Chapter 11: Bitter Sweet Goodbye

"Sophie I'm so sorry." He took her shoulders to divide her from him, so he could look see her straight on.

"It's not your fault Howl." She wiped her tears on her sleeve.

"It is mine. I should have scolded you for letting fake a Howl in and I should have said more to you. I sensed that darkness and I was dumb enough to ignore it on some off chance Howl had dabbled in the dark again." Calcifer rambled out looking guilty. "And Sophie…"

"Yes?"

"You…uhm…nothing has changed. He didn't do anything…to you while you were out cold. I can tell, you still have an innocent soul…and heart…" Califer coughed.

"Thank you Calcifer." She nodded, her hands had found there way back to the chest of Howls shirt.

"Times like this I regret ever finding you that day, even if it was to save me." Howl said. "I don't know if I can forgive myself. It is my fault more than anyone's. Alashorn will do whatever he can to bring you into this. I'm afraid he will not stop here. I will not put you through worse Sophie."

"There's nothing for you to forgive. I am already involved, that can't be avoided, and I chose this. " She mumbled out.

"Well I'm going to do something now. Calcifer your going to use whatever you can get from what Markl brings back to seal this place shut and all of you are heading as far away from these mountains as possible. I will face him now. I will also have to find a way to destroy that amulet."

"Couldn't you just destroy the gem to open the box?" Calcifer stated as if it was the obvious thing to do.

"I could start with that. But to keep it locked up only adds to its need to be stolen and coveted by another darkened soul." Howl brought his hand to his chin, thinking to himself. "I might have to depart for a while to find information on it. As a matter of fact I might have to see what I can find out about it from the source. In that case, I need to make sure everyone here is safe. I don't think any of us would be able to handle another scare such as one today."

Sophie had never seen his eyes look so clear, and blue. Howl was unchanging about his decision, and that he would make sure to prevent Alashorn from returning. But not knowing whether or not Howl would return or find a way to destroy that Amulet was something she did not want to be distanced from. Even if it was for safety.

She nodded. She wasn't sure why but she did.

"Soph, why don't you clean up for a while. Calcifer can you heat up the water for Sophie?"

"Of course."

"Hey! Howl your back!"

Suddenly Markl came through the door. Howl flicked his finger his way, and a small spark hissed over Markl's head and faded.

"One hundred percent Markl. That's refreshing. Now, did you find something to use for Calcifer?"

"A whole bunch! There was this old butcher who lived in the corner of town. Had some rare stuff from the war and-" Markl looked to Sophie who saw the redness of her eyes. "Sophie are you okay?"

Sophie's eyes widened for a moment and she swallowed. "Yes." It Was all she could muster.

"Don't worry about Sophie for now." Howl seemed to nod slightly to Sophie. "Help me get this place sealed." Howl went upstairs for a moment to seal the bathroom's windows first.

Sophie watched for a moment, and saw the first one on the window after Calcifer nearly inhaled some kind of strange body part Markl had returned. She noticed how the seal was red, and it looked similar to the dark summoning spell Alashorn had used to bring her to his place. She realized that a Fire Demon likely used dark magic similar to Alashorn's. The Demon traded energy from another being or thing to create it's own power, Howl had traded his heart, just as Alashorn had traded something for his youth and his own power. She wondered at what price it was. It must be something coveted. She had many questions about magic, and it's origin…but she also couldn't bare to think of it anymore. Alashorn's face in her mind was causing her to have a nervous twitch in her hand.

"Why don't you go relax Sophie? I'm sure the water is heated now." Howl looked to her after finishing another on the window. His eyes looked clear but behind them were concern. Calcifer looked positively illuminative and glowing in power at this point, so she at least knew she didn't have to worry about the seals breaking .

"I will Howl. Thank you."

She nodded and made her way up the stairs.

She heard Markl whisper to ask Calcifer what happened. Howl shushed the inquiry in a kind voice.

Maybe her parent-like tendencies to Markl were rubbing off on Howl. She doubted he would have been so delicate about these things back a year ago.

She put herself in the tub, the water steaming to the brim, her silver hair skimming the top of the water.

Maybe Howl was right. Maybe after this she'd be able to clean off the feeling of Alashorn's grey eyes from her soul.

She saw a bit of her own reflection in the water as it rippled.

Maybe she was only thinking about her own feelings, but how could Howl expect her to stay here sealed up while he left to confront Alashorn? Howl didn't want her in danger and either did she to him. Love is a selfish emotion. Selfish for the weight in your chest so it doesn't hurt, and selfish for wanted what is best for the person you love. You are both selfish for your own feelings and selfish for wanting what's best for them over yourself. You'd rather see yourself hurt then them hurt. It is a terrible paradox of emotions, and she couldn't stand to stew in them while he leaves.

Alashorn was evil. Pure evil. She felt a mixture of rage and angst for that man. Everything about their situation was stale, and off-putting.

It was not like she questioned Howl. Or his power. But Alashorn was not a fair player. She doubted that any Witch or Sorcerer was, but he was far worse.

He was willing to make her believe she'd been corrupted just to scare her or Howl into telling him how to open the box to his precious Amulet, all to become all-powerful! There was too much darkness in that; too much uneven ground.

But what could she do?

She couldn't help Howl. This time it was out of her hands. It wasn't a matter of saving Howl from himself, or undoing a curse. Instead it was a matter of keeping people safe, and for a girl like her, she just didn't have the aptness for it.

If they ever got through this Howl would have to teach her something…if she could manage…a spell…whatever it took, so she didn't feel so…

She slumped into the water further. She would have to confront Howl.
-

"Now it's just the front door." Howl said after sealing all of the windows, and the fireplace. "Then the whole place once before I leave. Markl get the rest of it ready."

Markl mumbled annoyed that he didn't know what had happened.

"I'm sorry Howl. You know I really never meant for Alas-"

"Calcifer please. His dark magic is something clearly is more dark and disguised then a demon's magic. I don't doubt he sold his soul to a devil or something of the matter, but I cannot blame you for what happened. I placed the candy in front of him, and locked it up, and then took his bait. We all have our own faults in this…I'm afraid we can't do anything else but move forward. Sophie can stay here to heal, and I will return to help her however I can when I finally can."

"If you want to help me don't go."

Howl's back stiffened, and Markl and Califer looked wide eyed to Sophie at the stair case.

Howl didn't turn, and instead his head dropped slightly. "Now Sophie please don't be stubborn. I have to do something. Even if I end up confronting him, he can't kill me because only I know how to open the box. It would take a great deal of effort for him to even summon another demon. I have a window of opportunity now."

"He's right Sophie. Us demons don't come out of hiding, unless we are offered a truly tempting deal." Calcifer said quietly.

"But you-"

"I was a falling demon, without Howl I would have died then. We do not fall near humans civilization very often. He'd have to summon one of us, and even then, I doubt he has much to offer because he's likely used up every bit of himself trying to upkeep his power." He explained.

"Sophie I will come back."

"How can you promise that Howl?"

"Do you doubt me that much?"

"No, of course not Howl, but Alashorn doesn't play fair. How can you ask me to stay safe and have me not ask the same of you? If it's because I do not have the same power, I at least have the same feelings don't I?" Sophie felt herself blurting it out rather soon. She realized as the words drifted into the air she may have said too much. Tears ran down her face, although she couldn't muster a cry.

"Sophie…" Howl turned away. She saw his shoulders collapse from the tension in the room. "Of course you do." He said rather bluntly and then turned to go into his own room walking past her without much of a glance.

She felt him walk past her shoulder, and her eyes widened. Why would she have ever said something? Of course they feel the same way? How oculd she be so vicious with her words?

"Sophie?" Markl said quietly.

At that Sophie ran up the stairs, past Howl's room to her own. She found her bed, and couldn't help but cry. It was a selfish cry, and a cry at that same time wishing she hadn't been so selfish in saying those things.

She held her pillow against her chest. But she couldn't blame Howl. And she wouldn't let Alashorn pit them against eachother. She'd have to apologize to him.

And Sophie meant to. But instead she fell asleep, dreaming of days that had been peaceful, before Alashorn had entered their world.