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SEVENTEEN | THE BEGINNING
OF THE END

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THE SORCERER SUPREME kept his word.

Stephen gave Cassandra all the time and space she needed, but not without letting her know that he was there for her. For three weeks, Cassandra would always wake up with a breakfast tray and handwritten note ready at her study table. Then, just last night, he prepared a warm flower bath that made her come running and embrace him with tears running down her cheeks.

The night sky was beautiful, and it was approaching midnight. A full moon was set against a black-to-navy gradient, with the night sky so clear that one could almost see every crater. The moon loomed big, blazing yellowy white and enveloped by an ethereal radiance.

The woman inserted her hands inside her pockets. Tonight, she decided not to portal herself to the New York Sanctum, but walk instead. She wanted to appreciate the fine evening and magically transporting herself wasn't going to do that.

She missed her dad and her best friend. For sure, if they knew about her condition, they would be making something grand to make her forget about. Her dad would probably bring her to the beautiful mountains while comforting her and Karl would be there too, telling her that she will overcome it. Sighing, she let her head sway from side to side, humming Journey's Don't Stop Believing.

That was when she felt a cold and chilling air breeze through her and she raised an eyebrow. It wasn't just the wind she felt. There was a sinister presence around and she could feel them. A strangled cry then emerged from the alley not far from her and she rushed to see what it was only to gasp when she saw a creature from the Dark Dimension choke the life out of a young girl. Another figure was lying on the ground and she immediately assumed it was a boy. Reacting quickly, her eyes flashed gold and long, gold threadlike strands bursted out of her fingertips and wrapped around the creature's neck. It dropped the girl on the ground and without hesitation, Cassandra drew herself forward, pressing her stiletto heel on its chest. Muttering an incantation, she gesticulated her arms and turned the monster into fine dust.

When she was certain that there were no more monsters around, she carefully approached the two humans, her hands raised to show she wasn't a threat. The girl held her bruised neck, backing away from her. She had brown monolid eyes that complimented her small face and fair skin.

"It's okay. You're safe."

The girl swallowed. "How did you..."

"I'm a sorceress and -- "

"You're a witch?"

Cassandra winced. "I would prefer being called a master of the mystic arts." She knelt down beside the unconscious figure and almost instantly, a flash of moving light illuminated the whole alley. There was one thing that Cassandra acknowledged about the girl in front of her, she had powers. Whether it was magic or just pure energy, she didn't know.

"Get away from him!"

"Look, I only want to help." She performed a spell that made the boy wake up and gasp for air.

"Jae-Hyuk!" The girl threw her arms around him and they embraced each other, sobbing. "Are you okay? I was so worried about you!

Cassandra nodded, feeling the need to get them out of the area. It wasn't safe for them all to stay since any more creatures from the dark may attack them. "Come on, let me get you both to safety."

Still, the girl hesitated, bringing her brother closer to her. "How can we trust you?"

"I don't know how I can prove myself to you two, but I'm sure that you will be more than safe in Kamar-Taj or in the Sanctum." appeased Cassandra, holding her hand out. She didn't know why, but she was feeling the urgent need to help them, to protect them from harm. "Just trust me. I'll keep you safe."

And with that, the two teenagers grabbed her hand and she led them both to 221A Bleecker Street, the address of the New York Sanctum. Pushing the wooden doors open, she was greeted by her partner and her mother in the foyer, shock covering their features. It looked like they had just finished their conversation when they came.

"Cassandra! Are you okay?" asked her mother, sauntering over to her. "What happened?"

"There was a creature from the Dark Dimension that attacked these two and-and I saved them, mom. I brought them here to safety."

Olivia fretted. "Oh, dear. Come on, let's get to the temple and talk about this further."

They all then discovered that the two teenagers were fraternal twins and their names were Lee Moon-Young and Lee Jae-Hyuk. They were orphans who recently ran away from foster care. Their father was killed in a car accident years ago and they had no relatives they can go to. They didn't know where their mother was or if she was still alive. The twins also revealed their abilities to them.

Moon-Young had the ability to manipulate anything related to the moon and night while Jae-Hyuk had the ability to control anything that was associated with the sun and day. These powers they possessed enabled them to see anything that was beyond the human eye. Ghosts, grim reapers, angels, demons, creatures from the Dark Dimension... anything that wasn't easily seen by humans.

Cassandra observed them from the entrance of the guest room, her heart feeling heavy for the two resting teenagers. They both looked like they've gone through so much. Sighing, she went to the mall with her mother and bought the twins some new clothes. She decided from then on that she would let them stay for a week and then return them to their foster home.

Yet, a week turned to five months since the twins begged them not to be returned and for some reason, the sorceress would feel some sort of pain in her heart whenever she would try to call the orphanage. She and Stephen had grown so much closer to the two during their stay and her longing to experience motherhood got stronger with each passing day.

The woman pinched the bridge of her nose as she watched the twins listen to Wong's lesson about the mystic arts. Her friend was very interested in learning how they gained their abilities and was more than willing to teach Moon-Young and Jae-Hyuk everything they needed to know about magic.

"And what is going inside your mind right now, dear?"

Cassandra's head perked up to look at her beaming mother. "Nothing." murmured the woman. Actually, there were a lot of thoughts running inside her mind and one of them was about adoption. She couldn't help thinking if it was possible for her to adopt the twins.

Her mother narrowed her eyes and took a bite of the olive in her plate. "Woman, I raised you for thirty-four years. I know when something is in your mind. So, spit it out."

Olivia Mason looked very flawless as ever. Her now brown hair was styled into an updo and her brown blouse gave her a youthful look. They had just come home from a charity gala Cassandra managed. "You look very beautiful, mom."

"Of course, I am. Where else would you get your gorgeousness if not from me? Now, I know that was not what you were really pondering about. Out with it, Cassandra. I'm waiting."

The daughter shook her head, chuckling, setting aside her glass of wine. "Okay, fine, mom. Well, I just... I was thinking, what if... what if I adopt them?"

"The twins? You want to adopt Moon-Young and Jae-Hyuk?"

She nodded. "Yeah." Cassandra had been thinking about it a lot. She should've been the one making the decision if she should not have a child so she can solely focus on her job. So, yes, she was going to defy their decision and just say fuck you, universe. This is my life. I do what I want.

"I don't think it's bad. As long as it makes you happy, go for it. Have you already talked to Stephen about this?"

She shook her head.

"Open it up to him. Of course, you don't need his approval in the adoption, but you should let him know. He deserves to know about your decision."

"I will, mom."

"So, Cassie, tell me, what do sea monsters eat?" Exactly at the same time, Stephen came inside the room, holding a plate full of snacks. He offered it to her, smirking. "Fish and ships."

She rolled her eyes, taking some fries from his plate. "Ha, ha. Nice joke."

"Cassandra, look at us!"

The sorceress glanced once again at the twins who were enjoying their time with Wong. Moon-Young carefully intertwined her hands to form a ball of shimmering white light, just as Jae-Hyuk lifted his arms and a line of flaming fire danced above his head. "That is amazing! Well done, you two!" The woman smiled, clapping her hands. She was more than willing to have them stay with her and they were too. They informed her once that they wished someone from the temple would have the heart to take them in for they don't want to leave anymore.

"I wish we can stay here." mumbled Moon-Young one time before drifting off to sleep.

Cassandra realized she wouldn't have to worry about them so much anymore since they were already adolescents. She could only hope her partner would support her in her decision.

Oh, if she only knew the idea that was brewing inside Stephen's mind at the moment.

THE RISING SUN cast a rosy hue across the morning sky. Golden fingers of sunlight shone softly on the city streets, bringing with it a flurry of early-morning activity and the dawn chorus of melodic birdsong. The bitter aroma of her coffee filled her nostrils and she gently laid down her finished cup on the table. It had been three days ever since Cassandra told her mother about her decision and today, she was going to inform Stephen and the twins about it after their short trip around New York city. She wanted to take them to a food trip and some shopping spree since she was free for the day.

"Seriously, Wong?" grumbled Stephen, making his way down the stairs with the well-dressed Cassandra walking in their middle. "You don't have any money?"

"Well, attachment to the material is detachment from the spiritual, Strange."

The woman's eyebrows rose. "While I can seriously challenge what you just said right now, I'm going to let it pass since I am hungry and those two have been waiting for us for fifteen minutes."

Their eyes darted over to the two teenagers who were watching some Youtube video from the phone she gave them before. "Yeah. I'll tell that to the guys at the deli next time we go there. Maybe they'll make you a metaphysical Ham on Rye." remarked Stephen, following behind Cassandra shortly.

"Oh, wait, wait, wait, I think I have two-hundred."

Stephen paused. "Dollars?"

"Rupees."

"Which is?

"Uh, buck and a half."

Stephen sighed, feeling hopeless. He shook his head and was about to retort something when the woman Cassandra waved her ATM card, showing it to them. "It's okay. I already told you all earlier. I got everyone today. It's on me. What do you want, Wong?"

Wong grinned, rubbing his palms together in excitement. "I wouldn't say no to a Tuna Melt." He walked down the stairs along with them. "Oh, wait, Cass, your birthday's next month, right?

"Yep."

"Cassandra!" happily exclaimed by Jae-Hyuk, tugging her arm to him. "Let's all take a photo!"

Jae-Hyuk never failed to make Cassandra smile. He just carried this positivity in him that was so infectious. He knew how to make people feel encouraged and lifted. It was like he was a big ball of sunshine and it fitted perfectly since he had solar powers.

"Yeah, sure! Then, let's upload it to my Instagram!"

"You have Instagram?" Stephen questioned Cassandra, bewildered.

The sorceress shrugged. "Yeah, it's @cassisgorgeous. See?" She tapped away on her phone for a second and showed her Instagram account. "Moon-Young here told me to create a Twitter account too, but I decided not to. Tweeting is so tiring."

Moon-Young actually suggested creating an Instagram account as it would add exposure to her event management business so here she was, opening herself to the wild jungle that was called social media. Clicking on her camera app, she turned the phone into landscape and raised it in front of her. "Come on, everyone. Smile and say cheese!"

"Must we really?" mumbled Stephen under his breath.

Cassandra glared at him.

Not even a second later, her partner slid up close to her, nonchalantly expressing, "Cheese."

By this, a young intermediate strolled inside the foyer, noticing them prepping up for the photo. Cassandra fixed Jae-Hyuk's grey jacket first and brushed Moon-Young's hair aside. She doted over them like how a mother would.

"Would you like me to take a picture of you all, Master Mason?"

The woman eagerly nodded and offered her phone. "Please, thank you so much."

Positioning the camera, the student counted down and just as he had pressed the capture button and said, "Smile!", an incandescent ray of light collided with their ceiling and disintegrated the staircase behind them. Cassandra and Stephen instinctively pulled each other down before the woman checked on Moon-Young and Jae-Hyuk.

"Hey, hey," she coughed as the smoke began to ascend up into the air. The steady coughs of Stephen and Wong trying to clear their airways begin to echo through the crash sight. "Moon-Young, Jae-Hyuk, are you both okay?"

"Yes!"

As soon as she heard this, Cassandra exchanged glances with Stephen and Wong. Nodding firmly, the Guardian and the Sorcerer Supreme raced up the stairs while performing a spell that transformed their casual clothes into the robes they often wore around the temple. The Cloak of Levitation carried the Invisibility Cloak, dropping it on Cassandra's arms as it attached itself on Stephen's shoulder. With one flick of her finger, her emerald cloak fluttered behind her, draping over her own shoulders. Wong followed closely behind them with two searing Tao Mandalas in his hands.

The sorceress expected an enemy within their vicinity and prepared herself for an attack when she heard dreadful mumblings coming from the gaping hole instead.

"Thanos is coming. He's coming..."

Stephen glanced at them, confused. "Who?"

Cassandra blinked, now kneeling down to get a closer look at the fear-stricken, shirtless human. He looked entirely familiar, but she couldn't quite remember where she met him before.

"Cassandra? Is that you?"

And just like that, she recalled the man who transformed into the green, raging monster before her during the Chitauri Invasion in 2012. "Dr. Bruce Banner? What the fuck are you doing here?"