PRUE

What can I do? I thought desperately, the beast pinning me down, smiling. Howl had told me to help Calcifer, where was he? I was sucked into this warped world with nothing but the Beast to contrast against the stark whiteness of this empty landscape. He was heavy above me, his presence alone was nearly enough to crush me. Lastel, the beast inside Howl. My thoughts racked against my head trying to establish why Howl would want this monster inside of him. What could he gain? Was Howl some kind of weapon? A weapon against what though? What could possibly call for such a monstrous implantation of this…this thing? It smiled at me; my expression of pure terror seemed to excite it. Its tail swished menacingly behind it, what would happen to me if it killed me?

"You would die of course," Lastel said emptily, as if the answer of obvious. "This world is as real as any other, you will die and he will open himself to me. I will encompass his being, I will control him and he will destroy everything."

"What have you got against him? Why can't you just kill yourself? If you hate this life so much can't you just destroy yourself rather than causing so much pain?" I screamed at him, he blinked at my defiance, as if I were just a speck of dust to cross his vision. He was thoughtfully silent, and I closed my eyes, searching for Calcifer's presence. I felt the sharp flick of fire, but a droplet of water splashed against my face. My eyes shot open, I looked into Lastel's eyes, dripping with tears.

"You think I haven't tried?" His sadness quick turned to that of anger and he slapped me so hard I thought my head would fly off with the force. The sting of his slap was laced with cuts from his nails. "I have spent longer than eternity in solitude, wishing for death, longing for it, desiring it more than the warmth of the sun on my skin." He stood up, his hand firmly around my throat, pulling me with him. "His death will be my death. I want him to die. YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THE AGONY OF LIVING EVEN IF IT WAS BEFORE YOUR EYES!" He threw me down against the white floor, the force making me splutter and cough as the breath was forced from my body. He pulled my back up with my hair, this clawed fingers wrapped up in it. My scream was painful to my own ears, burned my throat like a fire, sounding like the dying call of a monster.

Let me take you. My scream nearly stopped in my throat. The voice was inside my head. Calcifer!

"I want him to feel the agony of your death; I want him to feel as I do, as I have for an aeon." I was still dangling from his claws from my hair, my screaming reduced to loud wails of agony. But despite this, my mind was completely calm. I knew Calcifer was here, I knew he could be saved. And through him, Howl and Markl. I need something from you Prue, something to fuel me. I am not strong enough by myself to take this thing down. You must give me something, anything.

"My hair," I whispered. "Take my hair Calcifer." The beast snarled, but his voice was lost to me as the fierce sound of fire ripped past me. I dropped from Lastel's hand, plummeting to the floor heavily. My hands flew to my head, feeling the empty space where my hair should have been. Calcifer had taken the hair from my waist to my shoulders. Behind, I heard a fierce screeching of two monstrous beasts.

I turned to see a fierce, tornado of flame before me. Its autumn colours shot through with blue and green. It burned past my face, pommeling Lastel. The fierce black beast screeched and attacked the funnel of fire with his claws, but his arms fell through the colours and his entire body was engulfed by it.

Go back, we are safe for now. Before I could speak I fell back against the floor, but my cheek brushed the familiar rough feel of the hearth at Howl's castle.

"Prue!" His voice cut through my damaged hearing. I rolled onto my back, the light dim in the castle. I'm back, we're safe. I smiled meekly as Howl's face appeared above me, his face lined with worry, his hands fluttering over my sore skin.

"Howl," I croaked my voice dry and breaking. I couldn't help the tears spilling out and stinging the cuts on my cheeks. His eyes watered up, but not a tear spilled down his flawless face. He was about to hold me, but I winced at his touch. His brows furrowed even deeper and called to Markl for some water. He leaned over me, his hair tickling my face, sending shivers across my scalp. His nose touched mine, his eyes never leaving mine. I painfully reached and stroked his cheek, so incredibly soft from his potions.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, closing his eyes at my touch. I traced the worry lines on his forehead, his breath shuddered and he pulled away. He looked over my body, his frustration and anxiety growing with every flick of those deep, blue eyes. Markl appeared over his shoulder with a mug, tears streaking though his filthy face. I tried to smile at him but he just flinched and turned away, handing the mug to Howl. His slender finger slid through the handles and he appeared to drink from it, but his other hand was tracing characters on the side, each line a smouldering glow that sputtered and melted into the clay. I heard his soft murmuring; he stopped suddenly and peered at the liquid with scorching eyes. With some satisfaction in his expression, he put the mug down by his side and attempted to pick me up. Before I could even mouth a complaint, he had me leaning against him without me even seeing it. The pain came slowly, building up like a fire in my limbs. My breath hissed though my teeth as it set every sinew on fire. There was no agony that I could compare it to; it took every ounce of my control not to start screaming. All that came out of my mouth were faint whimpers; I gave away nothing that I was feeling. I didn't want Howl to feel even worse than he did about the extent of my injuries. He propped my head up on his shoulder, sat on his lap with my back to him. He lifted the mug to my parched lips, tilting it very slowly. The liquid was a pale lilac; it seemed to shimmer inside the mug. I took a mouthful, letting my tongue taste the complex flavours of Howl's brew. He took the mug away, wiping his thumb over my lips.

"It tastes of Turkish delight," I said faintly. He chuckled.

"It tastes different for everyone. It should take away the pain and help the healing process." He said, his voice was laced with guilt and remorse.

"What does it taste like for you?" He was silent for a while, thinking.

"Sweetened cherries," he whispered. There was a nostalgic tone to his voice, as if he was remembering something from long ago. He lifted the mug back to my lips and I gulped greedily, feeling the pain lessen with every mouthful. His other hand went to my hair twirling the ends between his fingertips.

I finished the mug quickly and Howl tilted my head back slightly so he could kiss my lips. His touch was tender and sent my heart racing. My hands felt for his face, but it was awkward when I wasn't even facing him. His hands took mine and he rubbed my palms with his thumbs slowly. His kiss was light, daring not to put pressure on any part of my battered face.

A spluttering hiss from the fireplace made us freeze and stare at the choking flame in the form of Calcifer come to life. Howl nearly jumped up but the pre-emptive jolt made me wince in pain and he froze where he was. Markl burst into a fresh set of tears as Calcifer cried out weakly for some wood. Markl ran to the fireplace and placed a small branch into his open mouth. The twig set ablaze and was gone in an instant.

"More please; I'm not going to get better on that twiglet am I?" Markl burst into nervous laughter and fed Calcifer a larger branch. He glanced over briefly at me and Howl and I was sure that I saw some semblance of a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. They scanned my face, flinching occasionally. I lifted my hand out of Howl's and gingerly touched my face and neck where Lastel's claws had raked me. I could barely feel anything, my fingertips were singed. I called out to Markl.

"Can I have a mirror?" Markl jumped up and ran to the cupboards and fished around. Howl was silent; I could feel his body tense behind me. Markl ran over and handed me the shard of glass.

My face was a mass of purple bruises and cuts that I didn't even recognise, only distinguishable from the purple eyes. The gashes on my neck were deep and red raw. Thankfully they had stopped bleeding, but the skin was puffy and tender, pulsing horribly with every beat of my heart. The damage didn't seem so bad, but internally, I didn't know what had happened. As if he read my mind, Howl picked me up in one swift movement and walked with me in his arms towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Calcifer asked quietly. I looked up at Howl's face, his expression looked like he was being tortured.

"I'm taking her to Jeb." And with his words, he plunged through the door into the starry blackness of the night.

I am SOOOOOO sorry for the delay. I have been sick as a dog for the past month. First it was a chest infection, then it got into my sinuses and then I had an ear infection! YAY! So I made this chappie a bit longer to try and compensate for the delay. Thanking you

Em xxx