A solid two months had passed. Anaurael's pregnancy was finally starting to show, if slightly. Imperius had her with him nearly every second of his time. It was when she was ready to sleep that she was permitted to be alone in her bed or with Tyrael. Itherael was able to make small visits to her, too, to help himself remain calm. When Tyrael was ready to rest again with her, she snuggled into his warm chest with a sigh of relief.
"I love you," he chuckled and squeezed her.
"I know you do," she smiled back and kissed him softly. He closed his eyes with her and found himself pulled into her mind. She was resting against his chest from where he sat back against a mossy stone. She had her hand resting on his invisible cheek within his hood.
"I really find it a blessing that I don't dream anymore," he sighed and held her.
"You always tell me this," she smiled and nuzzled into his invisible chin. "As much as I am happy to know you don't dream, it also concerns me a little."
"Why is that?" he muttered with a sigh at her touch.
"It's...natural for a mortal to dream. To me, it would seem odd. Yes, when I'm here, I don't dream, either. When I do dream, it's a bit of a relief," she smiled. "Try this for me. Fully rest your mind here. Think of nothing. Be weightless. Let yourself seem to wander."
"Are you really trying to get me to dream?" he asked with a chuckle.
"You should attempt it," she nodded. He sighed with his own nod and let himself fully relax. Much to his surprise, a dream did start.
He was walking with her in his mortal body in Sanctuary, and she was pregnant with his son. His direct heir to become what was left of Justice for the mortal Council. She was quite a bit along from how she carried herself. They were walking down a pleasant road. It was sunny and peaceful. A rather nice day from what he could tell. Then he smelled brimstone.
"Anaurael!" he shouted when the ground suddenly charred black beneath them. She screamed, as dark tendrils came up from the ground to hold her aloft. Imperius was quick to appear, but he, too, got ensnared from his hasty approach to reach her. Tyrael fought with El'druin to drive them back, but the tendrils were too great. There were too many, and they were far too swift to dodge and parry. Within seconds, he was subdued. El'druin was held away from him with a mocking taunt to get back in his grasp, but was just out of reach.
"Tyrael!" she screamed and cried out in pain when Imperius began to become assaulted from attack. Her mark flared out to show she was suffering. Wounds started to appear on her body when Imperius began to show how much damage he was sustaining. It was as if the enemy knew her weakness. Then Tyrael gaped. My child within tendrils were seeking to remove my son!
"No! Imperius!" Tyrael called to him now. The world suddenly shifted to become that of the Burning Hells. Anaurael was held aloft like a sacrifice next to Imperius. Tyrael was forced to watch and do nothing. At the laughter he heard now, he knew that voice. He knew it well. "Diablo!"
"May my enemies die together with whatever plans they try to create! Look now at the terror and despair that will overcome you, Tyrael! I will triumph in the end!" the Prime Evil howled with glee. The body of the Prime Evil wasn't there, but the voice was emanating all around Tyrael's paralyzed form. Just as two tendrils of corrupted black spikes raced to impale both Anaurael and Imperius...
Malthael's scythes slashed into the dream to free Tyrael and hauled him free of it. The Archangel's form was shivering with complete terror and rage. Anaurael didn't see the dream. None of them did. However, Malthael sensed what was going on and knew how to free him.
"Tyrael! Wake up! Now!" Malthael ordered sternly. Golden eyes snapped open and squeezed shut from the sting of sweat and tears. He found Anaurael watching him with complete concern. A cry tore from his throat, as he squeezed her to him.
"That bad...?" she whispered and held his trembling form.
"I never...want to...dream...ever again...!" he gasped amidst his shaking.
"I'm here," she said and kissed him in the desperate way that he needed it. She let him claim her with everything he had before helping him calm down. She pressed her body against his and ran her hands over his arms to soothe him and show that she was there. "Easy now. You need to tell me what you saw. If you don't, it will gnaw at you."
"I don't want to..." he shivered.
"You must," she murmured against his mouth and kissed him gently. She continued to coax him softly with her tenderness before he finally nodded. He kept her against him, as though to ensure her closeness. He felt that he had to safeguard her now.
"We were...walking down a path. You were pregnant with my son in full," he shivered. Now she knew why he was so traumatized just by this bit of information alone. "We were on Sanctuary. Everything was fine. At first. Then I saw...black tendrils come out from all over. They grabbed us. They subdued Imperius when he appeared. We were taken down into the Burning Hells. Both you and Imperius were ready to be killed. Then I heard...and I felt...Diablo..."
At her gasp, Imperius was in the room next to hear what this was all about. Anything about Diablo, he had to know of. He missed the part about what her condition was, but it was the fact that Tyrael was still trembling over what he dreamt of with Anaurael that fully concerned him.
"What else do you remember?" Imperius asked carefully and sat in a chair to listen intently.
"I was trapped down. El'druin was out of reach of me. You and Anaurael were ready to be impaled. I heard...that voice...all around me. There was no physical form to see. Just that voice," he grimaced. Anaurael continued to comfort him, and she looked at Imperius with a heavy frown.
"We know he's free. Just the fact that he found you dreaming...well...maybe he didn't. It could be memories. We don't know much of what this could truly mean," Imperius muttered.
"Tyrael, there may be another reason why you dreamt this. You found a lot of new Soulstones, didn't you? Could some of their auras have gotten to you?" she asked. Now Tyrael blinked at the possibility. This was highly possible.
"Regardless," he muttered thickly. "I don't want to dream of something like that ever again."
"Dreams are always different," she said softly.
"Nightmares always stay with you. Especially when it is about someone you care about and hold in high regard. Such things...I can't stand it," he said with a small shiver.
"Hush now. I'm safe. I'm right here with you," she smiled.
"I won't let you leave Heaven anymore. I can't do it. Not after seeing that," he swallowed. Imperius completely agreed with him. "And with Willis still fighting off the influence of Baal, I definitely don't want you around him now."
"What's this?" she frowned. She was never told of this. Imperius knew of it, but he had kept quiet. "Tyrael? What happened to Willis?"
"You were never told. I see. Willis had one of those Soulstones in his possession. Baal's soul was trapped within it. The stone was able to reach through to him. I don't know how. Or why," Tyrael explained. "His father was struck by him, too, but some salve healed him quickly."
"What?! Harvey was attacked?" she gasped at this. Imperius only snorted at this, but he remained quiet. All of this information he knew. When he found himself looked at, Imperius nodded.
"Yes, I knew of all of this. I did not tell you, only because it would have caused you stress."
"This was Horadric affairs, Imperius!" she said. When he reached over to neatly cup her chin to help calm her down, she sighed and shook her head.
"Remember the offspring you bear now. It is mine in full. Do you think that I would allow you to burden yourself with such stress?" he asked carefully.
"No. You would not," she swallowed.
"Exactly. Do not worry yourself, my ward. You're safe here in Heaven. With me," he vowed. She was able to reach over and hug him tight for her own bit of comfort without leaving Tyrael's side.
"Can you stay here for a bit?" she asked him.
"I can," he nodded and moved the chair to sit next to the bed. She rested her head in his lap to keep the rest of her body close to Tyrael to keep him calm. The tactic easily worked. He calmly stroked her hair as she rested, and he glanced over at Tyrael. "Tell me. Did you recognize which part of the Burning Hells you were in?"
"Good question," Tyrael sighed. "As much as I don't want to think about it, well...hmm. Not anywhere that I can recall. Unlike Heaven, since it stays the same, the Burning Hells tends to shift around. Nothing really stays the same there. That stench of brimstone! It was all around me."
"Sometimes," Malthael said when he appeared. "dream senses are enhanced. This is something I know. It may not happen right away, but it can happen. As for the dream you had...I could look into it. If you allow me. I cannot see your dreams, as I can with Anaurael. I may be able to peer into your thoughts, if you let me. Such as with Chalad'ar. Do I have permission to do so?"
"Let him," Anaurael murmured loud enough to be heard. "He can help you, Tyrael."
"Fine. Take a look," Tyrael nodded. Malthael nodded and vanished. At the gentle sensation to bring up the nasty dream, he grimaced, but he did just that. Malthael was taken by complete surprise. The dream was either an authentic premonition, or it was something dredged up from the depths of his subconscious and altered for a turn of events. Something told him it was the first option. He was now determined to never let her step back on Sanctuary with any pregnancy. If she was with Imperius's offspring now, who knew what would be able to sense her and the growing child?
"Decline any and all need for her to go to Sanctuary! If her parents request her, any available here must go with her. Even then, I'd say for very short stays. Less than an hour. It still doesn't sit right with her going to Sanctuary at all," Malthael said when he reappeared.
"I can stay here," she sighed and shifted to let Imperius cradle the back of her head in his hand. "I doubt that any of the Host will let me leave, anyways!"
"I can vouch for that," Imperius nodded. She smiled and felt his other hand move to rest against her belly protectively. "No movement?"
"It may be another month or two. I'm only two months along," she chuckled. He laughed softly at this with a small nod of understanding. At the sudden cry from Mal, Malthael found himself vanishing away. Anaurael was now sitting up in Imperius's lap and handed her hungry baby. "He's getting heavy!"
"Healthy eater," Tyrael chuckled when he sat up. Mal's silver hair was already starting to grow out in a sporadic way. Another ten minutes later had Mal getting burped by Izarius when he was ready to help. A rattle was soon introduced to the baby to catch his interest, and Malthael appeared to let the baby's mind get fully entertained with it. At the smell that filtered from the baby next, Darius had a changing table set up. Tyrael winced and cleared his throat.
"Your kid," Izarius chuckled at him.
"Shut up," Tyrael muttered. That got Anaurael giggling. Imperius was mildly amused. His own son would be doing the same thing.
"Izarius, feel free to toss that over the side," Imperius said at the sight of the filthy cloth diaper. Anaurael and Tyrael both found themselves laughing at this.
"We reuse them. Lilaurael washes them for us," Izarius said with a touch of mirth.
"I see. Well, scrape out what's inside and toss it, then," he said.
"Imperius!" Anaurael gasped with small tears forming. "What's come over you?!"
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "but I am curious if it would hit something."
"Oh, my..." Tyrael found himself laughing again.
"Then again, I don't want any true demon filth to find out about our son. Burn it," he said. "But, make sure it's done on Sanctuary to make others uncomfortable with the smell."
"You are not Imperius right now!" Tyrael said.
"I am the same. I just feel...odd. My full son is forming in her. I have another offspring growing in her soul. I want to protect her and cause discomfort to others. Since I cannot do the latter, I shall see what can be done in other ways," Imperius said.
"Why not let Greed handle that?" Mithus asked.
"Good idea. Call him. You need a good meal, too," he said and squeezed Anaurael.
"I haven't eaten yet, either. Oh, before you call for Greed, Anaurael should dress. I'll be fine wearing a blanket or cloth breeches," Tyrael said. Azarius was quick to hand over a light gown for her to slip into. Imperius had her seated back in his lap, and Greed was called for. Tyrael put on the cloth breeches and was given a bowl of hearty stew.
"Yes?" Gurzick asked when he appeared.
"I want you to cause some havoc on the mortals," Imperius said.
"I'm listening," Greed said from the crown. "You have my interest!"
"What can be done to cause severe discomfort without harming any?" Imperius asked. "As much as I would ask for harm to be done, I will settle with discomfort."
"Oh, that's easy. Make treasures appear to be in reach before going out of reach. Same thing with gems and various items. Such is the way it works," Greed chuckled.
"But, I want this to happen on a much larger scale," Imperius said. Now Greed was taken by surprise at this. "I want whole human dwellings to feel discomfort."
"Imperius, why does this matter to you?" Anaurael asked him. "I honestly didn't think that such a thing would matter. They all eventually die. You have been acting oddly, since your son began to form. Such things as human discomfort would usually be beneath you. And not all humans deserve this."
"Perhaps," Imperius muttered.
"I think I get it," she mused, as she thought over everything. "You're bored."
"What?" he asked her.
"Love, think about it. All you do is train troops and remain cooped up with me."
"Being with you is not boring. Training my troops is not boring."
"Then why are you insisting on causing unneeded havoc on humans?" she pointed out.
"Because they deserve it," he grumbled. She chuckled softly and moved to gently caress his cheek within the helm. Malthael was clearly amused at all of this. Tyrael rose a brow and thought over what was going on. Then his Wisdom took hold.
"It's not that Imperius is bored. He's trying to find things to help amuse you. I believe that you are the one feeling bored, and it's rubbing off on him," Tyrael said.
"Oh?" she blinked. Now Imperius found himself watching Tyrael.
"Now that his son is fully within you, he is bit more, oh, in tune with your subconscious thoughts. He's doing things without even realizing it. And, when you start to feel better, so does he. Right now, you control his actions. So, if you think about it, you want to see something happen on a grand scale. He can't voice it, but he can act for you. Anaurael, I think you and Imperius need to go flying again. The moment he starts to feel that he needs to do something odd, he would need to fly with you," he smiled. "I can watch over Mal easily."
"Can we?" she beamed at Imperius. Now the Archangel realized what Tyrael was saying. He rose up with her and flexed his wings. He did look back at Gurzick, though.
"I still want you to do what you can to cause discomfort. Think of something...original," Imperius said and held Anaurael to his chest. Izarius paused and noticed the slightly beaming grin Anaurael gave Imperius now. What Tyrael said was spot on. She truly was bored at times. When the two of them left, Izarius regarded Tyrael.
"I think his intense dislike of humans has rubbed off on her, too," Izarius sighed.
"I know. I didn't say that part," Tyrael said with a nod.
"Interesting..." Malthael said. "This will only intensify. Won't it?"
"Yes. It could bode ill, if we aren't prepared. I know she won't target the Horadrim. Her necklace will ensure that. Or anywhere her parents need to go. Everywhere else is fair game," he sighed.
"Maybe I can find some places in that area called Kingsport," Greed thought aloud. Tyrael laughed, and they began to discuss what they could do. Imperius and Anaurael were completely involved in flight now. On Sanctuary, the Wizard was going over what possible bounties she could help with.
"Mai," her angelic male counterpart said.
"What is it, Tobirael?" she asked. They were situated in Westmarch right now in the Horadric quarters there. He strode up behind her to place his arms around her. She always felt that same, warm blush on her cheeks from the first time she saw him.
"I don't want you to fight so much," he muttered in her ear. "I know that I'm with you, but I would feel better about it."
"You shouldn't worry so much," she laughed and turned in his arms to embrace him. "Plenty of Wizards and Enchanters fought while carrying babies before. I'll be fine."
"You're a month along now. I just worry," he sighed and squeezed her.
"When I start to really show, I'll let you call the shots. Okay?" she smiled.
"I'm holding you to that," he said and released her. "Where do we need to go?"
"Things have been rather quiet here. Huh?" she blinked at a knock on the door. Moving to it, she was handed a letter. She blinked at the writing and sighed. "It's from one of my Masters. Let me see..."
"Hmm?" he asked and moved to her side. She opened the thick envelope and removed the spell barrier that sealed the writing. On reading it, she frowned.
"They are requesting for my help. Something is now residing in the library there. None can remove the presence. It looks like I'll need to go back to Xiansai to help them," she said.
"I'm going with you," he said sternly.
"Oh, the questions they'll have for me!" she laughed softly.
"They'll get answered with me right next to you," he said and gathered her up into his arms. "Although, I do have a big question for you now."
"What's that?" she asked with a yawn. He pushed a lock of black hair from her face and carried her to the bedroom.
"Were there any that liked you before meeting with me?"
"Oh? Oh! Nah. Not that I know of," she smiled and shrugged. "If there were, I didn't really pay attention. I was too busy with my studies."
"If any look at you wrong, I'm punching them in the face," he growled and moved to let her recline on him. She found herself laughing, and he sighed. She knew he was like this, because of her new pregnancy. It seemed to be a tendency with angelic males.
"Don't worry," she said and reached up to pat his invisible cheek. "I honestly doubt that anyone else had ever caught my eye. You still make me blush!"
"Do I?" he chuckled.
"Mhmm. Yeah. You do," she found herself blushing again. He rested a large, armored hand over her form and let her sleep. They would have some traveling to do soon, and he wanted her as well rested as possible.