"Natalie, explain!" the man with the miraculous said in a flat voice that sounded vaguely familiar to Emma.
"I don't know sir." the voice was coming from a dark corner of the room and without her cat vision, Emma couldn't see who it was. "Perhaps we misinterpreted the spell."
Emma glanced at the man's hand to see that he was holding a large book. The Book of the Miraculous! She was careful to keep her face neutral, as was her training. But that doesn't make sense. That book is safely locked away in Master's study.
"Who are you, child?" The man asked her, interpreting Emma's thoughts.
"Um...sorry. I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." she answered, trying assess her options. She didn't see an exit and without Plagg, she didn't stand much of a chance should a fight break out between them.
"Smart girl," he said with a smile that unnerved her. "Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am Hawk Moth."
"Come again?" No way, he was defeated ages ago! There's no way it could be him. But, then again, he does have the butterfly miraculous.
"I am Hawk Moth!" he repeated, "I have the power to grant superpowers." He paused for a moment and seemed to ponder her for a moment. "Would you like to have super powers, child?"
"Let me guess, you give me superpowers and in return, I get you Ladybug and Cat Noir's miraculouses? Yeah...I'll pass on that, thanks."
Hawk Moth's face twisted in anger. He glanced back towards the corner where the other voice had come from earlier, but said nothing.
"I see. It seems you have heard of me then." he said, turning back to her.
"Yeah, I hear that Ladybug and Cat Noir are always kicking your butt!" she taunted. If this really is Hawk Moth...that means….I'm in the past?
"What is your name?" he said through gritted teeth and Emma knew she had struck a nerve.
"Nope. Sorry. Not telling you." If I really am in the past, I need to be extremely careful.
"Your french is excellent, but that accent...you're not from Paris, are you child?"
"That's none of your business," she muttered, his words hitting an old wound.
"Tell me who you are!" He yelled. He was getting frustrated, but she knew that telling him who she was a bad idea.
"Nope. Not gonna happen, Fly Boy."
"Why did the spell bring you here? What power are you hiding from me?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"The spell!" He used his staff to point at the Book of the Miraculous. "It is supposed to summon a great power! WHY did it bring YOU CHILD?"
Aw, so that's what he was trying to do! She knew all the spells in that book, but he had clearly misinterpreted the text somewhere along the line. Of course, he read it with evil intention! She recalled one of her lessons.
"When a person tries to read the language of kwamis with evil intention," Master had told her, "The text will manipulate itself, resulting in a spell that does not have the desired effect."
"What effect will it have instead?" she had asked.
"It is unknown. Some believe the text will try to bring about the downfall of the person reading the book. Others believe that there simply is no effect."
"In that case," Hawk Moth was saying, drawing Emma's attention back to the present moment, "I have no choice but to keep you here until I learn what you are hiding!" He tapped his staff to the ground and a swirl of white surrounded her. She held up her hands to protect her eyes.
When it stopped, she was alone. She quickly ran to towards the wall. It was hard to see in the in the dark room, but she felt along the wall trying to find a door. There was none. She followed the wall along the entirety of the room. It was a circular room with no doors. Looking up, she saw only one, small circle window. It was much too high for her to reach.
If only I had Plagg with me. She lamented. She walked towards the only spot on the floor that was illuminated and sat down. She crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees. Straightening her back, she took a deep breath. If he isn't far, maybe I can reach him.
Breathing deep, she focused on clearing her mind, just like Master had taught her. Plagg, she focused on the name, imagining his black form in her mind. Plagg, I need you.