When I became conscious again, I knew I was back home. Back in my bed that I shared with Lucifer, back in the safety of his fortified home, back in the place where I knew no harm could ever touch me again.

I smiled, my eyes closed. I wanted to move but I was too comfortable. I knew that I was injured but I didn't want to find out how injured I was.

I was about to go back to sleep when I heard someone open the door. I held really still.

"Sir, if I was you I would let her rest. She needs it desperately," a voice I identified as Leven advised. "She took a hell of a beating over at-" he stopped talking.

"I don't care what you think. You are not me. Now go away before I smite you," Lucifer growled. I heard Leven yelp and then his footsteps retreating.

I listened as Lucifer walked over to the bed. "Raven, I don't know if you can hear me but I am so sorry. I can't believe I let you out of my sight. If we had never had that fight, this never would have happened. I have never been so sorry in my entire existence. I am going to make it up to you, I promise," Lucifer swore.

"Apologizing is not a good color on you" I whispered, my voice hoarse. I opened my eyes and smiled when I saw Lucifer next to me. I sat up, with some effort. I noticed that I didn't have on my regular clothes. I ran my hands up and down my body and found I had a cloth around my breasts and my lower half. I had a bandage wrapped around my right shoulder and under my left rib cage. The biggest bandage was around my stomach. "You didn't um, change me, did you?"

"No, I didn't. Zaphara did that. Do you mind if I..." Lucifer trailed off. He seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"If you what?" I asked.

"If I hug you?" Lucifer whispered.

I sat there and stared at him. Was Lucifer asking to hug me? The King of the Underworld, the dude who gets anything he wants, was asking to hug me?

"Never mind," Lucifer said. "Forget I-"

"Yes," I nodded my head, smiling. "You can hug me. Let me get out of bed."

Lucifer waited until I was standing before he made his move. Very gently, he wrapped his arms around my waist. I smiled as I felt the warmth of his body against mine. This felt so right.

"I am so sorry," he kept saying over. He buried his head in my hair. "I honestly thought I had lost you. If you hadn't left me that clue, I never would have gotten there in time to save you."

"But, you did," I said, pulling him away from me. "You did save us just in time. If you hadn't of been there, Caleb would have killed me. As for Mazel..." I trailed off. "Wait! Mazel. Where is she?"

"She's fine," Lucifer tried to reassure me. "She is in her room recovering."

"I want to see her," I demanded. "She saved my life also. Without her, I never would have made it this far."

Lucifer looked like he was going to argue with me but decided against it. I guess he was afraid I might storm off again and get myself killed. "Let's go," he finally said.

I started to follow him out of the room when I realized I didn't have any clothes. "Um, Let me get dressed first."

Lucifer nodded and walked out of the room. After he shut the door, I went into the closet and found my outfit. It wasn't the most stylish but it was super comfortable: sweatpants and a baggy shirt.

I walked out of the room and told Lucifer to lead the way. Her bedroom was at the far end of the house. When we finally reached her door, Lucifer stood back. "Aren't you coming in with me?" I asked.

"Nope. She doesn't want to see me and something tells me it's best if you go in alone," Lucifer responded. "Besides, I have things I need to do."

Shrugging my shoulders a little bit, I went in and closed the door behind me. I scanned the room and found Mazel in the corner, sitting in front of a mirror.

"Mazel? Are you alright?" I quietly asked as I walked over to her.

Mazel looked at me with her eyes portraying how she felt: sad. "What's wrong sweetie?" I sat down next to her and pulled her into a hug.

"It's weird. You don't know how much you'll miss something until it's gone," she responded.

"You're wings?" I asked. She nodded. "If I could give them back to you, I would."

Mazel sighed, pushed me away, and stood up. "You can't give them back to me. God gave them to me."

"I know. I am so sorry. Hey, Maze...can I call you Maze?" I asked, reaching a hand out to her. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

Mazel shrugged and responded, "You just did."

Smiling, I continued. "I want to thank you for saving my life back when we were...you know. I honestly wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for you. I don't know exactly how things work down here but I owe you big time. If there is anything I could ever do for you, I will gladly do it."

"It was no big deal. I figured that if someone was worth saving, it was you. I may hate you but doesn't mean I want you dead."

Laughing, I gave Mazel a slight shove. "You don't hate me."

"You're right, I don't. You sort of saved my life too, Kitten. When I first met you, you were weak as fuck, or at least that is what I thought. Then, you took everything that Caleb threw your way and fought back. I have to say I was honestly impressed. My level of respect for you went way up."

I smiled at her, "Does this mean we are officially friends?"

Mazel frowned and thought for a minute. "Yeah, sure. We can be friends as long as there is no braiding hair or makeovers involved. Okay?"

Smiling, I nodded. Besides Michael, I don't think I have really ever had any other friend. Especially a friend who almost died with me. I guess that made us closer together than anything I have ever experienced with Michael.

Mazel's door swung open and in stepped Anthony. Anthony nodded at me looked over towards Mazel. They stood there for a minute, talking to each other, with their minds.

I slowly rocked back and forth on the balls of my feet while I waited for them to finish. It was sort of awkward between Anthony and me since I could not hear Anthony's mind speak. He couldn't actually speak because his tongue was cut by Zaphara. I was never told exactly why.

"Okay," Mazel clapped her hands together as Anthony walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. "We have two hours to get ready."

"Ready for what, exactly?" I asked.

"From what I understood, Lucifer wants us all to have supper together. This, if I am being honest, is a first. Don't ask me what the occasion is because I honestly do not know."

"Okay," I said slowly. "So what do I need to do first?" I knew there was so much that needed to be done in order for me to look presentable for everyone. I just didn't know exactly where to start.

Mazel grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the bathroom "Well, considering the fact that we were held hostage by Caleb for about a week, I would probably start with a shower. Not to be rude, but when you walked into the room, I could smell you," she bluntly stated as she slammed the bathroom door in my face. From the other side of the door, she yelled, "You have thirty minutes to get a shower. So, I would suggest you get your stinky ass in that shower, now."

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(1370 words)

Started: 7-16-18

Ended: 7-17-18

Updated: 8-2-18

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Awww...it's so amazing to see Mazel and Raven getting along. Who knew that having a near death experience would bring them closer together...I mean I did. 

Questions...once again...who actually even reads and answers these?

-What do you all think the special occasion is? 

-Why do you think Raven still can't hear Anthony?

-Do you think being held prisoners has changed Raven and Mazel?

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Until next time, this is Mama River saying, 'Live dangerously, my Hellions.'