Ugh, I swear I hate having to read classic works of literature. The sentences in those works are long, drawn out, and exhausting to read through.

And guess who just realized they started putting that practice into their works?

That's right, *points to self* this chick right here.

So, I'm sorry. I hope I can finish this stupid classical literature garbage. I mean, no offense to these excellent authors, but it screws with my writing to points where it just pisses me off.

Ever had that?

~ THEMESONGS ~

Constant Surprises ~ Little Dragon

.M.I.W.

4. In Which Calcifer Tells a Story

I hated walking.

Words couldn't even describe how much I hated walking at this point.

We were still on the same desolate country road. It didn't seem like we would ever find civilization. I'd changed into my Shadowhunter gear an hour after arriving in the mystical land of Ingary (oh yeah, inwardly I was beyond excited, but after walking maybe a mile or so, you lose the intensity of the situation), with difficulty.

Because, seriously, who wants to be put in the position of changing in a large bunch of bushes (that being the only cover) while begging (and by begging I mean threatening) Calcifer to keep guard and not look? He only agreed to that when I promised to let him eat my pajamas after I changed.

And now, after yet another hour passed, we were still in the middle of nowhere. Calcifer floated along my side, darting away to eat some of the tall wild grasses, and maybe a flower or two. Well, as long as he wasn't causing a prairie fire or whatever, I was good.

"I thought there would be a town around here at least somewhere." The flame informed me. "I guess I misjudged my strength. I'm still weak."

"Yeah, about that. Care to tell me how you got so far as to Brooklyn anyhow?" I asked. "And how long were you stuck inside of that bag?"

"That is no ordinary bag." Calcifer spat the word 'bag' as if it were poison. He then eyed my rucksack suspiciously where the small, now empty Fae-Bag was kept. "It's a prison charmed by some sorcerer or sorceress, though I doubt I would know who."

"Because you were in another dimension." I noted, allowing the sarcasm to creep into my voice. A tired Madi is an edgy Madi. "Understandable."

"Yes, and a poor one at that. The Fae are liars and tricksters in any world. It would be wise of you to remember that, Miss Verdantia, when you go running about worlds as you do."

"First of all, just call me Madi." I informed him. "Second of all, how did you get tricked by the Fae? I'd have to say they don't seem all that wily, and I had to deal with them. Sure, they're cruel and maybe a bit heartless, but not tricky."

"Says you, their true guardian." Calcifer crackled moodily. "I heard what that horrible Seelie Queen said. They thought highly of you. Higher than those other angel warriors, anyhow."

"Huh." I mused.

"Well, anyway, I suppose you know about the traveling to different worlds as well as any wizard of Ingary. So there's no point in explaining it all to you." Calcifer stated, before swooping down to scoop up a weed that seemed appetizing to him.

"I decided to test my boundaries to my master, Howl," he explained, "I realized I could go to different worlds as you can and as he can. My master and I have… a lot in common, you see."

I snorted. "You don't have to tell me."

"Well, when I traveled to that strange world – which is like my master's, you see – I was suddenly hunted by those angel warriors I thought you were apart of. They kept trying to kill me, for some reason, because I was a demon, and demons were apparently evil."

"It's how they were raised." I admitted.

"I soon realized that." He replied dryly. "When I was escaping those heathens with their strange glowing swords, the Fae saw me and tricked me into thinking I would be safe with them. Then, they put me in that bag, since they too didn't understand me, and thought I was some sort of trinket."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "That's horrible!"

"You're telling me!" He flamed up in response, then died back down to his original state. "But then you saved me. Well, in your own way, I guess. You could've opened the bag sooner. I guess I should thank you anyhow. Could've been worse, you actually being one of those heathens…"

"Ah, thanks." I rolled my eyes. "Glad I wasn't terrible."

"I just don't get why you never opened the bag. I did everything!" Calcifer said in exasperation. "Even my compulsion didn't work. Granted, though it was weak, it still would've swayed any mortal."

He was then floating right in front of my face, making me stop short in surprise. He scrutinized me carefully while gnawing on a twig he'd seemed to have found along the way.

"But, then again, you aren't exactly mortal, are you, Madi?" He said slowly, seeming to muse over the situation as he stared me down. I furrowed my brows and frowned. "I learned that much after we left that world, and to your own. It was much more like Howl's, or so it seemed."

"Because it is." I replied. "Things like you are fiction."

"Then perhaps you may be a witch – a sorceress – perhaps. Your background is also like my master Howl's, I gather, except for maybe… minor differences."

Yes, because there's the fact that I have a heart and he doesn't? I wanted to ask, and once again decided against it.

So I stared back evenly. There was no point in saying anything. Calcifer had it completely figured out.

"You forget I was there when you spoke to that strange half bred child. In your world, you know of us because we exist only in fiction. Tell me, Madi, is Ingary also found upon printed pages on store shelves?"

"Yes." I replied shortly.

"So you do know of my master, and then me in turn…?" He mused.

I was more surprised that he didn't look nervous. In fact, he seemed more calm than anyone else I'd told about my 'gift'.

"Everything." I agreed.

"Astonishing!" He breathed, floating back, instantly in a flurry of life. "We shall not tell Howl, that is for certain. Not until he must absolutely know! You will stay with us, Madi, please do. Well, you must, in any case. Returning to your own world would be suicide – and in turn murder – enough for you and everyone you know!"

By then Calcifer was a good few yards ahead of me, due to me stopping in surprise. He bobbed ahead above the ground, turning to look at me, waiting for me to follow.

"Wait, what?" I demanded, running up to his side. "Suicide? Murder? How do you figure? Those demons were there for you, remember?"

"You are in association with me, Madi. You've saved me from my prison, thereforth you have been labeled as my guardian. If you go back to your world – which is possibly crawling with demons of the Witch of the Waste – then you put everyone in danger. You must stay in Ingary, whether you prefer it or not."

I was scowling by this point, growing more annoyed by the second. Fantastic, just fantastic.

Calcifer floated just in front of me, scrutinizing my face which made his empty eyes widen, and darted back a foot or so.

"Are you mad?" He asked almost timidly, if such a thing were possible for the ever presumptuous fire demon. "You look mad."

"I'm irritated, Cal. There's a difference." I stated dryly as I strolled past him, leaving him to catch up.

He did, and was once again by my side, looking reproachful.

"I am sorry, truly." He admitted. "By the next town I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Where did you even try to take us anyway?" I asked tiredly. "My feet are beginning to turn numb."

"Yes, yes, of course." He agreed, quickly darting past me to hover at a hillside near the road. "I was actually hoping that we would stop there." Calcifer pointed ahead of him with one of his tiny arms.

Confused, I walked up to his side, and down at what he was pointing to.

I got the basic start of my life.

Yes, a basic start is absolutely perfect to describe how I was reacting to this. Because I seriously doubted I could have the advanced start of my life. The advanced had been about five adventures ago when a certain blonde boy only slightly older than me had a glowing sword pressed to my throat, demanding how I knew information that was impossible to know.

Things were just becoming normal after that.

I digress.

There, in a lush green valley near a crystalline lake, was a large, smoggy, steampunk fashioned castle with hundreds of pipes sticking out in various places, all made from iron, brass, copper, and other metals. It lay on the ground hunched like some hulking beast, and didn't at all match its surroundings. My jaw dropped in amazement.

It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.

"Wow." I breathed.

"That's home." Calcifer admitted. "Come on, Howl has probably been worried sick about my absence. I shudder to think how long I've been gone!"

Calcifer tore down the hill, almost reminding me of a snowball rolling down a hill. He let out a chuckle of what seemed like delight, which sounded almost like a fierce growl.

A new life filled me, making me forget. I forgot about my sore legs and feet. It didn't feel unbearably hot outside, even without wearing my jacket. The air didn't feel so clean to the point where it gave me a stomachache. Even at this point, the haunting dreams that caused me so much exhaustion and fear and pain felt almost like a distant memory.

Right now, it was just a beautiful day, and I was feeling better than I had in a long time.

I laughed slightly, and followed Calcifer down the hill laden with daisies and other beautiful wildflowers, sliding down when the hill became too steep, my fingertips brushing across the tips of the wild grasses.

When we reached the bottom of the hill, we raced towards the moving castle.