〰️the researcher〰️

Amanda walked up to the library circulation desk. Her jewelry swinging vigoursly as she made her way up. An extremely forced smile on her face just to seem welcoming to the librarian.

Her foot began to bob, impatiently as she looked out the window. She watched as her father was laughing and smiling with Emma. Their friendship seeming to grow by every second Amanda looked. 

She didn't know if she should be happy for her father or if she should be angry at him. She wanted to know more about her actual birth mother and maybe even met her. But it seemed she might as well just act like she didn't care about her fathers relationship with Emma.

"How can I help you?" A familiar voice spoke up. Amanda's eyes darted back towards the voice. A small smile, perfectly real dared to creep onto her lips.

Belle French. What a beauty she was. Always made Amanda wonder why Belle hadn't gotten a boyfriend already.

"I'm looking for books on myths......and.....prophecies," Amanda told Belle, confidently. 

"I find that rather odd of you to be asking about. It's rather far from your taste in Pride and Prejudice to A Room With A View," Belle cocked an eyebrow at her.

Well, Belle had her there. Which would make Amanda wonder if Belle knew Amanda was skipping out of school for this. Though, Belle had already figured that Myths were far from the ancient romance novels Amanda read.

"It's for a school project. Dad's letting me stop by the library to get some information on the subject," Amanda spoke up. The quickest solution she could think of was lying she had a schoo project.

"My your school is weirder than I remember ever time," Belle muttered before pointing out a section of the library, "Make a left and take a look in the section two shelves up." 

"Thanks," Amanda thanked Belle.

Her heels clicked against the ground as she peered upwards at the series of books that towered over her in the shelves. Dark shades and the heavy scent of dust could've sent her into a coughing for or even an allergic reaction. 

Her eyes began to scan through the titles of every book, searching for one that could help. She blinked back her frustration at how many books had the word myths and fairytales. There were much better names than just naming a book Myths and Fairytales.

Her fingers ran over a faded and dark brown book. Her eyes flickered over the title, reading: Myths, Fairytales, and Prophecies Explained.

For once, there was a title that actual a title that stood out. She gently took the book off the shelf, opening to a page of acknowledgement to the people who helped publish the book. Pulling out a chair, she began her day of reading and researching.

This was the seventh time this week she was trying to figure out what was up with Lillian's powers. The red, glowing energy that would shoot out of her hands. It was beautiful, yet to Amanda the powers felt like chaos.

The first page she turned to was actually very interesting which surprised her to say the least. The pages were filled of a lanky design of at all skeleton draped in a black suit. His smile was almost like a pumpkin that had been cut out by a child.

Her eyes darted towards the title of the creature. The Pumpkin King.

The tall skeleton was described to be the king of Halloween and of scares. His date of original death was unknown, but she admired the drawing of his bat bow. Her finger, delicately lifted the page seeing another strange design.

It was another lanky drawing, but of a female this time. Stitches ran up and down along every inch of its body, making her look like rag doll. Yarn was like hair and her clothes were mismatched. 

Her eyes darted once again to the title of the creature: Sally

What an ordinary name for such a simple creature. She created by some sort of mad scientist, that was hard to pronounce for Amanda. Her mind wondered a bit as she thought about what other magical creatures or beings who could be in Storeybrooke.

"No. No. Focus," Amanda whispered to herself, sharply

Her finger went part to the table of contents, the misty pages rubbing against her fingertips. Her eyes wandered down and then up, searching for the prophecies page number. As her eyes saw the number, 103, she started flipping  quickly through the pages.

The books pages landed softly as they hit the other end of the book. Not making a loud sound, just the sound of paper crinkling or flipping. Her fingers halted on the exact page she'd scanned almost everyday now for.

THE BLACK CAULDRON PROPHECY

She began scanning down lists and lists of information on the ancient object. Wanting to know more about the powers the Cauldron concealed. Her heart began racing, anxiety and fear creeping into her heart.

The text stated how the cauldron had been made of molten metal, though seemed quite obvious when she saw the cauldron herself. She remembered the strangely carved face of man emblemed onto the side of the Cauldron. The thing didn't scare her until The Horned King had released his demons.

Then, that's when the interesting part of the text came in.

In the mystic land of Pydrian, there once was a king that was so cruel and evil, that even the gods feared him. Since no prison could withhold him, he was thrown alive into a crucible of molten metal. There his demonic form was captured in the form of the Black Cauldron.

Now that explained how the cauldron even had powers. Her hands slightly gripped the table in fear, not wanting to know anything more about this king. The thought of him being that powerful almost sent a series of shivers down her spine

Her friendly spirit that had been woven throughout her began to shrivel up. It was replaced and fear for Lillian, and what she may become in the future. That's when her eyes hit the prophecy part of the cauldron.

It stated:

For the one gifted of the Cauldrons powers shall face their new destiny

But it has already been predestined

They shall suffer the highest pain, lust, and wrath 

Just when they begin to follow the path

For it is only they who can help the weak

For the silent would speak

The high powered will bow

Just for the gifted one

Amanda tried to decipher the meaning, making her wish she hadn't hated rhyming or poetry as much as she did. She loved more of the sappy stuff in romance novels than trying to figure what the person was inferring.

Now this was like a test for her skills that she actually learned from her teachers over the years. She read and read the text over again. Nothing distracted her even if Belle was quietly humming to herself.

Amanda was about to groan in frustration until she saw her dad enter the room. She stopped mid way before she could even make a groaning sound. Her immediate instinct was to shove the book underneath her arm.

"Ah! There you are!" Her dad smiled as he looked at the book underneath her arm, "You don't have to leave just yet."

"No. Let's go. I was done reading already," Amanda plastered a fake smile on her face. She slid the chair back into its original place, looking up at her father.

"Want to grab something from the diner?" Her father asked.

Amanda felt a sudden surge of hunger crawled its way into her body. She immediately regretted skipping out on lunch. The thought of a nice juicy hamburger or a nice salad seemed to be what she longed for.

Maybe even one of those cherry milkshakes.

"I'm all in," Amanda spoke with a bit of a chuckle. But it wasn't all cherry, it was more of a nervous chuckle.