Doctor Strangelove

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rachael felt herself growing more and more tired with every spell she sent at the woman. She didn't even know this lady's name, yet she hated her with a fiery passion. She was dodging every single attack that Rachael was sending at her, but Rachael had gotten hit by a few of her spells. There was nothing too harmful (Rachael was grateful that the woman was going easy on her) but it still hurt badly whenever she was hit.

"I thought you were the Sorceress Supreme!" the woman taunted. "But I suppose if your boyfriend isn't here for you to hide behind..."

"Shut...up!" Rachael yelled, trying to throw another spell at the woman. It hit her, but she just started laughing.

"That didn't even hurt!" she laughed. "Come on!"

"You want to get hurt?" Rachael raised her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side. "Fine. But you asked for it."

Rachael took a deep breath and gathered any strength she had left. She shut her eyes for a moment, preparing herself for what she was about to do. She had never done this spell before (it was very advanced) so she didn't know what to expect.

Alright...you can do this, she thought.

"By the Mists of Munnopor!" Rachael yelled.

A bluish gas started to rush forward from Rachael's fingertips. She almost jumped back in surprise. Within seconds, it was covering the woman's face. Rachael heard her start to gag and gasp for air.

Good, she thought. Serves you right.

When the spell wore off, Rachael stayed standing while the woman was on the ground trying to get her breath back. She turned around as she heard pounding footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Kaecilius running at her. Rachael dodged to the side, but he didn't even seem to care that she was there.

"Get up! We've basically won! The Sorcerer Supreme is dead!" he yelled.

"What did you say?" Rachael couldn't have heard Kaecilius right.

"Your Sorcerer Supreme is dead, girl!" Kaecilius shouted to Rachael. "I killed him!"

Kaecilius turned around to leave. Rachael knew that she should cast a spell, tackle him, do something but she couldn't. His words kept echoing in her head. Stephen wasn't dead. He wouldn't have let himself be killed so easily. She didn't want to turn around, but she knew she had to.

Rachael tried to mentally prepare herself and then turned to face the street behind her. Sure enough, Stephen was lying at an awkward angle on the ground. He wasn't moving. Rachael was in a daze as she walked towards him. When she got to him, she knelt down next to his body. She took his pulse with shaking hands. Nothing.

"No, no, no," she muttered. "Stephen, come on. Stephen, wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Please. Come on, wake up! Stephen, please wake up! Stephen! STEPHEN!"

After pleading with him for a few more minutes, Rachael finally succumbed to the fact that there was nothing she could do. Tears dripped down her face as she started to cry. She ran her hand over Stephen's hair gently and tried to stifle her sobs.

"You can't be gone, you can't," she whispered. "I just got you back. How could things have gone so wrong?"

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Stephen opened his eyes. He felt...normal. Where was he? Where was Kaecilius? What was this place? He looked around at where he was. This place was beautiful and peaceful. Everything including the ground he was laying on was made of stars. He wouldn't mind staying here forever. He looked around again and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the Ancient One staring back at him. Joy filled him and he stood up quickly.