~O~

Mortal Coil

Thalia and Imperius returned to the farm.

Hadar greeted them with a wave. "You're back!" she said. "How did it go?"

Thalia was trying to straighten her robes a little. She smiled a little and looked down at Maya. "I've managed to earn well over five-hundred pieces of gold."

Maya grinned happily. "Really?!"

Thalia chuckled. "Really."

Hadar looked impressed. She watched Imperius gather some things from the wagon. "That is quite impressive, dear." she said. "I assume the two of you are no longer squabbling?"

Thalia smiled. "Something like that."

"Why are you all wet?" Hadar glanced her daughter up and down.

"I...uh...tripped and fell into a stream." Thalia told her. "Imperius had to fish me out."

Hadar nodded, though she seemed to suspect otherwise. "I see." she murmured. "Well, it's nearly dark, we should be inside for dinner. And for heaven's sake, sit by the fire before you catch cold."

"Of course."

Imperius followed her into the house and Maya glanced up at Hadar.

"Grandma, do you think they...?" she began.

"Yes, dear."

Maya giggled a little. "Oh!"

"I am not certain if your knowledge of that sort of thing should frighten me or not." Hadar quipped.

Later that evening, Thalia and Imperius were sitting by the fire together, talking quietly away from the others. Tyrael was rather surprised that they were getting along this well now. Lyndon smirked at him and whispered.

"A good touch from a woman heals all man's burdens." he teased.

Tyrael frowned impatiently.

Lyndon laughed until an apple hit him in the back of the head. He let out a yelp and glared over his shoulder, but Imperius and Thalia were still talking with their backs to him.

"Nice shot, Imperius..." Thalia whispered.

"Thank you."

Thalia laughed a little as she stared into the fire. "I trust it was well?" she asked, quietly. She seemed shy after what had happened between them.

Imperius nodded, though he seemed distracted himself. "It was well..."

He looked at her. "And you?"

"It was very well."

"Good."

O

Thalia leaned her head back, moaning as his lips came down upon her neck.

His fingers laced with hers, pinning them outside of the pool. She could barely focus on anything around her. Only the sensation of his muscular, naked form pressed against her smaller frame.

He said nothing, but that was fine with her.

"Thalia..."

It wasn't Imperius who had spoken.

She frowned, leaning her head back a bit and spotting Leilel standing there, his features filled with sadness. She furrowed her brow, confused by his presence. Imperius did not see him, so why did she?

"There is a price..." Leilel said.

Thalia smiled warily. "What?"

Imperius' sounds of hunger distracted her. His touch became rough, his kisses devouring. Thalia couldn't think on what the angel said.

"You love him." Leilel said. "But there is a price."

Thalia moaned softly. She felt those large hands spread her beneath the water.

"I don't care..." she gasped.

"You will. In time."

Leilel closed his eyes sadly, disappearing.

O

Imperius struggled with himself.

What had he done?

He spoke with Tyrael that evening when Thalia was asleep. When he told his brother, Tyrael wasn't just shocked. He was horrified.

"What have you done?" he gasped.

"Do not judge me, brother." Imperius whispered, "She was there. I was there. It...happened. This mortal body weakened me. It was a mistake."

"Imperius, Thalia believed it to be something more!" Tyrael exclaimed, in a hushed whisper. "I have been mortal enough to know of these things. They do not take those situations lightly."

"Do you not think I understand?" Imperius spat.

Tyrael sighed, placing an arm around his brother. Imperius did not rebuke the touch.

"Being mortal...it's complicated. But you do seem to be understanding a little more." Tyrael explained, "I am happy to see this. I am grateful for it. But Thalia has feelings, Imperius. Make certain she is not hurt. If this was a mistake, you can correct it."

"How? How do I correct it?"

"I don't know. That is something you must learn on your own."

Imperius snorted gruffly.

Tyrael stared at his brother silently for a moment.

"What was it like?" he asked.

Imperius frowned at him. "What was what like?"

"Touch. With a mortal." Tyrael said, curiosity touching his features.

Imperius was quiet, staring down at his hands. A smile touched his lips and he looked at Tyrael. His brother was pleased to see it.

"Mortal women are certainly louder." he quipped.

Tyrael sat there, thinking on this.

"Oh." he said. He laughed a little.

"And passionate." Imperius added. His brows rose. "accommodating. VERY accommodating."

"Ah."

They were quiet again.

"That would explain why she is sleeping so well." Tyrael added, rather prudishly. "I now understand the humor in these things that Lyndon constantly talks about."

Imperius groaned, rubbing his forehead with one hand.

"Get some sleep, brother." Tyrael said, gently. "Perhaps with her."

Imperius gave him an annoyed stare as he made his way back into the farm.

"I'm serious. If you are to do this, don't hurt her."

Imperius entered the farm without another word. He walked into Thalia's bedroom, found her sleeping soundly. He let out a small sigh and slid into bed with her.

Thalia awoke with a small, startled sound and he hushed her.

"Calm down. It's just me." he said.

Thalia relaxed and smiled a little. She looked like a satiated lioness. "I did not expect you to sleep in my bed tonight." she murmured. "But I am glad for it."

Imperius didn't see it necessary to tell her tonight.

"I would assume the floor would not be comfortable." he said.

Thalia looked at him questionably. She understood what he asked and she glanced down between them before a smile lit her face.

"Again?" she asked.

"I wish to learn, that is all."

She laughed a little. "I'm surprised. You seemed willing to tear my head off not too long ago."

"There is an innuendo there. I sense it..."

Thalia giggled a little. It only made it worse for him.

Imperius moved, almost aggressively on top of her, but instead, she took his wrist, stopping him. "No." she said, "I want to look at you this time."

He frowned.

Thalia showed him by rolling him onto his back. His frown deepened and she climbed on top, straddling him. Thalia noticed the flustered look on his face.

"I suppose you don't bottom very often?" she asked.

"No. It is submission. I do not like it."

"Not so." Thalia explained. "I see it as me doing the work this time and you lying back and enjoying it."

Imperius gave her a funny stare. "What makes you think I will enjoy this?"

Thalia smiled, devious. "Well, if you give me a chance, I'll show you."

Imperius felt her shift on him, felt the parting of her robes. Oh. Oh, that was what she meant... He pursed his lips tight, watching as she moved on him, swaying her hips back and forth.

As for Thalia, she found it difficult to do much speaking. So she settled for watching him, her breathless sounds of pleasure filling the room.

Imperius seemed mildly lost about what he should do. His hands were on her exposed legs and his chest was slowly rising and falling with each deeper, thicker breath. But overall, he just seemed a little confused.

Thalia helped him by taking his hands and pulling him into a sitting position, but that certainly made her shiver intensely at the change.

He slipped his arms around her, letting out a deep, throaty hiss when she ran her hands down his neck.

"Maya is just down the hall." she warned.

Imperius gave her a look. "Are you asking me to be silent?" he said. "You were uttering some rather interesting obscenities in the forest."

Thalia was blushing. "You weren't exactly silent yourself."

"No." Imperius said. "But perhaps you should take your own advice. I'm not going to be gentle."

If it was a warning, Thalia didn't mind it.

"Imperius, I haven't had a man in my bed for years." she murmured, against his shoulder. "Do you really think I'm going to stop you?"

He actually smiled and it was the most genuine smile she had ever seen on his face.

"Then be silent." he commanded, grasping her chin a little roughly.

O

Thalia slept soundly beside him.

He noticed some of the red marks he had left on her shoulders and arms and lightly touched them. They would surely bruise later. She had insisted many times that she didn't mind before falling into a deep sleep.

In some ways, she was like Ramiel. She had even said something that reminded him of the angel.

"I'm not really afraid of you."

"No?"

"I know I should be. But I've never been known for being entirely wise."

"That is for certain..."

When she had perished, he remembered standing at the Arch, hoping to see her come back in the form of a new angel. No one had known about how he lingered there, hoping, but knowing such things would not happen. It was not how the Arch was.

That was when he knew he had to learn wisdom and move on.

No other angel born after that was anything like her.

Imperius knew this was wrong. He had to move on. He had to find another way to return to his immortal being.

Before Thalia died as well.

Such was how things were for him. He would not allow it again.