Several of Sanctuary's days passed before anything else would happen. Itherael was on complete edge now. My time to be with Anaurael was drawing closer. He would have only a short window of time to fully claim her as his own. But, even as he watched over the ones in his Library, another conversation was taking place along the bridges to the Silver Spire.
"A hidden cathedral?" Xypherael mused. "You found one?"
"Yes," Xypherius chuckled. "Talarine and I were going to explore it."
"It would be interesting," Xypherael said. "We should set up an expedition. All right. Meet you in the Angiris Council chamber?"
"Of course. I'll bring her there," Xypherius nodded and vanished away.
"I'm curious," Kartha chuckled. Xypherael looked over his shoulder at her.
"Of what?" he asked and moved to her side.
"Oh..." she sighed and leaned into him. "how would you feel if I told you...to expect another apprentice to your arts of killing demons?"
"I wouldn't mind training this one. When would I meet him?" he asked.
"Well, you have to wait nine months, since I won't know if it will be a boy or a girl you'd be training..." she said with a small grin. Now he paused. Then he looked right at her with a form of completely pleasant surprise. "We were moving so much furniture..."
"That we were..." he muttered and scooped her up into his arms. "and I am retiring you from doing such a chore. Leave it to me."
"So, you're saying you're going to do all the work from now on?" she grinned wickedly. Then she shivered when he moved his invisible mouth over her ear.
"You'll be lucky if I save you something to kill," he muttered with a touch of wicked mirth. At her beet red blush, he laughed and carried her to the chamber.
"There you both are," Tyrael chuckled when he waved at them. "I was told to be here."
"Were you now?" Xypherael asked.
"If it deals with an abandoned cathedral, you know I need to know," Tyrael said. At the sight of the large wolf appearing with Xypherius, he nodded respectfully. "Hello, Talarine. It's good to see you."
She snorted and sat on her haunches. Xypherius chuckled and said, "She's rather eager to see what lies within. How soon can we get an expedition team set up?"
"We can do that shortly. It does make me think of Cain, though. How he would always be the first one to dive into old knowledge! I hope we can reach him again," Tyrael sighed sadly. At the sight of Talarine lowering her own head and huffing out her sadness, he paused. "Why is she doing that?"
"Apparently, she also knew Cain. And Leah, too. I'm not sure about Leah being reached, but you think Cain may be found again?" Xypherius asked.
"Zayl, a Necromancer in our Horadrim, has been working with the Witch Doctors to see what can be done. Anarius did reach Cain. His soul was trying to find a way back to us. We have been trying to see if we can help him reach us," Tyrael explained. Talarine suddenly looked up at Xypherius and wagged her tail at a sudden idea she had.
"Dreams? You think he could attempt to come back through our dreams?" Xypherius mused. "It is definitely something that we can attempt."
"My flesh sleeps. If this...Cain...can be found and brought forth through dreams...much like how I can traverse in rare circumstances..." Malthael mused when he appeared. "Such an option should be put to good use."
"We'll definitely research the possibility," Tyrael agreed. He managed to communicate with Itherael through Anaurael's mental link. This idea was now being shared eagerly. When Itherael appeared to speak with them, he was given instant attention.
"The Vecin seer may be able to help us with this. Can she?" Itherael asked. "She works with visions and dreams all the time."
"She has different ways to see things. She only sees visions. Things that may happen. Not truly current events. But...we don't really know, do we?" Malthael seemed to shrug. Tyrael relayed what was being said by Malthael for any that couldn't see him. Talarine seemed to whine.
"Can we ask her, anyways?" Xypherius asked.
"Let me see..." Malthael nodded and vanished. When he appeared at Myriam's trailer, she was already writing out something. "I see you saw me approaching?"
"That I have. I am too busy to leave right now. New ones will be approaching me soon for help," she said. Then she gaped at the sight of Anarius appearing. Malthael swerved to look at him with complete surprise at this. He did not expect this, either.
"I HAD TO APPEAR. I FEEL THAT YOUR WORDS BEING STATED ALOUD RATHER THAN ON A PARCHMENT MAY PROVE TO BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD," Anarius said.
"You listened in to me?" Malthael asked.
"YES, I DID. THIS IS TO BENEFIT THE HIGH HEAVENS. AND I AM ASKING YOU PERSONALLY, MYRIAM OF THE VECIN. WILL YOU ASSIST IN OUR CAUSE TO BRING BACK ONE SUCH AS DECKARD CAIN?" he asked calmly.
"Since you have asked," she smiled politely and turned to let the parchment she wrote on fully burn away in a brazier. "I shall go with you."
"THANK YOU. YOU SHALL BE RETURNED. THIS IS FAR TOO IMPORTANT," Anarius admitted. At the sight of the Nephalem suddenly walking over, he diverted his attention quickly. "THIS FEMALE NEEDS TO APPEAR IN THE HIGH HEAVENS. I HAVE PERSONALLY ASKED FOR HER AID. SHOULD OTHERS LOOK FOR HER, PLEASE REDIRECT THEM ELSEWHERE FOR NOW."
"And why is she needed?" the Nephalem asked calmly.
"It deals with the wise one we are trying to find," Myriam said with a soft smile. At this, the Nephalem grimaced and nodded. "I will be back the moment I can."
"Take your time. Don't rush this," the champion said. She beamed at the Nephalem and was quickly taken to Itherael's Library. Anarius wasn't on Sanctuary long enough to feel tainted by anything. It was why Myriam agreed to work with him. She knew that Anaurael couldn't afford to feel any type of negativity right now. Even though she wasn't pregnant, it would hurt anything that tried to occur.
"You have been brought here?" Itherael asked
"That I have," she chuckled. Zayl was busy drawing various schematics on several parchment sheets that were spells for summoning ghosts. Moolara and Sohar were grinding odd herbs and blending powders together in other bowls that were used to help keep spirits around longer. They were going to explore every avenue that they could.
"To be safe, we won't try to summon Cain here. We'll be on Sanctuary. We don't know what this stuff will call forth right away. Sometimes, it takes a few tries before we get it right," Zayl said.
"Oh! Remember that last time we tried this? How we called that one ghost wench, and she tried to vandalize you?" Humbert snickered. "She almost got the better of me!"
"You had botched the chanting at the last moment on purpose!" Zayl growled.
"I was just trying to see if it would work," Humbert pouted.
"Well, you're not allowed to do that here. This is far too important. It took me a month to finally drive off that ghost, too! She was insane!" Zayl grimaced.
"I could silence him again..." Malthael mused when he appeared.
"I actually need him to help build the spell. But, if he messes up again, I think a day of silence would definitely be needed," Zayl chuckled. The Witch Doctors also grinned. They had touched Anaurael's mark and were finally able to see Malthael.
"You know," Sohar said thoughtfully, as he set down a finished bowl of finely ground powder. "we could put him in a body."
"Can you?!" Humbert asked with excitement.
"But, it would be old. Likely require a lot of care to keep it alive," Sohar grinned slightly.
"Eh..." the skull seemed to say indecisively. Zayl was biting the inside of his cheek to keep focused on his sketching. Myriam was rather thoughtful.
"You know, maybe it would be good for you to become an animal?" she suggested. At the sudden burst of outrage the skull gave, Zayl finally put the pencil down to lean back and laugh hard. The Witch Doctors couldn't focus now from the tears they were shedding, too. It was why she did it. They all had to laugh from the stress of everything going on. "Oh, come now! Can you imagine being in that large reptile? I can see that!"
"What? Well...hmm..." Humbert actually considered.
"No, he's not going into a Bogadile," Zayl said when he recovered. "He stays as a skull."
"But this is boring!" the skull pouted. "Oh! Maybe I can be put in another skull..."
"No. Too confusing and a waste of time," Zayl snorted.
"Oh! We could paint him different colors," Moolara said. "Like a mask."
"Um..." Humbert seemed to act a touch nervous about that.
"Or we put face paint on him. The kind the noble ladies use in Westmarch," Zayl snickered.
"No! That won't work! I mean...I may get attention, but not the kind I want," Humbert said. "I want to see the world with pride! Not be embarrassed in it."
"I'd just toss him over the side," Malthael shrugged. Zayl shook his head and laughed. "He'd get a nice view of everything on the way down..."
"Oh! Maybe we can tie a string to him!" Sohar said. "He can look for things for us first. Much like a lantern."
"But, he'd be a talking, annoying one," the Necromancer muttered.
"Maybe we can toss him ahead of us to see if there is a trap," Moolara said thoughtfully.
"Now, wait a minute!" Humbert scowled. Malthael was quite amused on all of it.
"Quiet, all of you!" Zayl finally said and picked up the pencil again. "We need to finish these designs. The sooner the better."
"That you should. Ah! After you finish here, you need to see to your wife," Myriam smiled. Zayl now looked at her with surprise. "She will be calling for you soon."
"I'm almost done here," he said and went back to work.
"I NEED TO CHECK ON THE REST OF THE HIGH HEAVENS. I WILL RETURN WHEN I CAN. I MUST...HMM..." Anarius paused. Then he looked at Itherael. "THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU! QUICKLY! BEFORE IMPERIUS TAKES OVER!"
"What?" Itherael asked. He checked his Scroll before going still with what was being said. He moved quickly to his inner sanctum to take out the most potent healing salve they had. "Where do I need to be? Must I go to her?"
"WAIT FOR HER HERE. I MUST EXPLAIN TO IMPERIUS THAT SHE MUST BE WITH YOU NOW. OF COURSE, SHOULD HER CURRENT OFFSPRING NEED TO NURSE, HE WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU BOTH."
"I can understand that," Itherael agreed. "I will never keep her from her children."
Anarius nodded, and Myriam was now in a deep discussion with Moolara about how a spell may turn out in various visions. He took that time to quickly fly off to find Anaurael in her bedroom. She looked up at him and smiled. Izarius was rocking her in the rocking chair, as she nursed Arthurius.
"YOUR BODY IS NEARLY READY FOR ITHERAEL. I WILL INFORM IMPERIUS OF THIS," he said. Izarius could only sigh, but Anaurael was nodding in agreement.
"Do you know how long I am to be with him?" she asked.
"IT MAY BE FOR THREE OF SANCTUARY'S DAYS. ONCE HIS OFFSPRING HAS FORMED, THEN IMPERIUS CAN CLAIM YOU FOR HIMSELF AGAIN. AS LONG AS IT FORMS, THEN THERE WILL BE NO OTHER INTERRUPTIONS."
"He'll have to keep himself busy with the troops. There's no other way. He'll be pining over her far too much," Izarius said. "I can help keep him busy."
"I will assist in guarding you," Imperael said from where he stood by her doorway. "The essence of Fate will aid me. I will see things before they happen."
"GOOD! I SHALL SPEAK WITH IMPERIUS NOW," Anarius nodded and quickly made his way to the training halls. When Imperius saw him, he nodded. "ANAURAEL WILL BE WITH ITHERAEL SOON. A FULL THREE DAYS FROM SANCTUARY MUST PASS."
"What?!" Imperius asked with surprise. He had lost track of the time. "I should be with her before she leaves for him."
"YOU MAY COMFORT HER, BUT YOU CANNOT TAKE HER INTO YOUR SANCTUM. THE TIMING IS FAR TOO CLOSE," Anarius warned. Itherius was watching how his father was training the troops. On watching his father start to sulk on not being able to be with his mother, he had an idea.
"Sire, if you see Mother now, then you'll be fine. And you should see her before she goes to Itherael. But, to pass the time, I was wondering if we could start setting up something for her to learn in the form of weapon making. Even armor making would be good for her. You did say you were going to show her how to do this, right?" the golden, youthful Archangel asked.
"Ah! Yes, I did say that I would show her..." Imperius mused.
"And you can also teach me how to do this, too," he added on. "I want to make my own weapon! I think it's something that I need to do."
"And you should, as my direct offspring. Hmm. Perhaps you could make something for your mortal brother, too," Imperius mused aloud. Anarius was chuckling now. This was why Itherius had to be with his father. He would ensure that Imperius's mind was always focused on something else. He was a part of Anaurael, too, and he would easily know how to keep Imperius sated while being away from her.
"Let's go see Mother now. Besides, what is three days to us?" Itherius chuckled.
"You know how I may get," Imperius warned.
"And, we both know how you are when you are focused on something else," he reminded him.
"Do not chastise me. I may forget you are my son," Imperius warned. "Only Anaurael can get away with something like that. I can punish you."
"How? By making me kill demons?"
"No. By making you spar against me. Or, if not me, maybe a mortal on Sanctuary," he smirked.
"I'd rather spar you than a mortal..." Itherius seemed to pout. Imperius gave a light chuckle at that. Anarius was highly amused by all of this, but he did accompany them to Anaurael's bedroom. Arthurius was just set down in his cradle to sleep off his meal. When Imperius saw her letting Mal snuggle into her arms, he was quick to move and gather her up with him.
"I don't like how you'll be kept from me," Imperius sighed. At her hand to his cheek, he gave a small shiver. "I had vowed that I would never leave you alone."
"Love, don't forget that there is another way we can be together," she smiled warmly.
"I know. I just...what do I do if I crave to hold you? To touch you? We both know that it must be done. I mean..." he started and found himself looking at how Mal started to pat on his chest. Then he saw that it was Malthael regarding him. "Malthael?"
"Um. Play?" he asked and beamed a toothless grin.
"What?" Imperius asked with confusion.
"If you miss me, you can always play with him," Anaurael chuckled. "He is also a part of me."
"But..." he started and saw Malthael's large-eyed, pouting face. "Very well. I shall attempt to...eh...play with you."
"It would be good for you to bond with your son. Even if it is Malthael, it may also be Mal, too. He needs this encouragement from you," Anaurael said in soothing tone. Imperius could only nod at this reasoning. "It will help occupy you, too."
"I know what he likes to play with," Izarius chuckled. "Leave that to me."
"Good," Imperius sighed. He wasn't one to sit down and play with children, but this was his son. He had to show he was trusted to be around and make this important exception. When Anarius gestured to finally take Anaurael away, Imperius began to hesitate. He had left her side for a full week before. He was clearly worried over three days being away from her.
:My love, why do you worry so?: She asked and leaned into him in a mental and physical way.
:I recall the nightmare you had before. When I was gone for so long.: He admitted.
:It is very different now. I know what needs to be done. I didn't before. The situation is laid bare to both of us. Don't worry. Three days will be nothing to us, if we are kept busy.:
:You mean it should be that way to me. I worry for you.:
:Itherael may have me read books.:
:Ah...so he might...: He mused.
:Don't worry so much, my love. I'm sure I will be more than happy to read to you, if you check on me.: She giggled softly in his arms. At the invisible gaze of care he gave her now, she found herself smiling back in full to him.
:I think...I would prefer for you to read to me like this, if I feel myself slipping.: He sighed and cradled her closer. :I know I would need it.:
:I can do that for you. If I feel you slip, I'll be right here with you.: She blinked her topaz blue eyes at him slowly. If it wasn't for Malthael in her arms, he would have crushed her to him. Izarius was quick to take up the small boy to let Imperius do just that. "I will only love you, Imperius. The moment you know I am returning to you, I want you to have the salve ready."
"It will be ready," he vowed and branded her with a kiss that he always gave her. "I already miss you so dearly..."
"I am always with you," she whispered and kissed him again. "I love you."
"I love you," he muttered back. Only after one more kiss was given to her did he let Anarius take her up gently into his arms.
"DO NOT WORRY, SIRE. I SHALL KEEP CONSTANT WATCH OVER HER FOR YOU," Anarius vowed. Itherius was able to get a hug from her next.
"I'll keep him busy, Mother," he chuckled and got a chaste kiss from her.
"I know you will," she chuckled back. "I'll still be in Heaven."
"You will always feel farther than that from me, if I cannot see you at my whims," Imperius muttered. "I shall need to keep myself highly preoccupied."
"As will I," she said with a small smile of her own. When Anarius took her away, Imperius was already starting to regret her leaving his side. Then Izarius took out the small toy chest that was used for Mal's toys. Imperius now sat in a chair to have Mal in his lap. It was time to learn what his son liked to play with to start keeping his mind preoccupied.
"Where are we going?" Anaurael blinked when she found herself in another chamber. Auriel was waiting here. It was a last-minute decision by Anarius.
"AURIEL WILL ASSIST WITH THE SALVE. WITH THE WAY ITHERAEL WISHES TO BE WITH YOU NOW, IT IS SAFEST THIS WAY," he explained. That had her blush and nod with understanding. She was set down to undress and let Auriel apply the oily substance.
"There. I will be the only one allowed to do this for you," Auriel said with a light chuckle.
"Thank you, sister. You may need to do this for me again before I see to Imperius," Anaurael sighed. The soft laugh of agreement given back was all she needed to show she was correct in that thought. A bathtub was filled for her to scrub herself clean the moment the bubbling salve began to dissipate from her skin.
"Tell me," Auriel mused. "do you feel any different after it is applied?"
"Not that I know of," Anaurael said, as she thought aloud. "I feel no different. I'm sure it's very different, if I was wounded. Of course, that's if I get wounded, since I share Imperius's wounds. But, like this, I really feel no change at all. It's after the fact that I do."
"Oh? Can you describe it?" Auriel asked with a touch of curiosity.
"Ah. Well..." Anaurael blushed a bit. "I can try."
"Please do," Auriel nodded and listened with rapt attention on what Anaurael felt when it came to losing her virginity. When she finished talking, Auriel was quite perplexed. "So, this pain is only supposed to happen once?"
"Yes. If it wasn't for this salve, I'd never have it again. But, it gets reversed each time. Imperius wants me to use the salve after Itherael's offspring takes form to reclaim my body as his."
"I wonder why, though," Auriel admitted.
"You know how he is around me. I belong to him in both body and mind. He wants no other to fully claim me. It was fine with Tyrael. But, now that the salve can do this, he needs this done to keep me as his. I do believe it helps with his focus away from me, too," she said. Auriel moved to gently squeeze her shoulders in her sisterly way.
"I will always be amazed at how you are able to keep him calm amidst all of this chaos."
"What would he normally be doing?"
"Likely raging about Heaven and ordering an attack on Pandemonium to cool his wrath."
"I can see that happening," Anaurael giggled softly.
"Oh, yes! It was something he always did. Brooding. Scheming on how to slip back into the Burning Hells to slaughter all that he can. Talking about the wars and victories he did for the High Heavens. He was truly lost to all of us when Sanctuary was formed. He had a lot of pent up rage within him. It was very hard to seek his council at times."
"Yes. He told me much when I was first brought into his sanctum. He told me quite a bit of his secrets and thoughts. I did vow not to repeat them, but I do know he told me much of how bitter he was at everyone and everything. He seemed to despise a lot of things that started to happen around him. He had no true way to vent his wrath properly. He even admitted to me that he came down to kill me on the night I was born. He didn't know what I was."
"Did he really?!" Auriel was shocked on hearing this.
"Yes. But, when my Mother had him hold me, it showed that I was something that actually calmed him. He said...for the first time he ever knew...a form of peace had finally reached him. He didn't want to set me aside at all."
"I would have berated him, if he thought any other way," Auriel said with a hard sigh and a shake of her head. "I am very glad that he realized this."
"So are my parents," Anaurael sighed with her. The conversation became more general now with how the Host was doing before Anarius came back for her. She dressed in her gown of golden stretch velvet, and Auriel helped with the corset piece. Right after that, Anaurael was taken to the Library. The moment she was set down, Itherael was quickly alerted.
"You have come..." he said lightly.
"That I have," she smiled gently. A complete change had taken over him now. He knew my body was ready for him. His desire for her had peaked to a completely new height. And, for the first time he could ever remember, he was feeling overly jealous of her. He couldn't let her idle in his Library for long. He actually felt that other angels would start to covet her as much as he did.
"I would take you into my sanctum, but there is another place I was thinking of. It's almost as though it could be an extension of my sanctum," he said, as he floated over to her. He knew he was rambling now. Anarius had brought her to a part of the Library that no others were in. He knew how Itherael was going to be. It had to be done in this discreet way.
"I look forward to seeing what you have in mind," she smiled pleasantly.
"I WILL BE KEEPING CLOSE WATCH ON EVERYTHING," Anarius nodded. Itherael could only nod back with understanding. "I SHALL BRING YOU TALUS'AR WHEN YOU ARE SETTLED."
"Thank you," Itherael nodded again. Now he gathered up Anaurael into his arms and took off with her. Where he took her to was a small building that resembled a gazebo from the golden-gated ledges that surrounded it. It was hovering on its own with its own energy from the Arch. Many various, smaller structures did this, including various potted trees. Anaurael had seen them before, but it was fleeting from how Imperius flew with her. She didn't know that various buildings floated around in their own way. It completely fascinated her.
"What place is this?!" she asked with surprise when he set her down at the single opening to the floating building. "It's beautiful!"
"It hovers just inside my faction. This is where I tend to go when I need time to myself," he said. He let the door seal up now to hide them within it. She had enough of Imperius's Valor within her to sustain her for a little under a week this way. She wouldn't need to forget anything, so her energy would still be kept for a long while.
"And none knew of this place?" she frowned. As she looked around the small, circular chamber, she noticed that Itherael had moved his chair into this hovering building to be in the center of the room. A small table was stocked with food and drink for her. Izarius would likely be tending to the basin, and that would be set outside safely after each use. He had to know where she would be in case there was a problem. There was plenty of light for her see with from the slitted windows at the very top of the chamber. She was greatly impressed by it all.
"This building was made fully by me. As much as I do hate to admit this, Auriel does not even know of this place. When Imperius raged and stormed about, I would come here to remain elusive from them all. I simply cannot stand to be around the two of them when they argue. Such a thing..." he sighed and shook his hooded head sadly. "I would only appear at a Council summons."
"Well...hopefully you won't have to do that so much now," she said and moved to hug him tight.
"There was another reason I brought you here," he whispered gently in her ear.
"And what is that reason?" she asked.
"I cannot become my core form here. As much as I want an offspring from your soul, that is reserved solely for Imperius. So, no matter how much I try, it will not happen. It is to safeguard you from that. I will be content with a mortal child from you. And, with Itherius claiming a touch of my name combined with that of Imperius, it does pacify me a touch," he chuckled.
"He already feels a touch of regret on me leaving. The week he left me alone in my youth..." she sighed and got squeezed by him. "I had a rather intense nightmare that week."
"You did?" Itherael asked. He had heard something about it, but he didn't pry.
"That he had abandoned me," she winced. He trembled for her and tilted her face to his.
"I know that it was Auriel and I that kept him here. He went against a vow that he, himself, had made long ago. In a sense, it was our faults at that. But, I vow to you that it will never happen again."
"Thank you," she whispered. At that, he finally kissed her fully to let his passion take over for her. He needed to have her start carrying his child. He couldn't keep her from Imperius for too long. He had just vowed to keep that from happening, and he had to keep to his vow.