Beyond the Indigo Veil: Part I of the Wallmaker Saga
Chapter 2: Sorrow and Joy
All Sophie wanted to do was scream, but her voice was no longer her own. The Dark had her. She could feel it trying to consume her; the icy cold invaded her body. It felt as though she had become sand within a great time piece, and she was slowly slipping away into nothing. But she fought against the dizzy pull that threatened to drag her down into the icy nothingness beneath her feet. Suddenly a great white light exploded above her, driving back the Dark, which shrieked and cowered before it. She was drawn upward.
Her eyes were open and she was drowning. The water was all around her but strong arms reached in and pulled her into the air. She could see the ceiling and recognized it. She was in the castle. Howl's anxious face floated before her eyes and she caught sight of Calcifer, Granny Witch, and Markl. Then there was only Howl.
Sophie didn't remember much after that. She remembered the Dark and had struggled violently. But she settled and knew that Howl was with her and she was safe. A different kind of darkness came for her then, but it was only sleep.
When she woke, she was pressed again Howl's chest, his arms holding her tightly to him. She could smell the faint hint of the old perfumes he wore, hyacinth and rose. The glittering bangles and various objects in his room seemed dull and dark in the early morning light. It was almost dawn and the normally bright greens and golds of his bedroom were somehow muted. A terror seized her as she caught sight of the shadows in the room. Howl tightened his grip on her as she nearly climbed the wall.
"Sophie! Sophie, its okay. Everything is fine. You're safe," Howl's liquid voice permeated the irrational thoughts of her mind and she went limp for a moment.
Seeing the mark on her wrist where the Dark had seized hold of her filled her with paralyzing terror. Howl turned her face with his hand to stare fiercely into her eyes. All at once Howl kissed her with all the passion and love within his soul and they clung together as though the entire world were trying to tear them apart. Suddenly Sophie realized Howl was crying and it was her turn to comfort him. Sophie tried her best to soothe the raven-haired man.
"For a moment, you were gone," The wizard murmured.
"Silly wizard, I love you and I will never leave you," Sophie spoke with such conviction that Howl drew back and searched her face only to discover that it was true.
"And I love you, Sophie Hatter."
xXx
Some time later, Howl opened his door to find Granny Witch and Markl asleep against the wall outside. Sophie was nearly soaked by each of them as they tearfully hugged her until she couldn't breathe. Even Calcifer cried little bits of steam.
No one spoke of what happened. Granny Witch and Markl had cleaned up the splintered messes left behind in the wake of the previous night's events. They all went down stairs and ate a quick breakfast of bacon, eggs, and bread which Howl cooked. Sophie had tried to reach for the pan at first, but the wizard simply scooped her up and deposited her next to Granny Witch. Heen leaped into her lap and pinned her in place while the old witch stroked and squeezed her unmarked hand. Markl rushed around wordlessly setting the table and fetching things for Howl.
"There, all better now. Yes, much, much better," the old witch murmured as they ate their meal.
Howl placed a plate in front of Sophie and practically fed her, keeping one arm around her at all times. The entire family jumped and Calcifer flared up purple as a knock came at the front door.
"It's the King's Messenger," Calcifer spoke.
Markl jumped up and grabbed his disguise cloak, becoming a short breaded man. The young apprentice threw open the portal, snatched up the scrolled held out by the messenger, glanced around twice, and slammed the door. Howl took the message and read it quickly, then tossed it to Calcifer, who devoured it in a plume of back smoke. Not leaving Sophie's side, Howl flicked out one of his hands. A cabinet on the wall flew open and a silver lockbox flew off the shelf over to the apprentice.
"Markl, would you go up to the bathroom, put the pieces of the mirror in this box, and lock it after every last bit is inside. Be careful not to prick yourself on the shards." At the sight of his apprentice's white face, Howl smiled warmly.
"Everything is fine, Markl. It's perfectly safe. Calcifer, would you go with him?"
"Sure!" The fire daemon crackled and took off up the stairs, a wary apprentice in tow.
"Granny witch, would you clean up please? Sophie and I need to go to the palace," Howl glowed with the full power of his charm and the old witch chuckled and smiled bashfully.
"Now, dearie, no need to charm this old hen. The dishes will be waiting for you when you get home."
At this Sophie couldn't help but laugh, and suddenly all was right with the world. As the old witch stood and shuffled off, Heen scrabbled over the landing above the front stairs and wheezed three times. Once it was quiet, Howl looked up towards the bathroom and spoke, "Wizard Suliman has requested our presence."
Sophie's face must have shown what she thought of Wizard Suliman and Howl laughed.
"I may be terrified of her, I may not agree with they way she gets things done, but she's one of the most powerful sorceresses alive. She will know what to do and for that I am willing to face her."
Howl's conviction made Sophie feel much braver, but still she began to tremble as Howl stood up. She longed to cling once more to the wizard she so dearly loved, but a terrible sense of responsibility gave her the strength to stand alone and fetch her shawl.
Markl came stomping down the stairs at full tilt. He tore over to Howl with the silver box held at arms length, face white as a sheet. Once the Wizard had taken it carefully, Markl turned on his heels and tackled Sophie around the waist. She squeezed him back as hard as she could. No one needed to say anything; they were all aware of how quickly the world changed. Heen scrambled in a circle and wheezed with impatience.
"Be a good boy and finish your lessons before we get home, alright?" Sophie smiled down at him. The haired little boy hadn't the verve to speak and he simply nodded sharply. Howl came over and ruffled his apprentice's hair, giving him a series of instructions about his assignment. Taking Sophie's hand, the wizard paused to ask Calcifer to take the castle into the sky and avoid any bad weather.
Together the wizard and the hatter's daughter walked down the front steps followed by Heen, who scampered clumsily after them. Sophie reached out and turned the dial to Kingsbury, and the three of them disappeared through the door.
xXx
Sophie had never liked the castle. It made her extremely nervous, but not nearly as nervous as Wizard Suliman made her. The royal witch's cool demeanor and piercing gaze unnerved Sophie more than anything.
However, the frantic scrambling of people in Kingsbury and the terrified whispers of the common people filled Sophie's heart with courage. This was somehow her fault and instead of shrinking from her responsibility, the silver-haired woman accepted it whole-heartedly.
Hand in hand, she and Howl zipped up the long stairs she had labored so hard to surmount as a 90 year old woman. This time, Sophie made it to the top without feeling quite so old. The castle attendants folded like cards before them and they were shuffled through so many doors that even Howl had no idea where they were. At last a familiar portal loomed before them and the pair entered the palace Greenhouse. Wizard Suliman sat almost exactly as they had left her, smiling calmly in her cushioned chair beside a small table. Heen scrambled on his belly past the two and settled beneath the table. Suliman looked down at the little dog, who glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and wheezed a long sigh.
Suliman then turned her piercing gaze on Howl. He did not flinch but instead reached for Sophie's hand. Suliman's gaze then settled upon Sophie and the woman's smile faltered for a moment then resumed its place.
"You have had an excellent effect on dear Howl, Sophie. This is the first time in a very long while he has actually come so see me with prompt manners."
"It's nice to see you again, Suliman," Howl smiled charmingly with genuine affection.
"My, how you shine, dear Howl," The old witch smiled and tiled her head to the side with genuine happiness, "I'm so glad you finally found what you lost."
"I don't mean to be rude, ma'am. But you are aware of what has happened. I have no doubt that is why you summoned us here."
Howl's voice took on a serious note in spite of the handsome smile on his face. He reached into the large sleeved jacket he had worn when he and Sophie first met, pulling out the small silver lockbox.
"Indeed," Suliman held out her hand and the box flew to her. Under her gaze the key turned and the lid opened. She gazed calmly into the box, then the lid closed and locked it with a click. She sent it back to Howl's waiting hand.
"Keep those. They might be useful."
Suliman's eyes turned now to Sophie, who flinched slightly.
"You bear marks of great magic. Show me your wrist, child."
Sophie drew back her sleeve and was about to walk closer to show the Wizard, but Howl held her back.
"Don't be childish, Howl," Suliman spoke as though she was talking to a petulant child. "I have no quarrel with you any longer. You and the girl both have good hearts."
It took a moment for Howl to let go, but once he released Sophie's hand the young woman went forward timidly. Suliman seemed amused, but stared intently at the mark and then into Sophie's eyes.
"Funny how the best of intentions can cause the worst tragedies," Suliman murmured cryptically.
The royal witch ran her hand over a small crystal orb that lay in her lap, which showed a ruined and burning village a long a wide river. Sophie gasped in horror.
"The village of Market Chippinghas been abandoned," the royal Sorceress spoke evenly, "The Dark now stalks its streets."
"I did this," Sophie murmured in horror, gazing at the image in the orb, "I let it out!"
"Yes, child; you did let it out," Suliman replied coldly.
"Suliman! That's uncalled for," Howl's face showed his anger plainly. He was about to start forward when the old sorceress pinned him in place with her steel gaze.
"Don't interrupt me, Howl. Sophie did let it out, but it's not intentionally. It is simply a pity for her that she came out of the otherworld with a light is so bright that it can give even the darkest of daemons entrance to our world."
"But my family! The people!" Sophie sobbed in anguish, gazing at the fire in the orb. Suliman cleared the globe with another pass of her hand, seeing how it upset the woman so.
"Your family is safe and most of the people escaped unharmed. But the Dark is growing stronger on the fear and suffering of others. Soon it will not be bound to the streets of Market Chipping and will be free to roam anywhere it pleases."
"What is it? How did I let it out?" Sophie demanded, anger drying her tears.
"The Dark is the embodiment of hate, death, and suffering. It was made a long time ago…"
Suliman's voice faltered here, as though she was unsure of herself or how to go on. She cast her eyes at Howl, sorrow plain on her face, then began anew.
"You cannot fight with magic in this realm without there being consequences in the otherworld. Normally these things simply fade with time and lose their power. However, sometimes they linger waiting for a chance to enter the mortal realm. It has found access to this world through your magic, Sophie," Suliman replied simply.
"What?" Sophie came up short, "What do you mean my magic?"
"Don't play simple with me, child. We all have a light of magic within us But when you went into the otherworld in search of Howl, your love was so strong that it transformed you. It gave you the magic you would need to save the ones you love. And it is through love that your power has grown."
"What does the Dark want?" Howl spoke up suddenly holding out his hand to Sophie, who returned to his side.
"The Dark hates the light, and it will do anything in its power to destroy all that is good. More specifically, it wants Sophie. She is the portal it must use to enter this world."
Howl's arm tightened around the silver haired woman's shoulder at that revelation and Heen wheezed softly.
"How do we send it back?" Howl continued with brisk determination.
"You can do nothing, Howl," Suliman retorted cryptically, "This must be done by Sophie's hand."
"Can you help us?" Sophie asked pleadingly.
Suliman let out a deep sigh, sagging into her chair as she raised a hand to her head. Her voice was brittle as she spoke.
"I wish I could, child, but this fight is beyond me. I have my hands full dealing with the kingdom. The recent war has taxed all of us. But I will do this much: take my staff."
Suliman held out the long pole, its wood spiraling gracefully into a lazy twist toward the top. Sophie ventured forward once more and took it. For a moment it felt like fire in her hands. Suliman reached out and took hold of her wrist. A shock passed through Sophie and the sorceress snatched back her hand, shaking it as though she had been burned.
"You have great power, child. The daemon cannot stand before the strength of your light. Remember that and take courage." Suliman looked past the young woman to gaze at an anxious Howl.
"After you both get through this, of which I have no doubt, it is your responsibility to see that she is properly trained. I remind you, one day the seat in which I reside may fall open to you."
By way of an answer, Howl gave an acquiescing bow that could not be interpreted as a yes or a no. With that he and Sophie retreated from the room. The door remained open and it was Suliman's turn to gaze at Heen out the corner of her eye. The dog winced and scampered out of the room after the wizard and the newly discovered witch with a flurry of clicking claws.
xXx
On their way home, Howl picked up every fantastic and luxurious food and treat they could find. Cakes and sparkling wine created a sumptuous dinner for the family, filling the castle with of laughter. Long after the rest of the house had gone to bed, Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer sat up together discussing the Dark. They all knew that tomorrow was going to be an eventful day.
"It's a nasty daemon, far more powerful than anything I've ever seen," Calcifer crackled moodily.
"Sorrow is a powerful thing," Howl mused rather moodily.
"I don't see why it should fall on you two to fix the problems from a war caused by other people!" Calcifer crackled a bright crimson in his irritation with war and other nasty things.
"Sorrow, like joy, often comes in threes. If we ignore our responsibilities, bad things will continue to happen," Sophie murmured as she fiddled with Suliman's stick. Howl looked at her sharply out of the corner of his eye, a frown plain on his face. Calcifer did not miss the look, but instead eyed the stick hungrily.
"I bet that tastes really yummy. It's probably chock full of magic, knowing Suliman. Can I have just a little taste, just a tiny scorch? Please, Sophie?"
Sophie's clear laughter brightened the whole room, making Calcifer turn a rosy shade.
"Perhaps after we've dealt with the Dark; right now we need all the help we can get."
The silver box that held the fragments of the mirror Howl used to banish the Dark from Sophie stood in the middle of the table. The wizard was fiddling with the key as he watched Sophie play with his former teacher's staff. The staff was a tremendously powerful magic artifact, and he wondered if Sophie realized what a treasure she held in her hands. His attention perked up as Sophie suddenly spoke.
"I can't stop thinking about what the Dark said to me," Sophie faltered slightly, as though she were afraid to speak of such things.
"Go on, Sophie, these are important things we all need to know," Howl said encouragingly.
"When I first saw the Dark in the mirror, I saw myself. But it wasn't me. It seemed excited that it had found me, like it was hungry," Sophie shuddered.
"That makes sense," Calcifer mumbled around a bit of kindling that was smoldering with curls of grey smoke, "You may not want to admit it, but you have a powerful gift of magic. The daemon was excited to find you because your power acts as a gate between the mortal and otherworld. Currently it exists between the two planes. In order to become permanent in the mortal realm it basically needs to become you. To do that it needs eat your light."
Sophie shuddered again and looked at the fading mark on her wrist. She did not remember much from the ordeal, but she did remember the Dark invading her body in the cold black somewhere.
"What do you mean, my light?"
"Your heart and soul, Sophie," Howl spoke softly, his face hidden beneath his bangs. She glanced at him and his defensive posture. The wizard was leaning against the wall close enough to touch her, but had his arms crossed on his chest and his face turned toward Calcifer
"All living beings have magic, Sophie," Howl continued, "In the otherworld they glow like stars because of the magic that fills them."
"The otherworld," Sophie murmured. "You're talking about the place beyond the black mark, where the stars were on the ground instead of the sky?"
"Yes, that's the place. It's another way of looking at the universe, both ours and that of magic."
"But how can such horrible things live in such a beautiful place?"
"Magic comes from all living beings: me, you, Howl, the castle. Everything makes magic," Calcifer crackled softly, "But magic stems from love as much as it comes from hate."
"I liked being normal much better," Sophie grumbled and thumped Suliman's stick on the ground. Howl winced and grimaced at the sound, as though reliving some unfortunate memory from his childhood.
"I really hate that stick," he grumbled.
"May I see the pieces of the mirror, Howl?" Sophie leaned the staff against the wall and swiveled to regard the silver box in the middle of the table. "Suliman said to keep the shards, and that they would be helpful," she murmured. Howl placed the box in front of her and unlocked the lid. Sophie looked in at the dark pieces with much trepidation. She half expected to see the cold grey eyes staring back at her. But all she saw was darkness, a familiar emptiness that reminded her of something.
"That's it!" She cried causing Howl and Calcifer to jump in surprise, "The mirror!"
In her excitement Sophie had momentarily taken on a nimbus very similar to the one that surrounded Howl when he worked magic. The wizard stared at her with wonder and renewed love as the silver-haired woman shined like the earthly star he had seen in the otherworld.
"Eh?" Calcifer crackled, used to such magical displays.
"The Dark came through a mirror in Mrs. Goose's curiosity shop. There was a huge rectangular mirror with a crack in it. A shard fell out and shattered into tiny pieces. Then the black stuff started oozing out of the hole it left behind. I must have made the mirror into a door when I touched it."
"Mirrors are dangerous things. I never understood why you humans like to keep them around," Calcifer popped crankily. "You'll have to fix the mirror using one of these shards. It will negate the magic that cause it to become a doorway and cause the Dark to go back to the otherworld."
"But how do I fix a broken mirror?" Sophie's shoulders sank in dismay.
"Magic, silly!" Howl beamed and pointed at Suliman's stick. "You may not be trained, but that staff will help you do things that only an advanced sorcerer could do. Besides, I will be with you."
"And so will I!" Calcifer shot from the grate and hovered over their heads, crackling a bright crimson.
xXx
In the grey hours of the dawn, not long before the three had agreed to leave for Market Chipping, Howl woke to the sound of his door latch turning. Wordlessly he lifted the covers and Sophie slid into bed next to him. They lay there for awhile in each other's arms listening to the soft tinkle of the various wind chimes in Howl's room.
"Are you afraid, Howl?" The little witch asked in a small voice.
"Yes. Are you?" He replied as he stroked her silver hair.
"Yes."
There was silence for a while before Howl spoke.
"What do you want to do tomorrow, Sophie?"
"I think I'll make you a new shirt for summer. Something light and airy, with the split neck you like so well. What about you?"
"I'd like to marry you," the wizard Howl murmured ever so softly into her hair. Sophie pulled her head out from under his chin and stared into his eyes with such shock that Howl had to smile. Complete sincerity showed in his blue eyes, matched with absolute love.
"How about it, Ms. Witch? Will you marry horrible wizard Howl and spend the rest of your days in a flying castle full of magic?"
Sophie answered with a kiss, melting away any lingering doubts the wizard might have had.
xXx
The three of them crept out of aback alleydoorway into the early morning light. Markl and Granny Witch would be very angry at them for not saying good bye, but this perhaps was the best way to leave on such an occasion. Market Chippinggreeted them with only gloom and silence.
Much to Sophie's surprise, the city was not in ruins. It was simply empty. The villagers had fled the black magic that had taken their town without taking a single thing. In Kingsbury, before they left the palace, Suliman had assured her that the King and Prince were seeing to the wellbeing of the refugees.
But this morning dawned strangely. The city streets that Sophie had known all her life twisted in foreign mazes before her. She carried Suliman's staff in her right hand and wore Howl's ring on her left. Beside her, Howl carried the silver box and held her left hand in his right.
Calcifer crackled dimly above their heads, darting to and fro nervously. As they finally reached the city square, the mists thickened overhead. Suddenly, a huge wall out of the darkness loomed. Sophie's heart almost leapt out of her chest as she caught sight of two figures. But the menacing shapes resolved into familiar figures. Howl and Sophie realized they were staring at their own reflections as they paused in front of the enormous mirror that divided the city in half.
"The shop is on the other side of this thing," Sophie spoke as she glanced around anxiously. The little red flame zipped over the wall and came back.
"I can see it," chimed Calcifer.
"This is too easy," Howl muttered, castinghis eyes about. The wizard stepped lightly into the air and reached for Sophie. Another hand darted out from behind Sophie too quickly for her to react and took hold of Howl just as another pair yanked the silver-haired woman backwards through the mirror.
"Sophie!" Howl cried as she vanished into the wall.
The hand that latched onto his turned obsidian black as its reflection formed in the mirror. It could have been Sophie, but the eyes were cold and cruel. Calcifer dived from the sky and engulfed the arm. With a screech it retreated into the mirror and the image stood glowering at him.
With his othersight, Howl could see through the shape of the woman to the Dark that loomed like a wave of black water beyond the mirror. He could see now that this mirror wasn't just a wall; it was a physical embodiment of the Dark's boundaries. On the opposite side was the otherworld, into which the Dark had taken Sophie.
"Let her go or I will destroy your link to this world!" Howl shouted at the smirking figure, bursting into an angry aura of red and sickly purples.
Smash us and she will be ours, ours, ours! Laughed the reflection.
"She has Suliman's staff. It will protect her," Calcifer stated convincingly.
But Howl felt the weight of the silver box in his hand like a weight he in his heart. The premonition he had felt earlier crept up on him too clearly: sorrows always come in threes. Sophie had almost lost him when she broke his curse, he had almost lost Sophie when the Dark had tried to take her light, and now she had gone too far beyond for him to protect.
"Sophie needs the shards," he spoke softly, never breaking his gaze from the reflection. The shape in the mirror stood arrogantly for another moment or two, then nervously flicked its eyes at the box.
"Gotcha!" Howl smirked fiercely and he lifted the lid just as the shade looked at the box.
The figure shrieked as it saw the black shards where a piece of itself had been banished. It vanished along with the wall. The curiosity shop appeared in the mists beyond, although it was much worse for wear. All the glass from the windows was smashed and much of the store's contents had been strewn into the street. Howl flew through the doorway and tore back the mirrors until only the rectangular frame remained.
The surface showed into the otherworld, but instead of the vast ocean of serenity, it displayed a dark corner filled with dim red lights of suffering. The indigo veil of the empty heavens filled the sky above, but it took on a bloody color as though it, too, had been burned. He could see the crack in the mirror clearly and the hole through which the Dark had come into this world. Opening the box, he looked in and saw that one of the shards showed the red lights of the otherworld. He picked it out and saw that it fit perfectly. Fate had an odd habit of making things work.
"Calcifer, can you find Sophie in there?" Howl looked up at his fire daemon friend, his face white and drawn with worry.
"I can try!" The little spark dove through the hole and disappeared into the otherworld, leaving the wizard behind to wait.
xXx
Sophie remembered the weightlessness from the first time she had ventured into the world beyond the black mark. But this was different. This was a place where suffering and hurt seeped in and putrefied like a pool of rancid water. Her feet suddenly touched down on barren ground. Looking up at the empty sky, Sophie despaired.
Sophie.
She looked out over the great plain of twisting red lights. The voice faded as she realized that these were the lights of people who had suffered during the war and many other tragedies.
So many… She murmured to herself despondently. Sinking to her knees, the sliver haired woman let go of Suliman's staff and hid her face in her hands. It was awful; so much sorrow, so much loss in the world. It was too hard; she would never be able to make it home. She might as well give up.
Sophie! The voice called again. It sounded familiar. Looking up she placed her hand on the staff to use it to stand up.
NO! Shrieked a chorus of metal voices from behind her.
Sophie scrambled to her feet as the Dark towered over her like a great black wave. She held up Suliman's stick and the flood parted over the shining white aura that enveloped her. The screaming torrent crashed around her in oozing tendrils of smoke and wriggling horrors. She realized in that moment that the Dark had brought her back to this place to make her weak, to slowly sap away her will to fight so that she would be easy to consume. Standing tall, she fought against the melancholy that had so quietly seeped into her mind.
Sophie… A red light yelled in the distance. However, this one circled and gyrated, changing to greens and purples as it came closer.
Calcifer! She cried, only to realize that her voice made no sound in the otherworld. And yet she heard her friend's call clearly with the inner ear of her mind.
Run, Sophie! The fire daemon shouted and the novice witch sprang forward.
The Dark parted before her as she sprinted across the desert, but the evil torrent withdrew just like black water and rose up for another attack.
Follow me, Sophie, called Calcifer as he streaked ahead, guiding her across the endless black sands.
Faster… Sophie commanded herself, and Suliman's stick brought to life her magic.
She felt herself speed ahead of the wave, flying on a pair of silver wings she unfurled for the first timeThe ground flew beneath her feet and her sharp eyes caught sight of a point of light in the distance. Behind her the screams of the Dark became muted and distant as she sped before it. A great rectangular shape reared up before her and she saw Howl's dim outline through the mirror's frame. The hole to the mortal world was as tangible as a hole in a screen, and Calcifer shot through it, hovering above Howl's head.
"Sophie!" Howl cried in mix of joy and panic. His voice rang strangely in her ears in that in-between place. She realized she had regain the power to speak and wasted no time.
"Quick, Howl," Sophie passed her open hand through, "Give me the shard!"
The bit of glass took a bit of wiggling but finally the piece fit through. Then it dawned on Howl what he had just done. In the distance they both could hear the Dark's hellish chorus.
"Sophie, you have to come through. If you heal the mirror from inside you'll be trapped!" Howl's dim face was frantic.
"There's no time, the Dark is almost here. It's too small." Sophie stared through the glass and the wizard did not like the resolved look on her face one bit.
"I'll make it bigger," Calcifer offered.
"No! If you make it bigger the shard won't fit." Sophie replied.
Howl tried to think of reasons why this made no sense, but Sophie's calm voice reached him through his panic. It quavered slightly, but stopped him dead in his tracks.
"Silly wizard. The shard is this size for a reason."
"No!" Howl shouted.
But she had already fit the piece in place. The crack in the glass glowed white for a moment then filled seamlessly. He could still see her through the tears he did not notice. Sophie pressed her free hand to the mirror's surface and mouthed three words. Suddenly she looked over her shoulder, resolution plain on her features as she pressed her back to the mirror. Then the surface went blank and showing Howl his stricken reflection.
A moment later the mirror shattered into a thousand pieces.