Chapter 10 – Happiness over Sadness
Edward stormed into his home, nearly knocking Markl off his feet at the table. Howl and Sophie, both showing signs of age catching on with them sat at the table, eating dinner with Anora on the other side of the table, picking at her food. All eyes turned to him, as well as Calcifer in the hearth. A large smile was on Edward's face, and tears fell down his cheeks, soaking into his white tunic.
"What are you so in high spirits about?" Anora asked.
"I found her."
"Who, dear?" Sophie asked, obviously worried for her son.
"Dawn," he said with a smile, walking towards his family, "I found her, Mother, Father. Dawn, she was in the city, singing like always. She remembered me, like how I remember her," and he told them everything. Her song, how he felt as if she was talking to him, their talk, and his banishment from her sight.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive," he said, beaming with happiness. They all stood up, all shocked, all nervous. "She is also," he said, much more slowly, "still possessed. I made a promise that day, Father," he said when he noticed his father's negative look, "to help and get rid of that demon inside of her. I have to."
"You do not have to do anything, Edward," Howl barked, furious that his son had found the demon. He did not dare say that he was a she, originally the girl Dawn. No, she was possessed by that demon, and nothing could change that. "And you won't. I will not lose my son to that creature!"
"Don't talk to me like that!" Edward barked. Something inside of him snapped. Now he remembered why he became so distant from his real blood and flesh: they hated Dawn now, because of what she did to his heart. The pain that clouded his father's eyes did not affect Edward. "No," he let his head hand loose, "I made a promise and I intend on keeping it." Everyone in the room was still, not daring to move, not daring to breathe, and not even daring to blink. The static in the room was normal to Edward, feeling this charge every time he entered his parent's gaze. "I must, Father."
Howl sighed, knowing he could no longer get this boy in front of him to become his son, "Let me help you." Howl smiled and embraced his son in a tight hug. "My son," Howl whispered. A small tear fell from his eye, and he angrily wiped it away. Sophie came, looking somewhat withered and old now to Edward's eyes and embraced her oldest in her arms, weeping into his shoulder.
"Happy eighteenth birthday