Howl spent most the morning hours in the bathroom, getting ready for what ever he would decide on doing. Just as Howl began to dress, his chest felt tight. The felling grew worse in just a moments time, a burning, stabbing feeling seemed to radiate from where his heart would be.
Something was wrong.
He fell to his knees, clutching his hands to his chest. Pain all but blinding him. What felt like hours, though mere minutes, it passed. Leaving a breathless, disoriented wizard in its wake. Fumbling with the door he managed to get down the stairs hoping to find Markl to help him. Though what he saw all but infuriated him. A small girl by the hearth with her mother and Markl, in his disguise, and Calcifer.
Oh. Calcifer.
Calcifer was glowing a soft, dim blue. The most off colour he could be. Howl, keeping his voice low, demanded to know what was going on. Markl offered to tell him once the girl and mother were safely outside and far away.
Pulling off his cloak, Markl had tears forming which worried Howl as the boy explained.
"The girl grabbed at Calcifer and I think he is hurt."
The only words that Howl heard before going to the low fire.
Calcifer said nothing, but moaned as he was picked up by the wizard. Howl looked him over, rather his heart, which was indeed damaged. Howl swallowed hard, pain filling his chest once more. Small dents covered his heart, small tears.
Broken.
"Is Calcifer gonna be okay?"
Howl barely heard the boy over his own thoughts. He waved the boy away simply stating that he needed to be alone.
Howl did what he could to give the fire strength, at least enough to talk.
Two tired eyes appeared on the flame, sparking slightly before it spoke, "You know...this breaks our contract, right?"
Howl hung his head low, giving a small nod. Of course he knew, it was one of the first things the demon asked for in return for giving Howl more power.
A perfect home for the demon to reside.
His heart, which was now damaged. Even if Howl could use magic to fix it, it still violated the contract between the two. With this, Calcifer would die. As would he. No one could live without a heart.
"Forgive me, I did not protect you."
The demon only blinked as he grew dimmer. He would fade completely in moments. Till then, the process of death would take Howl. Sliding to the ground, resting beside the hearth, breathing labored. Without a working heart the body would begin to shut down.
His head buzzed as his brain screamed for oxygen. Skin, once white, now ashen. So this is how I die. Never thought I would.
A wet cough escaped his lips bringing forth a small bit of blood, already thick and dark in texture and colour. Vision blurring he noted that Calcifer was only a small halo around the muscle that was his heart. The heart of a child, a heart that Howl couldn't take back. Couldn't help.
"I don't regret our bargain Howl, even if this is how it ends."
Tears formed at the edges of his vision, Caclifer for once, was not sarcastic about the contract, not about his life in the heart, not about Howl.
He could barely move at that point, his fingers tightened as best they could around the heart, though Calcifer was gone. Just as Howl was fading.
To his side, now Markl appeared, he thought he could feel Markl shaking him, though he couldn't tell.
Oh Markl, I wish I could stay, but I can't. I know you can carry on, find a home with a better family then I could provide.
Sentimentality was not something Howl often was, though as his life was ending, he let himself acknowledge his feelings. He loved the boy. He regretted that he had to leave him alone. An orphan at the start of their meeting, the same at the end. He wished to tell him that, but could not. Not now.
Darkness encased the wizard, heart ceased beating. A low thud seemed to echo as the last beat left.