Sophie was about to tip over the edge of murder. She was ready to mug the next person who came even a step closer to her. That is, she would if she could see any of them. At the moment she was standing. She didn't know WHERE she was standing, but she was standing. She was pretty sure that Michael wasn't too far off because she could hear his obviously nervous breathing. What had Howl and Michael been thinking tying her up with a blindfold like this? That was the only thought on her mind. That, and, 'I'm going to kill them'.
It had only been that morning when Sophie, after taking a bath and changing had gone down to the kitchen to start making breakfast for everyone. She whistled and hummed a tune as she pulled out the bacon, eggs, and the frying pan. She went over to the fireplace and poked at it with the handle of the pan.
"Calcifur, are you in there. Come on wake up. I need to make breakfast," she called. After a long pause and no Calcifur Sophie stopped poking and stared down at the empty fireplace. "Calcifur?"
She was fully aware that Calcifur could come and go as he pleased now that his contract with Howl was null and void, but it was very unusual for him NOT to be resting in the fireplace. Despite all his complaining it really was his favorite spot in the castle. Sophie put all of the food and the pan down and crossed her arms in front of her chest. 'Where in heavens name could that demon be?' she thought agitatedly. 'Though I suppose if he's a demon then heaven wouldn't be the correct wording,' she mused.
Suddenly Sophie felt two arms slither over her shoulders and embrace her in a warm hug. She jumped in surprise, since once again she had not heard Howl enter the room. She had to admit she was getting better at catching him, but he still caught her off guard all the time. "Good morning," she sighed and relaxed into his embrace. "Isn't it a bit too early for your slithering?"
"Never," Howl's smooth voice replied. Sophie could tell just by his voice that he was smirking. "So what are you looking so stumped about?" he inquired.
"It's Calcifur, he's not in the fireplace," Sophie explained.
"I'm right over here Sophie," Calcifur called from behind the couple.
Sophie broke loose of Howl's hug and turned to look at where Calcifur had called. There he was floating just above the table. "Calcifur I need to…" she started.
"Michael, now!" Howl called.
Michael suddenly leaped off of the stairs and landed in front of Sophie. He paused and looked as if he was starting some kind of spell. "Howl, Michael what on earth are you doing?" Sophie shouted in alarm. It was far to early for any of this insanity.
"I'm really sorry about this Sophie," Michael frowned as he finished off his spell.
'You better be!' Sophie wanted to yell, but she found herself unable to. Actually she wasn't able to do much of anything. 'He used a freezing spell on me!' she thought angrily. Several curse words flew to Sophie's mind and at the moment she really wished that she could have unleashed them all upon all three of them. They had obviously planned all of this together.
"Now, now Sophie dearest," Howl said in a faux soothing voice. "Just relax, the spell will wear off soon enough," he assured her and stepped behind her once more. This time though he took a blindfold out of his pocket and tied it firmly, but not too tightly around Sophie's head, blocking her eyes from everything.
"All right, we should get going," Sophie heard Howl say with a clap of his hands.
Suddenly a lack of gravity overcame Sophie. 'A levitation spell too? What are these three planning?' sourly wondered. 'I'm going to kill them'
So now there she was. The levitation spell had been taken off, and she could feel the freezing one wearing off as well. Howl had departed since their arrival 'somewhere', leaving her with Michael, and possibly Calcifur. Soon it got to the point where Sophie was able to talk again, but the rest of her body went unmoving. "Michael. Would you mind kindly explaining…what the heck is going on?" She gave a shrill cry.
Michael first jumped at her cry, seeing as he had expected the spell to last until Howl came back, and then he cringed. He knew he was doomed if the spell came off completely. "Um…well…I can't say," he said meekly. "Master Howl made me swear not to tell."
"Michael come on, it's me, Sophie. You can tell me right?" she tried sweet-talking him.
"No, I'm sorry Sophie, really, but I can't!"
"That's quite all right Michael because I've returned…with back ups!" Howl called gaily as he made his apparent return.
Suddenly the spell over her wore off completely and Sophie crashed to her knees thanks to the sudden regain of her free will. She heard Howl walk over to her and kneel beside her. "No, Sophie, no attacking anyone all right?" he teased as he took off the blindfold, and then helped her up.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Sophie gritted her teeth. She then looked to the so-called 'backups', only to see Fanny, Lettie, Martha, Mrs. Fairfax, Suliman, and one final man who was anxiously hiding underneath a solder's cap.
"W-what are you all doing here?" Sophie gasped.
"Why it's May Day of course!" Lettie and Martha said in unison and wrapped their arms through Sophie's, dragging her out on to the main street of Market Chipping where the parade was passing by. The music surrounded them with a roar as everyone cheered.
Sophie merely groaned and slumped over in utter defeat. For an instant she had contemplated escaping back to the castle, but with this many people looking after her, her chances were slim to none. She mentally cursed them all. What was so great about May Day anyways? It was just a bunch of people shouting and singing. "I hate May Day," she muttered as she was dragged into the crowd.