“Where are you going?” Ms. Forest demanded from the circulation desk. Goose sat beside a stack of books at the circulation desk munching a handful of cat treats the librarian had provided her with. The Flerken watched Cassandra walk by the desk then went back to snarfing her snack. “Out.” Cassandra was not in the mood to deal with her or anyone. She had been rereading the same scroll for hours unable to concentrate after what happened with Loki last night. Since work wasn’t providing the distraction she hoped for, maybe she needed some fresh air. “You still have an hour until lunch.” Ms. Forest pointed at the clock on the wall which showed it was only ten-thirty. “I don’t care.” If Tony threw a fit about it later, Cassandra would apologize. She didn’t anticipate a problem from the low-key billionaire though. Tony kept to himself most of the time. Cutting out a bit early wasn’t likely to ruffle his feathers much. Its not like translating the scrolls had provided any information about
Cassandra stood in the living room of her mother’s old house in Canton. The peeling paint on the ancient wood trim and the faded cabbage rose wallpaper were as familiar to her as her own hand. Late afternoon sunlight spilled across the wooden floorboards, bouncing off the crystal cat figurines on the bookshelf. The Canton house had been sold five years ago when her mother decided to down-size and move into an assisted living community. Cassandra had been sad to see the for-sale sign go up in the yard of her childhood home, but she respected her mother’s wishes. Madeline Pierce had taught her to not get attached to places and things. People were far more important. As long as her mom was happy in her new place, that was all that mattered. Cassandra wandered through the dream house in a daze. Childhood memories flooding back. Falling down the stairs on the night of prom and spraining her ankle. Sitting at the kitchen table doing homework while her mom kneaded dough on the counter for
“I think you need serious help.” Cassandra managed to say in between hysterical giggles. “I’m not buying it.” Because if it was true, she was up shit creek without a paddle and a boat. Merlin. The Merlin from legend was real? She swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Strange wasn’t amused. “You keep company with a god but you can’t believe in other legends?” Apparently, the wizard was going to sit there and poke holes in all her arguments. Cassandra shrugged. “I can accept being a wizard but the rest seems farfetched. Besides, what reason have you given me to trust anything you say?” First Strange abducted her and now subjected her to this crackpot story. He was a few screws short, that was for sure. “Before I became a sorcerer I was a surgeon.” “That’s a major career change.” Cassandra commented. “I did not seek out magic on a lark. I was injured in an accident and told that the answer to repairing my hands lay in Kamar Taj.” “What’s Kamar Taj?” It was the second time he’d
Loki watched Cassandra and Stark pace around the living room with a bemused smirk. These humans twisted themselves into knots over the simplest complications. No wonder they were so short lived. He personally found it wonderfully ironic that Arthur's body washed up on shore like so much refuse. Hel, Loki wished he'd done the deed himself. The mortal had been insufferable on so many levels. Cassandra passed Loki in another loop. Her gaze drifted restlessly about the penthouse. He doubted Cassandra was torn up about Arthur's demise. Despite her seeming altruistic nature she possessed a practical streak a mile wide. Strands of hair had escaped from her braid in feathery wisps around her cheeks. Her lips compressed in a frown. "Now that Arthur's dead I guess we have an unknown player to deal with." Stark halted in front of the panoramic windows and flung his arm out in an exasperated gesture. "State the obvious why don't you Gandalf? So far, the Avengers have had no luck locating any of