Chapter 7

I woke slowly, hearing footsteps walking slowly up the stairs. I looked down and saw large bird footprints with a black feather resting in the liquid substance. Blood? I reached out and nudged the feather with my nose, jerking away with a gasp as it disintegrated. I stood up quickly, thankful for my ability to see in the dark and raced up the stairs, growing more worried with each pool of blood. It led to Howl's room and I nudged the cracked door open, pushing it closed with my leg before walking further into the junk-filled tunnel.

Feathers littered the ground and a cold wind blew, ruffling my dark brown fur. The tunnel soon split into two and I paused for a moment, catching Howl's heavy pants coming from the left. The items scattered around soon faded to only feathers. I froze as a mound of feathers surrounded the large figure, shifting whenever he breathed in and out. I forced myself to my human form, tears pooling in my eyes as I clutched onto the wall.

"Howl, is that you?" I asked softly, sadly as the creature shifted away. "Are you in pain? Please, tell me what's happening."

"Go away," he rasped.

"No, I'm not going away. I'm going to help you break the contract that your under," I stated and watched as he paused. He stood, fangs gleaming from a vicious gray muzzle.

"You... You can't even break your own spell." He said harshly, feathers floating towards me as the wind blew past.

"I am close though, to breaking both of ours. I love you, Howl, and I swear I will get your heart back to you," I promised, admitting my feelings with a small blush.

"You're too late." He said, standing fully and flying further into the tunnel as more feathers flew in my direction, making me cover my face with my arm so I could see.

"Howl! No!" I yelled out, transforming back to a cat. Then I shot up in my bed beside Sophie, just as the bath water turned on upstairs. I sighed looking up and then over to Calcifer, sitting up and wincing when my foreleg twinged.

"Hey, Cal, did Howl just get in?" I asked the fire demon.

"Yeah, and he looks terrible. You and Sophie better figure out how to break the spell on us quick," he said as I hopped onto the hearth. It had been a dream then, but it felt so real. "Howl's running out of time, I hope you realize that."

"I have most of it figured out. I just have to figure out how to give his heart back to him." I said, winking when he paled and gestured with my head to the pulsing shape inside his body, hidden between the wood. "That's it, isn't it?" He nodded hesitantly, glancing at the others who were starting to wake up. "We'll talk more later."

"If what Madame Suliman says is true, Calcifer, does this mean that Howl will become a monster," Sophie asked him quietly waking up first and noticing us conversing. She wasn't able to talk to him last night.

"I can't tell you details of the curse, lady. You should know that by now. Come on," he said with a disapproving frown.

"Though you've given us more than enough hints," I said with a grin as Sophie looked to me surprised then stood up and walked closer to him.

"Do you know what Madame Suliman said? She said that Howl's heart was stolen by a demon," Sophie said lowly, bending closer as Calcifer crouched down in his grate. "Tell me now. What do you know?"

"I'm so sorry, but that would be confidential information."

"What if I dump a bucket of water on you?" She asked loudly, putting her hands on her hips and glaring down at him. I gasped and jumped in front of the fire demon, hissing angrily with my an arched back. "Verity? What has gotten into you this morning?"

Calcifer leaned around me the best he could to speak to my sister. "If you drown me, then Howl will die too!" He said, both panicked and angry, as well as giving us another hint. I frowned, looking down at the stone of the hearth as Sophie looked at me apologetically. "If you were anything like your sister, you would be almost done piecing everything together!"

Later, once everyone was up, I watched amused as Sophie, Markl, Heen, Calcifer, and Turnip-head tried to get the plane out of the house. In the end, Sophie kicked it out of frustration and it went flying out of the castle's mouth, until it crash landed on the grassy plains almost crushing Turnip-head, Markl, and Heen. Well, the dog wouldn't have been that much of a loss. Sophie swept out the rest of the debris, talking to me as I watched the three on the ground laugh.

"If I just hang a little curtain here, maybe Howl won't notice," she said as I chuckled. "Come on in, it's time to eat!" She yelled to them.

"Well, there has been one there since we got here, but I think Calcifer would rat you out," I whispered teasingly, winking at the fire demon who yelled offended.

I chuckled again as I glanced between the Witch of the Waste who was staring at Calcifer and the fire demon himself was trying to hide from her gaze as Sophie fed her. I changed back into my human form, eating the oatmeal with a spoon instead of having it get all over my face like Heen was. I was so glad I had that option now. I did not want to go back to how it was in the beginning.

"Don't feed her! That's the Witch of the Waste!" Calcifer whispered loudly to Sophie. "She keeps staring at me. It's freaking me out."

"You big baby!" I laughed at him.

"What a pretty fire," the Witch commented, making Calcifer dive back into the ashes and bring up a dust cloud. I laughed again. Footsteps raced down the stairs and Howl appeared with a bright smile but without one of his usual jackets.

"Hey, Howl," I greeted cheerfully, blushing the slightest bit as I remembered me admitting my feelings to him, even if it had only been a dream. "Glad you're home."

"Good morning, everyone." He said with his hands on his hips.

"Master Howl, we can keep this dog, can't we?" Markl asked and I growled lowly in my throat, ears flattening to my head. The damn mutt only looked up and coughed at me, getting oatmeal on the table.

"The Witch of the Waste and Suliman's dog at my table. What possessed you to let them in the house, Calcifer?" Howl asked the fire demon with a grin.

"I didn't let them in. Sophie crash-landed her plane into my face." Calcifer complained as Howl burst into laughter.

"Told you she shouldn't drive," I told the wizard, ignoring Sophie's huff of indignation.

"See, even Verity knew and you still let her!?" Cal roared.

"I knew she'd make a great pilot." Howl said, moving to the hole in the wall where Turnip-head waited. "Looks like we have yet another addition to the family. Hmm, you've got quite a nasty spell on you too, huh? It seems like everyone in this family's got problems."

"What a handsome man," The Witch of the Waste said, staring at Howl. I tensed and an angry blush crawled up my neck, but I smoothed out my expression before Howl turned around to face us.

"So. We've got a lot of work to do. We're moving." The wizard said happily.

"That's good. I'm sick of being stuck out here in the middle of nowhere," Markl spoke up, pausing in his eating.

"Madame Suliman is hot on our trail, so we're gonna have to hurry." Howl said, explaining to those of us confused -Sophie and I- before he turned back to Turnip-head. "I'm afraid your spell is too strong for this move. You're gonna have to stay behind." He said.

"Oh, Verity, what happened to your arm?" He asked shocked, glancing at the arm wrapped in fresh bandages, quickly moving over to my side.

"Oh, nothing. Just twisted it a little when I stumbled over some rubble." I said with a shrug, picking it up then wincing at the movement.

"Give me your arm." He ordered and I reluctantly held it out to him. He asked where it hurt the most and when I pointed to my wrist, he mumbled a few word under his breath. A blue ring formed around the underside of my wrist and her turned my hand palm-up, bending down and pressing his soft lips to my vein. I flushed a deep red and turned to glare at a chuckling Sophie as the wizard pulled away with a small grin.

After breakfast, both Howl and Markl went outside. Markl picked up pebbles and threw them out of their way as Howl, dragging a paint cart behind him, walked behind him. Heen trailed beside them as they worked while Sophie and I were watching curiously from the balcony. Turnip-head stood beside us and I grinned up at him, seeing him watching Sophie more than what was actually going on.

All three of them stood and looked at their work. Howl had drawn a large circle in the field. In the middle was a small circle with a triangle with two lines creating a smaller triangle. A line ran through the top of both the small circle and triangle and ended at the top of the bigger circle. Under the small circle was three lines that seem to create beams.

"There, all done." Howl said then he looked at the castle and ordered with a wave, "All right, Calcifer, line her up." As Calcifer moved the castle into the drawing, we all heard hissing. He positioned it so the middle of the castle was correctly proportioned to the smaller circle and triangle.

Once the three came back, Howl asked all of us to sit on the table. Sophie and I helped the Witch of the Waste up as Markl picked up Heen. Howl then bent down, using a piece of chalk, drew a symbol into the floor. A circle with a horizontal line drawn through it. Above top of the circle, Howl drew a circular line that connected with the vertical line. He drew seven lines through both the upper part of the bigger circle. Beneath the lower half, he had drawn a bigger half circle. In the upper part, he then drew a four with an extra long tail that curved a bit upward.

"There," he said, standing up and putting the chalk away. He looked over to us with a smile. "Sit tight for a second." He walked over to the hearth and took a metal shovel and gently scooped Calcifer onto it.

"Be gentle with me, please," Calcifer said before Howl walked back to the drawn symbol and stood in the lower half of the symbol.

"On my mark." Howl told the fire demon. He raised his left arm out to his side as wind began to blow. Calcifer howled and his form changed into a huge blue flame, sporting a demonic look.

Sparkles floated about and the symbol glowed pink as we saw Howl float a few inches off the ground and the sound of creaking. We saw the room began to change and become bigger. I looked around and saw that the floor was polished, the walls had green with a floral pattern, and spotted a rug with a green couch that sat facing the hearth. The couch had small wooden feet as wooden chair appeared beside it. The hole in the wall had been fixed, covered with brick then a layer of wallpaper before my eyes. A rectangular mahogany table was mostly lined up with the staircase. A bathroom had been created, door closing before I could catch any specifics as a bed appeared. Chairs were facing upside down on the table, creating more space.

More new furniture was added, replacing the old and another room that I couldn't see popped into place, across from the stairs. A larger kitchen was made with new shelves for the pans and dishes. The sink was covered with blue and white tiles with a half-circle window above it.

Once it was done, the sparkles vanished as well as the pink glow and the symbol. The wind died down and Calcifer returned to his normal form. The house overall looked more elegant now. Markl, Sophie and I gaped at the sheer size of the room.

"Moving's done," Howl said, as if it was nothing. "You can get down now." He then returned Calcifer to the hearth.

Both Heen and Markl jumped down. Both began running in a circle. "This is great, Master Howl. It's huge!" I giggled at Markl's happiness, jumping down myself.

Hearing the whistle of a train, I walked over to the window beside the new bathroom. I looked out and gasped.. "But this is..." Sophie, walking up behind me, gasped as well.

"I added on a bathroom," Howl said as he walked over to us, opening the door quickly then closing it, "since our family seems to keep growing. Come over here, Sophie." He called, walking away. My ears twitched as I led Sophie to Howl, who stared back at the bathroom that was very familiar.

We saw him standing before a closed door with his hand on the handle. "I've added two other bedroom as well. Have a look." He opened the door. He used his left arm to lean on the door frame, watching as Sophie gasped and walked in. He left her there to explore her room that had once been where she made her hats, explaining that he had got her new clothes before leading me upstairs. "I put your room up here."

He opened the door right new door right next to his own. I stayed back for a moment, then slowly stepped inside when he smiled encouragingly. It was larger than Sophie's, but smaller than Howl's own. The twin bed made of mahogany wood and had a tall headboard. Royal purple covers laid over them, brushing against the nightstand due to the wind from the open window. I stepped in further, making note of the armoire in the corner of the room as I looked out onto the busy streets of Market Chipping. A desk laid beside the window-seat and I ran my fingers over the dark wood. Though so different, this house was still the same house I grew up in.

My bare feet touched plush white carpet and I chuckled, knowing it would be ruined as soon as my cat form walked over it. I noticed the wrapped boxes sitting on the floor and looked to Howl confused.

"Those are clothes and other things for you. So, do you like it?" He asked, gesturing around.

"It's wonderful. Thank you, Howl," I said with a smile, turning away slowly as it slipped into a frown. But what had happened to the hat shop? Why had Mother sold it?

"You can open your things later." He told me, quickly walking away. "Come on, Verity. Look at this." I followed him down the stairs, smiling softly as Markl ran out into the courtyard with Heen and my sister following. She wanted to see how the shop was. Howl closed the door behind the three after saying that the shop was ours as well. "See that new color on the dial?" He asked me, switching it to red from yellow. "There's a new portal." He explained, opening up the door to reveal lush grass and flowers as sunlight poured in the room. I gasped softly stepping forward. "It's a present for you. Come see," he said softly, holding out his arm to let me go first.

My tail swished from side to side as I shivered, happy with the heat. Howl closed the door to the small building behind him as I looked out on vast fields of flowers and a large lake. Small islands of grass and flowers laid in the lake, making it even more beautiful. Mountains rested in the distance as fog cleared far from us.

Howl held out his hand for me and I blindly took it, still in awe at the scenery. "You like it? It's my secret garden."

"It's incredible," I said. "Did you use your magic to make this?" I asked, looking at the rolling hills as fluffy white clouds passed overhead.

"Only a little, just to help the flowers grow." He answered, then hopped over a small stream before turning back to help me. I walked over to the bank with a happy sigh, then spun and faced Howl with a laugh.

"This place is gorgeous, Howl!" I said with a grin, pushing one of my brown tresses behind my human ear as the wind whipped it out of place. "Like a wonderful dream that I never want to wake up from."

"Verity?" He asked softly as I stared out into the water.

"It all seems so familiar, though I know I've never been here before. I feel so at home," I told him and he cracked a grin. I looked at him confused then shook my head, not wanting to ask as I accepted his hand once more.

We walked up a hill and my jaw dropped when I saw a small cottage with a wheel turning in the water. That sense of deja vu struck again. "What an adorable cottage," I said.

"That was my secret hideaway. I spent a lot of time here by myself when I was young."

"You were alone?" I asked confused. "But Calcifer said you two met when you were a child." I stated and something passed over his eyes, before they softened again when he glanced down at me.

"My uncle, who was a wizard, gave me this place as my private study. Now you can come here whenever you like. You could even open up a flower shop with Sophie and the others." He said, then tried to lead me down the the cottage, but I slipped my hand out of his grip.

He turned back to look at me, smile slowly fading. "What's the matter?" He questioned.

"Not with you, but with Sophie?" I asked. "You're scaring me, Howl. You making it sound as if your not going to be here with us. I get this weird feeling like you're going to leave us. Leave me." He stayed silent. "Howl, tell me what's going on. Is it about Calcifer? The contract you have with him? I don't believe what Madame Suliman and Sophie might think. You won't become a monster." I said and he smiled, walking back up to me.

"I'm just setting things up so all of you can live comfortable lives, Verity," he told me and I frowned deeper.

"But what about you?" I asked. "You're going away, aren't you?" I whispered and he drew back, looking at me sadly. "Please, stay with us. I know I can be of some help to you. Even though I'm not that pretty. And I change into a cat." I said, turning away with a weak laugh.

"Verity! Verity, you're beautiful!" He said, stepping forward to rub my cat ears poking out of my hair. "As are your ears and your tail. They make up a part of you." I gasped as I suddenly turned back into a cat, sighing in relief when Howl quickly caught me in his arms.

"At least being a cat give you lots of benefits too, like being too cute to toss onto the streets," I chuckled sadly as he frowned down at me before his attention was caught. I followed his gaze, hearing the distant metallic noise of an airship.

"What is that thing doing out here?" He asked, frown deepening.

"A battleship," I said surprised.

"Still looking for more cities to burn." Howl told me.

"Is it the enemy's or one of our own?" I asked, looking up at him.

"What difference does it make?" An engine whirled behind me and I looked up, spinning in Howl's arms to get a better look. Rows upon rows of bombs lined the bottom of the battleship.

"Those stupid murderers. We can't just let them fly off with all those bombs." He said and shifted me to his shoulder before raising his hand with a devious grin. He swiped it, palm out, across the air and the wings jammed. Alarms started going off on the ship and Howl moved his arm back to his side satisfied as men shouted above us.

"What did you do?" I asked, both worried and amused.

"Just messed with it. It won't crash, though." He said, holding his arm with his other. I peered behind him to see what he was hiding and gasped, noticing the small feathers the sprouted and the elongated nails. "Uh-oh. Here they come," he stated before I could say anything. Flying monsters were spat out of the back of the battleship, hissing and pointing to us. Howl picked me up again in his hands. "Those things are Suliman's henchmen. Let's go."

And on that note he ran off, holding me tight to his chest as wings burst from his back and the rest of him -all but his face- was covered with feathers. "Alright, you're going in." He told me and I looked up at him like he was crazy. "I'll float you in as long as I can, then I'll divert them. Make sure you run through the air." He told me as he got ready to drop me. I gulped, nodding but not looking back, just as he let me slip through his fingers.

I yelped in fear but sprinted through the air as the castle door opened up for me. I landed on four paws, once again thanking the Witch for turning me into a cat, just as the dial switched back to Market Chipping and Markl burst through the door. My fur stood on end as I clutched onto the wooden stairs fearfully.

"Verity, what happened?" The kid asked me as Sophie walked up behind him confused to see why they stopped in the doorway.

"A cat is not supposed to be treated like this!" I told them, letting my sister remove my claws from the wood and smooth down my fur.

"Time for a bath again," Sophie tutted, smelling my fur and sneezing when a pollen dust formed in her nose.


A/N: Whoo! Second chapter in a day! Howl! Love love love love love! ^-^ See ya next week!