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SIXTEEN | TROUBLE IN PARADISE

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"I'M SORRY, MISS Mason, but you are infertile." Cassandra recalled the physician's words as her index finger circled the rim of her shot glass, its bitter taste still in her tastebuds. She didn't know what to feel about the doctor's news to her. She didn't know if she was happy because she wouldn't have any distractions or sad because she won't be able to experience motherhood.

Three days ago, Cassandra went to the hospital to know if she was carrying a child since she had been feeling sick lately. Yet, it was omly a false alarm and the doctor revealed that she couldn't bear a child since her ovaries stopped working normally. They couldn't confirm if it was genetically passed on since her parents had her, but they hypothesized that it had something to do with her genes since they were almost magically changed after her encounter with Dormammu.

But, at least, no kids, no mess, right?

She'll be able to solely focus on her duty. She won't have to worry about anyone else. Speaking of duty, Cassandra hadn't mentioned that she was tasked by this universe to protect him at all costs. She had no idea why she still haven't told him about it, but she just let it pass. Wong didn't also bother to tell Stephen himself since he want it to come from her.

Two years had passed ever since Dormammu almost conquered Earth and Cassandra and Stephen's relationship steadier and stronger than ever before. Yes, they do argue like many other couples, but it's only because her partner always manages to get himself into trouble. It was as if he was born with the word "trouble" in his name. His boundless curiosity always gets him to places he should never be in.

The woman anchored her attention outside of her window. She looked up at the blanket of stars that stretched to infinity. Truly, when evening strikes, it can be a frightening place, with dangers lurking in the dark shadows of the foliage.

"You're still awake, sweetheart."

The familiar tone of her boyfriend's voice made Cassandra turn her head for a moment before looking back at the stars. They have been sharing one room since last year and it was the one of the best decisions Cassandra ever made. "Couldn't sleep without you." She set her glass aside. "So, what kind of trouble did you get yourself into again today?"

Stephen chuckled, gently planting his hands on her shoulders. As if on cue and testifying to his words, his Cloak od Levitation perked up and gave her a thumbs-up. "Everything was okay today, surprisingly."

"Good."

"How are you, by the way? I haven't seen you for three days. I feel like you're avoiding me."

Cassandra sighed, reaching out to hold onto Stephen's hand for support. "I'm not avoiding you. I'm just tired." She lied. She was indeed avoiding Stephen ever since her trip to the hospital. She wanted to deal with her problem without Stephen knowing about it because she can handle it herself. But, she opened it up to her mother who comforted her through it, telling her that her infertility doesn't make her less of a woman.

A sudden question then popped up in the woman's brain and she couldn't resist asking it to her partner. "Stephen, what do you think of kids?"

"They're loud, demanding and messy."

The woman blinked and nodded. Hearing those words finalized her decision not to tell him about her reproductive problem. He didn't like children and she was infertile. That was good, right? Future crisis averted?

"Wait, are you..."

"No, no. I'm not." She shook her head then mumbled. "I suppose you're relieved to hear that."

Standing up, she took one more glance at her boyfriend of two years and pecked his cheek before leaving. The brunette was about to leave for the bathroom when Stephen grabbed her hand. "Sweetheart... are you sure you're okay? If you've got a problem, you can --"

Putting on a small smile, she buried the burden deep inside her chest, choosing to set it aside. "Stephen, let's just sleep."

And with that, she left him standing in the middle of their bedroom, convincing herself she did the right thing not to tell him what bothered her.

"RIGHT, RIGHT. IS team two already done with getting the fabrics we need? What about team three? Are they -- no, no, Chloe. The client said they want a simple atmosphere for their opening event." rapidly stated Cassandra to her employee on the phone, passing through the busy hallway of the new building of her firm. The event planner still couldn't believe her business had grew so much in such short time that she had to hire four event teams. Thank you Stark Industries -- well, Pepper, mostly, for giving her so much exposure and recommending her always to their clients.

Cassandra before only aimed for her event planning job to sustain her of her daily needs and bills, but now, she wanted her events management to be on top.

As she was about to address her incoming employee's concern, her phone buzzed and Wong's caller ID flashed on her screen. Cocking an eyebrow, she swiftly picked it up. This better be a life and death situation, Wong. She thought. "What is it, Wong? I'm busy right -- "

"Strange's in danger."

That was all Wong had to say to have Cassandra sprinting to the end of the hallway in her Jimmy Choo pumps. "I'll be right there."

Turning around to a corner, she passed by Kathy and halted her running for a moment. "Kath! Take care of everything for me today, alright? I promise I will supervise everything tomorrow."

The assistant shook her hand. "Cass, you do know you don't need to supervise anymore too much, right? You got us for that so do your thing and trust us on this one."

"Thanks, Kath! Call the shots until I get back!"

"Got it!"

Pushing the fire exit doors open, she snapped her fingers and tranfigured her white pantsuit into her purple and black robes and invisibility cloak. "Show me where the Sorcerer Supreme is." She commanded as she snatched her Sling Ring from inside her pocket. Moving her right hand in a circular motion, golden sparks spitting out from the movement and a portal opened, directly leading her to the open training grounds of Kamar-Taj. Almost immediately, she caught sight of Stephen and Wong battling against a monstrous creature.

Twirling her dagger, she joined the fight and unhesitantly sliced open the side of the creature, making it screech in pain. Its guttural growl made her realize that it was a two-headed ram with glowing green eyes and mouths. It was Atum, or also known as the supreme Egyptian god Amon-Ra. In ancient sculptures, Amon-Ra is often represented as a two-headed ram, and is known as a protector.

How and why the fuck did Stephen summon this creature? She'll never know. But, it had to go back to where it belonged.

Pinning its full attention to her, its eyes glittered with hostility. They were as wild and fearsome as any bull. "Oh, what the fuck did you do now, Stephen?" grumbled the woman as she charged with full force, her dagger transforming into her staff and swiped right, dodging the creature's attack. Widening her stance, she hit the ram on the head and felt its hair brush against her skin. It was knotted and clotted with dry blood.

"Wong! Come distract this creature with me!"

And with that, the two worked together in getting its attention off from Stephen who was trying to return the creature to its dimension. Battle fever rose up in her and she blocked him. She was determined to spill its blood before it did to her. Conjuring large divine magic to subdue the monster, Cassandra struck her staff to the ground. Purple tendrils of magic lashed out and restrained the violent creature, making it easier for her to push it into the interdimensional portal Stephen had now opened.

Yet, as it was about to be trapped back inside its dimension, its claws emerged from the portal for one last strike and it was aimed directly at Stephen. Eyes glowing a fierce gold, the sorceress tackled the Sorcerer Supreme to the ground and only the monster barely scratched Cassandra's back. She let out a pained cry, feeling a hot sting on her flesh. Her cloak and robes was torn from her back, but it stitched back up, covering her open wound and letting her blood stain them.

Stephen beneath her worriedly nudged her shoulders. "Cassie! Cassie!"

"I'm... okay! I'm okay!" choked the sorceress as she pushed herself up but her strength failed her and she fell once again on her partner's chest. "Actually, I'm not. It burns like hell."

"We have to go bring her to your room now!"

Wong said something to Cassandra as her eyes fluttered shut, blood seeping from her wound. The Sorcerer Supreme took her in his arms and carried her to their bedroom, where he tenderly laid her down. Because she was losing consciousness, the woman had no idea what was going to happen next, but she heard her friend repeating an ancient ritual that healed all of her wounds and restored her strength. Gasping for air, she jumped up and clutched her chest.

"You're okay, Cassie. You're okay... just breathe. You're okay."

A little while later, three masters of the mystic arts stood in front of Stephen, glaring at him like he had just brought the apocalypse. Wong, and Olivia's arms were crossed as Cassandra began her questions. "What did I tell you?"

"Do not cast the spell."

"What did you do?"

"I casted the spell."

"What the fuck, Stephen? Your curiosity just doesn't know boundaries, does it?"

"Cassie -- "

"You casted the spell when we told you not to for now, Stephen, and my daughter was almost killed because of that. You should've been more careful." sternly reprimanded Olivia.

Stephen sighed. "I'm sorry."

But, Cassandra's mother was still disappointed with his behavior. Her daughter was almost killed today. "Do you know why my daughter put herself in danger for you?"

The other female's head perked up, alarmed by her mother's question. The Sorcerer Supreme still no idea about Cassandra's lifetime job. "Mom..."

Actually, after she and Stephen fixed everything in Kamar-Taj, she casted the runes of Cafkal to make him forget that he knew she was his Guardian because she wasn't ready for him to know about it.

"She's your Guardian, Stephen." Olivia refused to listen to her daughter and took long strides to confront the sorcerer. "No, I do not mean what you're thinking right now. She's not just some person who's assigned to look out for you and just teach you. Cassandra, my daughter here, is the Guardian of the Sorcerer Supreme. Her job -- "

"Mom!" yelled Cassandra, interrupting her mother. A boiling fury swelled inside of her. "Please, let me handle this."

"Cassandra, he has to know now! You cannot -- "

"I'll handle this myself! Please, go!" bursted the woman in frustration, her eyes welling up in tears. She was already so exhausted, so burnt out. As her mother and Wong saw themselves out, Stephen shot up to his feet, already making a beeline for her, but she stopped him by raising her hand. "Let's talk about this tomorro -- "

"No, we're talking it right now."

She spun around her heel.

"Cassie, tell me, what was your mother talking about?"

Cassandra tried her best to avoid her partner, but he was persistent. She didn't want to talk to him about it for now, not when she felt like she could make a decision she will regret later. When Stephen blocked her way, preventing her from walking further, her final restraints snapped and with all her might, she shoved him backwards, jabbing a finger to his chest.

"My job is to protect you! I am your Guardian and that means I must prevent your death at all costs. Maybe that's why this fucking universe didn't grant me the opportuity to have a child because all they want me to do is keep an eye on you which honestly is starting to exhaust the fuck out of me! Yes, Stephen, I think I'm fucking infertile because of this job!"

Hsr cheeks were red and she panted from her outburst. It did feel good to release everything that was going on in her mind and heart. It was like a chest buried deep in her chest was suddenly busted open and all her feeling were pouring out. "When your life is put on the line, I have no choice but to die for you, Stephen."

Her partner stumbled back in disbelief and she had to hung her head low. "I -- " he struggled to speak, his breathing shallowing. After all, how could anyone properly react to that kind of revelation? "Why didn't you tell me all of this? Why did you keep it all to yourself? Were you even planning to tell me this at all?"

"I didn't tell you because I don't want you to get worried about me. I should worry about you, not the other way around."

He shook his head, cupping her face in his hands. "You should've told me. We could've gone through this together. We've been together already for two years! I'm so sorry for being such an ass and doing all these stupid things. I love you, Cassie, and hell, I won't let anything to happen to you."

"But -- "

"Sweetheart, let's protect each other, look out for each other. You and I."

Cassandra's heart was melting. Stephen's love for her was pure, unselfish, and she felt so bad for hiding it all from him. "I believe you, Stephen, but I think I need some time away from you."

"What are you saying?"

The brunette's hand reached out to brush her partner's hair aside. "I need to think for a while. Is that okay with you? Please know I'm not mad at you nor am I blaming you with anything. I'm just angry, but not at you."

Stephen nodded and took her hands in his, lifting them to his lips. "Cassie, take all the time you need. You don't have to go through this alone. You have me. We're a team." He planted a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist. "I'll be here waiting. I'm not going anywhere."

I'm not going anywhere.

For some reason, those words ominously echoed inside her head like a warning. A portend that she must prepare for. Little did Cassandra know, there was a storm already brewing up ahead and neither of them were going to be ready for it.