Mercury // S. Rogers (Book Six) ✔

The Painful Truth

"I'm the what?" Freya asks as she scrunches her face up in confusion. "And what the hell is the Darkhold?"

"Well, sweetheart," Agatha smirks. "The Darkhold is the book of the damned. As for the other question... how about we start with Wanda." She waves her black fingertips, opens the book to a specific section and begins to read. "'The Scarlet Witch is not born, she is forged. She has no coven, no need for incantation.'"

"I'm not a witch! I don't cast spells! No one taught me magic!" Wanda yells and stomps her foot in frustration. Freya can literally feel Wanda's anger growing now that their mutual connection from the Mind Stone has been repaired as a result of their reunion.

"'Your power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme,'" Agatha continues. Making Freya gasp quietly when she recognizes Stephen Strange's title. "And as for you, little Freya," Agatha smiles. She waves her hand again and flips to another section. "'The Nexus of All Realities is a doorway to all known and unknown realities. Including that which exists between realities. Otherwise known as what is outside the flow of time. The Nexus will manifest itself into a living being if the well-being of all realities is at risk. Imbuing and gifting them with untold powers. See The Book of the Nexus for further information.'" Agatha looks up from the book and smiles at a wide-eyed Freya. "We worshiped you like a deity in our coven," she scoffs. "And here you are with your perfect Ken Doll husband. Acting like a perfect housewife while you and your friends play superhero. All that power gone to waste. Tsk tsk," she tuts. "It's said to have been over ten thousand years since the Nexus last manifested itself into a living being. So something must be brewing if it manifested itself in you." She turns and raises an eyebrow at Wanda. "And you, it's your destiny to destroy the world. The only being strong enough to stop you is..." Agatha goes silent and looks at Freya with a sly smile.

"I'm not what you say I am!" Wanda yells as she throws her arms out.

"Oh really?" Agatha asks.

Agatha waves her hands and chants a spell in Latin. Freya can feel an actual chill run down her spine at the words as she translates them. She's undoing Wanda's mind-control on one of the citizens. Her and Wanda both turn around to look at everyone. Wondering who she's picked. Freya fears for that person. Wondering what their mental state might be after being under Wanda's influence for so long. They spot Dottie when she stops walking and her temples glow a bright white and gold hue. A look of realization dawns on her face and she looks directly at Wanda with a gasp. Freya glances at Wanda and sees an expression of guilt.

"Wanda?" Dottie asks.

"Dottie?" Wanda responds. Freya silently stands by and watches intently while also keeping an eye on Agatha.

"My name is Sarah," Dottie responds. Her real identity coming through finally. "I have a daughter. She's eight," Sarah continues. "Maybe she could be friends with your boys. If you like that storyline," she says quickly. "Or, uh, the school bully even. Really, anything. If you could just let her out of her room. If I could just hold her, please," she begs.

"Oh, my God," Freya says as she brings a hand up to cover her mouth in horror. She looks over at Wanda with tears in her eyes. "Wanda...?" she whispers.

Wanda just stares back with wide eyes and shakes her head, at a loss for words. She whips her head up to look at Agatha.

"What are you doing to her?" Wanda asks. "You're making her say this."

"She's your meat puppet, I just cut her strings," Agatha sasses.

Agatha waves her hands again. But this time, everyone in sight is brought out of Wanda's mind-control. Freya and Wanda watch anxiously as all of the townspeople are brought back to reality. They immediately set their sites on Wanda and converge on her as a large mob. Freya puts a hand out in front of Wanda and gently pushes her back to shield her. Wanda just lets her do it. She's too busy watching in shock as the citizens begin surround them and start speaking out to her.