Of Hearth and Home
Chapter Four: The World I Know
Wanda rounded the corner out of the bar and fished her red frame sunglasses out of her pocket. A moment later she felt fine as she crossed through the gentle traffic of Main Street.
She followed the side walk, her head down in caution against this strange time, but ever aware of every movement on the street.
She spun on her toe and slipped down a shady alley.
"Greetings Child." A voice spoke out of the shadows. "I have waited here for many days – not knowing on which you would arrive."
Wanda stopped short. The woman appeared non-threatening enough. She was older and wore her white hair up in a bun.
"Bug off lady. I've got things to do and I'm no one to cross." Wanda's eyes burned as she spoke and she threatened menacingly with her hands.
"Indeed. You have much to accomplish and little time to do it." The woman smiled kindly. "Family business if I'm not mistaken." Her eyes seemed to flash with insight and understanding.
"How do you know that?" Wanda demanded softly. Under her breath.
"I know many things my dear Wanda." The woman smiled. "Like how close to death Magneto is at this very moment."
Wanda's jaw went slack as did her posture. Her entire plan depended on secrecy and if this woman was any indication – she had none.
"Ahh, your attention at last." The woman gave her a grandmotherly stare. "Now, now." She took Wanda's hand and patted it softly. "We've much to do and it's not safe for you on the streets. If Mystique or The Brotherhood were to see you …"
"Yes." Wanda agreed slowly. "I understand."
"Then come." The woman told her. "I have a car near by and a warm home on the way."
"On the way?" Wanda eyed her.
"Oh yes. On the way to your destiny child. I am here to help you prepare. It's a part of what I do." She explained. "And you may call me Agatha my dear. Agatha Hartly."
And the woman smiled again, but this time, Wanda sensed in her a power and authority beyond the reach most. Her smile suddenly looked like a falsehood. It was a mask of a much greater being. Wanda was sure of it.
Agatha took the initiative and drew Wanda down the alley towards her large dark can with it's flat black windows.
"Value your privacy much?" Wanda asked, seating herself inside and gesturing to the glass.
"I do indeed." Agatha said, indicating that the driver that she was ready. "But this was done for a friend." She whispered. "Poor vampires. Quite the persecuted minority." She continued. "Simply the Mutant, or Magician of yesterday."
She turned on Wanda with an icy stare. "But we know all about that, now don't we?"
Wanda found her intimidating, but refreshing. She could tell that Agatha was something she never had in her life before. She was open, honest and - unlike Xavier who shared those qualities – Agatha seemed to be on her side.
"How did you know where to find me?" Wanda asked.
"I dreamed of you last August." She said. "I saw you pass down the alley, and then, sitting in a bar with a friend in three days time."
"Did you see me as successful?' She asked "Where my father is concerned?"
"Oh, yes." She smiled. "He will be difficult to reach and even more so to isolate and disable, but mark my words child – his fate is entirely in your hands."
Wanda sat stunned. "How do I know that you're not just telling me what I want to hear?"
And Agatha smiled slowly. "I will show you." She said softly. "I have not come here to force myself upon you. I have come to aid you on your path. I will earn your trust. Have no worries child. I am asking for nothing until I have proven my friendship."
Friendship … Wanda relaxed slightly, despite herself. "And what will you ask of me then?" She ventured.
"Your friendship in return, of course." She smiled. "I have seen many of your possible futures since August last. And I know enough to know that our relation will serve us both well for many years to come."
"So I am doing the right thing? By coming here?" Wanda asked suddenly.
"Right or wrong …" Agatha paused. "Are very selective terms." She paused, straitening her clothes slightly. "I prefer to recognize the truth. You need to confront your father in the way you intend. Your history so far has not allowed you the undisturbed moment that you need to conclude this business."
Wanda nodded slowly.
"Your soul is my concern here child. It is stagnating and dying under the weight of your past. Your own growth demands that this matter be dealt with." Agatha fanned herself idly with one hand. "Driver, please, turn the heat down just a touch."
He did as he was asked.
"You sounded like Xavier for a moment there." She smiled. "I thought you were about to start bantering around words like 'closure', 'forgiveness' or 'therapy'."
"Oh, I have thought you've had enough of that by now." Agatha smiled sympathetically. "But the rules are very much the same – when you're comparing psychology to spiritual development."
"Just what is the difference?" Wanda questioned.
"Psychology is very intellectual. It's rule oriented and, in my opinion, frequently mind numbing." Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she spoke. "Spirituality however comes from our emotions – we feel something is true before we come to understand it and have it impact our lives. Psychology tries to shortcut across the emotions. They just deliver lessons and hope they serve as real experiences. Spirituality comes from living the life that provides the lessons on it's own."
She nodded slightly. "But you shall see." She informed her. "This is to be a great spiritual journey for you Wanda. I envy you. Our first spiritual journey is always impressive, and I fear that too many years have passed for me to remember what it was like to be walking in to that world for the first time."
Agatha sighed. "And your journey will be over Wanda – when you come again to your beginnings." She nodded.
"You make it sound like I'm going in circles." Wanda observed.
Agatha laughed out loud. "Oh child, we are all going in circles. But when you arrive again in the place of your beginnings and you know it for the first time – then at the very least – you are aware of the circle – and your inner worth is increased by understanding. This allows us to choose and create other circles – rather than having them chosen for us." She nodded again.
"But as I said before – We shall see."
And with that the car turned down a long wooded driveway and the sun vanished behind a thick wall of trees. The old and impressive house sat at the end of a gravel driveway. All around the home stood great thick trees. The home seemed to be bathed in eternal evening.
Wanda stepped out and turned her attention to a man on the property. He was sitting, crouched on his ankles, under one of the great Pine trees. His face was lost in the shadow.
"Agatha." Wanda cautioned her. "There's someone over there – under that tree."
"Oh, yes." Agatha smiled. "That's Sonny. He's waiting for the car to return."
"Driver!" She called in to the car. "Pull up under the pines and take sonny out to Laughten Place Cemetery."
The driver pulled on toward the trees.
"Laughten Place?" Wanda asked. "I've been there. Great cemetery. Old stones."
Agatha smiled and nodded repeatedly. "I do love the place myself. That's how I met Sonny."
"Is he a groundskeeper or something?" Wanda asked as Agatha steered her up the front stairs.
"Goodness no." Agatha smirked at the idea. "Sonny's a worthless lay-about for the most part." She sighed. "If he wasn't a vampire – he'd be no good to anyone I imagine. He keeps a crypt in Laughten. He thinks it's a nice neighborhood."
Wanda stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look Back as Agatha passed her and opened the front door. But there was nothing left to see. The car was already slipping around the corner and disappearing down the long and rustic driveway.