In Imperius's sanctum, Anaurael was getting cradled against his core. She would never cease to amaze him now. She was able to get two lost angels to repent their ways. Three if I counted my lieutenant. At least he knew that Izual was fully recovered. He didn't know about Inarius. She was in a deep sleep with her head resting against his shoulder, and he sighed at how her hand moved up to wrap around his neck. She needed the rest after the mental battles she did for them.

He also knew what Anu meant by him holding hatred. As much as most of it was for Inarius, there was also a lot there for Tyrael. After he heard Anu tell him that he was forgiven, all of that hatred melted away to nothing. There was no reason to hold onto it anymore. Cautious awareness had replaced it. He could finally see Tyrael in a form of brotherly neutrality once more.

He sighed deeply and ran a hand over her back, as he rocked her. When he noticed she was watching him, he muttered, "You should be resting."

"You are upset. I can feel it," she whispered and ran a caressing hand over his head to trail over his glowing jaw. "Talk to me."

"The hatred Anu said that I carried," he said softly. "Much of it was for Inarius. But, another large portion was for Tyrael. I...no longer carry that hatred. It was wiped clean. I still feel wary, but the hatred is completely gone. So, I am not upset. I am just...in shock about it. I've never felt so calm. Unless I'm with you, of course. With you, I am completely at ease."

"That's good to know," she smiled and pressed her face into his neck. "But, now I am curious. There was something on my mind."

"Tell me," he said.

"Your wings from your armor. You can move them and others cannot?"

"Yes. Not sure why, but I always have. Think on this. Itherael's wings hover over him. Others do not. And, that's a rather interesting question to bring up in light of the current conversation," he chuckled. "Now, why do you ask?"

"Well..." she smiled. "we haven't flown in a while..."

"Ah. You like flying with me?"

"I do. Greatly," she beamed.

"I shall make sure to do so the moment we get another chance to," he promised. "Hmm. Who is trying to contact me? Someone is outside my sanctum. Get dressed and rest in my lap."

"Yes, Imperius," she nodded. He kissed her feverishly first before letting her go to dress. Only after she dressed back in her sparkling gown of gold and diamonds did he drop to the floor with his armor reformed. He sat in his throne and had her move into his lap. Then he willed the chamber door to appear.

"Imperius," Izarius said when he walked in. "I am sorry to disturb you, but Itherael revealed a discovery that cannot wait. We need to see him. The Nephalem is also with him."

"I will meet them in the Angiris Council chambers. Anaurael, you are still recovering. Go down to your chamber and rest. I'm sure that Tyrael is there, too."

"He is," Izarius nodded. "He has been sleeping for some time."

"Must I leave you now?" she frowned.

"You need to. I would prefer for you to rest in your bed," Imperius said.

"Um...can I rest here?" she asked now.

"On my throne? I would agree, but you are carrying offspring from me. I don't want your body to be taxed. Why don't you wish to sleep in your bed?" he asked. She took his hand and pressed it to her mark. On gleaning her thoughts, he sighed. "In that case, you know you must. It needs to be done."

"I just...don't..." she cringed.

"Izarius, please tell the others I shall be there shortly," Imperius said. "I need to console her."

"Of course," Izarius nodded. He knew his sister was stressed. He went to deliver the message first. Then he went to meditate to find Tyrael in her mind.

"Where is she?" Tyrael asked from where he stood by the waterfall.

"She doesn't want to appear," Izarius said. "She knows it must be done, but she's feeling distraught over it. You may need to help her."

"I'll wake up," Tyrael nodded.

"No. She needs to go to you. Approach her as you are now," Izarius warned. Tyrael nodded and vanished to appear next to Imperius in his inner sanctum. She was shivering in his embrace, and Imperius was doing all that he could to comfort her.

"Anaurael," Tyrael said to her gently. "you know how important this is."

"I know. I just feel as though I am not spending enough time with him anymore," she admitted. "I truly do miss him. I know he has duties and..."

"I'm right here. There is no need to speak of me as if I am not," Imperius said and squeezed her. "You need to rest. As you rest, you will be with Tyrael. I will admit something to you."

"What's that?" she asked.

"I am curious how you will be with a mortal child."

"Really?" she blushed.

"Yes. It could give me an idea of what to expect if we try..." he whispered softly. "Remember?"

"Oh...yes..." she blinked.

"I'll take you to your bed and help you undress," he said.

"I shall wait," Tyrael nodded and vanished. Imperius rose up with her in his arms to take her to her bedroom. On the way there, she shook her head.

"Hmm?" Imperius asked.

"It should be in the Courts of Justice. Not in my bedroom," she said.

"Ah. You may be correct in this. To ensure it takes properly. I shall summon Izarius to have him wake Tyrael to make the quick move. There should be accommodations for sleeping there," Imperius nodded. When he decided to carry her there, he paused at how her hand ran up his armored chest. When he was about to decide to take her back to his sanctum, Malthael was quick to appear.

"Be with her there after Tyrael. The others are waiting," he muttered.

"I could make them wait longer," Imperius tensed.

"No. This cannot wait. Because that human thief is still here. The sooner you talk to them, the sooner he leaves with the Nephalem," Malthael muttered out again. He remembered what Myriam told him. Tyrael had to be with her first. Then Imperius could be with her. At the mention of Lyndon, Imperius seemed to hiss with disgust.

"I will be with you after Tyrael. I do not want that demon filth here any longer than needed," Imperius muttered. She nodded and let him carry her the rest of the way to the Courts of Justice. Tyrael was already there, thanks to Izarius and a quick teleport. Imperius helped her undress, since he said he would, and pressed a kiss to her mouth before heading to the Angiris Council chamber. He wanted to have the unwanted humans leave as quickly as he could.

"I was worried about you," Tyrael said when he was alone with her.

"Were you?" she asked. He was only wearing light breeches to sleep in, and he tensed at the feel of her hands on his chest. "You shouldn't be worried. You know this."

"I can't help it," he muttered. At the massage she began to give him, he sighed with a form of relief. She had him move to the bed to get the back rub he needed. After several minutes of it, he turned to pull her to him, and he removed the pants he wore. He didn't want to do anything else just yet. He only wanted to feel her against him for now.

"Are you pleased with Izual?" she smiled and rested against his warm body.

"I am. He already offered to be my personal guard while I was here. And he vowed to defend both you and I in any situation," he chuckled. "Also, Izarius had already claimed him as a brother. So have the others. They're showing him how to care for you now. As well as for me."

"Will he accompany you on Sanctuary?"

"I'm not sure. I may just have him remain here and have the guards in my chambers report to him. He will become my personal messenger in Heaven."

"That's wonderful!" she laughed softly. "Oh. What do you think of Inarius?"

"He's still trying to find his place here. He is protected by Anu, but there are many that are unsure of him. He was given back his old chambers, though. He was an Archangel. Is an Archangel once more. I think he's still in shock that he is back in Heaven. We'll keep an eye on him, though. I also noticed that he looked...different now."

"Different?"

"Yes. Before, his hood actually resembled human hair. Silver hair. It could be how humans have hair on their heads, now that I think about it. The demons must have done something about that. Also, he had a halo much like Imperius's halo, but it wasn't as elaborate. That is also gone. Another difference was where he was found. I thought he was in a chamber of mirrors to see what was done to him and bound in chains. That his wings were removed, and his eyelids peeled off to force himself to stare at what he was. At least, that's what the rumors were."

"It could be something that Anu did. There was only so much healing that could be done. Maybe it would return? I am unsure. It could happen, if he regains himself in full. And, we must remember that he was moved. I'm sure that none could know of the true nature of his torment. It may be true that his original features will come back in time."

"That's true. It may also be why he feels uneasy. He knows he isn't the same anymore. He's not fully complete. That he even feels a bit...alone. He used to be one of my generals, so his chambers are close by. It does make me wonder if he may walk these Courts again. He may feel better."

"I wonder if that is why he feels as he does," she frowned. "He had many doubts before agreeing to be healed. I think he still harbors secrets. Either dark or light, I wouldn't know. I'm not sure what to think. I should speak with him again. Not now, of course. But soon."

"As long as your brothers are with you," Tyrael said sternly. She pressed a kiss to his lips to show she understood and smiled. That sparked a fire in him, and he grabbed her with a playful grin. The moment she closed her eyes, Tyrael's angelic form was there to pull her close with a soft groan of need. Now that he was planting the important seed of offspring, Izual was busy scouring the Courts in silence. He missed the place dearly. He found and reclaimed his old chamber easily. With Azurewrath back on his side, he felt whole and complete. It was a feeling he never wanted to lose again. As he walked the familiar halls, he ran into Inarius.

"Hello," Inarius nodded.

"Greetings. You have recovered?" Izual asked.

"I have. And you?"

"My mind is clear, and my body is mine again. As much as everything after my capture is...hazy...it's a relief. And yourself?"

"I still can't believe that I'm back," Inarius admitted. "I never thought I would live to see the day. Not since my sins were forgiven by Anu. I hope to regain my full self."

"Your full self?"

"Yes. The demons...removed my original hood. They seared off what I had. My halo was torn from me. They...well...it's best that I don't get into it too much," he muttered.

"Agreed. And the one you were with before?"

"I banished her. I had vowed that I wouldn't kill her. She's locked in the void."

"Is there a chance she could escape?"

"No. I ensured it."

"Things can change now. Just remember that. We were both granted a second chance. I do not plan to squander mine. I would advise you to not do the same," Izual warned.

"I have no plans to," Inarius nodded. When Izual walked off, Inarius sighed to himself. He wondered why his original identity didn't return to him. My original strength seemed to be lost, too. Then it hit him. It was to remind me of my past discretions. Anu did forgive me, but I am also being warned not to stray from the true path. "Anu knows all. That girl was able to speak to him. Maybe she can speak to him again for me."

At this, he turned away from the sight of the Silver City and began to walk to the Halls of Valor. He didn't know that she was with Tyrael in the Courts he was just in, but he recalled that she said that she was Imperius's missing Light. As he approached the Halls, several angels stopped him.

"What is your purpose here?" a warrior asked.

"I wish to speak with the girl that saved me," he said.

"She is not here. She is with Tyrael in the Courts of Justice. They cannot be disturbed," another angel said. "The two of them are to make a mortal champion for the High Heavens."

"What?!" Inarius was actually surprised. It was mentioned before, but too much was going on for him to pay close attention.

"Izarius will reveal all to you. You can find him guarding her," a third warrior said.

"Thank you," he said and turned to head back to the Courts. Before he got there, Izarius was already walking up to him. They had warned him about Inarius.

"Anaurael cannot be disturbed. I am Izarius. What do you need?" he asked.

"I was hoping that she could speak to Anu for me. To answer some questions," Inarius said. It was best to remain truthful about this.

"No. It is unwise. When she communes with Anu, Imperius loses her for a bit. It hurts him. She truly is his missing Light. A part of him that was displaced elsewhere. It's hard to describe."

"I see. How often does she commune with Anu?"

"It depends. It could be a week. It could be a year. It could be right now. She does not simply call on him when she wills it. It would show disrespect."

"So, this mortal champion will be for him?"

"No. It is for Malthael. Imperius impregnated her soul. Not her physical body. Tyrael is to do that. As much as she...dislikes it. She only wishes to be with Imperius. It harms her greatly, but she knows that Heaven also benefits from this. Tyrael and Imperius have called a truce."

"And, where do you fit in?"

"I am her true brother. I was told to find her on the night of her birth. I was the first to find her out of several others. Me, Darius, Azarius, and Mithus are her brothers and personal guard. The Crystal Arch chose us to do this. We tend to all of her needs," Izarius nodded. When he looked over at Malthael appearing, he knew that Inarius couldn't see him.

"I don't trust him. I can't trust him. There is too much that he has done. Yes, I have done much, too, but he has done things that make my actions seem slight in comparison. I don't know why Anu wanted him back. Unless...hmm..."

"Malthael?" Izarius asked. At Inarius's odd, puzzling gesture, Izarius chuckled. "That's right. You cannot see him. Anaurael locked my presence in her mind to keep me safe. As her brother, she wanted to do this. It was how I was granted my station. Because of this, I can see Malthael. He also locked himself in her mind, but it was accidental. He also discovered the benefits of doing this. Any that are locked in her mind can see him. I will explain that later. Anyways, what do you mean, Malthael? Have you discovered something?"

"We may have to consult Chalad'ar...but I feel that the demoness he mated with may come back. That his true act of redemption would be to slay her, if he was given the opportunity. It would be...interesting. If that was the case. Say nothing, though. There is no need to. As to what to tell him, you can say that Anaurael needs nourishment. And she does."

"Understood," Izarius nodded. "I need to check on my sister. She needs to eat."

"I find it hard to believe that Imperius has done much for a mortal female," Inarius said.

"She's an angelic mortal female. Her parents were angels once and removed their wings. If you remember Ilerael and Lilaurael, they are her parents," Izarius said.

"Them? Those two?!" Inarius was in complete shock.

"Yes. They are expecting another offspring now, but not like Anaurael. You could say that it's a new race. Slow to come about, but a new race. That and several angels have willingly removed their wings to start populating Sanctuary in secret. Who knows what will happen in the next several years? I must excuse myself, though. I need to see to my sister," Izarius nodded and trudged off.

"There is much that I am missing. I need to know everything," Inarius muttered to himself and decided to track down one of Anaurael's other brothers. The whole time Malthael was there, he showed his mistrust. He retreated back to Anaurael's mind and knelt before the spire.

"Great Anu...please guide me. Are my thoughts correct?" Malthael asked reverently. At the warm feeling he received, he let out a heavy sigh. Inarius was now going to be watched at all times. He would still want to consult Chalad'ar, but now another thought hit him. "If you know what he is truly about, then why bring him back? Why grant him reprieve?"

:HE IS...MY SON...AS YOU ARE...:

Malthael sat there in shock. Anu was able to talk to me directly. Now he knew that Anu could freely speak with any there, but it was safer to go through Anaurael. I had a very intense question. Anu felt the need to answer it. Inarius had one last chance to redeem himself. If he lost it, there would be no further reprieves. This was a given. The same even went for myself.