Foul did not begin to describe his mood. More like a venomous snake spit which stayed a tad bit longer in a jar in which flies feasted on....

Zyca buried her face in her hands, rubbing it softly. Placing the chipped half of the crystal under her shoe, she was met with Daniel's searching stare.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"He likes you," he said gruffly. "That must be what he wanted to say." The way he spoke signaled how annoying he found his situation. He wasn't supposed to feel like that but he did and he wanted to have her by all means. He knew the red-faced boy was in love with his best friend but he was to chicken to tell her.

"I doubt that," she replied but he knew, she knew "Colt and I are just best friends. He mentioned something about trust-" She shrugged.

His stomach fluttered from the word she spoke. Trust. He was a prevaricator, a deceiver, a trickster, he was all those names. Funnily, he was doing exactly what he accused his cheating wife of.

"We need a plan Daniel. If we want to search this house thoroughly, we need some kind of plan." she pouted tapping her nose as she searched for an answer. "We also need to ask Riel and the others – I'll ask Riel," she added quickly.

He stared at her and felt a prick of guilt for not telling her the truth or at least the complete truth. Hell, who was he kidding, he kept everything from her well except him wanting her to stay in the human world. The genie world was torturous to her kind. The freedom she didn't have, she would get – she would go to school, read as many books she liked without the fear of getting caught.

With what took every ounce of energy he could muster he released his breath. Letting his eyes wonder to the girl before him, he drank in her features, he wanted to touch her badly. Not for his book now but for himself.

"Hell, Zyca," he whispered a little louder than he had expected.

"What?" she asked.

Daniel shook his head. "Nothing," he lied. "There used to be a map of the house. We can use it to search the places I've never been to."

"You've never been..." she began.

"The house is enormous Zyca – of course I've never been everywhere," he said pulling away from the stone infested wall by the door.

"How do we find it?" asked Zyca.

"There is a place," he started slowly. "At the back of this building. It will be foul, irritating and galling - It was my parent's storage house, although I don't know if it's still there."

"Let's have a look then." She started for the door.

Placing his hands on her own, he stopped her in her tracks.

"You heard what Colt said. We don't know the danger in this house."

"I thought you didn't believe?"

"I don't. I trust everyone but we can't leave out the fact the spider might be lurking in the shadows."

She looked at him, eyes darkened glassy, and gave him a wistful smile. "Why do you do this for me? Master Kane never did."

"I want to see you happy," and use you for my career. "Protect you," and use you. "I hate to see you unhappy." Very true. "You need to be loved."

He noticed himself closing the space between them and at the last moment before they could meet, he said. "Do you know how to dance?" His words came out of nowhere, not only shocking her but he himself.

She farrowed her face in confusion. "No, no I do not."

He slipped his fingers into hers. "Will you like to learn?"

****

A light hum filled the room some minutes later, in a sweet harmony. It sounded like the one she heard outside the house. Classical. The sound emitted from a small box which stood on one of the shelves, with many holes on its body and the sharp orange color which looked much like the fiery flame on the candle which stood beside it. Daniel said it emitted emotions, feelings and she had laughed at the absurdity of it and she still did as they spun across the floor of the sitting room. The day was already getting dark, the sun ready to dive back into its hiding place.

Her thoughts were filled with her mission, there were a thousand places she knew they would search, a thousand tables to raise and a thousand chairs to shift.

"Ouch," Daniel cried for the one-thousandth time since they started.

"Sorry," she apologized feeling embarrassed.

"At least, it doesn't hurt like the other ninety times," he said shrugging it off. "C'mon, it's not that difficult."

Zyca felt scared, she forced herself to laugh. She didn't even know why she decided to learn something she might never use in her life; green genies never attend parties nor balls. She could step away from him at that moment but something is keeping her some leaving. Something deep within her knew, she loved the way their body moved together, almost seemed intimate.

"It's okay if you don't," he said mortified. "I just wanted you to learn something new, something different for once."

He wasn't easy on the eyes, he dipped his head a little bit making him look almost like a maimed bird. "You're worried about me."

"More than you know. There are some many questions left unanswered."

"One at a time Dan," she moved trying to keep up his pace. "I feel I just said something you would tell me."

"As a matter of fact, you did."

The music quickened a little and so did they, spinning a little faster which made the world around her blurry and they slowed down once more. "Dance helps to relax your body when you're tense."

"How shocking. I don't see how so much spinning can help me relax," she answered matching the toothy grin he suddenly gave.

"It does," he tried to convince.

"Explain."

He shrugged. "I don't know how, so don't ask me."

"Tell me, what did Julia look like? I've never seen her pictures, or any pictures around the house." She knew she had hit a painful spot when his smile turned to a frown, then morphed into a deep scowl. As she was about to dismiss her question he spoke.

"I don't have them anymore" he muttered. "Some lie in the sea somewhere, some in the trash as ashes and some in the gutters."

Zyca knew she need not continue to pry into his private life but she wanted to learn more, to feed her curiosity. "Was she beautiful?"

"More than you know," her heart sank and she didn't know why.

"Do you miss her?"

His voice dropped to meet her own, and something sad and agonizing shadowed his gaze. There was a sadness in him, the loss and betrayal of a wife. "I..."

"Do you still love her?"

He spoke softly, and his voice filled her head. Instead of her to think of what was ahead of her, she was focused on the man close to her. "There is someone else."

She blamed herself for the rapid beating of her heart, she caused it, she had to ask a question like that and now she had received an answer her heart twisted and churned. "Who?" her stupid mouth asked.

"Why do you want to know?"

They stopped moving but the music continued to play in the background. Unable to keep his prying gaze, she focused her eyes on the cold floor which seemed safer to look at than the dancing flames in his eyes.

"Hey," she felt soft fingers on her chin, tipping her head up until they stared at each other once more. "Why do you want to know Zyca?"

As much as she loved hearing her name called with his lips, she had to get away as far as possible because she was falling fast. It was not the right time to feel such at such dire moment, maybe sometime in her next life – if she was going to have one, she would not be so hesitant.

With reluctant steps, she backed away, and out of his grasp. Losing the feel of his body on hers. "We should really get back to work. We are losing time."

She wasn't not fast enough or rather she didn't want to be fast because she slowed her steps when she saw him approaching with long strides. His lips were on hers, warm and cozy. The touch was electrifying.

"Trust no one."

Why did these words hunt her so?

****

It was morning and the bed was empty. After hours of what she never expected to be sizzling and hot, they had fallen asleep right after he spoke soft words as he nibbled her ear. Was this the feelings she read people got, the feelings Lady Penicillin felt when they did what she did? She wanted to ask but the space beside her was bare.

She sat relinking to the events of the previous night.

"Daniel?" she called out but she was simply answered by a humming bird which passed by just outside the window. She got up, pulling away the sheet which left her in a pair of pajamas and her cuffs. Her cheeks burned from embarrassment when she thought of the events hours ago.

"Daniel?" she called again opening the bathroom. She was met with the pristine walls and a very empty space. Maybe he'd gone to his room.

Slowly she turned her head when a booming sound arrived, peering outside the window she tried sourcing for the cause. At once the door opened and in came Mary.

"Hello."

****

Both of them walked through the deserted hall. She noticed the petite woman staring quizzically at her from time to time. "What?" she asked tired of her uncomfortable stare.

"You look different," she said. "Good different."

"I would say the same about you," Zyca replied smiling. The woman's cheek grew enormous, tucking her head in. "What happened?"

"Kate's dad came back yesterday." She said. "To tell I was shocked would be an understatement."

Liquid glinted in the woman's eyes.

Zyca stopped and pulled Mary into her arms. "I'm so happy for you. I really am."

"I'm happy too." Zyca felt the liquid drip on her back. "I thought we'd never see him again," she sobbed gently. Zyca understood dearly how she felt, losing someone you cared so much about. "It scared me when I heard his camp got attacked, it scared me."

"I'm glad he came back safety."

"It's going to be the best summer Kate and I ever had," she sniffed releasing herself from Zyca's hold. "Before I forget," she cleaned the contours around her eyes and opened the dangling bag on her wrist.

"Here," she roamed her eyes in the darkness of her purse. "She wanted me to give you this." Mary handed her, a book with several hundred white pages, which was gentle on her fingertip when she scrolled through quickly. Upon the black surface was written her name, brown and in cursive letters. "It's the first edition."

"It really is my name," she said gliding gently her hands on the glossy surface. Written below in all black was a name she could not understand. "What's this?" she pointed.

"The author's name," she said. "Kate poured her lunch on it the first time she bought It." she shook her head. "The burning stew, scrambled the name."

"No worries. I can do without knowing the author."

Mary inclined her head and shook it. They continued their trek down the stairs to an elevated block of stone, the light weighted book swung in her hands. "We will be going to Capitol for summer. Kate always wanted to go there. She says it's a magical place - Have you ever been to the capitol?" Mary asked.

Zyca didn't know what she spoke about. What was the Capitol? She wanted to ask but thought against it when she caught hold of the fairylike smile on her face. "I heard it's magical too but I've never been there."

"I've never been there too. I hope it will be worth the money."

Thinking of the task ahead, Zyca asked. "How well do you know about Daniel's mother."

"You mean the step mother?"

"Yes her."

Mary laughed. "I'm the wrong person you to ask that question to." she said. "I've only seen her once, twice since I started working here." She twisted her hands in front of her. "Riel is the right person to answer your question."

"Ok?" It saddened her, she hadn't gotten much from her. Seemed Riel would have to tell her what she needed to know. Zyca silently hoped, his step mother wasn't the crystal thief, it would be a whole lot of painful feelings for him – just like her.

A rambunctious blaring came suddenly from Mary's pocket as they stopped right in front of Daniel's office. "Dear. I have to be on my way," she said quickly. "We have an early flight."

"Have a lovely summer Mary."

"You too."

Mary turned and walked away in quickened pace, tugging back down the hallway in her crackling heels.

Zyca puff out a hot breath as her insides burned from the supposed man behind the door. Not knowing the words, she would utter when their eyes met, she had her palm spilling unnecessary sweat. 'I missed you perchance. No, that not it. Remembering from one of the books she read, the man was to utter the first word after their first kiss. She bit her bottom lip chewing on it slightly. Surely, she would have to face him some day, they had a task to complete.

Taking a deep breath, she entered the room.

Daniel slammed a surface down when she walked in. Standing he placed the flat like looking book on his desk inside his drawer. "Zyca. Why didn't you knock?" he asked striding towards her. Zyca intertwined her hands behind, rocking on the balls of her feet as he closed the distance.

"I didn't think of that," she ran her eyes all over the room.

He smiled. "It's okay. How are you feeling?" he asking caressing her skin with his calloused hands.

"Sore." she whispered, flushed with embarrassment as her thoughts ventured once again to their intimate session. Balancing on one leg she said. "Mainly from the dance. So, what were you doing?"

"I was working – taking care of some business transactions here and there." He said pulling away.

"You got back your job?"

"About to." He said mid turn, then he turned back to her zoning in on the object in her hand. "What's that?"

Zyca raised the book. "Isn't it funny? A book in this world bore the same name as I do. Look," she pointed in excitement at the four cursive letters on the black surface. "I asked Kate to give it to me because I was curious."

Daniel stepped back reeling for the wall, blinking rapidly like a fly had gone in his eye. "What is it?" she asked worriedly.

He gulped standing stiffly as a stick. "Hand it over," he said sternly.

"No!" she exclaimed, pulling the book away from his sight. "I want to read it."

"It's not good for you. Trust me," he advanced towards her. "I know of this world more than you do, so hand it over."

"Why? Little Kate read it, why can't I?" Zyca questioned taking a step back.

"DO WHAT YOUR MASTER SAYS!"

He resembled Master Kane.

She didn't understand why she hand to give up the book. "Your brother wrote it, didn't he?"

"What?"

"Your brother. Kate says it was her mama boss's son who wrote the book so I assumed you had a brother," she shrugged.

"Oh right, I did. But he died last year," he quickly said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"It hurts me every time I see people read his books, that's why I don't want you to read it," he stuttered. She felt pity for him, it was the first time he told her of his brother, not that he ever mentioned having another sibling. A lone tear dropped from his eyes down to his chin. He sniffed. "I haven't even read his books – gosh this is so embarrassing." He strolled back to his desk masking his face from her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." she followed him. "You can have it," she placed it on the desk amongst other files.

"No, its okay, you can have it if you want."

"I'm sure I can do without reading it," she said. Despite her curiosity of why the book bore her name, she had to respect her master's wishes. She strolled to Daniel whose broad back was in her view, passing under his arm, she carefully jammed her body to his, with her face smacked at the center. She didn't know whether it was okay to ask but she did anyways. "How did he die?"

She thought he wasn't going to answer when he made no movements for a while. Taking a deep breath, he turned peeling her hands from his. "A crash. I really don't want to talk about it," he said frowning.

"You don't have to," she smiled up at him.

"So, we should get going now," he said.

"To where?"

"To the shed of course. To find the map – come on," he said waving his hands impatiently as he grabbed a set of keys from his desk.

****

There was only one way to get the map of the house, in the shed at the back of the house surrounded with rose bushes on every corner.

They approached the stony pathway in even steps with their hands locked together. "How long till we get there," she asked eagerly.

"Just seconds away lies the shed," he replied. And just as he said, it took them less than ten seconds to get to the abandoned looking building whose walls peeled from age. Matching the keys with the key hole, they entered into the dark and dusty space.

Zyca coughed from the copious amount to dust which emanated. "Seems it hasn't be opened in ages," she flapped a hand over her face in an attempt to prevent it from entering her nose.

"It hasn't," he coughed. "Heavens!"

She felt a sense of loss when he pulled his hands away from hers, going over to the closed blinds.

Despite the dust, the room was well arranged, she could see when Daniel drew the curtain open, sending in a good amount of sunlight. And of course just like seconds ago, dust followed.

"The map should be beneath all this," he itched his scarp. "I just don't know where."

Five minutes later, the once organized room had turned to a land of displaced junks. Daniel kicked an empty carton which spun away from the force, across the room. "I can't find it," he said frustrated. She understood his pain for she felt just the same, the map was no were to be found. She didn't know what the map looked like but she was sure she would be able to tell when she sees the lines and markings.

"Maybe it's not here," she called out ready to get up and out of the room. It was a fruitless effort.

'It here Zyca'

She wanted to argue at first, they had searched everywhere. She decided against it when she remembered how she led her to the crystal.

'Close your eyes. Stick out your hands. Feel'

She did as she was instructed, she shut her eyes, stuck out her hands like a blindfolded woman and let herself feel.

For a second, she felt everything stilled, a sudden breeze blew the bottom of her blouse a centimeter high, soft fingers intertwined with hers, stretching them forth to the side. She was about to garb something hard but she was guided another way. Then seconds later, Allet signaled for her to garb.

'Now'

Zyca clasped her hands on a sheet. The hands which guided her, slipped upwards and away, which told her Allet was gone again. She opened her eyes and saw she had taken the map. Scrambling to her feet, she called out. "I've found it."

Zyca opened the map carefully, and the two of them were bent over the marked sheet. It was clear, the map hadn't been used in years for its edges were dry and crispy, the inked lines and dots were already fading.

"This is where we are," he pointed a little to the right. It was decorated with scribbles of what she could tell, were the rose bushes outside.

"This house is huge," said Zyca as they scanned the outlines.

"Very."

"The basement, shed, greenhouse, cellar, solar, Scullery, chapel?" She asked quizzically.

He shrugged. "They love to pray."