Debt to the Devil (A OUAT story)
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Debt to the Devil
Part One: The Bargain
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Authors Note: Massive shout out to josiefier and mcc2040 for their help and encouragement!
Rating: T-R (For language, content, suggestive material)
Warnings: Violence, Blood, Language
Genre: Angst/Drama
Word Count: 1,608
Cast: Rumplestiltskin, Red Riding Hood, Prince James, Snow White, Cinderella, Prince Thomas, Jiminy Cricket, Granny
Summary: He wanted her to live and he wanted her loyalty, but most of all, he wanted her to make a deal...
Debt to the Devil
Part One: The Bargain
He was certainly minding his own business when he heard her screams echoing through the woods. You would have had to be deaf not to hear the sounds for miles. Usually screams like that meant death. Staring death in the face meant making deals, and adrenaline sang through his veins at the thought of what would be bargained for. What he was not prepared for was the sight before him when he found her.
The Imp’s good mood ceased as he found her sprawled in the clearing, her long red cloak was shredded in pieces around her. He had never seen Red Riding Hood’s cloak undone, not even a button. Her petticoat underneath was ripped up as well. He could hear her labored breathing, the pain she was in with each exhale. He never thought she would be the one he would find in this place, not someone as strong as her. The attack must have been swift and brutal, caught off guard. Bite marks covered her flesh, a strange mix of human and canine. Wolf. A wolf was at fault for this and he really wasn’t surprised. They had a weakness for innocence, but it seems her innocence was spared. From the looks of her body, she fought back hard and the wolf left her to die since he couldn’t get what he wanted.
“Little Red,” he said and knelt beside her, his knees sinking into the ground beside her shoulders. Her marred, blood splattered face didn’t move, there was no sign of distress in her face, she was now transfixed with the sky above.
“Imp.”
“Now now, dear, that’s not nice. You know my name,” he said and she rolled her eyes to his golden features.
“Rumplestiltskin.”
“Thank you, now what can I do for you?” he asked, her eyes rolled back and she tried to lift her head and couldn’t. He assumed it was weakness from blood loss, that even if he attempted to stop with magic, it wouldn’t help, he had gotten there too late.
“Tell me…if-Granny…alright,” she gasped out and he nodded, he would do one favor without a deal, he couldn’t help a certain fondness for the girl. He closed his eyes and let his mind surge through the animals around, using their eyes and bodies to find the small cottage. The old woman was inside, crying and shaking but from what he could see, she was alone. He was about to drift back when he heard her praying. Let her live, please God, why should she die trying save me? She’s so young, let her live. Take me if you must, but please spare her.
“She is fine, praying for you,” he replied softly and the girl gave a wry smile.
“Doesn’t…seem to…be working,” she muses in her broken voice. Coughing hard, he watched as blood seeped from her between her lips and trickled down the side of lips.
“You don’t have to die, it’s why I’m here” he cooed, he produced a handkerchief and began to wipe the blood from her skin; he was tired of it obstructing the beauty of her plain face. She was such a darling creature; her natural beautiful was the first thing he had enjoyed about her. She did not have to paint her face, enhance her body with jewels or even show any skin. He had always been open to her about how refreshing she was.
“It’s my time,” she said and he shook his head.
“Make a deal,” he encouraged her, frowning.
“I will not make a deal with you, I will not give up my soul to live,” she said and he shook his head.
“Those are vicious rumors you’re quoting. In this case, I want nothing more than your loyalty, you’re unwavering loyalty that would span this world and the next,” He saw more blood flow from her mouth and fought the urge to lick it away. He knew there wasn’t much time and his patience for her denial was wearing thin. She could be of use to him, more than she would ever know.
“I…” she rasped out, “will not…be your…puppet,” her eyes were beginning to flutter and he heard her heart slow dangerously and for a moment, he remembered what fear felt like.
“You won’t. Puppets aren’t fun; I like freewill, especially yours. I want to see you try to defy me, argue with me, but knowing you’ll side with me is a good enough deal,” he promised, stroking her face. “Deal?” he asked, and he frowned as her body was now completely limp. Her eyes were shut, her chest had stilled. “Come on, Little Red, say it!” he said, shaking her. He leaned close, his ear almost on her mouth for any committal noise. Out of what little air was left in her lungs he heard a soft, ‘deal’. Usually he would demand more but he would take it.
He lifted his head up enough to lock eyes with her, then pressed his lips lightly to hers, breathing into her. It was like she was drawing her first breath, it was agonizing ecstasy. She felt the pain slowly fade and she felt warm again, she was mildly annoyed that he was practically laying on top of her with his face buried into her chest but she wouldn’t say a word. Not when he brought her back from deaths door. She was surprised he wasn’t trying anything; he was simply waiting, content to have his face resting on her chest.
She swallowed hard, wishing for water for her sore throat, something so she could form words. She shivered as thunder sounded above, breathing was becoming easier but her pain was beginning to sharpen with each breath. He lifted her hand and she could see the nails that had been ripped to the quick during the struggle were healing; each knick and cut was closing.
“Rumplestiltskin,” she rasped out, her voice deep and scratchy, “I need....” It was all her strength for now.
“Hush, Pet, I’ll take care of you, until the others come. Charming and his other friend Charming were hunting on the edge of the forest, they are heading this way,” he said, she felt his hands begin to cover her exposed skin. He walked away and for one brief second fear shot through her at the thought of him abandoning her. But when he returned with water, she felt tears prick her eyes, which immediately burned for having been dry for so long. She was so surprised at the tenderness at which he lifted her head and poured water into her mouth.
“What…besides my loyalty, do you want from me, that can’t be it,” she whispered, and he continued to cover her. “Why are you being so kind?”
“It will come, not now but in another time, another place. My kindness is out of selfish reasoning, we just made a deal, and making sure you survive ensures it. I could not leave, knowing that wolf was still lurking,” he said with faint disgust at the word ‘wolf’. He brushed the hair from her face. “You will see me again, they are coming,” he said and pressed a kiss to her forehead and she couldn’t decide if she should enjoy it or be revolted. “If you want me, just say my name, I’ll hear it, even if it’s a whisper,” he told her and in a cloud of purple and gold he vanished.
She heard men’s voices coming closer, growing louder. She was still too weak to move; she heard James and she felt herself shaking. Unable to control her own body or emotions, she shook with sobs; she called for the Prince and felt him kneel beside her.
“Oh God, what happened?” James whispered and threw his cloak over her and lifted her up. She was boneless in his arms and the two Princes and their party were rushing her as quickly as they could to James’s castle.
Snow White and Ella had just finished lunch when they saw James’s carriage return early. At the speed they were coming, Snow felt sick to her stomach.
“Something’s wrong,” she told her young friend, Ella scrunched her brow and they grabbed each other’s hands. They raced for the stairs as the doors burst open and Ella gasped. In James’s arms, a hardly covered woman with dark hair was covered in blood, except her face.
“Who is she?” Ella asked as the four bounded up the stairs.
“We call her Red Riding Hood; she’s a Huntress in our forest. She’s been trying to deal with our wolf problem,” Snow said.
“Looks like they were tired of playing nice,” James retorted as he brought her into a guest chamber. “Have Jiminy send word to her Grandmother that we have her here!”
“Red? Red? Are you awake?” Thomas asked, as James laid her down on the bed, there was a small groan but nothing more.
“James, Thomas, let us tend to her. Please wait outside,” Snow said, James nodded and he placed his hand on Thomas’s back and led him out of the room. Ella looked to Snow and Red, she trying not to imagine what had happened to the Huntress.
“Gather some warm water and we’ll wash her down, see how her wounds are, she might not make it with all this blood, I can’t see if she’s still bleeding,” Snow said and Ella nodded, rushing around the room, collecting a night gown then heading off with Thomas and James to get hot water.
It was three days before Red would awaken, and she would wake the castle with her screams.
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TO BE CONTINUED
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