"Follow me, and please watch your step." I say.

"What's this about Dorian?" Belle asks.

"Over the years, I've realized what makes Rumpelstiltskin so strong; his magic." I say.

"And what? You're jealous?" Emma scoffs.

I turn to her.

"Not jealous, fascinated." I correct.

I open the doors to my laboratory.

"I'm sorry for the mess." I say.

"This place looks like something you'd see in Frankenstein." Emma mutters.

"He did help me with this, yes." I say.

"What exactly is this experiment? Does it involve Rumple?" Belle asks.

"He is the experiment." I say.

"What?" Belle gasps.

I take out the dagger.

"I have this." I smile.

"Rumple's dagger? How did you get it?" Belle asks.

"I have my ways darling." I say.

I pour another solution onto it. It starts glowing and metal breaks off of it. Tiny bits. I open another beaker of his blood. I drop some of the metal shards inside it. It bubbles. Interesting. Belle steps forward.

"What are you doing to him?!" Belle yells.

"I've been taking samples." I shrug.

"You're using him as a human experiment?!" Belle gasps.

"I never thought of it that way but I guess so." I nod.

"Are you really that monstrous?" Belle asks.

I slam my hand down on my desk. I open the door to a closet. I move the covered painting. I throw the sheet off. The old man was wrinkled. His face decaying. His skin was withering day by day.

"I'm more monstrous than you could ever imagine." I say.