AN INCOMPLETE BUTTERY KISS!

Gerald and Sylvia walked to the boundary where the forest met the town. As a dark wizard from Malvadogar, Sylvia was not allowed to step into the human world. Reznor had made that rule to keep checks on all dark witches and wizards. The humans were unaware of the existence of not only the witches and the wizards, but also of all supernatural creatures.

And it should remain that way for the better sake of both sides.

"Wait here for me." Gerald smiled down at her leaving her hand, which he had not left all the way.

Sylvia nodded with a smile. She took shelter behind a large tree. Its thick width hid her well from the eyes of the passerby.

Gerald skipped to the road that led to a small shack that sold snacks and drinks to the people who entered the town after either fishing, working in the fields or coming from a long voyage.

It was a simple shack built with four wooden poles rooted in the ground and held tightly by ropes. Its walls were made up of palm leaves providing the shed as well as covering the head.

"Two butter corns." Gerald ordered as soon as he reached the seller standing behind the counter.

With restricted social contact, Gerald lacked the so-called basic mannerisms like adding a 'please'.

The shopkeeper did not bother to take a good look at Gerald and got busy preparing his order. Gerald waited, tapping his foot on the ground impatiently.

His eyes kept darting in the direction where Sylvia was waiting for him. Although the shop was about five to eight minutes' walk from where he had left her, he could at least see if someone walked in that way.

A small group of men were chattering amongst themselves on the bench outside the shack. They had buns, coffees and some other snacks in their hands and mouths.

By their appearances, Gerald figured they were fishermen, enjoying their break time.

"I am very excited! But more than me, my wife and children are exstatic to attend the fair."

The words fell on Gerald's ears clearly. Yet he did not pay much attention to it.

"Forget about the excitement. Have you calculated how much money we will need to spend that day?! Thinking about it makes me anxious!" The other man from the group worried.

"You are right pal! My children already have a list ready of what rides they want to enjoy and what food they want to try." The third one added.

The fourth one scoffed. "That's nothing! My wife has invited all of her family, her parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and their children to the fair.

My head spins, thinking about how much groceries and money I will need to spend. I think my two months' salary is going to wipe off!"

During the whole conversation what caught Gerald's attention was money.

"here!"

Gerald pulled his focus back to the seller as he put Gerald's order in front of him. The smell of butter and the steamed corn entered his nostrils, making his mouth water.

And that was when he remembered that he had not eaten anything in the last twenty-four hours.

Gerald pulled the money from his pocket to give to the seller for two butter corns.

"What is this fair they are talking about?" He enquired.

The shopkeeper finally looked neatly at Gerald with a surprised look. "You do not know? You look like a local then you should have known about it." He commented.

Gerald pursed his lips in annoyance. Why people could not answer the asked question and keep their unnecessary comments to themselves?

"Will you please tell me what I have asked?" Gerald's tone came arrogant.

Nonetheless, the shopkeeper told, "Warthford Island is having this fair in a few days. It is going to be a great deal as people from the neighbouring islands and even the mainland are coming to attend it."

"Really? And where is it going to be?" Gerald was curious.

"On the grounds to the west."

"Alright!" Gerald picked up his order and began walking back to Sylvia.

All the way back, he was thinking about this fair. He was not really into such events as he thought they were only means of emptying pockets of the poor people and an unwarranted source of entertainment for the rich class.

Nonetheless, people like him could use both kinds of people for their benefit. Gerald smiled as he saw an opportunity of making good money.

"What is that smile on your face?" Sylvia asked as soon as she saw him nearing her with corns in his hands.

She approached him and took the bigger corn out of his hand. She began munching on the sweet delicacy, moaning at the taste of its sweet-salty juices as they enticed her tastebuds.

"Ummm.... this is so delicious!" She praised, closing her eyes in pleasure.

Gerald laughed at her reaction. His green eyes noticed the melted butter at the corner of her mouth. Sylvia munched the corn pearls slowly, enjoying their delicious taste than paying attention to the butter on her lips.

Something stirred inside Gerald, and without a second thought, he dipped his head down and ran his tongue on her lips, then licked the melted butter from the corner of her mouth.

Contrary to the natural expected reaction from any woman, Sylvia slowly opened her eyes and gazed at Gerald with a mischievous look in them.

Her lips lifted in a playful smirk.

"Seems like you missed me a little too much!" She commented with a soft voice.

"You think so?" Gerald cocked his brow questioningly.

Sylvia took a step closer to him until their bodies stood only a few inches apart.

"Well that is what your actions indicate."

Gerald grinned, his green eyes twinkling with the same mischief as hers.

"Then you must be right Sylvia!"

He snaked his free hand around her waist and pulled her closer. They stared into each other's eyes with smiles playing on their lips. The distance between their faces was decreasing at a fast pace.

Their breaths mixed, coalescing into one. Their lips were about to meet for the second time when someone pushed their palm between them, ruining the moment completely.

Annoyed, Gerald and Sylvia turned their heads to their left to meet with the angry eyes of no one but Isabella. Behind her, Oscar stood with his hands in his pockets and his face as expressionless as it normally was.

"Isabella? What the hell-"

Gerald's words died down in his throat as a punch landed on his face taking him off guard.

"Ooomfff"

Gerald staggered back, holding his face with his hands and the corn in his hand fell to the ground. Filch jumped on that corn, devouring it greedily.

Sylvia's face soured seeing Isabella as she glared at the curly-haired woman with a deep scowl for hitting Gerald.

"Gerald... are you alright?" She was instantly on Gerald's side.

Only to infuriate the other woman more, she looped her hands with Gerald's with worry etched on her face.

"What was that for? Are you insane?" Gerald yelled at Isabella as blood came out of his broken lower lip.

"Why don't you guess by yourself huh?" Isabella yelled, matching Gerald's volume.

Gerald only stared at her, still holding his face in one hand.

"I knew you are ill-mannered but I never knew that you are such an ungrateful friend too Isabella! He almost died back there. Where were you when you roam around claiming to be his only friend who genuinely cares for him?" Sylvia threw daggers at Isabella with her glares.

"If it was not for me then he would have died there. You faught with him and yet he asked for my help to mend things with you. And here you are thrwoing punches at him in such an unlady-like manner."

As Sylvia vent out her anger, Isabella's eyes did not leave Gerald's. She was one confusing women he had ever met in his life. She was as cold as ice at one moment and would erupt like a volcano the next moment.

She did not look angry, she did not look hurt, she was not even jealous. But certain emotion swirled in her doe-like eyes as Gerald failed to decipher it.

Sylvia smirked as for once, she had an upper hand on Isabella. Gerald waited for a befitting reply coming from Isabella, but when she stayed silent, he got confused.

"Isa-"

He tried to reach her, but before he did, she threw a small glass bottle on the ground, which crashed with the stone and broke into small pieces.

Without a single word, she ran away in hurry.

"Isabella!"

Gerald called her, but she did not stop, nor did she turn around to look at him.

Gerald's heart stirred in his chest, looking at Isabella's back. He turned to face Oscar, who still stood rooted to his place. He did not run behind her or said anything to stop her.

Gerald felt Sylvia tugging at his hand lightly which was still looped with hers. He looked at her with such deep emotions that her hold loosened on his hand. As a witch, she might never understand those human emotions, but she could feel their intensity and that scared her.

Without wasting another moment, Gerald ran behind Isabella, calling her name pleading her to stop.

"Gerald!" Sylvia tried one last time, but Oscar shook his head at her.

He held her by her elbow, telling her silently to let him go.

"Isabella! Isabella!!!" Gerald roamed around, hollering her name at the top of his lungs.

But she had disappeared somewhere. Gerald looked for her at their usual places, but she was not there. Frustrated, he thought for a minute of other places where she might go. And then he recalled one.

Panting like a wild dog, he finally reached the top of a nearby hill. From afar, he found her sitting on the grass resting her back on a big tree.

Puffing air out of his mouth, his golden-brown hair dishevelled and unruly, Gerald finally slowed down as he neared that tree.

Finally, he found her!

"Go away, Gerald!" Isabella turned her head in the opposite direction. She was more hurt than angry.

He knew it!

Gerald slowly walked towards her and sat down beside her. Isabella scooted away from him, creating some distance between them.

They sat in silence for a while. It was not uncomfortable or tense. They had been through that silence many times before.

After some minutes, Gerald bumped his shoulder with hers playfully.

"I am sorry!" He said softly.

"Fuck off Gerald! I do not want to hear your sorry!" Isabella grumbled, flaring her nostrils.

"Then what do you want to hear from me?" He asked, raising his brows.

"Nothing! Just leave me alone!" She never liked these times when she was in a sour mood, and Gerald decided to be her entertainer.

He was stubborn, persuasive and would irritate her to the great levels that she would have to give in to him.

"That is not going to happen, dear friend! You can try something else." He said, resting his back on the tree trunk.

"How about you just jump from that cliff?! It will be the greatest favour to the human race!" Sarcasm dripped from her words as she gritted her teeth in anger.

"Hmm..." Gerald tapped his chin with his first finger, seriously considering it.

"If it about the favour to the mankind then I am sure you will need to accompany me, dear Isabella!"

"GERALD! You moron! Get lost!!" Isabella screamed as the man beside her made her blood boil in anger.

Gerald only shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

Another round of silence fell upon them as they both stared at the vast landscape and the evening skyline in front of them.

"I had never felt such pain before you know!" Gerald softly said, still staring at the evening sky and the flocks of birds flying in that sky.

"I thought... I thought those were my last moments in this world. I swear I literally saw the white light coming from heaven." Gerald swore to make her believe.

Isabella finally turned to face him. "You do know that you are not made for heaven, right?!" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oh please! You can say that heaven is not suitable for my status! It sounds better!" Gerald said with cockiness.

Isabella rolled her eyes at him.

"Whatever makes you sleep in the night!"

Gerald twisted his upper body towards her. Taking her hands in his, he stared deep into her eyes, trying to show her how he meant every word he said.

"I swear, Isabella! I have never touched death so closely. I thought my time was done. When I looked back at my life, I found no regrets except...

Except one that I could not bid my final goodbyes to you and Oscar!"

"Gerald you-"

"I am serious, Isabella. I am not very good with words. I do not understand the language of heart or whatever you call it. I am not an expressive person.

I know it is hard to deal with myself and my sour mood. But you both still stick with me. Ever since Oscar found me, he had never loosened his hold on me.

You accepted me just like him... wholeheartedly. And I am truly grateful to both of you for everything that you both have done for me so far."

Isabella knew that he was not saying all that only to calm her. He was genuinely speaking his heart which was once in a million scenario.

So she decided to not break his trance and let him say what he hid in his chest.

"I just want to say that... Thank you! I must have done some good in past life that the God has sent you in my life! And I cannot be more glad than I am for it."

"Really?"

Gerald nodded his head in affirmation. "I know I must be sounding dramatic and like an emotional fool, but when I was counting my last breaths, I realised how you both mean to me.

And I would have been damned if I could not get this chance of confession. I may die the very next moment, and I do not want to keep any regrets. That is why..."

Isabella did not know how she should feel. She was touched by Gerald's words as she had never expected such warmth coming from him.

"What was that bottle?" He asked after five minutes.

Isabella realised the medicine she had prepared with so many efforts had gone to waste.

"Nothing!" She said, turning her face away from him.

"That cannot be nothing if you have bothered yourself to carry it." Gerald pointed out.

She cursed under her breath. That man knew her too well.

"That was a medicine she had prepared for your burn." Oscar appeared out of nowhere with the help of his magic.

He neared them to see Isabella signalling her to stay silent.

"What?" Gerald was confused.

"When she walked away in anger, she went to Malvadogar again. She pleaded your case with Reznor and got permission of using some of his herbs and other things she thought would work on your burn." Oscar explained the incidences that happened without Gerald's knowledge.

"You pleaded to that old monkey for me?" Gerald growled, not liking that even a bit.

Isabella just rolled her eyes at his expected reaction.

"We came to give you that medicine but you were already gone from there. We were searching for you everywhere and finally when we found you... you seemed perfectly saved and well!" Oscar's words dripped with sarcasm, the weapon he barely used.

"You could have use that stick of yours to find me, genius." Gerald matched his tone with his.

Oscar just shrugged, hiding his hands in his pant pockets. "I could have but then how would we have got such an emotional confession from you?!"

Isabella's eyes widened in realisation. She was so worried for Gerald that she did not think about it.

"Oscar! He could have died!" She shrieked in shock.

"Exactly!" Came Gerald's overdramatic reaction.

Oscar puffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh please, Isabella! You know he is born after a hundred satans died. He cannot die that easily!"

Gerald gasped loudly.

"Are you complimenting me or-"

"No Gerald I am definitely not complimenting you!" Oscar smirked wickedly.

Gerald stood up in anger and spat loudly. " I hate you, you old stone! I HATE you!!!!" His hands danced exasperatedly in the air as he pointed at Oscar.

"Yea... yea... whatever!"

They finally decided to go for dinner, and Gerald forgot about Sylvia. They went into a small homerun eatery and placed their orders.

There was chaos around them, and people gave them glares and weird looks. But they all were used to that treatment.

Ignoring the surroundings, they were laughing and enjoying their time. After all, they had four bags of coins with them!

Halfway through the meal, Gerald remembered something.

"Hey, have you heard of the fair on Warthford Island?" He asked, keeping his voice low.

"What fair?" Isabella asked while devouring the chicken drumstick in her hand.

Gerald explained the conversation he heard in the afternoon at that shop, from where he bought the butter corns.

Of course, he did not forget to complain that those corns and thus his money went waste because of Isabella. For which he received a smack on his forehead.

"So what is your point?" Oscar asked, still focused on his food. He had to remain hungry all day because of Gerald, and now that man was not letting him have his food in peace.

"So my point is Oscar... that with lots of people, there will be fun at the fair. People will be there with lots of money and thus..." Gerald purposefully trailed off, his green eyes sparkling in greediness.

"Thus we will get a chance to become richer!" Isabella added, sharing the same excitement as his.

For the rest of the dinner, Isabella and Gerald spend chalking out plans of how they were going to steal people's money, and Oscar decided to focus on his roasted lamb.

*

*

*

Zerith confirmed the layout for the fair from Ralph, and after getting the green signal from his side, he decided to go to the western grounds where they had decided the location for the fair.

The plays, the rides, the seller, the clowns and the entertainers had begun to flood the docks of Warthford Island. Every day the boats carried groups of people and heavy materials for the fair.

The relatives and the guests from the neighbouring islands and the mainland would begin coming in a few days, and Zerith was entrusted to make all the arrangements.

Rolling the layout drawn on the paper, he exited Ralph's office while many calculations running in his head.

"Zerith! Zerith!!! Wait please!" He heard Theodora's voice coming from behind.

"Theaodora?" He stopped waiting for her to catch up with him.

She ran, picking up her long dress above her ankles, her chestnut brown hair on loose around her shoulder.

"Where are you going?" She asked as soon as she neared him.

"Oh, I was here to confirm the layout for the fair from Lord Ralph. Now I am going to the western grounds to instruct the workers on how they should build the setup." Zerith told patiently, even though he had no time to breathe.

Theodora's curious eyes shifted to the rolled paper in his hand.

"Can I have a look? Please!!" She gave him her best smile, which he could never deny.

Zerith was getting late, but then the soft corner in his heart gave in to her request. The poor girl could not attend the fair, but at least she could see the plan, he thought.

Zerith gave her the layout, and Theodora scanned the lines and the scribbled words on it. She asked a few questions regarding it, and Zerith answered all of them in detail.

"Wow! This looks like a big deal!" Theodora exclaimed in awe.

Zerith took the paper from her hand and smiled. "Yes it is!"

He saw as Theodora's face fell. The twinkling in her eyes dulled down considerably as she turned her face to the side.

"I wish I could attend the fair and enjoy like everyone." She said in a solemn voice.

Zerith's smile vapoured off. He genuinely felt bad for Theodora. If only he could help her situation.

"Well... I will also be not enjoying the fair in particular. I will spend the whole time examining and managing the things." He gave her a sheepish smile, trying to cheer her up.

"But at least you will get to see people laughing, enjoying with their friends and families, those colourful atmospheres. You will get to smell the aroma of all the food items. You will get to feel that joy, that fun vibe.

That is all better than being stuck inside these four walls, isn't it Zerith?"

When Theodora's moistened eyes met his, he became speechless. He understood the tension between Theodora and her parents. Both were right at their places, yet both were wrong at the same time.

The lack of understanding was the main problem in their family, Zerith had figured out.

But how could he say anything when he was just a servant of the Longhurst family?!

"I am sorry Theodora! I wish I could help you somehow." Zerith sympathised with the young woman.

"Well... you may help me Zerith." Theodora's voice became hopeful as she stared at him with her big hazel eyes.

"Wh-what? How?" Zerith was confused, but he could see the red flags flaring in his head.

Theodora took his hand in hers and said earnestly. 'Please talk to father. Please make him understand that going out is not that bad. I promise I will listen to him from then onwards! Please Zerith, please do this for me!" she pleaded with a hopeful look on her face.

Zerith was hesitant. He knew there was no way to make Lord Ralph agree to Theodora's wish. It had happened many times before. And this time would not be an exception.

Yet he could not deny Theodora directly.

"But Theodora-"

"Please Zerith! Do not say no, please. You have always been like my elder brother. You have always fulfiled all of my wishes until now. Please do this one more time please!"

Zerith was still not sure, but he also knew that Theodora would not let him go until he agreed to her request.

So he nodded his head. "Alright! I will speak to him BUT on my terms and at my convenience. You will not force me to do anything. Deal?" He laid out his conditions before offering his deal.

Theodora's face brightened up hearing that. Her eyes again twinkled in excitement, and a wide smile made its way to her face.

"Yes! Yes! I promise! Deal!!!" She exclaimed, jumping gladly like a small girl.

Zerith walked out of the Longhurst mansion with the still unsure mind. Unable to come up with an appropriate way to speak with Lord Ralph, he decided to let the time drive him in the right way.