Chapter 4: Missing Belongings

In which several objects disappear and Emma becomes a thief

"Rum, you look so tired. Are you sure you're alright?" Belle is worried about Rumple. He looks as if he doesn't sleep at all. She remembers all too clearly the effects that sleepless nights may have. "I'm fine. Don't worry about it. Tell you what, if it continues, I'll talk to Dr. Hopper, okay?" "You better! You have to be careful now that you're heart…" "is broken?" he jokes to change the conversation. Belle looks at him, worried and bemused.

In the library, Rumple immediately heads for the basement. He hopes to find traces of, or better still, lots of dust to see what the original number of cases was. Unfortunately, the floor is clean so he cannot tell. He counts only twelve cases, but that was to be expected. The question remains. He has this nagging voice in his head, telling him that this is very important, even though he would rather leave things be. To satisfy the voice he searches the register. None of the books are mentioned in it. The books are not available for check-out. It is as if they don't exist.

Belle doesn't have any answers either. Since no one ever borrows books from the restricted area, she never noticed that the books were not mentioned in the register. "We better add them then," she says rather cheerfully. It had been quite a boring day, so any kind of distraction is welcome. "I'll help," Rumple offers, keen to find out more about this.

Radolph can't find his dagger and is overwhelmed by panic. The dagger was supposed to be in his belt. Radolph doesn't let it out of his sight; it has become far too precious. He carries it around with him all day, but hidden from sight by a piece of leather strapped over it. He desperately tries to remember all the places he has been today, in order to retrace his steps.

The Blue Fairy is content with Emma's progress. She is a quick learner, a natural. The lessons take place in her office, her ordinary one, but some of the materials for her class are extraordinary. Emma is learning the effects of some basic potions today. It is very important that she recognizes them in case someone should use them against her. Emma is uncomfortable with the idea of these kind of sneaky tactics. She prefers people pulling a gun on her, or a wand, for that matter; evil out in the open. The idea of her hot chocolate with cinnamon being spiked with something nasty, twisted and devious does not appeal to her at all. But it is important to learn about these things.

Their lessons are interrupted when Mother Superior is called away. One of the nuns has a severe stomach ache and requested both spiritual and medical help. Emma is left alone in the office. After she has poked, with a spoon, not her fingers, in some of the potions and has read the lists of ingredients, effects, symptoms and characteristics of the potions twice, she starts to explore the office. Beginning with the bookcases which contain various religious and theological books, she ends with the desk. Some of the drawers are locked, as they should be, against intruders such as herself, the last drawer, however, does open. Here's some light reading, Emma snickers to herself when she reads the title: Original Sin: Source of Darkness.

Out of curiosity and boredom she starts to flip through the pages. She expected a theological book but is mistaken. The book is not about theology at all; it is about the beginning of evil in that other world, the magical one. It starts with the existence and rule of the fairies, and although some minor troubles and jealousies between them existed, the world at large was peaceful and wonderful. But that never lasts long; there is always a snake in paradise. The things Emma reads, shock her, and she decides to leave and confiscate the book. She wants to discuss these things with her parents, get their take on it, and she hopes fervently they can give her a reasonable explanation.

Mother Superior receives the message of one of the nuns that the sheriff has left. It did take very long to solve the stomach problems; eventually she had decided that a visit to the hospital was necessary. No wonder Emma grew impatient. It's a pity because she had planned to give her some instructions to make her own potions, but it could wait 'till next week.

Later that evening, she is going through the books in her special office. It was a very good fortune that she had managed to get the books away from the library. The knowledge in these books was much too precious to fall into the hands of any random soul out there. She had retrieved the most important and dangerous ones. It would have been better to get all the bookcases, but that might set off the alarm bells in both the library and village.

Radolph has searched several streets and is walking back into the woods. Perhaps he will find the dagger on route to his hunting shed. Being preoccupied and looking into the distance, he doesn't notice a tree trunk in front of him and falls right into the mud. Cursing and cussing he rises, but his mood completely changes when he sees the hilt of his dagger. He has found it! The dagger has presented itself to him, once again. He stumbled for a reason, and what a glorious one.

Belle and Rumple had catalogued the twelve bookcase. Belle had lost her initial enthusiasm when she realized all the books were in some way related to magic. She remembered clearly how her own problems had spiralled out of control when she started consulting these books. Rumple's efforts to hide his interest were unsuccessful; he was simply unable to hide the glint in his eyes, the trace of a smile around his lips.

Rumple was a little irritated that Belle didn't leave him out of her sight, whilst they were categorizing the books. There were quite a few that he wanted to check out. He had dropped several hints, like: didn't she want to go on lunch break or use the ladies'. Belle's fierce and angry eyes and demeanour had eventually silenced him. Fortunately he had spare keys to the library, although Belle might check the books now that they had been incorporated in the system. So he couldn't take them from the library, but he still had ample opportunity for research.

It is not until the next morning that the Blue Fairy discovers her loss. She opens the drawer to read her book and it is not there. Since she is always so careful, she cannot imagine to have mislaid it. A quick search of both her offices and her bedroom, tell her what she needs to know. The book is gone. THE book is gone. This is a terribly difficult complication and needs to be handled with care. If Emma has got hold of the book, it might drive her right into the arms of the wrong kind of friends. However, it is unlikely she will trust her again anytime soon. Tears spring to her eyes and she is overwhelmed with sadness and desperation for a moment. The only thing she can hope for is the loyalty of Emma's parents, if Emma chooses to consult them which being Emma isn't even that likely.