"Ellegard, sit up here!" He shouted as he stood up next to a metal chair. I carefully walked over and sat myself in the chair. Howl's fingers gingerly maneuvered the wooden wheel and straightened the bullet plane out.

"Did you had to bring those two with you?" He said with his soft smile. I turned my head to see the Witch of the Waste plastered in the metal chair behind. Then the dog emerged from her coat, and hiccuped. Oh god...

"Nice doggie" The witch muttered, as he had a slight smile on her face. She had some form of company, I suppose.

"I can't believe you work for Suliman," I spat to Heen. I peered over the edge of the plane to see the palace farbelow. The people seemed like ants now "I suppose it's too late to toss him now…"

"Ellegard, take the wheel" Howl commanded.

"What?!" I shouted. What was he thinking? "Have you gone mad?! I can't fly this!"

"They're gaining on us" He replied. I turned around to see a dozen or so more crafts trailing behind. I even saw a few rifles on a few planes.

"I'll distract them, then you can fly this thing back to my castle in the Wastes" He said as he turned the plane a little

"How?! I don't have a clue of where I'm going!" I said, flabbergasted. How did he expect me to do it myself? Heen and the witch wouldn't be much of help.

"Hey, don't worry. The ring that I gave you will guide you back home. All you have to do is summon Calcifer with your heart" He pointed to the silver ring with the red jewel in the middle on my finger.

"Summon him with my heart?" I repeated "About that…" As I was going to bring up my little heartless deal, but the small ring glowed to life. It had a thin red light that pointed straight ahead of us.

"It's glowing!" I said in surprise.

"Just keep following that light, and you should be there before dark"

"Al-alright…" I replied in uncertainty. Why did I feel like this wouldn't end well?

"Why did you even make me and Sophie come here if you were coming yourself?" I asked forcefully, looking right at him.

"Knowing you'd be there gave the courage to show up. That woman terrifies me. I can't face her on my own" he leaned down and looked into my eyes with his smile "You saved me, Ellegard. I was in big trouble back there"

I could help but bring a small smile to my face, but then he let go of the wheel.

"Don't let go!" I shouted as my hand squeezed on to the wheel. The plane titled in every direction. We headed straight for a bell tower. I quickly turned the wheel, however we hit the bell tower nose first. The plane spun out of control, until I used all my strength to straighten it out.

"Wow, your good!" He laughed. I knew he wasn't being sarcastic unfortunately.

"Are you even looking?!" I shouted. I turned around to see the other planes a dazed and confused as I was.

"We have a good lead on them now. I can give you 5 minutes of invisibly, so use it wisely" he straightened back and and waved his right hand to the right. We split into two, with Howl on the other plane.

"Howl! Not now!" I yelled as the plane shook a little.

"Good luck!" He waved and smiled, diving in the other direction. I sighed and looked straight ahead. I hoped I would make it out alive in one piece...

|/\/\/\|

"Almost there.. I think.." I muttered. I had been flying the bullet plane for what seemed like hours. The sun was just setting below the horizon. My back and hands were in a numb kind of pain, when people sit down for too long. I looked back at the ring, to see that it was glowing as bright as ever. We were getting close. I sighed and looked down, surprised.

"That's my hometown below us!" I shouted in glee. I recognized a few buildings below. I felt my face turn into a smile a little as I thought of old memories of me and my father. In the back I heard yet another hiccup. I turned and around to see the dog snuggled close to the witch.

"Don't pretend to be cute Heen, I still won't trust you...nor you" I glared at both of them. Yet, they went on happily sitting in the chair. A few minutes later, it was complete darkness, but we made it out of market clipping. Out in the distance on a hill, I saw a tall, shiny object. As we flew closer, I made out the details of the castle

"The castle came to meet us!" I said. It's mouth was facing towards us, and shook with its power.

"Elle!" Markl yelled from the balcony.

"Over here!" Sophie yelled with her hands cupped on her face.

"Wait! Sophie! Markl!" I yelled in realization "I can't stop this thing!" My eyes widened as I tried pressing every button on the plane, no to avail. I as I was about to crash onto the castle, the huge mouth opened its jaws and swallowed us whole. We crashed right into a wooden wall, obliterating it. I faintly heard the cries and shouts from Calcifer and Artemis.

"Elle?" I heard Markl ask. I threw aside a wooden plank to escape the confines I was in. I heard yet another hiccup from the dog.

"Nice doggie" the witch said again. I was sure Markl was flat out confused by our new guests. I jumped over a thick plank and found myself sliding down towards Markl.

"Markl?" I said

"I missed you!" He yelled out as he dived in for a hug.

"I missed you too" I hugged him tight as well. I didn't realize he would miss me this much, let alone at all "Is everyone ok?" I asked

"No, you crash landed into my face!" Calcifer cried. I turned to the fireplace to see it was covered the stones and broken planks of wood. A small light emitted between two stones on the fireplace.

"In other words, yes.." Artemis muttered as he tossed the stone off Calcifer. Calcifer emerged tall and bright, but looked rather annoyed.

"Did Sophie make it back home ok?" I asked.

"Yes, just in time I might add" Artemis replied with uncertainty

"What do you mean?"

"Right when Howl left, he made me cut off the portals to Kingsbury and Porthaven" Calcifer Replied. I sighed and sat on the fireplace next to Artemis.

"The kingdom must really want him…" I muttered. I sighed yet again, and put my head in my hands. What made Howl so valuable to the kingdom? It was sad that he was so scared to face his fears, enough to keep him around this castle. I wanted to fix that so badly. I wanted to always see him

joyous and happy.

"Hey, Are you ok?" Artemis asked. Through my fingers I saw his concerned look.

"Yes, I'm fine…" I stood up and did my best smile, but even I could tell it had no trace of happiness in it "Could I speak to Calcifer alone, please?"

"Sure…" Artemis said in uncertainty, and flew above the stairwell.

"Uhh...what do you want?" Calcifer asked. He seemed hesitant, as though I was going to grab Howls heart again. I smiled yet again, but with a sigh

"I saw Howl the other night. In his...other form.." I replied softly

"So? It's doesn't change who he is as a person" Calcifer defended. I thought Calcifer may have thought I was judging Howl simply because of his other form. He's still the same person with the same personality, but I knew not for long.

"It will though. It feels like he doesn't have much time left. Neither do I, I suppose" I chuckled, but it was derived of humor.

"What do you mean?"

"When I was at the palace… Madam Suliman revealed to me I am becoming like Howl. I have lost my heart…." My smile disappeared, and I slumped. I touched my chest, but found no heartbeat at all. I was surprised in myself that I didn't find this about myself much earlier

"Why should you believe her? She just wants your powers" He pointed out. I knew Calcifer was trying to make this situation seem small, but it was bigger than even I could imagine.

"This demonic power of loath that Artemis possessed...has fallen to me now. I can feel hate running through my veins. It's so hard to have any other emotions now. It truly feels like I'm losing everything that makes me...me" my hands shook in fear. I was so scared of this transformation. I didn't need this nor want it.

"Why are you telling me this? Isn't this a thing you want to talk to Artemis about?" Calcifer asked softly. I supposed he was surprised I even told him this. But I was getting to the point

"How would I even bring it up? Besides, you have dealt with this for so long with Howl. There must be someway both of you managed to survive so long without dying" I looked into Calcifer. I begged him to let me know his and Howl's secrets of how they haven't let this demonic power consume them whole.

"Isn't not just something that can be told, you know. You need to go through it and figure it out with Artemis" Calcifer replied. I suppose each case is different.

"I suppose" I said as I stood up "Well, thank you for the advice"

"No problem...I guess…."

I decided to sleep down stairs. I felt so uncertain with everything that had happened in the last few days, I simply wanted company, even if it was with the Witch of the Waste. Sophie slept down on an old mattress me and Markl found in another room. I slept against the fireplace, but found myself thinking. What was going to happen to me? Would I end up like Howl or would it be worse? I sighed and shut my eyes in hope I would get sleep.

The door slowly creaked open, but I didn't bother to open my eyes. The sound of squishing came in front of me, but came in a slow, repeated step.

"Oh, this is bad. You've gone too far Howl..." Calcifer muttered. My eyes widened.

"Howl…" I muttered to myself. I slipped my shoes back on and grabbed a small candle on the table. On the ground, I noticed 3- toed footprints. I couldn't tell if the footprints were a dark ink or blood. I wasn't about to find out. The footprints trailed along to the stairwell. Curious, if looked the up and down the hall. They ended right in front of Howl's door. I sighed, and carefully opened the door in front. Behind was a large tunnel, as though a bomb went off in his room. His trinkets and toys were scattered everywhere, some buried in the dirt of the tunnel, and some simply laid, thrown aside. I swallowed my fear and headed down the tunnel. At the end wer to other tunnels, that divided in either direction. I felt a slight wind current, that blew my hair in my face and blew the flame tip of the candle. I slowly walked towards the current. As I went further in, I heard the soft but raspy sound of breathing. I walked closer, only to gasp. At the end of the tunnel, A pile of what looked like feathers were breathing. They glistened in the light from my flame. This was surely what was left of Howl.

"Howl!" I whispered "Howl? Is that you?"

"Go away…." His deep raspy voice echoed through the tunnel.

"No, I won't. Please' tell me what's happening to you. I want to break your spell" I whispered harshly. I felt the stinging of tears come to my eyes

"Heh" He coughed out "You barely figured out your own spell…"

"I promise I'll do anything for you. I will search for a cure, for the both of us, until the day I die. I can't bear being without you. You don't understand Howl, I love you. I love who and what you are" By this point, tears were flowing out of my eyes like a steady waterfall. I shook with my hopelessness. I wanted him more than I could ever imagine.

"You're too late…" He stood up, and flew away into darkness.

"Howl! Don't leave, please! Howl!" I screamed out, until my throat was raw. Tears fell into my screaming mouth, enough for me to practically drown in.

I suddenly stood up, breathing heavily. I felt droplets of sweat cover my face as my breaths calmed down. Up above, I heard the sound of Howl's bath running. I sighed in relief and leaned back on to the fireplace. Thank goodness he was ok and alive

"Calcifer, is Howl back?" I turned to face him, as he grabbed another log.

"Yeah, and he looks terrible. You better figure out how to break the spell on us, quick. Howl is running out of time, I hope you realize that" He sounded desperate. I guess he finally needed to face the music.

"You mean his body and soul will be taken over, and he'll become a monster. Is that it?" I spat, as I stood up above him.

"I can't tell you the details of the curse lady, you should know that by now, come on" Calcifer responded in an annoyed tone.

"So you know what madam Suliman said?" I came threateningly closer to his fiery self "She said that Howl heart was stolen by a demon. Come on now, tell me and help yourself"

"I'm so sorry, but that would be confidential information" He said. I knew he couldn't tell me exact details, so I would have to do a little dirty work to get what I needed

"Ok then, what if I squeezed his little heart to a pulp?" I threatened, causing him to cower down into the logs

"If you kill me, Howl will die too" He said in a slightly shaky voice. I sighed and sat on the fireplace next to him.

"Of course, I knew that…" I muttered.

I needed to find a way to save Howl, and fast.