Ch 2: Hope
Vision was calling to me in the distance, "Wanda, we need to hurry. It's not safe. Come Wanda."
Then I fought through the heavy tide of sleep. I was sluggish, unable to break the surface to the waking world. Unable to form words, or open my eyes, my limbs heavy as if leaden.
Then I felt myself lifted, strong arms, my Vision. I ceased my mental struggle letting my mind relax.
Apples, the crisp sweet tangy scent drifted to me. I shifted in the chair, ready to greet the day. I met resistance and I blinked open to see my wrists secure in chains. I twisted and flicked but I was unable to cast.
"Ahh you are awake. Excellent, we can have that chat now." The ebony skinned man dwarfed the library from his position in a large leather chair. Books upon books lined the dark built in cases that stretch to the ceiling on two of the walls right angled to each other. The ivory wall to my left was a reading nook built before a rounded window. The collection of panes appeared to be lead lined, the glass having dripped over the centuries creating a distorted look to the ocean scape beyond in the lower sections. The waves beat against the rocky shore. The darkened clouds bespoke the approaching storm. Not a sea bird could be seen.
"Release me and then we can talk."
He chuckled, "I know you Wanda and that is not a good idea."
I did not know him. "What do you want?"
"That's my question for you."
"I want to go back to my home," I said.
"But were you really home Wanda in that cabin? What is home? Is it a shelter? This could be your home. It has walls, a roof. There is a bed in the next room, a kitchen. In fact this is a nicer place than the one you were in. Much like the rooms you had at the Avengers Compound with Vision. I would be here Wanda. We could do so much."
I stared at him unnerved. Who was he? How did he know me? Why did he want me? Curiosity made me ask, "Do what?"
He ignored me, "Would you like to live in suburbia with Vision? We can make that happen Wanda. Not in the way that you did before. It would be real. Picture laughing, talking, and living with Vision."
"How?" I asked. What sort of man or creature was before me that he could offer me a life with Vision? The allure was strong but I had been made promises by powerful men before. Only the Avengers and Vision had been kind, no strings attached. "What do you want?" I reiterated.
He glanced out the rounded window to his right drawing my eye as well. "Ah, we are getting somewhere." The dark storm was receding. He tapped the book stack beside him and then he pulled it from the top. How had I not noticed it there before? "Thank you for finding this for me. It's been quite a while since I last saw you, my friend."
The Book of the Damned was in his grasp. "How?" I asked.
He set it down. "So many questions Wanda. Dark matter is such a precious commodity. Few know how to use it without harm coming from it. But you did it. He got up and walked to the door. "Come on little fella," he called as he opened it. Sparky trotted in. He pranced before the large smiling man who clapped his hands together with glee. "He is quite perfect in temperament, perhaps better than the original. It's been what? about three Earth days that he has been in existence. He seems stable." He crouched low, putting his hand out for Sparky to sniff and then stroked his head, ending with a tousling of his ears to which Sparky repaid him with a lick to the hand. "So is the family next Wanda?"
"Yes," escaped my lips softly. A need to be honest with this man I did not know. Again, who was this man?
"But would they be real, would they last without side effects? The magic in this book always has a price Wanda. The price could be your soul. Maybe you should save your soul for Vision instead."
"Who are you?"
"A man who needs your help to set things right. In return I can give you the timeline of your dreams, your family, your happy ending Wanda, that you deserve."
He glanced out the window again and I followed his gaze. The sea had calmed and light was breaking through the clouds, offering hope.
xxx
Kindly review if you enjoyed this as reviews inspire more prose.
I have finally completed the films of the MCU. I am smitten with the MCU and its rich characters. Loki and the TVA have offered up so many possibilities. Oh the places we can go. I have an idea now that might mash up Loki and Wanda or I could keep them separate. I am curious. Any preferences?