Sorry for the wait! I have been busy with college lately, and of course this week is exam week! Woo... Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this chapter! Please review! I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Howl's Moving Castle, only my character Melinda.


Sophie has been getting paler and paler these past few days. She acts like there is nothing wrong around Howl and Markl, but only she and I know that she has a witch inside of her. I told her I would help if I could, but I don't think I can. She puts herself in these situations with difficult spells to break, and I have no idea how. We need to find out how to get rid of this soon, or it may be very well too late.

Calcifer


"Calcifer, do you know if anything is wrong with Sophie?"

The fire demon glanced up at the wizard and sighed. "I know something is going askew, but I have no idea what it is. There is another witch in this house. That's all I can tell."

Howl felt his brow furrow as he sat in the chair by the fire. "How did you let another witch in?"

"Not my fault. Really," Calcifer shrugged. "She's harmless for now."

Howl raised his eyebrows and shook his head. "Is that what is affecting Sophie?" Sophie has been getting weaker lately, the wizard thought.

"Howl, all I can say is that she is in trouble and needs help. But be careful. I really don't know what is going on inside of her. Only Sophie knows that."

So tell me, how long have you been with Howl? What have you done with him? Anything I need to know about MY future husband?

Sophie felt her head sting with the thoughts of the witch as she curled up in her bed. He is my future husband; not yours. Also I think it is my turn asking questions. Who are you?

Sophie heard the inner voice cackle before answering. My name is Melinda. I am the witch that Howl fell in love with several years ago- before you came, that is. But I know that he has not lost those feelings for me.

I thought he loved the Witch of the Waste.

That was merely infatuation.

Sophie glanced up as she heard a knock from the door.

Here, ask Howl about me. I will let you only if you say that that Witch of the Waste told you about me.

"Sophie, are you doing okay?" Howl walked into the room with a tray of soup and a cup of tea. "I brought you lunch," he smiled.

Sophie sat up and grinned over Howl's kindness. "Thank you," she whispered as she took the cup of tea. "Howl, I have a question."

Howl walked over to Sophie's bed and sat by her, wrapping his arm around the silver-haired woman. "Ask anything. But first, is everything ok, Sophie? You have been becoming weaker and paler. Is there something wrong?"

Sophie casted a blank look. "I… I don't know, Howl. I can't really say." If you get the picture.

Howl's eyes lit up for second before showing a discreet nod. Of course… he thought as he gave the bowl of soup to Sophie. "It's vegetable," Howl mentioned. "I made it just for you. I may not be the best cook, but it's enough," Howl smiled.

Sophie picked up a spoon and lifted the soup to her lips. After blowing on it lightly, Sophie let the soup touch her tongue and felt herself dancing in the melodies of flavors. "Howl! It's wonderful!"

"Good!" Howl laughed.

Sophie continued to eat the rest of the soup while Melinda grew cold. He never made me anything…

Shush up.

Howl looked questioningly at Sophie as he noticed her mouth tensing up. "Um, are you ok, Sophie?"

Sophie noticed her mouth and loosened it. "I am just trying to figure out how to ask you a question. That is all." Sophie shrugged.

Howl felt himself take Sophie's hesitance in. There was definitely something wrong, and he did not know what. "You can tell me anything, Sophie." Howl watched Sophie's face calm down as she watched his smile.

Just ask him. I dare you. Watch him break your heart like he did to mine. Melinda taunted the poor girl.

"Howl, have you ever fell in love with another girl?"

The question took Howl aback and made him have to regain himself before answering. "Sophie, many people fall in love more than once. It is from those loves that make one realize what he wants for the rest of his life. Some people get lucky and find the right person on their first try. I was not that lucky. Yes, I was in love before. But a very foolish love it was. Nothing good was to come from it and she was not the right person for me."

"The Witch of the Waste?" Sophie asked.

"No. I fell in love with another witch. Her name was Melinda and she was cruel to all. I fell in love with her because she was beautiful and told me that she loved all living things. Well, not really loved. She lied to me a lot about what she did and did not like. I didn't mind it at the time; I had someone finally. Little by little she became worse though. She started spying on me and getting into my head and controlling me…"

I was not that bad, the voice laughed inside of Sophie's head.

"I ended it with her once she started uncovering my secret with Calcifer and insisted that I should put Calcifer out. That was a warning sign for me. So I told her I didn't love her and ran."

"You were a coward again? Why doesn't that surprise me?" Sophie shook her head.

Howl hunched his shoulders. "I know." The man cupped Sophie's face in his hands. "But you changed that about me, remember?"

Sophie smiled and leaned in to kiss Howl's lips. "I am glad that I did. Do you know what happened to her?"

"No I do not. She's tried tracking me down a few times but has been unsuccessful."

Ha! I have been successful this time.

Howl looked into Sophie's eyes and held her hand with his. "There is something going on in that beautiful head of yours. And I am going to figure what it is because you need to be yourself again, Sophie." Howl's thumb traced Sophie's rings and stopped on the glistening engagement ring. "When do you want to get married, Sophie?" Howl smiled.

Sophie giggled and sighed. "Let's wait till I get better first. I am sorry Howl. I wish I could tell you what it was…"

"Holy shit…"

Sophie followed Howl's line of vision to her hair. She lifted her hair into her hand and gasped. The hair was slowly turning raven black before the woman's eyes. "H-Howl… what's going on," Sophie felt herself tear up.

Howl remained speechless as he continued to watch her hair change color. "Sophie," Howl spoke up as he regained his composure, "whatever or whoever is causing that is in your head. You can only stop it. Try, Sophie. Try!"

Sophie nodded her head, with tears streaming out of her eyes. What are you doing?"

Well, I am giving him a reminder of who he truly loves, Sophie. Besides, this color looks so much better than that silver color of yours…

Leave me alone! Go away! Sophie felt herself yelling at the witch.

You have to try harder than that, little girl, Melinda laughed viciously.

Sophie felt her head aching with pain as she tried harder. "No!" she yelled out loud. "Leave me alone you witch!"

Sophie felt her head grow quiet and breathed a sigh of relief. Taking her hair into her hands, she noticed that it was silver again. "Howl. Help me."

Howl took his love into his arms and rocked her gently as he heard her sob into his shoulder. "I will try, Sophie. It won't be like this forever. Just think of our wedding and the children we will have. Think of how we will never live our lives alone anymore. Don't give up, Sophie. We can make it together."

Sophie nodded her head. "I love you, Howl."

"I will only love you, Sophie."

I will always love you, Howl. Never forget that, for I will fight for you, a whisper laughed in the back of Sophie's mind.