Chapter 17: Consequence
Sophie awoke to a stream of morning light flooding through the open Gothic window. She peered open one eye, seeing a blurry vision of the Wastes' beauty. Clouds of fog covered the land below, but the highest peak of the Wastes was still visible. She smiled and shut her eyes. Her mind travelled back to the night before, reliving every single, wonderful moment.
Sophie turned to her side, a sleeping man next to her. She smiled wide and ran her fingers up and down his bare arm. He shivered slightly and instinctively turned toward her, still asleep. Sophie snuggled close, their bodies inches away from each other. She lightly brushed his dark hair away, using her fingers to comb through the knots and greasy strands. She'd push the hairs back and then they would fall over his face once again, so she repeated the process. She was so fixated by him.
"Howl." Sophie whispered softly. "Howl, it's morning."
Howl turned his head left and right, stretching his arms up toward the head of the bed. He groaned loudly and ended with a slow yawn. He blinked lightly before completely opening his eyes, only to smile at the woman before him.
"Good morning, my lovely." Howl said. He sat up on his arm and his other hand grazed Sophie's chin. He pulled her close to him and encompassed her lips with his. Their kiss was graceful and gentle, yet they could still feel the sensations of their deep intimacy.
He pulled away and ran the back of his fingers alongside her cheek; he couldn't contain his smile. "You're beautiful, you know that?"
Sophie lowered her gaze, but she couldn't hide that silly blush whenever Howl spoke such romanticism. Howl lifted her chin, her eyes following until they locked onto his. "I love you, Sophie."
"I love you, too, Howl." They shared another kiss, neither willing to pull away for quite some time. Just having an electric connection to one another, feeling truly interwoven through a simple act of love, was all they desired.
When they parted, their breaths were heavy, air filling their lungs to the brim followed by long, full exhales. Howl pushed himself upward and departed from the warmth of the bed. He found his attire lying to the side of the bed, thrown with rashness the night before. Sophie raised her eyebrows as she ogled Howl dressing himself. After he zipped and buttoned his pants together, he noticed her watchful eyes.
Howl smirked. "Does someone miss me already?"
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Maybe a little."
"Oh, just a little?" Howl pressed his fists into the mattress as he leaned closer to Sophie, who held the covers over her bare chest. He dropped his gaze for a short moment, his mind trailing to satisfy his inner temptations. Sophie lightly held his cheek, and Howl naturally rested his chin in her hand. As he returned eye contact, leaning forward for another kiss, the door sprung open.
The door swung and hit the back wall with a thud. The startled pair turned to their visitors, fear quickly returning back to Sophie. Howl frowned and creased his eyebrows, ready to fight if need be. Sophie breathed heavily as four armed guards walked in a rigid formation and made a path for their real threat – Madame Suliman.
The poised sorceress walked in style, standing tall and fierce in a glistening purple gown. No matter how many times Sophie was in the presence of this woman, she always wore a remarkable and magnificent outfit.
Her vicious eyes stung Sophie as the poor girl covered herself further, blindly hoping Suliman was oblivious to their actions during the night. She knew all too well, however, that nothing evaded the erudite mind of a Royal Sorceress - especially in her own castle.
She stood elevated, dominating as she soaked in the image of Howl half-dressed and Sophie covering her exposed body. She locked her eyes on Sophie, though the young girl could not even look up from the bed. Her body shivered in horror, which pleased Suliman. Though Sophie held immense strength, especially for a minor human, Suliman was far too familiar with her weaknesses.
Suliman rolled her eyes over to Howl, who held his fists firmly at his side. She knew all too well the prison she set up was incapable of concealing Howl for too long. She wanted to test him, see how far he was willing to go for Sophie. His unwavering determination to see his beloved mixed with the abilities of his magic were more than enough to break the pseudo prison she conjured.
She crept a smile. "Good morning. Did the happy couple sleep well?"
Before Howl could respond, Prince Justin stormed through the doorway, his teeth clenched and muscles flexed. He darted his eyes between Howl and Sophie, his supposed bride seemingly undressed under the covers. He shielded his eyes with both arms, turning away from the disgrace.
"Sophie, my darling. Dress yourself!" Justin shouted. "How could you do such a thing? I cannot believe you have betrayed me this way."
Sophie turned to Howl, and he motioned with his hand to stay where she was. He picked up their clothes, then handed her the nightgown and gradually buttoned his shirt, his eyes permanently bound to Suliman's. No one in the room moved a muscle - not even the guards mustered their weapons for an attack. He had assumed they would at least defend the King's Royal Sorceress, if not the Prince of Ingary, in the event of a battle.
As Sophie dropped the nightgown over her shoulders - doing her best to stay concealed in the process - Howl shot a bolt of magic at one of the guards, instantly transforming him into a mouse. Sophie jolted out of the bed and hid behind Howl, though the other three guards remained as they were.
Suliman chuckled. "Oh, please. Is that the best you can do, Howl?" Suliman returned the fallen soldier to his original form. "I thought I taught you better than that."
Howl kept his focus on Suliman. There was something different about her façade than before. She seemed more enthusiastic, more triumphant. She had a plan; something worse than Sophie marrying Justin, perhaps.
Whatever it was, Howl intended on escaping before finding out.
Justin marched over to the couple, willing and able to use his cane for an attack, but Howl clasped onto it before the Prince whacked him. They had a matched battle, the cane motionless between the two.
"You don't deserve her." Justin seethed through his white teeth.
"She doesn't love you, Justin." Howl said, his voice coarse and unrefined. "She never wanted to marry you and she certainly doesn't want to have anything to do with you anymore. You're the one who doesn't deserve her."
Justin laughed uncontrollably, unable to perceive his own psychotic tone. His curled hair was a mess, and his muscles jittered as he clutched harder to the cane. He gazed at Sophie, his lips convulsing with a forced smile. "Sophie will love me one day. She can learn to love me."
Sophie took a step back, covering her mouth in awe. She was appalled by his visage, the way he couldn't see reality right in front of him. His eyes expressed undying love and affection, but now Sophie could see through them like open doors. He was a liar, a deceiver, an abuser – he was a true monster.
Suliman stepped forward and levitated the cane out from between the two gentlemen. She held it and pointed the end toward Howl. "Now you may seize him."
The guards, having not moved once since entering the room, all lunged for the wizard at once. Justin leapt out of the way as Howl battled the four guards, dodging their chains and shackles that meant to constrain him and his magic. Sophie moved to pull Howl away from them, but Justin held her wrists and thrust her close to him.
"Let me go!" Sophie shouted, only watching the man she loved being chained like an injured animal. Howl's strength was completely worn out with one blow to the head. Suliman held the cane over his collapsed, nearly unconscious body.
"Make sure to send him to the correct prison this time." Suliman ordered. "I want him to stay there for good now."
Howl hung his head on his shoulders, trying to catch a glimpse of her sparkling silver hair before he was taken away. He couldn't see the anguish in her eyes, or he may have broken down completely. "Sophie..."
"Howl, I won't let them do this." Sophie said, pleading on her knees as Justin continued to restrain her. "I promise I'll find you."
As the door slammed behind them, Sophie fell to the floor, utterly fractured into a million pieces. Howl was locked away for as long as forever, and she was once again fettered to the obsessive Prince. They always found each other, Sophie and Howl, no matter the struggle or the conflict. Yet she worried this time, she would never find him.
Suliman walked around the unmade bed, her hands holding the cane behind her back as she paced the circular room. Each step of the heel was a knife pressing farther and farther into Sophie, closer to her end. She looked down in defeat. They had finally lost.
Suliman stood directly in front of the broken down Sophie, Justin by her side and her heels clicking together. "Sleeping with Howl was a big mistake, Sophie."
Sophie breathed heavily. She closed her eyes, reliving the moments of becoming one with Howl. The way they moved together, breathed together, kissed like it was their last, the words of unfailing love and adoration - Suliman was wrong; it was no mistake. It was beautiful, like an orchestra playing a piece so miraculous and breathtaking that time stood still and the music was the only sound in the world.
Sophie clenched her fists and stood up, feeling stronger than ever. She narrowed her eyes. "It was the greatest moment of my life."
Suliman laughed lightly, but continued. "You do understand the consequences of your actions, right dear Sophie?"
She knew. All her life, her mother warned her to stay pure until she married someone of a higher stature to bear children in a wealthy environment. Honey threatened Sophie and her sisters, saying they would never be allowed to live under the same roof again and would not have her support should anything other than her plan work.
Sophie was aware of the consequences all too well.
"Do you realize how difficult those chances are?" Sophie said. "It took my mother and father years before they even became pregnant with me."
"True, nature does have a way of evading such permanent effects." Suliman said. She placed her hand over Sophie's stomach, her fingers tingling and warm. "But when you add a little magic..."
Sophie backed away forcefully, unknowingly into Justin's arms. "No!"
Suliman cackled loudly. "Scared, are we now? Allowing Howl to take the one last piece of innocence you had left may not have been the right choice, my dear."
The look on Suliman's face was too ecstatic, too pleased. Sophie panted heavy breaths, the jagged touches from Justin's hands caressing her arm. It reminded her that she was still held by his grotesque grip. She flung her arms out of his grasp and centered between the two, both staring at her - wanting something from her.
Sophie thought about Suliman's words. The chances of her becoming pregnant were very slim, but Suliman knew how to morph fate. Why would she want Sophie to bear Howl's child if their plan was to marry her off to Justin? If Sophie chose differently than what she wanted, the consequences could possibly come to pass.
Sophie smiled softly, her fears slowly fading away. "It doesn't matter, Suliman. You will no longer torture us. I won't let you."
Suliman held her head high. "I admire your courage, truly." She took bold steps closer to her, not surprised when Sophie stood her own ground. "But believe me when I say that there is no reason to hunt you down anymore. You've already done exactly what I was hoping for."
Sophie froze. Her arms became weak and they slumped to her side. "You... you wanted this to happen? You knew we would...?"
"Madame Suliman, what are you talking about?" Sophie turned to Justin, who seemed just as confused as she was, but more enraged than anything. "I thought the plan was to make Sophie my wife."
Suliman nodded. "And it still is, dear Justin. We've just found ourselves in a bit of a tight situation. May as well make the most of it."
"By having her bear a child that belongs to another man?" Justin's voice was hoarse.
Suliman turned to Sophie. "I will offer you this once more. Marry Justin, and there will be no baby, except with him in the near future. I will leave you and Howl alone if you continue with this wedding."
Sophie sighed in disgust. "You're a monster, Suliman."
Suliman leaned closer to Sophie, whispering, "How about you have the rest of the day to give me an answer." She motioned to Justin. "Better yet, why don't you and your future husband share a few words on the matter?"
Sophie turned to Justin, watching his anger build over and over upon itself. As the door slammed shut, Sophie jolted at the sound. She was alone with Justin, and he no longer hid behind an artificial smile.
. ❀ 。• * ₊ ° 。❀ ° 。
The little boy stood frightened as he and his companion were in the midst of a dozen Palace guards. Luckily, having been trained in the arts of sorcery proved to be beneficial in this particular instance. They stood in plain sight, surrounded by Suliman's henchmen, yet neither were in danger.
"I think we should look down this hallway." Kenta whispered. Markl nodded and followed the older wizard to the West Wing, the same area that Kenta had discovered the prison for their fellow magical friends.
Markl had not known that the magicians Howl had trained with during his apprenticeship had been locked in a prison. He hadn't realized Suliman's true volatility until he learned their once spectacular powers were constantly being drained from their souls. Before, Markl paid little mind to things outside of their secretive castle - now, he was thrown into the lion's den with only his brief years of training from Howl.
Markl followed Kenta's steps exactly, turning his head both ways as they passed rows of Palace guards standing in uniform position, prepared to attack at any moment if the spell wore off. This was a rather simple spell, but as long as Markl continued to whisper the chant, they were safe from sight.
"You're doing great, Markl. Keep chanting." Kenta whispered. Markl smiled lightly as he continued the ancient language. He always thought he was too young to work his magic and show off his skills in a setting where it was advantageous, but just bearing witness to his own reaction in an authentically dangerous situation - Markl knew he had only held back his potential before.
Kenta led him down a hallway to the side, no one in sight. "You can stop if you want. We're safe for now."
Markl stopped the chant mid-sentence and they became visible to their surroundings, though to their own eyes nothing changed. The hallway was dark and dingy, as was most of the Royal Palace. The only difference was that there were less doors on the sides, only about three or so. The hallway size was still the same as the other floors, but they were closer to the top floor.
"Where are we?" Markl asked.
Kenta walked along. "The Royal Family's floor. This is where Prince Justin, King Roland, Queen Johanna, and Madame Suliman live."
Markl froze as he watched how calmly Kenta walked through these halls, not a shred of fear coursing through his body. It was strange to see how vulnerable and fragile Kenta was when they first met compared to this Kenta. He was determined to find Howl and Sophie and bring them back home.
"Come on, boy." Markl rushed to Kenta's side and hid behind him, almost tripping on his hooded cape. He hoped they wouldn't run into a trap or hidden guards, since he really didn't know what to expect in the Palace. He knew how to set traps and lead people into a playful trick, but those were childish banter. This was real, and the dangers were much more lethal.
Kenta stopped by one door, holding his hands out and pressing softly against the wood grain. He closed his eyes and concentrated his energy. After some time, he released his grip and turned to Markl. "This room is clear."
He opened the door and they walked in to see an extravagant style. An intricate and detailed fireplace stood in one corner, next to an open window. The drapes were a dark violet, and most of the furniture and décor matched. The king size bed was covered in white rose petals, something Kenta thought he had seen before. The only light came from the window and the closet, which housed two rows of suits in bright yellows and whites and blues.
"This is Justin's room." Kenta confirmed. "He's most likely scheming with Suliman, trying to find another way to force Sophie into that absurd marriage."
Markl gulped, holding the edges of his cape around his small body. "You don't think Sophie will marry him, do you?"
Kenta turned to the boy, noting his tense aura. From his brief encounter with these two, he noticed early on that Markl loved Sophie as if she were his own mother. Nevertheless, the reality of the issue was too risky. Though he was optimistic Sophie could evade Suliman and her plots, Kenta saw the situation with a more realistic eye – a price he often paid for having a logical mindset. And realistically, Sophie barely had a slim chance, even with their help.
Kenta sighed. "We will do everything possible to bring them back. I promise."
Markl nodded. He was young enough to believe Kenta, but smart enough to know the dangers of Suliman's presence. Though he personally had never come face-to-face with the Royal Sorceress, the stories Howl and Sophie spoke of after their first confrontation with her were not pleasant.
Kenta searched the room for a vent, though there were none in plain sight. The room was cold, and it wasn't because of the open window. Not in the middle of summer. There wasn't even a breeze. The Palace was the only such place in Ingary with such advanced technology, and it was a plus to have the vents connected to every room throughout the Palace.
Including an underground prison.
"Suliman said she wanted Howl locked in the prison with the other magicians. Help me look for an opening in the floor, Markl." Markl did as he was told and searched around. He checked under the large bed, in the closet, and behind the writing desk. He sighed in annoyance. He wished things happened the way they did in the books, where whatever the hero was looking for somehow jumped out right in front of him. It would make things much easier for him.
As he stood up from under the desk, he noticed a bouquet of pure, white roses sitting inside a vase. Markl tilted his head and observed it closer. He remembered watching Sophie walk down the aisle with a similar one. Though he'd seen her from the indoor balcony with Howl and Kenta, he was still able to note the repetitive white color in almost every part of the interrupted ceremony.
Markl widened his eyes as he remembered his brief, invisible encounter with Suliman merely minutes before the wedding commenced.
"Oh, right. They... didn't have the color she requested, Madame."
"Oh, what a shame. You know, we are one short for the bride's bouquet... This will do."
Markl sucked in a quick breath. Gwenda, the servant girl, was there. She had become one of the roses in the bouquet. Maybe, if he was lucky, she might still be there.
"Markl, I found it." Kenta said from across the room. "Now we need to–"
The bedroom door flung open and a swarm of palace guards funneled inside. "Intruders! Arrest them!"
"Markl, run!"
Markl grabbed the bouquet and jumped down the hole first, his cape flowing with his speed. Kenta followed soon after, waiting for the boy to get to safety. Markl screamed as they flew down the air shute, but Kenta reached down and covered his mouth. He didn't want anyone on the other floors to become suspicious.
"Any second now, we should land near the prison." Kenta said against the current. "Let's hope they haven't brainwashed Howl to the point where he can't come back."
Markl held onto the flowers for dear life. He didn't know exactly which one was Gwenda, and if one managed to fly away, she could be lost forever. He was the only one who knew of her predicament, and he desperately wanted to save his new friend.
Markl looked down, noticing there was indeed an end to their fall. Before they plummeted to the ground, Markl breathed a gust of air to lift them for a few seconds, slowly smoothing his exhale to drop them safely on the ground.
They panted slightly, and Kenta rested his hand on Markl's shoulders. "Quick thinking, kid. You saved us."
Markl blushed and laughed lightly. "Yeah, I guess I did."
"Hey." Markl looked up at Kenta, the older wizard bending down to his height. "You're a great wizard, and you'll do amazing things in the future."
Markl smiled wide. He wasn't too confident in his abilities, so hearing some form of praise from a more advanced wizard gave him the strength to be the best he could.
Their brief conversation was interrupted by a piercing scream. Markl recognized this voice, and he hadn't heard his master scream like that since Sophie "organized things" in Howl's bathroom. They turned to look through the metal bars and saw four guards leading him to one of the hanging chambers.
"I won't let you turn me into Suliman's slave!" Howl shouted as he thrashed in their arms, failing to break free. "I won't go through that again!"
Kenta used a spell to increase his strength and bent the bars that restrained them from the prison. As they entered the room, the guards were in the process of jailing Howl. Markl started running toward them, but Kenta pulled the boy to the side behind a metal pillar, out of sight.
"Get him in there." One guard said in disgust. "I don't want to see any trouble from this one anymore."
Howl lashed at one of the guards who held his chains, but the other kneed him in the gut. Howl arched his back upward, his body limp save for the guards holding him. The final guard lowered one of the prison cages, the same one Kenta was nearly imprisoned earlier. They threw Howl in, the loud clang of metal echoing throughout the room.
"Prisoner is secured in the cell." One said to his supposed leader.
The leader nodded. "Finally. As long as he's stuck in here, he'll be magic-free and out of our hair for good." He locked the control box and led the other three to the exit. They filed one by one up the staircase.
Markl looked up to Kenta, his voice stern but cordial. "Important fight or flight lesson: we don't need to fight them. We need to conserve our energy to save Howl."
Markl nodded and they walked along the metal pathway that surrounded the hanging cells and the strange, glowing orb in the center of the room. Markl was strangely captivated by the orb, its power strong and alluring.
"Markl, don't be fooled. Its only goal is to draw your magic away from you." Markl followed Kenta, though his eyes continued staring into the light. For some reason, it was actually quite beautiful. He almost wanted to be a part of it.
"Markl!" The boy jolted when Kenta grabbed hold of his shoulders, shaking him out of his daze. "Do not look at the orb. It will take away your powers for Suliman to use whenever she wants. It's a trap; don't fall for it."
Markl widened his eyes. "Is that what Master Howl is going through right now?"
Kenta turned back to Howl's cage, the wizard screaming in anguish as his magic source slowly drained from his body. Kenta knew this feeling all too well, and he would rather Howl not experience this agonizing torture.
"We can't be taken by this power, but we need to get to Howl's cage." Kenta turned to Markl. "Did Howl ever teach you the blacken sun spell?"
Markl froze. "He said that was a mage's spell. I... I haven't gotten there yet."
Kenta bit his lip. It was only the spell he could think of that would buy them some time. "It's a two-person spell... I guess I'll have to teach you now."
Markl gulped. "Are we going to save all the other witches and wizards?"
Kenta sucked in a nervous breath. His focus was mainly on Howl. He wasn't sure if they had the time or the resources to save their other comrades, as much as he knew that was the right thing to do.
He remembered how it felt to be a prisoner of Suliman, following her direct orders and when the day was over, mindlessly returning to his cage and returning his powers so they could only be used for her purposes. His logic told him no, but the boy's eagerness gave him an ounce of hope.
If they completed this spell to perfection, things may turn out for the better. Maybe not the best, but at least better.
Kenta smiled. "We can try."
Markl placed the white bouquet in the pocket of his cape that held his wand and exchanged them, holding the detailed wood stick before Kenta. They continued running down the path, using all their strength to avoid falling into the temptations of the glowing orb that Howl was desperately fighting.
They saw his cage shaking and thrashing from side to side in the air. He slammed against the walls trying to break out, but the metal was able to contain anything and everything Howl threw against it. Kenta heard spell after spell being cast against the cage, but nothing worked. After some time, the spells nearly halted entirely.
"Howl! We're coming!" Kenta and Markl stopped when they were near the lever. Kenta was now more optimistic that if the spell was a success, their comrades would also be freed. However, he feared that releasing the witches and wizards wouldn't do any good without their source magic.
"All right, Markl." Kenta pulled his wand from the constraint of his belt. "This is an extremely powerful spell and can be mistaken for another if not properly done."
Markl gulped and nodded. His arms quivered as the uneasiness of messing up crawled in. He was scared to say the least, and his skills would test him in this one moment, this one chance to save Howl and Sophie and quite possibly an entire population of great magicians.
Kenta was skeptical of their plan. He knew the spell well, but he always performed it with a wizard of higher stature than he was - like Howl. He never expected to be in this situation with a minor apprentice.
Though Markl was wise and skillful for his age, he was not trained in the mage's spells, which were pertinent for many of the dangers Howl had faced in the past; Markl quite possibly could face them in his near future, as well.
Kenta pointed his wand to the glowing orb. "Follow as I do."
Markl immediately raised his wand in the same direction as Kenta. Though his arms and legs quivered beyond his control, he was ready.
Kenta nodded. "Repeat after me. Kiefse dogaf disfocx, fohalk fouvics saef dogaf disfocx."
Markl's hand began to sweat as he tried remembering the words. Some of them he remembered, just from previous spells Howl had taught him, but others he had never heard of before.
Kenta nodded. "Together."
Kenta touched his wand to the boy's as they repeated the spell. Their wands glowed and a darkness formed from the tips. It bolted out, starting from one side of the orb and gradually encompassing it. The darkness would block the effects of the orb that had been absorbing their magic. However, when the orb looked like a half sun, the darkness retreated back into their wands.
Kenta stared in awe. "What?"
Instead of darkness, their wands emitted quick sparks of electricity in all directions, shooting against the metal prisons hanging from the ceiling. Kenta covered Markl as the sparks continued jolting from the wands, refusing to allow any harm to inflict the boy.
They heard a loud clang, and Kenta raised his head to see where the commotion occurred. One of the prison cages had fallen, electricity running wildly along the sides. The sparks vibrated against the locked door, and the creature inside started pounding recklessly.
The animalistic screech forced Kenta and Markl to jump in unquestionable terror. The pounding grew louder and louder until the last strike flung the metal door across the room, Kenta once again covering Markl for protection.
A soft growl escaped through the room, and Kenta was afraid to witness the monster unleashed. He turned slowly, a long, grizzly beast hiding in the darkness of its cage. The eyes glowed a vibrant green, like the newborn leaves in spring. They were beautiful, but the creature itself was absolutely terrifying.
Kenta walked backwards slowly, keeping himself between Markl and the beast as it departed from its cage, finding itself in a new territory. Kenta heard the electricity from the spell still in full force, and all the cages came tumbling down.
The creature howled fiercely as its brethren joined the freedom from their prison. The creatures came in various forms: wings, claws, horns, sharp teeth. Kenta knew this side. He had become one of them at a time.
And he knew they were too far gone.
"Markl, we have to get Howl. Now." Howl's cage had fallen with the others. His door hadn't flung off, but Kenta assumed he was too weak to break through it. Kenta darted his eyes from the creatures nearing them and Howl's cage. He still held his wand, and with a casual flick of his wrist, he flung the door open.
The creatures jumped and targeted the two wizards, and in a flash Kenta grabbed Markl and rushed toward Howl's cage, locking them all inside. The creatures clawed and toppled and ravished the cage, but they were unable to break it down.
Kenta and Markl sucked in quick and heavy breaths, Markl holding tightly to the wizard. Kenta ran his fingers through the boy's auburn hair, trying to keep him calm, though he had difficulty doing that himself.
Lying helpless in the cage, Howl was weak and broken down to his worst state. His long hair covered his face, and he lay curled in a ball. His body trembled and convulsed erratically, the once intimidating wizard now unable to even control his own muscles.
"Howl..." Kenta whispered his name softly, and he jolted suddenly from hearing the sound of his name. He looked up, backing away when he saw the intruders in his cage.
"Master Howl, it's us." Markl said, trying to comfort him. "It's Markl and Kenta."
"Howl, you're safe now."
"No I'm not." Howl spoke low, like he was already becoming monstrous. He was barely audible from the shrieks and cries from their deformed friends. "I feel so weak."
"Don't worry, the light is gone, Howl." Kenta said, inching closer to him with caution. "We'll get you out of this."
Howl rolled his eyes back into his head and collapsed, Kenta's cries mixing with that of the creatures. He rushed to his friend's side and held him up, the wizard completely defeated. He slapped his cheeks multiple times, hoping to wake him up, but it was no use. Howl barely had a breath, as he allowed Suliman's power to consume him.
"Howl, don't do this to me." Kenta begged, his eyes shutting tightly to deny the tears. "You can't leave Sophie. You can't leave your family. Markl and Calcifer and that dog and even that crazy witch – I won't let you abandon them."
The prison cage shook in all directions as the mindless creatures used their heightened strength to pry open the metal walls, though they were weak to the rigor of the cage. Yet as their numbers multiplied, so did their chances of attacking the unexpected intruders.
The amateur apprentice, the dying wizard, and the tenacious comrade were safe inside, but only for so long.
Such a cliffhanger! Arrghhh! Sorry, but not sorry. Cliffhangers are my favorite to read and write. I also mentioned a little surprise at the end of my last chapter (which is coming up faster than I had hoped... sad face), so stay tuned... this story is not over yet!
