Category: Darksiders I & II

Rating: M

Couples: Azrael/War, Strife/Caim

Warnings: AU, Yaoi, Lemon, Mpreg

Chapter: 20

Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me and Food-for-mind

Author's Note: Sequel to Angel of War

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As for what had happened across the White City to send the Horsemen stampeding through it with little care for anything in their way and only Metatron following them keeping the City Guard from attacking them?

Azrael and Caim had joined their mother in Metatron's home in the City, discussing a revelation Azrael had that might allow her to have more children.

"I suppose nothing stops me from trying." She was sitting on one of the armchairs, regarding both her sons. "Are you two volunteering?"

"Hell no." Caim dryly stated. "It's going to be bad enough when you carry a child and I'll know it happened, I do not want to actually be part of it."

"So very nice of you, my son." She returned the flat stare, reaching for her drink. "Considering you apparently do far worse on a regular basis now." She used the glass to gesture to her eldest's neck. "I have seen Azrael enough to know what that means."

The youngest angel snorted at the blush covering his brother's cheeks. "I… what I do in bed is none of your business, mother."

"I know, I know." She laughed now, much to his consternation. "So how long will your darlings need, you think?"

"Not that long, I imagine." Azrael looked up when someone knocked on the door. One of Metatron's servants entered, informing that a contingent of warriors had arrived. "Send their leader in."

"Hail, Auntie, cousins." It was one of Michael's eldest that entered. "I have been send to increase your guard… or rather, form your guard." He inclined his head lightly.

"Then you are late to your duty, nephew." Laylah filled a glass with wine, offering it to him. "They are here for a good hour by now."

"We did not expect Azrael to arrive. We assumed he would stay in the fortress." The armour-clad male joined them in sitting down. "Considering… events."

"Someone tried to kill my daughters, Sabrael." Azrael countered sharply. "I am not going to sit at home."

"They survived?" The newest arrival looked surprised. "That… is a relief."

"Sabrael?" Laylah's eyes narrowed a touch. "What ward are your people creating outside?" She had dealt with Samael on a regular basis back in the day and had honed her magic-sensing to a high degree; after all, she had managed to notice Caim's illusion a decade ago by feel alone. Now she felt a ward being drawn up in the hallway outside of the room. "Metatron's house is warded well enough."

"Unfortunately, not enough." Sabrael steepled his fingers together. "A mere precaution."

"Why is a Magic-ward a precaution?" Azrael – less subconsciously sensitive like his mother, but capable once he put his mind to it – shot up. "Cousin!"

Several warriors came inside when the ward finished and all magics were drained from the nearby vicinity.

"An unfortunate necessity." Sabrael clarified, rising to his feet while putting down the drink he had been offered.

"Sabrael." Caim was up and in front of his sibling before the other had finished getting up. "You filthy traitor."

"Like I care about the opinion of a Fallen." Michael's child stated. "Step aside, or I will mourn not when I kill you."

"Nephew!" Laylah snarled. "What in the name of Lilith's filthy Keep are you intending to do here?" Instinctively she reached for the Rod of Arafel, her continuous accessory, even though it was no more than a fancy metal pole right now.

"The Nephilim may not resurface, auntie, and certainly not from Azrael's loins." Sabrael looked with clear regret at his family-member. "Surely we all remember how devastating they were? How would they become with his magics to fuel their new conquest?"

"Are you insinuating I would allow such a thing from my children!?" Azrael almost screeched.

"Azrael." Laylah stopped her youngest. "Sabrael. What are you insinuating here? Do you assume we'd give our approval to something that would doom us all? You know how the 'redemption-betrothal' works. Aside from your father, all of Azrael's relatives gave their approval."

"It is also well-known that Azrael is the baby of the family on account of being one of the last Secondborn." Sabrael stated with a note of sadness. "But this cannot be allowed, Laylah. The last time the Nephilim came to power, they threatened everything. It's unfortunate that it involves family."

"Dramatic irony would dictate that people start thinking now, of course." The female muttered darkly under her breath. "Sabrael, think well about what you intend to do here."

"For the light, and Balance." He pushed her aside, advancing on her two sons with sword drawn. Caim promptly interposed himself, something which was at best buying his brother a few seconds; the whole existence of a Fallen Secondborn among the Nephilim's company was a well-kept secret. Michael's son would have no qualms to cut him down and unarmed, with no magic, there would be little he could do against it.