A/N: I got this next one up pretty quick, but of course it is short, and I think that is that way I am going to handle this whole story – short chapters fast updates. I'm glad I received some very positive response for the story so far, and I can only hope that it's popularity grows. This chapter still has the story very dreamlike and happy, nothing dark yet, but it will begin to be more and more twisted in the chapters to come. Read and enjoy!

WARNING: Rated M for future coarse language, violence, and adult themes including sex and abuse. You have been warned.

The Devil's Advocate

By Gothic Tinkerbell

Chapter 1: The Act

Even through the dark, unsettling mists clawing at the window of the rocking carriage, Sophie knew she was far from home. She had long given up the hope that this dream-like apparition of carriage and ghostly rider were going to take her home, home to her warm bed, home to the security of the small room, home to what she knew she could trust and believe.

It was difficult for her to keep up the act of being completely engaged with the scenery outside the window. Sophie chose to look straight through the translucent opening in the snail's shell, so that she would not have to look at her fellow passenger. It was most likely obvious that she was trying to hard to avoid his eyes, but once the wonder of their first encounter had begun to wear off, she couldn't bring herself to look – afraid of what she might see.

The man, her captor as it now seemed, hadn't made the effort to engage her either, but sat quietly across from her, legs crossed, hands folded atop them, with straight posture and a still shadowed face. Entering the cabin hadn't aided Sophie in revealing anymore of this mans face, for he was still shadowed. As she sat there timidly trying to avoid him, she had begun a guessing game in her mind as to his true identity. Her guesses had been narrowed down to two simple facts, he was either a demon, or this whole event was but a vivid dream.

Looking through the window and yet seeing past everything there into her own mind, Sophie had been able to stay quiet calm and collected, until the mists lifted and the wastes rolled out before her, endless and terrible. This was finally what she had needed to be able to turn in surprise and growing fear towards her keeper and look at him. He was still composed in the same manner, but it felt as if he were staring straight at her, straight into her, from behind those shadows.

The words Sophie had wanted to say for sometime were forced from her mouth. "…Where are we going?" She asked just above a whisper. "You said…you said you were going to take me home?"

At last a movement came from this man, if that was truly what he was, and he leaned forward over his knees and into the light. "I am taking you home…you just haven't realized it yet."

The velvety voice was still the same, the sound made of silk and seduction. And now with his face and body revealed, again Sophie felt enchanted. His face and skin was a flawless porcelain white, his eyes a captivating blue, and blonde hair that fell around his face and shined even in the dim light of the cabin. Sophie was awed by him, and left speechless for a passing moment that seemed like an hour. His beauty was so familiar, like a face imprinted in her mind, for there was no way a girl could forget a face like that. This man's eyes examined Sophie as well, not that they hadn't been the whole ride, but it pleased him to see her fascination. As they glinted in the light, Sophie felt like she was brought back to life, and again tried to speak.

"You…you are…" The words wouldn't come, and she was silence again by the man.

"My dear, you're trembling. Are you cold?" Sophie realized that she was in fact trembling, but not from the cold. A pressure behind her entire face welled up from her chest, and felt as if she were going to cry. She felt all out of sorts, didn't understand what was happening, if she should be frightened or relieved, how to react, and why she was suddenly so emotional.

"I…." She murmured. "It's alright child," The man said in a comforting tone, and Sophie realized that his hand was rested upon hers. Her eyes drifted down to it, and then back up to his drowning eyes. She tried to speak again. "Shhhhh…" He reached out his other arm, tugging at her gently with the hand that cupped hers. The man embraced Sophie, coaxing her to sit beside him, and he held her to him.

Her head leaned against his chest, as his arms enveloped her, and it was the most comforting and natural thing. Home seemed like the dream now, as well did her family, the town, the daily life that had gone before, and the loneliness that she had endured….

After a while Sophie was finally able to speak, "Who are you?" She asked as she was beginning to be lulled to sleep by his embrace and the rocking carriage.

"My name is Howl." Sophie had drifted off, but the name continued on with her into dream and unconsciousness. The possessed carriage trekked deeper into the heart of the wastes, and the hills were beginning to turn into the slopes of mountains.

"Calsipher," Howl muttered to the carriage, "bring up the speed, and bring us home."

A/N: There you have it, pretty happy so far, but I must warn my readers that Howl will not always be like this, and will not exactly change drastically, but will begin to show his true colors and motives – which as far as this story goes are pretty sadistic. . I hope you enjoyed, and please review!

-G.T.