A/N: Hello! A long chapter. Though I apologize if it seems to be changing point of view ever 2 seconds. I apologize for not involving Sage and Azzazel all that much in this chapter, for I didn't really know what to put for them. I did with the other three, though, as you will come to find out.

Funny thing- as I was typing this dearest KYLE was being a MORON XD Especially with the Purdy minded (Lemon) parts. Never sit in a spinny chair when she's around; you'll probably end up throwing up XD ANYWAY! BYE! (Kyle is watching me write this, if you are curious.)

Strife

I get everyone through the portal. Sage and Azzazel, I sent to Fury's home. Daire I send to mine. Kyley, I send to Death's just as we have discussed it. Then I move to the next cell. Raven goes to War's home alone. I grab Veil's hand, sending her a silent message that we will talk soon, I gently push her through the portal to my home. Before I follow suit, I look down at a horrified Death, who is kneeling before Zada. Her clothes are torn to shreds. She is bleeding from the head, and most of her limbs are swollen.

"Who… did this?!" He hisses, being quiet enough not to disturb anyone. I see a demonic pair of eyes in the shadows. I can see nothing else but the outline of its figure. As Death rips its limbs to bloody pieces, I step through the portal.

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Veil and Daire are unconscious. I pick them both up gingerly and carry them to my home. Practically kicking the door open, I set Daire on a couch and walk Veil to my bedroom. I set her down, cover her with a blanket, for the weather here is quite cold, and sigh. I run my hand down the length of her face before going to tend to Daire.

I light the fireplace that I already stocked with wood and return to Veil's side. I examine her for any wounds. There are a few minor scrapes and bruises, and her face is red from crying, but besides that there isn't much to worry about. I find the same for Daire.

I set my forehead against her stomach, clasping her hand with both of mine. I'm so helplessly relieved that she is safe. Though Death said after the Council tries to claim their souls, there will be one of three side effects. Either she will sleep for days on end with no reaction, she will be riddled with nightmares and wake up screaming without knowing, then immediately fall back asleep, or she'll wake up normally. I'm hoping for the third, but it turns out to be the first.

She will not react to anything. Daire wakes normally the next day and helps me try to wake her in my state of panic. I even use Mercy and Redemption to wake her with the sound of gunshots. But nothing happens.
"Give it time, Strife." Daire tells me. "You're one impatient son of a bitch, I'll give you that. She'll wake soon. She's still breathing. Just let her rest."

I sigh, knowing that she is right. I walk with her to my kitchen, which I haven't used for millennia, and watch her make something to eat with the food I purchased from the Maker's Realm as a way to distract myself.

"You need to calm. Down." She says impatiently, sitting down on the opposite side of the table from me. "Didn't I overhear that Nephilim are more calm when they find a mate?"

"Yes." I reply. "Death said that."

"Oh! Well, then, he's full of shit. You're restless."

"I am worried for her."

"So am I. Hell, I'm worried about Zada. Apparently she's in bad shape."

"I know… I saw her." I lower my tone of voice slightly. "I only glanced. But without a doubt, half of her bones are broken."

"She's healing now, right?"

"No. She must be conscious to take the healing potion."

She sighs. "I hope she wakes up soon. All of them."

I nod solemnly, grabbing a bottle of alcohol from a cabinet and start chugging it out of dreadful anxiety.

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Veil

I wake on a soft bed. For a moment, I imagine myself back at home. The thought is mutual. I stir for a moment and then open my eyes, only to be immediately met by a pair of golden ones a few feet away. Strife gives me a relieved smile, and with slurred words, he says, "Welcome back."

With tears in my eyes, I pull him into a tight embrace. "I- why- Z-"

"You have a lot of questions, I know. I'll do my best to answer them."

"...are you intoxicated?"

"Pfft. NO!" He gently punches me in the shoulder. "Silly girl."

"Yeah. You're shit-faced drunk, Strife. Is Zada okay?"

He chuckles. "Ask me something else."
"Where are we?"

He wraps his arms around my waist, pins me underneath him, and says, "My home."

"Is there anyone else here?" I ask as he runs his teeth over my jugular.

"Daire is in the other room."

I push him away. "You'll have to postpone your intentions, then. How did you get us without disturbing the Council?"

"We went to an angelic scholar- Azzazel- Azrael," He is tripping over his words. "he created a portal that didn't have enough power to disturb them. It only had enough power to get ya and the rest there they needed to see-...be."

I laugh and put my hand over his mouth. "Gotcha."

"I'll be back." He breaks the embrace.

"Don't break anything." I say.

He mutters something along the likes of, "I'll break you."

I laugh as he exits the room. Lying back down, I set my head on the pillow, running my hands over the covers and staring at the ceiling I'm finally safe. Even as I was traveling with him and the others, I wasn't safe. Now I feel like I am, but I'm still anxious. What about Zada? Raven? Kyle, Sage, Azzazel? Are they alright?"

I sigh, not realizing Strife walked in seconds before, drunk as hell, he sets his hand on mine, and I flinch. As he hands me a glass of a substance that, at first glance, looks like water, but then I notice that it has a faint green tint to it. "Drink this." Strife tells me."

I don't question him- secretly hoping it's some kind of alcohol to clear my head- and drink it all. It just tastes like lemon water."What-"

I am cut off by my own ear-piercing scream. The liquid starts to burn in my stomach. My entire body starts to change, to morph, and to hurt horribly. Strife sits down next to me and gathers me in his arms. I scream into his chest. "Shh…" He whispers quietly, running his hands over by back is it too starts to morph and feel much heavier.

Finally as the pain subsides. Strife releases me. "Let me see."

"Why? See what? What did you do to me?"

His eyes are wide as he looks me over. He starts to smile. "We… you look… different…"

"I'm seriously about to kick your drunk ass."

"Alright, alright. We didn't want any of you to be discovered, so we've given you forms that look Angelic."

"...you didn't."

"You can switch between the two."

I sigh in relief. "Good."

"Why don't you try it? All you have to do is think that you want to be in whichever form."

I do as he says, and my form shifts much smaller, until I feel normal again. I sigh in relief and rest myself. "That sucked." I mutter, and he laughs.

"It will come naturally soon."

"Kay. And, Strife?"

"Hmm?"

I pull him into my arms and hug him as tightly as I can. "Love you,"

He smiles, and buries his face in my neck. "And I you."

I lift his head up and kiss him lightly. He chuckles, lunges himself forward, and pins me underneath him. Strife starts to rip the band tee-shirt off of my form. This, I presume, will be a… pleasant reunion.

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Raven

I wake up, and in fear, sit up immediately. I'm in a small room with three walls, the fourth being open and leading to another room. As I am examining my surroundings, I see War across from me, sitting in a chair and staring intently.

I flinch and look down. "Uh… hello…"

"Hello."

I can't break the gaze as soon as I lock it. "Why- er, where are we?"

"My household."

I cringe and reply blankly, "Oh."

"You each are safe, but spread out through different locations."

"Okay…"

"So you and I are alone."

Thanks for adding onto the awkward.

"Okay…"

"Now I have a question for you."

"Uh…"

"How in the nine hells are you my mate?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to argue about after waking up from imprisonment. What? You honestly think I know?"

"Ignorance." He mutters. "You must've done something I didn't."

"Oh? Well you're a self absorbed jackass!"

War sighs. "We can't get out of this now."
"Then what do you suppose we do?" I cross my arms. "And if you say something perverted I will kick your ass."

"No," He says, and sits down next to me. "But I do have an idea, if you will let me experiment."

I raise an eyebrow. "I would say yes right away, but, 'experiment?'"

He shakes his head in annoyance. "May I try it or not?"

"I don't know. Give it a try."

He sighs, as if to procrastinate. "Well, if I do test this theory, you mustn't start to panic as I've seen Zada do."

"Zada panics when a gust of wind passes her."

"Raven."

"Okay, fine. I get it. 'Experiment away, Horseman."

What he does next, indeed, makes me panic.

War quickly lunges forward and crushes his lips against mine. I gasp, taken aback, but then try- to experiment- return it awkwardly. That's when something clicks. I genuinely kiss him back. He does the same. I try to pull the rest of myself away, but it is no use. War has snapped. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulls me tightly against him, practically so I am sitting on him. I wrap my arms around his neck. I self-consciously want to curl up and die of embarrassment, but I don't have a choice.

He breaks the kiss for a moment so he can shift the way he is sitting, so he is lying on top of me. He sees the what-the-hell-is-happening look on my face, grins, and continues. I start to panic as he pulls me back to a sitting position, breaking the kiss and saying, "I'm labeling this experiment successful." He picks me up and carries me to a different room.

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Sage

I wake feeling someone's hand on my shoulder. As a reflex, I grab his wrist tightly and hold it above his head. It's Azzazel. He is snarling in annoyance. Reluctantly, I let his arm go. "Calm down." He snaps.

"I've been in prison for months. You honestly expect me to be calm?" I growl. "Now where are we?"

"'I've been in prison for months.' You honestly expect me to know?"

I grit my teeth. It takes all of my self-control not to punch him in the jaw as hard as I possibly can. So instead, I say, "You arrogant, ignorant, pain in my-"

"Will you two stop bickering?!" An annoyed, powerful woman's voice mutters. I look behind me and watch as the familiar Horseman walks through the door. She meets Azzazel's eyes, then mine, and rubs her temples. "Oh, brother's. What have you gotten me into…"

"I apologize. We're merely confused." He says. I roll my eyes, sit back in my chair, and cross my arms.

"You are in my home. My two brothers couldn't stand to see you in prison, so, here you are. Though I couldn't care less, really. I am only taking you in for their sake, and with proper training, you'll be out of here soon. So do not make yourselves comfortable."

"Agreed." I mutter.

Fury nods once and walks out of the room. "I'll be back with a form of sustenance for you."

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Zada

The nightmares I can hardly bare. If I wanted to, I'd wake up, but I can't. There's this relentless force that is keeping me under the waves of consciousness. My mind, though silent, riddles me with memories of my family, thoughts of Death harming me without reason, or Death being harmed because of me.

When I do wake up, though, after I have a nightmare of Death- well, meeting his death- I am silent. My form is curled into a ball under thick black blankets, and my still broken arms are resting on my chest. I find myself staring at a blank, candlelit wall. The flames gently bounce off the paint. I smile very faintly. I don't know where I am, but at least I'm not in that cell anymore.

I very slowly shift so I am lying on my back. Everything I do causes me immense pain. In curiosity, I pick the blankets up slightly. I'm wearing black leggings, a tight black long sleeved shirt, and black socks. I scan the room. The walls appear to be a dark brown with candles sitting everywhere. The door is to my far left, and to my far right is an open doorway, where on the wall is a mirror. I can see a girl staring at me, but she doesn't look like me- though I know she is.

My thick brown hair is falling loosely down my shoulders and back. My face, at least from this distance, looks clear, and not riddled with any impurities besides thousands of scars.

This, while I'm examining myself, is when I hear a familiar contagious laughter.

Tears of joy start to overwhelm me. "KY-" My throat won't allow. It is dry and it hurts to swallow. My ribs start to ache from the sudden movement, along with everything else. Those tears of joy shift to tears of pure agony.

"What was that?" Kyle asks. Suddenly, loud footsteps approach me. I close my eyes and cringe, not knowing who it is. The person bursts through the door to my left, then runs to my side. I open my eyes and see Death.

With a slight whimper and blurry eyes, I set my hand on the side of his face. Still feeling a little loopy, I start to giggle, choking out through my tears, "Y...you have a five o'clock shadow…"

Death chuckles, shakes his head, and sets his forehead on my temple. "Bilauta, I want to hug you, to kiss you, and to do many other things to you, but I know I cannot. I don't want to hurt you."

I snicker. "Sorry, dear." I say sarcastically. "Your charms will not work too well on a cripple."

As I shift uncomfortably, he reaches over me- somewhat suggestively, I might add- and grabs a circular container filled with neon green liquid, along with two glasses of water.

"Drink each of these, and you will not be described 'cripple' any longer."

"Wait, do you want me to drink them so I won't be crippled, or so your 'charms' will work?"

Death catches His bottom lip between his teeth, raises both of his eyebrows, and says, "We'll see. Now, I suggest you rest immediately after drinking this; either it will cause you great pain, or you will black out. And," He touches the rim of the glass to my far right with his finger. "I recommend drinking this last."

Looking closer, I see that the content of the glass he pointed to has a milky white look to it, and the other has a hint of green. I shrug, assuming they are a form of supplement to get me better sooner. I do as he says, drinking the potion in the circular container first, then the green water, then the white.

Almost immediately after drinking the third, I am out like a light. xxxxxxxx

"She could potentially be very angry with me." I hear Death say. His voice sounds more precise, more crisp, than if I heard it before I awoke.

"Why?" Kyle asks. He doesn't reply, and the conversation is over just like that.

I am sleeping on my stomach. Shifting not even an inch, I realize something is very, very wrong. My arms and legs feel different, shorter even. I look up at the mirror, and instead of seeing a young woman looking back at me, Isee a menacing black tiger.

I jump back. The reflection jumps back. In confusion, I put my hand up. The tiger does the same with its paw the exact same instant. I see the paw in the corner of my eye. I stare, fascinated as it moves to my command.

I don't know what to think. I feel like I'm inside one of those books about werewolves that I used to live- only now with tigers. I stand up and jump off the bed, only to collapse with a thud. Growling in frustration, I slowly, step-by-step, walk out the open door in search for Death.

Kyle is the first to see me. "Oh my god!" She giggles, walking up to me and kneeling down, petting my head. "Death?!"

"What?"

"YOU HAVE A KITTY!"

Death walks in and makes eye contact with me. He leans on the door frame with his arms crossed. "Yes, I do."

"She's adorable! What's her name?"

With a cocky smile, he says, "Bilauta."

I bare my teeth and growl at him, as if to say, "I'm so going to kick your ass."

"Bilauta. Where have I heard that before?"

I walk over to him, stumbling every once and a while. When I am close enough, I throw myself upward and pin him to the wall. He chuckles and scratches my sides. "Hmm. I'm not sure. I've only used the term around Zada," He emphasizes the word, directing it to his room where I walked out.

"Oh. Well, your cat sure does like you."

Only now am I realizing my menacing growl shifted to a pleased purr without me realizing. I tuck my ears back in embarrassment and get off of him. Death can hardly breathe. "This has gone on long enough, I think," He gives me a smug look, whispers something I can't understand, and I switch back to human form. I run my hands through my hair and over my arms thankfully, and say, "I'M GOING TO KILL BOTH OF YOU!" with an annoyed voice.

"What?! Oh. Oh-! Oh…. Oh." Kyle says, as if connecting the pieces together. Then she bursts out laughing, to the point where she falls out of her chair.

Death wraps his arms around my waist. "With two unknown forms, you will be less likely to be found. I did it to protect you… among other things."

"Among what other things?" I say through my teeth.

"I also wanted the name 'Bilauta' to be more accurate…"

I gasp, "I knew it!" Dammit, Veil!" Kyle, who had just sat back down in her chair, collapses again.

Death pulls me closer. "What, did you turn them all into cats as well?"

"No," He admits. "It is only you. Though you have an Angelic form, along with the others."

"Okay…" I nod slowly, knowing there will be some kind of catch.

"Though there is one thing you may not be particularly be happy about."

I grit my teeth. "Such as?"

Suddenly, I am forced into the tiger form. "I can also control it."

...dammit! I think, lying down and dramatically burying my face in my paws. You didn't tell me how to control it!

When I unintentionally start thinking about embarrassing happenings between Death and I, involving the tiger form, I hear him laugh, "I can also hear your thoughts when you are in this form."

I snap my head up. He is chuckling, though staring at me through lust filled eyes. I growl to myself, tucking my ears back and breaking eye contact. I pull my tail between my legs.

Kyle comes and sits next to me, petting the top of my head. "Why, what was she thinking?" She asks Death.

"You do not want to know." He smirks, "Though I could tell you-"

You do realize I have the ability to rip both of your throats out, correct?

Death laughs and repeats my thoughts to Kyle. She giggles. I play around in my head until I figure out how to change back. As soon as it takes effect, I say, "HA! I swear, the both of you are killing me!"

Death smiles and pulls me into his arms. "I'm glad to see you safe."

I cough, "Kiss ass."

"I'm serious. Nothing makes me happier but so see you healthy and happy."

I smile and return the embrace, remembering my nightmares. "Same."

"What-"

"Veil." I gasp, letting him go. "is she okay? Where is she? Where are the others? Are they okay? Do they know i'm alive? Where are we?"

"Kyley. I'd like to have a word with Zada. Alone."

She laughs, gives a nonchalant "Okay" and walks down the spiral staircase.

Death turns to me. "Veil is safe with Strife. The others are at my brother's homes. They are fine, to my knowledge. They don't know if you're alive or not. And we," he smiles, pinning me against the wall next to the door that leads to his room. "are in my home."

"...I see." When I direct my eyes downward self-consciously, I panic, thinking he'll get the wrong idea, and look to the right. He buries his face in my hair. I keep my head down. "Uh… what time is it? How long have I been unconscious?

"You've been resting for three days and it is approaching night."

I nod absently. He starts to get a bit carried away, so to procrastinate, I ask, "Er, do you mind if I look around for a while? I've been cooped up for want to stretch my legs a little." When I see that stir crazy look in his eyes, I quickly say, "That's not what I meant."

He laughs and replies, "Come."

I follow him down the stairs, realizing his home is a massive cathedral. The floors are marble, huge glass windows at the top, and the roof is probably a quarter mile above my head. I see Kyle in what I'm presuming to be the living room, with headphones over her ears. I can hear the drums through them more clearly as we approach.

Her eyes are closed, so we pass her without disturbing her. Death turns left into another room. "Why do you have a kitchen?" I ask.

"I used to be mortal. Back before I began working for the Council I did have to eat, but now it doesn't have a use- not until you arrived, at least."

"I see."

We don't say much after that. I walk beside him as he shows me hundreds of different rooms, housing weapons, potions, and thousands of different books. Interesting for sure, but exhausting. I don't exercise much, therefore making keeping up with him quite difficult. He notices just as we make it back to the living room, where Kyle is still listening to music.

Death chuckles, "Come. You should rest." He offers his hand to lead me up the stairs. This is when I panic.

"Uh…" I stammer. "I-Is that your room, where I've been staying?"

"Yes."

"Oh. That's alright, then, I, Uh, I'll just sleep down here. I don't want to burden you like that."

"What's mine is yours. You're not being a burden." He lowers his tone of voice slightly. "Besides, it's probably best if you sleep in your tiger form. It will take some time for you to get used to it, as opposed to the Angelic form."

Sighing in disapproval, I say, "Alright." cringen and morph into the feline form. I follow Death up the stairs. The second I enter the room, he shuts the door and locks it. I curl up next to the bed and set my head on my paws. As soon as I close my eyes, I'm morphed into my human form against my will.

"What the hell-?"

"You realize I told you that merely to get you in here, correct?"

My face drains of all color. Death grins and walks towards me. In a state of panic,I back away, only to encourage him more when I fall back onto the bed. He laughs at my discomfort and struggle, climbing on top of me. I try to back away, but he's too heavy. He brings his lips to mine. I do, indeed, kiss him back for a mere moment, before pushing him away when he starts to pull at the fabric of my shirt.

"Death." I mean to sound stern, but all that comes out is a prolonged, breathy whisper. "I… uh…" He takes a deep breath, running his hands over my bare back, stomach, and waist. I can hear the fabric tearing. "S…Stop."

"What?" He breathes into my neck.

"I… uhhh… understand your intentions." Each time he moves, chuckles, touch my bare skin, or breathes, it jolts my feelings onto a whole new level and makes me want to give in more than anything. My brain feels foggy, my breath quickens.

"Believe me, if you understood my intentions fully, you would not be protesting."

"Really? After I've been… raped… and… things..."

He sighs and inwardly cringes. "Zada, I cannot fathom how horrified I am upon hearing that. I didn't know you hadn't been taken… if I had, I swear to you I would've-"

"Yes, yes, I understand." I cut him off when seeing his suggestive hand gestures. "What are you saying?"

Being much more gentle than before, he shifts so my head is resting on the pillow without breaking eye contact. "I'm so glad you are safe…" He rolls on top of me, lightly kissing my collar bone. "And if you'd let me… I'd like to take you as my own… but if you are not ready… then I will not pressure you."

I close my eyes and rest my chin on the top of his forehead, battling in a mental conflict. Eventually, I say, "'I'm me though… and you're Death… I just don't understand."

He opens his eyes. "Listen to me, Zada, and listen well. There's no one, nothing anywhere that I'd want more than you. There is nothing I'd rather do than-"

I bring my lips to his in a passionate, unbreakable embrace before I know what I am doing. Death continues to mumble as he kisses me back, "I'm supposing that is a yes…?"

I nod my head. Death grabs onto my shaking hands, steadying them as he covers the both of us with the black blankets. He knows i'm scared. "Zada," He whispers quietly, repeating my two syllable name, as if challenging himself how many times he could say it. I close my eyes, unleashing my anger and frustration on him.