Kingsport was a bustling port town with one main fact. The air stank of fish. Whether it was fresh or old, wet or dried, it was in the air. Kormac was wrinkling his nose. Eirena was waiving a mildly perfumed handkerchief in front of her face. Lyndon was taking in a deep, appreciative breath of fresh air with a nostalgic sense of complete joy.
"Ah. So this is where your stink comes from. Makes sense," Greed snickered from Gurzick's crown. The Nephalem pretended to sneeze to cover up the hard laugh.
"Not a word from you! And you'd better stay hidden. There are a lot of men here that wouldn't hesitate to try and kill you. And that can be the same for the women, too," Lyndon warned in a rather serious way. Jozin was a touch surprised at the change that came over the usually carefree scoundrel. "For now, I feel there is only one person I have to find to get the information we need. And I know it won't go well at all."
"Who must we find?" Byden asked. Lou-yu had managed to join them on this outing, as his angelic mate insisted on it. He was quite perplexed on all of this, and he paid close attention.
"Rea," Lyndon said softly.
"You mean...the one that killed your brother?" the Nephalem asked slowly.
"The very one. I can't explain it, but I think I'll find most of my answers with her," he admitted. "So, we need to stop by her place first. I do wonder how the kids are."
"Then let's go and see," Vincent nodded.
"Where is she located?" Kalgor asked.
"Not far. She's near the lower part of the town. It's a small walk, so we'll be there quickly," Lyndon said. Now that they moved through the port town quietly, and Gurzick was forced to hide away from them to watch from afar, another goblin was watching the group. The woman they were going to visit was the one that Diablo picked to bear Adria's Soulstone.
She had already sent the kids away to one of her relations when she saw the book of arcane magic on her table. It was actually Adria's personal tome of spells and secrets. It was bound in tough demon hide, woven together with human sinew, and written with words of black demon blood. There were no other embellishments on it, but the book looked fairly old and well-used.
The book opened at her soft touch of the cover, as though daring her to glean its secrets. The moment she opened it, her interest took hold to learn more. And, of course, she didn't want her children to tamper with the book. She was just glad that she had sent them away while she waited for Lyndon to appear. She knew it was just a matter of time for him to show up. She didn't want her children to be around the scoundrel, anyways. She had plans for him if she saw him. With this book, some of those plans could become realistic.
As she turned each page, her interest in the dark arts grew more and more. I didn't know that I could twist the air around me and poison someone with their own breath! A keen gleam now settled in her blue eyes, and she pushed aside a strand of lightly curled blond-brown hair away. There was even a spell to change my look and voice! Just as she turned the page to see the spell for eternal life and youth by stealing it from other girls, she paused at a disturbance.
Diablo had ordered his goblin to issue a distraction to get her away from the book. When she had moved away from it, the Greed Goblin was quick to take up the book, holler at its prize, and bound off. Now she chased after it to get the book back. The whole point of this was for her to be led away from the heroes, as they walked up to the house. She was led out a back way. They came up to the front of the small house. Of course, no one answered when they knocked on the door.
"Hmm. Odd. Usually someone's here," Lyndon frowned. "Ah! The door is open!"
"You picked that lock just now," Byden muttered.
"It got us inside, didn't it?" the scoundrel smirked.
"We must make haste," Sohar frowned. "I sense something bad."
"How?" Lyndon asked.
"Something dark was here," the Witch Doctor said and moved to the table where the vile book once rested. "Yes. It was here. Not long ago."
"What was here?" the Nephalem asked. Lyndon was just surprised that the children were nowhere to be found. He was still searching the home without touching anything. He didn't want to let himself get detected. His searching did come up with a reward, though. He saw the note that the kids were sent to a relation for now. As pleased as he was that his family ties were safe, it also disturbed him. She sent the kids away. Why did she do that...?
"The air smells...rotten..." Vincent said with a narrowed gaze. "As though demons were in the house. Lyndon, did you know about anything odd?"
"You're right. It's like brimstone," Lou-yu frowned. He turned his gaze to the scoundrel.
"She killed my brother. A lot of things were odd," he said back when he walked over. "She sent the kids off to be with other family. If there was anything I understood about her, it was her protectiveness for her children that really stood out about her."
"She could have seen to their safety first before dealing with whatever was here," Byden said. "If she had any self-preservation as a mother, then I can see that happening."
"It just makes no sense to me on why she would..." Lyndon started. Gurzick interrupted him when he appeared from his portal.
"She go! Leave! I follow! You follow! Come!" Gurzick said quickly to wave at them. The Nephalem was quick to race after the Greed Goblin. Lyndon was beside himself with confusion, but he was soon being pulled along to race after her. On realizing she left the back way, he was floored.
"I think I see her!" Jozin said and quickly sped up with the power of the air around him. Vincent whistled for his ferret companions to bounce out of the shadows. They helped give him a playful boost of speed. Kalgor was charging and leaping to keep up with them. Sohar was able to bring forth his undead dogs to help him keep pace. Lou-yu was lagging behind a bit, but he was conserving his energy for a tough fight. Byden, though, was summoning his ghostly steed to ride ahead of them all.
"I want a horse!" Lyndon pouted.
"Sorry. I don't do gift horses. You never know what's in their mouths," Byden smirked and continued to stampede forward. Lyndon scowled at that remark and ignored the chuckles around him. The Crusader expertly jumped at the right moment before the celestial beast disappeared, and he found himself staring at Rea's surprised look. At the sight of the reclaimed book in her hands, he said, "You know that book will only get you in trouble, right? It says 'I want to kill my owner' all over it."
"What's it to you?!" she growled.
"It's because of that book that we are here. Please set it down and hear us out," the Nephalem said. "We don't want any form of trouble."
"They don't want trouble. But, I do," Lyndon said when he finally made it over to them. Rea's face paled slightly, but she remained stern in her pose. "You killed Edlin. My brother. Your husband. Why? For what purpose?!"
"Your family was so weak! And your brother...hah! I knew you wanted me, Lyndon. I know that you still long for me. Don't you, Lyndon? Or should I say...Lynnie?"
"Don't you ever call me that again!" he seethed and raised up his Manticore to aim at her. "I care about my nephews. I care about those that fight with me for various causes. But, I don't care about you. Now that I see what you truly are...heh. Half of the women I've danced with have danced much better than you ever would have."
"You think I care about those floozies?! You can't hurt me," she smirked.
"No! I have to deal with this!" he said when the others started to move forward. She made herself ready to bolt. She turned and was soon staring at Imperael's massive form. He was clearly blocking her only escape route. She was effectively trapped.
"Finish your fight properly. Or I'll finish you off for him," the Archangel glowered from his hood. Mortal men and women were equals to him. He would easily crush her, if she was too much of a threat. Lyndon usually gloated at this, as he had the upper hand, but he didn't. He simply couldn't. This was my childhood crush. The one I thought was worth keeping. He will never know why she picked his brother over him. He knew he didn't want to know why. At least for right now.
"What...are you...?!" she gasped.
"He's currently your wall to block off your escape," Vincent said with a cold chuckle.
"Lyndon, what do you wish to do now?" Jozin asked.
"I honestly don't know. But, she can't stay here. My senses are already tingling that we may be getting ourselves into even more trouble. We have to do something now. As much as I should kill her..." he winced. "I'm just at a loss."
"I can understand that," the Nephalem nodded. "For now, we need to take her away from here. So, you're right about that."
"Or ya can stay an' play..." a heavy snicker was heard in the distance.
"Nigel Cutthroat..." Lyndon sighed. "I'm sure his band of rats aren't too far off."
"You boys might want to leave..." Byden started before Izarius, Erelus, and Agrius appeared to assist Imperael. Then Itherius came down to have his first chance to kill corrupted mortals. "Never mind. Nice meeting you, and now I'm waving good-bye."
"There is a room prepared for the tainted female! Take her away now!" Agrius said.
"I'll do it," Izarius said. Rea was quick to try and bolt away, but Imperael was already there to catch her. The scent of the book was incredibly vile to him, and he wanted to destroy it, but it may also hold keys to various demonic weaknesses. It would have to be confiscated and stored away. Izarius was also worried about the essence the book was giving off. He didn't know how it was going to affect Anaurael. As much as he didn't want to take it to Heaven, there was no other choice.
The moment he left, the others looked at the new situation before them.
"Okay. She's gone. Now what?" Vincent asked.
"Let's deal with the new threat," Lyndon smirked and shifted his Manticore over to where the thieves started to jump over. Itherius called forth his father's Wrath and unleashed a blinding Light to stall them. The heroes were unaffected from their protective ties with the High Heavens, and the enemy was quickly cut down. When only Nigel was left, he was quickly bound up.
"Ya don't...scare me none..." the lead thief grounded out.
"I don't, I'm sure. But...what about him?" Lyndon asked when Erelus charged forth with his massive two-handed mace. Nigel's jaw dropped in a speechless form of horror and awe. Then Imperael lopped off the man's head as a surprise attack. Blood was sprayed all over the ground, and Lyndon had to quickly back away. He wasn't fast enough. "Ew! Now I have blood on my boots!"
"And you care about that?" Kormac smirked.
"These are good boots, damn you!" Lyndon scowled.
"You can wipe them clean. Anyways, we have to figure out what is going to happen right now. Rea was taken to Heaven. So was that book. What are we going to do?" the Nephalem asked. As they conversed about the event, the running goblin was beside itself with fear. I lost the book and the girl. And I must report this. It vanished away to do just that.
Up in Heaven, Izarius was first able to drop Rea off to a secured chamber that was closely watched over by Greed. Then he teleported to the Angiris Council chamber with the book. As he pondered on what he could do with it, Gurzick appeared. Greed had the perfect solution.
"Give me?" Gurzick asked.
"Oh? Ah! Yes! You can hold this safely away until it is ready for us to see it! We don't know how it will affect Anaurael. I know Itherael will want to see it, but, right now, he is needed for her. We can't have his energies tainted," Izarius explained.
"I know. It's why I sent Gurzick. I'll keep it like a shiny stone, and I know we will want to glean its secrets in time. Even I can feel how much of the Burning Hells it contains. So, I will watch over it," Greed said from the crown. Izarius nodded and gave over the vile book. Gurzick was quick to hop back into his portal, but, unknowing to them, an event had already occurred.
Because the book was bound to Diablo and filled with his servant's vile thoughts, the essence of the book was quick to seep out like a poisonous, invisible fog. When Rea opened the book, it triggered a spell to attack whoever wasn't deemed to hold it. She was safe, as the book was chosen to go to her. When Izarius touched it, the spell triggered in full. It couldn't attack an angel, as the Light was too strong, so the spell simply lingered silently. His Light also warned it to remain dormant that much longer. Once the book was given over to the goblin, it was able to react and form itself into its own entity. Izarius's Light no longer hindered it, and the spell formed itself into the form of a small Terror Demon.
As it wasn't really a demon, Izarius couldn't detect it. And, with Heaven being mainly comprised of, well, air, it easily shifted and moved through various rooms to search for a victim. On sensing Imperius, it seemed to move on instinct towards him. This was Diablo's direct enemy. It had to try and do something. Anaurael was sleeping in his lap in her chambers from how drained the new pregnancy was making her. The vile mist couldn't go after Imperius. Of course, it went after the next best thing...
Heaven was always beautiful, but she secretly loved it when it was nightfall. The warm, blue glows from the buildings made her feel so wonderful! Even as her mark flared out in a peaceful way, she always felt safe. She gazed up at the Silver Spire with a form of sheer delight from where she stood on a floating terrace. She was happy and at peace.
But...something went wrong. A black mist was quick to encompass over her dear home. It spread out like an inky, dark muck that seemed to cling and mold to the pillars and floor around her. She watched with horror at how the corruption began to coat all over everything before her. In an act of instinctive desperation, the sky went from night to day to try and sear out the darkness, but black clouds quickly covered the clear, blue skies. They trapped out the sun. She started to feel suffocated.
Graceful buildings with golden spires suddenly split and shattered apart. The floor began to crack and crumble away, and it forced her to start running for safety from the floating building she was on. She just barely jumped to a nearby ledge when the building fell underneath her, and she pulled herself up to safety with heightened gasps for air. The blue pathways of energy she ran over started to turn ash grey, as the energy solidified into dead stone. The stench of brimstone and demonic filth filled her nose, and she forced herself to keep from vomiting.
At the sound of someone pleading with pain, she turned to stare with complete outrage and sorrow at the sight of an angelic warrior stuck to a broken marble pillar. His blue glow was weak, and his wings were coated black from the corruption that seared through him. Like a form of twisted cement, he was pinned where he was from his corrupted Light. She rushed right up to him, and he regarded her weakly through his helmet.
"You need to wake up..." he barely whispered out.
"What?!" she asked. "No! I should help you!"
"Anaurael, wake up!" the dying angel gasped and reached for her shoulders to shake her.
"I can't! I can heal you!" she said. "I need to try!"
"You can't heal that one. He's already dead! And soon, you will be joining him..." a sinister voice snickered behind her. When she turned to face the owner of the voice, she found herself speechless at the massive bulk of Diablo, as he now bore down on her...
"Something is wrong! She's not waking up!" Imperius growled outside her dream. He noticed her mark was in a furious state of panic, and he had no idea that the corruption that assaulted her was keeping him from waking her in full. He was trying to shake her awake, but there was no response. Her dream was holding her captive.
"Go! In mind!" Malthael said from his small body. He definitely sensed what was wrong, and now he feared for his mother. "Bad dream!"
"What?!" Imperius growled. Now he realized why he couldn't wake her up.
"She's suffering! Get in her mind! Now! Only you are strong enough to help her!" Izarius said in a pleading way. "I can't reach her, Imperius. I'm being blocked out!"
"You can't...?" he started. Then he paused. He tensed with rage. He sensed what was wrong. Now he gave out one word. "Diablo!"
"Should Anarius help her?" Itherael asked with concern.
"No. Just me. I can handle this," Imperius nodded.
"Don't delay any longer!" Itherael said with complete worry for his offspring. "Help her!"
"I am," Imperius said with a growl and focused on keeping her body stable in his arms. Now he settled himself to charge forth into her dream. I need to save her!
"Anaurael!" Imperius shouted and rushed to her side. He was able to pierce the black veil that held her in. She needed him now, and he was right there to aid her in full. As much as Anarius could have helped her, this was his battle. He had to best Diablo to show who was fully guarding her.
"Imperius!" she called out. Diablo howled with laughter at this, but it was short-lived when Imperius rammed into the massive bulk to drive him away from her. He didn't think that Imperius would be able to touch him. Now he knew how strong Imperius's Light burned within this female's soul. If she still lived, so would Imperius. They both had their lives linked together. They both had to die together.
"Get out of her mind, filth!" he snarled and called forth Solarion. She watched him and Diablo fully battle it out for a solid ten minutes. The massive Prime Evil was still weak from the ordeal he went through, but he was still quite formidable. When the demon was seething and curled up into a ball to launch himself at his enemy to retaliate, Imperius went to her side swiftly for a quick counterattack.
"What's happening?" she shivered in his arms.
"He's trying to corrupt you. Focus with me, my ward! Together, we shall drive him out!" Imperius said with a raw confidence. She nodded, and they both focused together. A brilliant burst of golden Light filled her mind. Diablo screamed, as he was quickly cast out from the combined attack. The corruption was finally burned away to leave her free of it. A moment later, Heaven was healed and pristine once more, and the wounded angel she saw appeared to have nothing wrong with him at all. She gazed at Imperius now, and he kissed her...
"Anaurael..." Imperius sighed and hugged her to him.
"How...did...?" she shivered and pressed herself into him. "What was...Heaven...?"
"You saw how he corrupted Heaven when he attacked," Imperius muttered. "That is what Heaven looked like when he stormed the Silver City. I didn't...want you to see that..."
"It's all right," she said now and ran a hand over his cheek from under his helm. "You were there. You made it right for me again."
"And I always will," he vowed and cradled her. Now that she was soothed and protected in full within the High Heavens, Diablo was quite amused at what he learned. Adria's corruption let me see everything. It let me invade the dreams the girl had. It may not happen again, but he had what he wanted. He had vital information on his enemies.
"I have been in her dreams. I know her weakness. She may not be prone to corruption mentally, but physically...I have to wonder. Her mind is quite strong. But...I know who she is now. And I know her name. Interesting. She is the same golden female that plagued the mortal Mitherael's thoughts. Her life and vile Light is bound to my eternal enemy. She can die if he dies. And...he can die...if she dies..." he snickered and seemed to gloat on this small victory. It would still take time for him to fully invade the High Heavens again, but he knew he would slowly have that chance.
"Master!" a goblin hissed when it came over to him. It was the same one that was helping with the book. "Book gone!"
"What?" Diablo hissed out.
"They took book!" it whimpered.
"And what of the girl chosen for the book?"
"Gone! Taken..." it cringed.
"Where were they taken?"
"Um...Heaven...yes. They taken there. New ones came down. I hide. They take all."
"So...that is how I was able to see her dreams. Hmm," he thought carefully. Then he turned his gaze onto the sniveling creature before him. He waved the Baroness's fat hand. Several seconds later, a mess of goblins were cleaning up the blood and corpse pieces of the destroyed minion. Now Diablo rested his gaze on a lone goblin far off. "You. Get my book back. Or you will meet the same fate."
It whimpered and found itself portaling away. He could easily flood Heaven with his goblins, but he had to keep a low profile, too. He was able to invade Anaurael's dreams using an outside source. On glancing at the Soulstone that held the witch's soul, he now thought of other uses for her. He was going to have to run some new tests to see if his theories worked. He was going to enjoy it. Immensely.