The Lost Power: Chapter 4
Flashback:
"You will do my bidding." A deep voice from the dark figure said to the Evil Manta.
"I do no one's bidding." Manta snarled.
"Don't worry it's very easy." The figure said.
"Who are you?" Manta asked.
"You will find that out soon enough. All need from you is for you to use your magic." The figure said.
"Why, Are you going to steal it?" Manta asked wanting to grab the necklace but resisting.
"No, nothing like that. I want it's source. I have to restore balance." The figure said.
"What does that mean?" Manta asked.
"You have magic that isn't yours. You either give me yours, or I take it from it's source." The figure said.
"So you can't steal it from me?" Manta asked.
"No, you have to give the crystal to me. If you don't I have to take the magic from where the crystal got its magic." The figure explained.
"So you would have to take the magic from the Triton?" Manta asked.
"Yes." The figure said.
Manta smiled. "In that case no you can't have my crystal."
Present Day:
Belle greeted Hook with a welcoming smile and a cup of coffee as he entered the warm library. "I was wondering how long it would be before Emma sent someone over to talk to me."
Hook smiled. "Someone would have been over sooner, but I found a stray in the alley." Hook said.
Belle cocked her head. "Found a stray?"
"Yeah, a young woman. Say's her name is Shadow. She was alone in the alley crying when I found her. Emma, Snow, and David have been talking with her trying to find out who she is all evening." Hook explained.
"Oh well that's interesting." Belle said.
"So what did you find out?" Hook asked eager to change the subject.
"Oh yes. Mr. Manta I didn't really find anything on, the crystal I'm pretty sure is some kind of power crystal, I'm still working on that one. But now the box, that is a whole different story. The box was kept and protected by the dragon in this realm until it was stolen many years ago. The box is a lot like the Pandora box except it will only hold a specific being and can only be controlled by that being. Thing is the warning I keep getting is that to never let that being wield the box or magic will be lost. I have found that in at least five books now." Belle said.
"Now we have to find out what Mr. Manta has to do with all this." Hook said. He started to ask more, but Gold walked into the library.
Gold stopped at the sight of Hook. "What brings you here so late at night?" Gold asked.
Hook raised his eyebrows and took a deep breath trying to think quick. "Just doing some research on our newest guest to Storybrook." Hook finally said.
"Oh yeah, who would that be?" Gold asked, surprised someone was new in town and he wasn't aware of it yet.
"She calls herself Shadow." Hook answered watching Gold closely for a reaction. "Do you know her?"
"No. Never heard of her." Gold said cooley.
Hook looked back at Belle. "Thanks for the help." He said before walking out. He nodded at Gold as he passed him on his way to the door.
When Hook was out the door Belle approached Gold. "You know who he's talking about?"
Gold looked at Belle. He knew if he lied she would only get angry with him, but he also knew she would tell the heroes and he wasn't ready for them to know anything yet. He had to be sure for himself first. He hoped he was wrong because if he wasn't everyone in Storybrook could be in danger, including himself. "I can't answer that." He said as honestly as he could.
Belle folded her arms and sighed in disappointment. "It would figure. Is there anything you can tell me?" She asked hoping he would give her something.
Gold walked toward the door. "Supper is ready and it's cold outside." He answered, motioning for her to walk out with him."
Belle grabbed the extra coat she kept at the library and walked out with him locking up the library.
At Emma's, Emma had shown Shadow to the guest room. The young woman had sat on the bed in the dark, curled her knees up to her chest, and watched Emma as she showed her the towels, bed clothes, ect. Emma was glad to get out of the room. The woman gave her a leary feeling. She rubbed her arms from the chill in the house. Emma went to the living room and lit a fire in the small fireplace and laid on the sofa waiting for Hook to arrive.
Shadow waited until she didn't hear any movement before stepping out of the bed. Everything here was very strange. Very different than the last time she had been out. She looked around the room. Then knelt down to what looked like a loose floorboard. She grabbed a pair of scissors she saw on the desk in the room and pried the board up. She held out her hand and made a box appear in her hand. She placed the box in the floor, replaced the floorboard, and crawled back into the bed. As she laid down a smile slid onto her face.
Finally Hook came in and struggled with the door to get it to close. "Blast it is frigid out there." Hook said leaning against the door to make sure it was closed. He looked around and saw his jacket hanging on the coat rack. "Well thank goodness I got that back." He quickly peeled off the police jacket and went over to sit with Emma by the fire. "Love, this quite a storm we got brewing."
"I've noticed. Strange for this time of year." Emma said.
"Whenever I was out on the sea and a strange storm came around it usually meant some kind of magic was around too." Hook said regretting his words as soon as they left his mout.
"See I told you something was about to happen." Emma said. The two curled up together on the sofa enjoying the warmth from the fire.