THE APPRENTICE III

27

Stephen and Hazel arrived back to the incurred sanctum's universe. Gathering a number of her energetic selves from different universes took quite a toll on her, and when she merged back with her body, the world was spinning, for a bit.

She saw Stephen spending a few moments with Christine. Her lips pursed a little and she sighed, and occupied herself to give them privacy. She looked at the other Wolfe, who wiped some sweat off her forehead and panted a little, clearly exhausted from fighting all the creatures summoned by the dark hold.

"Hey." Hazel approached her with a small wave. "Thank you for everything. I...can't thank you enough. This really shows how good you are,"

"Am I? I don't know." She thought aloud with a shrug. She played with her fingers a little, a crease forming between her brows. "I...I just wanted to test my powers, something to distract myself with-,"

"-I know. You don't have to explain yourself. They were cunts." Hazel nodded slowly. She reached for the book that was on the floor and handed it to her. "That's...a lot of spells, by the way. Good job,"

"You...wanna bring a copy home?" She offered and pushed it towards her.

"No, no, I'd rather develop them on my own,"

"I wanted to work on it with Stephen, but...that didn't work out." She gave a sad chuckle.

Stephen approached the two with narrow eyes and crossed his arms. He gazed at the two versions of the sorcerers, one wearing purple and the other wearing black.

"Yeah, this is weird." Stephen placed his hands on his hips and the two gave a laugh in unison. "I heard my name mentioned,"

"We were talking about the book." Hazel brought her universe's copy out and shook it a little bit. "Wolfe and Strange— well, just The Book of Wolfe for her,"

"You know," he began "it should be just The Book of Wolfe for the both of you,"

"But we were gonna work on spells together, remember?," she raised a brow

"You can mark the pages that we've collaborated on." He shrugged and took the book in his hands. "It's your book, Hazel,"

"But...I wouldn't be here without you." She disclosed to him and got closer, holding it with her hands.

"Neither would I. But this is your book, your power." He shook his head and gave her a pat on the back. "You're a source! You deserve your own damn spell book,"

"Okay." She said with hesitation.

Stephen gave a nod and waved his hand over the book. The title The Book of Wolfe and Strange faded into The Book of Wolfe. She pursed her lips in hesitation and he gave her an encouraging pat.

The other Wolfe watched them with a dark look in her eyes. Her lips were pulled into a frown and her entire being was filled with so much envy and longing. She clenched her jaw and exhaled roughly.

The two took note of this, staying silent for a while in anticipation of her next move. She shifted her weight to one leg a little bit and scanned her eyes up and down Stephen.

"You look better with the beard." She began with a lightness behind her voice. The two laughed the tension off as he approached her.

"C'mere, kid." He put his arm around her and pulled her closer. Her breathing began to turn shallow— she hasn't heard that in so long. "Thank you, for everything,"

"It's...no problem." She gave a cool shrug. "I mainly did it out of spite for the Illuminati,"

"Well, they were wrong about you," He returned. "If they knew you even a little, they'd know that you are one of the most noble people on earth,"

"I...don't know what to do anymore." She confessed, her stance softening into a slump. Tears formed in her eyes. "I'm so alone, I have no one,"

"I'm sorry." Hazel drew closer to her and, with reluctance, gave her an embrace. "I don't know what to say. But I know that you're enough as you are. Lone Wolfe,"

"Gross. That was so, so terrible." She pulled away from her and curled her lip from that joke.

Hazel and Stephen exchanged looks. He walked closer to the other Wolfe.

"C'mere." He leaned towards her and wrapped her in a tight hug. She instantly squeezed him at a bone crushing amount of pressure and shut her eyes tightly, savoring the moment. "I love you, you know that? And your Stephen, I know he loved you past death. He's probably watching over you right now, so proud,"

"I love you too." She whispered and clutched him closer when he pulled away. "Please don't go. I'm not ready,"

"You'll be alright. I love you." He said once again into her ear, his chest twitching at her pleas.

Water spilled from all the three's eyes. He held her for as long as she wanted, and after a few moments, she finally let go. She took a deep breath from her aching chest.

"You...are so lucky." She shook her finger towards Hazel.

"I know." She gave a nod and a smile. "I won't waste it, I promise."

There was some comfort in her that sparked when she said that. She created a portal back to the Sanctum and bit her lip.

"D'you..." she squeezed her fingers a little and pointed to the sanctum. "Do you think Wong-,"

"-Yes." The two answered together, before she could even finish her question.

"Okay, okay." She swooped in one final hug to Stephen and stepped into the portal. An idea popped into her head.

"Hey, Hazel," Hazel called. The other Wolfe turned back. "Have you ever been to Pentadilune?,"

"What?" She scrunched her brows and tilted her head. A knowing smirk grew on Strange's face. "Fucking no? I've heard of it, but...no,"

"You should check it out, it's...a pretty cool place. The palace, especially." She tipped off with a small smile and she nodded. "And, uh, try not to punch him, he means well,"

"Who?,"

"You'll know."
"Yeah." Hazel crossed her arms and Stephen confirmed in unison.

"Okay. I'll get going now." She looked to the both of them and gave a wave. She took a deep breath and mustered up her courage, then stepped both feet inside. "Goodbye."

The portal closed. There was a heavy silence before Hazel sighed. She frowned.

"I...feel so bad for her." She confessed to him and shook her head. Stephen sighed.

"Remind me to never tamper with dark magic, ever again." He looked to her.

He made a vow to himself that from now on, he would never put himself at unnecessary risk or in the position to lose her.

"You have a photographic memory." She began and held out her pinky. "Promise me you'll never cast any darkhold spells. Promise,"

"Hm." He hummed at her astuteness and looped his with hers. "So long as you don't turn dark,"

"I won't, I know my limits. If I die first," she continued. His face immediately twisted, reacting violently at this. "Promise me you'll never do anything dark to get me back?,"

"I..." he pursed his lips into a thin line. "Only if you do, too,"

"I do. It's what you'd want, I know that,"

"Then I promise, too." He nodded and looped his pinky around hers. They exchanged a sincere but small grin. "We should get going."