The first thing I noticed was that I was alone. I opened my eyes, blinking repeatedly as I tried to grasp where I was. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes, yawning softly. My head no longer throbbed, and my body finally felt normal again.

I looked around dazedly, trying to figure out where I was. I was laying on a couch, and there was the largest TV I had ever seen on the opposite wall. It was paused on the end credits of Bambi, the best movie of all time. I'd recognize it anywhere. Thinking back, I tried to remember what had happened after I had woken up before, but it was all a blur of heat and discomfort. I hated getting sick.

Turning my body, I threw my legs over the edge of the couch, and stood up. Headrush hit me like a tidal wave, making the world spin. I swayed on my feet before sitting back down, waiting for the dizzying sensation to disappear. As I was waiting, the door to the room I was in opened, and in walked a face I had never expected to see.

"Liam?" I breathed out, blinking rapidly to assure my sight was playing tricks on me. Sure enough, everything checked out. The same platinum blond hair as our mother, the cold, ice-blue eyes from our father, the threatening height, and the same old placid, unfeeling expression.

Back then, Liam seemed the one most eager to leave me in that apartment, not looking back even once.

Liam walked over to were I sitting, expression unchanging. I just watched as he came closer, and sat some ways away from me on the couch.

Seeing as he wasn't speaking, I decided to start the conversation. "What are you doing here?" I asked. That question could've meant a lot of things. Why was he in Hell? Why was he in Sata- Isaiah's castle? Why was he here, with me?

After a moment of silence, he answered me. "I... am a shifter. Which was why I left when I was sixteen, and why people started to pick on you more when you were ten. I wasn't there to keep them off you back. So, I'm sorry"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're telling me... that you used to stop people from bullying me?"

He nodded, not a hint of any emotion in his face.

"And you're a shifter. What did our parents say?" I asked, purposefully not calling them Mother, or Father, or anything close. They had never acted as such.

Liam shrugged. "I didn't stick around long enough to see their reactions. The shadow hounds came for me the moment after I first shifted into my main form."

I tilted my head, curious. "Which is?"

"An animal," he stated vaguely. "Look, I came to apologize for what happened in our past. Can you forgive me?" He asked, this time his frozen expression cracking the slightest bit. He was being sincere.

I looked away, trying to clear my thoughts. I never held any anger or spite towards Liam... he was a kindergartner when it happened... so it wasn't like he could've done anything significant to change our parent's minds. After hesitating, I nodded slowly. "I can... I guess..."

Liam's form slouched in relief. It was barely noticeable, but I saw it. Although, it only lasted a few seconds before he went rigid once more as another person ran into the room. Obviously it was Isaiah. And he didn't look happy.

"I thought I told you to wait!" He snapped at Liam, grabbing my arm and pulling me from the couch, and clutching me to his chest. It wasn't even a light hold; he was basically squeezing my guts out. But did that matter as he and my brother went on to have their nonimportant conversation? Nope. Not in the slightest.

I couldn't see him, but I could imagine Liam's eye roll as he said, "Whoops. Must've slipped my mind."

Isaiah's grip got impossibly tighter. "It was only minutes ago!" He growled.

"I've got short term memory loss," came Liam's response.

"I'm sure," Isaiah snorted.

My oxygen was running out, so I began to jab at Isaiah's stomach. But it was harder than rocks! It felt as though my fist was receiving more damage the giving it.

Liam said, "I think... he's dying." Thank you! I blessed him from the bottom of my heart.

"Huh? ... Oh! Sorry Lucifer!" He apologized as he released me from his death grip. I pulled back, gasping for air, and glaring at him at the same time.

"What is wrong with you two? You," I addressed Isaiah, "who hugs a person who was just ill so tightly? Were you trying to kill me? Huh? Did you want to smother me in your chest? You need to learn to be more aware of what you are doing!" I scolded. "And you-" I turned to yell at Liam, but all I saw was his empty spot. "Where'd he go?" I wondered out loud.

Isaiah snickered. "He left while you were lecturing me."

"What so funny? Oh, I know. Is it the fact that you're not allowed to touch me for a week? No? Then is it because it's for a month?" I spat out with a glare. That shut him up very quickly.

"Don't be like that Luci~" he purred, wrapping his arms around me at the same time.

I let him do what he wanted as I asked, "How long was a sleeping?"

"Long enough to get over your sickness. And you woke up just in time!" He said, beginning to pull me to the door of the room.

"Just in time for what?" I batted his arms away, as they were getting annoying, but continued to follow him.

He grinned. "We're going to war!" He declared, his expression not at all matching the serious statement.

I nodded slowly. "Okay... and this is a good thing because...?"

"Because you get to fight on the front lines!" He said happily.

I frowned at him, regarding him as insane. "You're crazy. That won't work. One, I can't fight. Two, I can't fight. And three... what was it again... oh yeah, I CAN'T FIGHT."

Isaiah waved away my reasoning. "That won't matter, because the dogs will be there."

He was definitely insane. "Yep, yep. Great idea. Send the guy who can't fight to the frontlines of war," I agreed sarcastically.

"I'm glad we agree!" He replied, taking me seriously. I could only sigh as I followed him to who knew where.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

He stopped in front of a door. "For now, you are going in here!" He pulled open the door, and then pushed me in there. "Clothes are on the counter!"

I huffed as he closed the door before I could respond. After regaining my balance, I looked around. It was a bathroom. And a nice one at that. Like a hotel bathroom. White marbled counters, HUGE mirror, large shower, even larger tub, and obviously, a toilet. I saw the clothes on the counter, and realized what I was supposed to do. And, I was grateful.

Without further hesitation, I stripped down to my boxers. I reached into the shower and set it to hot water. Not scalding hot, but close. Enough to turn my skin pink. While it was heating up, I turned to the mirror, and began flexing. Don't act like you've never checked yourself out in the mirror before taking a shower. I turned, observing myself from every angle, even winking at myself once, before the steam fogged up the mirror so much I couldn't see myself. That was a hint to stop and get in the shower.

I threw off my boxers, grabbed on of the washcloths from a rack, and stepped into the shower. There were two new liquid soaps on a ledge, which I appreciated. I held the washcloth between my legs as I unscrewed the top of the first one and peeled off the seal. The moment it came off, the scent of the soap spread through the air. It was Dove, it's soft scent making me inhale deeply before screwing the top back on. I set the seal on the ledge along with the bottle of soap. I grabbed the other one, which was smaller and didn't have a seal, and opened it. I could tell what it was based on the small. It was Johnson's Baby Soap, a soap that I enjoyed not only for the smell, but for the bubbles. I put my washcloth down on the ledge, and poured some of the baby soap onto my hands. It was cold, a stark comparison to the heat of the water.

I lathered it in my hands, and then cupped my hand. Concentrating, I carefully cupped my hands so that it was a hollowed-out diamond shape, allowing the soap to spread. My hands were basically acting as a bubble wand. Blowing softly, I created small bubbles, moving my hands carefully so they drifted down in the air instead of popping. I eventually got bored, and rinsed my hands off while dragging them up and down my wet arms, letting the smell soak into my skin.

I basked in the heat of the water, letting it run all over my body. I kept turning, letting the spray hit everywhere. After procrastinating for a bit, I grabbed the washcloth, and got to scrubbing. I lathered up the soap and began to wash everywhere, realizing just how yucky I'd become. The baby soap said all-purpose, so I put a little into my hair and massaged it in. After rinsing it out, I doused my face in water, clearing it of any soap. I had to keep my eyes closed, so I randomly fumbled around for the controls, before fining them and shutting the water off.

With my eyes still shut, I carefully opened the curtain, and stepped out onto the bath mat in front of the shower. I reached out cautiously, feeling around until I felt the fluffiness of a towel. I grabbed it quickly, wiping my face so I could open my eyes. I wiped down the rest of my body before wrapping the towel around my shivering body. Although, it wasn't that cold. Steam covered the mirror, not allowing my to see my reflection. not that I would've ogled myself or anything... It was a habit, ok?

I looked at the counter and spotted the clothes Isaiah had been talking about. I yanked up the boxers, finally dropping the annoying towel. Then I took a look at the clothes that had been laid out. It seemed he knew my well. He had laid out a large, large hoodie, it was almost like a dress. And... ankle socks. That was it.

I pulled the black hoodie over my head, and slipped the socks onto my feet. Looking around, I realized my dirty clothes were gone, so there was nothing to clean up.

Steeling my nerves, I exhaled before opening the door to the bathroom, nervously pulling the hoodie down. I hated wearing anything that exposed my legs, besides shorts as pajamas. Lucky for me, there was no one outside of the door. But, the cool air rushed in, colliding with the steamy air from the bathroom and sending shivers down my spine. I shut the bathroom door behind me, and was about to start wandering around when Isaiah appeared in front of me.

"Hey, where are the bottoms to this outfit?" I asked, still tugging the hem down.

Isaiah sighed. "Trust me. For what we're about to do, you won't want pants." He didn't look exactly happy about what we were going to do.

"What are we about to do?" I asked nervously, pursing an eyebrow.

His lips pulled into a frown. "To get you your wings."

~