Chapter One - Beginnings
Another day, another photogragh... lined up for the snapshot. Checking for compostion and color, and pressing the shutter button before perfection escaped her again. Krys packed her camera back into it's bag. Another roll to spend four hours shut up in a dark room developing. A time consuming hobby. She brushed her deep red hair from her eyes and began the walk back to her small home. It was getting dark, the light from the moon elluminating the narrow path before her. Something rustled in an alley way at her side, darting past her and down the street. She disregarded it. It must have been a dog or something of the like.
She pushed open the heavy wooden door of the building wearing the sign "The Wizard Pendragon". A dying fire heated the small room. She threw another log atop it and let her camera bag clatter to the floor on her way to collapsing on the sofa.
"You don't look so hot, Krys." The fire rose from the hot ashes and leaned it's self over the edge of the hearth.
"It's been a long day. Use your inside voice Calcifer." She whispered past the pain growing in the back of her skull. Funny she should question the volume of the fire demon's tone. He was most quiet when she first arrived three weeks past.
"Inside voice? I've never been outside!" his voice trailed off as she flinched. "Sorry Krys. I'll be quiet. Do you want me to call for Howl? He might have something for your head."
She just nodded... A sort of unconciousness different from sleep was beginning to wash over her. She closed her eyes for just a moment.
"Krys, can you hear me?" A familiar voice asked.
She opened her eyes to the dark haired sorcerer standing over her.
"Your head again?" He asked kindly placing a cool hand on her forehead. She nodded again, shivering as if his hand were ice. "Calcifer, step it up a bit, she seems to have a chill."
"Hey, it's late, I'm doing the best I can." The flame retorted but grew in size a bit to accomodate Howls' wishes.
"Howl..." Krys sighed. "Am I dying?"
"Must you ask me this everytime your head hurts?" He smiled softly. "Of course you're not dying. And once we start your studies, these headaches will plague you less, I promise. Besides, would I let you die?"
She shook her head again.
"Thats right. Now be good and drink this," he tilted a small cup to her lips and urged her to drink. It tasted of fresh raspberries, unlike the potions of other sorcerers she had known, including her father's.
She was to be studying under Howl soon. Not due to any command nor recomendation of any sort, but rather personal preference on both of their accounts. She had wandered in off the streets looking for a place to stay one night and had very much fallen in love with the mismatched family within. It wasn't long before they told her the secrets of their simple existance there, as well as Howl's alliace as the Wizard Jenkins. The house was not a house, but a castle, and it did not remain in one place, but roamed freely, powered by the strength of Calcifer's flame. She had been seeking a place to settle down and study sorcery for quite a while, but due in part to her appearance and demeanor, many were reluctant as they feared another Witch of the Waste. Her intentions were pure regardless of what anyone had beleived and Howl knew this from his very first meeting with her.
Krys' father, a powerful sorcerer, had refused her residence in his home any longer, as he was growing old and his magic was wearing thin. Often, it would run haywire and destroy entire homes before he could controll it agian. In an attempt to protect himself and his daughter, he isolated himself at the heart of a deep forest and had not been heard from for years. Krys had been a wanderer. Staying in hotels and inns where ever she could and making her money through photagraphy as well as some sewing on the side. The problem, of course, was finding a darkroom in which to develop them. Howl had been all too willing to build her one with his magic as an addition to the castle, his own way of telling her he meant for her to be a permanent addition as well.
She smiled as her head became more clear. Howl was warming his hands before the hearth.
"Thank you Howl," She whispered, wary of the volume of her own voice.
He turned, the orangish glow of the sleeping flame washed over his smooth features, and for a moment, he looked as if his beauty had been sculpted from stone. The night hung heavy outside, and finally...there was silence. "You're very welcome, Krys. You know, if you ever need anything..." He took her hand in his own, still warmed from Calcifer's heat.
"Thank you," she repeated, her eyelids growing heavy.
"Sleep. I will see you in the morning." He helped her to her feet and into her bedroom, converted in the first week from a guest room.
He left her for his own bed, and she changed from her street clothes to a cotton nightgown. Sometimes she almost wished he would insist that she share his. But may other times, we was just grateful to have bed. Sleep was an escape... and one that came quickly for the weary.
END CHAPTER ONE
A/N- I know it's quite short, but it's 2:30 a.m. I promise it will be longer next time. Please reveiw, and please be nice. There may very well be many spelling error as I no longer have spell check. And yes, Markl will be included, he is asleep somewhere in the castle. His bedtime is sooner than the adults.