(A/N: Sorry for the delay, but I've been away for Thanksgiving. But I'm back now and ready to go. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 11: Escape From The Wales

Angorian circled around the house like a shark circling its prey. Every now and then she would press herself up against the barrier and shout out threats.

"What are you going to do when your husband comes home?" "You can't hold me back forever?" "How do you think Markl and the old witch are doing all by themselves? Perhaps I'll pay them a visit while you're stuck here." "How are you going to get back to your castle?" "I'll find a way in if it's the last thing I do!"

Megan was going out of her mind with worry. She sent Mari and Neil to their rooms and told them not to come out until she told them otherwise.

"Howl, you better do something about this demon!" she shouted.

Howl nervously looked out the window at Angorian. He felt rather foolish for not expecting something like this. How were he and Sophie supposed to get back to the castle with Angorian out there? Megan and the kids could go with them, carrying the source of the barrier until they reached the portal, but then they would be on their own getting back through the darkness of The Wales; not to mention Angorian would probably destroy their house.

Then there was also the matter of Megan's husband. He had to come home eventually, and when he did, Angorian would be waiting. When Megan figured this out, she didn't take the news that well.

"Howl, if anything happens to Gareth I will never forgive you!"

"Megan, please calm down. I promise not to let anything happen to your husband." Howl assured her.

"How are you going to do that?" asked Calcifer, sounding very doubtful.

Howl glared at the fire-demon, resisting the urge to strangle his so-called friend. "I have an idea. Come with me." He turned to his fiancé. "Sophie, stay here and keep Megan company."

She nodded as the two left the room. She looked at Megan, who was pacing the room nervously. Sophie wished the woman would have more faith in Howl.

Eventually Megan stopped pacing and turned to Sophie. "So, you're really going to marry my brother?"

Sophie was surprised by the question. Megan was making it sound like it was a bad thing. Why did she despise Howl so much? "Yes, and I can't wait until our wedding."

Megan snorted. "I can't believe anyone would fall for my selfish, cowardly, despicable brother."

"Howl is a good person!" Sophie insisted. "You don't know what he's been through with the Witch of the Waste and Madam Suliman. Yes, when I first met him he was cowardly and somewhat selfish, but he's changed. He's really done a lot for me."

Megan sighed and turned away. She was silent for so long that Sophie thought she was ignoring her before she final spoke up again. "I've noticed." She said. "There is a difference in him. He doesn't seem like his selfish self, but I have yet to see him prove that he's not still a coward." She paused for a moment. "And… he seems… happy."

Sophie was confused by that last comment. "What do you mean?"

Megan turned to face her again. "For a very long time, Howl has never seemed to be truly happy. I'm not saying that he was unhappy, but he was never completely happy. But he seems happy now." She looked Sophie up and down. "I'm sure that you're the reason for his happiness. You're good for him. I truly wish you both the best."

Sophie was now surprised and confused. The rude Megan who seemed to hold such hatred for her brother was now wishing him the best. "Well, thank you."

"But, he is still the despicable person her always was." said Megan, going back to being rude.

Sophie's irritation rose. "Howl is not despicable. Why do you hate him so much?"

Megan raised an eyebrow. "I don't hate my brother. I love him very much. I just dislike him. He's blackened his name and done terrible things, which affected my reputation as well, and my family's."

Sophie felt her anger decrease. She could understand why Megan held a grudge, but there were a few things that Sophie wanted the woman to understand. "I can see why you're so upset. Some of the stories about Howl are pretty bad. I admit, before I got to know Howl I feared him. But none of those stories are true. Howl made them up himself."

Megan raised an eyebrow. "Why would he do that?"

"The Witch of the Waste and Madam Suliman." Said Sophie. "He was on the run from them. Both were after him. Madam Suliman wanted him to be a soldier to fight in battles, and the Witch of the Waste wanted his heart. Howl made up rumors in hopes that with a bad reputation that they would no longer want anything to do with him."

Megan snorted. "Such a cowardly way out."

Reluctantly, Sophie agreed. "We've already established that Howl was once a coward. Yes, that was a foolish and cowardly way out, but he was desperate. I know for a fact that he didn't mean to hurt you or anyone else, but he-"

"YOU'RE GOING TO WHAT?!?" came Calcifer's voice from the other room.

Sophie and Megan jumped, surprised by Calcifer's outburst. "What was that?" Sophie wondered out loud.

"Oh, that's easy." Megan replied. "Howl is planning something that none of us are going to like."

Sophie sighed. "You're probably right."

A few minutes later, Howl and Calcifer rejoined the women.

"What was that about?" Megan asked suspiciously.

Howl ignored the question. "We're leaving." He said.

Sophie blinked in surprise. "Now?

"Now." He turned to his sister. "It was wonderful to see you again. I am sorry for the inconvenience I have caused. I beg you and you're family to remain within the barrier as much as possible. I will come and let you know when it is safe once again."

Megan groaned. "Gareth is not going to like this." she said, not liking the situation either.

"I'm sorry, but he'll have to deal with it." Said Howl. "Sophie, you ready?"

She nodded. "Yes, but what about Angorian?"

"Don't worry about her? Calcifer."

"Yeah, yeah." The fire-demon muttered. "Come on, Sophie, I'm your ride back."

"Why can't I go with Howl?"

The wizard sighed. "I have to deal with Angorian."

They went outside and Angorian instantly flew over to them, being held back by nothing but the barrier. "Going somewhere?" she asked, smirking.

Howl glared at her. "As a matter of fact, we are."

He waved his hand and unleashed a blast of magic. Angorian was thrown backwards, giving Howl and the others the opportunity they needed to escape. Calcifer took flight, bringing Sophie with him as Howl followed close behind in his bird form.

Angorian recovered from the attack and instantly gave chase. "You won't get away from me this time!" she declared.

Sophie looked back at the demon. She was gaining on them, her long arms reaching out.

"Howl, she's right behind us!" Sophie cried.

"I know." Howl replied. "Calcifer, you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." The fire-demon replied.

Sophie looked at them. "Wait, what are you going to do?"

Howl blew her a kiss. "I'll see you at home, love."

He waved his hand and cast his spell. Sophie, being the one the spell was cast on, recognized it. It was the illusion/invisibility spell that he had used when they were escaping Madam Suliman. She was now invisible for five minutes while an illusion of her was left behind. And Howl was staying with the illusion!

"Howl! What are you doing?" she cried.

"Take care of her, Calcifer!" Howl shouted, as he turned to meet Angorian.

Sophie struggled in Calcifer's grip, trying to get back to her fiancée. "Howl, no! Let me go, Calcifer! Let me go!"

"Can't." he replied. "Howl told me to make sure you got home safe."

"But Howl is in trouble!"

"He'll be fine." The fire-demon replied, but he sounded doubtful.

(A/N: A cliffhanger, bwa, ha, ha. Gotta love cliffhangers, at least when I leave them. Reviews!)