'Look, I can't guarantee we won't meet Agatha tonight. But the moon is on the wane so if she is around, she might be less poisonous. Also never a guarantee.'

Hecate laughed softly at Ada's sense of humour. She'd not had a chance to see her for days and had looked forward to the date. They had started WhatsApping and felt good to know that Ada was close. She decided that she liked sushi. She liked using the delicate chopsticks. They were precise and graceful and she picked it up quickly. She'd never had Japanese food before.

'I think Constance would like sushi. I should take her to this place.'

'Why not. I can recommend some things for her.'

Hecate smiled at her. It was lovely to be out with such a generous person.

This time she earned the right to see the entire tattoo. She was surprised when she saw it. A Japanese dragon with the crescent moon caught in its tail. Plain black outline. It was stark and beautiful. Hecate looked for permission to touch. Ada nodded. Hecate's finger hovered over it and landed on the moon, tracing over the whispers and over the wings and tail. She looked entranced.

'How long did it take?'

'Several hours, three sessions.'

Hecate looked incredulous.

'You sat for hours? Didn't it hurt?'

'Well I had practice with my first one. It did get a bit much sometimes but I had some techniques to help me cope.'

Hecate enquired about the other one. Ada told her that she'd get to see it on the next date. Perhaps. That earned an eyebrow raise. That was intriguing. She went back to the dragon and moon, marvelling in wonder at the artistry.

'It was so worth it. I fell in love with it once it was done. The artist I go to is brilliant. Davina Bat. She's scatty and flighty to speak to but once she starts, she's completely focused and precise. She hums as she goes along. Rather relaxing.'

'When did you have it done?'

'This one was three years ago. The first one was five years ago. That's when my mother died. I dyed my hair jet black and got the first tattoo on a whim. It's honestly not that impressive.'

'Well you're keeping me in suspense.'

'Agatha called it my pastel goth phase' said Ada with a laugh.

'I'm so sorry about your mother' said Hecate softly.

'It was for the best. We were relieved when she went. Dementia.'

Hecate's heart ached for her.

'She would have hated the tattoos so it seemed somewhat appropriate to have them. She hated Agatha's.'

Once again, Ada made the situation funny.

'What does she have?'

'A killer platypus.'

Hecate looked at her, uncertain if she was joking or not. Ada seemed serious.

'They aren't dangerous animals. Does hers have fangs or something?'

Ada started giggling hysterically.

'I bet someone, somewhere has asked for a platypus with fangs! But no, that would cramp Agatha's style. I was joking. She has a snake wrapped around her left thigh with some motto, I can't remember what and a cat scratching her right ribs.'

'How did your mother know?'

'She walked in on her in the bathroom. Agatha had just stepped out of the shower. She screeched so hard, I could hear it from the garden. I ran upstairs thinking that she'd been attacked by a maniac with a machete but she and Agatha were having a row in the bathroom, stark naked. Agatha's quite an exhibitionist. I remember when she went skinny dipping with her friends. Mother went down to the lake and threatened her with a beating if she didn't put her towel on right this instant. So she wrapped the towel around her hair in a turban and got in the car.'

Hecate found herself on the floor laughing with Ada at the cheek of her sister. She was truly terrible.

'She's probably got some new ones now. A paw print on her arse cheek or something' mused Ada. Hecate leaned against her and cried with laughter. When they'd finished, she held on, enjoying the feel of Ada's arm entwined with hers. Ada stroked her wrist with a thumb and Hecate shivered at the sensation. Ada kept it light and slow, stretching the moment out as fine as gossamer thread and Hecate felt a silence deepen around them, as if they were the only ones that existed. Now she knew what it meant to feel what everyone was talking about.