96 - Uncaged.

A little Raven,

Born of Evil and Hope,

An amalgamation birthed from an unholy ritual,

Grown in Light to seal her Darkness.

A bird with her wings clipped.

That was what she was—an abomination. People feared her, even when they acted kindly. She sensed their discomfort, their wariness. Their emotions hidden behind their stoic faces.

Yet she knew none of the why, only that she was to control her emotions, suppress them, bury them deep. But never had she been taught their origins, never allowed to understand herself. Controlled and chained, that was all she had ever known.

Until the day a man removed her from her chamber and brought her to the Door of Azarath.

When the doors opened, they revealed a sight that froze her in place: her father, an evil beyond words. The man beside her—a kind soul, perhaps—died the instant his gaze fell upon her father's form. And Raven? She was swept away, taken to her father's hellish kingdom. A place far darker and more twisted than her worst imaginings. For the first time, she understood the true evil she had been taught to confine.

The Black Raven.

Born from her mind, empowered by her father's dark magic, an entity she could only call Pure evil. She was again confined, in her own body. Her father ensured she could never resist it. He wanted no rival parasite within his precious daughter.

The Black Raven was a feral beast, a force of pure destruction. All it sought was ruin.

However, in a moment of rare defiance, Raven felt her sister—a part of her very soul—leave her body. She used her own essence to fight the invading creature. And with her sister gone, Raven reclaimed control. She could breathe again, feel the warmth on her skin, the touch of her own fingers.

She was free.

But fear gripped her as her eyes remained shut. The Black Raven was gone, but at what cost?

She heard voices, dull and distant. The oppressive force that bound her magic remained, like a cage she could never escape.

"Don't worry, child," a soft, kind voice spoke, followed by the gentle caress of a hand across her face. "You are safe here."

"She's stable and her vitals are normal," a second voice, gruff and cold, responded. "She could wake up any moment."

"Maybe she needs to know that she's safe," the kind voice suggested again.

"Well, I doubt anyone could break in here," the gruff voice replied, now with a hint of amusement and annoyance. "Not even Superman could tear his way in."

"Honey, has Zion been annoying you again?" The soft voice moved further, the warmth of the woman's touch still lingering on Raven's skin.

"Haaa... it's nothing."

A light chuckle followed. "Should I ask him to stop?"

"No need. I do owe him," the man answered. "But I didn't get a PhD in cryogenics to make multiflavored flavored ice cream."

"And yet, I quite enjoy your blueberry-flavored cones," the soft voice teased.

Silence stretched between the couple before the sound of their footsteps leaving the room echoed faintly.

Raven's fingers twitched as the warmth from the stranger's touch faded. She could still hear the faint echoes of their conversation, but her mind felt clouded, weighed down by memories of Trigon, her father, and the oppressive force that halted her magic.

The force surrounding her was unlike anything she had experienced before. It wasn't the crushing pressure of demonic magic or her father's relentless grip. This was different—an emptiness where her own power refused to move, as if her abilities were caught in an invisible snare.

Her heart raced. She couldn't stay here, not trapped again. But the voices had been kind. The warmth of the woman's touch, stilled her racing thoughts. Maybe... she was safe.

Raven exhaled softly, her breath shaky as she willed her body to move. Her limbs felt heavy, but slowly, she pushed herself upright. Her head throbbed with the memories of Azarath, her father, her sisters, and hell, still fresh in her mind. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

The room around her was bright, not a shade of darkness visible. At first glance, it resembled a medical facility, though it felt far warmer and more natural than the sterile, mechanical environments one would expect. The walls shimmered with a golden, translucent material—like polished sunstone—and pulsed with an energy she couldn't quite identify. But one thing was clear: her magic would not respond here. It was utterly suppressed.

She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor. The sensation grounded her. She was alive, free—for now.

Her fingers brushed against the dark cloak at the foot of the bed. It felt familiar, comforting. She draped it over her shoulders, drawing strength from its weight, even though her body felt fragile after the ordeal.

Raven took a cautious step forward. The soft hum of distant machinery reached her ears. The more she observed her surroundings, the stranger the room appeared. The walls seemed to radiate warmth, as if emitting sunlight. There was a faint golden glow in the air itself. The material, if her instincts were correct—pulsed with eerie energy that halted her Magic.

"Magic doesn't work here," she reminded herself, feeling the absence gnaw at her. For now, that was a mystery to be solved later.

She took another step, her movements deliberate and slow. As she passed through the room, she noticed the odd combination of advanced technology and nature: holographic monitors displaying her vitals, a overgrown vein that crawled through, glowing crystals filled with neon light.

Raven took cautious steps, the cold seeping into her body. The air warmth, incomparable to the fiery hell she called home. Pausing in front of a mirror, she barely recognized her reflection. Her clear eyes clear, bright violet. Her skin pale yet vibrant and full of life.

Her body felt weak, yet from the image her body was at top condition. She knew not the magic that was cast but all the scars on her body had vanished. Yet it could not hide the toll the Black Raven had taken on her mind and soul.

The Black Raven... Her heart ached as she remembered the moment her sister lunged at the intruder to tear his soul. She had no idea what had happened, but her sister had vanish. She was free now, but what next? She had no desire to dwell on it any longer. There was no turning back.

Raven turned toward the door, a plane white door with a slit for grip. As her hand brushed the cool surface, the door slid open silently, revealing a long hallway.

The structure beyond was a strange place, otherworldly in its architecture, with sharp crystalline surfaces and a natural, organic flow. The air was warm, and yet, a part of her remained on edge. Despite the beauty, the calm, it still felt like another prison.

A different kind of cage.

As she stepped into the hall, the distant clanking of footsteps caught her attention. Instinctively, she pulled her cloak tighter and moved down the corridor, careful with each step. She knew none of who had built this—this castle of Crystal.

"Are your preparations going well?"

"Yes, the exploration would be hard this time."

The voices she had heard earlier. She quickly leaned against the cold wall and looked further in. A man with white hair, his skin a tinge of blue was walking with a woman with blond hair and fair skin. From the way they held each other, and their intertwining emotion, they were a couple.

She slowly followed them, she bare feet making little to no noise.

But soon they reached the entrance to a vast atrium.

The atrium opened up before her, vast and bathed in natural light. The ceiling towered above with an expansive view of the sky, sunlight filtering through the translucent stone. The floor was covered with green and exotic plants. Nature grew unkempt and free. Yet they create a beautiful order.

"I told you," Nora was saying with a soft laugh, "This place feels like a dream."

Victor's cold expression softened as he looked at her. "Strange... but it has its uses," he admitted.

Raven remained hidden in the shadows, uncertain whether to approach. But an unlikely person sensed her presence.

"You're awake," A soft yet seductive voice spoke from behind her.

Raven yelped, never expected to be sneaked up. She turned to the person who spoke, a woman with crimson hair adorn with paper flowers crown, her skin green, hers black with green iris. The woman felt like a dangerous flower born in a poisonous forest.

"Oh, is this the little kid Zion kidnapped!" An eccentric voice jumped from behind the green lady.

Her hair a faded red and blue tired in a twin tail, Her skin grey like hers yet her eyes held chaos. Unlike hers, this one was mildly incontinence. Yet she seems warm and kind, but still nuts.

"Harley, don't freak the kid," The green lady pulled back her friend.

"You should rest more," Nora approached from behind, her voice warm. "You've been through a lot."

Raven turned to her, her guard up as she was surrounded on all fronts. With her magic out of commission, she had no way of escape.

"Nora!" The eccentric woman jumped at the kind lady.

Nora returned her happy hug. Though Victor's gaze remained cautious.

The green lady walked past her and greeted the warm lady called Nora. Examining their conversation, and their guardless emotions. Raven stepped forward, her emotions tightly controlled.

And asked the question, "Where am I?"

Nora tilted her head slightly. "You're in Zion's castle."

"Yeah, a big white castle that should definitely be in black," The eccentric woman called, Harley answered.

The green woman continued. "Its a fortress made to withstand all invasion. I was told that it suppresses magic, which I assume you've already noticed."

Raven's eyes flickered with understanding. "And Zion? Where is he? Who is he?"

Victor crossed his arms, leaning against a sunstone pillar. "Not here at the moment."

"He is the King of the Earth," Harley acted with exaggeration.

"He'll return soon. For now, focus on regaining your strength would be the best." Nora suggested

Raven studied them carefully, unsure whether to trust them. Nora's kindness was evident, but Victor... His cold demeanor was a reminder of the dangers that still lurked. The green lady seem to blend with the plants, like she was part of them. The last one, her emotions were everywhere.

"What happens when Zion returns?" she asked, her voice tinged with steel. She hated feeling vulnerable, at the mercy of someone else.

Nora stepped forward, her eyes gentle but serious. "Zion doesn't intend to keep you here as a prisoner. He believes in happy ending. He saved you from your father, but the choice of what to do next is yours."

A happy ending? Could she really have something like that? After everything—her father, the Black Raven—was redemption even possible for someone like her?

"I don't need saving," Raven said sharply, her words harsher than she intended.

Victor's icy gaze hardened shifting to his wife and her friends. "We all need saving from something."

Raven's eyes darted between them. This place might not be a cage, but this Zion had plans for her—plans she didn't yet understand.

"You're free to leave whenever you choose," Nora said, her voice gentle. "But know this: whatever you're running from, it won't find you here. This place is shielded, from magic and from any force that seeks to harm those within.

Moreover, Zion would stand front to face the danger."

Raven absorbed her words in silence. A sanctuary, free from her father's reach, free from the Black Raven. The idea was tempting. But she had learned long ago that true safety was an illusion.

And yet... Zion had built this place as a fortress, and had rescued her from her father's hands. That made him different from anyone else she had encountered.

"I'll stay," she said softly. "For now."

Nora smiled warmly. "There's no rush. Take the time you need."

"You can stay here as long as you want," Poison eyes added before vanishing into the nature.

Victor nodded curtly before turning away, leaving the room. "You know where to find us if you need anything."

"If you want to cause trouble and want to make it double, call auntie Harley!" Harley shouted before running away somewhere.

"Don't worry, nothing will harm you here," Nora added before leaving her alone to contemplate.

Alone again, Raven sat on a natural tree bench, the golden-hued space around her quiet. Her magic might be gone, but so was the connection she had with her father, the Black Raven.

For the first time in years, she was free from the war within herself. The silence was unnerving, but also peaceful.

As she stared up at the sky through the atrium's ceiling, Raven allowed herself to wonder about her future. What she did with it was now up to her. And for the first time in what felt like a lifetime,

Raven felt a flicker of hope.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Colossians 3:12-13