Chapter 17: Stalking

In which Emma interrogates and discoveries are made

Neal Cassidy has enjoyed these past few weeks. The outdoor centre is booming and the militia is growing. It's nice to be part of something so well organized, so much better than hanging out with petty thieves. Ralph trusts him completely and together they can take the world. He respects, and ever so slightly fears, the darkness that resides inside of Ralph. The boldness that makes him reach high: the American dream of a crime-lord to be. The boy that was once Baelfire has altered considerably. His experiences have shaped him; he can now understand a little better why his father so longed for power. Neal longs for comfort more than power, but unfortunately, the two are quite intimately connected, even in this world without magic.

Emma is interrogating two nuns; last night she noticed them spying on her. Some odd days before, she wondered if she was being stalked and started to pay particular attention. Now she has the two of them in custody, however, they are not talking. The grim grey surroundings do not frighten the nuns. To Emma's despair, living in a monastery, sleeping in cold cells, has perfectly prepared them for less enjoyable circumstances.

"I have solid evidence, you know, my security camera has picked your faces up, clearly distinguishable." A little white lie never did anyone any harm. The nuns anxiously eyed each other but remained silent. "I could proceed without a statement. This is your chance to defend yourself. Let me see your side of the story…" Sugar-coating her words did not have any results either. A resigned, yet angry, Emma left the interrogation room, only to bump into the town's lawyer, Mr. Gold.

"Need any help? They were never my favorites either."

Emma sighed. "Sure, thank you. I could use all the help I can get." She smiled apologetically.

"Very well, dearie, no need to tell me twice. Let's see what we can do."

They spend the rest of the afternoon together, discussing tactics and fairies. Their powers, their reputation, their masks and their true nature. Mr. Gold is on a roll, sharing his mistrust, his knowledge of history, his own dealings with these fickle beings. Emma is glued to his lips, all previous animosity temporarily forgotten. If Blue wants to play dirty, than she will as well. As a street fighter she can relate to Mr. Gold in ways that many can't. Both Regina and Belle were born with silver spoons in their mouths, and indeed Emma was too, but life dealt her very different cards. Their lonely backgrounds have shaped their characters in a similar manner.

Daniel has overheard a puzzling and cryptic conversation between Regina and the former Dark One, aka Rumplestiltskin, on this thing that they called a telephone. The very fact that Regina is interested and even friends with this man makes him sick to his stomach. They had been discussing their love life, without noting his presence. Regina was very pleased that their relationship had improved and had been singing the praises of an object. A harp. Daniel fails to see what a musical instrument has to do with anything. He will asks Belle if she knows more about this apparently precious harp. As Daniel is about to leave Regina's mansion, they lived together despite his misgivings, he hears the blasted thing ring. Now what should he do?

Hesitantly Daniel picks up the phone. He has seen Regina do this many times before. Daniel takes a deep breath before answering.

"Hello?"

"Daniel, is that you?" It is Belle. The very person he was thinking of!

"Yes, it is. Belle, I wanted to talked to you… You see, I heard Regina mention this harp and that it had an effect on me and also…." His voice faltered. "Also on you, I think…"

Belle is stunned. Rumple had been using magic again, no surprises there, but using it on her! What had he done? What had they done? Regina was also involved in this treachery! "Daniel," her voice urged him on. "You should come over here. We should find this thing. Find it and, and destroy it!" She gets all worked up. "These magical items are dangerous." Daniel couldn't agree more. His lovely friend had been twisted through magic. She had become just as influential and talented as her mother before her and needed to be stopped. Perhaps then, finally, the old Regina might return… Either that or he might return to his homeland where messages were brought by horse and rider and voices only carried in the mountains.

The trust that Ralph had in Neal was remarkable. Neal even knew the combination of the safe in his office. He didn't know of the existence of a safe in Ralph's bedroom, however. The safe that contained his dagger. Ralph kept the dagger there, not because it was so very valuable, but because he felt attached to it and wanted to keep it only for special occasions. Perhaps he could skin his first bear with it, or use it to cut the Christmas roast. He still checked its presence every night as he loved watching the moonlight fall on its blade and see his name, close enough anyway, sparkle and shine.

One day Neal is rummaging through the safe's contents. Ralph needs a contract as they want to change the terms. The growth of the militia has increased Ralph's self-importance and he has decided to get more favorable terms for himself, financially or otherwise, in all his business arrangements. Neal would help him with this appealing—some might say appaling— task. As Neal is grinning at his boss's cleverness he finds a letter. He cannot help but be curious and begins to read.

Dear Radolph,

The dagger in your possession which carries your name is powerful beyond measure. Whoever wields it has absolute power and may command others. Congratulations: that is you! Such a weapon is in high demand and needs to be hidden and defended at all costs. Please be careful with it, use it to carve your destiny and prosper! Beware of magic, fairies and the like, and most of all the Saviour, the Evil Queen or the Blue Fairy. Remember that the Dark-One-that-was may want his influence back so keep out an eye for anyone that bears traces of the Enchanted Forest.

Wishing you the very best,

Radolph.

Neal trembles. This cannot be. This has to be a bad dream. If only he was sure that is was a bad trip, a painful hallucination of some kind…. A dagger with a name sounds eerily familiar. Far too familiar. Neal hears Ralph impatiently shouting his name. He grabs the contract and the letter and makes for the door. The letter gets stuffed in his pocket and, a minute later, he hands the contract to a smiling Ralph.