"My pleasure." Her approval was clear, and her shoulders relaxed slightly as she headed away from the noise of the evening. She maintained her distance as she led him to the maze, her ease more and more obvious as they wound into the gardens. Somewhere after the early statues - the abundance of ravens and martial statues, various gods and heroes - Angel allowed herself a slight brush of her hand against his. It was such a simple thing, but it had her spirits up, her pleasure in his presence obvious.
Whatever he said, she knew that she was capable of more than disappointing him. Boring him would be a greater sin by far, and she couldn't bear that, he deciding she was anything like every other witch he encountered day-to-day. She'd always needed to be exceptional; with him, the need was compulsive. Still, she wanted to show him a piece of her world.
Ushering him to a small fountain, she grinned triumphantly before letting her hand graze his. "Be brave, pirate." With a brazen little wink, she stepped beyond his grasp before strolling straight through a visibly solid hedge. Awaiting him on the other side of the charmed shrubbery, Angelica motioned to the courtyard around them. The hidden gem wasn't overly large, but a large statue dominated a fountain at its center. "This," she gestured to the statue as she pressed against the fountain's circular edge, "Is one of my favorite pieces in the entire collection." Her pride and reverence for the statue warming her voice. "I remember finding this place as a girl, and I kept returning. They are too beautiful to stay away."
Whatever he said, she knew that she was capable of more than disappointing him. Boring him would be a greater sin by far, and she couldn't bear that, he deciding she was anything like every other witch he encountered day-to-day. She'd always needed to be exceptional; with him, the need was compulsive. Still, she wanted to show him a piece of her world.
Ushering him to a small fountain, she grinned triumphantly before letting her hand graze his. "Be brave, pirate." With a brazen little wink, she stepped beyond his grasp before strolling straight through a visibly solid hedge. Awaiting him on the other side of the charmed shrubbery, Angelica motioned to the courtyard around them. The hidden gem wasn't overly large, but a large statue dominated a fountain at its center. "This," she gestured to the statue as she pressed against the fountain's circular edge, "Is one of my favorite pieces in the entire collection." Her pride and reverence for the statue warming her voice. "I remember finding this place as a girl, and I kept returning. They are too beautiful to stay away."
![[Image: NpMgQU7.png]](https://i.imgur.com/NpMgQU7.png)