A/N:
Yeah, I know. I rated this story a bit low for any good stuff...but hey, a little fluff never hurt.
Yes, I will write some things with 'the good stuffz'...just not now. I'm too lazy to be thinkin' dirtay.
But alas! The next volume of 'Our Kingdom' from DMP comes out tomorrow, so I should be in the mood soon enough. Heh.
♥Raven
Chapter Three: In Which More Than Just A Cold Is Caught
Sophie slammed the pan down on Calcifer, not even letting him bow his head down first.
"The nerve of that man! Kissing up to me, then leaving again without telling me!" She broke an egg–rather, destroyed it. She flung the gooey yolk off her hand, grabbing two more and doing the same to them, over the pan this time. She threw down some bacon and a slice of ham, not caring that the fatty juices nearly burned Michael, who happened to be walking by.
Calcifer started to flare up, obviously wanting to say something, but a wise Michael flagged him off, fearing Sophie wouldn't listen.
"I'm sure Master Howl has his reasons..." He said calmly, shielding himself as Sophie flipped the meat.
"If he had reasons he'd have told me!" Sophie said, half tearing up and half boiling mad.
"Sophie, is something on your mind? You've been awful sad lately." Michael asked kindly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not you. Calcifer." Sophie roared, wishing she herself could produce glasses of water instantly. Calcifer looked from under the pan. He'd have been sweating nervously, had he not been made of fire. "He knows why Howl has been leaving."
"You still think he doesn't love you?" Michael asked, rolling his eyes. He figured that if she still held that frame of mind there would be another silent evening in store for him.
Sophie nodded.
"But he does!" Calcifer shouted, trying his best to sound clear despite the fact that he was under an increasingly heavy pan. "How many times does he have to tell you?"
"Yes Calcifer, he's told me that. He's hugged me, kissed me, told me time and time again...but why wouldn't he–"
"Ever heard the term 'surprise', Sophie?" Sophie said nothing. She could take a hint. She scooped the eggs and bacon onto a plate, splitting them evenly between herself and Michael. "Just let it be. You'll understand in good time."
"But I want to understand now!" Sophie spat through a mouthful of eggs. Calcifer wanted to tell her otherwise, but he was cut off quickly as Howl came up the small steps from the door.
"Understand what?" He asked, picking the pan out of the sink and starting his own breakfast. No one answered. He looked around quizzically. "Quite the lively bunch we are. Is something wrong?"
"Sophie's not feeling well." Michael yelled, cutting off a frustrated Calcifer. "She's got a terribly sore throat. Can't speak a word." Sophie shot Michael a look, then caught on. She looked pathetically to Howl, pointing to her throat and frowning.
"Oh my dear..." Howl came over to give Sophie a kiss, but she shook him off, making motions to say 'No! You'll catch it!' Howl frowned. "And what's worse, there's no cure for a cold. I feel terrible not being able to help."
"We just finished breakfast, and Sophie was heading back upstairs to bed." Michael added quickly. Sophie nodded. She quickly put her dish away, bowed her head to everyone in the room, and rushed upstairs. Michael soon followed, leaving Calcifer and Howl alone. Michael rushed all the way to his room, but Sophie stayed hidden at the top.
"Sophie's not sick, is she?" Howl asked.
"Not physically," Calcifer said. "But she is getting sick of being thrown around like a rag doll."
"What do you mean? How's she being thrown around?" Howl cringed at Calcifer's look of disgust.
"You can't give me that honestly." Calcifer growled. "You've skipped out on her twice and haven't told her why, you've left her home tearing her hair out just trying to figure out if you still love her..." Howl looked pitiful.
"I had no idea..." He fell back into his chair.
"My suggestion is you get this over with."
"I will. Just as soon as I get everything all together. It's not quite ready yet. Just make sure she stays happy. It'll be a few more days." All Calcifer could do was frown, but he shook it off. Sophie stood, feeling a little better knowing that Howl still loved her, but still a bit frustrated that she didn't know what was going on. Michael came out of his room holding a large blanket.
"If we want Howl to believe us, you need to stay in your room for a while. Maybe take a nap to rid yourself of stress. But when you decide to come out, wrap yourself up in this to make yourself believable." Sophie nodded and disappeared into her bedroom. Ever since she'd started sharing a room with Howl, she'd began to notice all the little nick-knacks and whoziwhatzits all around. A tall stand with a form of golden carousel hanging from it, diamonds and jewels and golden shapes hanging from the bars. She'd particularly come to like a small gold trophy-like shape with a rainbow seeming to come from the stand. It was almost as if a real rainbow was exploding from the trophy.
She smiled, watching all the carousels spinning and all the diamonds and gems shining around the room. Eventually she found herself falling asleep, glad she could finally sleep smoothly. She was no longer haunted by dreams of being left behind, watching the castle move away, Howl waving back with a new woman on his arm...
---
Sophie woke herself this time, hearing Howl talking about...something. Her mind was still a bit groggy, and she hadn't gotten complete control over her ears. She stood, wrapping Michael's blanket over her shoulders. She hunched over and made her way down the stairs, not even having to try to look tired...having woken herself up, she wasn't quite ready to move around.
"Calcifer!" Howl screeched, trying to push through Michael to get to the hearth. "You let me out of this house!"
"You told me to keep Sophie happy..."
"Yes, but I need to–Sophie! You're feeling well?" Sophie glared.
"Why are you so eager to leave?" Sophie asked, making her voice sound coarse to keep along with Michael's story.
"Nothing, nothing. Michael just needed to pick something up, and I wanted to go out and pick up some treats. Calcifer was just going to stop igniting the door handle to let us out..."
"Ah, the pleasures of being allowed around the room." Howl grumbled at this.
"No, no. Let them go. Michael should get what he needs, and I could go for a sweet bun." Sophie said at a low growl, her cunning quickly becoming apparent to the demon. He didn't like it, but he wouldn't refuse. "Alright. You two are free to go."
Howl looked quizzical, not sure how he was going to pull off this all too apparent lie. "Well...um...I'm glad I'm allowed to leave my own home." He added in defense, dragging Michael out with him and slamming the door.
Sophie let the blanket fall and stood straight, firing herself at the door.
"Where are you going?" Calcifer grumbled, not even trying to stop her for fear of more bullying.
"Out." Was all Sophie said before she turned the knob down and disappeared into the Waste, shawl and hat in hand. Ever since the witch had been destroyed, she had no fear going out into the Waste. Ever since that fateful day, the once blazing hot land had become cold. Not unbearably cold, just cold. She pulled her hat–today it was a fine blue one–over her head and wrapped her shawl–an equally fine white one–over her shoulders.
She huffed angrily, starting to walk down the hill from the Castle. Maybe a nice walk would clear her head. She now realized just how large of a hill it was, and was thankful that she had her young and agile body back. However, she wouldn't have minded taking her cane with her. Going down was much harder than coming up.
After what felt like hours, Sophie decided that she was going to head back up to the Castle. Just as she started to turn around, her eye caught something down the hill. She turned back and looked, seeing something coming up the hill toward her. She stared for a moment, trying to see through the thick fog to what it was. Then, out of the blue, it disappeared. Odd... Sophie shrugged, turning around and nearly flying backwards. A tall, thin man with black hair as long and gorgeous as Howl's stood behind her. His suit was black as well, and it immediately reminded Sophie of the time that Howl mourned his poor deceased teacher. His nearly florescent green eyes caught Sophie's.
"Well well..." His voice was irresistible. A dark, rich tone. "What's such a fine lady doing out in the cold?"
"I...I well...um..." Sophie stuttered, not entirely sure if it was safe to be talking to this man.
"You look scared. You shouldn't fear me." He cooed.
"Who are you?" Sophie finally took control of her vocal chords.
"My name is Rockwell. And you are?" Sophie didn't trust this Rockwell...he was far too calm.
"My name is Sophie."
"Do you know what, Sophie?" Rockwell asked. Sophie nodded 'no'. "Your aura...it's coated in Howl's magic."
"Wha...What?" Sophie didn't understand. For one thing, why would it matter if her aura was coated in Howl's magic? And another...how would Rockwell know? Deciding to act as if it was a known fact, Sophie stood straight. "What does that mean to you?"
"It means a lot to me." Rockwell's eyes narrowed. Sophie would've run. She could feel something was wrong. But her feet felt suddenly like they were tied to fifty pound weights. She looked down and only saw her feet, then looked up to see Rockwell blowing some strange dust at her.
"What's going..." Sophie couldn't finish. Just as the dust hit her face, she felt drowsy. She wobbled a bit, the weights on her feet gone, and fell into Rockwell's arms, sleeping.
---
"Calcifer! Sophie! We're home!" Howl pushed open the door, letting an excited Michael–that thing that he needed to get turned from a non-existent item to a nice big bag of candy–run in before him. "Calcifer? Where's Sophie?"
"Out." Calcifer mumbled angrily.
"Out where?"
"The Waste. I'm betting she went for a walk."
"And she hasn't come back yet?" Howl asked, spinning on his heel. Had she left right after he did, she should've been back by now. There wasn't much to see in the Waste, and it would bore anyone out of their wits...Sophie would be no exception.
"No." Calcifer said, shrinking into the hearth worriedly.
Howl thought for a moment. Where in the Waste would Sophie have gone? And why would she be out so long? Unless...Howl's head moved slowly up, his face showing a mixture of shock, fear, and anger. "Oh, no..."
"What? What! Why does no one tell me anything!"
"That bastard!" Howl spat, turning and running for the door. "He'd better not do anything to her!"
Calcifer looked to Michael and they both looked to the door, which slammed hard behind Howl.
---
Sophie could hear noises all around her, and pulled her eyes open. She tried to move her arms, only to find her hands tied tightly behind her back. Her feet were tied as well, and a piece of cloth was tied tightly around her face. So tightly, that it was in her mouth, preventing movement. Rockwell was obviously a wizard, so why would he take such lazy precautions to keep Sophie restrained? She looked around, and found her self in a highly decorated bedroom. It was the first time in a while that she'd seen such an organized bedroom. I was her first time flat out seeing one so large, as well.
She saw a door over in the corner, obviously to the bathroom. It was a given because steam was escaping above and below the door. She stared at it for a moment before it opened and a now brightly dressed Rockwell exited. "Ah, you're awake."
He made his way to the bed, taking a seat next to a scowling Sophie. "Oh, now, don't look that way." He grinned. "It ruins your pretty little face." He patted Sophie on the head, then reached for the knot that was holding the cloth into her mouth. "If you behave, I'll take this off." She nodded, and he pulled the cloth from her mouth.
"Why in the world did you do this! What have you against me!" She spat, finally free from the worst of the restraints.
"Oh my." Rockwell frowned falsely. "You don't get it?"
"No!"
"Well then I'll have to explain." Rockwell adjusted to a more comfortable position. "I've always hated Howl. He gets what he wants no matter what. A beautiful girl, for example. So, I've decided to target him where he's weakest. And you're going to help me."
Sophie gasped lightly. "His heart..." She whispered.
"Well done." Rockwell closed his hand, and when it re-opened, a blue powder rested softly in it. Like before, he blew it into Sophie's face. This one didn't make her drowsy. Not in the least. It seemed as though it woke her up. She suddenly felt the worst of feelings in her mind...almost as if a small explosion had taken place. And then, a nothingness occupied her memory. She shook her head, and looked up to Rockwell.
"Well, that was pointless!" She spat.
"No, it wasn't."
"Well then? What did it do?" Sophie asked.
"How is Howl doing?" Sophie looked at him oddly, shaking her head.
"Who in the world is Howl?"
