I looked up from my books when I heard the shop's bell jingle. My welcoming smile fell as I saw it was Captain Hook. Almost involuntarily, I reached for a club that I had taken to keeping behind the counter after my last encounter with Regina.
"What do you want? I brought Emma the book with Zelena's spell. I haven't found anything else." I quickly spoke out. I heard the nervousness in my voice and hoped that he did not hear it.
He must have because he lifted his arms, showing me that he wasn't wearing the hook that had been his constant companion.
"Hello Belle. I mean you no harm. May I speak with you?" He said in a calming voice. I could tell that he was being cautious. I'd never known him to be cautious or nervous. His odd behavior peaked my interest.
"Certainly. Please sit." I directed him to a low couch across the room from where I was seated with my books. Once he sat we were at eye level, but he was well out of arms reach.
"How may I assist you today?"
"I was very impressed with your researching skills. I don't think we would have ever contemplated time travel as the Wicked Witches goal if it was not for you. Truly remarkable."
"Hmm Thank you." Somehow his praise was making me more uneasy.
"And I wanted to be sure you knew that Emma was able to view Eric with Ariel. They did find each other again and they are out of the reach of this current curse."
"Oh, I hadn't heard. Thank you. It is so good to know that they did find each other again." I felt a real smile on my face upon hearing the news. There were rumors, but Hook spoke as one who was certain. I released my grip on the club. I could see now that Hook was not here to hurt me, but he did need something.
"I am thankful for your help in that matter, Captain. Ariel is a dear friend and her happy ending gives me hope that Rumple will find a way to release himself from Zelena's power."
"I had little to do with that. Ariel's relentless faith is what brought her back to Eric, not I."
"I was hoping to speak to you about a research project." He continued. "After Eric's cloak flew into the water after we placed the locating spell, it made me think upon the limitations of a curse. Eric was not here because he was outside the area affected by the curse. When Regina cast it the first time, Cora had placed a dome of protection around herself which encompassed an entire region."
"Yes, I heard that Aurora and Phillip were also enclosed in the area unaffected and I'm sure where many others."
"Exactly, so even large curses have limitations. I was wondering if there was a way to gauge the limitations of a curse without fully casting it?"
"Oh I see, so that we can know how far reaching the time traveling curse could be. Yes I was reading about that in… oh not this one." I searched through the books at my feet. "Ah here. This one had a lot of information on curses and the ingredients. The more powerful the ingredients, the more powerful the curse." I got up to hand it to me. He greeted me half-way with his hand outstretched.
"May I take this with me tonight to read through?" He asked. "I do not doubt your skills, but surely a second pair of eyes may see something else."
"Of course. Although, all the books are still Rumplestiltskins' property. I would recommend that you see no harm is done to it and it is returned tomorrow." I said trying to put as much firmness into my voice as possible.
"Milady, I will guard it with my life." He accented his statement with an exaggerated bow and a smirk.
I waved him away with a shake of my head. I dove right back into to my reading on the dangers of time travel and other tragic consequences of some of the other attempts that had been made.