"If you keep staring at me I am going to turn you into a mole."
Maleficent commented as she went about on patrol after Aurora had finally returned home.
"You do know moles aren't blind, right?"
Diaval retorted, earning a look.
" No but they do only see light and shadow so I would appear the same as that great oak there."
Diaval wasn't phased by the threat, although he very well knew that Maleficent could turn him into whatever she wished.
"Oh come on, you have to admit that Aurora is growing on you."
He retorted, earning a sneer as he suddenly found himself back as a raven.
"You are going insane. Make yourself useful before you completely make me lose my temper."
❇️
Maleficent tried to avoid both Diaval and Aurora when the girl returned, claiming to be busy although she wasn't.
She just couldn't allow herself to feel anything for the girl.
Not with the curse.
Not with the fact that nothing could stop it, not even her. The previous night played over in her head.
What had compelled her to allow the girl to sleep beside her? Would it not have been just as easy to conjure an extra blanket or two?
Had it been mostly due to how the girl had seemed to be nearly in tears as.a second death cry had sounded?
Maleficent cursed herself for giving in, for allowing the girl to worm her way into her good graces.
Could Diaval be correct? Could she be growing fond of the little beast?
❇️
She heard the commotion before she saw anything, however, when she saw Aurora actually crying something snapped in her.
"What happened?"
She demanded, watching as the other moorland creatures shifted back into the shadows.
"Well?"
Diaval was the one to speak.
"A dog managed to cross over… It went after some of the sprites but Aurora. It didn't get to her, Balthazar made sure of that but she fell and…"
Maleficent felt her magic practically sparking around her.
"Let me see."
Maleficent ordered, only for the girl to scream out when she moved her wrist.
