All That Glitters

by Dawn Ibanez

  Rumple growled as he wrapped his hands around her throat.

  Kalina flinched when she heard Satella’s neck snap. Rumple lurched to his feet and held one hand to his side. She saw it then. Satella had another blade, and this one was sticking out of his side. Kalina stook a step forward and froze when he turned to her.

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  Kalina opened her mouth.

  “You have a mess on your hands goblin,” Faust’s voice said.

  Kalina turned around and saw Faust leaning against one of the cave walls. She moved away from him and everything shifted again.

  Now Rumple was on his knees. Rain poured down as a lightning struck the clearing around him. “Fine, I’ll play by your rules Faust!” he shouted into the air.

  Faust appeared in front of him. An invisible dome around them stopped the rain from pouring on them. The demon smiled. “Are you finally tired of running?”

  Rumple lowered his head as he nodded. “I want to blend in. I’m tired of hiding in caves. I’ll do whatever you want.”

  Faust smiled as he reached out and touched Rumple’s shoulder. “I know you will.”

  Kalina gasped as the world shifted around her again. The continuous motion threatened to make her sick. She covered her mouth and found herself in front of a pair of dirty feet.

  “So, you finally discovered who you’re sleeping with,” Shae said with a smile.

  CHAPTER 22

  Kalina sat up as she sat down. “Where am I now?” she asked.

  “Travelling in the mirrors can be tricky. You’ll need to leave soon before you end up like me.” Shae reached out and caressed Kalina’s hair. “Lucifer really gave me to you, huh?”

  “He gave me a mirror, yes. I didn’t know you were in it.”

  Shae smiled. “That’s fine. At least we can still talk.”

  Kalina looked at her hands and sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “About what?”

  “Everything. I’m pregnant. Ryan has been turned back into a goblin. Faust is too powerful. I don’t know what to do.”

  Shae touched Kalina’s hand. “Everything has a price, child.”

  “I keep hearing that. But what if I don’t know if I can pay it?”

  Shae grabbed her chin. As their eyes met, Kalina felt a chill go down her spine. “You can pay it. You’re my blood, and you’re demon-born. Stop thinking like you’re some frail little thing and put on your big girl horns.”

  Kalina touched Shae’s hand. “What is the price to stop Faust?”

  The world around her started to shift again. Shae leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Kalina’s ear. “To beat Faust, you need to become the Faust.”

  *****

  Ryan was there when she sat up gasping for air. He looked at her with his feline eyes but didn’t touch her. Kalina sat on the edge of the bed and tried to catch her breath. “How long was I in the mirror?” she asked.

  “Two hours.” He moved away from the bed. “No one is returning my calls. It seems like I am once again unwelcomed in our world.”

  “I saw what happened,” Kalina told him. “Between you and Satella. I watched you kill her.”

  He was silent for a long moment. “Should I congratulate you? Or should I just stand off to the side while you decide if you’re too good for me.”

  Kalina stood. Her limbs were heavy, but she wouldn’t let him see how weak she was. She couldn’t. “What do you plan on doing about Faust?” she asked.

  “I have no plans,” he admitted. “Faust has won. I have nothing left.”

  “Ryan.”

  “That is not my name.”

  “It’s as much your name as Rumpelstiltskin is.” Kalina stopped moving when she saw the way he flinched at the sound of his real name. “What happened to the other goblins?” she asked.

  He looked at her. “They were hunted. Goblin parts are worth more than actual goblins in some areas.”

  Kalina closed her eyes. “Did you sell these parts?”

  “Yes. Even after I became human.” He went to the picturesque window and looked down on the city. “I had the looks, but I needed to gain the power. Other goblins were competition for me. You know how it is in business, don’t you?”

  “And you did things for Faust? Became his own personal broker of a sort?”

  He slowly nodded. “I was his right hand for some time. But these last few years, I’ve started feeling bored.”

  Kalina didn’t want to think about what he did for Faust. She probably knew. “Why did you come to me?”

  A smile of sorts crossed his face. Kalina wanted to cry for him. “I tried to change my fate.” He then showed her one of his hands. “But alas, it seems that I was destined to become a goblin again.”

  Kalina touched his hand and sighed. “I’m going to figure something out.”

  He snatched his hand away from her. “You can try. But you’ll fail. You said it yourself. You aren’t strong enough to defeat Faust.”

  She did say that. Repeatedly. She had to try. “I keep thinking about this curse, and you returning to this state.” She turned away from him and went to the bed. The mirror was lying in the center of it. Kalina picked it up and returned it to the dresser. “Satella said that you had to fall in love.”

  “That I do.” Ryan crossed the room. “And I don’t know if I hate you for figuring out my name, or me for not warning you. Possibly both.”

  Kalina nodded as he left the room. He had every right to feel as if she betrayed him. It didn’t matter the intention, the sting of betrayal was still there. Kalina wiped the tears that fell from her eyes and opened a portal. She would leave him alone for now. She needed to regroup and find a way to get rid of Faust once and for all. “If it’s any consolation, I love you too,” she said to the empty room.

  *****

  “I love you too,” her voice whispered.

  Rumple slid down the wall just outside of his room. He wouldn’t force Kalina to stay with him. She was too soft for their world. He should have known not to go against Faust.

  He frowned as he looked around his apartment. Whenever he and Kalina spoke about sealing Faust away, they put up barriers. Even when they spoke to Merrick, barriers were in place. Rumple felt his magic wrap around his body and sank into the shadows. He grinned as everything around him took on a greyscale hue. This was the one thing he missed about being a goblin. He could dive in and out of the shadows. Moving around in the dark was a simple for him as walking around high noon was for humans.

  He exited the shadows and opened a portal. He needed to find out how Faust knew about his and Kalina’s plans. And whoever told the demon would pay.

  Rumple stepped out of the portal just outside of Merrick’s home in Dublin. He sank into the shadows once again and made his way through the demon’s home. The décor was nothing that would have been flaunted in any sort of court. But it fit with what he knew of Merrick. The half-breed loved comfort above all else. It didn’t matter how outrageous or extravagant his parties were. His personal space would be one of his choosing.

  If Rumple didn’t think Merrick betrayed Kalina, he would think that they could grow to be friends.

  Rumple approached a door and hissed. There was a barrier surrounding the room. But it was one of healing. Rumple sniffed at the magic and frowned. Esme created the spell. He stepped out of the shadows and knocked on the door. “I know he’s in there Esme. Let me see him.”

  The door opened and Esme looked at him coldly. “Why should I let you near him?”

  “Because I want to know who he told about the amulet.”

  Esme shook her head. “You fool. Do you think Merrick would be that careless?” She stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her. “He didn’t even tell me what he was working on.”

  Ryan rolled his eyes. “Faust had to learn it from someone. Neither Kalina nor I spoke of it without a barrier in place.”

  “Then someone got around your barrier.” Esme looked at the clo
sed door behind her. “Faust is letting me care for him. But if he hears of Merrick making any other amulets, he’s going to kill him.”

  “And you care for him.”

  Esme sighed. “It’s too new for me to say. I’m still expecting him to wake up and realize I’m not the woman he dreams about.”

  His mask was stripped from him. But Esme still had hers. “I can always find the Cardinal’s grave. I have no problems bringing him back to kill him again.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve buried that part of my past. Merrick and I will talk about it when he’s better. Who knows, he may want to come to the city with me and the girls.”

  Rumple opened another portal. “Bring your girls here until this thing with Faust blows over. I don’t want anyone else caught in the crossfire.”

  As Esme went back into the room, Rumple stepped through the portal and frowned at the house in front of him. It was a medium sized two-story home with two cars in the driveway. The woman kneeling in the garden was oblivious to his approach.

  “Make your way inside. I’m pretty sure you don’t want the neighbors looking at you.”

  Rumple looked at Reese Hart and followed her instructions. As he entered the house, he was blasted by the cooler temperature inside.

  “Sorry about the chill. Kalina left a few minutes ago. Both Carly and Alex were upset.” Reese took off the sunhat she wore and went to the kitchen. “Do you want to talk about your intentions with our girl, or is there another reason for you to darken our door?”

  He didn’t want to think about the child Kalina carried. His child. The little life she protected from him. “I heard that death dealers follow people around and are immune to barriers.”

  Reese washed her hands at the sink. “That’s right. We are given charges and follow them through life and into death. Kalina nor you have official dealers. You’re immortal, and she was always with Carly.” She smiled sweetly. “And if you stand there and accuse us of something as horrible as telling Faust of Kalina’s plans, then you have no right to say you care about her.”

  That was exactly what he thought. The people he encountered rarely ever did anything for love. He would never think Carly would have betrayed Kalina, but the elder pair Rumple never met. Now standing with the matriarch of the family, Rumple knew that they would defend Kalina, and his child to their last breath. “Do you know of any sort of spell or magic that would by-pass a barrier?”

  Reese frowned as she leaned against the island. “There are spells, but it’s blood magic. I haven’t heard of a witch that risked blood magic in nearly a century.”

  The last witch to risk trying her hand at blood magic killed herself when the spell went out of control. Gretchen’s story was shared in various circles as a cautionary tale. But there were a few that thought she didn’t go far enough. Rumple shook his head. He would deal with that later. “Do you know where Kalina went?”

  Reese folded her arms over her chest. “She said she was going to Prague, and she would be back as soon.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I don’t know what she’s planning, but I need for you to protect her. She’s as much of my daughter as Carly is.”

  The mention of the young death dealer caught his attention. “Where is Carly?” He wouldn’t put it past her to follow Kalina and go head long into trouble with her friend.

  “Locked in her room. She’s furious that I won’t let her go help.”

  “Why won’t you?”

  Reese went to cabinet and pulled out a glass. “Because I know who she is.”

  Rumple exhaled. He knew who Kalina was as well. A witchling with more heart than brains. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” he said before sitting at the island.

  CHAPTER 23

  Kalina was shown into the lavish living room of Faust’s home. She looked at the demon that controlled so many. “I have a question for you,” she said as he sat up. “What do you get out of watching us suffer?”

  “Entertainment.” He waved his hand and a pair of glasses appeared on the coffee table in front of him. “Rest assured, this is simply juice. I would never do anything to harm the precious bundle you carry.”

  She believed him. The capabilities of her own magic aside, her child was also part goblin. The power that would be available at her child’s fingertips would be extraordinary. “Because it suits you.” She sat across from him and looked into his dark eyes. “You really only care about yourself and how you can be entertained. Or how you can have more power at your fingertips.”

  “Living countless centuries can be boring,” Faust admitted. “I make my bright points where I can.”

  Kalina took a sip of the juice he offered and frowned. “Not a fan of mango,” she said.

  Faust waved his hand and the cup changed. “Apple then?”

  She didn’t pick up the new glass. “What do you have against Ryan?”

  Crimson eyes narrowed. “Rumpelstiltskin was plotting against me.” He picked up his own glass and drank from it. “I need to keep him and the rest of the rabble in line.”

  “So, you beat Merrick, and have me turn him back into a goblin.”

  “You can’t be this soft.” Faust shook his head, obviously frustrated. “I don’t know what the goblin has taught you, but in our world, kindness is often taken as weakness.” He gestured to her. “Your condition already puts you behind the 8-ball as it were.”

  “Because I slept with Ryan?”

  “Because you allowed yourself to be impregnated by the goblin.” Faust took another drink. “If you would have just got your rocks off a few times, that would have been perfectly acceptable. Instead, now you have his child inside you. You care enough to carry to term. Those that know your situation with your mother will know that you will dote on the child and it, too, will grow to be a soft-hearted pawn unless something drastic happens.”

  “Is that my warning to become more like you? Or a declaration that I’m dead as soon as my child is born?”

  Faust smirked. “You can take that as you will, my dear.”

  Kalina lifted her glass and examined the liquid inside. “How did you know?” she asked. “Ryan was careful. He would always make sure we had barriers around us. And Merrick doesn’t seem the type of man to tell on himself.”

  He laughed. “Do I strike you as someone that tells all of their secrets?”

  Kalina shook her head. “No, you don’t. You aren’t the type to share your power either.” She drank some of the juice to calm her nerves. “I’m dead the instant I stop being useful to you. Same with my child.”

  He continued to smile at her. In another lifetime, Kalina would have thought him handsome. His slicked back hair, black pinstriped suit with red shirt all screamed power and money. His tanned skin was something most would kill themselves to get. Then there was an air about him. It repelled as much as it drew one in. “You aren’t my first child,” he said standing up.

  Kalina knew that. Lucifer told her. But she would never tell Faust she had been in touch with the devil. “And I doubt I will be your last.”

  “Your older brother Alphonse was like you. Another member of the kill them with kindness camp. Those he attracted gave their power to him. But in the end, when it was down to him and me, fear is a better motivator than heart.”

  She could have an ally in her older brother. “What did you do to him?”

  “He’s still breathing. Unfortunately.” Faust shook his head. “Alphonse has been sealed away. The majority of his power is mine to control.”

  Kalina traced a bead of condensation down her glass. “Where does this leave us?” She needed to know how much ground she needed to cover in order to survive with her child.

  He gazed into her eyes for a long moment. All traces of amusement vanished as he waved his hand. Both glasses vanished. “You defiant little bitch,” Faust said.

  She shrugged. “I don’t want to die. I also don’t want to serve you. If that makes me defiant, sorry Dad.”

  His hands turned into claws for
a second. He leaned forward and grabbed her chin. “Every one of your siblings has fought for their freedom and lost. What makes you and your bleeding heart think any different? Because you think you love Rumpelstiltskin? Love conquers jack shit, Kalina.” He stood and paced away from her. “You are willing to throw away the opportunity to shake the heavens; all because you can’t keep your knees together.”

  Kalina knew she had to ignore his words. She stood and looked around the living room. “Listen to my proposal first,” she said. When Faust stopped moving, she prayed she was doing the right thing. “I don’t want to fight you. Right now, if you and I were to go at it, there is no doubt in my mind that you would wipe the floor with me. But like I said, I don’t want to serve you. And I don’t want my child to serve you. I want a chance to be free to do what I want, with whoever I want.”

  “The goblin.”

  “Ryan will be a part of our lives. He’s my child’s father.”

  “He’s a goblin.”

  “Semantics.” Kalina would deal with that problem when it became an issue. “Do you want to hear my idea?” She had to pull him into her own arena.

  Faust folded his arms over his chest. “What is your brilliant idea?”

  She hated his mocking tone. But she only had to deal with him for a little while longer. “A trip to Monte Carlo. You and I take over a card table. Any game of your choosing. If I win, you leave us alone. All of us. Me, Ryan and the baby. If you win…”

  “The whelp is mine. You and Rumpelstiltskin will hand over the babe and your lives. A public execution.”

  Kalina’s eyes narrowed. “Then my conditions change,” she said. “If you want our lives, fine. I want yours in turn.” When he blinked at her, she continued to hold his gaze. “I won’t live looking over my shoulder. Not anymore. If you insist on killing Ryan and me, if I win, you die.”