UPDATE:
Sorry I haven't posted in a while! School is crazy and it's so hard to find the time to write, but I'll try my best! Thank you to whoever reviewed and followed 3 Please review and tell me what you think of the story so far! Enjoy!
Chapter 4:
Aswan, Egypt
November 2017
Cleo's world was collapsing, literally and figuratively. Strange grabbed her shoulder to halt her running before a chuck of the ceiling fell onto her. Her mother, the High Priestess, was fighting off a juiced up sorcerer, who was trying to steal the powers of sorcerers before killing them. Cleo could feel the blood pounding in her brain as she tried to wrap her head around the situation.
"This is ridiculous. I thought the House of Life was impenetrable." Yelled Strange over the sound of the House rumbling and collapsing.
"It is! The only way for someone to get inside would be if they were invited, like you were. Or if they a portal was opened from the inside, like how Wong came in." Yelled back Cleo as they rounded a corner.
"So someone from the inside opened a portal for Mordo. But who?" asked Strange as he caught up with Cleo. "Who would want the destruction of the House?"
Cleo did not answer immediately. She two was thinking of who would betray the House. Who had wanted the High Priestess to submit and fall from power?
Just as they rounded the last corner, they were met by two individuals, guarding the hallway.
"The Council of Elders…" Cleo stated, eyes wide at Magnesia and another male elder. Blocking her way to the Eye of Horus.
"You," exclaimed Cleo as she drew nearer to the pair, "You always hated the High Priestess. But I would never have thought that you would betray the House!"
"Foolish girl. The High Priestess' days were numbered ever since she reduced the powers of the Council. She had signed her own death warrant." Smiled Magnesia. She had not aged well. Thick lines and wispy white hair framed her flat face.
'Scum' Cleo thought, halting before the pair, with Strange behind her. Tensing, readying himself for battle.
"Mordo promised to cleanse the House of the weak, he will return us to our former glory!" exclaimed Magnesia, delight flickering in her eyes.
"He will betray you too," said Strange in a loud voice, "he will use you and when you no longer serve his purpose, he will dispose of you."
"Silence! We will have order!" Yelled the elder male, eyes locking onto Strange. Cleo stepped closer, rage burning under her skin at the betrayal.
Cleo was now a few feet away from Magnesia, who was smirking at Cleo, eyeing her. "Come now dear, you would not have learned offensive spells yet. Who are you kidding? Join the Council as we take back what was taken from us by that disgusting witch…"
Cleo did not need offensive spells to throw a punch at Magnesia's flat face. The elder's head snapped to the side and she sank to the floor. Cleo felt the wind behind her back as Strange had placed a paralyzing charm on the elder man, who had begun chanting at Cleo.
She leaned down, so Magnesia could see her face. "Never insult the High Priestess with the word witch again. Or else… I will become the witch you speak of." Intensity burning in Cleo's eyes as she dared the elder to say something. Strange also placed a paralyzing charm on Magnesia and stepped away. The two women were now locking eyes. Cleo stepped away and glanced up, she saw the mural of the priestess wearing the nemes, but she was no longer holding back the forces of evil. The mural had split down the center, it looked like the priestess was losing.
"… Now we need to move. Cleo. Cleo!" yelled Strange pulling her from her trance down the hall as more rubble fell from the ceiling. She focused as she drew near the doors to the Eye of Horus. She had not been here in 12 years, yet everything had looked the same as that night.
Standing in front of the large stone door, Cleo suddenly felt more helpless than she had all night. She didn't know how to open the door, nor did she know the spell needed. She looked at Strange with wide eyes, "I can't open the door" she said in a small voice.
"What do you mean? Just say the incantation." Responded Stranger, eyes wide in disbelief. Now wasn't the time for her to lose her edge.
"I've only ever seen the High Priestess place the incantation 12 years ago, I'm not sure on how to undue it!" Cleo said feeling helpless. Why would her mother send her to get the relic if she knew that Cleo was not prepare?
Suddenly, Cleo felt rage. Not just for her current circumstance, or because the House of Life was corrupted, but angry with her mother. So much rare emotion filled Cleo, she couldn't contain it anymore.
"You stupid women!" Cleo yelled at the door, letting out all of her life's bitterness and anger at the door. Strange stood by silently, watching. "Always placing so much responsibilities on me, pushing me away when I needed you. And look! Where are you now when I need you most? Where." Cleo pounded her fists on the door, "Are." Another loud pound. "You?!" Cleo exclaimed crying, head against the door.
"Cleo…" Strange spoke after a minute.
Cleo kept her eyes closed, not caring what the stranger thought of her anymore. She had placed her hopes on her mother, she had made her bet. And she had lost.
'I thought I told you to always bet on me, Cleopatra' Cleo heard the voice of her mother in her head.
'I did, look at where it has got me now' Cleo replied back broken.
'Why don't you look my darling? Look at the door' her mother's voice responded.
"Cleopatra…" Strange said again, with haste in his voice.
Cleopatra stepped back from the door, opening her eyes. Golden hieroglyphs had appeared on the door. It had begun to open!
"But I didn't say the incantation!" exclaimed Cleo, looking at Strange.
"Yes you did," Strange responded, eyeing Cleo. "After your tantrum, you placed your head on the door and began to mutter the spell."
Cleo looked back at the door which was almost fully opened. Her mother had spoken the incantation for her when she had closed her eyes. Her mother, whist fighting a villain in her private study, had also made sure that Cleo would be able to open the door to the relic. She was taking care of her without Cleo realizing.
Seeing Strange enter the vault, Cleo followed. The podium was dimly lit, much of the vault's floor was covered in debris. Cleo eyed the old and worn box as Strange began to pick it up from its 12 years resting place.
A moment of silence fell between Strange and Cleo as the Eye of Horus's power began to roll as waves in the room.
The silence was broken by the wall busting in. Standing their ground, Mordo appeared in the dust and rubble again. This time his hand was dragging the High Priestess by her hair. Her once white dress was stained with her blood and her lip had split. Cleo was stunned, her always perfect mother looked like a rag doll.
"Where is Wong?" commanded Strange, to his onetime friend.
Mordo gave a chuckle, "Wong makes a good wreaking ball." He said as he walked over to someone covered by debris. Wong groaned, as the rubble was crushing him.
Mordo turned his attention back to Strange and Cleo, eyeing the box in Strange's hand. "Why did you do it?" yelled Cleo, stalling for time. Hoping that he would not kill her mother. Mordo let out a dark and deep laugh, gripping the High Priestess' hair tighter, making her grimace. "The Elders wanted the House back under their control. Claiming that High Priestess Hatshepsut was taking over and removing their powers over the House. They contacted me, promising me the Eye of Horus in exchange to cleanse the House from the High Priestess and her loyal followers." Mordo explained.
"The Elders held an emergency meeting today, so they could open a portal for me to enter from. As soon as I stepped foot inside, I could sense all of the magic that was being wasted. I took to the dormitories first, killing all the scribes."
Cleo gasped, thinking of all of her classmates. Although they never treated her right, no one was deserving of death, even Ramses. Mordo continued, "After the young had been dealt with, I disposed of the guards, servants, scribes and lastly the elders. My luck the High Priestess did not detect my movements, as there was too much magic in her study. It helped to cloud the air. With the Eye of Horus at my disposal, I will be able to find all of earth's sorcerers and dispose of them." Mordo growled, eyes darkened.
Mordo stepped into the vault, dragging the High Priestess with him, past Wong. "Now, hand over the Eye of Horus Strange, in exchange for the life of the High Priestess." Mordo said raising the High Priestess off the floor by several inches.
"Old friend, this isn't who you are," began Strange, as he tried to reason with Mordo, "You always obeyed the natural law. Killing and taking the powers of sorcerers goes against it."
Simply responding with, "I am restoring the order which has been ruined. The scale has been imbalanced for far too long. Too many sorcerers."
Glancing between the two ex-students of Kamar-Taj, Cleo noticed Wong slowly getting up from the rubble. He looked at Cleo and held his finger to his mouth, telling her to stay silent. She was so focused on Wong's movement that she lost focus of what Strange and Mordo were talking about.
'Please help my mom, please help my mom' Cleo repeated in her head as Wong stood straight up, bloody and bruised.
"Enough talk Strange! Hand over the Eye!" Yelled Mordo, squeezing the High Priestess' throat, annoyed at the stalling.
"I think you need to chill out, Mordo" called Wong from behind, casting a freezing spell on Mordo's legs. Locking his legs into place. Mordo dropped the High Priestess and attempted to free himself. Immediately everyone sprang into action. Strange tossed the relic to Cleo and began his attack on Mordo as Wong carried the High Priestess away from the fight. Cleo sprinted to her mother's side, carefully holding her in her trembling arms, casting the relic to the side. Wong returned to the battle once assured Cleo was with the High Priestess. Upon closer inspection, Cleo could see the damage to her mother's temple and the multiple stab wounds in her body. Realization hit her, the High Priestess was dying. The feeling of helplessness and anger once again fell onto Cleo's shoulders as tears welled in her eyes, looking at the bloodied face of her mother.
"Like I said Cleo, do not cry. Life has far scarier things that it will hurtle at you." The High Priestess said in a weak voice, looking through one eye up at her daughter.
"How could you say something like that at a time like this" breathed Cleo, gripping her mother tightly. Thinking if she held on strongly, her soul may not pass from this world. Locking eyes with her mother.
"I am saying this because the worse is yet to come, Cleopatra. Mordo has become too powerful and if he absorbs my magic… there may be no limit to his power. That is why, I need you to take my magic from me." The High Priestess stated, eyes not even flickering as she instructed her daughter.
"No! I cannot!" Cleo cried, gripping her harder if it were possible, "You are not leaving me!"
"I am so sorry, Cleo. I never had wanted this to be our relationship. I never wanted to put such a burden on you so young." The High Priestess responded, tears streaming down her face.
"Please, High Priestess! There must be another way" cried Cleo, sobs wracking her body.
A small smile appeared on the bloodied face of the High Priestess, "Can you not this one time call me mom, like you did so many years ago?"
Shouts erupted from the intense battle as Wong and Strange had slowed Mordo down, freezing his whole body frozen. Knowing that it was only a matter of time until he broke free, they rushed to the High Priestess' side. Strange surveyed the damage done to the High Priestess, inspecting her temple and puncture wounds, a look of defeat on his face. "I am sorry, there are somethings that magic cannot fix." He said in a small voice, looking at the dying human.
'This is a nightmare… an absolute nightmare' thought Cleo as Strange lowered himself next to the High Priestess.
"Agreed," coughed the High Priestess as it was becoming harder for her to speak, "but simply because one door is closing does not mean a new one cannot be opened." The High Priestess suddenly locked eyes with Strange, strength finding way into her weak voice, "Swear to me Strange, swear that you will care for Cleopatra, train her, help her in reaching her full potential. Help her in all the ways I had failed her." She spoke, a purple aura surrounding her and Strange. "Promise me Strange!" she yelled, eyes filled with tears.
A brief moment passed by where everyone was silent, even the House had stopped its collapsing for a second. "I promise you" Strange replied.
"Mom, please no!" Yelled Cleo, as she gripped her mother's face in her arms, "Please I need you!"
The sound of ice shattering could be heard, they were running out of time, Mordo would begin his assault once he was freed. The High Priestess sat up, with the assist of Strange and Wong. Cleo sat there, just staring at her mother, lost again for words.
"I have failed you my daughter, I have caused you so much pain from my selfish actions. There is no way for me to repay you for all of the hurt I have caused. I am sorry my Cleopatra, perhaps one day you will look back and understand." The High Priestess spoke, looking at her daughter, for the final time in her life.
"Mom…" Cleo began just as her mother touched her chest, golden light appearing and forming an ankh* on Cleo's chest. The High Priestess was transferring her powers. Both the High Priestess and Cleo screamed in pain, tears streaming down Cleo's face as she fell unconscious. The sounds of Mordo yelling could be heard, as he had broken from the ice.
"Take her now!" Yelled High Priestess Hatshepsut to Strange as his cloak wrapped around Cleo. "Leave at once! The House of Life has fallen." Hatshepsut said, standing up with assistance from Wong, weak from losing her powers. Wong had formed a portal with his sling ring and had stepped through with the Eye of Horus. Strange began to walk through the portal, carrying Cleo. Glancing back he saw Hatshepsut, the High Priestess of the House of Life, standing tall despite dying. He hurried through the portal and it closed in a golden array of sparks.
"You witch!" growled Mordo as he finally broke free.
Hatshepsut smirked and lifted her arms towards the ceiling.
"You have been my greatest gift and joy, Cleopatra." She said, Mordo began charging at her.
She brought both of her hands to the ground and the House of Life and all those who were within it crumbled to sand.
On top of a sand dune stood Wong and Strange, looking as the House of Life was being reduced to sand. The ancient compound and all its inhabitants were now dust. Strange held Cleo tightly, she was still unconscious, not imaging her pained expression if she had just witnessed the destruction of her home.
"No one could have survived that" commented Wong, his expression hard as he searched the sand dune the House was reduced to.
"She gave her life so that her child and all the sorcerers of the world would not be threatened." Wong continued, looking at the worn box containing the relic.
"We will honour her promise" said Strange in a quiet voice, looking down at Cleo's peaceful face.
Wong opened a portal to the New York Sanctum, having Strange step through first with Cleo, glancing back at the site of destruction, he stepped through and closed the portal.
Just as quickly as the trio disappeared through the portal, a hand had emerged from the sand that had once stood as the House of Life.
*Ankh ancient Egyptian symbol/cross representing life
