The Paladin order was already torn apart in various ways. Tracking down members was going to take time. Another issue going on was at the Yshari Sanctum. A judgment was being passed on Darania. Because she wore a corrupted cloak, there were doubts that she was fit to remain there.
"But our Master held a corrupted Soulstone!" she argued. "And he is still fit to lead! When I removed that cloak, my mind was cleared. I rescued the rest of you with help!"
"We know that you were used as a pawn," an elder female said softly. "but our leader is mentally strong enough to hold back now. We do not know about your younger mind. You could fall prey again. It is simply best for you to remove yourself for the safety of all."
"I can't believe this..." Darania whispered and shivered. "I have lived here all my life. I just..."
"We will give you an hour to collect your things and depart," an older man said gently. "We are sorry that it has come to this."
"No. You're not," she muttered and brushed back the tears that stung her eyes. When she got to her chambers, she was quick to remove the robe she was given to wear as a member of the Yshari Sanctum. Such a thing felt tainted to her now. Putting on a basic robe of dark blue, it made her feel a little better, but not by much. She didn't really own anything furniture-wise in the room. Most of her possessions were small collectibles and magical trinkets that she had gained through life.
Even as she collected her things to place them in a small carry bag, she didn't know that she was being watched from the High Heavens. An angelic male from the Pools of Wisdom had happened upon one of the viewing chambers and was drawn to gaze in. Something pulled him to this exact moment. Now he saw why.
"So, it is my turn," the angel sighed from his hooded helm, as he hovered. "Very well. I shall assist her and care for her. I accept my fate and will see what I can do with her."
He used to be an Exarch, so he specialized in magical attacks. He would be highly compatible with this one, as they both shared the same lightning specialties. Something was advising him to wait, though. To watch a bit longer. Then he saw why.
Darania was leaving the Yshari Sanctum with a heavy heart. She was able to reach a nearby village, but it was the most she could get to from the strength she had. At how the villagers glanced at her, they knew she was from the Sanctum. She already felt alienated and alone. She trembled and found her way into a back alley. She pondered over what funds she had, and she stopped to rest and go over her new fate. She was clearly at a loss of what to do. She was so lost in thought that she didn't see the strange, masked man approaching her from the shadows. He was one of the Mage Killers, a secret sect of assassins designated to kill corrupted humans for the safety of humankind. Just as he closed in on her, the angelic male appeared to bar off the attack.
"What?!" the cloaked man hissed with shock.
"Huh?!" Darania gasped.
"This child is innocent. And she now belongs to me. Go back to your place of safety, mortal," the angelic male said, as he hovered and held aloft his angelic one-hand sword. "I shall remove her from this realm. You can give the false tale that she is gone."
"I cannot let her live!" the man growled. "It is my duty to remove her!"
"Then I have no choice," the angel sighed. The lightning ball he summoned was quick to appear, and it was launched with a protective fury of vengeance. After the smoldering mass was effectively disintegrated to ashes, the angel turned to regard her. "You will no longer live on Sanctuary."
"Why...was this...?" she swallowed.
"Your death was ordered by your former brethren. You will now live with me in the High Heavens. They will try and fail to find you," he chuckled softly.
"With you?" she asked. Then she remembered the different angels that were mingled with the heroes. And now an angel wants to be with me. She was stunned. "How...did you find me...?"
"You called to me," he said and swiftly collected her small parcel of belongings. At the sight of the dagger that was to be used on her, he collected that, too. Then he lifted her up and spirited her away to their new room in the High Heavens. When he set her down, she was trembling with a form of fear.
"They'll think I killed him..." she said.
"That is fine. They will not find you," he said. "You are to remain here with me now. For the rest of your days, if need be."
Tears welled in her eyes, and he tenderly plucked her back up to hold her. She knew she wasn't evil. This is my proof. When Agrius appeared to find out where his brother was, there was a pause of confusion at first. Then he recognized the girl that they helped just the other day.
"What happened?" Agrius asked.
"Her people rejected her. I was called to her," he explained.
"Ah. I see. Good to have you with us, Darania. You will be well-cared for," Agrius nodded to her. "What happened with her?"
"She was rejected and sent away for fear of corruption. Then another was sent to cull her. Here is the weapon that would have been used," the male said and revealed the dagger.
"Give it to me. I shall have it returned to them," Agrius mused. As the dagger was handed over, the rest of the detailed situation was given in full. On learning what happened, he vanished away with the weapon to leave the new couple alone to bond properly. He went to Imperael.
"Brother?" the massive Archangel asked. He was standing guard in Anaurael's room. She was sleeping deeply on Tyrael's chest. Tyrael was mildly awake, and now he glanced over out of curiosity.
"The one named Darania has been claimed by Durzael. She was to be culled for fear of tainting. She was the one that assisted us with Belial's Soulstone," Agrius said. "This dagger fell from the one that Durzael culled to defend the female. The mortal was sent to cull her after she left."
"They tried to assassinate her?! After she displayed proof that she was well?" Tyrael asked from the bed. He groaned and shook his head.
"Humans never trust each other. Yet, they allowed the old one that got the corruption to stay," Agrius shrugged. Now Tyrael was floored. "What I suggest is an example to be made with this weapon. Do you have any ideas?"
"I do have an idea," Imperael said and took the dagger. "I'll return shortly."
"Tell me what happened," Tyrael nodded.
"We will all want to know," Izarius said. Imperael nodded and teleported to a viewing pool. He gazed into it until he found the elderly man's chambers in the Yshari Sanctum. The man was writing at his desk. Imperael chuckled to himself and teleported there.
At the sight of Imperael appearing right in front of him, the old Master's jaw dropped. Then Imperael calmly walked over and jabbed the assassin's dagger right into the table in front of him to stand it upright. And it pierced through the paper that the man was writing on.
"The girl has been claimed by the High Heavens. One of our own is seeing to her. You were wrong to wish her death," Imperael growled out. "Do not look for her. You will never find her again."
"I...understand..." the man whispered despite his shock.
"You falsely accused her of corruption. You should be the true one to worry about. Issuing the death of an innocent? Heh. You are definitely the one that should be culled. But, that is not my concern. I need to go back. You will be watched closely. Do not think for a second that you are not," Imperael warned. After he vanished away, the man could only stare at the dagger that he recognized all too well. He was writing that he was taking care of the problem. At least he knew that much held true. The problem was clearly taken care of.
However, he now had to write that the Mage Killers lost a man. I would be held responsible. There was no other choice in this. As he prepared a fresh parchment to write on, and managed to just barely pull the dagger out of his table, Imperael was informing the others of what happened.
"We could have a couple angels rotate in shifts to watch him," Tyrael mused. "If Imperius agrees to it, I would do it."
"I'll mention it to him," Imperael nodded. "And she still sleeps?"
"Yes. That she does," Tyrael chuckled. Imperael thought and moved to stand guard in front of her door again. Then he meditated and willed himself into her mind. He found her reclining with Malthael on the mossy ground. She was simply resting against him in a gown of gold and being told what was going on. When she saw him, she was a touch surprised.
"What brings you here?" Malthael asked him. He moved to sit up lightly and kept her close.
"I find it troubling that many humans would kill their own for no reason," Imperael said and moved to sit on the nearby mossy rock. Anaurael whispered to Malthael. He gave a grunt in response, but he let her go to move over to Imperael. Then she sat in his lap massive lap and hugged him. She was so tiny in body size comparison that she resembled a tiny porcelain doll of gold in his presence. He was exceptionally careful in handling her. Even though her hug was more like her arms stretched around his neck, it was enough for him.
"It's human nature to destroy what they don't understand," she frowned and let him rest his head against her shoulder. "What more is there to say? It's just as I told Anarius. It is something ingrained in them. It cannot be helped, if they are raised to be as such."
"I just feel troubled," he admitted and sighed. He liked feeling her arms around him. It was a natural feeling now.
"What is it, Imperael? You can talk to me," she smiled. When she gently caressed his invisible cheek, he trembled and pressed into her a bit more.
"I don't know if you know about...well..." he faltered.
"She does. She forgets when Imperius is near," Malthael sighed. "I will allow you both to talk."
"Allow us?" Imperael asked.
"As in, I will keep others busy," Malthael smirked. Imperael nodded at this. When Malthael vanished away, Imperael trembled in her embrace.
"Talk to me," she said again.
"Why must this happen?" he asked. His halo seemed to glow softly, as he thought. "I mean...I know why. That it's important. That it must be done. But I just..."
"What else is there to be explained?" she asked him. "What else needs to be said? We both know why. We both know the reasons. Yes, it's for the benefit of Heaven. To help the human race as a whole. But, why should we question something that is, quite literally, set in stone? It is already happening with Imperius's offspring in me. From what I recall, Itherael is next. It...really does hurt..."
"What hurts?" he asked.
"I care greatly for all of you. I really do. But...I really only wish to be with Imperius..." she winced, and he rocked her gently with understanding. "I cannot say that I love any, save for family feelings. I have this discussion constantly! And yet..."
"Hush," Imperael said and hugged her to him. "I know of your suffering. I know I do love you as my sister. I do care for you as something more, too. Would any others need to do this?"
"Not that I know of. Thankfully..." she swallowed. The mark on her forehead glowed softly, but she was still quite calm. He thought a bit before talking again.
"Good. I will make myself be the last one, then. I'll become any Aspect I must to ensure this," he promised. "Maybe, when all of this is over, you will only belong to Imperius again."
"I think that would be impossible. Tyrael does see me as his wife," she seemed to chuckle.
"That is true. But, he understands things. As much as I was only just created some time ago, there is much that does still escape me. Erelus and I are on the same path. He is still learning things as I am in this new age. Yes, he has older knowledge from his past battles, but nothing past the Worldstone being stolen. He knew none of that."
"I'm sure he didn't."
"I'm also...worried," he admitted.
"About what?" she frowned. He squeezed her and sighed.
"I don't know if I'll...be adequate for...well..." he muttered. He was actually flustered about the subject. "I mean..."
"I don't think I follow you," she said. Her eyes were showing amusement, but he missed that.
"When it comes to offspring and making them..." he started again, and he noticed her purse her lips together to keep from laughing. "You knew what I was talking about?"
"Yes," she smiled. He sighed and chuckled at her soft giggle. "Well..."
"What do you suggest?" he asked.
"Two options," she said. "The first is...we could do something now. Nothing will happen, as I'm already pregnant, but you would know what to expect. The other option is you wait until it's time. My body would be made pure after each birth. It's...needed. Apparently. From what Imperius told me. So, you could wait. If you wanted to."
"I think I do want to wait," he nodded. "It would seem best to me."
"That's fine," she nodded back. "I can respect that decision."
"Thank you," he said. He was still resting his head against her shoulder. She pressed a kiss to his forehead, and he sighed softly. "I still feel awkward about all of this."
"Can you explain?" she asked.
"It isn't fair to you to go through this," he said.
"I know. Everyone says that. But...if even Anu decreed it, would you fight his will?" she asked with a soft frown. He shivered and continued to hold her. She caressed his cheek again, and he took her hand to study it in his overly massive one. He saw how her whole hand just barely fit over the top of his armored index finger. He seemed to shake his head. "Hmm?"
"I just find it amusing..." he admitted. "that you seem so delicate. So fragile. And you have to endure so much hardship just to help Heaven..."
"What are you asking of me, Imperael?" she murmured in his ear.
"I don't know," he shivered. She smiled softly and managed to press a kiss to his mouth. It wasn't quite chaste, but it made him pause at what he felt. "There is more to that?"
"In a sense," she chuckled. "What I gave you before was the kiss that a sister would give to a family member. This one is a bit more intimate. I can show you more to it. But...only if you want it."
"I just want to understand," he whispered. The next kiss she gave him now sent his mind spinning with sheer wonder. It was full, caring, and incredibly loving. When she broke the kiss off, he was panting from the sensations that hit him. Malthael had appeared shortly after.
"Imperius is returning. Anaurael, you need to wake. And, Imperael, you need recollect yourself quickly. Or leave the room," Malthael advised.
"I'll speak with Itherael," Imperael nodded. He did kiss Anaurael again, though. He felt that it was needed. When he came to, he felt oddly disgruntled that she wasn't in his arms. He pushed the sensation away. He did turn around to see her waking on top of Tyrael. "I need to speak with Itherael over a few things. I'll return shortly."
"That's fine," Tyrael nodded. He was now busy helping Anaurael support a hungry Mal. Imperael chuckled and left the room from one of the many windows. He went straight to the Library of Fate where Itherael was waiting for him. So was Anarius.
"Imperael?" Itherael asked from where he hovered with his Scroll. "Ah. Don't worry. Talus'ar revealed everything to me. What questions plague your mind?"
"THERE IS NO NEED FOR HIM TO STATE THEM. HE KNOWS THE ANSWERS," Anarius said. Imperael only sighed and nodded at that statement. "THERE IS NO NEED FOR WORRY."
"I know that. I just...worry for her," he said.
"All of us do," Itherael said. "It cannot be helped."
"She showed me what a kiss was truly like. And I..." he sighed. "I am waiting for the right time to do anything more. I feel that it is proper."
"And it would be," Itherael nodded. "My kiss with her was accidental. She was in mid-sleep and thought I was Imperius. It was...exceptionally awkward."
"Tell me," Imperael said. "how did you feel when she kissed you that first time?"
"Likely the same as you. Lost in wonder. That I was cared for. That I was loved," he said. The large Archangel could only nod in agreement. "You care deeply now for her. Don't you?"
"I always have," Imperael replied calmly. "That never changed. She brought me here with her Song. So did Imperius. I owe her my life. My very existence. I am puzzled that I am not true kin to her, though. You would think I would be."
"IF YOU WERE BORN FROM HER AS I WAS, THEN YOU WOULD BE DIRECT KIN. ANY CALLED FORTH FROM HER SONG WITH IMPERIUS ARE ALLIED BRETHREN. BUT NOT JUST ANY CAN PROCREATE WITH HER. YOUR CASE IS SPECIAL. IT IS UNIQUE. YOU KNOW WHY," Anarius chuckled. Then he seemed to grumble and said, "I DID WANT TO CULL THAT HUMAN THIEF FOR SUGGESTING THAT I WOULD TRY TO LAY WITH MY OWN MOTHER."
"What?" Imperael looked at him now. Itherael gave off a complete sensation of disgust. Then he looked into his Scroll.
"Anarius, go see her," Itherael said. Anarius nodded and flew off.
"What happened?" Imperael asked.
"When he starts to feel annoyed or upset, he gains negative emotions," Itherael explained. "We must keep that from happening. Because he is Anu reborn, we must all remember. Anu used to be merged with Tathamet as an older being. A single, perfect being of both Dark and Light balances. In the end, the two parts split. Anu would not be touched by such negativity. However, with his rebirth, there is a slight chance that he could gain a corruption.
"Just as Imperius can be thrown into despair, Anarius can gain disgruntled thoughts. Such negativity can be removed, but then the corruption would need to be culled. Talus'ar has revealed much to me. It is...something that I cannot just say aloud. I must remain in the sidelines to watch events as they happen. Much like the Vecin female and her visions, if you think on it. Even you have witnessed the removal of the corruption when he went to Sanctuary and the Burning Hells. We must simply watch for it and keep him pure."
Now Imperael got worried and flew off. He found Itherael close behind him when Anaurael's bedroom was reached. Anarius had her in his lap and getting rocked with a form of complete comfort.
"Be at ease, my son," she whispered and let him rest his head along her shoulder.
"What caused this?" Imperius asked. He had returned from training the troops. "He just came here and pulled her into his lap. What is wrong?"
"You can tell them safely," she soothed.
"WHEN I FIRST WENT TO AID THE NEPHALEM ON SANCTUARY, THE HUMAN THIEF SAID A DISGUSTING THOUGHT TO ME. TO ATTEMPT TO LAY WITH MY MOTHER," he growled. Imperius went still with a silent form of fury at this. "I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE..."
"Do not fret over him," she laughed softly and squeezed him. "He is not worth it."
"He should be culled!" Imperius growled.
"Lyndon is a case in himself," Tyrael sighed. "I am sure he won't try to voice such a thing again. I say this, because everyone else will kill him for us."
"You would think so," Imperael muttered.
"The Vecin woman has been keeping watch on him," Itherael chuckled.
"Good..." Malthael muttered out from where he stood near the cradle his body slept in.
"You're fine, dear," Anaurael said in her soothing tone and pressed a warm, chaste kiss to Anarius's cheek. Now that he was properly reconciled, he was able to hand her back to Imperius. He still remained in the room, though. When she was being held by Imperius, she said, "The one called Darania has been claimed by an angel. Her own sought to cull her."
"Is that so?" Imperius asked. She rested her hand on his cheek and pressed into him with a nod. "As for the mortal fool, if he makes another remark like that again, we will deal with it when we must. Hmm? My ward? Is something wrong?"
"No," she smiled and nuzzled into him a bit more.
"Our son rests?" he asked and pressed a kiss to her mouth.
"Yes," she nodded and kissed him back. He took her into his sanctum. When they were secured, Tyrael chuckled with the others. Anarius moved to sit down in the abandoned chair to think.
"Does everyone know of what I need to do?" Imperael asked.
"We do," Izarius sighed and started to clean off the table. "My other brothers know enough, but not too much. Only those that are this tightly knit with her are able to know certain things."
"A Council within a Council," Itherael chuckled.
"In a manner of speaking," Tyrael agreed. "And, yes, Auriel also knows. But Imperius does not. It would not bode well if he does."
"HE WILL FALL BACK INTO DESPAIR, IF HE DOES KNOW," Anarius said lightly. "IN TIME, HE MAY KNOW EVERYTHING. BUT, ONLY AFTER THINGS HAVE TAKEN ROOT. HE NEEDS TO SEE THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES. HE WILL ONLY THINK OF THE NEGATIVE. HE NEEDS TO SEE EVERYTHING IN MOTION NOW. HE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND."
"You are correct in that," Itherael nodded. "He needs to see the good in things that are happening for him to fully realize what had to be done."
"It's just the fact that Anaurael is being touched by others," Tyrael grimaced. "That is what really hurts him. She was only meant to be for him. All of us know this. My truce is accepted by him, because of Mal. He knows that I have to be with her, too. I even had a false wedding with her, so I know he accepts me to be at her side when he is not present. He actually told me the other day that he appreciated how I'm able to assist. As much as he hated to admit it."
"He hates to admit a lot of things," Imperael mused.
"A solid truth," Izarius chuckled. As they continued to converse, Imperius was reclining in his chair with Anaurael resting on his chest. He always savored this close contact.
"I love you," she whispered. He rested a hand in her hair and sighed.
"I love you," he said softly. "I miss this. Being like this."
"So do I," she said and gently traced down his armored chest.
"Our offspring grows?"
"Steadily."
"The one in your soul is calm?"
"Nothing yet," she chuckled. He laughed softly and continued to rest with her.
"When movement starts, you know I will want to know," he said and moved to carefully remove his helmet. She blushed at this and let him pull her up to his invisible face to kiss her passionately.
"You know you'll be the first one to know," she murmured and gave in to his advances. After their peak of pleasure, he found himself breathing hard while he rested with her. At how his breathing evened out, she gave a slow smile. "Are you asleep?"
"No," he mumbled out and lazily ran an armored hand down her back. "You should know that I do not sleep. I just feel...hmm. Content."
"Do you?" she smiled a bit more.
"I do. With you, I always do," he said and continued to keep his hand in her hair. "I never feel angry or upset. I feel a sense of peace."
"I am glad that I do this for you," she said. He gently cupped her chin with a finger to rest his invisible gaze on her own.
"Promise me that you will never leave my side," he whispered.
"There is no promise to make. There is no need to fear that I would ever leave you," she said softly. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to him. "Although, I am curious of something. I was talking to Elaine the other day. She mentioned something to me."
"What?" he asked. She whispered in his invisible ear, and he actually found himself a touch amused. "Go on. What else was there?"
"Well..." she seemed to blush and whispered again in his ear.
"You have me curious," he thought aloud. Then she squealed when he moved to have her reclining against the chair with her legs around his waist. "We will see what all we can do."
"I sparked your interest?" she giggled. At the way his somewhat headless form moved to lean over her for his mouth to be just alongside her ear, he gave a small growl.
"Spark is not quite the correct word. You have ignited an explosion. And only you can quell the new flames that have risen up. And, even when we need to leave, I doubt we will ever be done in this new sense of exploration," he said and nibbled her earlobe. Little did she know that it would be several hours later that she came to from the senseless pleasure he gave her. There was only one thing she could think of when they finally left the sanctum. He wasn't finished with me. The very thought sent chills of excitement up and down her spine. He knew she loved it.