Engel was by the bed, on his knees with his forehead to the floor, like he'd been praying to her when she left to call for help. He was still harking and loosing blood to the expensive woodwork. Every breath was wet and all the contractions of the chest his pretty hands clutched were hard, like his body was trying to imploding into his heart in short bursts. It might as well have been his heart coming out, too, with the thick textures running through the product of his constant fits.<br/><br/>Soon enough the rattling barks from lying lips morphed into laughter. He was sitting by his own puddle of life, legs sprawled and fingers through his hairline as he cackled at the ceiling. The little brook of crimson down one corner of his lips ebbed until there was nothing more. He stood and took up a petal of Vannesroot to smell it. He sighed, content, and went to the window. A healer, she'd said. What an affectionate, filthy lie. It would have been touching if it hadn't been so cold.<br/><br/>Theo was happy to see her, but with the excitement and the horror, it only added to his chest hurting. He stood brave though, when she came to him. He shook his head. "They're always open." he said. "At least these gates. They're a bit of a secret, and the house itself locks its doors if the servants don't have business in the garden when evening comes." He shrugged and then expected her to make a run for it. But then he gasped at her offer. He shook his head at the scenario. "I... I couldn't." but he was already moving with her. It was exactly as he'd hoped. He could bring his family and he could be close to Lyra. This was all so overwhelming, but it made such sense, too.<br/><br/>There was something pallid lurking in the green of their private scene. Something with blood on its mouth and a very sinister, beautiful color on its irises. Geslack snake, she liked to say, and that was accurate now, wasn't it? It dragged its tongue over fangs and watched the two hurry, Theo first with her hand in his, toward the gates. How many betrayals that fit onto this little clearing. He supposed he was too kind, most of the time. Lyra was spoiled rotten for a prisoner.<br/><br/>"I object." he said, turning out in front of them. They did not know his garden better than he. Still stark naked and with flowers of wet blood splattering his mouth, like he'd died and come back, he looked like some curse taken human shape. Theo gripped her hand harder, and put her behind himself. That made Engel laugh. It was the boy that needed most protecting here. At least Lyra had all her powers now. Valiant, stupid servant.<br/><br/>"I tell that story to all the new staff members." Engel went on, hands behind his back and cock swinging free, with little shadows and lines of her maidenblood still on it, dried and dark. He really did think of nothing but himself, and that left him almost unable to be embarrassed by conventional things. He had all his weapons, after all, even if he had no clothes. "But I change out the flower for every set of ears." he added. "There are an endless array of things that'll kill you in my garden. So, depending on the flavor of the chosen plant, I can always identify the culprit." he licked his splattered lips. "I just had to find out where the traitor Theodore Temlin had gone to find you two."<br/><br/>He hurried toward them, a primal beast come for his bride. Theo gasped in horror, but didn't let go of her. If she did nothing in her new found fear and timidity, Engel would backhand Theo out of the way and grab her hand, and if she decided to use her powers somehow, he'd roll to the side, back into cover.