Ok, so some part of myself was actually inclined to hug the boy, I mean honestly it’s been a long, long time since I’ve looked down on a child and realised that he may well be the demi-god we’ve been waiting for, a supposed prophet of the Angelic race or some such miracle inducing promise. The touches of vanity, the arrogance, the near perfect imitation of myself in his features as he manages a response both wry and yet thinly veiled with some note of apology is- delightful. Of course I see no need to beam with approval or anything nearly so ridiculous, letting the boy know how utterly thrilled with him I am will only encourage him to much. I’d rather he, as everyone else, continues to work for my approval, not knowing that he has had it since the day he was born. I allowed a passing smirk to alight my features, violet gaze looking down on him one more at his sly comment. Smart ass. I tilted my head downward, snapping at him playfully, aiming to nip at his shoulder without any true attempt at causing him alarm or pain.

“Why should I need to be another colour when I wear this one so damn well?”

I probably shouldn’t use the word ‘damn’ in front of him, I am entirely sure Isola and Kane do not want their boy using such colour words and yet if he’s already mastered both the common tongue and the ancient one I saw no need not to add a few more words to it. I’ve already heard young Guardian referring to someone as a bastard and quite honestly I found it highly amusing. Evidently Azrael shares my parenting techniques- that is about the limit of it however, the boy a disappointment in just about every other way. Fortunately, creatures such as Letum and Achilles, Guardian and Starfall and Zigzag existed to outshine the mild inconsistences of greatness in my line. Not that I don’t love Azrael, I do, deeply, profoundly as I adore all my children and grandchildren in turn, I am merely somewhat perturbed my heir has the emotions of a girl. Honestly couldn’t he be a little less prone to emotional outbursts? Well, at least he did his job. I shoved the thought away, determined not to stain this day with my grandchild with any thoughts other than those given to align with my own perfection and that of which my line produces. There are days in which I wonder why it is that Zeivah died and I did not, why I was forced to suffer this existence still and yet- it is moments such as this, when I am given to be alive to see my line so continued that I am at least….thankful to still feel the sun. To see these days.

His next question brought a mild look of surprise to my features. Missed someone? Evidently the boy took all such comments seriously and rather to heart, I sighed. Clearly this was going to be a long day, even so a faint grin touched my features. I have missed this, or at least some part of myself has. Children are loud and irritating and annoying at yet….I wasn’t done being a Father, not at all. Maybe the Assassins were slowly growing to follow Malina, maybe Isola and Kane could run there pack alone, maybe my imprint was content to live her life peacefully with our daughter, but with Achilles, with the other young ones I still had a need and a purpose. I still had things to teach and ears willing to listen- well, they better damn listen.

“If you smile at all of them your face will fall off, now, surely you don’t want that to happen do you? You clearly don’t realise how many wolves Diveen has, smile at some and assign yourself a certain amount of smiles a day, save them for wolves who please you- they will work for your attention as they should.”

I spoke matter-of-factly, as if such words were highly serious and factual, meeting his gaze levelly, hiding the jest and humour between the depth of the violet shades. Where was Devil? He should be here to enjoy our grandson and such conversation, honestly I would so enjoy to hear the boy telling his parents about his day and his ‘assigned smiles’. Well it was true wasn’t it? If he went around grinning at everyone they’d think he was- unhinged. We made our way easily up the cliffs, the boy having the sense not to protest to much about my carrying him. We didn’t have all day and while I believed in allowing his self-confidence to boom I hardly have the time to wait while he climbs every ledge with his tiny limbs, besides, how many wolves can say they were carried by a living legend? I chuckled at my own thoughts before the boy explained with utter pride that Kane was to teach him to fight.

“I am sure he will, make sure to have Grandpa Devil show you some things as well when you get larger.”

It couldn’t hurt to have both Kane and Devil offer him something now could it? If I had my way Achilles would grow to be above us all, the skill and tact in battle and war of Devil and Kane combined with the intelligence and stealth of my own line? How could he be anything other then what Isola had always been assured he was. The challenge would be producing another to be his equal this coming winter, in fact, I would be sure to speak to the boy on the matter of siblings. After all, we come from a…jealous line, an ambitious line. It is a blessing and a curse all in one. We always want more and yet….it is never enough. In time, perhaps, he will suffer for it to and yet it will seek only to drive him higher then those around him.

“They tell me you already have your Kings Guard picked out? Is that true? You should use your cousin to practice your fights, it can only do you both good hmmm?”

I hardly expected Azrael to teach Guardian anything of use after all, gave the boy a useless name, what else was I supposed to think? I blinked, head tilting as he spoke again, chuckling lightly. I had suffered the same question as a boy, in fact, I’d once leapt from a ledge in an effort to test my apparent wings and yet really that was not a moment I wished to brag about.

“My wings are like your own, hidden even to us, you simply have to trust that they are there, within you. We are mortal angels, it is our job to guard earth, not the heavens, we do not need to fly as our forefathers did.”

I answered him with the same truth I had been told all those years ago, gaze softening lightly as we spoke of Zeivah, nodding simply to his words and nothing more. She would already be proud. Zeviah was always proud, hell, she was proud when Ally took her first steps, when Ammy choose Zildjian and Isola brought Yojimbo home. She was proud when our children caught insects or got dirty or ruined their hair. It was just the way she was, she loved so easily. I moved to head towards the edge of the cliff, the boy following with some hesitation, scowling slightly when he did not follow immediately, I do, after all, expect my orders to be followed. It took him only a moment though, violet gaze flashing in approval before he moved to come to the edge beaming up toward me before taking another step forward, one eye lifting in mild surprise. Alright, one more, but no closer.

“Now this, boy, is a throne, not that pebble your parents have chosen. When you are King I expect something more to this style, what do you think?”

I asked seriously, as if such a question was highly important to the running of his future empire, which, I suppose, it was in one way or another. Nobody took thrones seriously these days.

“Well also need to discuss one other thing. You will be a year old soon enough, Achilles and come the spring you may well find yourself with siblings, do you understand what that means? Kane and Isola will have other pups if everything goes as planned, have they spoken to you of this?”


h e y e l
The Original Angel