Gold Lies #twistfatechallenge

Crystal Deception

Hours were ticking off in the distance, the people celebrating the 'lost' princess' birth.

"Power is a dangerous thing."

She looked back at me, her eyes questioning. I offered her a smirk in return.

"What do you mean, Eugene?" Her bright eyes were sparkling, even in the dark.

Not only do I have a crown, but now, I have a jewel worth much more than what I'll ever come to fetch for a royal tiara.

And yet, my little flower could still slip from my fingers.

The moonlight that lit our path was covered, gone, and we were forced to make our way through the shadows of the night.

A possessive covetous feeling arose deep in my chest, burning with every step.

I couldn't help it. Wrapping my hand around hers, I led the girl further into the deep thickets of the forest. Never would I tell her it, but we were being followed by others who wanted her powers to themselves.

Others just like me.

Perhaps I could have felt something for this girl. But for what she's worth? No, that'd be comical. Giving up power like that... for love? Love doesn't exist. It's a tall tale to soothe kids from real horrors of the world. Evils that don't play by the rules.

And why would I hand over the girl for a tiara to two goons, when I could have both?

Listening to all the noises wrapping around us I made out the sound of her shallow breaths, and our feet crunching across the pine needles.

I knew by now that we were more than safe. The paths were winding in a criss cross of webs, our path impossible to follow.

"Eugene, what are we doing?" She asked. I could hear her voice laced with anxiety.

"We're almost here." I growled. Irritation ticked in the back of my mind, my hand squeezing around her wrist tighter, dragging her through the final stretch.

"Are you not taking me home?" She questioned. "We saw the lights, and I made a promise with you..."

Ignoring her claims, her words thinned out, dropping entirely.

The area before us opened up slightly. I stopped in my tracks, and I felt the petite form of her crash into my back.

Spinning around to face her, I could see how her eyes sparkled, fear swirling around the depths of her crystal orbs.

Her lips popped open, about to say something, I'm sure.

Pressing my finger against her lips, I could feel success curling in the pit of my stomach. I could laugh.

"Shhh..."

My finger moved from her lips. I needed to feel more of her. Sliding my finger, my hand cupped her soft cheek, caressing her perfect face.

The girl trembled below my touch. I couldn't suppress the smile cracking across my face.

She was mine.

All mine.

My hand skimmed past her face, slipping behind her neck.

Her lips popped open in surprise, sound choked in the back of her throat.

My fingers made their way up into her hair. A crazy dominance over her filled me. I clenched my fist in her hair.

It was all mine.

My other hand released her wrist as I dug into my back pocket for the rope. With my fingers, I wrapped my palm around the leather.

Giving her hair a tug, I yank hard. A cry left her lips as her back was pressed into the tree behind her with force. Before she could blink, I had her hands around the tree, tied securely.

"Eugene? What are you doing? I... I thought..."

"Thought what?" I bit out, stepping back from my handiwork. "Thought that I would fall head-over-heals with you? And we'd get married? Have a perfect little family? Thought that I didn't know who you were? I'm no novice. This game of secrets is my ground territory."

A maniacal laugh bubbled from my chest as I crossed into her sight, reaching for the satchel.

"I warned you, princess."

Her eyes were glazed, tears forming behind her lashes.

Pulling from its hidden confines of the satchel, I held the crown in view of her. "I mean, sure, I had a great night. It was," I twirled the tiara on a finger. "Fun."

"I-I don't understand."

Holding the precious royal jewel up, I glanced at her.

"Sure, this will bring me a fortune. But I want more."

Crossing the ground, I made leisurely stepped around her like she were my prey. She were fueling the fire, wrapped around my finger.

"People are greedy."

She flinched as I slowed behind her, lowering my voice.

"People use others to get what they want."

Circling her until I came face to face with the blonde, I could see my face reflected back through her eyes. Mine were crazed, a smile twisting my lips. Hers watery and full of fear.

"People like Mother Gotham."

A single tear rolled down her smooth face, carving a wet path.

"People. Like. Me."

Her lips were trembling.

"Stealing what we want."

Before she had a chance to respond, I made my way behind her again, hiding from view.

"70 feet of hair. What could I do with all that's hidden in those secret strands? What should I do?"

"Please, don't." She pulled on her bonds harshly.

A hum rumbled from deep within my chest. I knew what my voice did to her. I almost felt sorry for her, trapped in a tower, being used, so naive.

Almost

Leaning in close to her ear, my warm breath fanned across the back of her neck. Whispering, I could see the goosebumps roll across her skin. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair."

"Eugene."

My finger twirled a strand that escaped the braid confining the golden locks. "You thought I didn't know, didn't you? Thought that I had missed that fact of you being the long lost princess. I guess you'll be missing your home a lot longer than you thought."

"How could you?" She spit out.

"I'm the most wanted criminal. There's a reason for that, Rapunzel."

"I thought you were..."

"Changing? Ha."

My hand slid across her neck. She froze on the spot.

"You're my little flower now. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Of course, that all depends on if you cooperate."

"I won't sing for you." Her voice was harsh, like it was slicing through glass.

Anger boiled deeply in me. I savagely spoke. "If you don't, you'll be very miserable. So unless you want to live that way, you'll comply."

She cried out, shaking. "Don't worry. I'll take extra care of you. You'll understand eventually."

"No! I refuse to understand!"

I walked around to face her again. "You will eventually. And who knows, you might come to thrive with this lifestyle. It demands high prices."

Rapunzel turned her crystal gaze away from me. It amused me.

She knew I was not going to let her slip away, not like her original kidnapper.

I'm much better at my job.

"Power is such a sweet, sweet taste."