It took an hour for the Nephalem to ensure that everyone was ready for Greed's warp. As this was taking place, Anaurael had finally recovered enough to sleep deeply. Malthael was clearly concerned for her. So was Imperius. She was sleeping in his lap in her chamber, but they were talking in her mind.
"Do we let her see what is going on with Sanctuary?" Malthael asked.
"I would say no," Imperius muttered out, as he held her mental form. "It may tax her."
"Hmm. She may say so, otherwise."
"It may endanger her health, if she does see anything violent. She stresses enough, as it is."
"And, if she insists?"
"I don't know. I may be able to watch for her. She can mildly assist with suggestions. I would not want her to fully watch everything. She just recovered from an illness. It is easy for her to lose focus now. I worry far too much over her," Imperius admitted.
"We all do," Malthael nodded. Then he noticed something. She was starting to dream. "Imperius. She dreams again."
"No! I'm waking her!" he growled.
"You will do no such thing. She does enjoy dreaming when she can. I know this. Call those that wish to see the dream. If we do this now, then we will still see what happens in Sanctuary down below when it is done," Malthael droned out. Imperius seemed to glare at him in challenge, but Tyrael was quick to appear to show he was ready to see the dream. When her parents showed up and were followed by Itherael and Auriel, he sighed and shook his head. Anarius and Imperael appeared soon after.
:WE NEED...TO WATCH...CAREFULLY...: Anarius said as a glowing ball of Light. Imperius was not happy about this at all. But, he had no choice. Too many were waiting. With a heavy sigh, he cradled Anaurael close and let Malthael project the dream she had outwards.
Malthael was trying to find out where to base his plan of attack. He needed a place that had the most souls. Westmarch was his prime location, but a secondary source was also required. In the end, he moved to confront his lieutenant, Urzael.
"We need more souls..." Malthael droned out. "Find a place...with more souls..."
"Yes, Master!" the massive angel said with a nod. He teleported out of Pandemonium and hovered in the air to start his search. As much as he wanted to look for the larger towns and villages, something seemed to pull him to a quiet town about a hundred miles west of the nefarious human port town of Kingsport. He would have insisted for Kingsport to be the next area to take over, but something seemed to pull him to this small area instead. He found himself landing on the hill where a small cottage was. There was something off about the place.
It was just about dawn, and it was easy for him to hide, despite his large size. At the sight of Ilerael leaving the house to check the crops, he paused. This mortal had a familiar aura to me. Why was that? At the sight of the female that appeared next, another familiar sensation rocked him. He knew these two mortals. He found himself stepping out of hiding.
"Lilaurael, I need the rake!" the man said. Urzael paused with stunned shock at the name. Now the man looked over and did a double take. "Ah...wait. Urzael?!"
"I..." the angel was taken by a completely rare form of surprise. I was seen and recognized.
"It's me. Ilerael," the mortal said slowly. Now Urzael was stunned even further. Ilerael rose up his hands and said, "I know. She and I removed our wings. And...your wings are different, too..."
"I lost mine. They were replaced. In a sense..." Urzael said. Lilaurael had her brown hair tied back and regarded him silently. "Why did you both...?"
"Because we were, and are, in love. We have a daughter, too. She's eleven years old now. And, yes, Imperius knows of us and her. He claimed her as his ward," Ilerael said.
"Imperius..." Urzael seemed to mutter out. I have to report this to Malthael.
"Mother? Father?" a young girl sounded out. Imperius had let her go just an hour ago to let her rest in her bed. She was trying to sleep, but the conversation easily woke her up.
"Anaurael, go back inside," Ilerael said. Urzael now paused once again at the glowing dot of gold on the girl's forehead. It had the same color and tone of Imperius's inner Light. He realized that he couldn't tell Malthael about her. If I did, then Imperius would know. And he also didn't know how Malthael would react to her.
Her molten gold hair was tied back neatly to reveal her cute pout. Even he could see her angelic beauty at such a young age. Her topaz blue eyes seemed to study him with fascination, but it was Izarius that appeared to gently scoop her up. She didn't know his name yet, but he was not going to let her get into any form of trouble.
"I'll take you back to bed," he said through his helm.
"Okay," she nodded and got carried back into the small cottage. Urzael was simply floored. Angels were in the home. The girl was touched by Imperius. Ilerael seemed to wince now, but Lilaurael had a slightly calmer head on her shoulders from all of this. She was the protective mother now.
"Urzael, do you plan to tell anyone about us? About her?" Lilaurael asked.
"I don't know," the massive angel sighed. "I should. But, if I do..."
"Imperius would hunt down any that steal her away," Ilerael managed mutter out. "He sees her as a part of him. That she is his missing Light. He even acts completely different with her. It's truly strange! But, he covets her greatly."
"I see..." Urzael seemed to think aloud. "I need to go. I'll come back when I can."
"Of course," Ilerael nodded. After the large angel left, the mortal angel couple looked at each other with worry. Their daughter was a magnet for trouble when she never wanted to be. She was far too innocent to understand what was going on now. It was going to be hard to protect her, if her whereabouts were made known to others that didn't understand the situation.
When Urzael got back to Pandemonium, he didn't report to Malthael right away. He usually did. Instead, he found his thoughts going to the young girl. He knew she was special if she was protected directly by Imperius. And there was an angelic guard in the home. It had him thinking.
"Urzael? You returned?" Malthael asked when he appeared behind his lieutenant.
"Yes. I meant to find you," Urzael said and turned to face him. "The town of Kingsport holds interest. You should know."
"Hmm. Are you...hiding something...?" Malthael asked calmly. He noticed that something was off about his lieutenant. There was something in his stance that didn't feel right.
"What reason would there be to hide anything?" he asked back. He was diverting the question. Now Malthael knew that something of interest was found.
"Urzael..." Malthael warned in a low, growling tone.
"Imperius. He has made himself known on Sanctuary," his lieutenant sighed. Now Malthael went still at this news. "His missing Light was found in a young girl."
"Where?"
"A small town near Kingsport."
"Take me there. Now," Malthael ordered. He noticed that his lieutenant was hesitating. That wasn't a good sign. Urzael was able to lead him to the small cottage in the far distance. It was now about mid-day when they arrived. Time tended to travel differently in Pandemonium. The small cottage seemed vacant at first. When Anaurael appeared to read a book on the stone bench outside, as she always liked to do, he paused with sheer wonder. She was dressed in a plain brown dress of cotton, but that didn't matter. The Light within her easily attracted Malthael's attention. It was only too obvious.
"That is the girl in question," Urzael said.
"I can tell," Malthael said. His leader was completely fascinated with her. When Izarius appeared with his three warrior brethren, both spying angels realized exactly how protected she was. Anaurael was talking to them like family. Urzael glanced over at Malthael and noticed that his leader was tense. Malthael wanted the child.
"Master, we should go back," Urzael said. He was completely ignored. Anaurael laughed at a tickling poke to her side from Izarius. The tinkling sound made Malthael tense even more.
"Stay here," Malthael ordered. Then he vanished. Urzael didn't know what Malthael planned. What he saw next had him speechless with a form of awe. Malthael had appeared to stand before the child. She looked up at him with a small frown. Her parents were in town and left the angels to guard her. Her angelic brothers moved to protect her, but Malthael was soon sitting by her. When he showed no threat, the angels relented, but only slightly.
Urzael watched his master talk to the girl calmly. After an hour passed by, he began to get a touch worried. Her parents were likely on their way back. But, he had another reason to be worried. Imperius chanced to look down on her in Heaven from a viewing pool. His presence had Malthael stand up to regard his ancient and powerful brother.
"Imperius!" Anaurael said with a smile. She set the book she was holding aside, trotted over to him happily, and got lifted into his arms. Intense relief hit him when she hugged him and snuggled into his form. He knew she was safe with him, and he had to appear when his brother was seen with her. He was not pleased with Malthael, and he held her to him protectively. She was completely oblivious to everything. If she was older, she would have understood more.
"What are you doing here?" Imperius asked. She patted on his massive shoulder pauldron to get his attention. Malthael was surprised that she was able to be so close to Imperius like that. Imperius would have struck down any that touched him without his consent. She was clearly important to him, if she was able to be picked up and carried around so easily. The shoulder patting also had him wondering at how Imperius didn't even bother to chastise her for it. He simply accepted it, because he trusted her and protected her completely. It was too obvious that only she would ever get away with that form of intensely close contact. Malthael could only wonder if she would ever do that to him.
"He wanted to talk to me," she said. He looked at her and back at his former leader.
"She speaks the truth," Malthael seemed to shrug. Imperius was completely untrusting. As much as he was relieved to see that his former leader was alive and well, he was exceptionally jealous over Anaurael. He didn't like seeing her give attention to anyone else other than family. Even then, he was only just tolerable of that. He preferred for all of her attention to go to him.
"Very well. You have met her. You should go," Imperius said in warning.
"And what is she to you?" Malthael asked with amusement.
"Mine," Imperius growled out and walked away with her. She gave a small wave to Malthael when she got taken behind the small cottage. She was far too innocent to see what actually happened.
When the other angels left to follow him, Malthael could only think to himself. Then he muttered, "Yes. She is yours. But for how long?"
He seemed to chuckle to himself and moved back to Urzael's side.
"Master?" he asked lightly.
"The girl. Bring her to me when she is alone," Malthael said with a hint of laughter. "I want to see...exactly...how far he will go...to keep her safe..."
"Is this wise, Master?" Urzael asked.
"No. But...I don't care..." Malthael seemed to shrug. Then he vanished away. Urzael shook his head and moved to wait. He was glad that he didn't need to worry about sitting, eating, or other mortal needs. He ended up waiting until the very early morning the next day.
He watched her parents leave for the village to sell more crops. When only Izarius was left in the house from the other three making their rounds, he moved swiftly. It was easy to knock Izarius aside. It was easy to enter Anaurael's bedroom. But, it was difficult to walk up to her bed to steal her away. He saw her peacefully sleeping form. He wanted to watch her sleep and marvel at her perfection in face and form. He had to force himself to carefully scoop her up. Then he vanished with her.
"No!" Izarius shouted. He went up to Heaven to find Imperius. As he was informing a now livid Archangel of the news, Urzael appeared in Pandemonium with Anaurael in his arms. She was in her nightgown, so his touch didn't wake her. If he was touching bare skin, she would have woken from the icy touch of an unknown angel that was tainted with death. Malthael was alerted to her presence by the soft glow from the dot on her forehead. It was the only source of Heavenly Light in Pandemonium. It was easily sensed by him.
"Good. I'll take her," Malthael said and gestured for her.
"Are you sure?" Urzael asked. At this, Malthael gave a cold, silent glare. His lieutenant gave in and handed the delicate girl over. "You won't...hurt her? Right?"
"My dear lieutenant..." Malthael said with a bit of surprise. "That was the last thing on my list. I merely wish to...study her. That is all. We shall return her when I am done."
"She's very young," Urzael started, but he got silenced again.
"I am aware. Worry not. I know you also worry over this one. She is...special. Is she not?"
"She is. Because Imperius will be here for her soon."
"Stall him, if you can. Have others assist you, if needed," Malthael nodded and carried Anaurael into a small chamber. It was the same chamber from her first dream about Pandemonium. She was set on the bed, and he sat down in the old chair to watch her with fascination.
"Huh?" she sniffed and yawned when she woke up. Then she saw where she was and who was with her. When she saw that the familiar guards weren't there, she started to panic.
"Easy, child. I am not here to hurt you. I only wanted to talk. Just like how we were before. Then I will put you back where you were found," Malthael managed to say in a soothing tone. He didn't want her to fear him. She was the only one that shouldn't fear the Angel of Death. When she only nodded, a tear did fall from her frightened form. For a full twenty minutes, he talked to her and coaxed out her answers. When she realized that he really didn't want to hurt her, she was able to talk a bit more openly. As he did this, Urzael was confronted by Imperius.
"Where is she?!" the Archangel of Valor thundered out.
"My Master has her somewhere around here. He vowed he would not hurt her," Urzael said.
"Malthael will answer to me! Take me to him now!" Imperius ordered.
"I only take orders from my Master. I no longer take orders from you!" Urzael snorted. He didn't expect the sudden shove that was given to his chest. And he clearly didn't expect to get slammed into a wall. Solarion was called for, and Imperius soon found himself surrounded by Malthael's followers at Urzael's command. When a direct hit to his form was given to wound him from a Winged Assassin's blade, a shattering, wailing scream was heard next. Imperius knew that it came from her.
He didn't know that his wound affected her. As he fought through the waves of fallen angels, Malthael could only stare in shock at the wounds that Anaurael was having appear on her body. She was in a fit of tears and scared senseless at what was happening. She was in complete hysterics, and he could no longer calm her down. Malthael had no choice. I have to give her back. He plucked up her hurting, bleeding form and moved to where Imperius was. Now he realized how she was getting hurt. He issued the command to back away from Imperius.
"Master!" Urzael hissed and paused at the sight of the girl in his arms. He was in shock.
"Imperius. She shares your wounds," Malthael droned out.
"You...stole her...from me..." Imperius said in a fit of unbridled rage. His form was glowing with his fury. Anaurael's mark was reflecting the glow back from her pain and fear. Small lines of white showed where the wounds were on him, but he ignored the pain. She wasn't trained in pain tolerance.
"I did. But...I am giving her back..." Malthael said. "She will heal with you."
She was still crying from the pain she was going through when Imperius all but crushed her to his form. He still held Solarion, but he had to unsummon it to fully console her in his protective embrace. He rocked her and whispered softly, "I'm here, my ward. I'm here. I came here to rescue you. No one else will touch you. We're going home."
The wounds were quite small, but there were a number of them on her body. As he healed, so would she. It was already being proven. She was clinging to him with soft whimpers now, and he rumbled to her in another gentle, soothing tone to help calm her frightened form. He calmed her down when her hiccuping started. He whispered to her again to ease her fears. As much as he wanted to kill everything in the room, her health was his first priority. Malthael's followers were in a sense of complete surprise at this alien mood from Imperius. Even Urzael was completely speechless at what he was witnessing. It was completely unlike Imperius in full.
When he teleported away with her, Malthael turned to look at Urzael.
"Watch over her. The moment she is healed...I want her back."
At the nod Urzael gave, the dream came to a close.
Imperius was trembling with controlled rage. It was another dream that he clearly detested. He was about to call out Malthael, but Anaurael had awoken and rested a hand on his cheek. Anarius let her remember the dream. At her loving, devoted smile, he trembled.
"I know. It's not his fault," she said softly. "Take me to our sanctum."
"Our sanctum," he muttered and held her close. As he did just that by vanishing with her from her mental state, the others were only grateful at the control she had over him. Malthael was only shaking his head with disbelief.
"Urzael. I never would have imagined," Tyrael sighed.
"I am sure that the heroes on Sanctuary have left for the Barbarian homeland. Shall we check on that?" Itherael asked. He was trying to wipe the dream from his mind. At the mere sight of her frightened form as a child, it sent a small wave of protective fury through him. He had to remind himself that it was a dream. Even Imperael was on edge. Malthael was already hurting enough, but he felt Anaurael lean her mental mind into his. She was defending him. I am not at fault.
"Maybe...she should not dream...anymore..." Malthael shivered.
:THE DREAMS...ARE NEEDED...: Anarius sighed. Malthael could only nod. :WORRY NOT. YOU ARE NOT...AT FAULT...:
"No, he is not," Itherael agreed. "Dreams can twist and turn any way they wish."
"We all know this," Ilerael nodded. Lilaurael suddenly vanished when Danyauriel woke. Auriel was very concerned over everyone's well-beings, but she knew that such things would take time to understand. She hurt just as much as the others, but she was also amazed at the dreams that mortals had. She would definitely want to know more when she was able.
"Why do you dream?" Imperius muttered. He was reclining in his chair within his sealed sanctum with her. She was resting on his chest with pure comfort. A hand came up to caress his invisible cheek. He had his helmet off for her.
"I am mortal, Imperius," she said gently. "The dreams simply come."
"I don't like them, Anaurael. I truly detest them," he mumbled. She worked her hands around the back of his invisible skull, and he sighed deeply. If he had any rage left, it was now wiped clean.
"I love you. All my life, you have been there for me. Protecting me. Watching over me from afar. Training me to fight to defend myself. Helping me sleep..." she murmured. At the next steady, deep breath he gave, she smiled.
"I love you," he said gently. "You truly do remove my rage."
"I would hope so," she chuckled. He laughed softly and kept his hands on her form. "Should we see what goes on in Sanctuary?"
"No. Not now," he said and ran a hand along her spine. "Anarius can watch for us. So can Tyrael. If Mal needs to be fed, he will be brought here by Izarius. I just want you here with me for now. I don't want to go out there, unless I absolutely must."
"If it deals with those Soulstones," she frowned. He placed a finger to her mouth.
"If the situation calls for us, we will go," he said with a small nod. She nodded at that and pressed into him. "Until then, we shall rest here."
"As you say," she smiled again and rested her head against his reclined chest. He kept his hands on her form, as he rested with her. He never simply did this before meeting her. He was always busy keeping up with the troops and arguing with others. He was never one to simply idle away the time. As much as he hated to admit it, he was enjoying doing absolutely nothing.
Back on Sanctuary, though, the heroes were doing anything except for nothing. Kalgor was able to confront the main tent that was constructed of heavy cloth and animal hides. Greed had teleported them all to where they had to go. And it was snowing in full with iced over plant life.
"Look," Tobirael said to Mai. They were watching from a viewing pool with the other angelic females. "They made it."
"Good. Let's hope nothing bad happens," Mai nodded. Zynaurael watched over Vincent carefully from where she was at the pool. Taylauriel, Sohar's angelic mate, still didn't show that she was pregnant yet, but opted to stay with the others just in case. She had felt a touch funny after he left. She wanted to surprise him with the news. Mirdael was still able to protect Moolara, though. The female Witch Doctor didn't give any indications if she was carrying or not.
"I am fine," she would chuckle at him.
"We are lacking," he would mildly argue with her.
"When it happens, then it will," she nodded. "Do not rush what cannot be rushed."
"We will not rush, but we will rest when all of this is over," Mirdael said. She gave a mild glance at him to get him laughing softly at her. She shook her head and chuckled again.
"I need to confront the tribal leader," Kalgor muttered. "As much as I find it odd that no other tribesmen are around, I need to confront him alone."
"Do hurry! It's freezing out here!" Lyndon shivered.
"Calm yourself," Lou-yu said and managed to mutter a small fire spell. Kylariel was able to help him control his ability over fire at long last. The small fireball he conjured was a type of familiar, and it easily warmed the air for those around it. It would also help him attack, too.
Kalgor now stepped over to the main tent and gave a warning glare to the others to stay put. Then he pushed aside the heavy hide door to let himself in.
"Kalgor?" the elderly Barbarian blinked his one good, brown colored eye at him. The other was stark white from a scar that went over his face from an old battle that he won. A heavy, matted grey beard spilled down his chest. Hides covered his muscular body, and nearby was a trusty and ancient double-bladed, two-handed axe that he would never hesitate to use. A warm, red glow was cast on the room from several bronze braziers that hung around the room. The tent was well-heated from them, but Kalgor felt a chill creep down his spine. He knew that something was wrong.
"Yes. It is I. An odd box may have reached you," he started, but the older man waved a hand.
"I have it. No, I didn't open it," he said. "I know it's evil."
"Good. I came to confiscate it," Kalgor said.
"Have you? Hmm. I was thinking to give it to some enemies."
"No! It contains a demon soul!"
"Good! All the better," the elderly Barbarian grinned a gap-toothed smile. Now Kalgor paused. There was an odd lump under the old beard...
"You're...wearing it...?" Kalgor blinked. "So, you did open the box! You knew what it was, and you still opened it?!"
"You shouldn't have come back," he said with a growl and rose up to a height that was equal to Kalgor's own. "I was promised glorious victories over my enemies!"
"They were lies!" Kalgor roared and drew his own dual weapons. "You are being used!"
"The only way to remove what you want is to take my head off my shoulders," the elder smirked. The demon in the Soulstone was exceptionally clever. If it had to be caught, it was taking an innocent with it. Kalgor's eyes winced in pain. Then he saw his leader's eye reflect the same pain. My leader is suffering. He had to help end it. Kalgor could only nod. He now saw his former leader as an enemy.
"I shall do what I must to save my people," Kalgor spat and charged at him. At the sounds of fighting in the tent, the Nephalem moved to help, but Salauriel appeared to stop them.
"None can intervene in this," she said with her massive sword drawn to block them off. "This is a matter of honor now. And station. Kalgor must do this on his own."
"But, we should help him!" Jozin said.
"His people have different rules," she said softly. "He told me of this before you all left. He asked me to assist in ensuring that none can interfere, if this happened. The leader of his people is fully corrupted. He wears the stone around his neck."
"No..." Byden grimaced. Vincent could only pale at this with the others.
"I saw this in the viewing pool when Kalgor discovered it. The only way to remove it is to behead him. There is no other way," she sighed. "And, if he does this, he will become the leader of the tribes here. Even his leader suffers from this. Kalgor is helping him remove his suffering."
"Are you serious?" the Nephalem asked.
"Yes. That is why he must do this alone. It is an act of honor and leadership. Also, do you see that no others are here to stop you? They know of the corruption and refuse to assist in this. The Light is strong in these people. If the Soulstone is safely removed, their leader may be saved. But, if he cannot be saved..." the angelic female sighed. "Kalgor may have to lead the people towards a new future."
"But, we need his help here! There is much that we need his aid for!" the Nephalem sighed.
"He may lead, but he can also assign another to be here. Do not worry," she said. Then she looked at the tent to see Kalgor walk out. In one hand, he held a bag containing the Soulstone. In the other, he held the head of his former leader. He lifted the head up over his and howled. Within seconds, the tribesmen that were in hiding came out in full to honor their new leader.