Loki banged his fist against the door of the Sanctum, rattling the rows of arched windows at the first level of the building. The heavy oak door was sturdier than the one he destroyed during his last visit and refused to bow beneath his knuckles. "Strange, open up!"

Cassandra leaned against the stair railing watching him expressionlessly. "Keep that up and you'll get thrown into the street again."

"Oh, I have not forgotten what that charlatan did to me." Loki said over his shoulder, his teeth bared in a vicious grin that gleamed with deadly promise. "He'll pay for it eventually-"

The door swung inward, and Loki skidded across the polished marble floor on his face, his illusory disguise undone. Cassandra chased after him, collapsing to her knees. "Loki are you alright?"

The god barely noticed the bleeding scrape on his cheek. He was too busy glowering at the wizard serenely floating down the stairs.

Cassandra sighed, noticing her own illusion had vanished too. "Do you always have to provoke him, Dr. Strange?"

"He is the one who always comes to the Sanctum with ill intentions, Dr. Pierce." The wizard replied in a deep voice.

Right. It was always Loki's fault. Strange never did anything to escalate the situation.

The floor squeaked as Loki's polished dress shoes found traction. Sweeping hair out of his face, he stood, a few veins protruding from his forehead, his blue eyes watery with rage. "I came seeking answers, wizard. Answers you seek to hide from us."

Strange landed on the bottom stair tread and crossed his arms. "This is about the Merlin."

"Why else would we enter this hovel?" Loki sneered.

If Loki equated this multi-million-dollar piece of real estate to a hovel it made Cassandra wonder how amazing Asgard had been before its destruction. She filed that bit of information away for later. Her immediate concern was ringing some answers from Strange.

Real answers.

Cassandra decided to appeal to the serious wizard's logic. "I know you don't trust me, but I can't continue stumbling in the dark. Someone tried to murder me again."

Strange assessed her shoulder injury in a single glance. "A gunshot wound. They are moving quicker than I anticipated."

The world shifted and they were now in the same study from her last visit to the Sanctum. Refreshments popped into existence. A beer stein hovered inches from Loki's nose, filled to the brim with frothy ale.

The god arched a dark brow and snagged the stein's handle with long elegant fingers. "Charming."

Cassandra noticed he did not hesitate to take a long draught of the ale. She rolled her eyes. Asgardians and their booze.

A third chair appeared across from the two wing backs beside the fireplace forming a lopsided triangle. Once they were seated with their refreshments Strange flicked his fingers and a fire sprang to life. "The Cadre are a coven of sorcerers ruled by an evil woman. She is a serious danger to the multi-verse." Strange's eyes flicked to Loki. "An even greater threat than you."

Loki sneered at that.

"Her name is Morgan le Fey." Strange's lips curved in a humorless smile. "I assume you've heard of her."

A chill danced down Cassandra's spine. "Morgan le Fey?" She said softly. "Arthur Pendragon's sister."

"Yes. Though the tales are not entirely accurate. Since the fall of Camelot Morgan has been in the Dark Dimension, banished there by the Ancient One and the Merlin. She works through her agents to insure her return. However, there is one obstacle that concerns her." Strange explained.

Cassandra raised her eyes to meet his. "Me."

"The Merlin." He corrected, tipping his head to the side. "She fears the power of the relic. Just as she lusts for its power. As her name suggests she is part fey but that is not enough to satisfy her appetite for power. Morgan wishes to become a relic herself."

"And how will she accomplish this?"

"I don't know yet." Strange admitted.

Cassandra pressed a hand to her belly, her stomach giving an unpleasant lurch. Her enemy was a legend. A creature far beyond her comprehension. Morgan le Fey. "I can't fight her. I don't know what I'm doing."

"You should do what I have suggested and go to Kamar Taj." His gaze shifted to Loki pointedly. "Unless there is a reason you can't."

Cassandra did not appreciate the implication she remained for a man. "It seems we're at an impasse. I trust Loki. I don't trust you just as you don't trust either of us. The only way I'll go to Kamar Taj is if Loki can accompany me."

Strange laughed in disbelief. "Do you expect me to allow him unfettered access to Kamar Taj's magical knowledge? I am not a fool."

"Then I won't be going." She declared firmly.

Strange held her gaze for a solid minute. Loki smirked indolently, idly twirling a strand of hair between his fingers.

"Tick-tock, wizard. Tick-tock." Loki dropped the strand of hair his smile fading abruptly. "If what you say is true, time is not on your side."

"That is where you are wrong, Jotun." Strange flicked his fingers and the fire dissipated in a curl of smoke. Gripping the arms of his chair, he rose striding to a door behind the desk that hadn't been there a moment ago. "Follow me."

Part of Cassandra wanted to refuse. Curiosity, however, got the better of her. She followed the wizard into a narrow corridor, Loki taking up the rear. They emerged into a solarium.

Light spilled into the dark-paneled room from the oculus in the domed roof that soared. Three sets of massive double doors were located around a strange table-looking thing, each marked with a symbol.

Strange noticed her looking. "These are the three gates to the sanctums. New York, China, and London. The sanctums are invaluable as they power a priceless shield spell that surrounds the earth, preventing beings from the Dark Dimension entrance." He clasped his hands behind his back. "You will learn more about the sanctums in Kamar Taj."

The wizard took them to a smaller chamber off the solarium where a much smaller door was located. "This is the way to Kamar Taj."

Cassandra exchanged a glance with Loki. "Does this mean you agree to my terms?"

Strange frowned, his forehead wrinkling. "This goes against my better instincts. But the Merlin is a valuable asset and you need to be properly trained."

"I have been training her. She is almost ready to begin casting spells." Loki argued.

"Perhaps. I will let Wong make that decision." Strange twirled his fingers and the door swung open in a swirl of orange fire. "Both of you will be under his direct supervision."

Loki held out his hand to Cassandra with a puckish grin. "Well, little vixen, ready to take the plunge?"

Heart racing with a sudden burst of excitement, she curled her hand around his taking strength from his warm grip and leaped through the portal, happy to have the god by her side. With him, she felt like she could do anything.

Cassandra and Loki staggered across a highly polished wood floor into what looked to be an Eastern temple. Men and women dressed as monks were sitting cross legged in neat rows, meditating. They did not shift their positions to look at the new arrivals, their eyes remained closed.

All except for a serious faced Asian man who stood watching the students. Tucking his hands into his sleeves he approached Cassandra and Loki. "The Master of the New York Sanctum informed me of your arrival. Please follow me, Dr. Pierce, Loki Odinson."

"Mr. Wong?"

The man nodded an affirmative. "I will show you to the novice quarters." Wong directed them though a series of labyrinth halls until they arrived at a modest cell with two beds. "This is where you will take your rest when you are not training."

"I am not a novice." Loki countered, glaring at the wizard.

"In the ways of the Mystic Arts you are." Wong replied, unruffled by the god's temper. "If you are training, you will be too busy for mischief."

"Oh, I always have time for fun." Loki said in clipped tones. "Especially, to teach insolent mortals a lesson."

With a wave of his hand Loki disappeared. Gaping, Cassandra looked around the cell. "W-what the hell?"

Wong shrugged. "I placed the Jotun in the Mirror Dimension so he has time to cool his head."

Mirror Dimension? Cassandra shook her head, baffled by all the wizard jargon. "I know he can be difficult at times but he's not so bad. And I need him."

Wong arched a brow. "You need him?" He jabbed a finger at a rickety writing desk in the corner where a pile of books already waited. "Novice, you have more pressing concerns than your, demi-god lover. Start with those."

Cheeks burning at the reprimand, Cassandra stalked over to the desk, balling her hands into fists. "How long until Loki returns?"

"He will return when he returns." Wong paused with his hand on the door. "To your books, Novice." Then he shut the door with a firm thud.

With a bright flash, Cassandra's staff landed on the stone floor with a clatter. She sighed. "I guess that means we're going to be staying for awhile."

A/N: I love writing Strange and Loki together. They're a lot of fun. Wong is pretty swell too. I hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day.