Chapter 4: Hey ya'll! Guess what? I have 28 reviews! Yaaay! It's funny, when I first started this story, I didn't think it would be very popular just because the chapters are so short. I guess I was wrongThank you guys!

This chappie is dedicated to Ryukisu! Thanks for keeping me motivated!

Edit 2-24-12: Yeah, I know, it's been a while since I started. That's okay, I'm going to finish up tonight and tomorrow. At least with Heart's. I will then do a new chapter, and move on to editing Gemini. I will then edit any one shots I missed. Also…why did I have theis so short the first go around?

As I looked at the old woman, her appearance wavered slightly in my eyes. For a second she looked like Sophie. Not the girl from the parade Sophie, but my Sophie. Curious. What really surprised me was that she was cooking. As in, Calcifer was obeying her. And he wasn't complaining. Usually, when a demon had swallowed somebody's heart, the person died. In very rare instances where the demon was a fire demon (For fire demons came from stars, and for a star to swallow a heart, a heart had to be volunteered) only the person who had given away their heart could use it for any sort of task. That included cooking. "Calcifer, you're being so obedient." I said, smiling slightly, but really my thoughts were racing. Who was this woman? How had she gotten inside my castle? Where my wards down? Or had Calcifer let her in?

Calcifer looked up at me indignantly. "Not on purpose, she bullied me!"It took a little effort not to laugh. But at the same time, I was suspicious. But I kept my voice light. "Not just anyone can do that." I turned to the old lady, "And you are who?" She looked at me startled. Her eyes were the same as my Sophie. "Um, you can just call me Grandma Sophie. I'm your new cleaning lady; I just started work today." My smile grew a little wider. "Give that to me." I said pushing her aside gently. I didn't feel any cruel or evil intent from her, but at the same time, I would feel more comfortable if the only one who got near Calcifer was either Markl or myself. When I touched the old woman's hand, a little spark ran up my arm. Okay. Even more curious. "Hand me two more slices of bacon, and six of those eggs." I said quietly. She did so and we sat there in silence.

When I asked her who hired her, she stumbled through her words a bit. She was lying. I could tell. In truth, Calcifer had probably tried to make a deal with her already. I knew I was correct when he gave me a bit of a guilty look. I suppressed a sigh. He thought I didn't notice just how tied down he felt. I knew it wasn't me he hated, as much as he may have acted. He was a fire demon, but once, he was a star. And stars were used to the entire sky. He had a dull living room of a wizard who was becoming a hermit at a young age. Pretending I didn't notice the look, I threw the eggshells into his mouth. We would talk later. "Markl, get the plates!" I brought the hot food over to the table. I heard Markl chattering about something to Sophie, but my mind was racing. I just couldn't believe that this was a coincidence. First, my Sophie appears to me when I am ten years old, telling me to come and find her in the future. After this, I continue to see her in my dreams almost every night. Then, I save another Sophie at the parade. Then, an old woman named Sophie comes to my castle. This wasn't an accident. Something was going on. Was she the same person? Was a spell involved in this?

Yes. That had to be it. Whatever that spell was, this woman was not as she appeared to be.

After we all started eating, I turned to Sophie, needing to be sure of something. If my suspicions were correct, then I already knew who was behind this. "So, Sophie, what do you have in your pocket?" I said amicably. She looked at me in surprise. She reached into the pocket of her dress, and came up with a small red card. Inscribed on the front was a little black mark. I knew it.

Emma.

"What is this?" The fact that she didn't even know what it was confirmed my thoughts. Emma didn't like to tell her victims anything about the curse they were given. "Give it to me." When I touched it, it sparked and fell to the table. It burned onto the surface, leaving scorch marks. I knew what this was. A little gift from Emma. Damn it. I bit back a gasp as a wave of power rushed over me, spreading to the corners of the room. Upon the table, thick black marks were inscribed.

"Scorch marks! Howl, can you read them?" Markl said. I frowned.

You who swallowed a shooting star;
O, heartless man.
Your heart shall soon be mine.

"That is ancient magic, quite powerful, too." I read what it said, and I knew my face had grown two or three shades paler. "That can't be good for the furniture." I mumbled. Placing my hand over the marks, I cast a spell that would get rid of the scorch marks. When I saw them disappear, a satisfied smirk grew across my face. But it quickly disappeared. "The mark is gone, but the spell is still there."

Double the wards. Cast a new bending spell to further hide my castle. A spell of healing couldn't hurt either, for the bad luck charm that Emma had put on the card.

"Please, friends, continue your meal." I got up and walked toward the hearth. "Calcifer, move 60 miles to the west," I said, walking up the stairs. "And while you're at it, make hot water for my bath." I ignored his muttered complaints. When I got to my room, I kicked the wall, furious. Why couldn't she just leave me alone? Did she not realize that I wanted absolutely nothing to do with her? I put my head in my hands and sat against the wall.

Tonight I would have to revive the wards on my castle to cancel out the spell she had cast on my home. I would also have to place a ward around Sophie. She was staying if I had anything to say about it. I needed to figure her out.

After a couple hours, I went downstairs. "Sophie! Sophie, please help! I'm falling." I frowned, angry, then calmed myself. She did not understand that is if my friend died, then I would too. I quickly rushed downstairs and threw some wood on the fire then I put Calcifer in my hand. It was strange to feel my own heart thrumming in my hand. I blew gently, giving the fire more oxygen. "Calcifer, friend, wake up." I said gently putting him on the wood. I saw him grow bigger, and sighed in relief. I put my hand close to the flames to make sure he was okay. "Thanks Howl." He muttered. That was when Sophie came back in.

I looked up at her. "I would appreciate it if you would not torment my friend." I said with a gentle smile. It wasn't her fault, she just didn't understand. I walked toward the portal door and changed it to the door that would take me to the Otherworld. "Master Howl, are you going out now?" I nodded and then looked back at Markl. "Make sure the cleaning lady doesn't too carried away." I told him with a wink.

Opening the door into the Otherworld, I quickly flew into the darkness.