Luck was on Itherael's side from how intensely Imperius was training the troops. It took roughly an hour for him to calm himself with her and let her mark burn out the memory of what happened. Then, while she was recovering from that, he was quick to remove her from the cave and take her back to where she was. He set her on the ground gently and moved to be as though he had just arrived again.

The same surprise was given from her. The same conversation as before. Only this time, instead of talk of traveling, he merely wished to be near her and watch the waterfall move in its own, graceful way. At the same time, his mind was in turmoil at what he did. What he felt couldn't be put into mere words. Even as he gazed at her, he knew that there was no way he would want to do such a thing again. It wasn't that it was unpleasant. Far from it! It was just knowing that she belonged to another. He only did what was needed to safeguard Anu's development.

"Anaurael?" Imperius asked when he appeared. "Itherael?!"

"Hello, Imperius. Izarius informed me how to be in her mind. So, as I was reading Talus'ar, I attempted to be here. As you can see, it has worked," Itherael nodded.

"Hmm..." Imperius was indecisive.

"Think of it this way," Anaurael smiled. "If something happens with me, Izarius is not the only one that can find me. Itherael can, too. Even Auriel."

"I see your point. Very well," he nodded. He moved over to her to pluck her from the ground and hold her. Then he pressed his thumb to her mark. With the memory of Itherael's true visit removed, Imperius found no wrong.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

'No," he said and squeezed her. "I will let you rest for a bit longer. Tyrael may need to rest more with you, but he is busy in Sanctuary."

"Of course," she smiled. He kissed her and set her back down. Itherael rested a hand on her shoulder fondly and let his awareness get pulled from her mind when Imperius left. Malthael watched all this from afar, but made no move to visit with her yet. He felt that something else was happening. His thoughts were correct.

Izarius was standing over Anaurael's bed in complete distress. He couldn't do what Myriam said he had to do. This was my sister. There is simply no way. I was there for her, since she was a newborn. I guarded over her and let her confide in me. I protect her and love her like my own spiritual kindred. He finally muttered out, "I can't do this. I cannot bring myself to do this."

He sat down heavily in a chair and shook his head. When he tried to refocus to clear his thoughts, he was in full shock that Malthael was standing before him.

"No. I am not in the room. Since you were able to leave a portion of yourself in her mind, I am talking to your spiritual essence. Thus, in turn, you see me like this. I am an illusion. I do the same thing for her. Now. You seem...distressed. Why?" Malthael asked and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Myriam...the Vecin seer..." Izarius sighed.

"Wait. Did she say that you were also for her? For Anaurael?!"

"Yes. To help with Anu. But...I don't know why!"

"When did she say this?!"

"When I took her home."

"You are not touching Anaurael," Malthael said sternly. "Not until we know why you are needed for Anu. Only the key parts of the Council are needed. You have made Archangel status, but you are too closely tuned to be her brother. You will regret everything."

"I know I would," Izarius nodded. "She is my little sister. I love her like my sister."

"As I know. It appears...that we need to speak again with that Vecin female..." Malthael mused. "Or...actually...something better..."

"What?"

"She sees visions. I will send her one," he seemed to chuckle wickedly. "As formerly the Angel of Death, I know how mortal minds work. How dreams work. How souls work. I will get my answers from her in her dreams. Let me...handle this..."

"And you will tell me the outcome?"

"You have my vow," he nodded and seemed to fade away. "Remain...to protect her..."

He brought his awareness back and stood up tall to stand guard over the bed. He pulled his large spear off his back. "Oh, trust me, Malthael. I will protect her with everything I have."

With him focused on guarding the bedroom, Malthael appeared at Anaurael's side at last. She smiled at him softly, and he gestured for her to sit in his cross-legged lap on the ground. She relented and found herself cradled gently. As the waterfall roared somewhat peacefully in the background, he began to gently stroke her molten gold hair.

"The Vecin female...is a nuisance..." Malthael muttered. "She should be culled."

"No," she frowned. "She gave us insight on your future champion. And, she informed us of what I cannot do from now on. I am sure that I can train. I simply cannot fight."

"True. Fine. She needs to be spoken to again, though," he said calmly.

"For what?"

"My own reasons. Hmm. What do you think of Izarius?"

"He is my brother. I love him as my brother. He's my true best friend."

"And he should stay that way."

"I know he will. I would expect no less of him. Why?"

"Oh, just ensuring your thoughts are the same as his. Itherael does see you in high regard, but as a sister, too," Malthael said carefully. "What do you think of him?"

"I see him as another brother. A very protective one. I easily see Auriel as an older sister," she smiled. He nodded at this. "Itherael also has a...hint of curiosity to him. Like one I would like to know on a better term. Reading books with him is nice, but I wouldn't mind knowing more about him, in general. Not on a romantic level, of course. Just...to know what he likes and doesn't like. To talk to him better. That's really all."

"Understandable," Malthael agreed. "And, your thoughts on Tyrael?"

"He is loyal. I can give him that," she chuckled. "Very protective and caring. A touch overbearing sometimes. Strict and firm with rules, too. But, he used to be Justice. Some things are hard to let go. He's still trying to become the roll of Wisdom, too. He is slowly becoming more each day."

"Very true," he nodded and let a stand of hair slip through his fingers playfully. "And me...?"

"Bearable when you talk sense and keep me from going mad," she grumbled. That got a small bark of laughter rewarded to her. "And I meant every word!"

"I know you did," he agreed. "But...it is my nature."

"You should cull that."

"I cannot. It is a part of me. Even in the past...I was like this..."

"Were you really?"

"Yes," he nodded slightly and ran a hand down her back. "I tended to keep to myself quite a bit. I was not one to...mingle with others. Unless there was a battle...or a decision to be made in the Council. There was no reason for me to speak to the others openly."

"I did have a question for you," she said and leaned into his chest.

"Hmm?"

"Why did you refrain from the vote of destroying humanity?"

"Because..." he whispered gently. "all end up dead in the end. It mattered not, if it was swift or slow. Most children and off-shoots die without the parental parts. Unfortunately...the humans were able to thrive. Crafty. Survival of the fittest. Intelligent. They were able to adapt to live without either parental aid of angel or demon. It was...surprising. I can admit that."

"And when you were called to Pandemonium?"

"I heard something calling me," he mumbled and pressed his invisible mouth to her forehead. "I could not resist the calls I heard. The Chalice told me nothing. It tried to soothe my worry. But, it only gave me more questions than answers. I did go to Sanctuary to find out what called to me...but the calls were not there. I even went around the neutral areas of the Burning Hells. There were no sounds there, either. It was in Pandemonium...where the Worldstone once was...that the calls were the clearest..."

"And what were the calls from?"

"Human souls..." he sighed and wrapped his long arms around her. "When I was searched for by my followers in Wisdom, they understood what I was feeling. What needed to be done. A way to end the Eternal Conflict forever. Even Urzael...my own lieutenant...he saw firsthand what humans have become. He saw their vile ways and deeds. How closely to demons they were. At the same time, he witnessed what I thought. Why should humans be given the right to choose between being good or evil? Most humans are easy to sway and corrupt. He saw this first-hand. He championed my cause and led the frontal attack on Westmarch."

"Humans always have that choice. It is when they choose the path of corruption that it is hard to see them as anything more. There are humans that only wished to do good. As much as there are bad ones, there are good ones, too. But..."

"It is a choice that should not be theirs to make. It is...difficult to explain for my reasons. But, I knew that I had to find the pinnacle point to start my attack on Sanctuary to rid the demons from it. One of the largest places they gathered together. As I said before, Urzael and I focused on the human settlement of Westmarch."

"Why there?"

"That was where the most concentrated of corruption was. Where most of the souls I needed to aid me were. At least...for me..."

"No other places?"

"It's hard to explain how I see things."

"You could try," she smiled and nuzzled into his invisible neck.

"Perhaps. Not now..." he said and lifted up her face slightly to kiss her. It was easy to merge his Song with her now with her so close. When he was able to relent some time later, he only sighed.

"You said you know souls," she murmured against his chest.

"I do," he nodded.

"What is mine like?"

"Perfection. Flawless. Not a single speck of demonic taint. Like Tyrael's, but yours is rich with life. The Light of Imperius flows through it and empowers it. I showed it to you before."

"Yes. You did."

"It is a shame...that the mortal body did not take. But...it will."

"Like the woman said. The next one will," she nodded.

"And, back to her..." Malthael muttered. "I need to speak with her."

"Do I go to Sanctuary?"

"No. I know of a different way. However, I do not wish for you to be alone here," he said and focused on Imperius's energy pattern. The powerful Archangel was training his troops when he felt the surprising nudge. Within seconds here was there.

"How did you call for me?!" Imperius demanded.

"I have ways now. I am going to confront that Vecin seer in her dreams. I have unanswered questions. I wanted you here to be with Anaurael," Malthael said, and he rose smoothly with her in his arms to hand over. Imperius took her carefully and heard her sigh of relief when he held her.

"How do you intend to approach?" he asked.

"I know how dreams work for mortals. That is how she will be approached. I will be quick," Malthael nodded and leapt off into flight. His aim was for the mental spire. When he landed there, he knelt to one knee in silent reverence. "Great Anu. I know you can hear me. Please...grant me my reprieve. I merely wish to resolve the issue with Izarius. Please assist me."

A white glow surrounded him to give him the temporary reprieve he needed, and he gasped with a form of his own relief. He missed this Light deeply. For a moment, his wings took on their original light lavender, glowing tendrils, but then they turned stark white to show Anu was now fueling him. He felt empowered again. But, it was only to do what he needed to do. It almost felt like a father welcoming home a lost son. If he could shed tears, it might have been done.