.When Imperius was told of the new realm from the angels that went there, he was surprised. He knew he was going to want to use it as a training ground of sorts, if it gave that much of a challenge. Until then, he had watched Anaurael finish nursing Mal before letting her fall asleep in his lap. He was rocking her gently, and he was informed that the troops were training well.

As he watched over her physical form, Malthael was holding her mental form close within his lap. He was sitting with her at the base of the mental rainforest waterfall, and he was gently stroking her hair. He didn't want to say anything just yet. He missed this form of contact greatly. After several minutes, she sensed that all was not well. He was too quiet.

"Is something wrong?" she finally asked him.

"No. I just...missed this..." he sighed softly. "But...maybe there is something wrong..."

"What is it?"

"That dream you had. It...disgruntles me..." he muttered. "Of course, I did not know you then like I do now. But...the mere fact that I...upset you...and hurt you..."

"It was a dream."

"It does not matter," he growled out. "Harming you in such a way...it is true. At one point...I was hasty to get what I wanted. After learning of you...of your triumphs...your hardships..."

She leaned into him, as he trembled and hugged her. She couldn't say anything right now. All that he could continue to say was, "I think...I am already...deeply regretting...what I tried to pull with you before...in the beginning..."

"I will be truthful," she sighed. "I only let you get this close to me, because I had no choice."

"I know. At first...I'm sure of it. But...now?"

"You know my answer," she smiled. He could only nod and squeeze her. She gently caressed his cheek, and he sighed deeply.

"I think...another dream should be done. Of me meeting you..." he admitted. "But...I would not want it to be like before. Maybe...with a bit more...introduction?"

"I'm not sure if that would be possible," she frowned. "A dream is completely random."

"I can help bring it about," he said. "And, yes, I know that others would wish to see this, too."

"I don't know," she shivered. "Imperius gets so upset now. And he worries, because I am carrying his sole offspring. If I come under too much stress..."

"Hush..." he whispered and placed a finger over her lips. "I understand. I am aware of the risks. What is life...without such risks? It was a risk to let me get close. To let you accept me. You gave me a mortal form. But...I will always wish to be here. Right here. With you."

"Malthael..." she shivered.

"I don't care if you belong to Imperius," he muttered. "I truly don't. Yes, I know why. You are a part of him. But...you are a part of me, too."

"Am I?"

"Yes. You know...it's funny. Three small words. The power they can hold. The very same three words that you say to none but Imperius," he mumbled and pressed his face against her neck. "Words...hold a lot of power. They can be pleasant. They can be kind. They can bring joy. They can also bring...despair. Sadness, too. Anger, cruelty and rage. The way they can be arranged in a single sentence...can be a crushing blow. Such as...the small words...dealing with care. Or love..."

"Please..." she swallowed, and he calmed her with a squeeze, but he kept on.

"I know why such powerful words cannot be said. But...I have three words that I can say freely. I don't care. Or four, if it's said...I do not care. Which I don't. When it comes to feelings about Imperius. Or to any that disgust me. Or waste my time. Such things hold no value to me. But, I do care about you. I care about how you feel about me. I could care less about any that question my motives. But...I would care about what you felt about them. I believe...I would have listened to you. I would have understood why you felt as you did..."

"About what?" she asked. At the caress he gave her cheek, he chuckled.

"About what I did when it comes down to Sanctuary. That is what I mean," he said and lightly touched her nose to add emphasis. She found herself blushing softly, and he laughed. "I think...that this is why I want you to dream of such a thing. To see if...my thoughts were right."

"Malthael, please understand my point," she started, but he pressed a finger to her lips.

"You tell me that you feel my sorrow," he whispered. "My pain. I know why it is. I told you so many different things as to why it could be...but I know what it is in full. And it is because I will never have you like Imperius does. My jealousy over him knows no boundaries. Knowing that he has your love completely and fully...while all I get is intense care...I try to say that it is enough. But...even I know that it will never be enough."

"Malthael, I –!" she started to talk again, but this time his mouth quieted her. He refused to let her argue with this. This was why he was so upset. This was the root of his sorrow. This was what he was holding back from me. He wanted to hear her say that she loved him. He knew that she could never tell him that. And it was because of this that his jealousy over Imperius was so great. He kept it hidden very well, but she sensed it from him. She knew he was bothered by something. He knew he was incredibly selfish over this. As much as he respected Imperius for giving him another chance to live, he truly didn't care about the golden Archangel's stubborn pride.

When the kiss finally ended, he noticed that her emotions were in turmoil. Her mark was glowing steadily though. It showed she wasn't in distress. When he gazed at her to speak, she whispered weakly, "So many...want me to...tell them...but...I vowed, Malthael! I cannot break my vow! It is the one thing that he has left of my full devotion to him!"

"And there is the stubborn pride that he has. It is engrained in you," he muttered, but he refused to let her go. "One day...I will break it..."

"And he will suffer for it. I won't let him hurt like that. I just can't," she shivered hard. Now he gazed at her with a form of intensity. And it was then that he realized that she did want to say that she loved him back. She only feared for Imperius's mental state. It terrified her to see a mere image of her strong protector crumbling before her. She saw it happen before with what Chalad'ar said what it did with Malthael needing her. She saw what he was like when Anu stole her away from him for just a moment. She was afraid of him becoming afraid. He had an idea of what she always said before. This solidified it. "I don't want him to fall into despair. He doesn't deserve that."

"Neither do you," he said and rocked her.

"I never told you to stop loving me, Malthael," she swallowed and pressed into him. "I know...that you hate feeling only second to Imperius when it comes to my innermost thoughts. So many do, too, you know. But...I think I know...how to show you..."

"Show me what?" he asked. Then he found himself pressed to the ground when she moved over him. At what he felt next, he could only stiffen with desire.

"What I cannot say, my body will show you," she muttered.

"You did this...with the others..." he managed to growl out. "I want...to be more..."

"Are you telling me to stop?" she asked now and gently traced down one of the slender lines of cloth that ran down his form. He lost his resolve. A full hour later, he could only lay there on the ground with her nestled against him. He didn't want to move. He didn't want to let her go. At least, not just yet. On noticing his silence, she asked, "Is something wrong?"

"No. The complete opposite," he said and rested his fingers in her hair to gently stroke. "All of the rage I felt...it seems to have lifted..."

"I see."

"I still hurt...but...it is bearable."

"You shouldn't hurt."

"It cannot be helped," he sighed. She reached up to caress his cheek, and he moved his hand to gently clasp hers. "For me...can you dream?"

"If I do, I need Imperius here," she said. "and any that need to see."

"Fine. Just...a bit longer like this..." he nodded. She gave him a warm, loving smile. At that, he caught his breath and squeezed her to him.

"You should know how I feel about you. And, if you forget, I'll just have to remind you," she chuckled. He laughed softly at that. He knew she would. For another thirty minutes, he simply enjoyed her presence. He didn't know when it would happen again. "Tell me. How would I dream?"

"I will call Imperius here. As he holds you, you will sleep," he said. She nodded and kissed him deeply before finally moving from his side.

"I will need to eat after this," she said. Then she yawned. She was definitely tired.

"You will," he nodded and sent a vibe to Imperius. When the golden, valorous Archangel appeared, Anaurael moved right over to him to get cradled.

"You are well?" he asked gently. She nodded and yawned again before snuggling into his form. Just by being around him again let her slip into a pleasantly deep sleep.

"Hmm. She's already asleep," Malthael said. "And...she's dreaming..."

"I am waking her up," Imperius muttered.

"No. She should dream. I want to know what she dreams of."

"The last time it happened," Imperius growled. "it made her panic!"

"It made you upset," Malthael corrected him. "And...it's of her childhood again..."

"I don't know," he muttered.

"Even you wish to watch this," Malthael countered lightly. Imperius scowled softly, but his brother was right. "I'll contact any that wish to see this."

"Be quick," he finally caved in and her close. Tyrael, Itherael and Auriel were the first to appear. Then it was Izarius, Imperael, Anarius, and Izual. Then her parents appeared.

"We haven't been seeing her enough. Durlin and Loremy wish to see her at some point, too," Ilerael chuckled in his angelic form. Imperius would only give a small nod of agreement at this. "How long has she been dreaming for?"

"She just started," Malthael said and brought up the dream-like projection again. At how the dream was starting, he slipped in the mental suggestion of what to dream about. It was going to happen. Now they all turned to face it and watch in silence.

It was the week that Imperius went missing. Anaurael was worried, but she figured that he had some intense duties to do in Heaven. Still, she knew he would want her to wait for him for as long as she could. She was fourteen now, and her beauty was already quite evident. Even as her mark glowed softly on her forehead amidst her long locks of pulled back molten-gold hair, she dutifully waited for him to arrive. She had no idea that she was being watched.

One of Malthael's scouts had happened across the sleeping village by pure chance. There was something there that felt off to the Winged Assassin. As it skirted swiftly along the outside of the village, it happened upon the small cottage. And, at the sight of the girl with the odd glowing dot on her forehead, the curiosity of this discovery had to be reported.

Within the hour, Malthael was staring with silent disbelief at what was before him. As he studied the girl, there was only one thought on his mind. The glowing dot on her forehead matched the color and vibrancy of Imperius. Was he connected to her in some way? On looking at his scout, he said, "You have done well. Leave now."

The scout nodded and vanished away. Now he redirected his attention back to the girl. She was waiting patiently for something. Or for someone. He mused to himself. Why not have her wait on me? He let ten minutes pass silently before he finally began to step out of the shadows. The look on her face was complete surprise and shock. He flicked his misted wings and studied her silently.

"Um...who are you?" she asked softly. The sound of her voice was a charming dulcet tone to him. He liked it. At the sight of his weapons on the sides of his hips, she seemed to shiver.

"That is the same question...I wish to ask of you..." he said calmly and stood before her. "I am Malthael. And...you are?"

"I am Anaurael. The ward of Imperius. Um...so...you were the original leader of the Angiris Council? I mean..." she flustered. He bent down on one knee to study her.

"So...you are connected to him. How...interesting to know..." he mused. When he reached out to see if he could touch the glowing dot on her forehead, she instinctively pulled away. He paused at this. Something told him that now was not the time. It was an odd sensation. He moved his hand back to his side. "Tell me. Do you usually come out here...all alone...to wait?"

"My brothers live here, too. So do my parents. But, Imperius usually comes here to be with me. It's...odd that he is not here. I'm worried," she shivered.

"Well..." he seemed to think. Then he moved to sit next to her. "while he is gone...you can talk to me? Would you...like that?"

"Oh! Well..." she frowned. "if it's...just talking..."

"Of course," he nodded. "And you have no demon blood? That I can sense, anyways..."

"No. My parents were angels from Heaven. They removed their wings to be here."

"Really? That is interesting..." he mused. "What else can you tell me?"

"Well...what else do you want to know?" she asked. For three hours, he asked her various things to hear her answer back. When she showed signs of exhaustion, he only nodded to her and wished her well before getting up and walking away. He was now going to assign his own small squadron to track her every movement throughout the day. What he learned was fascinating to him.

Basic chores and daily duties was something he never bothered with. But, when it dealt with her, it caught his complete fascination. There were a few things that happened that he didn't like, though. When she was seen waiting alone on the second night, he appeared again. This time he saw Izarius with her. At the wary glance the angelic warrior gave him, he stood ground.

"Anaurael, you should go inside," Izarius said.

"It's okay," she smiled. "He was here last night."

"What?!" Izarius asked her now.

"All we did was talk," she said. "Um...I find it odd that Imperius isn't here, though."

"I know. I'm sure he'll be back. I'm sure he's only tending to some important duties," he said. "And Malthael. As surprising as it is to see you here, what is your true purpose with her?"

"Just to talk. To ask some questions. That is all," Malthael seemed to shrug.

"Well...I must stand near her," he said.

"Whatever you wish to do..." Malthael muttered and moved to sit next to her. Izarius was now fully ignored. "I had been...watching you...throughout the day. Tell me. Who is that human...that kept pestering you? I don't think I like him..."

"Willis, you mean?" she sighed. "Yeah, he's a good guy, but he really wants to be with me. I just laugh at him and walk away. He's harmless."

"So you say..." Malthael seemed to snort. "I should have him culled..."

"No. Then his family would be upset. There is no need for that," she said.

"He has demon blood. He should be culled."

"For what purpose? If he truly hurts another, then I can agree with that. He has done no wrong to me or anyone else. There is no need for that," she said softly. "As annoying as he is, he benefits the village. Everyone living here works together to survive. He may be unpleasant at times, but he still helps the village. If you took a moment to see this, then you would understand. There are those out there that only wish to harm others. Those are the ones that don't need to be here. But, the ones that work hard for a better life do deserve to live."

Izarius watched Malthael's reactions silently, as his sister spoke to him. Malthael was paying complete attention to her. It was actually a bit unlike him.

"I will take what you said into...consideration..." he said lightly. "But...in the end...he is still partly a demon. In time...he will slip. And when he does..."

"Just don't tell me about it," she said. "I wouldn't know what to think."

"I can understand that," he agreed. For three hours more they simply talked. Izarius was slightly amazed by all of this. Malthael was never one for idle gossip before. It actually worried him. But, he didn't fail to notice his sister's stress. Imperius was still not here. She was getting very scared over it. There wasn't a single night that he ever failed to show. He started to wonder. When she yawned, Malthael bid her a good night and left right after. Izarius was quick to take her to bed.

For the next three nights, it was the same. She would wait outside near sunset, and Malthael would appear to talk to her. Malthael didn't fail to notice that her worry over Imperius was starting to wear on her. She was staying up longer. She was failing to eat. There were times she would even pause in her conversation to wipe away a small tear or two. She was becoming incredibly afraid that Imperius had abandoned her. She didn't say it, but he sensed this.

When he appeared on the sixth night, she wasn't waiting. Izarius was waiting for him, though. On his approach, the warrior angel said, "She hadn't left her room all day. She didn't eat, either. She won't even talk to me. I fear for her health."

"I see. Well...I will make her talk to me," Malthael droned out and did the unthinkable. He stepped into the small home. When Darius, Azarius, and Mithus blocked the path to her room, Izarius told them that Malthael wanted to help. They were hesitant, but they relented. They needed her to eat and get better. When Malthael knocked on the small door to the room, there was no answer. So, he did the next thing. He used the shadows to simply merge through the cracks in the door to the other side.

What he saw caught him by a rare surprise. Her mark was still glowing to show that Imperius was healthy. But, her state of mind was not. She was curled up in a small ball and shivering. Her food was nearly completely untouched. She was sobbing all day. Even when her parents tried to console her, it was just enough to have her eat a couple bites, but that was all she could manage. When she suddenly glanced up at him with surprise, he was already sitting on her bed.

"You were not waiting for me outside. That is unacceptable," he said in a stern way. It reminded her of Imperius, and she swallowed. This was what he was aiming for. "And you have not eaten, nor slept. I am not pleased with this."

"But..." she shivered.

"No. You are to eat right now," he said. She needed this stern form of command, and he had lived with Imperius long enough to know how to give her such orders. He enforced it further when he said, "Do you think that Imperius would wish to see you like this? I am sure he would not be pleased."

"But...he's not here..." she whimpered.

"Your mark still glows. He is still with you. Even if his presence is not. Now eat," Malthael ordered again. She found herself going to the food dish to eat her fill. He waited until she was done and drank enough water down. Then, much to her surprise, he lifted her up to set her in his lap. His touch was ice, though. Her body didn't know his energy signature yet, since he didn't touch her mark. After another minute of silence, she finally broke down into wracking sobs. "Hush, child. Hush. I am sure...that he is fine..."

"I...just...miss him...!" she gasped and whimpered.

"I know you do. But...when he comes back...I may not be around as much..."

"Why?"

"Because...even I have duties...but...I shall see what I can do...to try and see you when I can..."

"Can you...find out...where he is?" she asked softly.

"I am afraid...that I cannot. But I am sure...quite sure...that he will be with you soon. Maybe tomorrow. Or the next night. But...I will be here for you...when he is not..."

"You will?" she sniffled.

"You have...my vow..." he chuckled softly. She could only nod and sniffle before more tears fell. He simply held her, as she vented her grief. When she finally calmed down she felt better. His touch was still cold to her, but it was bearable to an extent.

"Thank you. For being here..." she swallowed.

"You are welcome, child..." he said and gently stroked her hair. "You should sleep and recover. I shall expect to see you tomorrow night. If he is there, I will not appear. He may not wish for us to talk. Especially if he has been gone for this long."

"Okay," she shivered. As cold as he was to her, she was a bottle of living heat in his embrace. He was relishing it. He helped her settle in her bed, and he placed a very gentle caress on her cheek. As much as he wanted to touch her mark, he still felt that the time wasn't right yet. He still needed to wait.

The next night showed her looking much better, and they talked for a good length of time. But, on the eighth night, from a full week of him missing, Malthael appeared. And, to his disgruntled surprise, Imperius had found his way back to her. She was being cradled in such a loving and protective way that it fully rankled.

"I am sorry that I was gone," Imperius whispered to her. "I will never leave you like that again. You have my vow. Sleep now, my ward. I will not let you go."

"I missed you terribly," she shivered and pressed into him.

"I know you did. And I missed you, too," he sighed. Malthael was in complete surprise over this mood that Imperius displayed. And now he had to retreat back to the shadows to think hard and wait for a chance to see her alone. He was always the patient watcher. Time meant nothing to him.

When the dream finally ended with her waking up, Imperius gave everyone a look they all knew before he vanished with her from the mental world. Malthael was, once again, speechless. As the others talked and conversed over what they saw, it was Anarius that went to talk to him.

:I THINK...I LIKE THIS ONE...BETTER...: he said. His form was currently in a glowing ball of Light.

"I do, too. But...it's just as sad..." he sighed. A comforting feeling enveloped him now.

:I AM SURE...SHE WILL...MAKE TIME TO TALK...WHEN SHE CAN...: Anarius said. Malthael could only nod. Then his form vanished when his body woke up. If he couldn't be with her in her mind, then he would be with her in flesh. Even as an infant, she would give him attention. And he definitely wanted attention from how he started to cry out his hunger. He would always get his way now. He knew this from how she scooped him out of the cradle. Imperius wasn't leaving her side, but that didn't matter. At the sight of Mal's eyes, though, she just gave a warm, loving smile and kissed his forehead where his own prismatic mark was. She knew who it really was now.

"Mommy's here now. Mommy isn't going anywhere," she crooned and held him. Malthael could only sigh. That was what he would always want to hear in any bodily form. That she was there.