Emma Swan looked from the spell book to the pot in confusion. She doesn't understand why it isn't working. It was a simple protection spell, one she has made countless times, one she could make in her sleep but for some reason it wasn't coming together. Emma double checked the ingredients: Rosemary, Lavender, Basil, Mint… wait a minute. She frowns bringing the herb up to her nose, that's not mint, it's lemon balm.

Emma lets out a groan of frustration at who she knows is responsible for the mix-up. She turns the burner off and leaves the room, making her way toward the crystal room. When she gets there, it takes her no time at all to find who she is looking for.

"Aurora!"

At the sound of her name being called, a beautiful redhead lifts her head and when she sees who is calling her, her eyes widen. Standing, she says something to the woman next to her and makes her way over to Emma.

As soon as Aurora is standing in front of her, Emma cuts right to the chase. "Wasn't it your turn to organize the herbs in the potions room last night?"

Aurora blinks sheepishly at Emma before responding, "Yes, it was."

"Well imagine my surprise when I was brewing a protection spell and I realized that the mint was actually lemon balm," Emma says, giving her a pointed look.

Aurora looks away guiltily, knowing she's been caught. "Emma I.."

Emma doesn't let her finish. "Save it. Aurora, you know how dangerous it can be to not properly put the herbs in their rightful place. What were you thinking?"

Aurora begins to ring her hands together. "I know. I'm sorry"

"Well what happened then?" Emma asks impatiently.

"I accidentally dropped them and they got mixed up and then they looked so much alike and I couldn't remember how to tell them apart and I just panicked," Aurora explains rapidly.

Emma lifts her hands to grasp Aurora by the shoulders. "Calm down. Take a deep breath." Emma pauses until she does, then continues, "Listen. I know that potion making isn't your area of expertise, but you know it's important for every witch here to have the knowledge of not only her own craft but others as well"

Aurora nods her head solemnly. "I know Emma. It's just that I'm having a hard time with it," she says dejectedly.

Emma felt her anger and frustration leave her. This wasn't the first time a coven sister has had a hard time with the potion ingredients, and usually she is able to spend more time helping them learn the craft better, but the past couple of weeks have been hectic. Ever since Glinda, one of their coven leaders, decided to relocate back to her hometown of Oz, Emma, being the next most senior witch, has had to take on more responsibilities around the compound and it's left her being pulled in so many directions.

"I'm sorry Aurora."

The other woman frowns at her. "What for?"

"For not being around more. With everything going on lately, I've been neglecting one of my most important duties," Emma says.

"And what's that?" Aurora asks curiously.

"Helping my coven sisters become the best witches they can be," Emma responds sincerely. "I promise once all this craziness is over I will be around more. Until then, if you are having trouble please don't hesitate to seek out one of the other's in the potions room." Emma pauses for a moment, thinking, then it clicks. "I know… Mulan! Besides me, she's probably the most knowledgeable when it comes to herbs and potion making. Is that okay with you?"

A slight blush spreads across Aurora's cheeks at Emma's words. "Y-Yes," she stutters, then clears her throat. "Yes, That's fine. Thank you Emma, for being so understanding."

Emma smiles at her, clearly noticing the way the redhead had reacted to the suggestion. Now that she thinks of it, she has seen the two witches together talking quietly in the dining hall a time or two. "No problem. I'll let you get back to your lesson."

As Emma left the room she begins to realize another very important duty she has been unintentionally neglecting lately. Walking through the hallways of the immense compound Emma finds her mind begin to wonder. She thinks about her life before she came here and how she was found by her adoptive mother Ingrid Mills at 10 years old while living in an orphanage. Ingrid had visited the regional headquarters in Boston, where every year the most senior witch of each local coven gathered for a conference with The High Council of Witches, when she said she felt drawn to the orphanage.

Emma was just a baby when she was left on the doorsteps of the orphanage, wrapped in a white knitted blanket with her name stitched in the corner. Over the years she had lost track of how many foster families had taken her in then sent her back because in their words "strange things happen with her around." Emma had known from a young age that she was different, that sometimes when she was angry lights would burst, or objects would move on their own if she concentrated on them hard enough. Regardless, Emma never could have imagined what she would find out about herself one day.

Emma remembers it like it was yesterday. She had been sitting at the top of the orphanage stairs when a woman with blonde hair walked through the doors. Emma watched as the woman strolled around the lobby until she suddenly stopped and glanced up to where she was sitting. The woman then began to make her way toward the stairs when the director of the orphanage, Ms. Rose came into the lobby. She had taken the opportunity to retreat to her room not really thinking much about the strange incident, until later when there was a knock on her door.

She had been sitting on her bed listening to music when Ms. Rose came in and said that there was someone there to see her. Coming into the room behind her was the woman from the lobby, she crossed the room to sit down on the bed next to Emma and proceeded to introduce herself.

"Hello, Emma. My name is Ingrid Mills and I am very glad to meet you," she says after Ms. Rose had left the room.

Emma looks up at her in confusion. "You are? Why?"

Ingrid smiles gently at her. "Because you and I are very much alike Emma."

"What do you mean?" Emma asks, her small brows furrowing.

"Tell me, Emma. Sometimes... say, when you get angry or sad, do things happen? Or maybe things move all on their own?" Ingrid asks curiously.

Emma stares at her with wide eyes, wondering how she could possibly know about that. "Sometimes when I'm mad the lights explode," she whispers, afraid that somehow, someone might overhear her.

Ingrid doesn't say anything, only holds out her hand, and to Emma's amazement a small ball of light appears in the air above her palm. "See. I can do things too." She forms a fist and the light disappears. "Now you show me something."

Emma glances nervously around the room, when finally she raises a hesitant hand out and concentrates until an object flies from across the room and into Emma's hand. Sitting in her palm is a small unicorn figurine that one of the other girls gave her before she left the orphanage after being adopted. "How can I do this?"

"Because, Emma, you have magic and if you want, I can take you to a place where you can learn all about your magic and what you can do with it," Ingrid explains to her.

"Really?" Emma says in a hopeful tone, wondering if she has finally found the place where she belongs.

"Yes, Emma. In this place you won't ever have to worry about hiding anymore," Ingrid says with conviction.

Emma had still been somewhat hesitant, given her track record with foster families, but had ultimately decided to throw caution to the wind and go with Ingrid. She doesn't know what Ingrid had said to convince Ms. Rose to let her leave that day, but before Emma knew it she was on her way to her new life. When they arrived at the huge compound that Ingrid called "The Mills House," Emma found herself immersed into a whole new world. She remembers being in awe as she walked through the hallways and saw all the very magical people there. A coven Ingrid called it, a "family" of witches brought together for various reasons, most seeking protection but some, like Emma, are found at a young age and brought here.

Emma also learned that in addition to there being witches, there were other supernatural creatures as well. It had been a lot for a 10 year old to process but she had taken it in stride and quickly adapted to her new life. She was introduced to many people including Regina, Ingrid's younger sister, who obviously didn't care for the new addition to the coven, and Henry, their father, who was a kind man and accepted Emma with open arms.

Over time Emma grew into an accomplished witch. She excelled at most of her lessons but found that potions was her passion. Emma also began to grow extremely close to Ingrid, coming to think of her as a mother, but had been afraid to express herself in fear of rejection. Emma didn't need to worry, though, because shortly after her thirteenth birthday Ingrid came to her and asked if she wanted to be a part of the Mills family - officially.

Emma had been so happy that she was finally going to have a real family. The process had been fairly easy, all Ingrid had to do was petition The High Council of Witches for approval of the adoption and once they did, a ceremony took place with every coven member in attendance to celebrate the occasion. For the first time in Emma's life she had finally been happy, she had friends, a real home and a loving family, she should have known that it was only a matter of time before that changed.

Squealing laughter brings Emma back to the present. A smile spreads across her face as she rounds the corner and enters a colorfully decorated room. Emma's eyes roam around the room until they land on a familiar dark haired boy.

"Henry!" she calls out to her son.

At the sound of his name being called, Henry lifts his head and when he sees his mother he lets out a shout of excitement and begins to run towards her.

"Mommy!"

Emma bends down and catches him in her arms. "Hey there my little man! Are you having a good day?" she asks, lifting him up into her arms.

"Yes! But I'm happy to see you, I missed you, Mommy," Henry says, throwing his tiny arms around Emma's neck.

Emma closes her eyes as she holds him tight. "I missed you too, buddy." She hates that she's been so busy lately that she hasn't had enough time to spend with Henry. Well that was going to change, starting today. "Hey, I know. How about we spend the rest of the day together?"

Henry pulls back with a gasp. "Really Mama? Just you and me?"

"Yes baby. Just you and me. And we can do whatever you want," Emma says, smiling as she sets him down on the ground.

"Woohoo!" Henry yells out in excitement, then starts tugging his mother out the door with the enthusiasm only a four year old could muster.

Emma laughs and the two of them begin to make their way down the hall and towards the living area of the manor. "So what do you want to do, buddy?"

"I want to act out my storybook," Henry says without hesitation.

Emma smiles. Henry loves his storybook, a leather bound tome that he recently got for his birthday. He spends hours drawing page after page of stories he thinks up, then recruits her into acting them out. "Alright. Anything else?"

Before Henry can respond, Emma hears her name frantically being called. She turns to see Aurora hurrying towards her. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asks when the young witch stops in front of her.

Aurora looks at Emma, panic written all over her face. "There are Guard members here. They're waiting in the foyer."

Emma's eyes widen with disbelief. "Guard members? What did they say they wanted?"

Aurora shakes her head. "They wouldn't tell me. Said they could only speak with a senior coven member."

"How come you came to get me? Where's Regina? Emma asks.

"She hasn't responded to any of our summons," Aurora says nervously.

Emma lets out a sigh of frustration. Dammit! Of all the times for this to happen. Glancing down at Henry, she sees him looking up at her with sadness. "I'm so sorry, baby. Mommy has to take care of something, but as soon as I'm done I promise we'll act out your stories," she says as she kneels down in front of him.

"Okay, Mommy," he whispers dejectedly.

Emma lets out another sigh as she stands back up. "Aurora, could you please take Henry back to the playroom?"

Aurora nods her head. "Of course. Come on, Henry." Taking the little boy by the hand, she guides back down the hall.

Emma takes a moment to compose herself before she continues down the hall toward the foyer. When she enters the room she immediately spies their visitors, standing by the entrance with their backs facing her. Guard members, highly trained enforcers for The High Council whose job it was to hunt down those who violated their laws. It's usually not good news when The Guard comes calling. Taking a deep breath Emma moves to greet them. "Welcome! It's an honor to receive members of The Guard."

When they turn to face her, Emma's steps falter slightly. The Guard members are both men, one is older, about early to mid fifties with short blonde hair that is greying at his temples. He is tall and still fit for his age, wearing a pair of jeans, black boots, button up shirt with a leather jacket, but it is the other man who has her stopping in her tracks. She has never seen a more handsome man in her life.

He is also tall, with raven hair and eyes the color of the sky on a clear day. His face is chiseled, almost like he was carved out of marble, with just the right amount of facial hair dusting his jaw, and when she stops in front of them she notices he also has a tiny scar on his right cheek. Wearing black jeans, a pair of boots, a sweater that looked so soft and a black leather jacket, there is also, she notices, a sword attached to his hip. Much like the one strapped to his companion.

"Good afternoon gentlemen, my name is Emma Swan. What can I do for you today?" she asks, trying not to sound as flustered as she felt.

The older man speaks first. "Hello, my name is David Nolan, and this is my partner Killian Jones. We need to speak with you about a very serious matter."

Emma smiles at them politely. "Of course. Let's have a seat," she says, gesturing toward a circle of chairs.

After they are seated, David cuts right to the chase. "Ms. Swan, we are here because a severe crime has been committed," he says urgently

Emma sits back in shock. "What sort of crime?"

This time it was Killian who spoke. "A sanctuary building was burned to the ground a few days ago,"

Oh, dear lord, he has an accent, too, Emma thinks, but snaps out of it when she realizes what he said. "A sanctuary? My god, that's horrible! But that doesn't explain why you're here," she says, confused.

The two men look at one another silently for a few seconds, then David tells her, "Because the fire was created by magic."

"What?" Emma gasps in shocked disbelief

"Aye," Killian replies. "And we have reason to believe that someone in this coven is the one responsible for it"