Authoress: Really sorry for making you all wait, here's the next chappy! Read n Review k? -
Chapter 6
Howl whipped around instantly.
Brooks swerved his attention onto the source of the scream.
The officers near-by rushed over to the source of the scream.
Sophie lay sprawled on the ground, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
"Are you alright Sophie?" Howl asked, rushing forward to check on her.
"Sorry for the scare…tripped on that piece of rock there." Sophie said, glaring pointed at the innocently looking rock to her left.
"That's good" Howl said relieved.
"Good? What do you mean Good? I just took a fall and you think it is GOOD!"
"I didn't mean it that way my sweet…you could have fallen into some magical trap or something…"
"Hn. Like that would ever happen to me." Sophie scoffed.
"Well…if you can trip on a stagnant rock, I don't see why not." Howl teased.
"Why you…" Sophie seethed.
"A lover's quarrel…" Brooks piped up, momentously gaining the two's attention.
Sophie scowled.
Howl flashes his oh-so-famous smirk.
"Well now, are you ok miss Sophie?" Brooks asked, extending a hand to help Sophie up.
"Fine." Was Sophie's short reply.
"I'll get back to business then officer, and if you please, take care of Sophie." Howl said, as he swept to his feet.
"I do not need no one to take care." Sophie bit out.
"Sure, but I don't need my spell to be interrupted by 'someone' falling again." Howl said pointedly.
"It's just a fall; people do make mistakes, so stop harping on it already!" Sophie spat out.
"Ok, my sweet. I'm just ensuring that you don't make such 'mistakes' as you put it again." Howl replied, and turning towards brooks, he said. "I trust you can catch her if she falls."
Brooks nodded once.
Sophie seethed.
'Ooh…that blasted Howl! I can't stand him! How I wish I could wring his neck, yea like this…' Sophie thought, imaging herself torturing the Master Sorcerer, as he begged her for forgiveness.
'You do know that that is not possible my sweet…' Howl interrupted her blissfully violent thoughts.
'Don't you have better things to do then invading my private thoughts?'
'Well…my sweet, you are thinking too loud…'
'That's nonsense! There's no such thing as thinking too loud!'
'I guess there is my sweet, since I can hear you loud and clear...and I must say that it is breaching my concentration.'
'Damn you!'
'Do keep your thoughts quiet my sweet, it might cause my spell to go awry, and the consequences wouldn't be…very nice…'
'Hn. I guess I could continue later.'
'Be my guest my sweet…'
'And I'll make it ten times more…hmm...satisfying…'
'That's cruel my sweet…'
'And you can't do anything to stop it.'
'Don't be too sure my sweet…I can make anything happen…'
'Aren't you arrogant, and shouldn't you be concentrating on the damn spell?'
'I can multi-task pretty well my sweet…'
'Hn, and you were complaining about my 'loud thoughts' distracting you and all that!'
'Ah, perhaps I only meant to stop your violent thoughts towards me.' Howl thought, smirking at Sophie.
Sophie glared.
'You jerk! Damn you!'
'Tsk, tsk, and such foul languages you know my sweet…'
'That's my very own damn business, you stay out of it!'
"Ok, I'm done." Howl declared, "Officer brooks, you may begin your search for clues now."
Brooks nodded his thanks and immediately signaled for the other men to come forward, while he escorted Sophie and Howl away for his team to work.
"I could not thank you enough for coming down on such short notice Howl, and you too miss Sophie, I understand your concern over the matter, and am grateful that you have offered assistance." Brooks said, addressing them both in turn.
"It was no problem." Sophie and Howl replied.
"And I can't wait to get my hands on the bastard that did this…" Sophie added.
"Same here, miss Sophie, same here." Brooks nodded sagely.
And they departed.
Back in the jeep…
"So where to my sweet…?" Howl asked from behind the wheel.
"Duh! Home. Like where else is there to go." Sophie said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Why I could suggest a few delightful places we could go spend some quality time at…" Howl smirked.
"Yea…like hell! I'll much rather be bored to death at home than out to any of your 'delightful places'."
"Hm? You really do mean that don't you my sweet…?"
"Would I say it if I don't mean it?"
"Hmm…" Howl said, pretending to think.
"Of course not!" Sophie interjected.
"Well then…I think a date is in order, I will prove you otherwise my sweet, most definitely otherwise…" Howl said confidently.
"Your arrogance will be your downfall." Sophie stated.
"You almost sound like some wise man there my sweet…"
"Almost? I AM wise." Sophie intoned, nodding sagely.
"I didn't know you do self-delusions my sweet…"
"That should be my line."
"Whatever you say my sweet…now let's go for our date, I have just the place in mind…"
"Why do I not like the sound of that…?" Sophie sighed resignedly.
Howl smirked in triumph.
Sophie shot him a dirty look.
Howl chuckled.
Sophie gave up and resolved to stare straight out the window.
As the joy ride continues…
Sophie watched the bustling city fold away to the lush greenery of the country side. The sweet scent of flowers in bloom was a welcomed reprieve to the lungs, and Sophie took deep breaths of it, unconsciously relaxing against her seat.
"I see you are enjoying the ride my sweet…I've always known that you enjoy my presence, no matter how much you seem to deny it." Howl smirked.
Sophie shot Howl a withering look, "Well, you're wrong! I was enjoying the scenery; that is until I was reminded of your annoying existence…"
"If you insist…" Howl replied with a Gallic shrug of his shoulders.
Sophie rolled her eyes, "Do me a favor…?"
"Yes my sweet…?"
"Go shoot yourself…"
"Ouch."
"Watch out! If you are planning to die by driving off the cliff, do so when I'm not in the same damn vehicle as you, and use your own wheels, leave my jeep out of it!" Sophie glared, after guiding the jeep safely back on the curving slopes.
"Sorry about that my sweet…" Howl said sheepishly; or as close as Howl could get to being sheepish.
"We are damn lucky that I got the jeep back on track fast enough, else we'll be dead, and your apology would mean nothing if we died. 'Cause sorry means nothing to the dead."
"That's true. For that I offer you my utmost apology." Howl said seriously.
"…" Sophie was slightly thrown by his sudden change in attitude.
"Looks like I owe you my life, and am now bound by honor to stand by you until my pride deem this life debt paid. So, I guess we'll be seeing each other for a long while." Howl smiled.
"Why you! You did that on purpose didn't you! Well, let me inform you that I have no need, N-O; absolutely no need for you to repay that stupid debt which you had made happen in the first damn place, for whatever screwed up scheme your mind just cooked up!"
"Hmm…unfortunate, that is not up to you to decide…as according to the laws of magical beings; we will be bound; literally, until the debt is paid." Howl said.
"Huh?" Was Sophie's intelligent answer.
"Well…this just means that as much as you are against the idea, and even if I am against the idea; which I'm not. There is nothing we can do about it until the magic in the laws deemed the debt paid." Howl explained calmly.
"What kind of stupid law is that! And if you think I'm going to believe you, than you got another thing coming." Sophie scoffed.
"It matters not my sweet, you will get to witness the effects of the law anyway…" Was Howl's cool reply.
"I hate it when you sound like that." Sophie said, narrowing her eyes at Howl.
"I speak merely of the truth my sweet."
"I know. And damn I hate it."
"There's nothing we can do but 'get on with it' as your generation puts it." Howl said.
"Easier said than done, you wanted it to happen! I sure as hell don't!"
"Aah…a slight difference in views that is all…"
"Slight!"
"Well…I do know a way to, say; reverse this law…"
"You do! Why didn't you say so earlier?" Sophie cried.
"I better not…you wouldn't like it either way."
"Try me." Sophie said daringly.
"Well…you could be my Servant. That way, it would negate the life debt, as our life source would have been bound to each other and it…" Howl was interrupted by a most emphatic no from Sophie.
"See? Didn't I tell you that you wouldn't like it?" Howl said.
"Fine. My fault for getting excited over nothing…" Sophie scowled.
"It's not that bad, my sweet."
"Yea, says the sadistic, scheming, 'bane of my existence' master sorcerer."
"Is it so bad to be near an all-powerful, wealthy, not to mention drop dead gorgeous master sorcerer?"
"No."
Howl smirked.
"It's horrible to be near a narcissistic, arrogant, egoistic, 'thinks everyone is blessed to be in his presence' master sorcerer." Sophie deadpanned.
"You are always so cruel with your words, my sweet."
"Not cruel. Truthful."
"You could have been more tactful about it, my sweet…"
"I don't do tactful. You should know that."
"Right you aren't." Howl said with a slight smile.
"Now, tell me about this stupid mess you've gotten me into."
"You do come around quickly, my sweet."
"Do I have a choice?" Sophie said, giving Howl a dry look.
"In any case, I'm glad you are so receptive of this new development. Another one of those qualities I admire about you…"
"Get on with it."
"Let's see, like what I said earlier; we would be bound together for an undecided period of time, and by that it means that we would literally be physically chained in some ways to each other, such that one would have to be within a few feet of the other at all times. The distance we are allowed apart remains to be seen."
"You can't be serious."
"Dead serious I am my sweet, dead serious."
"Oh hell! What else does this…this law do?"
"Basically, for the length of time that the law is in play, the indebted would have to protect their savior, and if they were to fail, they would forfeit their lives in their savior's place."
"That's harsh…" Sophie said.
"Indeed my sweet. Indeed."
"If it's so, why did you even want to be in my debt in the first place?"
"To be with you."
"Oh yea…maybe I should go kill myself now, so you can die in my place." Sophie said cynically.
"That would not work, the law also protects the indebted; such that a suicide attempt on the savior's part would not be deemed a failure to protect, hence I'll still live."
"Ooh, damn."
"But still, I can't believe you'll risk you life just to be bound to me, are you crazy or something?" Sophie asked sarcastically.
"Love makes one do crazy things Sophie, for if you were to die, and I live on, my sanity wouldn't. It would have died along with you. For my sanity, I'll rather die in your place." Howl said seriously.
Sophie blinked.
"You selfish jerk! Only thinking of your own sanity, what about mine?"
"Would you have cared if I'd died?" Howl asked, hope in his voice.
'Yes. Damnit!' Sophie thought, but out loud she said, "Not really I guess."
Howl's face fell, and Sophie would have missed it if she hadn't been looking straight at him. For in the next second the sadness was gone, replaced by the self-assured annoying smirk. "Aah, you may think so for now, but, I know you'll miss me if I'm gone."
Sophie was partly relieved that Howl was back to being his usual annoying self, the one that she was accustomed to and able to deal with.
"You wish." she retorted.
And once again, silence ensued, but a comfortable one.
Time pass, and soon it was dark out…
"Ok Howl, like where exactly are you planning to take me to? I'm beginning to think; it's the other end of the globe. Because if you haven't noticed, it's already dark, and I've been in this joy ride of yours for hours already!" Sophie said, with a pointed look.
"There, there, my sweet…we are reaching right about…here!" Howl said lightly, as he pulled the jeep to a stop.
"And here happens to be the middle of nowhere! No scratch that…in the middle of a graveyard? Are you nuts! Who the hell in their right minds would think this a perfect place for a DATE!" Sophie said, gesturing at the rows of tombstones.
"Ah…do calm down my sweet, nothing is as what it seems…" Howl said, offering his hand to help Sophie out.
"No thanks, I don't need no hand-holding from you." Sophie sniffed, as she stepped off the jeep and strode towards the graveyard.
Howl withdrew his hand gallantly, and went over to join Sophie, who was standing a distance away, staring around the graveyards.
"This way my sweet…" Howl said, as he directed her forward into the mass of tombstones.
"If you're planning to impress me, you better do it soon, else I'm leaving."
"Humor me…" Howl said, turning his full gaze onto her.
'Wow…midnight blue, no slightly different…Oh, I see…it sparkles. I didn't know that…Nah…it's probably just the trick of the light, because I so did not just think Howl's eyes to be beautiful! That would so fan his already too big ego, and that reminds me, he is an egoistic prick! So, I won't ever fall for him!'
"Hmmm…? You seem distracted my sweet…is something bothering you?" Howl probed, after seeing Sophie's dazed look.
Sophie blinked and said sarcastically, "Didn't you always invade my thoughts and mind without permission, so what's stopping you now."
"So, are you allowing me to invade your mind whenever I want? Because I'll oblige, most…"
Sophie cut him off with a caustic look.
"Oh well…I figured it's probably too good to be true."
"Damn straight. And could you get a move on your date plans before I fall asleep on my feet."
"Drayevarg." Howl said, with a quick wave of his hand; more like a flick of wrist over a half collapsed tombstone.
The ground beneath their feet shuddered and groaned, like something alive, and the surrounding tombs parted; there is no other word for it, it just shifted aside, while the soil around started to sink. Suddenly, a shrill banshee shriek echoed into the night. Sophie jumped involuntary, clutching onto Howl.
"It's alright my sweet, that's just the doorbell." Howl said, petting Sophie's hand, which had his in a death grip.
Upon hearing that, Sophie released his arm with as much dignity as possible. "Sheesh! Whoever they are should have invested in normal bells! If I had been a seventy year old grandmother, I could have died of a heart attack."
"Welcome back master Howl." A little girl in a long white gown and straight long black hair greeted.
"You own this place! I should have known from your choice of doorbells…" Sophie cringed.
"This way please." The girl said, going down a flight of stairs.
"What's your name little girl?" Sophie asked.
"I am called Maki now." The girl said with a slight smile.
"You are called Maki now? So, Maki isn't your real name?" Sophie asked.
"No, I don't remember my real name; it's been too long already. But, I'm happy with the name master Howl gave me." Maki smiled.
"What do you mean…hey! What the…you are floating!" Sophie exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Do not frit over it my sweet…after all, Maki is a specter."
"Yes, I am. I have been wandering around aimless for centuries until master howl found me and gave me a job and home."
"Uh…I…well…I didn't know specters exist...and you look solid enough; well for the most part at least…" Sophie trailed off uncertainly, glancing at the wispy mist that is in place of the girl's feet.
"Well…I'm more solid looking than most specters as I'm being sustained partly by master Howl's powers."
"So…that means other specters are less solid looking?" Sophie mumbled.
"That would be right." Maki nodded.
"But, you needn't worry about it my sweet…specters are rare, and they usually keep to themselves." Howl said.
"Hmm…" Was Sophie's vague reply.
"How is business so far Maki?" Howl asked.
"Better than usual tonight master Howl, it is the night of our annual Death Extravagance." Maki reported.
"Death Extravagance?" Sophie echoed.
Maki nodded in response.
"Get Miss Sophie here into it." Howl said with a wink.
Maki's eyes glimmered.
Sophie started backing away warily.
"What it exactly are you talking about?" Sophie asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"You have nothing to worry about, just follow Maki. Maki will get you all ready, yep, all ready." Maki purred.
'What the hell is going on here? And why the sudden reference in the third person, and I don't think I like that glint in her eyes…Maki sure seemed to have taken a sudden change in personality. Didn't think personality transplant existed...What are you planning Howl! I don't like not knowing things here! Are you listening to me! Answer me dammit!' Sophie thought.
Maki pounced, and dragged Sophie off.
"There goes the idea that specters would just pass through you…" Sophie cringed.
"That is a common misconception Miss Sophie, and you just be good and follow Maki, Maki will enjoy this, Maki will enjoy this very much indeed." Maki said.
"I don't like the sound of that, what exactly are you planning?"
"Master Howl told Maki not to tell. Master Howl said if you knew you'll be angry."
"He said that? Now I really want out! Let me go!" Sophie cried, as she struggled.
'Damn! She's strong for a little girl. Probably another specter thing…well…how bad could it be right? Right? I sure hope so…' Sophie thought.
The specter, a.k.a Maki dragged the reluctant Sophie down the corridors, through various doors and halls, and finally to a deliberately decorated room.
'I'll say nice, but that's not quite it…the decorations in the room can't be gauged using the usual standards, it's rather spooky, but a nicely done spooky…heck! Why am I even thinking about the damn décor! OMG…!'
Sophie balked at the sight of the thing Maki is holding up against her.
"You like it? Maki thinks you'll look good in it."
"No way in hell!" Sophie shot out.
Maki advanced.
Sophie retreated.
After much effort; that is effort from Sophie trying to escape and effort from Maki trying to get her into it which Sophie lovingly dubbed as 'the contraption'…they are finally done, and the winner is MAKI!
So there now stood a very very pissed off Sophie in the outfit which technically consists of straps and more straps…
"I feel like a damn mummy in this thing! It's too tight, too flashy and practically obscene!" Sophie cursed.
"Maki doesn't think it's obscene, Maki thinks it looks good on you." Maki said encouragingly.
"If you like it so much, then you wear it!" Sophie scowled.
"My, my, you look absolutely stunning in it my sweet…" Howl complimented, as he strode into the room.
"What the hell do you think you are doing telling Maki to stuff me into this damn contraption! It isn't even wearable!" Sophie burst out.
"Why not? It's perfect for you my sweet…"
"I so do not think so! For one this is far too revealing it consists of nothing but straps, and it shows too much skin!"
"You are far too conservative my sweet…this isn't hmm…what is it that you call it…"
"Revealing." Maki supplied.
"Ah…yes, it isn't revealing, you are covered are you not?"
"That's not the point! I may essentially be covered, but the spacing between the damn straps shows skin when I move! And this thing doesn't even have a skirt or pants; I'm just wrapped up in black straps!" Sophie cried, agitated.
Howl let out an inaudible sigh, "I guess you could have a skirt of some sort over the outfit."
"Maki, let Miss Sophie pick out a skirt." Howl said.
"Yes master Howl. Over here Miss Sophie." Maki said.
'Boy does she revert back to her old personality fast…' Sophie thought, following Maki into the walk-in closet.
"Wow, this is pretty stocked up…" Sophie breathed.
"But, of course. I believe in being prepared." Howl's voice drifted into the closet.
'Hah! Prepared! Makes me wonder exactly what you are preparing for.' Sophie thought sarcastically.
Sophie riffed through the racks of skirts…
"Is it just me or are the skirts here damn short?" Sophie mumbled.
"Master Howl only stocks up on mini skirts." Maki explained.
"And this?" Sophie asked, holding up a particularly short skirt.
"A micro-mini skirt, Master Howl stocks up a few of those too." Maki answered.
"Men…" Sophie muttered.
"You said something?" Maki queried.
"No, no, nothing." Sophie said with a quick shake of her head as she randomly picked out a black mini skirt; after all there isn't much of a choice considering the similar lengths of the skirts 'master Howl stocks up'.
"You done yet my sweet…?"
"Coming, your greatness!" Sophie mocked, striding out of the closet.
"Ah…so you have finally accepted my greatness now have you?"
"Are you stupid! The day I actually think you are great would be the day I get killed by a…a pack of flies!" Sophie scoffed.
"A pack of flies? You do jest my sweet…nonetheless, you are a breath taking sight, although I personally feel you would look better without the skirt."
"Do I look like I care what you 'personally feel'?"
"Hmmm…yes?"
"NO! Isn't that obvious?" Sophie said with a roll of her eyes.
Howl raised one brow in question.
Sophie shook her head in exasperation.
"Master Howl, if you could so kindly excuse me…I have yet to prepare the main event of the night."
"Of course, and when you're done do prepare the chambers for me and Miss Sophie." Howl nodded.
With that Maki dissipated.
"Well now, my sweet…let's head on over to the party." Howl said with a charming smile, extending his arm for Sophie.
Sophie looked at the proffered appendage as though it is poisonous.
"You are being difficult my sweet..." Howl sighed before striding over to Sophie and looping his arm through hers, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"That's better, now let's be on our way, the night isn't getting any younger." Howl breathed.
Sophie nodded grudgingly.
The two made their way through a series of corridors, through a set of heavy dark oak doors and into…
'Wow! This…this is…unbelievable…' Sophie thought.
The floors were fully carpeted in plush carpet; black with swirls of deep red, and the lights floated randomly around the room, casting their bluish hues around and creating legions of shadows. The decorations and the classical tune with a dark twist played on the grand piano adorning the room lend the event a gothic demeanor. Everyone was dressed for the theme, and Sophie felt more comfortable in her outfit now…the atmosphere and vibes soothed her.
"Do you like it my sweet…?"
"It's beautiful…gothic yet elegant, like it's meant for some dark beauty or queen of the dark…" Sophie breathed.
"I'm deeply pleased; so then, would you give me the honor of being your dark knight for the night?" Howl spoke.
Sophie nodded; too caught up in the wonderful place.
A gentle smile grazed Howl's lips as he witness the look of joy on Sophie's face.
"May I have this dance?" Howl asked.
"Well…I…I'm not very acquainted with ballroom dances…" Sophie trailed off.
"It isn't very difficult my sweet, you all but need to follow while I lead."
"No thanks, I'll make a fool of myself out there, and that is not high on my priorities list, not even close." Sophie said vehemently.
"Trust me..."
"And how the hell do expect me to trust you-an idiot that nearly got us killed just…hmm…2 hours ago!"
"Like this." Howl said, his eyes glinting deviously.
Howl pulled Sophie towards him and trapping her hands effectively by looping his arms through it and placing his hands firmly on her waist and shoulders.
"What the hell are you doing! Let go of me!"
"Not until I have my dance my sweet." Howl replied, as he pulled her along the dance floor.
"I absolutely refuse to dance Howl! So let me go, 'cause I'm not going to move." Sophie hissed, simultaneously digging her heels into the ground.
"Oh, if you want it that way, I'll oblige." Howl smirked, as he went into a dip, causing Sophie to lose her balance and cling onto him for support.
"Why you…you…you…" Sophie spluttered, as Howl maneuvered her around the other pairs of dancing couples.
"Yes my sweet…?" Howl feigned innocence.
"You cocky bastard!"
Howl smirked.
Sophie smirked, bringing her heels up to stomp on the foot of the irritating clown who do not understand simple English.
Alas, Howl seemed to have caught on to what Sophie was thinking, and had side-stepped her heels by twirling her.
"Jerk!" Sophie scowled, as she tried yet again to step on those feet.
Her attempts are foiled once again as Howl used the momentum of the turn to spin her away from him.
'Damnit! That stupid Howl! The next time I'm going to stomp so hard on that damn feet of his that he won't be able to walk for a month…' Sophie thought darkly.
Sophie raised her feet, aimed at Howl's feet and prepared to stamp down on it really hard once and for all; Howl simply side-stepped, avoiding her deadly heels easily.
Sophie growled.
Howl smirked.
'If I can't stomp on his feet, I'll just kick him!'
Sophie took aim and was about to let it fly when Howl released her and bowed.
"Huh?" Sophie asked bewildered.
"The song has ended my sweet…and I must you are the most interesting dance partner I've had…"
"Damn! Just when I was about to kick that jerk too…" Sophie muttered
"Are you disappointed that it's over? If you like I'll dance another song with you; it is always a pleasure to have a partner that constantly keeps me on my toes." Howl smiled.
"No thank you!" Sophie cried hurriedly.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! In fact, I think I'm kinda hungry."
"As you wish my sweet…" Howl said, as he led her over to the refreshments table at the corner of the room.
"There's nothing to eat…" Sophie said, raising an eyebrow.
"There is my sweet; all you have to do is wish for it." Howl informed.
Howl picked up a wine glass and the next minute it is filled with red wine.
"Like this, you try." Howl said, passing a plate to Sophie.
Within seconds, the empty plate is filled with all kinds of little cakes and puffs.
"Woah! That's interesting…" Sophie smiled, as she started wolfing down the little snacks.
"You are going to get fat eating all that…" Howl noted.
"That's none of your business." Sophie huffed, shoveling some more of the chocolate fudge cake into her mouth.
"I'm only trying to stop you from going down the path to destruction, my sweet…please do not misinterpret my concern."
"Path to destruction? As if…" Sophie scoffed.
"Indeed. For one, you might become overweight and suffer from heart-attack, high blood pressure…and there is also the possibility of a toothache."
"Thanks for the lecture doctor/dentist, but in the case where I do get the said problems, which I won't I'll take of it myself. So, quit bad-mouthing my cakes." Sophie cried.
Howl sighed.
Sophie resumed her cake shoveling.
Howl sighed some more.
Sophie glared.
Howl kept quiet.
After more seconds of seeing the cake shoveling Sophie in action, Howl decided that he'll go and check on the preparations for the finale.
"If you'll excuse me my sweet, I'll be back shortly."
"Gladly, and take your time." Sophie mumbled through a mouthful of strawberry shortcake.
Howl strode off.
Sophie was still shoveling cake into her mouth.
Howl make his way towards 'the room' which contains the surprise.
Sophie toppled.
Howl walked on.
Sophie grabbed onto the table to break her fall.
Howl walked on.
Sophie felt herself being pulled along by some invisible force.
Howl nears 'the room'.
Sophie's beginning to freak out.
Howl paused in front of 'the room'
Sophie blinks and stares around her in bewilderment.
Howl walks on into 'the room'
Sophie remembers something all of a sudden.
'STOP MOVING AROUND HOWL!' Sophie screamed with her mind.
Howl stopped in mid-stride, "Sophie?"
'Yes! It's me damnit! The law! The law! You remember!'
'Oh my, now that you mentioned it, yes.'
'That's all you can say after dragging me around banging into walls and all those damn sharp edged furniture of yours!'
'Are you hurt?'
'Yes! Badly injured! Crippled and swimming in my own pool of blood!' Sophie though back sarcastically.
'I'm glad you are fine my sweet…I'm so sorry that me absence have caused you such pain, I swear to stand by your side from here onto forever.'
'Now I'm beginning to wish that I have a pool of blood to drown in…'
'You are hilarious my sweet…'
'And you must be delirious! This stupid law is going to cause us some major problems, and it's your entire fault!'
'You'll get use to it my sweet…'
'I DO NOT want to get use to this, nu-uh, not in this lifetime or the next!'
'Does that means you'll get use to it in the next next lifetime?'
'Get real Howl, there is only this lifetime, and if there ever is a next lifetime, you are not going to be in it.'
'You wouldn't be able to decide that my sweet…'
'Oh really, now you wouldn't be able to know that now, would you?'
'And neither would you my sweet…neither would you…'
'Ok, if neither of us is ever going to find out… And why the hell are we discussing irrelevant stuff like lifetimes when there is a far more pressing thing in need of our attention?'
'Like our love relation?'
'Like real!'
'So it's real then my sweet? I knew you see things my way.'
'I've had it with you Howl! Stop that?'
'Stop what?'
'Stop changing the topic!'
'Oh, so what is the topic then my sweet…'
'You are infuriating! And you know damn well what the topic is!'
'You mean the law?'
'Yes the law! What else!'
'Oh well, like I said, there's nothing we can do about it.'
'I know that! What I mean is that we need to work round it! I can't have myself been dragged off by some invisible force each time you move.'
'…'
'Are you still there Howl? Howl?'
'Yes, I was thinking…'
'How come I can't hear your thoughts? You are talking to me now mind-to-mind right, isn't that like thoughts to thoughts, as in thinking, so how can you think without me knowing?'
'Hn. I am a master sorcerer you know.'
'Stuck up.'
'You really are hurtful.'
'Well, I'm sorry that I'm no big bad master sorcerer who could think and not let you hear what I'm thinking when I'm thinking to you, if that makes any sense at all.'
'Simmer down my sweet, I'll meet you, and we can discuss this later.'
'Fine.'
Sophie stood in the middle of the corridor, hands on hips and feet tapping when Howl rounded the corner.
"Let's go my sweet." Howl said with a smile.
Sophie nodded.
Howl extended his hand to her.
Sophie stared.
Howl's hand is still outstretched to her.
Sophie stared harder.
Howl sighed, withdrawing his hand to his side.
"Follow me then." Howl said
Sophie followed.
They ended up at the gardens.
The garden is crowded.
"Why did you lead me here? It's far too crowded to discuss anything at ease."
"Hush, it's beginning…" Howl said with a finger on his lips.
"Huh? What's beginning?"
Howl motioned to the dark sky with his eyes.
"If you are here to bring me star-gazing, you have the worst sense of timing…"
Just then, the dark sky exploded in a color of lights. Colorful sparkles rained down on the watchers below.
Gasp of glee and awe rang through out the gardens as everyone looked on in wonder at the lovely lights flickering in the night sky.
'Wow…Beautiful…it's the most amazing sight I've ever witnessed…it's like fireworks, no…much more than that, more magical…' Sophie thought.
The magical fireworks display mesmerized all that's present.
Finally, as the last of the sparkles died down, Sophie looked to her side to a smirking Howl.
"So, what do you of my timing now?" Howl whispered.
"Terrible, but the lights were great." Sophie said.
Howl raised an eyebrow.
"Well, it's the truth." Sophie stated.
Howl let out a short laugh.
"What?" Sophie asked defensively.
"It's nothing, nothing at all my sweet…" Howl said with a secretive smile.
Sophie frowned.
Howl smiled.
Sophie yawned.
"It's rather late my sweet, you must be tired. I'll show you to your room."
"A little, but you aren't sleeping till I have this stupid law worked out."
"If the lady could stay awake, I'll gladly spend all night awake."
"And we'll be discussing the law, nothing else."
"But of course." Howl replied charmingly.
Sophie eyed Howl warily.
Howl snapped his fingers.
Maki appeared.
"Have you prepared our rooms Maki?"
"Yes master Howl…" Maki replied, she inclined with her head for them to follow, and floated ahead.
Howl nodded.
"Thanks." Sophie said.
Maki turned around and smiled.
"Maki, are there others helping you here?" Sophie asked out of curiosity.
"No, miss Sophie."
"It must be tiring for you to do everything here." Sophie commented.
"No, I'm glad to have something to do after all those years of aimless wandering."
"Still, Howl is so thoughtless to make you do all the work."
"Ahem, I am still here you know, must you speak of me like that my sweet…?"
"You deserve it." Sophie stated.
"You really are out to wound me, even when you are tired…" Howl said, shaking his head.
"Here it is master Howl." Maki said, pausing in front of a set of huge oak doors.
"Thank you Maki, you may leave now…" Howl said, throwing open the double doors.
Maki dissipated.
"We'll be spending the night here my sweet…"
"Yea, it's a nice room. Hang on a sec! There's only I bed!"
"Yea, is there a problem with that?" Howl asked.
"Of course! I'm not going to share a bed with you!" Sophie cried.
"The bed is huge, there is more than enough space for the two of us or more…"
"That's not the point…I don't want to be rudely awoken again like the last time." Sophie stated.
"Good answer. For that, I'll give you a reward." Howl smirked.
"No thanks. The reward would probably be at my expanse…and I don't see the good in my answer anyway…"
"Why my sweet…you are too suspicious…I said you gave a good answer because I'm glad that your reason for not sharing my bed is my cell phone and not me." Howl said with a smile.
"Ok, scrape that…I don't want to be in the same bed as you, and the cell phone is just an excuse to get away from you." Sophie chirped.
"Aahh…you are still deserving of a reward, as you tried to take my feelings into consideration by using my cell phone as an excuse." Howl grin.
"Yea, yea, if you want to think of me as a saint, go ahead. But seriously, no thanks for the reward." Sophie said plastering on a fake sweet smile.
"Are you sure my sweet…?"
"Positive."
"You are going to regret it…"
"Not me…"
Just then Howl parted a set of thick black curtains, revealing a door.
"This is what I was intending as your reward…" Howl said; opening the door to another room, as lavishly decorated as the one they are in.
"On second thought, I'll take the reward." Sophie said, striding towards the door to her reward.
Howl closed it at the last second, "I thought you said you didn't want it, and there'll be no regret…?"
"Well…I changed my mind." Sophie said.
"It's too bad…but you are too late my sweet…" With that Howl turned the lock and replaced the key in his pocket.
"Give me the key."
"What key?" Howl said, pretending not to understand.
"You know what key I want…" Sophie gritted out.
"Let's exchange keys then." Howl said with a smile.
"What are you talking about Howl? Just hand me the keys to my room."
"I will, but in return I want a key from you too…" Howl whispered.
"Fine, you can have any key you want, except the keys to my jeep, or my house, or my bank account…"Sophie said, rattling off a chain of important stuff she had a key for.
Howl put a finger to her lips. "I take it that your condition is such that I do not take any material form of keys from you?"
"Well…yes. That would probably be it." Sophie said with a nod.
"That would limit my choices indeed…" Howl whispered.
"That would be the point, so if you could name me a key beside my condition, I'll give it to you; since it probably wouldn't be a very important one…" Sophie smirked.
"Ah…not very important, you say…?"
Sophie narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Well…my sweet…I want not material keys to material possessions…I just want the key to your heart…" Howl whispered.
"There's no such key. And I can't believe you did all that just to use that line on me." Sophie stated.
"Very observant my sweet…but I do mean it…"
"Whatever…"
"Why don't you ask why?"
"Why what?"
"Why I want to use a line on you?" Howl smiled.
"I don't want to know." Sophie deadpanned.
"Ha, I'll tell you nonetheless."
"I figured." Sophie said dryly.
"It's because the prince got the chance to use a line on you…"
"The line Justin used was lame, and so is yours…" Sophie said, rolling her eyes.
"Ah…perhaps, but, it is only fair that I get to use one too after he did." Howl smiled.
"Ok, if you are done with this nonsense, hand the key over. I don't have all night to go along with your whims, and there's also the law that we need to discuss."
"Right." Howl said, and promptly dropped the key in her palm.
"So, onto business, let's test out this law." Sophie said.
"You really are business-like, my sweet…"
"Be serious." Sophie glared.
Howl raised his hands in mock surrender. "Anything you say, my sweet."
"Ok, you stay here, and I'll walk, let's see how much distance we could put between us." Sophie directed.
Sophie strode forward. She managed to get as far as the other end of her room, before she felt an invisible force preventing her next step.
"I think this is as far as it can go!" Sophie shouted to Howl in the other room.
"That's quite a distance, guess it wouldn't be that bad." Howl said.
"Yea, but, I wish it could be further." Sophie sighed.
"Stay there my sweet; I want to try something out." Howl said.
Howl stood up, and step a few steps forward.
"Ouch!" Sophie cried, as she fell backwards onto her butt.
"Sorry about that my sweet, I guess this really is the limit."
"Yea, but the law is biased! Why do I fall on my butt when you move, while you don't even budge when I move further than the distance allowed!"
"Perhaps, it's because I'm heavier than you." Howl supplied.
Sophie sighed.
"I'm going to try something else my sweet…could you stamp three times with one of your feet?" Howl asked.
"Whatever for?"
"Just do it, my sweet."
"Fine." Sophie said, stamping her feet three times.
"Now wha…" Sophie asked, but was promptly knocked over by a huge weight.
Authoress: Ok, I'm stopping here for now, running out of ideas…I hope you guys are not disappointed. I'm really not sure about this chapter… I'll try harder, and update sooner. Sorry for the long wait. Pls, tell me what you think of this chapter ok? It would really mean so much to me, to know if you guys like it or not.