"Find Kurt Wagner, Choc. Tell him what happened. Tell him to bring help," Amanda instructed the bamf. It disappeared as she knelt beside the unconscious woman.

"Oracol!" She gently rolled the clairvoyant onto her back.

Kurt, Cecilia and Choc materialized before them moments later. Kurt looked from one woman to the other before joining the doctor and Amanda on the floor next to the prone female. The doctor immediately started checking the woman's vitals.

"Sonya!" He took her hand in his then looked up at the fair haired woman. "What happened?"

"She just collapsed when she stepped through the portal." Amanda's eyes briefly flickered from his face to the intertwined hands then back.

A sound like static electricity and a muffled pop came from outside. Kurt and Amanda ran to the window. Outside a large swirling portal had opened and a horde of misshaped beings were pouring through it.

"Goragol's minions. We have to protect the school," Amanda stated looking at the man by her side.

Kurt touched the communicator in his ear. "X-Men, we are under attack. Front lawn." He looked back at the doctor.

"Go. I'll take care of her," she promised.

"I just need my swords." He disappeared for a second then reappeared holding his prize weapons. He touched Amanda's shoulder and transported them outside directly in the path of fifty plus creatures searching for the staff—creatures that might have once been human, but were now twisted by magic and ravaged by time.

Without a word, they each attacked in their own fashion, Kurt with sharpened steel, Amanda with magic. A smaller portal opened to their right and Doctor Strange stepped through to join the battle. They were soon flanked by other X-Men.

Cecilia returned to checking Sonya's vitals. As she reached to lift the unconscious woman's eyelids, they flicked open revealing solid black orbs. She quickly jerked her hand back.

Sonya rose up on her elbows. "Where is my brother? Where is Kurt Wagner?" she demanded of the startled woman. Her accent was no longer Romanian, but German.

"B—brother?"

"Ja! Tell me woman!" She reached for the doctor, but was deflected by the protective force field generated by Cecilia's mutant powers. "Wait...I see him. This body has the gift of second sight. Wunderbar! That could prove most useful." She got to her feet and ran out of the room.

Cecilia touched the communication device in her ear. "Nightcrawler?"

"Ja?"

"Something is wrong with Sonya. Her eyes are solid black and she called you her brother. I believe she is headed your way."

"Brother? Danke, Dr. Reyes."

He didn't have time to ponder this strange message given the number of opponents they were facing, but in a few moments he was confronted by its subject as the now raven-eyed woman exited the school and joined the chaos on the front lawn. She stopped about one hundred yards from him and shouted, "Brother!"

He turned as she drew the daggers at her shoulders. He knew she would not miss at that distance, but he also knew he could easily teleport out of the way. She let one of the blades fly, but not in his direction. Instead it sailed directly towards Amanda's back.

"Nein!" He took a couple of steps as he restored his swords to their scabbards. He then teleported, giving himself enough momentum to sweep both Amanda and himself out of the way of the dagger when he reappeared. The knife barely missed his arm striking one of the creatures behind them instead.

"Are you okay?" he asked the stunned sorceress as they separated.

"Yes, but what happened?"

"I'm about to find out."

He teleported in front of Sonya who wore a sick grin on her face. She still held the remaining dagger at the ready.

"Sonya, what are you doing?" He grabbed her wrists.

"Is that the name of this person? Well, she's not home at the moment."

"Was? Who are you?" As a feeling of dread coursed through his body, he called the name of his deceased adopted brother. "S—Stefan?"

"So, you do remember the name of the man you killed and sent to Hell to suffer alone and forgotten for crimes he did not commit?"

"I didn't kill you. You were possessed by a demon called Hive. It made you kill those children and then snapped your neck as we fought."

"Is that what you believe? Well, you always were so righteous. And Mother's favorite. Tell me, did you ever say a prayer for my soul?"

"Ja. Every day. Stefan, I only did what you asked. You begged me to stop you if you ever committed some unspeakable act. I didn't have a choice."

"We always have choices, dear brother. But, now you will pay for sending me to that place to rot for eternity. First, I will take the life of the one who called you home—our precious sister. Then, you will watch as those you hold dear suffer and then when you beg for mercy, I will send you to Hell to take my place."

She twisted the hand clutching the remaining dagger, slicing a large gash in his arm. He released his grip in a spasm of pain. She then swung the weapon in an arc towards his chest. He jumped out of the way. He pulled a fist back, but couldn't let it fly. He couldn't strike her even with the knowledge that she was not herself.

She laughed then started running towards Amanda who was distracted by the battle.

A psychic command to sleep came to the woman as she approached her quarry, knife at the ready. The order was issued by Betsy. Sonya dropped like a rock.

She will be out for a while, echoed Betsy's voice in Kurt's mind. You'd better restrain her before she wakes.

Danke, he sent back. He picked up the sleeping woman and teleported them to the infirmary.

The remaining X-Men along with the two sorcerers continued the battle. The injured and unconscious bodies of Goragol's army soon dotted the lawn. About half of the creatures escaped back through their portal before it closed. As the defenders recovered from their fight, Doctor Strange disposed of the attackers left behind through a portal of his own.

"How is she?" Amanda asked as she entered the recovery room given to Sonya. Kurt was seated next to the bed holding the sleeping seer. Thick leather restraints covered her wrists and ankles. The man's injured arm was wrapped in a bandage. He rose and embraced his sister.

"Still out and still possessed. How did this happen?"

"I don't know."

"But you and Doctor Strange can help her, right?"

"Sorry, Steven took the staff and left." Amanda approached the bed and looked down at the woman. "And this is not really covered under the realm of magic. It's more in the realm of your faith." She looked back at the blue mutant.

"Then Faith shall save her. Help me remove the restraints."

He knew of only one man that might be able to help. He picked Sonya's unconscious body off the bed and disappeared with a bamf sound and a puff of smoke. They reappeared outside St. Patrick's Cathedral. He was greeted by one of the younger priest as he carried the woman into the church. The man was surprised by Kurt's appearance, but remained calm.

"I need to see Father Rodriguez immediately," he told the young man.

"I'm sorry, my son, but he is in prayer and cannot be disturbed."

"This girl is possessed by a demon that must be exorcised. I know Father Rodriguez is the only priest that performs exorcisms in New York and I must see him immediately. Otherwise this demon will do great harm!"

The man seemed torn. "Very well," he finally said. He led them to a small prayer room off the main sanctuary and asked him to wait. Kurt laid Sonya down gently on some chairs in the room. He noticed the silver necklace she often wore had become untucked from underneath her uniform. He pulled it free. The room's light reflected off the small crucifix. He caught the charm and stared at the cross as it lay against the palm of his hand.

"We will both need all our faith to get through this," he whispered. He closed his hand around the cross and said a quick prayer.

The young priest returned with Father Rodriguez. He was a thin, middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair and glasses.

"Father Santos tells me you believe this woman is possessed." He glanced at Sonya and then back at Kurt.

"Ja, Father. By the spirit of my dead brother."

"I see. And what makes you think she is possessed?"

"I studied to be a priest for a short time, Father. I know the signs of possession and she meets many of them."

"I see." The Father rubbed his chin. "So, you are the mutant with a demon's appearance that studied for the priesthood. I have heard about you."

"I am honored." Kurt bowed slightly.

Father Rodriguez turned to Father Santos and told him to bring a cot and a pillow. When the young priest returned with the requested items, they moved Sonya to the cot.

"Is she violent? Do we need to restrain her?"

"I think she will be fine. She has been disarmed." As much as a highly trained spy can be disarmed.

"Very well. I will need to get my supplies. Mr…"

"Wagner."

"Mr. Wagner, please pray for the girl's soul."

Kurt took a seat beside his teammate and did as the priest instructed while Father Santos looked on. In a few moments Father Rodriguez returned with a large black bag. He had donned his robes and stole. He removed a large crucifix, a small vial of holy water and a book from the bag. He opened the book.

"Ecce crucem Domini," he began, touching the hem of his stole to Sonya's neck.

Her eyes popped open. "Where am I?!" she hissed. Her eyes fell on Kurt. "Brother!" He stopped praying and looked down at her.

"Who are you, demon?" the priest demanded.

She looked around. "So you have taken me to one of your places of worship. Hoping your God can save you? He can't!"

Father Rodriguez held the crucifix before the woman's face. "Demon, I cast you out!"

She laughed. She reached out and touched the crucifix. "I am not going back to that place!" She pushed the cross back at the priest.

"What is it you want, demon?"

"To destroy my brother Kurt Wagner. To make him pay for murdering me and sending me to Hell!" She rose to a sitting position and reached for the back of her vest's collar. She pulled out the small dagger hidden there and swung it for Kurt's throat. He intercepted her swipe and immobilized her wrist. She drew her other arm back and started to punch, but he caught and held that wrist, too. He twisted the hand holding the dagger until she dropped it.

"I see we missed one," he said through clenched teeth.

"You will die, Brother!" She kicked at the chair he was sitting on.

The two priests continued to pray as this struggle went on.

"Sonya, I know you are in there! Fight him!" He changed his grasp to her hands.

She tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. She leaned forward until her face was a few inches from his.

"You care about this girl, don't you?" she hissed.

"Ja. Very much."

"She cares a lot for you, too. I feel it. But you betrayed her as you betrayed me. I feel her rage. I will use that anger to destroy you."

"I—I made a mistake. A mistake I hope she will forgive when she wins her battle with you."

"I will never release her! I will kill her before I allow you to win!"

"Sonya, please, you are strong! Fight him! Cast him back to Hell!"

"Still not here…" Her voice was sing-songy.

"Sonya, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me. Please, come back to me and I'll make it all up to you. I promise." His grip on her hands eased.

"She doesn't believe you!"

Father Rodriguez picked up the vial of holy water and sprinkled some on Sonya.

"Stopped that!" she hissed. "I had a shower…a few days ago." She pulled her hands free of Kurt's grasp then turned her lower body on the cot, lifting her feet up and over and kicked the priest. He fell back, but Father Santos caught him before he hit the floor.

"SONYA!?" Kurt yelled. Her head snapped back to face him. She laughed manically then reached out and wrapped her hands around his neck. The younger priest grabbed one of her arms and pulled, but her grasp was like steel. She started to squeeze.

Kurt clawed at the hands around his throat. "Sonya…" he gasped. "P—please…"

She froze. Her grip slackened. She blinked and when her eyes opened, they were normal. Her hands dropped.

"Kurt…" Her voice was weak. She placed a hand to her head and looked up at him. "My head…"

"It's alright. Lay back." His voice was hoarse. He eased her into a prone position.

"Your—your brother. He's—"

"Shh…It's alright now. Stay with us." He stroked her head.

"The demon is trying to trick you," the elder priest said.

"Kurt…" Sonya whispered.

"Ja?" He leaned in to hear her better.

"Please…let me go. I'm so tired. I want to rest."

"Nein, you can't. You must keep fighting."

"Nu…I don't want to stay. I don't want to face the future. The pain. I can't bear it." She grabbed his hand. "Please, I want to go. You see, I love yoouuughnnn!" Her body suddenly contorted and rose four feet off the cot. Her hand was ripped from his. She screamed in agony.

"Nein, please, Sonya…Please, fight! You must fight!" His eyes were wet and burned. "Latch on to the piece of your soul that is in me! Use it to stay connected to this world!" he yelled.

Suddenly, her body fell back to the cot. He placed his ear to her chest. "She's not breathing!" he exclaimed. He lifted his head and looked into her face. He stroked her cheek gently and said softly "Sonya, please, I need you. I love you. Please, come back to me!" Tears fell from his chin to land on her cheek. She gasped and started breathing.

Kurt placed a finger on her wrist.

"Her pulse is weak. I must get her back to the infirmary." He picked her up and stood. "Thank you, Fathers! May the Lord bless you and keep you!" The two X-Men disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

An hour later, Amanda poked her head into the room housing Sonya to find Kurt again seated beside a bed containing the unconscious woman. His elbows were on the bed and his head was bent in prayer.

"Kurt," she called softly.

He looked up and stood.

"How is she?"

"She's going to be okay. Her vitals are stable and Rachel can find no trace left of Stefan."

"That's good."

"Amanda…" He placed his hands on her upper arms. "I'm sorry. I haven't even welcomed you back."

She looked down at the resting woman. When she finally looked back into his face, she smiled.

"You care about her, don't you?"

He was silent for a moment, studying her face. He swallowed hard. "Ja," he finally said.

"Our timing never was very good." She sighed and placed her hand on his cheek.

"I'm sorry."

"Shh. I wish you two luck. I think she is a good match for you. Besides, I've got to go now and help Doctor Strange defeat Goragol. Something about only the sorcerer who frees the staff can use it."

"But we haven't even had time to talk."

She opened a portal and started through it, then stopped and turned. "Maybe when this is all over, we can have lunch. The three of us, I mean."

"Ja. I think Sonya would like that."

She stepped through the portal and disappeared. He returned to his chair. He took Sonya's hand in his and just watched her breathe.