Imperius was furious at Malthael. The kiss shouldn't have happened. He saw it as a breach in the vow given. When she returned to him a couple hours after her bath, he was thinking hard with her in his lap. He was clearly agitated about everything.
"I don't know what to think, either," she frowned.
"I should remove him!" he growled. She rested a hand on his armored cheek, and he shuddered for control. "If he does this again, I will demand an explanation. I know I will do it, too."
"And I will want an explanation, too," she nodded. She was dressed in a two-part dress consisting of a top and bottom with small slippers. The base silk was gold, of course, but a soft pattern of silver lacework was done. Greed was still looking for another gold dress with emerald green threading. That dress was fully destroyed by the demon blood that soaked it.
"I do like this," Imperius mused, as his hand moved over her bare belly. "We should request more garments of this type. And you look troubled."
"Not really. I just had something on my mind lately. Imperius, can you take me back to the Arch of Heaven?" she asked. "Is it possible?"
"For what?" he asked casually.
"I didn't really get to see a good view of it. I mean...I saw two, large spires of curved, glowing bone coming out of the floor. At least...I think it was bone. My mind was too preoccupied with current events with Titharius. I feel like I missed something. Malthael was trying to tell me, but...with everything happening..."
"Yes. And, I do understand how your sense of focus was off. You could say that it is the pinnacle part of Anu's spine. It is between those two pillars that the Light is most concentrated. When we do the Lightsong, we circle around them. New angels would form in the center. We tend to do this when we can to keep our numbers strong."
"I see."
"But...why do you wish to visit it now?"
"I'm not sure, really," she frowned. "It's just...a thought that really isn't going away."
"Hmm. I will admit this, though. I am surprised at what you were able to do with Tyrael."
"As am I."
"And...to know that he would want to rejoin us as a true angel once more..."
"He does regret what he did. But, he would never change his decision."
"I know. I do know that only he, your parents, and yourself would ever have mortal comforts here in the High Heavens. Even then, the rooms are temporary. Yours is permanent."
"Really?" she smiled. He nodded and rose up with her to carry her. "Where are we going?"
"To satisfy your curiosity of the Crystal Arch," he said. As he passed various angels, they all nodded with respect to both her and him. "It is good that they finally see you as who you are."
"I proved myself with Titharius."
"You did. You proved that redemption is possible. None doubt you."
She nodded and buried her face between the space of his helmet and his chest armor. She needed to say something now, and she only said it once before. "I love you."
"I love you, too," he whispered and kissed her gently. He refocused on walking again, but it was hard to do when her hot breath tickled from under his helmet. "Do you want me to walk? Or stumble?"
"Hmm?" she asked.
"Your breath is distracting."
"Should I not breathe?"
"Well...not this close..." he muttered. Then he paused and stiffened at the feel of her hand moving to rest against his actual cheek under the helm. "Do you want to see the Crystal Arch or not?"
"Sorry," she whispered. When she went to withdraw her hand, he stopped her.
"Keep it there. Just let me walk," he said with a touch of mild amusement.
"I could trace over a wing instead," she chuckled. He grunted and flared his wings out as though to challenge her. He cleared his throat when her hand traced over his jawline.
"What are you doing?" he muttered out in a low tone. "You know how I am now."
"I like to feel, too," she admitted. "To touch and know that you are there."
"I will never understand why."
"It's a mortal thing, I guess. It is ingrained in me to do this."
"Is it now?"
"I think so. You don't like it?"
"I never said that. Only that it was distracting."
"Then I'll have to stop, won't I?" she sighed. At the feel of his lips moving over her fingers, she gasped at the shiver of warmth she got. Then she felt teeth in the form of a small nibble. That shocked her, and she felt his lips seem to curl up into a rather soft smile.
"Don't. Stop," he mumbled. She was blushing a bright crimson now when he squeezed her and started to walk again. When her hand moved to trail down his neck, he shivered. "You're impossible!"
"You don't want me to stop, though. Right?" she smiled. He sighed heavily, shook his head, and continued to walk with her. She did relent, though, and only kept her hand against his neck. A part of him seemed a touch disappointed at that.
"When we get back to my sanctum, you can touch wherever you wish," he growled in a low tone. At another bright, red blush, he chuckled lightly. He doubled his pace to get to the Crystal Arch now. He looked behind him to see Izarius walking at a respectful distance. He nodded and gestured for his personal guard to approach.
"Where to?" Izarius asked.
"The Crystal Arch. She wants to see something," he said.
"I'll go ahead and ensure it's free for you."
"Thank you," Imperius nodded. Izarius accepted a light touch to his shoulder from Anaurael, and he chuckled. He patted her hand back and teleported away.
"I am grateful that he is at my side," she smiled.
"Yes. He is very loyal to you."
"And to you," she nodded. He reached up to move her free hand to settle under his armor and around his neck. She found herself blushing again.
"Keep it there."
"Okay," she smiled and gently squeezed her arms around him. He squeezed her back and was able to reach the Crystal Arch. Once he was here, he noticed that she was staring with a look of fascination at the two, massive bone pillars of glowing white Light. He set her down and watched her walk up to it. Izarius moved over to Imperius's side. He was concerned.
"What is she doing?" he asked.
"I don't know," Imperius admitted. Anaurael moved to lightly touch one of the pillars now. Then her mark seemed to glow with a form of excitement. Imperius suddenly went still. He lost contact with her in that second, and now he charged after her. A part of him felt lost again. He couldn't afford to lose her. As all this was happening, she felt herself bathed in a form of love and comfort. The feeling was overwhelming to her, and she could almost swear that she couldn't breathe.
:CHILD...:
"What?!" she gasped.
:YOUR TIME ...IS NOT HERE...YET. IT IS SOON...BUT NOT YET...:
"Who are you?!"
:ANU...:
She seemed to pause in shock. The voice that filled her mind was warm, wise, and just. When she was about to ask more, Imperius pulled her away from the pillar of solid Light and crushed her to him. She was gasping for air in his embrace. The moment her hand lost contact with the pillar, she was his again. A wash of relief came over him in a crushing wave.
"Don't do that again..." he whispered.
"What? I..." she blinked with confusion.
"I lost you."
"No!"
"Your connection with me was severed. I had lost you."
"I didn't know...I was..."
"Hush..."
"Anu spoke to me!"
"What?" Imperius now looked at her with a form of disbelief. At a glance to a concerned Izarius, the angelic warrior nodded and teleported away to give them some privacy. He would be informed later. Imperius returned his attention to Anaurael, and he pressed his thumb to her mark. Then he seemed to stagger. She was speaking the truth. He gazed at her in sheer wonder, but he continued to hug her all the same. "Still. I almost lost you. I never want to lose you."
"Imperius..." she whispered. When she closed her eyes, she saw Malthael. He appeared to be standing in a perplexed way. He was gazing at her with a sense of concern.
"I have found something out. You need to know," he said.
"What is that?" she frowned.
"The offspring that you and Imperius have created within your soul. It is...complicated. When you touched Anu's spire directly, I...felt him, too. From being in your mind. I believe...speculation, mind you...that your offspring is going to be Anu's champion. In angel form."
"What?!" she gaped.
"As I will be Heaven's champion in mortal form, Anu will once again champion Heaven in an angel form. That was what I felt. It was why Anu said that your time was not here yet. But...by you touching Anu's spire...it sealed it. I saw your soul flash white. It is normally gold. The same color as Imperius's energy. It is gold once again, but the offspring's soul...it turned stark white."
"I don't know...what to think..." she whispered.
"Also," Malthael said with a sigh. "a new building is here. In your mind. Later...when you dream, I will show you. It is important that you know."
"But, she will know of me now!" a strong, deep tone shouted as a tall, massive figure in silver armor landed. Large, stark white tendrils of wings flared out and wavered, as the massive angel stood tall, but he was not as tall as Imperius was. The same familiar brooch was there, but in a dual set on either side of his chest. They both held up a solid white tassel that went down his chest. Another, separate white tassel went down his front between his legs and over the back of his armored legs. His chest armor almost looked like regal ridged scales under the chest tassel. Chain mail was seen under his armored arms and any spots of armor that seemed to lack being welded together. His white, hooded head seemed to watch her with a familiar gentleness, as he regarded her. She knew who he was.
"Tyrael?!" she gaped.
"Yes," he said with a soft nod. "Out there, I am in the flesh. For all mortals to see. But...in here...in your mind...this is what I am. Izarius is also here, but there is no need for him to show himself to you. I am only here to keep my brother in his place!"
"Tyrael. You are Wisdom now. Though, your body still shows you as Justice," Malthael mused.
"It is how I have always known myself. And it is the same for you," he pointed out.
"And now I am here!" Imperius growled. He noticed Anaurael's eyes were closed, and he had taken her directly to his inner sanctum to be with her in safety. "Brothers. Why do you keep her here?"
"I was telling her that your offspring may be the embodiment of Anu," Malthael chuckled.
"What?!" Imperius said with complete surprise.
"I felt him here, too," Tyrael nodded.
"And, how are you able to focus here and not out there?" Anaurael asked Tyrael.
"My flesh is sleeping. So, my dreams are pulled here. Only when I sleep will I be able to be here like this. It would make sense now. Malthael, can you show us her soul?"
"I can try," Malthael nodded. Imperius pulled her into his arms to keep her there, and Malthael focused on the dark, mental sky. A soft, golden glow filtered around them now. Then he pointed at the glowing white pinnacle orb of Light nestled securely in the golden glow. "There is your offspring, Imperius. The Light within it has gotten stronger now. It will only get stronger yet."
"Can you see mine?" Tyrael asked.
"Hmm..." Malthael thought. "There is none yet. Keep trying."
"Fine. I will do what I can," he nodded.
"I should speak with Itherael and Auriel. If they would be like Izarius, where they won't be here like this with them, just in my mind, then it would be beneficial," she said. "Maybe my parents, too."
"True. Not now, though," Imperius said.
"I know," she smiled.
"Imperius, you do know that she will embody all of Anu's Aspects, right? Fate, Wisdom, Hope, Valor and Justice. Her mind will hold them all," Tyrael pointed out.
"And, that is how Anu will emerge as Heaven's champion as your offspring," Malthael nodded.
Imperius only took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. His wings wavered silently in thought.
"I understand. And I accept it," Imperius nodded. When Tyrael began to fade, he sighed.
"My flesh is waking up. I shall...seek her out...again..." he managed to say before fading from sight completely. Malthael chuckled and crossed his arms over his slender chest.
"Open your eyes," Imperius muttered to Anaurael. "For me."
She nodded and found herself held against his core. She pulled herself up, as he bent his head down to kiss her desperately. She pressed herself against him and shivered. "I was gone?"
"You were. But...only when touching Anu's spire. When I pulled you away, you came back. I don't want to lose you again. I really don't," he whispered and trembled with her.
"Sing to me," she said and ran her hands over his shoulders. "Sing to me, and I'll see how long I can focus on touching you."
"Done," he said and let his Song vibrate out, as he kept focus on her gentle touch.