To say Ava was- displeased is perhaps an understatement of the matter, the heavy black girl dashing towards me with a speed I never quite seen her muster, one violet eye lifting in actual surprise. Whatever was going on was evidently somewhat troubling if the girl had actually been inspired to run and quite honestly- it better be good, I don’t get out of bed for trivial matters. I brushed against my grandchild in greeting before moving to seat myself on the only clean patch of ground I could find, the large black female coming to stand close beside me, lingering within my presence like a nervous pup to its Mother. Truly such behaviour is unusual for Ava, a girl so confident in herself and her manner and indeed, she now stands taller than I do, rivalling Azrael for height and weight. If something has bothered her then surely it has to be worth my attention, or my interest in the very least. I flicked my tail, allowing it to brush against her in an effort to quell the anger that began to seep from her very pores before Chance himself barrelled in, panting and equally as frustrated. Well, if the lad had been hoping for some winter time fun he had picked the wrong girl entirely. In fact, should Ava ever manage to become pregnant (though truly I rather hope she stays as she is for some years yet) I’ll have to congratulate the boy who manages to do it. For now though I merely offered Chance a nod of greeting before returning my attention to Ava, ears pricking forward as she spoke in the ancient tongue.

Her first words caused my eyes to raise slightly as she spoke of this apparent injustice, violet gaze flicking accusingly towards Chance, my nephew by honour. What had he been doing? If she was injured in any way, if he really had tried anything......un-gentlemanly I’d be rather inclined to teach him a lesson about it. Maybe I do show favouritism but Ava is my grandchild and I know little of the boy, save for him to be Devils- although such a thing does insure him the right to speak as well. The sons of Devil have always proven to be well mannered at best. We would see. I gestured for Ava to continue, the girl launching into her speech- ah. Well, this would appear to be a matter I am not entirely unfamiliar with. In fact, once, many ears ago Eris herself had sobbed into my fur, clinging to me for all she was worth as she cried over Castor, cursing him to ever hell she knew for imprinting on her- and bringing her only pain. Such is life. Such is the way it comes full circle and for a moment, just a moment as I have not done in some months- I ached for Eris, my first daughter, a girl I had loved for so, so long and whom had never disappointed me. I hope she knew wherever she was. I sighed, shaking such thoughts away to meet Ava’s angry golden gaze. Her father’s eyes, truly. With her Mothers loud voice. I flattened my ears a moment before letting them flick forward again, answering her in the language she preferred- and rightly slow, it was much nicer, truly.

“Lactans diximus, vestigiis scitis quia ille non potest, ut animam suam animam alligatam superis tibi. Ut illum emiserim, non tamen semper, elit. Si autem volueris hoc dicam vestigium vinculum rumpere quam enim fieri potest, etiam si tu id facere, aliud est, quam frangere vincula nefas, nec sic tibi hoc.”
(Baby girl we have spoken of imprints, you know well that he cannot help it, that the Gods above have tied his soul and his life- to yours. You may send him away but without him you will always feel- empty. If it is your desire however I can tell you how to break this imprint bond, for it can be done, though you must do it, for it is a crime for another to shatter such bonds, thus I cannot do this for you.)

I lifted my gaze to Chance, seeking any understanding from the boy, though truly I believe that Devil never sought to pass on the knowledge of such words to his offspring. A waste really, why should he seek to deny his children such a skill? It was their birthright. I shook my head, ridding it of such thoughts before turning back to Ava, meeting her gaze levelly, evenly and without jest or tease.

“Tibi prius tamen quam haec ita uti. Nec te requiret nec clarum, Ava tibi hunc puerum iam mortuum fuerit, vivet. Tutabitur ab eo aliquid vel in superficie terrae. Idem habetur ex voluntate servi, non sic, sed in multis aliis. Capis potestatem habent super vos? maribus maior est, ut aiunt, fortius vinculum sentimus, tamen videre sane si audieris in te percussit cor suum. et tua est Ava-tamen es ejus vicissim. Nec accipies coniugem non uno die, hoc est semper eligendum tibi coniuge adhuc forte in anima tua. Et intelligatis quia ego intelligo, omni virtute, vel solvere id, quod mutari non potest. Nemo potest. Vinculum irritari possunt, sed hoc et feceris, quae dixi vobis quia sine illo, aut nunquam omni pacata dui. Mox cum summa scito quod infirmitas. Nemini Ava agianst utatur nemo mundus te ipsum, ne cures eum odio sed nulla et consolabor vos anima dolet, si ita.”
(Let me first tell you however, of how you may use this situation. Wether you require it or not, Ava, this boy will live and die for you from now on. He will protect you from anything on the face of this earth or under it. He still maintains free will, he is not your slave in that sense, yet he is in many others. Do you understand the power you have over him? it is stronger for males, or so they say, we feel the bond more powerfully, yet, if you truly look within yourself you will hear the beat of his heart also. he is yours Ava- yet you are his in turn. This does not mean you cannot take a mate one day, that choice is always yours, yet within Chance you have the mate of your soul. Understand this and understand that even I, with all my power, cannot change that or undo it. No one can. The bond can be broken, but consider what i have told you before you do it and know that, without him, you will never feel whole or at peace. Know also that he has just become your greatest weakness. Tell no one Ava, no one of him for the world will use him against you, you may not care for him, but your soul does and no amount of hate will console you if he suffers pain- so will you.)

I paused once more, allowing her to process this information before speaking a final time to the dark girl.

“Si vis vinculum rumpere Ava-Unum tantum opus. Non solum quod opus exercet. Interfice eum. Et occident eum Ava vinculi conlidere, sed numquam tota agian. Tua est electio, quia non possum. Non hoc tempus.”
(If you wish to break the bond Ava- you need only do one thing. You need only do what you are trained to do. Kill him. Kill him Ava and the bond will shatter, but you will never be whole again. The choice is yours, I cannot do it for you. Not this time.)

It was simple, it was easier and yet Ava would not be able to do it. Her soul would not let her. I knew this as surely as I knew I was white. It was impossible to slay one’s own imprint yet she would not know this, she would learn only that she could not, learn only to respect and deal with this bond, stronger after the fall of the sky then it ever was before. Chance would be in no danger. I would never allow that, not to a child of Devils, innocent of any crime. As if to irritate her further the boy reached out, poking at her, his own frustration within his gaze, one I understood. I nodded towards him, seeking his attention now, reverting back to the common tongue.

“She tells me of your imprinting, asks me to fix it. I have told her I cannot, that the Gods themselves have paired you, that your souls and lives are tied together and that you will live and die for her now. Speak with your Father if you are unsure, Chance. He is very wise in these matters and once, many years ago, he gave me advice. This is something you must work out together. Yet it does not mean you need live as Azrael and Andromeda, I lived apart from my imprint for many years, it can be done, you both may choose other mates in this life, that is no crime. You will always know if the other is in danger or pain however and be forced to go to them. Understand and accept that and decide what will be done. Only death breaks an imprint bond and death of one will destroy the other. Remember that.”