Sister Grimm

5 - A Strange Request

In the comfort of her own home, Nico felt anything but comforted.

Nico stood in the kitchen looking at the picture frames of her friends that sat on the table beside her sofa.

"Time to do what's best," Nico muttered to herself as she wiped away the mascara that had been running down her cheeks since she left Rita's.

Nico marched right into her bedroom intent on packing her bags, but as soon as she entered and began stuffing her suitcase with as many clothes as she could reach, her eyes fell on the chair where she had seen Keira the night before.

Who was that girl? What has happened to her? And why did she think Nico could help her in the first place?

"I can't even help myself," Nico spat at the chair. "Why did you think I can help you?"

"Are you talking to yourself again Minoru?" a nonchalant voice echoed from somewhere behind her.

Nico screamed in terror and turned around abruptly. Her witcharm glowed a deep purple as she felt the fear trigger a magically response inside her and she aimed to fire.

Illyana Rasputin sat lazily on Nicos bed. Her golden hair resting gracefully on her shoulders as a portal closed somewhere behind her.

"Magik!" Nico exclaimed surprised as she sat awkwardly on the floor beside her suitcase.

Magik looked over at the chair Nico had been previously speaking to and then glanced back over at her friend and responded in her deep Russian accent, "was I interrupting?"

Nico slicked her hair back and tried to wipe away the tears from her eyes, "It's been a long day."

"I can see that," Magik chided, "and I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you are going to have to cancel your trip...the Doctor needs you."

"Strange?" Nico asked dumbfounded.

"The one and only! Doctor Stephen Strange himself has formally asked for you help...though I am pretty sure this has something to do with he and Clea being on vacation in another dimension," Magik glazed over the last part with true sarcasm.

"Why me?" Nico asked nervously.

"Well I think I already made that clear," Magik responded as she pulled out her phone and scrolled through internet.

"But why can't you do it Ilyana?" Nico questioned.

"Well obviously I'm busy too silly," Magik jested, "you know...X-Men stuff. Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo. But this is errand is pretty bland. Like you can probably finish it by the end of the night! I mean it!"

Magik came over and helped Nico off the ground. She brushed her off and gave her a pat on the shoulder, before lifting up her phone and showing her a picture of a girl.

"Keira," Nico whispered as she looked at the smiling picture of a girl with dark brown skin, frizzy black hair and a beautiful smile.

Magik sighed relieved, "Oh my gosh. So you already know her. Perfect! See you are halfway there! Well Strange says that Keira is currently being held captive by her Uncle. He's a real scummy mob boss in Malibu. Goes by the name of Tommy Lin. Supposedly they need Keira for something. Not sure what. But we need you to find her and bring her back to Strange Academy."

"What's so special about this girl?" Nico questioned.

"She comes from a magically family. Kinda like yourself. Supposedly Keira comes from a long line of witches. Her mom was a pretty big Sorceress back in Tokyo where Keira grew up with her grandmother," Magik ranted on as she sat back down on Nicos comfortable bed.

Nico thought back to the despair that Keira felt as she sat her alone in her bedroom last night. The girl was so pitiful. Alone and afraid. Nico had been that lost girl. She had gone through all that without any help. She had come out on the other side with a lot of scars. Nico looked at Illyana and saw another little girl who had gone through a lot. Maybe it was time to save the next one...

Magik was still talking as Nico turned around and stated, "I'll do it."

Magik's face turned surprised, "Seriously? I expected alittle more of a struggle. What changed your mind?"

"Maybe this is a sign that I don't need to run away this time," Nico reminded herself. "Maybe this time I can be the hero. Just like Rita said I could be. But Magik, do you think you could give me a lift...?"

Nico turned around the see Magik already disappearing into one of her portals from Limbo leaving Nico all alone in her bedroom debating her next move.

"Thanks a lot Illyana," Nico muttered to herself as she grabbed her things and headed back out the door to Rita's.