happilyeverbeginning | snow white (haunted house au)

Wasn't there a fairy tale that went like this once? Let me in, little piggy, let me in, let me in? And of course the pigs didn't. They were smarter than that.

Yet there Scrooge stood before the door, the red key in his hand, and he heard a similar whisper in his ear.

Let me out, let me out, let me out.

But then, the piggies had each other, didn't they? Brothers through and through, and Scrooge was alone. His family had abandoned him. No one cared that he was here – they cared about his business, his fortune, but the man himself? Who gave a damn? He would give and give and they would take and take, and in the end he wasn't a man, just a flesh representation of his wealth. No one wanted the man.

Except her.

Let me out, she whispered to him now, warm and soft and inviting, so different than the attempted spook on his first day. She had no need of his wealth or power. She didn't need him at all – but she wanted him. She spoke to him, she listened to him, she was there when no one else was. Little did he know how much this had been by design, how his isolation had been yet another mark in her game. Let me out, and I am yours.

Some of his sensibility was still alive. It screamed not to trust “the thing in the shadows”, that she must have been locked up for a reason, that she could have been lying all along. But what if she wasn't? Or at the very least, wasn't lying about her powers weakening? She could fade away, and the last remnants he had of anyone caring about him would go with her. It was either free her... or face a life of emptiness. And he couldn't bare it. Not another day. Not another hour. He wasn't strong enough.

Let me out, and I will never leave you.

His hand trembled, but the key was pushed into the lock. Scrooge hesitated. There was still time to pull it out and forget the whole thing.

Let me out... and we will be together forever.

Click.

The door creaked impossibly loud as Scrooge pushed it open, and the stench hit him first – it was so awful he clutched his stomach, gagging, his eyes swimming. He needed a moment to breathe, and another moment to realize what the smell was – a corpse. A corpse that had been locked away for centuries.

His heart rattled underneath his ribs, and he forced his eyes to stay open as he walked inside the room. The windows were barred shut, the only light coming in from behind him. A stone altar was placed in the middle of the room, the floor covered in archaic symbols – painted in blood, if he had to guess – and a white sheet covered the altar, hiding... he knew damn well what.

The sheet moved and Scrooge nearly lost his footing.

Wind picked up out of nowhere, and the symbols glowed, and the smell evaporated. The shadows all around him slithered like starving snakes to the altar, sliding underneath the sheet to give the body form and shape. A voice – a familiar voice – cackled wildly, and the room shook, the house shook, Scrooge held onto the doorknob for dear life. The form underneath the sheet slowly began to sit up, and then slid off.

Thankfully, what sat there wasn't a skeleton or a decaying mound of maggots and rot. She was beautiful, the same way most venomous animals are, dangerous in their colors yet one couldn't take their eyes away. She flexed her fingers, touched her arms, marveled at the sense of sensation again. The house was still, as was Scrooge. She finally looked at him, and smiled.

“You have my gratitude, Scroogie.” A mirthful giggle. “How should we celebrate? On the dance floor, perhaps?” She waved her hand over her face, a familiar mask appearing over her eyes.

Scrooge stared – then mentally chided his own foolishness that he never connected the dots before. Of course it'd been her. He should've felt angry, but there was no point to it. When he spoke at last, his voice was hollow. “What now?” Had he done it all for nothing? Was he to be left behind, now that she was whole once more?

Magica studied him. She slid off the altar – when her feet touched the floor, it was new and clean and fresh. The entire room began to change, turning into what the building might have been when first constructed – no dust, no cobwebs, light and purity and welcoming. She tossed the mask over her shoulder, and was suddenly in front of him. “I am a woman of my word. Tat used to bring fear to people's hearts.” She smiled, amused at her history, and then her arms were around his neck, and she pulled him in.

In the dream, her touch was cold and fleeting. But here, now, warm, so alive and enticing, a honey taste he couldn't get enough of. She wasn't leaving him. Would never leave him. His bony fingers held onto her desperately, as if afraid that by letting her go she'd be gone forever. One kiss led to another, another, another, and when she pulled away he nearly moaned in despair.

Never did he noticed the wisps of magic her hands tucked into his head. A little insurance, to make sure her plaything wasn't going anywhere.

“You are mine.”

“Yes.”

“You will never leave me.”

“Yes.”

The rest of the house continued to refurnish itself, save for the outside. Only those of the magical world had any idea what had happened – the exterior of the house stayed old and rickety, the weeds more dangerous than before, the shadows darker and deeper.

Scrooge ducked his head against her neck, and Magica stroked him fondly. Silly little darling. He'd been so easy to manipulate. Yet... she had promised vengeance on those had imprisoned her. It was very possible they were all long dead now, but their living descendants could pay the price. Her pride had lived on that image alone.

But. Hm. Right now... it didn't seem important enough to move. She had time. Revenge could be had on another day. She felt no inclination to leave Scrooge's embrace. Maybe it was because she'd gone for long without touch. Maybe.

She brought his fingers to her lips and kissed them.

If she waited too long, those of the magical realm would come after her, in a desperate attempt to seal her up once more. Just as importantly, they'd try to take Scrooge away, and that would not end well for anyone.

The weeds outside grew thicker, wrapping around crooked trees, and the steel gates locked tightly.

“... I will not let anyone take you from me.”

Should they dare... the wolf would devour them whole.