It was a month after her eighteenth birthday that something else was bound to go wrong. She was, once again, training outside the cottage. Imperius was away in Heaven attending to his usual duties. Her parents were in the cottage tending to the daily chores. Izarius and the other angels were dutifully watching over them. Xavian had gone off to find the Horadrim. He left the artifacts with them for safekeeping on his return. Willis was sent off to apprentice in a distant town to keep out of trouble.
She had just cleaned off her blade when she noticed a dark, slender figure merge out of the ground. It was as though the very shadows blended to perfection to form a solid host. For some reason, it scared her. The figure moved up to her in a fluid motion and seemed to stare at her with an invisible gaze. It reminded her of an angel. Fully male with scythes for weapons, his wings seemed to be far more mist-like than she could have imagined.
"Who...are you...?" he asked curiously. He saw the glowing, fiery, molten gold dot.
"The ward of Imperius," she said softly.
"Not demon?" he asked.
"No. A mortal angel. I have no demon blood," she nodded.
"Interesting..." the deep, hollow tone echoed out. A long, slender, clawed, gauntleted hand came out to lightly touch where the mark on forehead was. Her jaw went slack, and she fell to the ground.
"Malthael?!" she heard her father gasp from the cottage doorway. The figure glanced up now and vanished away. There were no demons there, so he saw them as no concern. He was only curious about the mark on the girl's forehead. He had never seen anything like it before. His touch was now like a slow poison in her body. It wouldn't kill her, but it would slowly severe her link with Imperius. She couldn't survive without him now. The moment her link to the powerful Archangel was blocked, she couldn't function. Her mark was retaliating with a heavy, glowing pulse to stay alive.
Her father was quick to gather up his daughter and take her into the cottage. When he looked at her mark, he saw that it was pulsing. It almost looked like it was fighting something. The other guardians didn't know what to do and made plans to find Imperius. But, up in Heaven, the moment she collapsed, Imperius felt that something was severely wrong. He went straight to the cottage to find her.
"What happened?!" he demanded.
"Malthael appeared and touched her mark," Lilaurael said.
"What? Malthael?" he said with disbelief. He moved to the bed and studied the fiercely glowing dot. Very carefully, he touched it and focused. "He's sick. He has to be sick..."
"Who?" Ilerael asked. Imperius ignored him for now. In the end, he gathered up his ward.
"You will bring her back?" Lilaurael asked.
"I will. When it's safe," he nodded. "Izarius. Darius. Remain here. When we find out more, you will be contacted."
"Yes, Imperius," they both nodded. He went straight to his inner sanctum with her. Her bedroom was furnished rather lavishly, thanks to the Greed Goblins, but he needed her on his throne. He set her on the gold cushion and made sure that her mark was facing the stream of constant sunlight. Now he touched the dot again and focused even further. This broke whatever hold was on her.
"Ah!" she gasped and convulsed in a form of pain.
"Easy," he soothed and helped her come around.
"Who...did that...?!" she shivered.
"Malthael. My former leader. I held respect for him. I don't know why he approached you. Or how he came around after so long."
"My parents..."
"They are safe. You are going to stay here, though. Just remain in my sanctum. Don't go in your room. Until this is under control, you are to remain here."
"What did he do to me?"
"I believe he was testing how strong our link was. He tried to severe you from me. It almost killed you," Imperius muttered. "Luckily, my bond with you is stronger than he realized."
"Why?!"
"I don't know. But, just by him doing this, it makes me believe that he is ill."
"Will you kill him?"
"I don't think I can," he said softly. "I respected him for so long..."
"It's okay," she nodded and let him hug her tight.
"I probably would have gone after him, if he had succeeded in breaking you from me. It was close enough, as it was. I see him as my brother, but even a brother can go too far for his own good," he growled. She continued to let him hold her, just happy that she was with him again. "I need to finish up a few things. Stay here."
"I vow," she nodded. He kissed her and left the chamber. She shivered and curled up in the massive throne. Malthael almost succeeded in killing me. What else could he do? As she tried to figure out what to do next, Gurzick appeared next to her. The Greed Goblin didn't like how she was.
"Okay?" he asked softly.
"No," she whispered. Now he looked at her with complete concern. "Malthael almost killed me. He...almost severed me from Imperius."
"No!" he gasped.
"Imperius wants me to stay here to be safe," she sighed. "I don't know what to do."
"Hmm," he frowned. "I go."
"Where?"
"Help."
"But...from who?"
"Wait," he nodded. She worried her lower lip and watched him vanish. He went back to his home to talk to Greed. Something had to be done. He scampered up to the massive treasure throne. Greed rose an arched brow and tapped his spindly fingers on the top of an empty gold helmet that served as a part of his armchair. He was stumped.
"I am thinking. I know," Greed sighed.
"If the child dies..." Gurzick winced.
"She has done much to increase my wealth. Her place of rest is complete?"
"Nearly. She needs something soft to sleep on."
"Raid places that give soft things. And shiny. It must be shiny, too," Greed ordered the goblins.
"Like a cover over the soft thing?" a goblin asked. "She has a soft thing. But, not much. It took a lot of us to bring her something to hold the soft thing, but that is what we have so far."
"Yes. Like they do in other places. Look everywhere," Greed nodded. He knew that they spoke of the bed frame. It was solid gold and stolen from the royalty figures in Westmarch. It took several goblins to do this in the dead of night. He did find it amusing when the king woke up on the floor. They had, quite literally, stolen his bed out from under him. But, Greed didn't want the sheets. They were an ugly royal red to him. They wouldn't have fit the standards of Heaven. He still kept them, though. His motto was always finders keepers. He would never change that.
"I thought she had something?" Gurzick asked.
"It is not good enough."
"We do much for her now. Why, My Greatness of Greats?"
"When you have lived as long as I," Greed started. "you know to always take an advantage of something. She is different. She does not hurt us. In return, I favor that. She gives me good things. So, I give her good things back. It is something that is good to do."
"Should we stop when we are done?"
"No! Keep it going! I want as much stuff as we can get! Trade is good. Finding is better. They say we steal. But we find. You know this. But, I saw that the child was afraid. Why?"
"She almost died, My Greatness of Greats."
"But, she did not. Her soul-half rescued her. Why does she still fear?"
"This was Malthael that almost killed her. The demon-slayer like the others."
"So...he kills his own now?" Greed seemed to blink with surprise. "I see..."
"It seems to be that way. Mainly not, but to cause aversions and show no allegiance to others."
"And you know this...?"
"I have been searching far and wide for the child. How can I not notice such things?"
"True. Hey! You are still training! You are not finished!" Greed scowled at a small goblin.
"But...I..." the small goblin whimpered. It was trying to swap out its training bag for a true treasure bag. It soon fell over from a smack to the head from the broken shovel. Gurzick grinned even more and watched the proper bag get swapped out again. Training goblins had bricks of colored gold to show they were worthless. Only the best goblins were able to do the true bidding. Any goblin that came back with less than desirable items were also given the training bags. They were mainly to help them gather strength for large treasure hauls and to fool the newer adventurers. The bags were given over, as the goblin was able to run off. The bricks were just that. Worthless and caused amusement for the goblins while the adventurer tried and failed to pawn off useless bricks.
"Greatness of Greats! We found this for the soft thing," a larger goblin said and displayed several sheets of a pearlescent color that were stitched with gold designs. "We found more in the dwellings of far more wealthy humans, too."
"Perfect. That will work. Those colors are nice. I want some, too!" Greed demanded.
"What she gets, you get?" Gurzick chuckled.
"Yes. That's the way it works. But...hmm...she fears. Oh! I have shiny stones. Sparkly stones. Ah!" Greed mused and looked at some of the rings he wore on his fingers and pulled off two. Glancing over at a pile of gems next to him, he selected diamonds to place in them. "Here. Take these to her."
"These are your most prized sparklies, My Greatness of Greats!" Gurzick gasped. The red stoned Manald Heal ring was studied closely first, as the diamond was fitted in place. Then the other ring, Rogar's Huge Stone, was examined next to receive its diamond fitting. Both rings would serve the girl well and heal her intensely, if all else failed.
"These will guard her. I have more. If not, I can get more," Greed nodded. The rings were given over, and Gurzick was ordered to leave. Greed pulled his mirror over to watch Gurzick head back to Heaven, but then it seemed to cloud over. He scowled. The inner sanctum in the Halls of Valor were fully protected against watching spies. Imperius must have increased the protection with Malthael lurking about just a moment ago. He was able to see her before. His mirror was also weakening from so much use. Magic mirrors were so hard to get! He was now going to invest in finding a stronger mirror. The Vizjerei mages tended to have such powerful objects readily at their disposal.
Anaurael watched Gurzick reappear and present her with the two rings. Her jaw dropped in complete surprise at the intense healing properties both rings held.
"Greed gives. No fear. Okay?" he beamed.
"Thank you," she nodded. She put on the Manald Heal ring right away on her right hand. As for the more powerful ring, she wanted to wait. At Gurzick's questioning look, she said, "I want Imperius to put this ring on me. It's important."
"Oh! Okay!" he nodded. "I go."
"Of course," she nodded back. When he left, she studied the powerful ring. The large, light blue stone was, most likely, a piece of the Arc from how it pulsed and radiated such a divine Light. Or was it a drop of crystallized blood from Anu? Regardless, the ring would now serve a special purpose. As she waited patiently for Imperius to return, she could only hope that all went well.
Imperius, on the other hand, was forced to enlist the aid of the Nephalem. Malthael was sick. He couldn't bring himself to kill him. As much as he wanted to try and speak with his lost brother, there was no way to do so. The next action caused by Malthael sealed it. Heaven was now under attack again.
"Defend the gate!" Imperius shouted. The warrior angels poured out to defend the entrance to Pandemonium. "What has gotten into him?!"
"Where is your ward?" Auriel asked with concern.
"My inner sanctum," he muttered.
"What happened earlier? You left so fast!"
"Malthael paid her a visit. He touched my mark on her. He nearly killed her," Imperius glowered. Auriel floated in pure shock now. "He tried to severe her bond from me to see if it could be done. I had to bring her here to heal her."
"You cannot be serious..."
"I had to remove his touch from her. So, she remains in my inner sanctum until he is dead."
"I understand."
"And there is the Nephalem. The moment the Death Maidens are gone with their ilk, I shall lead the Nephalem to Pandemonium. I know they can use the battering ram there to enter the fortress. I will not help them to collect the Siege Runes that power it, though."
"Very well," she agreed. Imperius stood watch over the entrance of Heaven, as the Nephalem took out Malthael's minions with acute accuracy. The roguish man that accompanied the Nephalem was an excellent mark, too, but far too greedy for his tastes. There were two others there. A warrior Templar, and a skilled Enchantress. He cared not for them, though. Tyrael was also there to lend his aid. They found out where Malthael was, and he was leading the Nephalem to the High Heavens to reach Pandemonium. It was the only way to get there. On noticing how Tyrael seemed to be in pain, she said, "I am sure that Tyrael may stay here and wait for a time to rejoin the Nephalem. He appears to be wounded. I will see what I can do to help him."
Imperius only nodded. When the area was clear, Imperius made his entrance in a flash of light. He took them to Pandemonium and led them to an abandoned siege camp, but just to there. It overlooked the battering ram that they had to use. Before he left them, he said, "My brother is sick and needs to be put down. When it is done, it will be done. But, I will not thank you for it."
"Your thanks is not needed, nor wanted," the Nephalem seemed to growl back. Imperius only vanished away as a response. He went straight to Anaurael. A wash of relief went over him when he saw her on his throne. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. His mark on her forehead seemed to shimmer happily with his reflective Light. It relieved him that she was well.
"I heard fighting," she whispered.
"Malthael dared to attack us," he growled.
"What?!" she gaped.
"The Nephalem appeared, and the attack was culled. As much as the Nephalem will put down Malthael for me, I will not give my thanks."
"I know," she said and ran a hand over his armored cheek. He sighed and finally noticed the rings. He was a touch impressed at the red stoned ring. When he saw the large, blue topaz gemstone, he noticed that it matched her eyes. Then he saw what it was.
"Where did you get that?!" he demanded.
"Gurzick spoke with Greed," she chuckled. He shook his head with a touch of disgust, but he didn't complain. "It is to safeguard me, I think."
"I can accept that. But...you do not wear this one? Why?" he asked and took Rogar's Huge Stone from her. "This one I would prefer on you at all times."
"I want you to put it on me," she smiled and showed him her left ring finger.
"Why?"
"Think of it as an act of trust," she said. He gazed at her silently, but he did as she requested. Once it fit perfectly on her finger, she swallowed and said, "A ring also symbolizes a form of partnership. My Mother and Father wear rings to show their union. It keeps others away. So, I thought you could put this on me...to show our union..."
"My mark made you mine."
"None can see it, save for true angels. This ring will help," she chuckled.
"I understand. Very well. Come. Let us check on your chamber below us," he said.
"I am afraid that I do not know what the kingdom of Heaven is called," she sighed.
"You were never informed?" he asked.
"I fear not."
"Ah. Well, you are in the Silver City. My Halls of Valor is one of the purest places here. It resides the closest to the Arc of Heaven. It is how I was able to purge Malthael's touch from you."
"Oh. Auriel was telling me various things, but not the full name of this place."
"I shall reprimand her for that later."
"No, Imperius! The fault was mine for not asking."
"You have no faults."
"Really?" she mused. He seemed to smirk.
"You are my ward. You only lack training."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
"Does it not?"
"It sounds irritating," she admitted. He rewarded her with a small chuckle. When they finally walked down the last step, they paused at the wealth that littered the room. The bed had a mess of bed sheets on it, and large pillows of ivory lace and gold etchings to keep with the room colors were piled up in an unruly heap all over it. Every spare bit of space was stockpiled high with treasure, gems, weapons, and armors. "Greed."
"Definitely," he snorted.
"It will take me days to sort through this!" she scowled. "I don't need all of this!"
"What is he trying to pull?!" Imperius muttered angrily.
"Let me try to make some space. If anything, some of this can be used to bribe humans into leaving me alone," she muttered out.
"Or they get the idea that they can get more."
"Ugh."
"I'll toss what we don't need out a window."
"Please do," she nodded. "Actually, some of this can go to my parents. I'll set aside what I want to stay, and what can go to them. That will work."
"Fine. As you work here, I'll train the troops," he nodded. He was about to leave, but he paused with fascination at how she removed the thongs that held her long hair back. It had reached down past her rump now in a straight sheen of molten gold. But, when she released it, a breeze from a window blew into the room to make every single strand float with a weightless look that reminded him of his own wings. He actually caught his breath at the sight.
"Is everything all right?" she asked gently. Her hair settled around her shoulders neatly. She had no bangs, but a slight widow's peak helped her hair frame her face beautifully. Her hair was one solid length. The odd thing was that it wouldn't cut. When her mother did try to cut it, the scissors used had broken in half on a single lock of hair. Her hair was as soft as a feather in the wind, but harder than solid gold when under any form of physical attack. It was a complete anomaly.
"Later. When Malthael is dealt with," he said slowly. "I will wish to speak with you on a rather personal matter. You will stay for this?"
"I had no plans to leave," she smiled softly. He moved to her side, lifted her up, and kissed her. Then he set her down and moved off to see what he could do. She smiled again with a soft blush, put her hair back, and decided to tackle the bed first. What she didn't need would go around it to go to her parents. That seemed to be the best place to start.