Butter spent the rest of the day sleeping. Unlike the first couple of times when he had used the spell, this time around, it took him a few hours just to feel normal. Even after that, the kitten just laid in his spot looking outside. Never in his centuries of existence had he felt so alone and worthless. 

What worried him most was not him using the spell more than once and turning into a vegetable but Pepper having to go through her life without (ever) falling in love.

"Let love enter a Heart." Butter mouthed the last sentence of the prophecy he had memorised oh-so-long ago. "Ms. Poppy was a brave soul, but her command over the English language wasn't something to boast about." He shook his head, ran his eyes around the room and found his bag of treats neatly tucked in a corner by the dressing mirror. The clock on the dresser told him that it was 5 pm. He hadn't had even a drop of water since 9 am when he had sent his mistress off with Sal. The thought drew his attention to the lawn. 

"Where did everyone go?" Butter pressed his ears to the windowpane. Nothing. The canopy and the rest of the decorations still stood swaying in the evening breeze. The sun was at the horizon, ready to take leave, but Pepper was still not back. 

Had Sal kidnapped her? 

Unlikely, Pepper had magic on her side. 

Had Pepper decided she had had enough of Butter and left, abandoning him here? 

No way, thought Butter. Pepper would never do that. 

Then, what was keeping her? 

The familiar was tempted to use the spell. But he held himself back. He would never become Pepper's clutch. After all, if his mistress found love, he would die, and she would have to get used to a life without him anyway. 

Deciding that it would worry his mistress if she returned and saw that her adorable B had neglected his meal, he took care of his grumbling tummy. It didn't make him feel better, though. As uncertainty and anxiety gawked at his heart, he remembered something he had heard both magic folk and humans talk about. Meditation.

Butter had never tried it. He believed it to be one of those boring things that people who had nothing to do did to pass the time and feel productive while at it. Well, this was as good a time as any to give it a shot, right?

Absolutely! 

Butter sat on his hind legs, his spine erect and front paws perpendicular to the floor. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and emptied his mind. 

Two minutes later, as expected, he fell asleep. 

When Pepper entered the room, she saw Butter waiting for her. Finally visible, he felt like a brand new kitten and concluded that Meditation was brilliant. He decided that if they came out of this ordeal as winners, he would teach this magic trick to his mistress. Right now, though, he was ready to hear all the gossip his mistress was willing to share. 

"I missed you!" Pepper said, picking up the furball and cuddling him. "You won't believe all that's happened since I left you here." She gasped. "Oh dear, have you had anything to eat?"

"I just look tiny, my lady; did you forget?" Butter said, tapping her shoulder, gesturing her to look at his empty bowl of food. "I won't recommend taking a dip in the pool. I may have peed in it. Accidentally, of course."

"That's disgusting, B." Pepper made a face. It made the kitten smile. He reckoned that his mistress must have had a good day. 

"So, how was your day?" The feline demanded, struggling in her arms, signaling to be returned to his spot. 

Pepper poured herself a glass of water and plopped on the recliner by Butter's spot. "It was surprisingly good. I spent some time with Felicity while Uncle and Aunty entertained the guests. Even the magistrate flew down to congratulate them. Of course, he was surprised to see me with Sal." Pepper hid her smile behind the glass of water. 

Thump. Thump. Thump. 

"Was Sal good to you?"

Pepper replied with a nod and brought the glass to her lips. Her cheeks turned scarlet, and the tips of her ears followed suit. 

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. 

This was when, suddenly and unexpectedly, Butter realized that his mistress was not coming down with a fever or a flu as he had concluded yesterday. That didn't mean she hadn't caught a bug. She definitely had. It was what the humans had fondly termed as the love bug. 

Talk about misdiagnosing a situation. 

"Are you going to keep drinking water or give me the deets?" Butter said, trying his best to sound casual. He didn't want to show her how important this was for him, lest he scare her, which would unnecessarily make her conscious. No, sir. He did not need that. 

"After the introductions, Sal politely answered all the questions the magistrate asked him about his plans for holding a concert in our city. He even agreed to perform at the Vertex."

"At the Vertex? You don't say!" Butter said. Though he did his best to look and sound excited, he couldn't help wonder if the human was taking his mistress and the magistrate for a ride. 

The Vertex was the only all-magic stadium in their state…no, country. All the who's who of the magical realm trusted the place, which meant an excellent turnout and big money for the ministry. 

"If this goes well, we can get all the teachers in the state a big bonus and send our best seers to India for higher learning." Pepper's hands danced all about her as she explained how Sal had won everyone over while politely rejecting anyone who hit on him. 

Butter was over the moon hearing his mistress gloat about her date. He hadn't seen his mistress smile so wide and bright after her mother's passing. 

"Can you believe it, B?" 

"Of course, my lady. That's why I told you to be kind to him."

Pepper bit the inside of her cheek. "I think I was too quick to judge him. If Sal sticks to his word, the magic folk may change their mind about how they see humans." Pepper's eyes locked on Butter. "And maybe…just maybe, being a witch or a wizard wouldn't mean rejection or ridicule from human society."

Butter nodded. "And maybe you will finally get a raise and a promotion that was promised two years ago, and we will be able to buy the house you have been eyeing on 666th Street in Eden Garden. After all, Sal has only agreed to do it because of you."

"Well…" Pepper trailed. "I don't know if the magistrate would see it that way." She bit her lips and avoided Butter's eyes. Her heart picked up speed again. 

"P?"

"Hum?"

"Do you like Sal?"

Thu. Thu. Thump! 

"He is alright." The witch left the recliner and took off her heels. They were the ones Sal had sent for her the day before. She inspected her ankles and pouted. "I got a shoe-bite. I guess that's what I get for wearing something uncomfortable."

"You know, P, there is nothing wrong in trying something new. Being put in an uncomfortable spot and dealing with people who are different from what you have dealt with or come to expect can also help you learn and open your mind, don't you think?"

"I suppose." Pepper's shoulders slumped. "But what if I make a fool of myself or get hurt?" 

"In that case, you can always count on that one person who will stand by you no matter what, who will take care of your wounds and tell you that you have a choice to either stay in the past or look towards the future."

"I think I know who that is." Pepper tapped her chin with her index finger and glanced at her familiar. "You. I am I right. I know I am."

"No, my lady." Butter's emerald eyes bore into his mistress's dark ones. "That would be you. Only you will always have your back. That's what grownups do. They make their choices and live with it. It's up to them if they want to dwell on their mistakes or hold on to the hope that if they try again, they might taste success."

"B, why are you talking about-"

"I told you, my lady, I may not always be around." Butter sat next to the red heels. "Sometimes a shoe can hurt your feet, but maybe it's just its way of making acquaintance with you. To see if you are worthy of its company."

The witch looked at her kitten as if seeing him for the first time. "When did you become so wise?"

Butter shrugged. "I have always been wise, my lady. However, it is only now that I decided that you are finally ready to witness it."

"Shut up!" Pepper threw a cushion at the kitten, which slapped the latter's butt. 

"Ouch!" he yelped in pain. 

There was no way for Pepper to know that her familiar was wasting away. 
She smiled. "A dramatic little one, aren't you?"

"You know me so well, my lady."

"Yes, I do. By the way, I don't know if you saw it, but it rained a couple of hours ago. We had to shift the party to the dining hall. I just excused myself to come check on you. Do you think you can accompany me downstairs?"

"Sure." Anything was better than being cooped up alone in the room.

"Great!" Pepper said, picking her nic-nacks off the bed and returning them to her duffel. "I told Sal that we would like our room back tonight." 

"Do we have to leave?" 

"Yes."

Butter watched his mistress meticulously pack the items till the room was devoid of their personal belongings. However, when the kitten thought she was done, Pepper spilt water on her efforts by upending the quilt, pillows, and everything else in her sight.

"My lady, did you lose something?"

"Yes. My phone."

"Oh." That explained the witch's distress. "When did you last see it?"

"In the morning."

"Before or after you left for the party?"

"After…Oh!" Pepper facepalmed herself. "I gave it to Sal to hang on to it for a bit and then forgot all about it. Stay here. I will be back soon."

"Do you want me to come with-"

"No, I got this," Pepper said, leaving him alone again.

Happy days were right around the corner. And what was more, Butter didn't even have to use the last wish. 

Everything was perfect, or so the Woodgrip familiar thought just before his castle of cards came tumbling down.

Chapter word count: 1816