Chapter 4
A golden ring of sparks began to form inside the library of Kamar-Taj creating a portal from which Stephen and Clea stepped out of.
"Good thing Wong isn't here. We're not supposed to open portals in the library. New rule," Stephen warned her.
"Hello pot, I'm glad to see you've met kettle," Wong's disapproving voice rang out from behind them.
Clea looked at Stephen with an amused smirk. "Oh really?"
"Don't look at me. I wasn't the reason why the rule was made," he said, defending himself.
"Yes, but you break it every chance you get." Said Wong, walking up and grabbing a stack of books off his desk to put away.
The tinge of red that had spread across Stephen's cheeks only made Clea's smile grow. Embarrassment was cute on him, she thought before shaking her head as she headed for the door. Stephen followed behind her.
"At least give her a chance to get to know me," he muttered to Wong under his breath as he passed by.
"Yeah, because that's such a good idea." Wong replied, rolling his eyes.
Out in the hall Stephen saw Yang, an apprentice, approach Clea from the garden, cutting off her path. The young man's eyes were narrowed, his mouth set in a firm line. It was clear he had been waiting for this moment.
"You've got a lot of nerve coming back here," growled Yang before turning his gaze to Stephen. "She's a traitor. An acolyte of Kaecilius! She doesn't belong here."
"Now wait a minute-" Stephen said, surprised by his reaction.
Not listening, Yang produced a golden spell wheel in his hand and readied himself to fight. Other students in the garden rushed over to watch, some of them frightened, others curious.
"He's right, Stephen," said Clea, holding out her hand to stay him. "I don't belong here. But I want to make one thing very clear- no one has more cause to hate Kaecilius than me. So put that hand down, Yang, or I will do it for you."
The young man grit his teeth, his hand beginning to shake with anger. He knew there was no way he could defeat the daughter of the Ancient One. Finally his will faltered and he slowly lowered his arm. The gold disk disappeared with a few sparks.
"You don't have to worry, I'm leaving now anyway." Clea said as she passed Yang and stormed down the hall. Stephen glanced at the young man in utter confusion before quickly following after her.
"Clea!" He called, jogging to catch up but her pace was relentless.
Reaching out, he placed his hand on her bare shoulder to stop her but was harshly stung by her magic bond. They both let out a cry and she turned around to face him, her eyes alight with anger.
"Clea, you don't have to leave." He told her. "Kamar-Taj is your home."
"Not anymore. It hasn't been for a long time now." She said, rounding the corner into a separate hallway. Stephen followed her determinedly.
"You came back for a reason," he said.
"Yes, and my mother is dead. So there's nothing keeping me here any longer," she told him, turning back around and heading for her room so she could grab her bag. Her heart was now pounding in her chest. She couldn't be in this place anymore, it was a terrible idea to have come back.
Stephen reached out on instinct to stop her again but before he could touch her, Clea whipped around and pointed a warning finger at him. She did not want to get zapped again.
"Sorry," He apologized, holding up his hands. "But what about your legacy? We have no Sorcerer Supreme and the London Sanctum is completely destroyed. Think of all the good you could do here."
"The good? I'm sorry, but did you miss what just happened back there?" She argued, finding the idea completely ridiculous. "Haven't you wondered why you've never heard of me until now? I am an embarrassment to them. I left Kamar-Taj for a reason, and trust me, it is better off without me."
Clea knew Stephen was only trying to help, but for his sake she had to push him away. He wasn't buying it, though.
"Look, I don't know what happened in your past or even what you're going through now. For one thing, your glow-y tattoo seems like a real pain in the ass. But running away won't make it any better." Stephen told her, stepping in close before asking one final time, "Please, stay."
Clea opened her mouth to retort, but was at a loss for words. "Master Strange, I..."
"Master Strange!" Wong called from down the hall. The keeper of the library came running up to the two of them, his expression grave. "An acolyte has just reported trouble in New York. You must return to the Sanctum immediately."
Clea and Stephen looked at one another, concern registering on both their faces before following Wong. Their conversation was going to have to be put on hold. The three mystics hurried to the gateway that led to the New York Sanctum.
Stephen should have known something would go wrong while he was away. The multiverse didn't rest for anyone. He was so distracted by Clea's sudden arrival, he'd neglected to check in with the mystics roaming New York.
"What did the acolyte tell you?" Stephen asked Wong. With a wave of his hand, his clothes transformed into his blue master's robes. The Cloak of Levitation flew through the doorway in moments, coming to rest on his shoulders.
"He said there is a little girl in Queens who's nightmares have been crossing over into reality. The apartment building she and her mother live in is now infested with ethereal monsters." Wong explained as the entered the chamber that housed the gateways.
"Dream creatures making their way into reality?" Clea questioned. Something about that type of dimensional tear seemed odd to her. "What could have caused a breach like this?"
"That's exactly what we have to find out," said Stephen, taking the Eye of Agamotto from its pedestal and draping it around his neck.
"Good luck." Said Wong as he began to head out of the chamber.
"No, no, no, wait," Clea immediately objected, realizing what was happening. "You're taking Wong with you, not me. This is a you and him thing, not a you and me thing."
Stephen grinned with satisfaction as he opened the gateway to the Sanctum Sanctorum. "Oh it's definitely a you and me thing. It has to be. Right Wong?"
Wong sighed, turning around. "Unfortunately, yes. As much as I believe this is going to be a disaster, I need to stay here and guard Kamar-Taj."
"What!" She cried, not believing that she was being rooked into going on this mission.
"Are you coming, Clea?" Asked Stephen, teasingly, as he stepped through the portal.
The silver-blonde mystic groaned in frustration and spun around in a circle, her fists tightly clenched. She couldn't in all good-conscience run away knowing a little girl was out there suffering. As a master of the mystic arts, she had a moral duty to uphold. Stephen got her. Letting out a heavy sigh, she stomped into the portal after him.
"Wipe that smug grin off your face," she told Stephen.
His smile only grew wider.
As they entered the main foyer of the Sanctum Sanctorum, Clea snapped her fingers and her yoga outfit was replaced by a set of purple sorcerers robes. Straightening her collar, her eyes set into a look of determination. She was a protector of the Natural Law once more.
Despite Stephen's best efforts not to stare, he couldn't help himself. She was already beautiful, but seeing her in her element, made her appear all the more stunning.
"What? Are these not okay?" She asked, noticing him looking at her. A tinge of pink spread across her cheeks as she folded her arms in front of her chest. She had not worn her robes for some years and she knew the set she had on was practically ancient.
Stephen shook his head, a clever grin forming at his lips.
"No, it's just... they suit you." He said, remembering how she had said the same about him that morning.
Was he flirting with her, Clea wondered? Even though she knew that was a very bad idea, she secretly hoped he was. Nervously tucking a bit of hair behind her ear, she headed for the relics room.
"I just need to grab something before we go," she said.
She went up and down the rows of glass cases, searching for what she wanted. Stephen watched from the top of the stairs as she knelt down in front of a display in the back of the room. She reached up, unlatched the glass door, and opened it. Her fingers grazed reverently over a gilded cylinder before picking it up and standing. Closing the door, she turned and held out the relic in front of her. The small cylinder magically extended into a six foot staff. Taking in a focused breath, Clea spun the staff around her in tight circles, flourishing her weapon with perfect expertise.
"Is that your relic?" Asked Stephen.
She nodded, closing the staff and hanging it off a loop on her belt. "One of the first I mastered," she said, proudly. "It responds to me as it it were a part of me, just like your cloak does for you. It's been a long time since I last held it."
Stephen never given that particular relic much thought before, but clearly it meant a lot to her. He was glad to see she had found her way back to it.
"Alright, let's get our bearing," said Stephen.
Approaching the Orb of Sight, another one of Agamotto's creations, he placed his hand atop it and searched for the girl Wong told them about. The orb sifted through one magical anomaly after the other before finding the right location. Stephen slipped on his sling ring, and began to visualize the place the orb showed him. Creating a portal, the two sorcerers jumped through, landing in the middle of Queens.
AN: Hello everyone! Please review, favor, and follow. We're finally getting into the action!