A Strange Tutor

1. Greenwich Village

The townhouse looked like a derelict old building when Raven first arrived in Greenwich Village, but as she walked closer the broken widows slowly began to look like stained glass in a very gothic looking manor. The knocker on the door resembled a gargoyle but the Asian who answered the door seemed nonchalant about the house's appearance. Raven told him her name and was told Doctor Strange was expecting her. She had not called ahead to arrange anything. Kai told her to just show up. She was shown into the house without any explanation. 

Once allowed inside she at once thought it looked like Apple White had designed it for her. People always seemed to think she liked dark moody decorations. She frowned at the dark paneling, dark colored rugs and drapes, and the gothic windows and arches. The air of malevolence and mystery reminded her of her mother's castle. Her mind balked. Kai wanted her to learn about magic from the man who lived in this place? But then, she thought, what had she expected, a Yoga studio?

There was very little light in the foyer. The windows were covered in heavy drapes and what little sunlight came in was diffused by colored glass. An iron chandelier hung over her head with unlit red candles. There were no lightbulbs.

The bald Asian directed Raven to a side room and offered her a seat at a small reading table. He opened the burgundy colored curtains. The sunlight revealed every single wall to be covered in packed bookshelves.

"Doctor Strange will see you shortly." said the Asian.

Raven fidgeted with the lace trim of her skirts. It was eerily quiet; the sounds of traffic outside were completely muffled in here. The books that surrounded her were all bound in worn leather with titles so faint she could not make them out from her seat.

"Raven Queen?"

Raven jumped at the sudden voice. She had been facing the only door yet she didn't see how the speaker had come in. A stern looking man appeared sitting across the tiny table.

"Umm...yeah...I uh...you're Doctor Strange?" stammered Raven.

"Yes. What do you want?" he spoke in a rapid undertone so it took extra effort to understand him.

"I...well. I'm interested in learning from you. I heard you're...good at magic."

Strange's face remained stolid. He wasn't what Raven expected, she was still taking in his appearance. He was thin and pale, dark haired with a modest goatee and a touch of gray at his temples. His small gray eyes felt like they pierced her soul. His arms were crossed across his wine colored shirt and black silk vest.

"Who told you that about me?" he asked.

"I...it was...um...I just heard it...around."

"I meant who recommended me to you?"

"Oh...a...a friend."

She remained tight lipped about Kai's identity as he had asked. Strange's scowl deepened.

"Show me what magical skill you have." said Strange.

Raven put her fingers together and tried to summon a plume of purple flame. It came on much faster than she anticipated though and her entire hand caught fire. Strange calmly waved a hand towards her. Raven saw a faint spray of glittering crystals before a blast of cold air hit her in the face. Her hand was extinguished and now felt as if she'd been clutching a snowball.

"That happens a lot." She tried to explain. "I mean...I can do magic, but like...if I ever try to use it for something good, something bad happens."

Raven rubbed her cold hand against her skirt and watched him anxiously. Strange wasn't even looking at her anymore. He idly drew shapes with his finger on the surface of the table.

"There's a spare room next to Wong's. You have a day to get your things. There isn't a lot of room, I'm afraid."

"Oh...so...okay...uh...you'll take me as your apprentice?" she asked incredulously

Doctor Strange flashed his pale gray eyes up at her and gave a dry laugh.

"That's an overused word. This isn't Hogwarts, and I am not Obi-Wan Kenobi. I will not so easily forgive mistakes or transgressions. Magic is a powerful and dangerous force, disastrous if used flippantly. If I find any walking broomsticks here you will be thrown to the demons of Denak."

He got up from his chair and paced around the bookshelves, hands behind his back, like a man delivering a lecture.

"You will have to learn quickly, keep up with me, and take many things in stride. If you want to be my student you must prove you are humble enough to learn. I will decide if you're worth keeping and if you are not, out you go. Wong, show her to her room."