Chapter 3: I am going to shut up and start the chapter, so here we go

Disclaimer: You don't sue me, I don't hit you with a stick I own NOTHING

This chappie is dedicated to Ryukisu for kicking me into gear :)

AsI walked through the street, I cursed myself for not even getting the young woman's name before I left her on the balcony. "Idiot!" I lectured myself. "You knew you were going to try and find her again, and you don't even bother to get her name." I huffed, blowing some of my bleach blond hair out of my eyes. "Okay, Howl, use your brains. She said she was going to the bakery, yes? Okay, so now what we do is go to the bakery and ask about her."

Enthusiastic about my plan, I hurried my steps toward the area of town where I had dropped her off yesterday. "Okay, bakery, bakery." I muttered to myself. Finally, I saw the large gaudy pink sign. I walked in and stepped up to the counter. A very pretty brunette in her pink uniform came up to me. "Hey there. What can I get you?" Once I would have tried to charm her, but right now I was focused on something else. "Do you know the young woman who stopped here yesterday? Very quiet, brown hair and eyes, wearing a hat?" She looked at me puzzled for a minute, then her eyes lit up. "Oh! You must mean Lettie's sister!" Suddenly she wore a very suspicious expression. "Why?" I grinned my most charming grin at her. "No reason. I just met her yesterday and I wanted to see how she was doing." Well, it wasn't lying exactly, but that was not the only reason I wanted to find her.

She smiled softly, and then nodded her head. "I'm afraid I don't know where she is, but I can go ask Lettie, though I'm not sure she'll answer. Poor dear, she seems really frazzled today." I just nodded my head, beginning to grow impatient. As she went in the back, I drummed my fingers on the countertop. What was taking her so long? Ten minutes later, I was sure I was going to go crazy. "Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored." I sang mentally. Finally, though the brunette came out behind the counter, a worried expression on her face. "And?" I said politely, trying to mask my impatience. "She said that you must mean her sister Sophie, and yes she was here yesterday."

I looked at her, eyes wide. "What did you say the girl's name was?" I asked. I must have heard her wrong, I mean it just couldn't be my -, "Sophie. Sophie Hatter. But she says she is so sorry, but Sophie is very sick. She has been in bed all day." Worry took over the surprise. After all, if it was my Sophie, then we just couldn't have her so ill. "Alright thank you. Tell Lettie I appreciate her time and hope that Sophie will be alright. She nodded and with another smile, turned away from me.

As I exited the shop, my mind was racing. If it was my Sophie, then I would somehow have to convince her to come with me to the castle. If it wasn't my Sophie, I still wanted to make sure she was alright. For some odd reason, I didn't really believe that she was ill, at least not naturally. It was too much of a coincidence. Something told me that this was due to the Witch. "Blast her!" I muttered. I was so sick of Emma meddling in my affairs. Just because I am seen talking to someone of the female persuasion other than herself, suddenly I must be courting the girl.

After asking around town, I found out that Sophie Hatter owned a hat shop (which I found slightly ironic) downtown It took me four hours, but I finally found the shop. When I got there, a very fancily dressed woman spotted me and gave me huge, obviously fake, grin. "Hello!" she said, a bit too cheerily, "What can I do for you today! Purchasing a hat for someone special, I suppose?" I smiled softly at her and shook my head. "No, I am actually inquiring after one of the ladies who work here. Sophie Hatter?" her grin faded somewhat and she suddenly became much less cheery. "I'm sorry but Sophie is sick today. But I'm sure one of our other girl's will be glad to help you." I shook my head. "No thank you." Walking out of the store, I looked for any windows. Usually there was a living quarters above these shops.

I was not wrong. After casting an invisibility spell, I used the same type of magic from yesterday. Rising thirty or so feet in the air, I went from window to window, looking for one that had somebody ill. However, every single one was empty. I could feel remnants of magic here, and it wasn't my own. "Emma." I snarled. Swearing I dropped to the ground. Emma had either taken the girl or she had run away after a spell had been cast upon her. I immediately started toward the hills where I knew my castle was. When I found the door, I opened it and went inside.

My apprentice Markl was standing there. "Master Howl!" he said, and then told me about letters demanding I go to the castle. Lovely. That just completely made my whole freaking day. I looked up and saw something that made my eyes widen in shock.

Standing there was an old woman in her mid-eighties, cooking.