-1

"Sophie? Are you alright?" Markl cried out when she staggered up the steps of the castle. She looked up at the boy with his frowning eyebrows and red-brown cow licked hair and his almost outrageous outfit. By the time she had reached the door the sun had sunken down in a bloody end, sending out ruby rays through the clean windows.

"Yeah, I'm okay," she replied uncertainly, trying hard not to put weight on her left leg as she staggered across the room. "Is Howl here?"

"No, he hasn't been home," answered Ms. Waste contentedly, watching Calcifer sit and mutter about 'ungrateful wizards' and 'creepy old women'. Markl sat at the table with Heen at his feet, pretending to study an astral chart. Sophie sighed again before limping up the stairs.

"I'm going to take a bath. Calcifer? Please?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, lady. Just give me another log," the fire demon crackled in annoyance. Markl got up and rushed over a dusty stump of wood for her. Giving him a tired smile she went up to the bathroom.

"Stupid Howl," she muttered repeatedly as she turned the taps to hot and let the tub fill up. Stripping off her boots and stained stockings she found her knees scraped raw and a wicked looking cut on her left leg. After she removed her dress and stood in her undergarments she found a large, swollen lump on her lower back.

Steam filled the narrow room, closing over her nose and mouth like a damp towel. For a moment she glared down at her arms, at the many little bumps and scars that littered them like the plague. For as long as she could remember she had to cover her body because of those damn hereditary blemishes. Mother and Lettie didn't have it but lucky her and Father had.

Sometimes it just felt so unfair how beautiful her sister and mother were. They were popular, carefree and gorgeous without any of these…deformities. Howl couldn't possibly find her lovely, couldn't possibly want her around other than to clean up the castle. If he did then why did he leave so much? Maybe he had seen her problem and decided she wasn't worth it.

Tears stung Sophie's eyes as she got rid of the rest of her clothes and climbed into the bathtub. She gave a hissing sigh as the hot water scalded her sensitive skin and injuries, unused to the warmth. As a matter of fact, her skin wasn't even used to sunlight. All her life she had covered it so it was so pale and thin now. Disgusting.

Sophie squeezed her eyes shut against her self-loathing as she rested against the chilly porcelain of the bathtub. Downstairs she could hear Markl laughing and Calcifer barking something obnoxious. Sinking down to her nose in the steaming water she felt it flooding her ears, deadening all noises.

Just as she was dozing a little in the bath a loud but polite knock echoed through her thoughts. Flustered she sat up, her hair soaking, fumbling for her cotton robe.

"Yes? What is it?" she called through the door as she stood up and put on her robe. It hung only about at her knees but it tied tightly enough to be modest. Shaking her wet hair into a jumble she opened the bathroom door.

Howl stood there, his mouth opened in frozen speech and his clear blue eyes widened in surprise. A boiling anger grew in the pit of her stomach as she glowered at him, her fists clenched. The wizard looked her up and down before stopping at her still bleeding legs and the way she hunched over slightly. Her cheeks were flushed from the hot water and fury. Dark silver hair plastered to her frowning brow and thin neck which trailed down to a pale collarbone. Her caring brown eyes were fired in something dark and murderous as she looked at him.

"Sophie? What happened to you?" he asked concernedly, his brow furrowed in worry. Her cheeks flushed deeper in embarrassment. Sophie could practically hear her teeth grinding in her mouth.

"What happened? What happened?! You left me and I fell down a goddamn hill and scratched the hell out of my legs and bruised my back!" she snapped hotly, her eyes practically spitting fire in their chocolate depths. Howl backed up a step, looking as if she had smacked him hard. The hurt in his expression made her feel bad but she didn't care. "Howl, what the hell? Why do you keep leaving me? What if I had broken my leg or something and I couldn't get back?"

"I'm sorry, Sophie, really, I hadn't realized-"

"Oh, you are so stupid!" she yelled in frustration, slamming the door in his face and stomping to the tub again. "Men! Men are so dumb!"

Howl stood in abject confusion and horror outside the door, hearing her clanging about and swearing at the top of her lungs. He screwed up bad this time.