I suppose I should have expected this, really. When Malina first came along, Eris had been enraged to the point where she had actually threatened not to talk to me. Honestly it would have been a relief had that girl managed to shut-up for more than ten consecutive seconds. Evidently realising her threat would fall on deaf ears she had managed to adjust and accept the presence of Malina, just as Malina had learned to accept Ava, that Ava and Malina had been forced to acknowledge, as we all had, that heaven help us, Azrael deserved there respect as their Art Brother and begrudgingly or not Malina would have to come to accept and understand the role of Micteca as she had done for Khaleesi- a previous point of conflict. It is natural, I suppose, that previous apprentices feel some jealousy at having to share their Masters attention, after all, it is the way they are raised, to depend entierly on one creature for all they require in life, to believe and understand that their Master is everything and to have that taken away, to have that support removed is- hard. That Malina should feel so slighted now however is an unusual thing. She is full grown, has seen my instruction of Ava and Khaleesi in between and has her own student. Truthfully I am somewhat……pleased to understand she desires my attention so much and yet irritated as well. How can she be the next Assassin Master of Moladion if she is still having tantrums over my lack of attention? Hmm. I knew I should have gotten more male apprentices, boys would hardly be so- emotional. It was tedious, if not mildly endearing. Her attitude however- is not. She had the sense to fold back her ears at the sound of my growl, appeasing me slightly, though her eyes remained firmly on my own as she retorted sharply, my own features forming a scowl, irritation evident as I prepared to snap back at her- before a touch of confusion clouded my gaze.

This was the problem? Not Micteca herself, but what she was learning, what I was passing onto her. Malina felt- left out. Oh hell. It is as if I have returned to her apprentice days once more. I will not pander for a pouty puppy, nor will I attempt that alliteration again. Micteca was selected for that role for a reason and wether Malina is willing to accept it or not, Micteca will help her, not hinder her. I sighed a moment. Tail flicking, allowing my agitation to ease slightly before returning my gaze to her, softer this time, open, after all, it is evident that not only does she not know what she is saying- she doesn’t understand, or more so, she has misunderstood the role of Micteca. Silly girl. I chuckled lightly a moment, shaking my head softly before I spoke, my own words smooth and easy. After all this time, Malina still cannot control her little outbursts. Perhaps we never do really grow up. This matter however, is one I can actually resolve.

“Darling, you seem a little confused. Micteca is not MY secret keeper. You have confused two very different roles. A Secret Keeper is the wolf each of us must choose to confide in, that one wolf on this earth that we share our most- personal details with. We all have one, though you may not yet, for you are young and have surely not yet found someone to trust with such matters. Devil May Cry is my Secret Keeper, I am your Mothers. That is a personal choice and has nothing to do with the Art. A Keeper, however, does. I will assure you now however, that I do not share intimate details of my life with Micteca- if that is your fear. She is a Keeper, not a Secret Keeper.”

I chucked lightly once more at the very thought. In what way would a wolf near twelve years my junior be useful to me to confide in? Yes, I have secrets, I have a Secret Keeper, a trusted wolf to whom I share all things. Devil. It has been so for years. It was never Zeivah as many may believe, for indeed, much of what I spoke of concerned her and our children and such thoughts are often better spoken to an objective party and indeed, perhaps it may come as a shock to Malina, for I doubt it has ever been a point of discussion that in this world, for a time most long- I have kept Brooke’s secrets, her own Mother, the black wolfess having confided within myself time and time again. A Keeper and a Secret Keeper, despite the similarities in title and very different things. Now that we have that clarified.

“I am training Micteca to be of assistance to you Malina. So yes, she will look to you. All will look to you. When…..when I am no longer as alive as I am right now the Art will pass in its entirety to you, every practising wolf, every apprentice will become your own. You will not only be Dark Angel of Diveen, you will be Assassin Master of Moladion. You will be everything Malina. Everyone will look to you when I am gone. You are not my blood heir, but you, Malina, are my chosen heir in this regard.”

Truly I hate emotional things and honestly I see no need to ever offer my apprentices any signs of affection unless utterly necessary and yet- perhaps this is one of those moments. She is my chosen one, Ava is not experienced enough, Eris is dead, Kahleesi and Micteca to young and Azrael an idiot. Malina is…everything and it is about time she knew, my gaze returning to her own in that moment, those words of praise spoken smoothly and yet calmly- seriously, for once in my existence. I paused, allowing her to process this information though surely she already had some inclination.

“I am teaching Micteca the deeper rules and stories of our Art, I am instructing her in our laws and ways, she will learn nothing you yourself do not already know at least in part, darling, with her I am simply involving more history to better facilitate her understanding. She is learning even the forgotten laws and ways. She is learning our history, Malina, so that when I’m not around any longer and you have questions, or you are ever unsure, you will have someone to discuss this with intelligently. That is the role of the Keeper, to store our knowledge, to focus on nothing else but our ways. I would not burden you with that, you need to lead Malina, Micteca will merely be there to help you, to guide you when I cannot anymore. That is her role. Do you understand now? She is not here to know more then you, or to be told stories not for your ears, you may attend all her lessons if you desire, she is there, Malina, so that you will have someone to turn to when there questions, that is all.”

I paused, smile teasingly lightly at the corner of my lip, allowing her a few more moments to process this information. Micteca was not here to lead, she was here to guide, to watch over and to answer the questions of those who came to her with them- it would happen, it always did and Malina would always have another to turn to. Believe me, it’s hard when you have questions and nobody to answer them or indeed, nobody with whom to discuss them, for nobody else understands your ways. Wether she saw the gift in Micteca or not I hardly cared, one day….one day, she would thank me. As for her other comment however, I snorted.

“No, what was embarrassing was that you did nothing- this matter is closed and you will remember your place Malina, watch that tongue of yours. I rescued Micteca because she hadn’t even begun her training and at the time she was stolen she was still a child. I rescued a child, Malina. My grandchild.”

And that is the truth of it there. What would you have me be first, Assassin? Father? King? To leave her there threatened our Art all the same, she knows enough, even without training to be of use to any Demons and Malina failed to see that. As an Assassin I saved our pack and Art from being exposed, as a Father I saved my child and as King, well, I damn well shoved some demons back in their place. Even so, I was done talking about that incident. We moved then to speak of demons, her attitude ignored for the most part as I allowed myself to calm, violet eyes moving to rest back against her own as she spoke of Jaidah and Fatality, along with Aaliyah.

“What of the boys, her children? Have you met Elijah and Alyx yet? I would be most interested to hear your thoughts. Seren I will leave to your discretion and indeed you are permitted entirely to kill a pack mate, just don’t get caught.”

I grinned, one eye lifting in tease as I chuckled before continuing.

“With Baphomet dead we will need to discover the intentions of the new leader. We must also investigate this black-eyed demon who has been nibbling at our wolves. I’d also like Lilith, Andras and Jeza-whatever added to your list. Find the truth of them and if they are guilty of the ultimate sin- end them.”

Nobody touches something that belongs to me and lives to tell the tale. My tail flicked once more, agitated at even the thought of these Demons, or so-called Demons, until they actually ate anyone they were merely wolves with bad hair, not a crime, technically, though it should be. She spoke then of her apprentice as I nodded. Honestly I don’t really care all that much, I’m just being polite, as long as the boy is pleasing her, then I will remain uninvolved. I offered a roll of my eyes at the end of her words before another look of surprise caught my gaze. How is it, that she, Malina, wolf who knows all (in her egotistical opinion) has failed to be made aware of the latest scandal of my family, involving myself and my imprint. I chuckled, though indeed I did allow myself a momentary smirk at her words. Of course the girl was smart, she was a damn genius, all my children were.

“She looks familiar, darling, because I was a very naughty boy this winter.”

I chuckled again, violet eyes flicking back to her own. Honestly I am hardly concerned with what Malina thinks of my winter time activities, that has nothing to do with the Art and more to do with the fact that my own children seem to feel somewhat- betrayed. Zeivah has been dead for three years now…..but I’m not, there are still things I….want.

“Oswin is mine. I am her Father. She was born of my imprint, Cat Eye……Go on, get it all out, it’s about time someone had the balls to tell me off for it.”


h e y e l
The King