Authoress: Sorry for the wait, as promised, here's chapter 3… READ n REVIEW!
Chapter 3
Sophie stood before her full length mirror clad in black, her hair swept up in a simple braid. The outfit she donned was brand new; making its first grand entrance tonight. She saw it in a catalog, and knew it was perfect for her 'special assignments'. The suit was tight, body-hugging, yet elastic giving its wearer a much welcomed flexibility, plus its waterproof, and most importantly it's black. Great for playing hide and seek with enemies in the dark. Of course such a fine suit did not come cheap…but staring at her reflection now, Sophie smiled.
"Money well spent." Sophie breathed.
"Indeed…"
"Where are your manners Howl, don't you know to knock before you enter." Sophie critiqued.
"My apologies my sweet…" Howl said, giving her a mock bow. Reaching up, he knocked the door twice.
"Does this satisfy you my sweet?" He smirked.
Sophie scowled.
"Get out! Wait in the living room Howl."
"Anything for you my sweet…" Howl said, and left the way he came.
Sophie shifted the lamp shade of the lime green lamp sitting by her bed and the bed moved aside, the floor beneath the bed opened up and a huge trunk levitated upwards. Sophie bent, fiddled with the lock of the trunk and heaved the lid open. The trunk gave with an ominous creak, baring its contents for the world to see.
Sophie picked her usual set of needles, each about the length of her fingers, she inserted them in the pouch by her sides, followed by two others the length of a normal hand dagger, which she strapped onto her arms, and four more to her legs. She was about to close the trunk when a particularly long needle caught her eye. The 'fencer'. It is one of those weapons that she didn't use often, because it is overkill, 'fencer' is the length of a sword; long slender and pointed, the tip laced with potent poison, one that is specially concocted by a witch she once knew. In addition, the seal engraved at the side of needle when pressed upon, would trigger a built in mechanism, causing numerous tiny needles to cover the lower expense of the 'fencer', forming a kind of spiked baton.
'Guess you should come along for the ride 'fencer'. Never hurts to be more than prepared when the target is an all powerful witch…' with that Sophie slid it in place over her back. Finally, she put on the black coat she prepared earlier, and descended the stairs to meet Howl.
"Let's go Howl."
"Let's." Howl said, jingling the keys to the jeep.
"Nuh uh, I'm driving!" Sophie said, reaching for the keys.
"It is every man's duty to chauffer the lady…"
"Well, can the gentleman act, I am no lady!"
"You are the very best one there is my sweet…"
"Cut the crap! It's my jeep, so I get to drive it!"
"Ahh…but you don't know the way to the Inn now do you?"
"I…I…fine. You can drive for now."
Howl bowed and opened the jeep's door for Sophie, who grudgingly entered.
After 3 hours…the duo finally arrived at the inn.
"So this is it, The Cauldron...not really what I expected…"
"Well…always expect the unexpected when it comes to the Witch of the Waste." Howl said.
"Of course. To do anything less would be foolish, and foolishness will get you killed."
"Very well said my sweet…"
"Shall we?" Howl added, holding the door open for Sophie.
"I can get my own doors Howl." With that, Sophie pushed past Howl into the dimly lit room.
"How may I be of service to you…" a black glob of a man asked.
Sophie cringed. 'Eew…what is that…'
'The Witch of the Waste's henchmen, my sweet…' Howl supplied, tapping into Sophie's mind.
'Get the fuck out of my head Howl!'
'I swear it's an accident, your disgust is so great…that it echoed in my mind.' Howl thought back, giving Sophie a wry smile.
Sophie frowned.
Ignoring the slightly pissed Sophie beside him, Howl proceeded to make his request to meet with the Witch of the Waste.
The black glob nodded, or did something that resembled a nod before melting towards the floor.
Sophie grimaced at its method of departure.
"Still disgusted by it my sweet…"
Sophie scowled, "Didn't I tell you not to do that, stop entering my mind!"
"You wound me my sweet, I don't have to probe your mind to read your disgust, it is apparent on your face."
Before Sophie could reply, the black glob materialized in front of them. "My mistress has granted you permission…follow me…"
With that the black glob slithered down a flight of stairs. Sophie looked at Howl, wordlessly asking him if they should follow. Howl gave Sophie a small smile, and placed her hand in his, escorting her down the stairs after the black glob.
"Do you think it is wise to follow…it…could be a trap." Sophie whispered.
"It could be…but what choice do we have…this is the only way to meet her…"
Sophie sighed, and spread out her senses, looking out for possible dangers, and exits.
As the trio made their way down the darkened stairways, touches hanging on the walls flared to life, lighting the way to god knows where.
When they reached the bottom, they walked through a narrow corridor with doors lining either sides, at the very end is the Witch, waiting just behind the hardwood double doors. The black glob promptly pushed open the doors to reveal a rather spacious room…the whole room consist of black and shades of black.
'Such a dreary room, monochromic…' Sophie thought.
"Greetings, Witch of the Waste." Howl said, bowing slightly.
"Howl…nice of you to drop by…" The Witch answered, batting her lashes at him.
Howl shuddered, but the smile on his face never faltered.
"Ahem." Sophie cleared her throat.
The Witch turned, and visibly frowned. "I see you brought company…" She said sourly.
"Yes, this is Sophie." Howl said.
"Sop-hie…quaint making acquaintance with you. Sorry I didn't see you earlier…you…blend in well with the decorations…"
'Of course you didn't notice me, your vision could only hold Howl…' Sophie thought dryly. Aloud she said, "Nice to meet you too…"
"So…Howl, what brings you here?" The Witch asked in a sultry voice.
"To see how the lovely Witch of the Waste is doing." Howl replied, not even missing a beat.
The Witch beamed.
'So smooth, a really sweet talker…and the Witch must be really in over her head to buy such outright lies…well…if she is so into Howl, it would make my job easier, a lot easier…' Sophie thought, the edge of her lips curling up into a small smile.
"So…Sophie's your…subordinate?" The Witch asked, glancing at Sophie.
"No, she is my soon-to-be Servant…and my equal." Howl said, taking a hold of Sophie's right hand.
Sophie shot Howl a nasty glare. 'Calm down my sweet, I spoke only of the truth…'
'What are you doing in my mind? Didn't I make it clear to you to stay out? And you do not need to tell her that…' Sophie thought back, glaring at Howl.
'Now, now, my sweet…the only way for me to communicate with you without her knowing is by tapping into your mind. Surely you wouldn't take offense in it.' Howl thought back, squeezing Sophie's hand lightly.
'Fine. I will put up with it for now…but once this mess is over…you stay far far away from my mind, my privacy!'
'As you wish my sweet…'
"Really…" The Witch said, giving Sophie an even less friendly look.
"Yes." Howl replied.
"So…You came all the way here just to tell me you have found another lover?" The Witch asked voice dangerously low. "You even brought her here to rub it in my face?" By now the Witch's face had darkened, her eyes narrowed into slits.
"That has never been my plan." Howl replied in a soothing voice trying to placate the Witch.
"Well…that could be changed…" The Witch said her face almost cheery.
"What do you mean?" Howl asked a tinge of worry seeping into his voice.
"She can be easily disposed of; humans are oh so fragile…" The Witch drawled.
"If you think I'll just roll over and die, you are oh so mistaken." Sophie replied, mimicking her tone.
The Witch scowled. "It would be wise of you to keep your mouth shut human."
"Like that would be any good. I know you want to wipe me off the face of the Earth, keeping my mouth shut isn't going to change your mind. But, I'll give you a run for your money, killing me won't be a walk in the park, I can promise you that…" Sophie retorted.
"We'll see now won't we…?" The Witch said, and began muttering.
"No." Howl shouted. With a flick of his wrist he sends a gust of wind towards the Witch.
"I will not allow you to harm her, she is my Servant; and is under my protection." Howl asserted.
"How dare you attack me! So, that's how you want it, fine. I shall have your heart for real." With that the Witch snapped her fingers, and black globs started to materialize from the walls and ceiling.
"Get them!" The Witch screeched.
All at once the black globs descended towards them in a rush. Howl leapt towards Sophie, and muttering a few words, he formed a shield around them just in the nick of time. The black globs crashed against the magical shield and disintegrated.
"My creations! Howl…" The Witch cried.
She waved her arms around in quick flicks and black tigers appeared. "Get them my pets!"
By now Howl's shield had already dissipated, the two leapt apart as one of the tigers pounced. Sophie whipped out three needles from the side pouches and threw them into the mess of stalking tigers. She blinded one, and injured a few others, eliciting a few angry growls from the tigers.
Howl on the other hand had his hands full throwing random spells at the tigers; he turned a few into mice and trapped others in magically conjured nets. Yet the tigers kept coming.
"The mirror, break the mirror Sophie, it's acting as a portal for the tigers!" Howl shouted from across the room.
'Mirror?' Sophie looked around, and spotted the long slender full-length mirror at the corner of the room. 'That must be it…' Sophie took hold of another five needles and threw it at the mirror, but a tiger leapt up and took the hit; it landed with a dull thud on the floor and dissolved. Its comrades snarled at its departure, and stalked once again towards Sophie.
'Shit. The mirror won't be easy to break, the tigers seem to know it's a portal and they are protecting it…Dimmit…'Sophie thought frantically.
'I'll try and distract them; you go for the mirror when you get the chance.' Howl channeled to Sophie.
'Arrgh…it's damn unnerving to have you popping into my mind, could you give me some signal before you do that again.' Sophie thought back.
'I'll try…you got the plan?'
'Right, ready when you are.'
With that Howl pressed his palms together and sends a blast of purple energy towards the tigers advancing on Sophie, effectively destroying the majority of it, and giving Sophie a clear shot of the mirror.
Sophie raised two needles in her left hand and threw it at the mirror, but her attempts were foiled once again, as an injured tiger sacrificed itself, by taking the blow.
'Hurry my sweet; I can't keep up this shield much longer…'
'I'm trying…and stop shielding if you can't, just attack them with your magic Howl.'
'I can't after that blast of energy I sent, I need time to recharge.'
'Damn…' Sophie thought, 'Here goes nothing…'
With a quick flick of her arm, Sophie slid the needle on her arm out; she aimed and pretended to throw at the mirror. Just as expected another tiger leapt up presumably to take the hit, but it landed unharmed on the ground, only to have the long needle whiz past its head towards the mirror, the mirror shattered into a dozen pieces on impact. In that instance all the tigers roared and dissolved.
When the tigers have disappeared, Sophie turned to survey the room; Howl was standing at the corner brushing the creases out of his suit; as regal as ever even after taking on the tigers.
'Sheesh. He sure is impeccable…' Sophie thought sourly.
"You don't look half that bad yourself…" Howl said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"How…how did you…" Sophie asked, bewildered, looking at the spot he was at just moments ago.
"Magic…" Howl whispered.
"Oh, whatever…" Sophie said, shaking her head.
"Come on my sweet…let's go after the Witch, she couldn't have gone far…" Howl said.
"How would you know, she may be fat and heavy, but she knows magic like you do, teleportation shouldn't be a problem for her." Sophie retorted.
"It is not like you to give up my sweet…anyway; teleportation is mostly a skill of sorcerers not witches."
Howl informed.
"Great! Nice to know. Let's go then. Any idea where she might have gone? I don't remember anyone leaving by the way we come from…"
Howl smiled and strode towards the Witch's desk, he twisted the hands of the table clock and viola a door appeared on the wall.
Sophie gasped. "You know that by magic right?" Sophie asked pointedly.
"Nope. I merely saw here fiddle with the clock while I fought off the tigers, not everything have to be magic my sweet…"
"Nice to know that the great Master sorcerer could multitask too…" Sophie said sarcastically.
With that the two went into the tunnel hot on the Witch's trail.
"Damn…it's so dark here; I knew I should have brought a flashlight along…" Sophie mumbled, as she felt her way along the walls of the tunnel.
"Lumière." Howl said, and an orange ball of light appeared. "Better?"
"Much…thanks I guess…" Sophie replied, rubbing her eyes slightly to adjust to the sudden light.
"Howl, there's a fork up front."
"Yes," Howl nodded. "The first fork so far…"
"What makes you so sure? We were wandering in the dark for quite awhile before you created that orangey ball thingy." Sophie pointed out.
"That's true my sweet, but I can see perfectly with or without the light." Howl said matter-of-factly.
"Thanks for reminding me of my inferior human abilities," Sophie grumbled. "Which way then genius." Sophie asked, leaning against the walls with her arms crossed.
"Patience my sweet..." Howl said, he lift off his pendent and held it in his palm, "Trouver-Witch of the Waste." The gem in the pendent glowed, and it started to drift away towards the left fork.
"Let's go sweet Sophie." Howl said, and the duo made haste, following the glowing gem through various twists and turns, before coming to a standstill at an iron gate.
"Ouvrir!" Howl commanded. The gate shook, but held its place. "Ouvrir!" Howl tried again, but to no avail.
"I cannot open it my sweet, it is probably bound by anti-magic." Howl said.
"My turn." Sophie said pushing past Howl.
She knelt down and whipped out a needle from behind her ear and started picking the lock; in a matter of seconds the door was open.
"Nothing like good old fashion lock picking to do the trick." Sophie said, as she slid the needle back in place.
"You are indeed amazing my sweet…I made no mistake in choosing you to be my Servant…" Howl said, nodding in approval.
"Howl…I am not going to be your Servant what-so-ever, not now not ever." Sophie said firmly.
"You are already partly my Servant, the spells have already been cast, there's no turning back, it's the truth, and you will have to face it sooner or later." Howl said simply.
"Oh no, I don't. I'm going to find a way to break this spell, so don't you go getting comfortable with the idea of me being your Servant."
"There's no way to break it, what's done is done, you may not be my Servant now…but in time you will be, and if you give it a chance, you might even like it."
"Like it! By the name of God, I'll never ever take to the idea of playing Servant to you, not by a long shot."
"Stubbornness; one of your traits that I admire, but at times like this I'm not that sure it's a good thing."
"I am not going to be your Servant. Period. End of discussion. Let's concentrate on getting the Witch, and stop wasting time."
"Fine."
"Good, now let's get a move on." Sophie said, following the floating pendent.
They had only gotten a few steps before they reached yet another obstacle-a wooden door.
"Another anti-magic one..." Howl said amusedly. "But, I doubt you'll be able to pick this one's lock."
"Oh?"
"Yes, because there's no lock for you to pick. It's just solid wood all around."
"Hmm…" Sophie said. She placed her palm on it, feeling around it. "Guess there is really no lock to pick…but…Hiyaaa!" Sophie cried, kicking the door hard. The door splintered, a few more deftly delivered blows and the door gave.
"You never cease to amaze me my sweet…I guess after becoming a sorcerer, I became too reliant on my magic…" Howl said, rubbing his chin.
"Well…guess there are perks to being human after all…" Sophie said.
They took a right, and came face to face with the Witch.
"My, my, not bad, you got here pretty fast…" The Witch said, spreading her fan out to fan herself, "I'll give you credit for that at least…"
"I don't need your credits." Sophie spat,
"Ahahaha! Prepare to die then!" The Witch said venomously.
"That should be my line! Go to Hell bitch." Sophie bit back, grabbing the needles at the side of her leg.
The Witch scowled, with a flick of her fan black fog started to diffuse into the room.
"Achoo! What is this? A…a…achoo!" Sophie cried.
"Cover your mouth."
"Is it poison powder?" Sophie asked between sneezes.
"No. Just pepper."
"…"
"I only asked you to cover your mouth as it is unsightly for a lady to sneeze openly."
"We are fighting the Witch of the Achoo…sniff, sniff Waste and all you care about is etiquette? Your priorities sure are screwed up Howl!"
"Watch out!" Howl cried; pushing Sophie down just as a sharp disc whizzed past overhead.
"Whoa…" Sophie said. "Hey, no fair Witch! Come out and fight instead of hiding behind your…achoo… pepper spray!"
"Alls fair in love and war my dear…" The Witch said, sending another round of disc towards the two.
'Damn…she doesn't intend to play fair at all…and my eyes are tearing up from all that pepper…Darn…' Sophie thought.
"Come forth Winxie!" Howl said, and a small pixie-like creature appeared. "Aid me as I have you."
Winxie bowed, and fluttered into the fog of pepper, in a matter of seconds the Fog cleared.
"It's done; call me anytime you need me." Winxie said in her cute high-pitch voice, giving Howl a wink before disappearing.
"Hey, hotshot. Your admirers sure are varied…"
"Why, are you jealous my sweet?" Howl asked, giving Sophie his charming smile.
"You wish." Sophie said acridly.
"Enough!" The Witch shouted. "Don't you dare talk like I'm not around, take that!" With that, a magically woven net fell on Howl.
"Howl!" Sophie cried, as she tried to tear the net apart.
"Nuh uh, my dear, your fight is with me…I never did like rivals, especially love rivals…" The Witch said, levitating Howl to the ceiling out of reach.
"Fine, we shall settle this one on one, no tricks. My abilities against your powers."
"Well put my dear. I accept. A fight to the finish…"
"Fine."
Sophie rose in one fluid motion, drawing 'fencer' with her right hand.
The Witch rubbed the ring on her pointer, muttering ancient words of magic.
Sophie stiffened, she closed her eyes and let her senses lose, scenting the changes in the air. 'A disturbance to the right…that's where the surprise is going to come from…'
"Flameries!" the Witch shouted, thrusting a ball of flames towards Sophie. Sophie dodged it. The Witch followed up with another ball of flames, forcing Sophie to dodge and run. 'Trying to buy time for your other spell huh…not going to work…' With that Sophie executed a back flip, and thrust the 'fencer' at the spells core, shattering the spell instantaneously.
The Witch gasped. "How…how could you see the spell center? You are but a mere human…you should not be able to see it…"
"Surprise, surprise…I am not just any human, I'm the Queen's top assassin, and perhaps the name-Death Sender might jolt your memory."
"You…you are…Death…Death Sender?"
"Yes. And I'm here on the Queen's order and here…" Sophie said, flashing her badge. "Is my license to kill…" Sophie added.
"Efferrice se harksise…" The Witch muttered; causing a black aura to build around her.
"Oh no, you don't." With that Sophie threw two needles at the Witch, impaling her fat shoulders to the chair. The Witch screamed, and in that second, Sophie made her way halfway across the room and plunged 'fencer' into Witch.
"Aahhh! You wouldn't dare kill me." The Witch said, staring Sophie in the eye.
"Don't be too confident." Sophie replied, her eyes turning cold. The Witch shivered.
"Can you honestly tell me that you won't feel a thing after killing me?"
"Yea, I'll feel something…"
"Hah! See…now be a nice little girl and let me off."
"You are quite mistaken, what I'll feel is much safer with you gone."
The Witch's eyes widen in shock, but she continued to deny the fact that Sophie could kill, as though by sheer thought of will, she could change her plight.
"No you won't do it; you look too…good, and kind to kill in cold blood. You are a Christian, you wear a cross, killing is a sin, you wouldn't do it…" the Witch said, voice slightly shaky.
"Looks can be deceiving…and I do what must be done…" Sophie said coldly.
"No…no…no…you won't…no…"
The Witch panicked her bulky body spasm as the poison on the 'fencer' poured through her veins like hot burning liquid. She screamed with increased strength at the agony, and Sophie wrenched 'fencer' upwards, searching for the heart; the 'fencer' hit home, and the Witch's screams were cut short in a gurgle of blood.
When the last breath had left her body, the Witch turned to dust.
Howl disentangled himself from the enchanted net, which turned out to be an old fishing net once the Witch died.
"Sophie…"Howl said.
"It's done, let's go…"
With that, the two left and went back…
Authoress: OK! I'm done with this mission…dunno if I should continue with this story though…anyway, for those of you who have been supporting me all this time, thanks a bunch! REVIEW k? Love ya all. nn