Izarius was relieved when he learned what happened through Malthael. Anaurael was sleeping deeply still, and Imperius had gone back to training his troops at her urging. But, it was what Malthael told Izarius next that would have the new Archangel completely enraged.
"Itherael shouldn't touch her!" he said.
"Trust me. I know. But...Anu's Light reached me. It was confirmed. What more convincing do I need? Granted, Imperius could understand, but there would be too much tension in the Council. We cannot have that. So, we need to properly distract Imperius with enough time for Itherael to be with Anaurael. I was informed to enlist the aid of Greed. Do you think you can contact him?" Malthael asked.
"I can," Izarius sighed. "What do I tell him?"
"The truth. That Anu needs Itherael, but we cannot have Imperius know. To have Imperius help set traps in his new lair. Enough traps to give Itherael time to do what must be done. An hour should be plenty. We need to do this now. While we can. We have no choice. Contact Itherael first. Then Greed. Itherael should be given a signal when to approach Anaurael here. And make sure no others are in this room, should Itherael go to her. Actually...he has Cain's book. Request for him to study more with her."
"I'll do what I can," he nodded and teleported to the Library of Fate. He found Itherael there looking through Talus'ar. When he approached, Itherael held up his gloved hand.
"I know. I just read this. What I did was not enough. It...saddens me so. But, Anu also confirmed this with Malthael. I cannot fight what must be done. Clear the way for Anaurael to come to me. I shall...do what is needed for Anu," Itherael said softly. "Just...do not inform Tyrael or Auriel."
"I won't," Izarius vowed.
"I promised that I would not do this to her. But...if Anu said that I must..."
"I know."
"Be swift, then. If we delay this, our window will shrink," he urged. Izarius nodded and teleported to Sanctuary. He found Gurzick near Shen's wagon. The Greed Goblin looked over and waved. At the way he was approached, Greed took instant notice.
"You need to accompany me to Heaven. Anaurael's room. We don't have much time," Izarius said. "We can't tell anyone, either."
"Oh? Okay!" Gurzick nodded and teleported with him to the High Heavens. Once in the bedchamber, Gurzick showed he was ready to listen. In hushed tones to keep from waking Anaurael, Izarius explained in full detail as to what needed to be done. Greed was exceptionally concerned.
"I see what must be done," Greed said from the crown. "Distraction is easy. I can provide that. I will send a goblin to Itherael the moment the path to the girl is clear. If mighty Imperius appears to back down, I will suggest using that annoying human thief as a pawn for the new room. To test the traps. That should keep him mildly amused just enough. How long do you think?"
"I'm not sure," Izarius admitted. "Keep a goblin here. Maybe one in the Library of Fate, too. The moment you see Itherael with Anaurael in a state that shows they are done, that should spur you into attempting to finish what you started. I know that she will be in a delicate state of mind, too. Malthael will likely take the initiative to show that he put her there. He will tolerate any punishment Imperius gives him. He'll even take on whatever Tyrael gives him. And, that reminds me. We can't have Tyrael sleep, or have any rest, until Itherael is done. Yes, he may be able to know, eventually. But, not this soon. It would be too risky."
"Yes. You are correct in that," Greed nodded. "I can ensure his distraction easily. But...why?"
"Because he can see Anaurael in her mind now. If he looks for her...and she's not there..."
"Ahh. Say no more. I like tough challenges! Okay. I have an idea of what to do. Let me distract the mighty Imperius first. And don't worry about trades. Just by letting me have some fun is trade enough!" Greed giggled. "I also noticed that the new gown I brought her is soiled?"
"Yes. The offspring for Tyrael didn't take," Izarius said sadly. "The next one will."
"What?!" the demon lord said with shock. Now that this was told to him, Greed swore savagely. He worked hard to get her that dress, and he was so happy that she was going to be pregnant! "I'll be keeping a close eye on her, too. You have my vow. The moment it looks bad, I'll bring her to my domain. And, don't be alarmed if you are at her side until Imperius reaches her. It's an agreement we have. I was busy finding things for her when this happened. Ah! I'll have Gurzick give you something. The moment something happens, and I'm not paying attention, you can call for my attention."
"Thank you. And, trust me, Imperius really like that two-part gown, too," Izarius chuckled.
"Give Gurzick the garment. I can probably have him slip it into a batch of something getting cleaned. Not much bleeding got to it. It can get cleaned. Let me give you my summoning item first," Greed said and had Gurzick come to. The Greed Goblin vanished and came back with a small mirror to hand over. "Just say my name as you look into the viewing glass."
"The mirror? Okay," Izarius nodded, and it was carefully hung in a crafted pouch off his hip. It would be easy for him to take out and put back. Now with this important detail seen to, Gurzick was quick to teleport to find Imperius. Another Greed Goblin was sent to keep an eye on Tyrael and cause havoc, if Tyrael decided to get some rest. If the annoying goblin was told to leave, another would simply replace it in small shifts.
"Hmm?" Imperius glanced over at Gurzick waving at him from behind a pillar to keep from being seen. He walked over calmly and turned to keep an eye on his training troops. "What?"
"Set traps?" Gurzick grinned his fanged grin.
"What traps?" Imperius snorted.
"Traps in that room I made. You know? I can't make all the decisions. But, I did add some demons to a few of the more sparkly ones..." Greed said from the crown.
"You did what?!" Imperius now turned his helmed head and glared. "No demons!"
"Well, help me out! Then we can test what we did with that annoying human thief!" Greed giggled. Imperius grumbled, but he knew he had no choice in this. If Greed started to pull demons out of the Burning Hells to set as traps in Heaven, even in one location, I must put my foot down and agree to other traps. And, out of a spur of the moment decision by using treasures as teleport traps, Greed had brought in quite a few strong demons. Imperius was going to be exceptionally irate about it when he saw this. Sighing irritably, he looked over at Titharius.
"I have a matter to attend to. Keep them training valorously!" Imperius ordered.
"Yes, great Imperius!" his lieutenant agreed. The moment Imperius and Gurzick vanished, Itherael knew it was time at the sight of Greed Goblin waving at him. He set Talus'ar in his sanctum for safety and vanished away to Anaurael's chamber without a moment to spare. Leaning over her carefully, she blinked awake and yawned.
"Itherael? Oh! Malthael told me I needed to wake up. That you had something you wanted to show me with Cain's book," she stretched. "Something about Tyrael's library location?"
"I did. But, I also wanted to show you where I place Talus'ar when not in use. Would you like to see?" he chuckled warmly. She beamed at him and sighed. Moving to a basin first, she was happy that most of the bleeding was gone, but there was still a minimal amount there. Her cloth and leather garments would need to be used. The cramping wasn't helping, either, but Myriam was right in stating that she would work through them. Letting a cramp roll itself out, she coughed at the queasy feeling it left behind. "Are you all right?"
"It's my menstrual. It takes a few days to get over. It wouldn't have happened if Tyrael's offspring took," she frowned. He nodded with understanding. "I'll be fine."
"I know you will," he encouraged her. He helped her dress gently and teleported them to his Library. Her nudity didn't bother him at all. Like Imperius, he wasn't impressed by seeing flesh. It was her spiritual essence that truly moved him. Once in the Library, she looked around curiously. "Through here. Come with me."
"Okay," she smiled. He touched a small pillar, and a wall seemed to melt away with a soft light to reveal an opening. She blinked with fascination, and he chuckled as he lead her through it. It sealed up behind him. Her mark flared out to give some light, but it faded down as the plants in the circular chamber filtered out their soft, blue sparkles and glows. Gold pillars rose up in a circular pattern with a smaller ring of blue energy along the walls to give a moat-like effect. The ceiling was a vaulted dome, and was bare, save for a single, glowing blue crystal that hung down in a golden frame to give off the light in the room. His chair was a very simple scholar's chair of teak wood and gilded with gold. Behind the chair, on a small, marble podium, floated Talus'ar.
"This is where Talus'ar rests," he said.
"Your sanctum is beautiful," she smiled. At the feel of his hands on her shoulders, she chuckled. It was when he pulled her back to his chest gently that she stiffened. "What are you doing?!"
"Something...that Anu requires of me..." he whispered sadly.
"What?" she asked and turned in his arms to gaze up into his hood.
"I had vowed not to do this. But...Anu had informed Malthael that this was needed."
"But...Imperius...he'll know..."
"I can help you forget."
"Can you? I mean...he would understand, if it was for Anu!"
"Think about it," Itherael said gently. "So many have touched you already."
"I see," she winced. "Yes. He would be hurt so deeply..."
"So...I can do what is needed for Anu this way. I can help you forget. Everything will be well. But, we are running out of time. Our window is only open for so long. And, don't worry. I will always see you as my sister at any other given time."
"Okay," she nodded. "For Anu."
"Yes. For Anu," he agreed. She let him pull her up into his embrace, and she kissed him with the same passion that she shared with Imperius. The kiss only deepened, as his Song once again touched her soul in a more physical way than mental.