MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a great holiday season! I will be uploading more regularly from now on, since I have more time on my hands. This chapter is pretty intense and I hope you have enjoyed the story so far! Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of the story! Enjoy
Chapter 15
New York City
December
The passing days had been filled with Strange hunched over the Book of Wadjet, often times not leaving the library for days, remaining in his astral form, only reappearing once in the morning and at night to provide food and water for his body. Cleopatra gave up on trying to coax Strange out of his horrid routine same days ago. He's an adult, he can make his own decisions, even if they are idiotic, Cleo thought as she retreated back to her room to change for her daily cup of hot chocolate from the small café near the Sanctum, Manhattan Madhouse.
After her initial trip, Cleopatra continued to venture to the café, unbeknownst to Strange. Cleo could not place where this sudden feelings of freedom had come from. Her 15 minute adventure to the café had lifted her moods, allowing for her to focus better on her level 8 studies and in her overall aura. Maybe it was the New York polluted air, or maybe the hot chocolate that tasted far superior to what Strange purchases.
Retreating from her mirror, Cleo waved an anti-frizzing charm on her hair, dark curly locks framing her face effortlessly, a few stray strands falling into the sink. Content with her dark jeans, black turtle neck and denim jacket, Cleo securely tucked the Sanctum's key into her pocket as she peaked into the library, finding Strange just as he was since the morning. Tracing the outline of the bracelet under her clothing, making sure it was still containing her excess magic. The scarlet Cloak floating near her, but keeping its distance, knowing better than interfering with her. "20 minutes isn't much, Cloaky. I promise to be back by then." She whispered as she began opening the portal. The Cloak nodded its neck in understanding.
Smiling, Cleo stepped out into the alley way she was growing accustomed too, the familiar sight of the dumpster and graffiti oddly reassuring her. Slipping her sling ring into her purse, Cleo almost skipped to the café. Opening the glass door and the familiar ding of the bells greeting her. Walking up to the counter, Cleo was not greeted by the same messy haired, blue eyed barista that she was growing accustomed too.
"Welcome to Manhattan Madhouse, what can I get you?" a dark skinned woman asked as her marker ghosted over a disposable cup.
"Hello," Cleo smiled, eyes darting behind the counter, "is Marcus working today?"
"Oh, sorry, he actually called in sick, but I'm sure that I can whip up a better latte then him!" the barista responded with a toothy smile.
"Ha ha, I'm sure! Okay, I'll have a peppermint hot chocolate with extra whipped cream in a mug for here, please." Cleo requested as she handed the woman the money, taking a seat near the window, staring out onto the street. She wasn't disappointed, why would she be? Usually she would be greeted by twinkling baby blue eyes and conversations about ancient symbols or light bantering. A small smile gracing her features as the barista brought her mug to her table. "I'll tell him a cute hot chocolate sipping lady was asking about him!" the barista called out as she walked back behind the counter, helping another customer.
Chuckling into her hot chocolate, Cleo leaned onto the table sipping her drink, people watching those passing by on the street as the world began to darken. What a shift in perspective can do, Cleo thought as she thought back to sitting at the circular window in the Sanctum.
"HELP, THIEF!"
The shout erupted from the street as someone ran by the café and a middle aged woman in pursuit, "PLEASE, HELP!"
Without giving it a thought, Cleo leaped from her seat, pushed the glass door open and ran onto the street behind the duo. Hot chocolate lay forgotten.
Dodging the oncoming pedestrian traffic, Cleo outran the woman and was gaining on the individual, separating her by a few blocks, just as the thief turned sharply into an alley way. Entering behind them, Cleo panted as she scanned the alley way, which was a dead end, for the perp. They were nowhere in sight. "Alright," Cleo called out as she continued to walk into the alley way, panting, "return what you have stolen, there is no way out."
Closing her fist, red kinetic energy formed around it, steading herself as she turned the corner of the dumpster. The thief jumped out with a yell, hunting knife in hand. Slashing at her head, Cleo ducked and punched them in their midsection. With a grunt, the thief flew into the opposing wall, crumpling into a mess on the floor. Cleo approached, raising her hand, lifting them up into the air as they yelled. "What did you steal?" Cleo asked calmly, her breath evening out.
"Hey, lady!" A voice called out from above her, summoning kinetic energy back to her fist, Cleo looked up, readying herself for a fight. "I had this all under control, lady! Ya, sure I lost him two blocks ago, but I had to help this grandma cross the street and…" the figure began to ramble, as they walked down the wall at a 90 degree angle. The voice belonged to what seemed to be a male in a blue and red spandex suit, wide white eye patches contracting as he continued to tell his tale.
"Who are you?" Cleo spat, dark eyes drawn in, fist still ready.
"Oh sorry, I ramble sometimes. I'm Spiderman!" he exclaimed as he landed on his feet, extending his hand out for Cleo. Cleo looked at his hand skeptically, "ahh… I'm a good guy." He added for good measure.
"There you are!" The middle aged woman finally catching up, leaning on the wall sounding as though she had ran a marathon. "I am calling the police! Out of all the ludicrous things to happen today…" she continued her rambling. "Don't worry ma'am, we have resolved the situation," Spiderman spoke, purposely deepening his voice as the tale tell signs of sirens could be heard in the distance, "I, Spiderman and… what was your name again?" he asked, voice retuning back to its normal pitch.
Cleo choosing to ignore him, released the thug, who landed on the floor with a thud, Spiderman quickly restraining him using some white string just as they attempted to make a run for it.
Walking to the mouth of the alley, Cleo did not recognize where she was. When she had given chase, she wasn't exactly taking notice of all the rights and lefts she had taken. With night settling into the city, she had no option but to sling ring back to the Sanctum. Knowing she cannot be seen opening a portal in Manhattan, decided it best to sling ring on the roof. Groaning, she walked back into the alley, grabbing at the ends of a fire escape ladder, lifting herself up and beginning her ascend.
"Um… Lady, where are you going?" Spiderman asked as he followed Cleo up the fire escape, jumping from each floor to the other. Cleo continued to ignore him as she finally reached the roof, slightly out of breath. "Lady… LADY!" Spiderman yelled as he jumped in front of her.
"What do you want?!" Cleo shot back, wanting to get rid of him so she can sling ring back to the Sanctum before Strange noticed.
"Who are you? How did you do that back there? How did you levitate him? What was that red glow around your hand?" He asked as he perched himself on the stair shed, looking like a gargoyle.
"None of your business." Cleo responded coldly, "now, go away." She didn't need the attention of a cape, she needed to return to the Sanctum.
"I had it covered you know. I didn't need to your Christmas light, Rudolph nose power to catch him." He called out from his perch.
"Christmas light, Rudolph nose power?" Cleo asked, turning back to glare at him. "The manipulation of kinetic energy is no easy skill and to liken it to a reindeer's nose is an insult to my traditions and teachers." Cleo shot back.
"Kinetic what now?" he asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
"Ugh!" Cleo groaned, closing her fists the red aura returning, "Would you like a sample of my reindeer powers?" She threatened, her expression hard.
Spiderman only began howling with laughter at her threat, Cleo growing more annoyed by the second. "What is so funny?"
"Ha ha ha, it's just 'Sample of my reindeer powers' was not what I was expecting to hear was all." Spiderman responded jumping to land in front of Cleo. Even Cleo was not immune to how dumb her threat had sounded and allowed a small smile to grace her lips.
"AH, there is it! A smile and not a scowl!" he exclaimed, pointing at her face. Cleo slapped his hand away, chuckling softly.
"What is your deal, kid? Why not just leave me be?" Cleo asked, smile still present.
"You have powers! You helped an innocent! I don't know what that means from where you're from but here that means you're a hero and maybe future Avenger!" he called enthusiastically. "Oh, I am not a hero, I have zero intentions of being an Avenger and those aren't my powers, I was using magic." Cleo responded as the sun fully set into the horizon, casting the world into darkness.
"M-magic?" Spiderman stuttered as his eyes widened. "Magic isn't real." He said, assured of himself.
Not able to contain her smirk, Cleo pointed her hand at a nearby flag pole and morphed it into a snake with a snap of her fingers and then back into a flag pole. Turning to look at the hero, she can only imagine his dumbfound expression on his face under his mask.
"But... the physics… theory…" he began to mumble, eyes not leaving the flag pole. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Cleo spoke as she pushed past him, "Don't think too much about it."
"Show me more!" Spiderman called out turning around, excited as Cleo did not argue with him. Shrugging her shoulders she began to levitate him, having him float a couple feet in the air. Spiderman let out a delighted laugh as he returned to the roof. "Okay… maybe magic is real." He conceded as Cleo sprouted a flower out of the concrete roof top.
Chuckling, the pair perked up as they heard shouting and car alarms blazing in the distance. Looking at one another, Spiderman jumped to the ledge of the roof, looking over his shoulders, back at Cleo. "Race ya?"
Returning to his physical body, Strange let out a deep sigh as he cracked his back, emerging from his spot on the armchair. Rubbing his eyes, he did not realize just how tired he was. Staying in your astral form for long hours and not allowing for your physical body to sleep will do that to you, He thought as he emerged from the library, making his way to the kitchen. Noticing how night had fallen.
Pouring himself a cup of green tea, Strange turned to face the clock, it is rather late, maybe Cleo had had dinner already without me. A pang of guilt hit him. He knew that he was neglecting her and that he was being distant, but he was supposed to understand the Book of Wadjet by now, he has left their problem of Mordo unresolved for far too long! Groaning as he rubbed his eyes once more, he made his way up to their bedrooms, hoping to catch her before she fell asleep.
Maybe if I explain these feelings of insufficiency to her, maybe she will understand why I am working myself to the bone. Maybe she can forgive me. Strange thought as he lingered outside of Cleo's room, fidgeting with his cup of tea. His mind clouded with thoughts of the Book, of Mordo, of Cleo and of the High Priestess' promise, the voices reaching a crescendo in his mind as he stepped up to the door and began to knock.
Pausing, no response.
"Cleopatra, have you had dinner? We can order from that Korean place you like." Strange spoke to the door, hoping his peace offering would forgive his distance.
No response.
She doesn't sleep just yet, Strange contemplated as he knocked on the door again.
"Cleo…" Strange spoke as he opened the door a crack, upon seeing darkness, opened the whole way.
Turning on the light, eyes scanning the room, found everything in order. Closing the door behind him, he made his way to the training room, climbing the stairs. She might be caught up practicing with her relic, Strange reasoned, an unsettling feeling beginning to form in his stomach. Upon reaching the training room, he found it just like her room, empty. Dropping his cup of tea at the doorway, rushing to search for her. The feeling in his stomach quickly turning into a tight knot of worry.
"Cleopatra!" he called out as he entered the room with the fireplace. Nothing. His hunger forgotten, Strange raced to the foyer of the Sanctum, "Cleopatra!" yelling from the top of the grand stairs. That is where realization struck him like a brick.
Mordo.
The thought instantly sending a chill down his spine.
But how did he get in? How did he take her? Strange raced back to her room, breath heaving, looking for a sign of struggle, any clues.
Turning on all of the lights, he saw that nothing was dismay, nothing out of order. Heartbeat loud in his ears, he ran to the bathroom, looking for anything that could point him as to how this happened. Flickering the light on, he was greeted with normalcy. Nothing that could help. Nothing.
Looking up into the mirror, Strange saw the worry and panic evident on his sharp features, the lines in his forehead, the sweat dripping down his temple. Hanging his head he began to imagine all of the horrors Mordo would inflect on Cleo. Draining her of her mother's magic, killing her for her insolence.
"Stop it." Strange whispered to himself, eyes clenched shut, head hung.
"Stop thinking like that, you will find her. You have to."
Opening his eyes, a flicker of hope touched his heart.
Picking at one of the long dark curly strands of hair in the sink, Strange held it eye height, determination filling him.
"I'm coming Cleo, hold on."
"That was awesome!" Spiderman yelled as he flopped down next to Cleo as they sat on a high rooftop, a cup of hot chocolate in his hand. "The way you transformed the gun into butterflies and the look on his FACE?!" Spiderman turned to Cleo who was laughing into her cup, dark eyes glittering. "Funniest thing I've seen while on patrol, ever!" Spiderman concluded, bunching his mask around his nose as he took a swing of hot chocolate.
"Please, the way you tied those two bickering robbers together was priceless!" Cleo complimented back, the brisk wind twirling her dark hair. "That was the most fun I've had in a really really long time."
Spiderman settled the hot chocolate on his lap, holding it with both hands as he looked over at Cleo.
"You said that you were new to New York, right?" he asked softly.
Cleo nodded her head in affirmation as she continued to look at the Manhattan skyline, her eyes sparkling like a night sky full of stars.
"Where did you learn magic?" Spiderman asked, his usual fidgety motions halted.
Cleo's eyes darkened. Downing the last of her hot chocolate she stood, back turned to the skyline and to Spiderman.
"I grew up in the House of Life in Upper Egypt. I did not have many friends and I had no family, except for my mother. But it could not be known that my mother had a child, so we lived in the same House but distant. I was different. The other Scribes were jealous, the teachers did not have much knowledge to offer me and my Mother was unavailable. I always wanted a friend." Cleo spoke, hugging herself as the wind picked up again.
A moment of silence passed, the night seeming to still. A warm hand touched Cleo's shoulder, turning around she was met with wide white eyes.
"I can be your friend, Cleopatra." Spiderman spoke, small smile tugging at his lips.
An ear deafening crack punched the air, Spiderman gave a startle and slipped off the ledge of the roof.
"Spiderman!" Cleo shouted looking over the ledge, seeing that he landed in a dumpster, turned around bunching her fists up, facing a green circle floating behind her in the sky.
"What the…" Cleo mumbled in confusion as she summoned red kinetic energy around her fists.
Another loud crack filled the air and the green circle glowed brighter and bigger, until it touched the rooftop. Getting into a lower fighting stance, Cleo summoned a shield on her left arm. I wish I had my sword right now, she thought as the green glow subsided and out stepped a figure.
"Release her, Mordo, or I swear in all the realms…" Strange shouted as he exited the circle, floating with summoning circles projected on his hands, ready for battle. "Cleo…" he whispered, eyes transfixed on her.
Realization hit her.
"Strange," Cleo spoke, dissolving her weapons. She felt broken. How could she have been caught up this whole time? Just how long has she been gone from the Sanctum? Just how long has Strange realized that she was gone and searching for her?
"Cleo…" Strange spoke as he hesitantly approached her, eyes darting around, "Where is Mordo? What happened? Where were you?"
"Strange…" Cleo spoke again, her dark eyes beginning to prick. "Mordo is not here."
"What do you mean? He must have taken you." Strange tried to reason, eyes focusing on everything but Cleo.
"No, Stephen," Cleo whispered, cupping his warm face in her cold hands, "Mordo did not take me, he did not enter the Sanctum, he is not to blame." Strange's eyes finally settling on her dark ones.
"But…" Strange spoke, eyes darting across Cleo's face trying to find understanding. He looked exhausted. "How are you here?" Strange asked, voice quiet.
Tears began to fall from Cleo's eyes, "I'm sorry," she stuttered, taking shallow breaths, "I snuck out." Releasing Strange's face, Strange took several steps back, disbelief written on his face.
"Snuck out?"
"Yes. I would sneak out while you were in your astral form. I would leave the Sanctum for 10, 20 minutes top. I would go to the coffee shop down the block." Cleo confessed, guilt coursing through her veins.
Strange did not make eye contact with her as she spoke, opting to look at the rooftop.
"And tonight? What about tonight?!" Strange bursted out, yelling.
"I-I…" Cleo stammered, not used to being on the receiving end of Strange's anger.
"What about tonight, Cleopatra? What about when I returned to my physical body and found you nowhere in sight. I searched the Sanctum for you. I called out your name in distress, thinking…" Strange's voice went quiet, "thinking of all the horrible things Mordo would be doing to you right now."
Cleo remained silent. Her feet stuck to the ground and her mouth dry.
Strange was shaking, waves of fury rolling off of him, "You don't GET IT!" He roared, Cleo flinched.
"Mordo is stealing the magic of sorcerers. He destroyed the House of Life, he has killed many powerful sorcerers and he is after YOU! You, Cleopatra. Have you no concern for your life? Have you no rational thought that, 'hey, a lot of people have died to ensure the magic that is inside of me doesn't fall to Mordo', has thought crossed your mind? HAS IT?" Strange roared again, fire in his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Cleo whispered.
"Sorry doesn't cut it if YOU'RE DEAD!" Strange yelled as he stepped up to Cleo, looming over her.
"I said I am sorry, Strange!" Cleo shot back, her eyes beginning to prick again.
"Why are you sneaking out? You know the stakes involved, what would you do something so idiotic?" Strange spoke, venom pouring into his words.
"I DID IT BECAUSE I FEEL TRAPPED!" Cleo shouted, tears rolling down her face again. "The same rooms with the same books with the same feeling of dread! I feel like I have no control, that I am a pig waiting to be slaughtered. I can do nothing without your permission or watch. I wanted to feel like I am in charge of myself, have freedom. I'm sorry if I am not blindly obedient but you've known that since the moment you met me!"
Strange stepped even closer, his face donning a red colour despite the cold wind. "I don't care about what you were before, things are different and you will obey. You have no choice in the matter. Mordo wants to kill you, what do you not understand?! I am trying to protect you!"
"Protect me?" Cleo yelled, neck straining as she looked up at Strange, "Who was it that protected who at Central Park? Who was it that sling ringed without instructions, WHO WAS IT WHO SAVED THEM WHEN THEY WERE KNOCKED OUT?!" Cleo bellowed, her anger taking over, taking a step closer.
"ENOUGH!" Strange yelled, face red now, "We will return to the Sanctum immediately. You will not leave your room until further notice. If I need to be stationed outside of your room to ensure you are not risking your life, then so be it!" Strange concluded with a sense of finality.
"YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER!" Cleo blurted out, her fists balled. Strange took a step back, eyes wide. "Stop trying to act like it! Just because you can no longer control your life does not mean you have the authority to control mine!"
Silence followed.
The sounds of the city could be heard in the distance.
Guilt immediately returning as Cleo realized what she had just said.
"Ste-"She started but Strange interrupted her in a leveled voice which contrasted drastically with the previous yelling. "You're right, I'm not. I am not your father. But what I am is the man who swore to your dying mother that I would care for you and to train you and that is exactly what I am going to do." He reached out, grabbing Cleo's upper right arm in a vice like grip.
"Strange…" Cleo calls out, fear slowly trickling down her spine.
Dragging her behind him, he tosses her in front of him, she lands on the ground in a heap. Silently he opens a portal to the doors of the Sanctum. Grabbing her by her upper arm again, he heaves her off the ground and pushes her through the portal, landing on the doorsteps. "Strange stop," Cleo calls from the floor, looking at her hands, seeing that they were scraped. Looming over her, Strange opened the door and once again, pulled her up and pushed her forcefully inside.
Dragging her up the staircase behind him, Strange led her to her bedroom, his grip tightening. "You're hurting me… Strange." Cleo whispered as they entered her room, the door slamming behind them. Tossing Cleo towards the bed, she landed with a bounce, looking at Strange, not knowing what to say anymore.
"Where is the Bracelet of Boudica?" He asked calmly. His calm tone scared Cleo more than when he was yelling.
Cleo's arm automatically moved to her left upper arm, Strange followed the movement with his eyes.
"Off," he ordered.
"What?" Cleo asked, dumbfounded.
"Shirt. Off. Now." Strange commanded, his eyes not leaving Cleo's face.
"I-I can't…" Cleo stuttered, eyes looking to the floor.
"Oh please, I am a doctor," Strange shot back, his curt voice cutting Cleo.
Hesitantly, Cleo began to shed her layers. Removing the denim jacket and the turtleneck, instantly covering herself with her shirt, embarrassed.
Shooting his hand out, Strange grabbed the golden Bracelet, pulling Cleo's arm up. He must have been chanting in his mind as the Bracelet began to burn on Cleo's skin and growing tighter around her arm. She could feel the magic flow into the Bracelet, restricting her. "Ah…" Cleo whimpered, "That's too tight, Strange, get it off."
No response.
The Bracelet continued to grow hotter on Cleo's skin, the pain feeling like a thousand needles stabbing as the same time, "Stephen, please…"
"AH!" Cleo cried out, tears flowing heavily on her face as she tried to pry her arm free. "Stephan please stop, you're hurting me!"
As if snapped from a trance, Strange retracted his arm and instantly the Bracelet loosened a bit. Not making eye contact with Cleo, Strange took a step back. Cleo collapsed on the floor crying, feeling both drained emotionally and physically.
Finally, Strange spoke, breaking the heavy silence, "Until you come to understand the situation we are in, you are not allowed to leave this room until I allow so. I will bring meals to this room and you are to eat them here. Is that understood?"
Cleo continued to cry on the floor, shoulders shaking violently as the pain remained in her upper arm.
"I asked if that was understood." Strange asked again more forcefully this time, his eyes looking at Cleo, distant.
"Y-Yes…" Cleo whimpered, not lifting her head up.
"Where is your sling ring?" Strange asked, his voice had a tone of finality. Cleo pointed to her discarded purse laying on the floor. Grabbing the purse off the ground, Strange rummaged through until he pocketed the ring and dropped the item back on the floor.
Without another word, Strange left the room, slamming the door shut and casting a locking spell on the handle.
Entering into his own room, he closed the door and let out a deep sigh, sinking to the ground, back against the oak door. Running his scarred hands through his hair, he began tugging at the roots. "What am I doing?" he spoke to himself, feelings of dread and guilt filling him as a wave of emotions flooded him. If he stilled his heavy breathing, he could still head Cleopatra crying from her spot on the floor.