The Dark Princess {OUAT AU}

Chapter 34

"With you out of the way," Rumplestiltskin starts, leaning down to look at her through the curved metal bars. "Getting your son to agree to be my apprentice will be easier. And I can use your magic to trick him however I wish. How does it feel, Your Majesty?"

~~~

Mason stares at the ceiling, absently playing with the cuffs around his wrists. For entertainment he makes stars and pretends to be out in the fields with his mom, staring at the night sky. He hums the lullaby she sang to him when he was little, and forces back the sadness that fills him at the thought of her.

"Why haven't you come for me?" He whispers to the room, not knowing she's laying in a coffin in this very castle. "It's been fifteen days."

"Are you missing your mother?" A voice asks, making him jump. He sits up quickly, and the stars overhead wink out quickly.

"Of course I do. I just want to go home." Mason says, his young voice angry.

"Well someone doesn't want you there." Rumplestiltskin says, walking closer to him.

"What does that mean?" He frowns, narrowing his eyes at the man who's holding him captive. Instead of answering the boy, Rumplestiltskin just smirks and hands Mason a piece of paper. "What's that?"

"Just read it." He turns up his nose and Mason looks down at the parchment. He immediately recognizes his mother's handwriting, and he absorbs the writing on it.

"This isn't real." Mason immediately says, shaking his head and holding it back out towards Rumplestiltskin.

"Oh really?" He asks the boy, stepping closer. He ignores the outstretched piece of paper and just stares at Mason.

"Yes. My mother would not leave me here just because she couldn't get past your defenses. She would not give up." Mason insists. Rumplestiltskin stares at him, not blinking. His gold eyes make Mason's skin crawl, and he shifts uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" He smiles, and Mason swallows thickly.

"Can I have a glass of water?" Mason whispers. Rumplestiltskin waves his hand and a glass appears, before he leaves the cell with a cackle. Before the door can close Rumplestiltskin says, "Tell me when you've accepted my offer."

~~~

Mason reads over the letter one more time. The words "I'm sorry", "I couldn't", "too much work", and "I love you" burning into his brain. How could she leave him even while saying she loves him?

"I thought you were coming for me." Mason cries. It's been a whole day since he's gotten the damned letter. He crumples it into a ball and throws it into the air before incinerating it with his mind.

"Angry at mommy are we?" Rumplestiltskin asks, and Mason shoots him a withering glare over his shoulder towards the Dark One.

"Just leave me in here to die." Mason grumbles. Tears threaten to spill over his cheeks but he holds them at bay.

"If you agree to join me, I can make all of your problems disappear Mason. I can make you powerful, and strong. You can forget all about your mother." Rumplestiltskin coos softly, coming to stand near Mason. The boy absorbs everything the evil man has to say, and the resolve he was holding onto as long as he could crumbles away.

"You can make the pain go away?" He asks quietly, staring down at his hands.

"Of course." Rumplestiltskin smiles, and Mason decides to look up at him.

"Fine. I'll be your apprentice." Mason says, and cuffs unlock from around his wrists and ankles. He rubs the spots where the heavy metal hung and he stands.