Authors notes; Howl will be mentioned few times than I would have liked in the next few chapters but the next few chapters are setting up for the rest of the story between Howl and Michael. And this one is short because it seemed a good place to stop! Thanks you all for the views but remember to review! Even if you just want to say that the story is shocking and to turn my attentions to a new project! Enjoy! :3


Hours passed before Michael felt Howls grip loosen around his hand, but when Howls hand did finally fall way from his own he felt almost a sense of emptiness. He stood, shrugged the feeling off quickly as he made for the door, grapping armfuls of dirty washing and balancing used plates and cups on the growing mound in his arms.

The sun grew in the sky as Michael explained Howls bad way to Calcifer, he kept quite throughout making small crackling noises to show he was listening before announcing "I will just go look for myself." before rising from the fire place sending a shock wave through Michael, Calcifer was concerned enough to look, that never happened, it had to be bad he just knew it.

Calcifer simply called back to Michael as he too stood and tried to follow the bobbing flame up the stairs, "I'm sure all is fine, I just going to have a look for myself. Relax what's the worst that could be happening?" the almost amusement in the words insulted Michael.

"He could be cursed Cal, he could be dying!" Michael snapped back, his hand razing to his chest as it grew tight when the prospect of what he had said dawned on him. Calcifer looked no more worried than he ever did and carried on up the flight of stairs as if a comment had not been made at all, shrugging it off as was what he did best.

Minuets passed before Calcifer returned to the room, and by the time he had Michael had busied himself by sweeping the ash in the fire grate into a neat pile and had placed several new logs snuggly into the grate. Michael stood when he saw the flame ghosting across the room.

"Before you get your nickers in a twist, he is fine… Well fine in Howl terms, he has a fever and it has little to do with magic, he is just ill!" His heart still going like mad, Michael flopped into the chair beneath him, its legs giving a small irritated creak. "All we can do is help him get better, it will take some time but the main thing is we can't let him milk this! At least there's no slime involved this time?" Calcifer smiled almost to himself as he nestled himself into the pile of logs, "Go see Mrs. Fairfax when she gets back, she will know what will help along with his recovery, but no more honey, we have enough as it is and that woman's more than nuts about the stuff!"

Michael rubbed at his temples, Mrs. Fairfax was traveling in the north, and she wouldn't be back for at least a week if not more! He could do it he manage Howl, and he was sure there was a spell somewhere to get into contact with a witch overseas, he was more than sure of it!

...

Days passed almost without incident around Howl, he stayed in a fever induced state of sleep but continued to mutter and murmur as Michael tended to him night and day. Well, incident free that is till the third day when Howl finally awoke momentarily from his slumber confused and bewildered.

He pushed himself up on the bed with on hand, trying feebly to remove the wet cloth from his head with the other.

The light around him was bright and stung at his closed eye lids as he tried to blink and trick them into opening themself, when they final gave in to his efforts and opened the world around Howl was blurry, he could hardly make out the objects around him, he almost didn't know where he was. Moments passed before any of Howls senses focused enough to concentrate too much on his surroundings before feeling ill. One thing saw for sure, he could smell purple wild flowers, the smell that often came with his mystery visitor, she was in the room, he knew it!

He could just begin to see the dark haired beauty that had haunted his dreams, she was blurry still, much to Howls long suffering heart ache. He reached out to her, he longed for her soft soothing touch, but she stepped back turning for the door, retreating, leaving. Leaving him.

Pure instinct look over Howl, she would not leave him, he would not let another woman he cared about leave him, first Sophie now his beautiful guardian of his dreams, he would not let it happen. He couldn't.

The room pulsed around him, his head bounded and the light grew dim around them. The temperature dropped around them, yet a burning heat surged up them both. How could feel the connection formming between himself and the dream girl, a bond. He knew what he wanted, he wanted her to be his and stay with him, to be his and he would give himself to her if she just take away the pain and the hurt in his heart.

A taste of blood foreign to his own, rushed up into his throat and crashed against his tongue, and with that, a wave of darkness engulfed his world.


Closing Notes; A little cliff hanger for you there! Remember to review! Thanks for viewing and I'm sorry it took so long to put up, I was going out of my head getting stuff for my prom, then going! :3 So Keep looking, put on alert plan to update 1-2 times a week, if you can handle it! :) Thanks again people!

"Samantha s" the whichwitchiswhichwiter xoxo