she misses it too much. At the top of the long, winding staircase lays the intimidating black door. It has a large padlock on the door but a simple flick of her wrist and it slides open, unlocked with ease. The smooth feeling of magic flowing through her makes her smile, and she pushes open the door with ease.

Inside, her belongings haven't been touched, and there is a fine layer of dust over everything. She spots the place where her spell book had lain and moves further into the cold room. It's fairly dark even though it's mid-morning and she lights some candles without even moving. A slight wave of her arm gets rid of the dust and she quickly lights the fire under her cauldron. After dumping a few ingredients inside it the room begins to smell wonderful, and she brings it back to life. The concoction comes to a boil and she tones down the fire to let the wonderful smells simmer.

"Rumplestiltskin." Valerie says, and the smell of sulfur clashes with the citrus and herbs she had used to permeate the stale air of her tower.

"You called for me?" He asks, and she turns to see him sitting in one of the chairs she put beside the table.

"I need another lesson." She tells him and he pouts.

"Is your magic a little rusty?"

"No." She scowls, making her way over to the other chair. "I want to learn how to rip out hearts."

"Oh." He says, a smile gracing his scaly lips. "And where did you hear about that?"

"I know you can do it. I've heard of the hearts you've taken to command people and to kill them. Plus I've read about it."

"So why do you need me if you can read about it?"

"I can't learn about it through the pages of a book, no matter how detailed they are. I learn hands on." She says, and his eyes light up in the most disturbing of ways.

"Hands on you say?" He hums, and she bristles at the way she can see his head reeling.

"What are you thinking of?"

"I have the perfect method dearie. Stand." He says, doing the same. She follows his lead and then looks at him. In one swift movement he plunges his hand inside her chest, and then pulls back with force. Her eyes fly open at the searing pain she feels for a few moments, and she puts a hand where her heart is- should be. She can't feel a heartbeat, and then looks up to see a shining red heart with black wisps shimmering through it sitting in the palm of Rumplestiltskin's hand. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

"What are you doing? Is that my heart?" She gasps out, her hand still sitting over her quiet chest. It's alarming not to have a heartbeat.

"Yes, it is your heart. This is your hands on experience." Rumplestiltskin says. "With a heart you can control a person, cause them pain, or kill them. For example, I can tell you to do something and you must do it." He brings the heart to his mouth. "Get me a glass of water."