Rumpelstiltskin [On Hold]

Once there was a miller's daughter...

Rumpelstiltskin...

Chapter One

Once there was a miller's daughter

with a beauty of no other...

~ 0 ~

''You useless brat! How many times do I have to tell you to shut that fucking child for the love of the gods! '' Old miller Hector's loud coarse voice filled their small kitchen. His daughter, Selena, had her baby brother, Nick, in her arms cooing softly; silently she was praying to the merciful God to stop his brother from crying.

Selena knew why Nick was crying his throat dry. The poor baby was starved. He's only two months old and in need of fresh milk from his mother's breast. Unfortunately, their mother, Olivia, died from giving birth to Nick.

Their father, Hector, has been more ruthless than he was before. It was frightening Selena. No one knew what this old miller could do to her or to her poor brother.

''Father, he's hungry, '' Selena answered softly, afraid to push his father's buttons.

''Then feed that little demon! Stupid whore! '' He bellowed as he slammed his fist on the kitchen table. Selena trembled slightly and flinched. Hector left the kitchen. Selena silently listened to her father's footsteps. She heard a door being slammed and she immediately knew her father's gone out.

She stepped out of the kitchen with Nick still in her arms. Her long golden hair was pulled into a loose bun. Her blue eyes stared at her pitiful brother. She wished they have a different father, or at least their mother didn't die. Olivia was a good mother and she's the only person who can tame the demon within Hector. Now that she's gone, his demon has been unleashed and, Selena and her brother was the target of its ruthless revenge.

She was beautiful, yet she couldn't see it. ; Maybe because she never got the chance to look at the mirror and admire her lovely reflection. Any man would've fallen for her beauty, but love had no place in her life.

When her brother finally fell asleep in his rough crib, she slipped off her floral duster and pulled on a white shirt and matched it with a knee-length blue floral skirt. She was still wearing that loose bun on her hair.

With a poor straw basket in her hand, she stepped out of their small house and headed towards the market. The market was quite a long walk from their house. Behind their small cemented house was an old water mill. She began walking through the forest.

The forest was filled with tall huge trees with thick and wide leaves that stopped the sunlight from touching the ground. It was dark and gloomy but Selena did her best to ignore the eerie feeling of her surrounding. She continued walking but her feet carried her faster. She had this strange feeling that there was a pair of cold blazing red eyes that stalked her as she walked through the forest.

Her heart began hammering inside her chest. She walked faster until she finally got out of the forest. She strangely felt relief the moment the fresh warm summer breeze touched her skin.

She sighed and headed to the market.

Like any normal day in the market, the place was busy filled with people talking simultaneously. Selena can barely understand a word they say. Everyone was so busy telling their potential costumers how good their kit is.

Selena reached her first destination-the bakery. The mouth-watering smell of freshly baked goods filled her nose making her sigh dreamily. The owner of the shop stepped out with a tray of chocolate cup cakes fresh from the oven. Louie's brown eyes caught the beauty standing before his stand and smiled enthusiastically.

''Selena, my dear! '' He enthusiastically greeted her.

''Sir Louie, '' Selena smiled politely. She opened her mouth to say her daily request.

''Ah! No need to speak, my dear, I already prepared your daily supply. '' Louie interrupted her turning his back on her to get her bag of bread. He came back to her with a paper bag filled with deliciously baked goods. ''Ta-da! Focaccios, croissants, and pumpernickel!

Selena smiled, amused at the sweet old guy. ''Oh, thank you, Sir Louie! You flattered me, you remember my daily supply. ''

''How could we forget such a lovely lady? '' Louie winked teasingly at her before chuckling.

Selena giggled softly. ''How much for them? ''

''Oh, they're free today, Selena. It's my daughter's birthday today. She's sixteen and for our valued costumers, we're giving their daily requests for free. '' Louie informed her.

''It's Maddie's birthday? '' Maddie is Louis only daughter. ''Please tell her I said 'Happy Birthday'. ''

''Will do, dear Selena. '' Louie nodded at her.

Selena waved at him goodbye.

- - -

Once there was a miller's daughter

so young and fair...