Return

Three days after that, the students of Kamar-Taj began to fully realize the implications of Hazel's absence. Had she left suddenly without telling anyone? Had she been expelled? However, Reiko and the other acolytes that had accompanied Hazel on the day of her taking knew better, and a grim dread consumed them. Had she joined Kaecilius? Or had anything worse happened to her? Needless to say, the Ancient One asked them to keep the entire event a secret and deny it if anyone asked them if they knew anything. Still, they were distraught. The masters didn't tolerate slacking, but they were also understanding of the particular circumstances. For all they knew, Hazel had died, and that kind of thing didn't happen every day at Kamar-Taj.

The Ancient One was troubled and withdrawn-more so than usual. She took her meals alone and evaded any questions the masters had for her. She didn't know, and she didn't care. Even if Hazel had joined Kaecilius, it was too late for the girl. She'd missed her chance to perform the ceremony, and as a result, her entire being was forfeit to the Main Guest.

Things were strange at the sanctuary, but the Sorcerer Supreme couldn't neglect her duties. She was in the library, returning her books and heading to the globe room to check on the sanctums, when a sudden clamor outside drew her attention. Several pairs of feet-a group of people-scrambled down the hallways. People were shouting. The first thing that came to the Ancient One's mind was that they were under some kind of attack, but not a moment after she considered the possibility, a frantic acolyte bolted down the aisle towards her and bowed in front of her. "Forgive me, Ancient One," she gasped. How far had she run? "I-it's that girl-Hazel Grace is outside."

Surely enough, in the second courtyard, a crowd of people had gathered around something that had not been there before. A thing that shouted and shook and sashayed about the courtyard in a near-hysteric fit. In that moment, the Ancient One felt as if a barrier between her and the world had shattered. Her hands were numb; she didn't feel anything through euphoric relief as her legs carried her to the scene. She was free.

Mordo tried calming the girl as she stalked around the yard, shouting nonsensically.

"Hazel, just stay calm. You didn't—"

"Don't!" she snarled when he tried reaching a comforting hand to her. "Don't touch me. Don't look at me. Someone just walked over my grave. They walked and they stood there and I could feel it, and it weighed me down, and…."

The two of them looked up as the Ancient One stepped into the courtyard. Hazel ran to her immediately.

"Hazel," the elder tried calming her as Hazel began pacing in circles.

"You have no idea what I've been through," Hazel started excitedly, her legs fidgeting and bringing her in lines and circles close to the Ancient One. "I was in a church, and this crazy guy just comes outta nowhere and started talking about this Dark Dimension and about how the Main Guest used it to show him what I was and he—"

"Hazel," the woman started again, glancing around the courtyard uneasily. Was she mad? She couldn't just talk about that in front of everyone-

"And I didn't join him, so he stabbed me, and the Guests took me back and I just showed up here, and I don't know how I got away, but I did, and I—"

"Hazel!"

The Ancient One grabbed the girl's arm and held her there, shaking her slightly. "Stop. Are you hurt?"

Hazel panted as she looked down at herself. "No!"

She smiled. She was grinning as if she couldn't help it. Of course, after being taken into such a terrifying situation and then returned to safety all of a sudden, anyone would be shaken into brief fits of lunacy. The Ancient One couldn't believe it. She didn't know what had come over her. Her grip on Hazel's arm loosened, but Hazel held the woman's hand securely, reassuringly.

Thank goodness, she thought, accepting Hazel's form, her thoughts, her scent, anything to affirm that she was here, and she was safe, and she was alive.

Hazel seemed to melt there, or hover, with only her hand in the Ancient One's anchoring her down. She was here, she was safe, she was alive.

"You're soaking wet," the Ancient One noticed, brushing a lock of Hazel's dripping hair away from her face. Hazel looked down at herself in confusion.

"Weird," she murmured.

After another moment, the Ancient One pulled away. She forgot herself, forgot her audience, but she could sense how the students and masters alike were shaken at the scene playing out before them. She addressed the masters and disregarded the stares of the students.

They needed to reassess their situation.

Explain Yourself

Hazel was given time to gather her bearings before the meeting. She bathed, changed clothes, and ate a little something before going to the Ancient One's rooms. She wasn't allowed to speak to any of the students until the masters were sure Hazel wasn't a threat. Once at the meeting place, Hazel was given a cup of tea and a place to sit quietly.

The Ancient One sat on one side of a low table, with Hazel kneeling in front of her. The other masters were scattered about the room, some sitting, some standing, and some pacing. Hazel could feel the hint of bridled tension in the room. She had to be on her best behavior.

"You caused quite the uproar in the courtyard," Master Tashi started as he poured Hazel a cup of tea. "I hope you're more coherent now."

Hazel blushed and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Yeah. S-sorry about that. I always get a little disoriented when the Guests move me around."

"It's of little consequence," the Ancient One replied. "The other students think you were babbling nonsensically in shock. They don't suspect a thing."

Hazel gave a sigh of relief. "Has it really been three days since I was taken?"

"I'm afraid so," Mordo nodded grimly from where he stood. "And right now, we need to know what happened during that time. Tell us what you remember, Hazel. All you can."

Hazel took a breath before she began. "After we were attacked, the Zealots took me somewhere-a church, I think. It was dark outside, but I don't know where we were. They put me... on this weird mark on the ground. It was like there was an invisible cage around me; I couldn't walk off of it. And I couldn't use any magic or contact any of my Guests."

"A trap seal," Master Hamir decided with a quiet nod for her to continue.

"I assume Kaecilius wanted to see you?" Master Junzo questioned.

"Yes," Hazel nodded. "He said that the Main Guest sent him to find me, but I don't think that was entirely true. He just didn't look familiar at all-he was just a human, and he had a mark on his forehead that I've never seen before. He said something about a Dark Dimension?"

The others all shifted uncomfortably at the mention. Hazel hurried to justify herself.

"Look, I know it sounds bad," she pleaded. "But he said my Main Guest was frequently in contact with the Dark Dimension-that's how he knew how to find me. If he was telling the truth, I want to know about it. I might be able to figure out part of what's going on with me."

Her imploring stare jumped from master to master as her company debated.

"This is really nothing she should concern herself with," Master Tashi dismissed.

"I disagree," Wong argued. "If Hazel's Main Guest is using power from the Dark Dimension, she should know exactly what that is."

"This just furthers our suspicions," Master Tashi continued. "If Hazel's Guests are using power from the Dark Dimension, they evade the natural law."

"We've already settled this," Mordo started firmly. "Hazel is not defined by her Main Guests or any Guest she associates with. She is here to learn to maintain herself within the natural law so that she may one day live above-"

"And when, pray tell, will she start practicing within the natural law?" Maser Junzo demanded. "She flagrantly disregards our rules and bastardizes every form of magic we teach her. And after her little stunt last Friday, I wouldn't doubt if she was a spy all along, here to manipulate the Sorcerer Supreme into practicing barbaric magic like-"

"You talk like someone with Pagan roots can't become a worthy sorcerer," the Ancient One finally interrupted them, making the room fall silent and still. Master Junzo stiffened at her accusation before he realized he'd spoken out of turn. The Ancient One herself was a Celtic mystic with an origin in the mystic arts that was possibly very different from her current path.

"I didn't mean-" Master Junzo bowed his head patiently. "Of course. Forgive me, Ancient One. I only meant to say Miss Grace is a liability. She should have never been exposed to the Dark Dimension."

"But that's no reason to spare her from the information we give all our curious students," the Ancient One returned passively. "In fact, she'd be more likely to stray from the path if we hid it from her. However, you're not entirely wrong. Hazel's Guests use power from the Dark Dimension, which makes our job all the more difficult, but we'd be careless to keep it from her."

Master Junzo and the others settled down again. The Ancient One quickly explained to Hazel.

"The Dark Dimension is a world ruled by a dominating, hungry entity. He promises great power for those who are brave enough to contact him, but he only seeks to dominate more worlds to take for his own. If he did use you as a vessel, the world would surely be destroyed."

Hazel felt a chill rake down her spine.

The Ancient One continued. "Whilst I doubt you made a deal with Dormammu, your Guests do share some qualities with the Dark Dimension. Time exists outside of the Dark Dimension; it would make sense that your Guests use the power of the Dark Dimension when they send you back in time. A lord entity over a dream dimension has many uses for such power. However, those who tap into this power are sacrificed in turn. You saw what it did to Kaecilius."

Hazel's face was more troubled than ever.

The woman brushed over it. "What else did Kaecilius tell you?"

"Lies, mostly," Hazel shrugged. She didn't want to mention the claim of deception that Kaecilius made, at least not in front of everyone. "He told me that if I joined him, he'd show me how to control my Guests-have them serve me, really-just like his overlord serves him."

"You didn't believe that?" Master Hamir asked.

"Even if I did, I refused him. I wanted to come back here."

The Ancient One scrutinized Hazel thoroughly. Hazel never flinched, nor fidgeted. She was telling the truth.

"Master Junzo?" the Ancient One waved said master closer. He knelt before Hazel, staring at her with his typically stern gaze. "Hazel, I'm sure you know by now that Master Junzo has the ability to tell whether or not someone is lying."

"Of course," Hazel bobbed her head respectfully. That's why he hates me.

"Then tell me again," the Ancient One continued patiently. "Kaecilius offered you a place of power, and you refused to join him."

"Yes," Hazel nodded. The Sorcerer Supreme could have left it at that, but she had another question-one to sate her personal curiosity.

"Why? Why would you choose to return here? You're impulsive, arrogant, and emotional. You disregard your masters-"

"They're not my masters," Hazel muttered.

"All the more reason," the Ancient One insisted. "Why should I believe you didn't choose-or even consider choosing-siding with someone who offered you freedom from all that disturbs you?"

"Because I don't love him," Hazel spoke forcefully, each word measured and finite. "I love you."

Master Junzo slapped Hazel before the others could process what Hazel had said. The girl doubled over and away from him, holding her cheek in shock.

"I'm telling the truth, you nev slen mey-!"

"What does it matter if you are?!" he demanded of her. "You're insolent before the Ancient One and the Masters of the Mystic Arts. You have no place to assert yourself-no place to speak so offensively in front of the Sorcerer Supreme."

Hazel stared at the ground, fighting tears and trembling with rage.

"Master Junzo, please control yourself," Mordo was the first to recover. "I think we've established Hazel's loyalty, which was the only purpose of this meeting. Let Hazel finish her account before we decide what's to be done with her."

Once the master retreated to his former place on the other side of the room, Hazel sighed and relayed the last of her story.

"When I refused, Kaecilius dispelled the trap seal and said he'd return me to my Main Guest, 'where I belong.' The next thing I know, I wake up here."

"There must be more to it than that," Master Tashi interjected. "Where were you for the three days? Try to remember; you couldn't have just shown up here on your own."

"I... I don't know," Hazel closed her eyes and lowered her face into her hand. Her cheek tingled and burned. "It was dark. I couldn't see anything. That's why I don't remember. I think it felt like water. And it sounded muffled, like I was underwater. I don't know how long I was there before... I washed up on a rocky shore. It was dark there, too-there were thunderclouds overhead. Then I conjured the portal here. That's all I remember."

The masters all turned to the Ancient One, who had a thoughtful expression on her face. She seemed to recover from Hazel's earlier statement.

"It sounds like one of your Guests was protecting you," she offered. She didn't look directly at Hazel. "Hiding you from the Main Guest until things quieted down."

"That's why I came back?" Hazel demanded. Something in her brain seemed to click, as if that dream-like time she spent in the arms of the other Guest was suddenly vivid and crystal clear. "When I felt the water, I thought he'd taken me as a sacrifice. Now I know. But what do I do now? He's still looking for me since I didn't sacrifice something to the river."

The Ancient One's eyes darted frantically around the room as the masters all reacted to Hazel's impulsive confession. No one in this room knew how Hazel was bound to her Main Guest, save for the Ancient One and Mordo. The other masters, understandably, did not react well.

"Sacrifice?" Master Hamir asked. "What does that have to do with Hazel's Main Guest?"

"Ancient One," Master Tashi calmly but forcefully interjected. "What does she mean by sacrifice to the river? Drifting festivals are primitive superstition by now, aren't they?"

Like tarot cards? the Ancient One was tempted to counter, but held her tongue. "One could consider it a superstition, similar to being taken into another world by demons as you sleep." Her eyes met those of each master in the room as she let the gravity of her statement sink in. "To those who experience such things, they are very real, and I'm afraid to Hazel, the binding ritual practiced in sacrifice-drifting is no exception."

The others were agitated again, startled, speechless, shocked. They knew Hazel was bound to her Guest, but they never knew the extent of it was so vast and fatal. And they never considered the Ancient One knew and took Hazel in as a student anyway.

"Hazel..." Wong finally spoke, his voice worn and far away. He should have known, should have seen it. After all the research he'd done with Hazel, why didn't it ever occur to him that Hazel was trapped in a covenant with her Main Guest? "What did you do?"

Hazel picked at the scrapes on her hands. "I screwed up."

She expected to be scolded. She expected someone to yell at her and tell her to pack her bags and leave. In fact, when someone moved towards her, she flinched as if she expected to be removed by force before she got a chance to move. However, Wong just knelt in front of her and refilled her teacup. She watched him, half-uncertainly, half-dejectedly.

"Tell us everything," he said.

Hazel stared dejectedly at the tea in her hand. She didn't drink anymore. She clutched the warm cup and breathed in the familiar scent. She'd miss this.

"I summoned the Main Guest," she confessed. "I remember always seeing things, but I never saw anything with true power until I knew him. I performed a series of odd rituals-setting the table with dry leaves and rice... staring out the window on the night of a new moon and pretending I saw something that wasn't there before. Through this, I gave him life in this world. A gateway. And he punished me for it. But the Main Guest wouldn't kill me," Hazel set her cup down. "Why would he sever his only tie to this world when I could live, and I could give him power? So, I found a way to protect myself."

Master Junzo gave a dreadful sigh.

"The Tangahshii ritual was pioneered by a dragon cult, hence the name," Hazel started. "It literally means, 'to search and—'"

"Hazel," the Ancient One snapped. She shook her head.

Hazel put her head down in defeat. "Right. Sorry. Water is a gateway. Sending a tribute to an entity via moving water can hold them off, for a time. Each year on the day of the ceremony, there must be a sacrifice of flesh or blood or bone sent down a body of moving water before sundown. Then it turns into a game of hide and seek, only… there's no way to win. Even if no one finds you, time only moves forward, and that's it. But as long as you sacrifice every year, you're protected. I adhered to this religiously afterwards. But now, since I missed that one fucking day..."

Master Hamir stared at her incredulously. "You are bound to your Main Guest-no, a dream demon-in blood, and you have the gall to-"

"I didn't know it was a powerful binding ritual!" Hazel snapped. "How was I supposed to know that? I was just doing what I read in some fucking book-"

"And did you read the after-effects of such rituals?" Wong interrupted her. "You should have known better."

"There were no after-affects," Hazel snapped. "Just some nonsense about invisible Guests. It sounded harmless."

"Where is this book?"

"I lost it," Hazel shrugged. "No. It was taken from me the first year of Tangahshii. That's why I thought I was safe, until they found me again. But you all seem familiar with drifting ceremonies. You know you don't have to worry about me for long. The next time they find me, they'll take me away for good, and I'll be their blood sacrifice for the rest of time. No one else will be affected; it'll be our self-contained little secret."

None of the others spoke. The room fell fatally quiet. They were more likely to hear the sun set outside or the smoke drift from the ash catcher to the window than hear a breath or word from anyone in the room. And the sun did set. And the ash did fall. And the Ancient One made up her mind.

"In all my years, I've never observed a Tangahshii where a sacrifice wasn't taken that day." She looked at Hazel with an expression the girl couldn't read. Was that awe? Fear? Disappointment? Bewilderment? "Yet here you sit. I fear you'll never cease to surprise me, Hazel Grace. It has been three days, but you're still here. You have a chance to live. Don't waste it."

After the meeting was dismissed, the Ancient One was later approached by Master Junzo.

"You think I'm a fool," she stated brazenly. There were no other words to summarize the thoughts in his head. The master balked.

"Of course not, Ancient One," he bowed apologetically. "I only wanted to apologize for my inappropriate behavior during our council."

She looked at him. "I understand. I think we were all on edge during the meeting, and it probably doesn't help that a debatably dangerous student is so close to your daughter."
Master Junzo gave a tired sigh of relief. "Thank you for understanding. Reiko's been disturbed for days. I couldn't bear it if something happened to upset her again."

"I understand. However...?"

He closed his eyes and sighed before straightening. "I must ask why you ever accepted her as an apprentice when you knew the full extent of her situation."

"We all make mistakes, Master Junzo," the Ancient One replied smoothly. "And as long as mistakes can be corrected or learned from, I wouldn't turn just anyone away. Hazel Grace is no different."

"I must ask you to reconsider. We're training and protecting a Pagan sacrifice. And for what? So she may be slaughtered in peace?"

"It wouldn't hurt, if it came to that," the Ancient One felt sick to her stomach.

Master Junzo sensed her wariness. "She's changed you. I've lived here my entire life, and I've never seen you participate in a Pagan bonfire. Nor have I seen you greet a student like you greet Hazel Grace-in a tongue unique to the two of you, speaking to each other with complete devotion. She spoke the truth tonight, but that frightens me. And I think... forgive me, Master, but you should be afraid. She has no business with you."

The Ancient One didn't respond, and she never looked him quite in the eye again. However, as the younger master bowed and took his leave, she was indeed consumed with fear. She wished she could reprimand herself, like so many people do. Like Hazel scolds herself. Idiot Hazel Grace. Yet all the Ancient One could do was reprimand the empty air, and this scolding had no weight and no anchor, so it drifted away without leaving the desired effect. Don't be such a fool. Don't be such a fool.