The Book Keeper
by TimeAndLife21
Chapter 4
Stephen landed onto the floor with a painful grunt. Mordo was above him chuckling. He just have been a bit distracted when Mordo got him in a tight spot then threw him to the ground. He let out a heavy breath as he laid there. Looking at Mordo with a bit of contempt.
"You seem distracted, my friend." Mordo chuckled.
"It's that Book Keeper." Stephen admitted.
Since that night a week ago, he had barely seen her around. But every night before he retired to bed, he would see that bitter brew that helped with the pain in his hands, sitting warmly on the side table near his bed. It made his stay here in Kamar-taj a bit easier. He had wanted to thank her for the brew, but he couldn't seem to find her. He would catch glimpses of her. Her Hair in a bun, a swish of her green and silver robes, a glint of her glasses before she would disappear on him.
"Oh?" Mordo asked as he offered a hand to help Stephen up.
Stephen took the hand and Mordo helped him up.
"I think she's been avoiding me." Stephen spoke as they decided to cool down with katas.
"Anaiah isn't the most social woman here. She generally keeps to herself most of the time." Mordo shrugged.
"I didn't peg her as someone who actively avoids social interaction." Stephen said as he let out a slow breath to calm his heart.
"Not if you've known her for a long time. The Ancient One took her under her wing. Many students who have been here longer than she was, never mind her being a child at the time, they resent her a little. Being trained by the Ancient one is of the highest honor." Mordo explained.
"She's being trained by the Ancient one?" Stephen inquired.
"Not anymore. Anaiah wanted to forge her own path of the Mystic Arts when she turned 17. The Ancient one allowed her to do just that." Mordo explained.
"So not only is she a Book Keeper and a Guard, she was an apprentice?" He asked.
"Not in a traditional sense. But similar. I know not what The Ancient One taught her, but Anaiah is a strong Sorceress." Mordo replied.
"That doesn't explain why she avoids some of the social groups here." Stephen spoke.
"She is generally a private person. She will warm up to you eventually." Mordo gave a sly look to Stephen.
"Warm up to me?" Stephen replied.
"I have spoken with Anaiah not to long ago. She tells me that though you are struggling to learn everything here, she believes that you have potential." Mordo chuckled.
"Potential?" He replied.
"From the mouth of the dear friend that I have known for the longest time, that is great praise." Mordo smiled at Stephen.
This just increased the mystery that is surrounding the Book Keeper.
Stephen walked into the Library to return a couple of spell books, and hoping to see The Book Keeper. The words of Mordo echoed in his mind.
Anaiah believes that he had great potential? Potential for what? She is just as mysterious as The Ancient one. He placed the books at the desk and looked around. Wong didn't seem to be here, but he couldn't see any hide or hair of the Book Keeper. At least until her hear something.
"Let me go!" The voice of Anaiah rang out.
"Look, I just want this particular volume of books." Another voice spoke out. It was male.
"And I told you, You haven't even passed a novice's level of magic to even read these books." Anaiah spoke out.
"For Christ's sake, give me the damn books." The male voice rang out.
"No."
Stephen heard a punch ringing out and he acted fast. He went behind the desk as he heard signs of a struggle.
"Bitch!"
"I warned you."
He saw a dark green light shine behind a book case and he made a turn and saw Anaiah with a feral look on her face and a man laying on the floor. What really shocked Stephen was that she had a giant scythe that is in her hands.
It was rather sinister and it glowed a deep green color. He could hear whisperings from it and it intimidated him a little bit.
"Now. I will give you a choice, you can leave this place and Kamar-taj for good, forget that this place even existed, go back to the world that knows nothing, or I can slay you here and now. No one will abuse the use of the Mystic Arts while I'm around." She snarled.
"You wouldn't!" the man trembled.
"Try me." She smirked cruelly.
Silence echoed throughout the Library.
"Okay…Okay you win. I'll leave." The man finally conceded.
"I'm glad you decided wisely. I'll have someone pack your bags." She said as she made a swing of her scythe and she placed it onto her back.
The man scrambled back and got up to turn around, facing Stephen. He recognized the man. In the dining hall, he would gloat that he would reach Master status quickly and would be part of the Masters. But that doesn't seem to be.
He tripped and ran out of the library. Stephen felt nothing for the man, he may be able to bend the rules a little bit, but to outright break them he would get kicked out. He turned around and saw Anaiah breathing slowly. The large scythe was glowing a faint green now and it seemed to be…pulsing?
He took in the details of the scythe. It was rather large, towering over Anaiah's small frame, the handle was pure silver with ivy etchings into it, the pommel at the end of it seemed to have an ancient word etched into it. He looked at the head of the blade itself and saw a silver wolf mask on both sides with glowing markings on it. What was curious was that it seemed to have a large gold gear protruding between them. The eyes of it were glowing a soft green unlike the violent green that was shining earlier. The Blade was thick and curved and it looked deadly sharp.
"Anaiah?" Stephen spoke hesitantly.
She opened her eyes and saw Stephen there. She had look of a startled deer, but then hid it behind a mask of indifference.
"Hello Doctor. I'm sorry you had to see that." She spoke before looking up the the wolf mask of the Scythe and glaring at it.
"I could have handled myself just fine." She growled.
The Scythe pulsed loudly, like a heartbeat, and Strange could hear the strange whisperings from it.
"Yeah, well you don't have to show up every time I'm in a confrontation." She frowned.
Another pulse and then silence. The glowing of the scythe disappeared.
"What a pain." She frowned.
Stephen noticed that her left eye was starting to swell. He walked up to her and reached out to her face, his training kicking in. She looked surprised that he had her face in his trembling hands, but never said a word.
"You probably need to ice it for a while. Did he hit you hard?" He asked as he tentatively and lightly pressed where the swelling is.
"It's nothing I can't handle." She flinched and backed away.
"Not the first time I've been in a confrontation, and certainly not the last." She said as she waved her hand, the fallen books lifting up and being put back onto the shelves effortlessly.
"You should tell the Ancient One." He suggested.
"Oh trust me, nothing is quiet in Kamar-Taj for long. I'm pretty sure the Ancient One already knows about what happened." she said as she walked away.
He followed her by her side. He looked at the Scythe strapped to her back and spoke.
"So…this is your relic?" He asked.
"One of them, yes. The Reaper of Souls. It's commonly known as Death's Scythe." She explained rather painfully. "I call it Ebony."
Stephen had to stop in his tracks.
"Wait, that is Death's Scythe?" He asked in awe.
His mind is just reeling. There was no possible way that Death is an actual entity…could it?
"It's not actually 'Death's Scythe', but it's one of it's titles." She sighed as she placed herself beside the front desk.
"How exquisite…and interesting." He spoke as he reached out to touch the blade, but the blade suddenly glowed green and pulsed like a heartbeat.
"It's saying, 'Don't touch me.' Please don't touch my relic." She said as she reached back and flicked the wolf mask with her finger. "And please don't insult the good doctor."
"It's sentient?" He asked as the Scythe pulsed again.
"Yes. And it's an obnoxious relic. Always going on about how many centuries it has been locked up and how boring it is right now." Anaiah chuckled.
"It's beautiful." He spoke honestly.
The Scythe pulsed again, this time a soothing beat was coming from it.
"It's saying thank you," She chuckled, "At least someone acknowledges her beauty. Her words not mine."
Stephen cracked a smile before he spoke again.
"You have been avoiding me." He spoke, and he noticed her body stiffening.
"I've been busy." She spoke as she turned to him. "My life doesn't revolve around you, Doctor Strange."
"Really? Then why have you been avoiding me?" He asked.
She looked up into his eyes and looked to the side. She then started to fiddle with her fingers. A nervous tic for her, he assumed.
"Ive just been busy with getting more books for the Library. I have to make sure that everything is in it's proper place." she spoke looked down.
"I have a feeling that that's not it." He spoke up.
She sighed and fell into silence.
Stephen decided to speak again, he didn't want her to be uncomfortable in this place that she pretty much considers home.
"I wanted to thank you for the brew that you've been giving me every night. It's more nasty than cough syrup, but it helps with the pain." He said honestly.
She had a light blush on her face, Stephen found it rather cute.
"You are welcome. I can't do anything for repairing the damage that is in your hands, I may know hundreds of healing spells, but mending bones and nerves out of my league." She spoke softly. "I'm sorry that I can't do anything more for you. But I can help you as much as I am able."
That hit Stephen like a punch to the gut. Here he was, a once great neurosurgeon, with an ego the size of New York, and Narcissism that spat karma back into his life because of his distracted driving, the loss of his hands and his career, here In Kamar-taj, with the intent to go back to his career a new man, it all deflated.
This woman in front of him, goes out of her way to help him, she didn't have to do so. Hell, his need to heal his hands through the Mystic Arts and leave this place behind. He felt…humbled by her sincerity.
She wanted to help him. Yes, the Ancient One is helping him as well, so is Mordo and even Wong to an extent, but those were the only three that he can think of that can help him. But for Anaiah, a Book Keeper that keeps to herself and would seemingly rather stay in the Library than be out and about, wanted to help him…he couldn't help be feel…accepting.
"I would greatly appreciate your assistance to help me, Anaiah." He said honestly. "If you would be able to that is."
She looked up at him and gave him a small smile and nodded.
"You have potential Doctor Strange. If you will allow me to, I can help you. There is many branches of the Mystical Arts that will take a long time to get through if you wish to expand yourself and your mind to all possibilities." She said straightening up.
"I honestly don't know why, but The Ancient One accepted you here for a reason. I personally didn't see it at first." She wrinkled her nose a little. "But if she can let you stay here in spite of your past, then I can accept that too." She smile a little.
"Now, If you will excuse me, I really should ice my eye." She said finally before turning away.
In all his years, up throughout his career and to this point, save for Christine, no one would have helped him because of his self-absorbed ego and narcissism. But Anaiah who barely knows him, was willing to help him with his studying and practice of the Mystic Arts. He had a lot to think about it.
"I think he's accepting my help." Anaiah spoke with the Ancient one.
The Ancient one turned to see the young woman who seemed to have grown up in front of her. She had a bruise on her left eye, luckily the one who tried forcing his way to learn the Mystical Arts has been cast out. There was no need for another Kaecillius. Not on her watch.
"This is good. I am thankful that you would want to help Doctor Strange." The Ancient One Spoke.
"There's something about him, Master…I can't put my finger on it. I keep thinking that he should give up this quest, but something…something is coming from him that I'm a little unsettled about." She responded.
The Ancient One smiled gently at her once-apprentice. Anaiah had come a long way from where she once was. A little girl with no hope in her eyes, no memory of her past before she was on the doorstep of Kamar-taj, a young starving little girl with a passion for learning and a hunger to prove herself worthy. Now the woman in front of her, is now a woman of great strength of mind, of tactical analysis, of hard work to bring her to the title Master of the Mystic Arts, she missed the young girl who would excitedly come to her showing off the new spell that she had learned, the girl who she would comfort in the night when darkness would haunt her thoughts and mind, the girl who she made sure she can defend herself in a life or death situation, the woman in front of her was one of her proudest achievements.
She turned down Kaecillius' offer to join him. Even though he was a fellow apprentice with her, she knew somehow that Kaecillius was corrupt, much to the Ancient One's dismay.
"What is it that is unsettling you, Anaiah?" She asked.
"I don't know…I just know that Stephen Strange is somehow pivotal for us. For the future." She looked up at the Ancient One with question in her eyes.
"Is that what you fear?" The Ancient one asked.
No…she didn't see fear in her eyes. She saw resolution.
"No. If you believe that Stephen Strange is someone to put our faith in, then I will do just as well. You chose him for a reason…for what, I don't know, but I know that you never have been wrong before." She smiled up at her.
The Ancient One smiled sadly. Anaiah may have chosen her path, but she can see that her path intertwines with Stephen Strange's. She could hope that the two of them will help each other. Along with their other friends, hopefully things will turn out for the better.
"Master...did you believe that i would follow Kaecillius?" She asked.
The Ancient One looked at Anaiah. She had a little doubt in her eyes and was looking like the young scared girl that she once was. Why ask this question now?
"No. Why?" She asked.
"It's just that...Kaecillius had spoke of immortality...I'm not interested in it, but why would he ask me to join him?" She asked.
"You are a strong sorceress, Anaiah. You are strong of will and of heart. You know the difference between right and wrong, and you know the grey areas between light and dark. Kaecillius wants someone of your standard with him. On his side." She spoke.
"Yes, but I know that his side is wrong." Anaiah spoke softly.
"Then you have already chosen your answer." The Ancient One walked up to her and placed her hand on Anaiah's cheek tenderly. "You are strong, Anaiah. Don't let anyone take you down because of their lust for power."
"I promise." She smiled back at her.
The Ancient One dismissed her and the young woman took off back to the Library. She closed her eyes and saw a picture of one of many future. She hoped that it would come to pass.
TAL21: Another day, another chapter for you guys. You got to see one of Anaiah's relics, you'll probably see the other when I'm getting to the fight scene between Kaecillius' cronies. XD Maybe, I'm not sure. Take a wild guess on where i based the scythe off of. And You got to see the Ancient One's POV as well. Tilda Swinton did a good job acting. I really enjoyed it. And we got to see some developing feelings between Stephen and Anaiah. XD So i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. remember to leave detailed reviews so i can put more chapters up! On to the Shout Outs!
Ixsa: I wanted to touch on the pain in his hands because it's a constant theme throughout the movie. But in the middle of the movie, when he surrendered to the Mystic Arts, using his hands seemed moot at the point and he was able to use gestures from there on out. But I also added it to make him seem more human.
JinxWriter: Yes, Anaiah may seem cold in many things (she just a little anti-social as she likes to stay in her library), and misunderstood is one of many thing about her. She is a great sorceress but she has some insecurities. XD But that will improve as the story goes on. And yes, Kaecillius will appear in this story. You can't have Doctor Strange without the villain right? XD
Superdani4Ever: Yes, I try to give my readers heart attacks. XD As for the tea that she made for him, trust me, you don't wanna know what's in it. XD Glad you enjoy the story so far. :)
TAL21: Yeah for the Shout Outs! So there's some stuff taken care of and I hope you liked Anaiah's relic. It's pretty sweet looking too. XD I hope to hear more from you readers soon and I want to see what you think of this story! See you guys in the next chapter!
Question Time: What is your favorite part of the Doctor Strange movie and why do you like it so much?
KEEP ON READING AND WRITING! :D