A Fate Sealed
***
As far as Karl Mordo was concerned his actions were completely justified.
He had always regarded himself as an honourable man. And in the Ancient One he believed he had found a kindred spirit.
Over the years he had spent at Karmar-Taj they had worked hand-in-glove together, training potential sorcerers in the magical and mystical arts.
He had never felt any reason to doubt her, and had fiercely defended her when Stephen Strange claimed she used the very type of magic that everyone else was told was forbidden.
That steadfast belief in the Ancient One was destroyed forever when he witnessed for himself her use of magic from the Dark Dimension. He had always regarded her as the epitome of all that was pure and true. So her decision to use that which was forbidden sparked an uncontrollable rage within him at her ultimate betrayal of all that she taught and stood for.
His rigidly inflexible nature turned his once benevolent demeanour to one of self-righteous indignation was further fuelled by Strange’s use of time in order to bargain with Dormammu.
As he walked away from Strange that day a devastating plan was beginning to form within his mind, one that would see him turn his back on all that he had been taught and believed in.
And he henceforth began a crusade of extermination that involved first stealing the powers that various individuals had gained through their training at Karmar-Taj, leaving them vulnerable and defenceless against Mordo’s sanctimonious retribution.
His sole purpose was to gain Dormammu’s undivided attention. Once achieved, he promised the Lord of the Dark Dimension that he would bring Stephen Strange before him, in order that Dormammu have the opportunity to exact his own revenge over the humiliation he suffered in agreeing to Strange’s bargain.
***
NEW YORK SANCTUM
Wong was having the devil of a time trying to convince Strange to wait, and not go off in the heat of the moment all guns blazing. “That would only work in Dormammu’s and Mordo’s favour,” he advised.
“I don’t care,” Stephen stated through gritted teeth as he struggled to get out of Wong and the Cloak of Levitation’s grasp.
“You will if your actions threaten Molly’s life,” Wong pointed out.
The mention of Molly’s name and the reminder of the precarious nature of her situation was enough to get Stephen to reign in his emotional reaction.
Molly would be relying on him to rescue her, and for that he needed to remain for the most part, cool and in control.
Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long for Mordo to make contact.
*
“In order for Molly Hooper’s safe return,” the image of Karl Mordo stated. “You must defeat Dormammu in hand-to-hand combat.”
A monumental, if not seemingly impossible task, but Strange refused to allow such a daunting task deter him from saving the innocent woman caught up in a situation she had no knowledge of.
She was simply a pawn to ensure a rematch, this time in Dormammu’s home turf.
“Where is Molly?” he demanded.
The image of Mordo disappeared to be immediately replaced by one of an understandably frightened Molly, who was being held by the Lord of the Dark Dimension.
Stephen didn’t know if Molly could hear or see him, but nonetheless he looked directly into her big brown eyes, and told her confidently. “Everything will be all right, Molly. I’m on my way.”
***
THE DARK DIMENSION
As soon as Strange arrived in the Dark Dimension he was reminded of his first encounter with it, when the Ancient One sent him through a portal to experience the Multiverse in all its myriad forms.
And once again he found himself overwhelmed by the many ways it was able to unsettle him with its very presence. For the Dark Dimension was a misleading description as it led to the assumption that everything in it was dark, and lacking in any other colour.
When in reality the Dark Dimension was actually not dark at all, in colour at least, but in intent most certainly.
It was comprised by an array of bright garish colours, so bright in fact that they appeared diseased. So if they didn’t blind you with their brightness, than they left you feeling unsteady and nauseous because of their sickly aspect that continually assaulted your senses. And if that wasn’t bad enough there was a putridly sweet scent that wafted through the air.
It was a place of unease, violence and fear.
But all of that became irrelevant the moment Stephen caught sight of Molly, who was being held captive in a cage. She wasn’t alone, Mordo was with her. And it was clear a spell had been placed on her, keeping her immobile. But it was not that which was causing her obvious pain and distress.
Mordo was using another spell, one like Strange himself had used on the apple while still in training at Karmar-Taj. The difference here was a corrupted form of the spell was being using on a living being, to gradually age Molly year by year.
A white hot fury began to build up inside Stephen when he saw the pleasure Mordo derived from such a cruel act.
“Rest assured Mordo, when I’ve won this battle, I’ll make you pay for this.”
Karl Mordo wasn’t fazed in the slightest by the Sorcerer Supreme’s threat.
Watching Strange make his way over to where Dormammu stood, Mordo found it simply inconceivable that Stephen Strange could possibly defeat the Lord of the Dark Dimension.
***