Light Fills the Vessel

by The Noble Rot

As the relationship between Stephen Strange and his wife Clea breaks down, he finds solace in the most unlikely of places. The head servant of the Sanctum, who has knelt at his feet since she was a child, is no longer a child. She has kept his secrets, accepted his flaws, tended his wounds, calmed his wife, drawn his baths, made his bed...but he has never truly seen her. Until now.

17. The Gathering Storm

Chapter 17: The Gathering Storm

It's early afternoon, and I am gathering the supplies I need to change Clea's dressings and give her a sponge bath. It will be the first time she and I come face to face after my attempt to help her save her marriage, and the subsequent argument with her husband in the hall. She is doubtless unaware of the fact that I know about their impending divorce, and I am determined not to let that secret out. The less she thinks I am aware of, the better.

I have no idea where Master Strange is. He left the Sanctum at some point in the wee hours of the morning, and has not returned. The experience we shared last night is still fresh in my mind, though, and there is a warm glow in the pit of my stomach. The pleasures of the hot tub, sitting on his lap and kissing him, being picked up and carried to the low bench among the peonies and the hyacinths and the nodding sunflowers. Drunk on the sensations, on fire with love and passion, we had eventually stumbled through the ward and back into the stairwell just a little before dawn. All the sourness of our argument faded completely. I am smiling as I open the door to the master bedroom to tend to his wife.

She is lying on the bed, leafing boredly through a magazine, when I enter.

"Mistress Clea, you look much better this morning. Stronger."

Our eyes meet, and hers narrow.

"Where did you go yesterday, Holly? I rang for you several times."

"I was given the night off, Mistress. I went out for dinner and then took a walk."

Does she know about the mugging? Did anyone tell her? Would she even care? I have no idea. I come forward, setting the gauze and ointments on the side table, and I move to the bathroom to draw warm water into a basin.

"Seeing the boy from town you had a date with before I left?"

Master Strange's lie comes back to me, and my hands falter a little as I hold the basin beneath the spigot of the bath tub.

"Uh….yes. Yes, Mistress. His name is…..Patrick. He's a police officer."

God, WHAT made me choose that name and that person to cover my refusal to wait on her the preceding night? I cringe, but I gain mastery over myself and carry the silver bowl out to where she waits.

"Have you spoken with my husband?"

"When, Mistress?"

"At any point yesterday, Holly. Stop being evasive. Do you know what's happening between us?"

I dip a cloth into the water to wet it, and Clea obligingly flips back the covers to allow me to wash her. I don't know what to say, or how to handle this situation. But honesty is my natural inclination. I reach down to lift the hem of her nightgown, and she allows me to undress her. It takes me a few moments to answer.

"Yes Mistress."

"Well? How do you feel about it?"

"It's not my place to have an opinion."

Her purple eyes positively sparkle with irritation. She grips my chin, her fingernails digging into my flesh.

"Don't play games with me, little girl. How long have you loved him?"

I hold still, looking into those eyes. My heart in my throat. But somehow, I find my voice.

"Since I was twelve, Mistress."

"And does he love you as well?"

"Yes, Mistress. He loves every member of this household."

She is silent, and after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, I begin to wash her.

"I'm not stupid."

"I never imagined that you were, Mistress Clea."

I wash her arms, then her torso. The soap foaming over her perfect breasts. I carefully clean the wound on her side, removing the gauze and tenderly sponging the puckered wound. All the while, she simply watches me.

Finally, after half an hour, when I am pulling a fresh nightgown over her head, she speaks.

"It's you, isn't it."

I lower my head, but my eyes never leave hers. What is the point of lying anymore? She can't kill me. She's leaving him.

This is the most tense moment of my life.

All the moisture leaves my mouth. My pulse pounds in my chest.

I reach up and grip the Buddha pendant around my neck, and I look Clea right in the eyes.

"I…I don't know what you mean, Mistress."

"You're a rotten liar, Holly. His little slave. I should have known. Did he start fucking you at twelve, or did he wait until you started menstruating?"

Please God let Master Strange or Master Wong appear at the door, against all odds.

"As I keep telling you, we have not made love."

"Yet."

"I exist to serve him. I will do as he requests."

"I'll just bet you will. And I'm sure he loves to hear that. Kaleb tells me that Ming and Wong are an item now. So this is a theme with the Sanctum? Masters and slaves jumping into bed together?"

So it's KALEB! Master Strange was right.

"Master Wong and Ming's relationship has nothing to do with Master Strange and I. To the best of my knowledge, they have not been intimate either. Mistress Clea, your obsession with who your husband will choose after you leave him is unhealthy. If you wanted to save the marriage and avoid this entirely, you could have done so. I gave you my advice, as one who sees your relationship from another angle. Your husband…"

"Can make his own decisions without your assistance or advice, Holly."

"Yes Mistress. Of course. Shall I bring you something to eat?"

"Have Tenzin bring it up. I'm finished with you for the moment. Dismissed."

"Mistress Clea, when can we expect your husband to return?"

She sighs, aggravated at the question.

"I have no idea. He was called away to Maine this morning by some distraught woman on the phone. Something about a monster that eats children living in the sewers. I don't know. Seemed a small, petty matter to me. There are monsters everywhere and most of them are best left alone."

Maine? He's all the way in Maine? A place I've never been and can't imagine. I hope he'll be alright. But my faith in his abilities is unshakeable.

"I will be doing the grocery shopping today. Is there anything in particular you'd like?"

"We're running low on vodka. And raspberries."

"I'll see to it that the items are replenished."

And with that I bow, then leave the room.

In the kitchen, I call for Tenzin and instruct him to care for Mistress Clea. He blushes and nods, clearly pleased with the assignment. Her hold on the males of this place really is nothing short of magical. I comb through the cupboards and cabinets and the two large refrigerators, the ice chest and the pantry where the dry goods are stored. Once a list is made, I leave the Sanctum and walk across the street to the deli first, to purchase meat and cheese.

I'm leaning over a display of assorted cheeses of the world, trying to decide whether goats' milk sounds like something the Masters would like, when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around.

It's Patrick, a bright smile on his youthful face.

Oh great. I force a smile in return. He hasn't done anything to offend me, and I'm sure his intentions are good. I just can't give him what he's looking for.

"Hey there, Holly. Fancy running into you here."

"I do live across the street. How are you, Patrick?"

"Great, great. Hey listen, I've been wanting to talk to you. It's probably not my place or anything, but I'm worried about you."

My brow furrows with confusion. I can't imagine why he'd be worried. The mugging is over with, and I'm healing just fine.

"Worried for me?"

"Yeah. I saw how your boss treated you last night. It seemed weird to me, and then it clicked. I've been on plenty of domestic abuse calls and witnessed a whole lot of toxic relationships between men and women. Fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends. And I know abuse when I see it…."

"My Master does not abuse me, Patrick." I tell him coldly. He gently puts his hand on my shoulder, and his eyes are kind and concerned.

"He's got a reputation for being pretty intimidating. I certainly felt it, and I'm armed and trained to handle tense situations. The guy's not just physically big, he's also rumored to have some abilities that aren't exactly natural. If you need help getting out of that situation, I can help you."

"I know you're just doing your job, but really; there's nothing to be concerned about. Master Strange comes off as a bit stern, yes. But that's just his way. He's actually very nice and extremely cordial and generous."

Patrick's voice lowers.

"A librarian died last year on the premises of the Sanctum. I looked into any negative history associated with your boss, and I found that little item. There was a massive cover up. The Mayor himself stepped in, and the police commissioner. They made it look like some kind of tragic accident that happened outside the Sanctum. But her body was found on the steps. Not the sidewalk. The crime scene photos were brutal. She had a name, Emma Jankoviak, and she had a bright future and people who loved her. She wasn't just some nobody…"

I jerk away from him.

"That WAS an accident!"

I remember the night. Clea wasn't supposed to be coming home so soon. The girl, Emma, wasn't even in flagrante delicto with my Master. It had been a night where he'd simply needed a friend nearby to soothe his bruised feelings, someone to listen to him and perhaps play chess for a little while. I was awakened by a horrible commotion, and rushed into the foyer to find Clea throwing a terrified blonde in a blue dress down the stairs. Master Strange, fully clothed, stood at the top of the stairs, but flashed in a heartbeat to the base to catch the girl. Clea was screaming at her husband, calling the other woman a whore. Master Strange was trying to protect her, yelling at his wife to calm down, nothing happened, she was just a friend. I had started to come forward, but been thrown back into the hall by a blast of magic so powerful it singed the hair on my arms and set my nightgown on fire. Then it was total chaos. I barely managed to put myself out and crawl back into my bedroom before a mage battle of epic proportions ensued. During the fight, the girl had been killed. Clea threw her body out the front door and attempted to stab her husband with a shard of broken mirror, but he caught the weapon in one hand and held her still. Calming her. Both of them out of breath and trying to swallow their rage. I'd stitched his palm the next day while Master Wong made calls to hush up the murder. Master Strange had felt terrible, instructing Master Wong to give the family of the girl a huge sum of money. Clea was unrepentant, threatening to kill any other female who so much as looked at him too long. It took months for everything to settle down and return to normal.

Patrick doesn't need to know any of this. Nor will he.

"Holly, I don't mean to offend you. I'm just concerned. I don't want something bad to happen to you."

"NOTHING bad is going to happen to me in that house! Master Strange is an excellent employer! I'll thank you to stay out of my personal business."

And with that, I turn and walk away from him. Ignoring him when he calls to me. I can't stop shaking with anger.

The rest of my errands are miserable. These tasks that I once enjoyed feel like drudgery today. I just want Master Strange to come home. I want Clea to leave. I want life to be uncomplicated. I want to be happy. But more than anything, I just want strong arms around me and a chest to hide my face in.

I finish the shopping and fetch the dry-cleaning, drop off some packages to be mailed, and then do something completely uncharacteristic. I take a walk down a street I've never been to before, stopping in a bookstore for the sheer pleasure of perusing the titles. It's an old, dusty shop. Just the sort of place I love best. No one bothers me. No one asks me any questions or threatens me or flirts with me. It is a shop filled with students from nearby Hunter College, all of them chatting quietly and looking excited and eager and intelligent and kind. Shyly, I move a little closer to eavesdrop.

"…can't decide between pre-law or business analytics, to be honest. But I know it's going to be one of those." A girl in a red blazer is saying.

"What does your father say?" Her companion asks.

"Same as always. He told me to just get a degree in what lights a fire in me. But hey, that's not going to pay the bills. No one hires professional poets these days."

They laugh lightly, and the girl notices me and smiles.

"Hey. What's your major?"

"I don't have one yet. But I might go for…for pre-med?"

"Oh cool! That's going to be amazing! Dr. Harris would probably be your advisor then. He's terrific, and he has a sleepy old cat in his office. That's so eccentric."

I smile, warming to the sudden conversation.

"You both go to Hunter, right?"

"Yep! Don't you?"

"I'm not enrolled yet. My Mas…I mean, my employer is urging me to try it out though. He's even offered to finance my education."

"Whoa! That's hella generous! Hunter's not cheap! Wish my boss would do something like that. But all he ever does is bitch at me about missing work when I must study for exams. What's your name?"

"It's Holly. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Karen and this is Amy. Nice to meet you! Hey, do you like poetry? There's this new book of the collected poems of the Middle East that's just first-rate!"

An hour later, I'm still chatting with Karen and Amy, and we've exchanged numbers. My arms are loaded with books, most of them suggested by the two friendly students. Two of them are on Pre-Med subjects, getting me ready for something called an 'M-Cat', which appears to be some sort of test. I've got poetry books and history books and a book about stars and one about evolution and another about mountain climbing. And I realize, as I finally take my leave and pay for the items, that I'm actually happy. Truly happy. I've done something just for myself, not something tied to my work or even to my Master. For a little while, I didn't even think about my situation. I just thought about books, and the bright exciting prospect of school.

Making a snap decision, I flag a taxi and return to the Sanctum only long enough to drop off my parcels and the dry cleaning and groceries. Then I'm changing into street clothes and making my way out the door again to the waiting cab to climb in.

"Hunter College, please."

It is almost 5pm by the time I return. I have never been away from the Sanctum this long before without making contact. There are duties I've neglected today, things that I know the others will have smoothly seen to, but I can't help feeling a little guilty as I let myself in and hang up my coat. I have a thick sheaf of papers in my hands, a glossy brochure listing all the classes I could take and an application and all sorts of information that I got from the nice man in the admissions office. I take a deep breath, trying to hide the smile on my face and regain some composure. But it fails the moment I see Ming coming down the stairs. I fling my arms around her, catching her off guard.

"Ming! I've had the most incredible day! I…"

"Master Strange is back, Holly. He's injured."

My smile fades instantly, and the chill returns to my chest. I shove the paperwork into Ming's hands.

"Please take that to my room. I need to go to him. Where is he?"

"Wong's room. Clea's drunk off her ass and we needed to take care of her husband without her interference. He's been cleaned up, but he needs stitches and you're the best at that. Amara is with him now. Wong is too. Where the hell have you been?!"

I feel horrible, and I lower my eyes.

"I'm sorry. Look, I'm going to him now. Is the kit already there?"

"Yeah, I set everything up. Don't look so worried, it's not life-threatening and no one's mad at you. It's just totally unlike you not to be here when you're needed. Go on, get up there. I'm going to make him some broth and then start dinner for the rest of the household. Brace yourself, he looks pretty smashed up."

I am already mounting the stairs, hurrying.

"Do we know what hurt him?"

"Apparently it was a clown."

I stop.

"A what?"

But Ming is already gone, running into the kitchen to tend to her duties. I blink a few times, confused, and then turn to dash up the stairs and down the hall to Wong's bedroom.

Master Strange is lying on the bed, all his clothing removed except his boxer shorts, and Amara is carefully sponging blood from one of four deep gouges in his chest and abdomen. It looks for all the world like some giant bear raked him with its claws. I come into the room, stunned at what I'm seeing, and move to the bedside. Wong is sitting in a chair nearby, shaking his head.

"Nice of you to drop by." He tells me with disapproval. I bow to him, acknowledging my lateness with an apologetic look, and then sit on the edge of the bed.

"Master! What happened?!"

He gives me a pained, tired smile.

"I made a new friend."

"It doesn't look like it, sir. My God, you're shredded! Let's get you stitched up. Are you in any pain?"

"He's not gonna feel anything for a while, Holly. He's all hopped up on morphine."

Amara has tears running down her cheeks, she is so distraught with worry for our beloved Master. I reach for the metal tray at the bedside and take up a needle and suture thread, taking a deep breath to still my nerves and my hands.

"Alright. We need to deal with this, so you live long enough to make even more new friends. Master, I went to the college today."

"So that's where you've been." His eyes are twinkling with pleasure, and he smiles even as I begin carefully sewing. "And what was your assessment?"

"You sending Holly to college?" Wong is surprised by the new information. He glances at me, then back to Master Strange.

"I felt that it would be in her best interests to broaden her world a little. College is wonderful for that. She'll continue her duties here, of course."

"Huh. Not usual for a servant to attend school. Lots could happen to her out there you know. Frat parties and pervert teachers and drugs and Spring Break mistakes and all-night study sessions. Plus, she might gain the Freshman Fifteen and get fat."

"Master Wong!" I can't help it. Despite the dire situation before me, I giggle. Master Strange chuckles too.

"Holly would be lovely if she gained a hundred more pounds, Wong. Shame on you. I'm not worried about anything you've mentioned. Holly can take care of herself admirably."

I duck my head, pleased at his words, and focus on the careful sewing until his wounds are safely closed. Then I begin to apply bandages to keep them dry and protected. Amara, sniffling, cuddles up closer to Master Strange, and he puts his arm around her. Wearily stroking her hair.

"It's alright, Little Starfish. I'll heal."

"Master I love you."

"I love you too, Amara." He is quiet for a little while, just resting his eyes. Wong leans forward slightly and clears his throat.

"So, what was it?" I ask delicately, although I'm almost one hundred percent certain that I know.

"Sentient. Highly intelligent. Almost pleasant, after the initial skirmish. Immensely powerful. But not, I think, a threat to the planet. We came to terms. I found myself almost liking the creature after a fashion. At any rate, he's agreed to change his hunting patterns in the future to avoid upsetting the locals. I showed him how to access the Dark Dimension, where food can be found on a vast scale, and he'll have more fun battling for his meals."

"This thing have a name?" Wong asks. I close my eyes for a moment.

"Several. But I am to call him Phobos. You will meet him, Wong. But I don't want him visiting the Sanctum. He's positively lethal. And now, if you all don't mind, I'd like to get some rest. Holly, linger a bit, will you? I'd like to discuss this college you visited."

Master Wong gets up, and Amara reluctantly slides off the bed. She takes Master Wong's hand as he leads her out of the room.

"We see you a little later, Stephen. Glad you made it back alright. Next time you're gonna take me with you, ok?"

"If you insist. I'm touched that you can't bear to be away from me even for a day."

"Yeah ha-ha. Ok, get a good nap now." And Master Wong leaves.

I wait until the door is closed before leaning down to kiss Master Strange's cheek. Guilt is rippling through me at having been away so long. I take one of his hands in both of mine and hold it, sighing.

"I should have been here, Master. Please forgive me."

He doesn't open his eyes, but he smiles slightly.

"You're here now. It's alright, Holly. You couldn't have known. I'm quite proud of you for going out and doing something other than my laundry. Did you enjoy your taste of freedom?"

I kiss his hand and lay it back on his chest, then begin cleaning up the medical supplies.

"It was different than I anticipated. I felt out of place at first, like an interloper who didn't belong. But there were some students from the university at the bookstore I explored, and they made me feel very welcome. I still haven't decided if I want to attend. But I've taken the first steps. Enough about me, Master. This creature you faced…will he come after you?"

"I highly doubt it. There are many powerful beings who pass through this world from time to time. He was at least polite, after the obligatory skirmish. Nevertheless, I don't want you anywhere near him. Tempting a beast that size and with that power would be foolish."

We are quiet for a little while. I finish cleaning up and open the doors to the balcony to let in the cool spring air. Not too long ago, he and I danced on this balcony under conjured lights and tangled ivy. And it was perfect and good and romantic and exciting. I wonder if he ever danced with Clea like that.

"Holly? Will you lie beside me for a little while?"

"Of course, sir."

I return to the bed and climb up beside him to rest my cheek on his chest. He sighs, finally giving into the morphine that Master Wong administered upon his arrival. I tenderly rub his chest until his breathing deepens, and I know that he is asleep.

I will never marry this man, or bear his children, or attend events on his arm. But I will love him with all my strength forever. No matter the dangers he faces or the length of time he must be away. No matter what obstacles will lie in our path. And there will be many. I know this.

We remain together in stillness, cuddled on the bed as he sleeps, for an hour before I slowly draw away and slip out of bed. He does not wake. I pause to lean over the bed, gently smoothing his hair back from his forehead, and bend to press a kiss to that noble brow. Then I move silently to the door and out into the hall, closing it behind me. He needs his rest. And I have something I need to do.

There is one telephone in the servant's wing, halfway down the hall in a little alcove. I sit down on the bench and lift the receiver, dialing a number. After a few rings, a husky male voice answers.

"Hey there, Baby Bear. I was wonderin' when you'd call again."

"Hi Uncle Lester. How's the family?"

"Abidin' real well, darlin'. It's plantin' time, so we've got the younger ones out in the field. Your Uncle Darwin's off someplace with Annie doin' Lord only knows what. Reckon I'll read about it later in the papers."

At this, I smile and shake my head.

"Incorrigible. Listen, I'm actually calling to speak with Aunt Tsugi. Is she around?"

"Sure is. I'll get her for you."

He sets the phone down, and I wait. Biting my lip. It's only a few minutes before the handset is lifted again, and my aunt's soft voice comes through clearly from the other end.

"Holly, I know what this is about. You know I have absolutely no control over what he does."

"I know that. But he attacked my Master. And I don't want him coming back for more. Aunt Tsugi, Mom turns a blind eye to what you do with that thing, but she's told me…"

Her voice becomes quieter, but firm.

"Don't call him that, Holly. You don't know him as well as I do. Don't minimize him. There was a time when Phobos meant the world to me."

"So, he's awake now?"

"For a little while. He's actually here, on the grounds. In the woods. Your Master injured him too, you realize. I've been caring for him."

I feel at once angry and protective as well as sympathetic and resigned. The complicated relationship between my aunt and a bizarre interdimensional monster has existed for quite some time, and only my ever-curious mother and I seem to be aware of it. Although I suspect that Uncle Darwin knows full well what happens on his land.

"Can you at least tell him to stay away?"

"I can gently suggest it. But I must tell you that he's not inclined to fight with your Master again anyway. I think he actually rather likes him. You have to stop thinking the worst about Phobos."

"Aunt Tsugi…he eats people."

"Only when he's hungry."

"He's always hungry."

"Look, do you want me to send flowers or something? Your Master provoked him. He prefers to be left alone."

"Well, it seems like they've come to a truce. And yes, flowers would be lovely. But maybe don't sign your friend's name to them under the circumstances. And send chocolates too. The fancy kind with the different centers. Maybe a teddy bear."

She giggles, and I relax against the back of the alcove. Smiling.

"Don't worry, Aunt Tsugi. Master Strange has taken worse damage in the past and recovered. I suspected Phobos the moment I saw the wounds. I won't say anything. It's not my place to talk about your business."

"That's kind of you, Holly. So how are things going there?"

I tell her about the trip to the college, and about the mugging, and about Patrick's friendly but unwanted attentions. I have always gotten on very well with my deceptively peaceful Aunt. We chat for about an hour before my need to complete my duties overcomes my desire to connect with family.

"I'm guessing that Mom is outside?"

"You'd be correct. She scampered off early this morning with a loaf of bread and a few apples. Haven't seen her since then."

"Tell her I love her when you do. And Dad too. Thanks, Aunt Tsugi."

Fifteen minutes later, I'm bringing a tray of food up to Mistress Clea. She's passed out in her underwear crosswise on the bed, two empty wine bottles on the floor.

And that's not all.

I stop dead in my tracks as a man walks out of Master Strange's bathroom with a towel around his waist. He picks up a wine bottle from the bedside stand and drinks directly out of it. I don't recognize him, but he's tall and well built. Blond. Arrogant. He looks me over.

I stare at him in shock.

He smirks.

"You must be her husband's little pet. I've heard of you."

"Who…."

"Oh, don't look so shocked. I won't be staying long. Clea said I needed to be out by nightfall. Is the Wiz back yet?"

He sets the bottle down and boldly takes off the towel to dry his hair, revealing his full nudity to me.

A lover of Clea's. And she brought him to the master bedroom.

Something snaps in my head. Just completely and utterly SNAPS.

I throw the tray of food directly at him, and a second after it splatters against his naked body, I grab an ornate statue of a lion and swing it at his head, connecting with his jaw.

"GET OUT!"

"What the fuck?! Are you crazy?!" He's bleeding and covered in food, backing up as fast as he can. Those bright blue eyes wide.

"OUT! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE I CLAW YOUR EYES OUT! YOU DISRESPECTFUL!" *WHACK* "RUDE!" *WHACK* "BACKSTABBING!" *WHACK* "BASTARD!"

*WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!*

I beat at him until he's backed up to the edge of the balcony railing, cowering, and trying to fend off the blows.

"JESUS CHRIST LADY!"

"OUT!"

Grabbing the tablecloth off the small round café table set up on the flagstones, he wraps it around his waist and makes a run for the door. Darting around me. Dripping marinara sauce and cheese and spaghetti noodles and parmesan as he dashes to safety. He flings the door open, only to be met with the shocked face of Master Wong. He had heard my shouting and came to investigate.

"Oh SHI…" the man begins. It's all he can get out before Wong opens a portal and shoves him roughly into it. Some snowy wasteland yawns before us, and the last thing we hear before it snaps closed is the man's horrified scream.

I pick up the tray from the floor and march toward the bed, raising it over the drunken form of Clea. But Wong stops me by grabbing me bodily around the waist and hauling me from the room. I drop the tray and beat at him with my fists, completely enraged as I never have been before, but he effortlessly lifts me over his shoulder and carries me down the hall toward the antiquities room.

Pasang is just emerging from the room with a mop and bucket in her hands, and she stops in surprise when she sees the spectacle.

"Go clean Mistress Clea's room thoroughly and say nothing to anyone. Not a word, or you're fired. You understand?" Wong tells her firmly. She nods, open-mouthed, and Wong carries me into the room and kicks the door shut behind us. He sets me down on a red velvet sofa and sits beside me, pinning me to his side with strong arms while I struggle and rail against him.

"HOLLY! Stop it! Calm down! NOW!"

"She's dragging her lovers HOME now! While her husband lies injured in another room!"

"Lower your voice! You wanna bring attention now? Shame Stephen? Wake him up maybe? Simmer down, talk rationally. Holly, you just attacked a man. I'm proud of you."

He's actually chuckling, and I want to hit him.

"I was fighting for Master Strange's honor!" I snap. But I take a few deep breaths and try to regain my composure. My blood is racing. Wild red Tremor blood, from a long line of warriors whose motto has always been seven shades of 'Mess Around and Find Out'.

Well, a rather more strongly worded variation of that.

Wong rocks me, saying nothing for a little while, until he feels some of the tension leave my body. Finally, he lets go and allows me freedom of movement. I immediately get up to pace restlessly.

"First time she's done something like this. But I'm not surprised, to be honest. The woman is spiraling out of control. I think in many ways the breakdown of the marriage is hard on her too, just as it is for Stephen. But we'll smooth it over. That's your job."

"I know, Master Wong. I have no intention of shirking my responsibilities. God, what would have happened if Master Strange had discovered them, and not me?"

Wong shrugs.

"Stephen's a lot calmer than you and I are. Focused. He would have coldly asked the man to leave. Wouldn't have thrown anything or made a fuss. But that would have been it. He's not a man who suffers indignity. And he has no problem closing the door when it's time. I've seen it before. You just calm down, relax. Not gonna let you leave this room until you're yourself again."

"How could any woman cheat on him? He's the most brilliant, handsome, clever man…"

"Other than me."

"Other than you that I have ever known. My hands are shaking as badly as his now. Look."

Wong gets up and takes both of my hands in his. He clasps them to his chest.

"Never seen you like this before. Gotta say I'm impressed. Little warrior in white."

"My father is a berserker, and my mother is completely feral. What did you expect? Master Wong, I'm sorry for my outburst. It was completely unprofessional. I should have simply let you handle it. I'm so ashamed. If I'd awakened Mistress Clea…."

"She's drunk and passed out. Wouldn't have woken her up unless you physically attacked her. Which I stopped you from doing. Holly, Holly, you need to step back from this. Hide your feelings better. Not mad at you, but you can't let something like this happen again. Ok?"

I sigh, nodding. Letting Master Wong soothe me. After a few moments of just breathing, I lift my eyes to look into his.

"My family…. well, my Aunt…. knows Phobos. Intimately. And there are two of them. Two White Clowns. They sleep for 27 years at a time, waking up to feed for a few months every so often."

"Great Buddha, Holly! You gonna stop my heart one of these days! Does Stephen know?"

"Not yet. I called home and spoke to Aunt Tsugi. She doesn't think Phobos will be a problem going forward but acknowledged that she has no control over his actions. He's injured too."

Master Wong rubs his forehead, shutting his eyes.

"Alright look. I'll let Stephen know when he's feeling a little better. For now, you stay by his side when you can. Change the bandages frequently. Tenzin will look after Clea. Don't think you should be around her right now, not with things the way they are. It's escalating. I think everything might come to a head soon, and I worry that it's gonna fall on you heavier than anyone else."

"I'm ready." And the moment I say it, I know that I am. Ready for the pain and the battle and the explosion of drama and horror that's roaring towards me like a freight train.

Wong is right. Things are picking up speed. Soon they will reach a crescendo. I wonder if I'll survive it.

The day wears on, and I'm scrubbing a toilet on the third floor when the gold bell rings. I immediately go to the sink and wash my hands, then splash water on my face to rinse away the sweat. Then I'm trotting down the hall to the staircase. I arrive breathless at the door to the guest room, and I quietly push it open.

"Master? You rang for me?"

He's sitting up against the pillows, reading a book. The chair pulled next to the bedside. Wong must have been visiting him. I bite my lip, worried that Master Strange will be displeased with my highly peripheral association with the creature that put him in such a state. Or is he now aware of the man that was in his bedroom earlier? The one now probably frozen solid in some Arctic wasteland in nothing but a tablecloth?

"I did, Holly. Close the door please."

I do so, and come to sit in the chair beside him.

"Sir, I can explain."

"I'm not upset with you, Pet. It's already known to me that your Aunt isn't fully human, and dallied with the shapeshifter long ago."

"I….."

"And I know my wife was…entertaining a guest earlier. I'll deal with that later. Right now, I want to talk about Ming and Wong."

My eyebrows rise slightly.

"Sir?"

"Wong is about to propose to Ming, Holly. He wants to take her to Kamar Taj and begin instructing her in the Mystic Arts. Your friend will be away for several months."

My chest seems to deflate, and I lower my head. But I'm happy for them. It's sheer selfishness that causes me distress. I don't want to be left alone here.

"I understand, sir. Ming will be thrilled to take up her new studies."

"It will get her out of here and away from the showdown as this marriage finally implodes." He looks toward the fireplace, where a spectral hound dog lies curled up on the rug before the hearth, sleeping. "I'm considering sending you away as well. To protect you. That necklace will protect your life, but it won't protect your heart. After speaking with Wong, I've decided to…"

"Master, please don't. Please."

I almost never cut him off mid sentence, and the desperation in my voice causes me a brief stab of shame. But he stops as I take his hand in both of mine and cling to it.

"I would rather die than leave the Sanctum. I know you'll have to go to the Dark Dimension with Mistress Clea. I know there will be times when you're gone for a while. I know there will be fights, and tantrums, and abuse. I know things will get worse before they get better. I don't care. I can handle it. I want to be here to offer what comfort I can, and to keep the rest of the staff safe and organized. What would happen to Amara without me here?"

He considers this, mulling it over in his mind. I let him think and do not interrupt again. Finally, he nods.

"Very well. I'm not comfortable with this, but I won't force you to leave if you're determined to stay. Holly, we have to be very careful in the next few months. More than we have been before. I'll need to prepare for the fight we'll have with the denizens of Clea's home world, which means an extensive amount of studying and training. I need to focus and concentrate my efforts both physical and mental on getting ready. We won't be able to slip away together for more than a few minutes every so often. I'm afraid you're going to feel abandoned."

"I would never feel that way. You must do what you have to do in order to come back alive and victorious. I will stay out of the way and keep the house clean and its occupants fed. That's my job. With Ming gone I'll be doing the cooking, after all. And a lot more besides. I'll have plenty to keep me busy."

He lifts my hands to his lips and kisses each palm, tender and loving.

"Then I want you to do something else."

"Anything, Master."

"Bring someone here to the Sanctum from home to help you. And to be a shoulder to lean on when you need it."

I blink, a little taken aback. Then, despite his injuries, I lean forward and embrace him.

"Thank you, Master! I will!"

"Choose one or two of your family members and let me know by sundown tomorrow. I'll portal them here. But one request."

I smile, already guessing.

"Not Annie."

"Please and thank you."

I read to him for a little while then, feeling the tension in my chest ease and my heart lighten. Now all I have to do is call home again and see who's available for a few months. Having family here will be a dream come true.

I hope.