Chapter Eight

A Lead

Emma woke up slowly. She groaned and sat up. When did she fall asleep? She had been trying to not fall asleep because she didn't know what King George would do to her baby while she was asleep.

"I'm guessing that you're wondering when you fell asleep?" King George walked into the room, a new box in hands.

Emma glared at him and croaked, "What did you do?"
The former king shrugged. "All that magic that I put in you, trying to get the light magic out of your kid, must've knocked you out pretty good. You were out for almost a day."

A day? How much time had passed since she actually got here?

She saw George take out a vial of purple liquid. She shuddered as he turned around and started walking towards the cage.

"So Grandma didn't want to tell me?" Henry asked. They were at home, at Emma and Killian's home. Harper was upstairs playing and Henry and Killian were on the couch talking.

Killian nodded. "Aye. She said that it would crush you, which it has, but you can help us."

Henry nodded. "Yeah, I can." He paused. "We need Harper to tell you about her dreams."

Killian shook his head. "No, we can't. Those dreams almost caused her to run away! If the door wasn't locked, then… who knows what would've happened?"

"Dad, Harper might be the key to finding mom."

Killian looked down. As much as he hated it, the idea of making his daughter have more nightmares, he needed to find Emma. Killian sighed. "Alright. Fine. But we do it tomorrow."

Henry nodded. "Okay, deal."

Killian stood up and walked upstairs towards Harper's room. He leaned against her doorway and watched as she colored a picture.

When she was finished, she looked up and smiled. She held the picture up. "Look, Daddy!"

Killian smiled and walked over. He looked at the picture and his heart melted. It was a picture of their family. Emma and Killian were on one side and Harper was holding Emma's hand and Henry was holding Harper's hand. Killian was holding Emma's other hand.

"Do you like it?" Harper asked.

"I love it," Killian said.

Harper clapped. "Yay!" Then, she frowned. "Daddy, when's dinner? I'm hungry."

Killian laughed and took Harper's hand. "Come on. Let's go eat."

Belle slammed her book closed and let out a cry of frustration. She had gone through half her library trying to find a way to bring Emma back, but that was nearly impossible to do without knowing the location of Emma.

Belle's phone alarm went off. Time to feed Gold. Belle couldn't help but feel like she was taking care of a caged animal. She had fed him every day and every meal since Emma left, but he never showed himself, never talked to Belle. Belle was relieved, truthfully. She couldn't talk to Gold again. It was just too painful.

Belle loaded up a plate with food and then walked over to the elevator and stepped in. As she stood there in silence, she tried to think of ways to be able to hold her husband someplace other than a cage in the mines. She also wanted to ask Gold if he knew anything about how to find Emma or if he knew who took her.

Belle stepped off the elevator and began the walk over to Gold's cage. She placed the plate of food in Gold's cell. She stood back up and instead of walking away, she stood there, waiting.

She stood there for maybe five minutes, and then Gold walked out of the shadows. "Belle."

Belle nodded. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words got caught in her throat.

"What is it? What's troubling you, my dear?" he asked in a calming voice.

"I need your help, Rumple," Belle finally breathed out. "But… no one can know I asked you for help."

Gold nodded. "I promise. And no one else besides you and Emma and Hook know where I am."

Belle nodded. Emma, Killian, and her decided that it would be best if no one knew where Gold was being held because they didn't want anyone visiting him. "Emma… she's…"

"Missing," Gold finished.

"How did you know?" Belle asked.

Gold sighed. "I know this might sound… bad, but I didn't know what to do." He took a breath. "King George came to me right after Emma had came in and given me lunch. He claimed he had magic. He said he was going to kidnap Emma, he didn't tell me why, though. He didn't tell me who he was working for either or how he got magic. The point is: he asked me for help and I turned him down."

Belle blinked. King George? Wasn't he locked up?
"Belle?" Gold asked. "Are you alright?"

Belle nodded. "Yeah… uh… it's just a lot to take in." She started backing away. "I'm going to go tell Killian. He needs something to to let him know that we can find Emma.'

Gold nodded and watched as Belle sprinted towards the elevator.

Killian jumped when he heard the knock on the door, and he nearly sprinted over to the the door. He opened it and ushered Belle inside, mumbling something about how cold it was.

"What do you need, Belle?" Killian asked.

"Belle!" Henry said, walking into the room. "Grandma, hey." He walked over and they wrapped each other in a hug.

"Hey, Henry. How are you doing?" Belle asked.

Henry pulled away and shrugged. "I don't know, not very good. I just want to see my mom."

Belle nodded. "We'll find her. I have a lead."

Killian perked up. "You do?"
Belle nodded and looked at Killian. "It was King George. He took Emma and he has magic."

"Wait, I thought he was locked up," Henry said.

"I thought so to, but apparently he's not," Belle said.

"Who told you this, lass?" Killian asked.

Belle sighed. She really didn't want to tell Killian this part. "Rumple did."

"You trusted that crocodile?" Killian yelled.

"Dad, calm down. It's fine, and… you don't want to wake Harper up," Henry said.

Killian nodded. He's been getting restless. He hadn't slept that much since Emma's been gone and the few hours he has slept have been filled with nightmares. "Why did you trust that creature?"

"He's still my husband," Belle defended.

Killian sighed. "I know, I'm sorry. I just… he's betrayed us so many times."

Belle nodded. "I know, but we have to trust him on this one."

"How long has he known this?" Killian asked.

Belle shifted. "Since before Emma was kidnapped."
"What?" Killian shouted. "And he didn't say anything?"

"Dad-"
"No, Henry!" Killian started pacing, his hands in his hair. "How could the crocodile hide something like that this the whole time? For three days?"

Belle looked him and immediately felt guilty for what Gold had done."I don't know, Killian. I'm sorry-"

"No, you don't have to be sorry." Killian walked over to the door and grabbed his jacket. He opened the front door and walked out.

"Killian!" Belle said, starting after him, but Henry grabbed her arm.

"Let me talk to him, watch Harper." It wasn't a question. Henry grabbed his jacket and followed Killian. When he got out there, Killian was starting his truck. Henry ran over and opened the passenger door and climbed in.

"Get out, lad."

"Dad, stop. Get out of the car and go inside," Henry said.

"Lad, I said get out."

"And I said to go inside." Henry yanked the keys out of the ignition.

Killian looked at Henry. "The crocodile-"

"I know what he did, and I am mad at him to, but if you go there right now… you'll do something you will regret."

"Your mother is missing and he didn't tell us he knew anything about it!"
"But he has now. Mom is strong. She can hold her own until we get to her." Truth is, Henry knew that his mother was strong, but if King George had magic and kidnapped Emma, then he must have bad intentions.

"I just want her back." Killian slammed back against his seat and ran his hands over his face.

"I do to, Dad. And we will find her."

Killian nodded and stepped out of the car. He and Henry walked back towards the house. When they walked in, Belle was running towards the door with Harper holding on to her as tight as she possibly could.

"What's wrong?" Killian asked, taking Harper into his arms.

"Mommy's in danger!" Harper screamed.

Killian rubbed Harper's back and looked at Belle for an explanation.

Belle took a deep breath. "Harper said she knows where Emma is."

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