Another chapter of the tale of mystery.

FAMILY SECRETS

A HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE FANFIC

Chapter 28

As I listened to Fanny tell me the story of father's last days I couldn't help but squirm. I did not care for the thought of father suffering. That was one piece of the story that rang throughout. Father suffered horribly yet she could do was stand by and watch. Something I am glad she spared me from. It would have torn me apart to watch him struggle for air. Or to listen as he cried out. I don't know what I would done. What I do know is that I provably wouldn't have been much help. Something that I always wondered about. Now I know. It was provably better that I wasn't there.

Fanny's description of father's death was horrible, but it was also useless. I was no doctor. Nor was I a proper wizard. I couldn't make heads nor tails of the symptoms. It just didn't help me. Then again I wasn't looking for the exact curse or malady that father suffered. I was looking for the who. For there was a very good chance that this person was the same person who was after me now.

"Fanny, Fanny, please stop." She looked at me with a mixture of confusion and outrage. I tried to explain. "Sorry, it's just that this doesn't help me. I'm not a doctor, or a wizard. This doesn't make any sense to me."

"Then why did you ask me?' She snapped.

"Sorry. This wasn't what I meant. I don't need to know what the curse was. I need to know who cast it. Think back to right before father got real sick. Was there anything out of place? Anyone who seemed strange? Did father start to behave strangely? Was there anything odd at all?!"

She thought about it for a while then said, "Well, there was that one guy. A nobleman from Strangia. I can't recall his name, but he did mention something about your mother. That got your father real nervous. He shut down the shop shortly after that for the day. He wouldn't say why though. Only that he would be out for a while. He never spoke about it again. Nor did the man come back for that matter. It was very odd. I can't explain it."

This was the first lead that I had since my parents returned home. I couldn't let it go. I had to know more! "Can you describe the man?"

She thought about it some more then said, "Maybe a little. He was young, attractive, and had a air of sophistication that was quite nice. He was very polite and respectful. He had a accent that I couldn't quite place. I guess it might have been from Strangia. I don't know. Don't know what they sound like. All I know for sure was that he was foreign. I don't know why I remember that man. He wasn't all that special. He just looked at a few hats: Then talked to your father and left!" She stopped a moment then added, "They seemed to know each other. Yet, I had never seen him before. It was very odd. What was even more strange was how your father reacted. He got very upset then chased after him."

"He went after him?"

She nodded. "Yes, he did. Disappeared for a quite a spell too. Then came back without a word. Never did tell me what happened. It was very odd."

I thought about what Fanny said. Her description of the man definitely did not match Grandfather. Well, beyond the nobleman part. I don't think anyone would describe him as sophisticated though. Nor would you call him young. It sounded more like she was describing someone else entirely. Only her description lacked a lot of details. Like the man's physical features. She left that out. Which didn't help much. Also, there was no proof that this man had anything to do with father's death. He could just as easily been just a really nice noble. Who had absolutely nothing to do with my father's death.

It also didn't explain why the man left us alone after father died. Surely, now that I had returned home I would be more vulnerable. I had no idea that I had magic running in my veins. I would have been easy prey. He could have snatched me away before I could do anything about it! So, why did he leave me here? Why didn't he pursue me more? Why would he allow me to travel to Strangia unchallenged? It didn't make sense! There was something huge that I was missing.

For the millionth time I wished that I could speak to father and ask him. I thought about asking him when he was at the castle. Alas, that version of him would have no idea. He was from too many years before that day. It would only torture to ask. It wasn't right to think about one's own death. Not if you can help it. I wasn't able to ask him.

I believed Fanny when she said that she couldn't tell me much more. Honestly, Fanny wasn't a great source for this. It wasn't her world! It wasn't fair to try to drag her into it. I had done enough already. It was best to leave her out of it. Her husband was dead. That chapter of her life was closed. It was not right for me to reopen it again. I don't think that I would much of anything useful out of it anyway. It would only hurt her. I didn't want to do that anymore. Fanny was almost a mother to me. I couldn't keep doing this to her.

So, I thanked her for her time and forgiveness. I admitted that Howl was not unlikely to apologize. So, I apologized for him again. I also begged her forgiveness for the sake of our family. For I still considered her a part of this family! I wanted her to get along with my husband as best she could. I knew that would be difficult, but I had to try. We were a family, after all!

She sighed. "It's fine. He's a real pain, that's all. Do what you can with him but I think he is a lost cause."

"I'll try." I nodded before leaving. I didn't know what my next move was, but it was best that I was going. I had taken enough of Fanny's time already.


Next Chapter coming up!