Thank you to Infintis, Kristen, and Aerith 21! Your reviews are all too kind! This chapter is dedicated to you three. Thank you!
Chapter 3: In which Howl finds out
Markl ran as hard as he could back to the castle, even though his lungs were in fire, and he could hardly breath. But he knew he had to tell Howl. Rushing to the door, he burst it open. As he closed it, he heard a crash sound. Going up the stairs, he stopped. Howl was looking at a cup, which had broken.
"Howl?" Markl said, trying to distract Howl.
"So, they did take her," said Howl in a choked voice. Standing up, he rushed towards the door, flung it open, and ran outside shouting "Sophie!" His shootings woke up Calcifer who asked, "What happened, and where's Sophie? She's late!"
"They took her," Markl said, looking at Howl through the open door. Running outside, he saw Howl on his knees, looking up. When Markl saw him, Howl looked down at him, his tear-stained face.
Hoping to distract him, Markl asked, "How did you know?"
"Remember the pendant I gave her? When they got her, I felt her pain." Standing up, he said, "Show me where they kidnap her." Markl lead him to the place. After ten minutes of absolute silence, they reached the spot. Searching, and finding nothing, he picked up the basket and started heading back when he saw the handkerchief. Sniffing it, he threw it down. "Markl," Howl said, yelling over his shoulder.
"Coming Howl, what's the matter?"
"They drugged her. You weren't with her were you?' he said as he glared down at Markl.
"She wanted me to tell you! But now, we have to go and rescue her!"
"You're right, come one back to the castle for Calcifer." Both ran back as fast as they could, Sophie on both of their minds.
"Howl, what's going on? Markl said Sophie got kidnapped. Is she really gone?" With questions is how Calcifer greeted Markl and Howl as they entered. Markl ran for his cloak, while Howl started putting some items in a sac. After ten minutes, both came and looked at Calcifer.
"Coming Calcifer?"
"Where to?"
"Why to go and rescue Lady Sophie," he said with a bitter smile. After locking the castle door, the three turned to face the horizon.
"Do you have an idea where she might be?" asked Calcifer as Howl smirked.
"I take that for a yes. But how do we get there?" As Markl turned around, he stopped. Howl was in bird form, Calcifer at his shoulder.
"Come on Markl, the sooner we find Sophie, the better!" As Calcifer finished saying this, Howl rushed forward, grabbed Markl, and took off in the night sky, with Calcifer's shouting of "Howl, slow down or I'm going to die!"
Prince Justin was thinking again about her. Even if it had been only a month, it felt like years. After Sophie had rescued him, he came back to his kingdom. The war had stopped, but Prince Justin's desire for Sophie hadn't. His life was not so carefree any more. There was all these rules, lessons, keeping him from visiting Sophie. He knew she now lived with Howl, but he couldn't help but worry. Some of the rumors said he stole the hearts of young, beautiful girls. He was wondering if she was okay, when suddenly, the doors were flung open, interrupting his thoughts. Next thing he knew, he was being held by the neck, and looking into a pair of angry blue eyes.
"Prince, are you okay? He just came in here, demanding to see you." A servant said, followed by two guards.
"I'm okay, my friend here is just too excited. Right Howl?" Justin said as Howl put him down. But as soon as the servant and the guards left, Howl picked him up again.
"What did you do with here? Why did you take her from me?"
"Howl, put the prince down," said Markl, coming out from Howl's shadow.
"I don't think he knows what you are talking about Howl. " Calcifer said, from Markl's shoulder. Howl put down Justin, who immediately asked," What happened to Sophie?"
"What? You don't know what happened? Where is she? Where are you hiding her?" Howl started looking for Sophie around the room. But as Howl was going to search the desk, Justin stopped him. He knew if Howl were to look through the papers, he would find a detailed drawing of Sophie.
"I don't know where Sophie is, because I don't have her."
"What would one expect one from a turnip head?" Howl mummerd as he sat down.
"Well, this is a waste of time. But who else would have her?" asked Markl while pacing the room.
"Someone who wants revenge on Howl perhaps?" suggested Calcifer from Markl's shoulder.
"Maybe she ran away. Did you make her suffer?" As soon as the prince said this, he found himself from the floor.
"Listen up turnip head! I would never make her suffer! And she didn't run away. She got kidnapped by someone!"
"How are you sure?" the prince asked, a little anxious now. If Sophie got hurt, he would personally take fault for not taking care of her when he could have.
"Markl said three men were chasing them when they went shopping." Howl answered stiffly from the window seat he just sat at.
"Why was she alone?"
"She wasn't alone, she had me with her!"
"Sure, a little kid is going to help her! Why did you leave her alone?"
"She wanted me to go and tell Howl!"
"This is a waste of time, Sophie isn't here, yet she's in danger." As Howl said this, he got up, and placed a hand in Markl's head. "Its okay Markl, I'm not blaming you. Turnip head, he's only ten years old, for Pete's sake, he couldn't have done much! See you around."
"Howl!"
"Yeah?" he said as he paused at the door. "As soon as you find Sophie, bring her here. She's much better off with me than you, who can't even protect her." Striding towards him, Howl said, "You think she would like to live a stuffy, rule filled life? You can't keep her in a room, making her sew, or paint or whatever "real ladies" do. She loves to move around, and visit different places. Besides, she's part of my family, and I can't let you take her away." Finishing, Howl walked outside the doors, Markl and Calcifer following him, leaving the prince to think about Sophie, and the way Howl had said she was part of his family.
"I can't stand him, he was much better off being a scarecrow. Sophie shouldn't have broken his spell." Howl said once outside the prince's office.
"Sophie didn't know he was under a spell. Besides, she chose you, don't worry about the prince."
"You're right. But since when did you get so wise Markl?" Howl asked, looking down on him with surprise.
"Well, Sophie would tell me stuff like this." Markl said. After a moment, he added "I miss her a lot.'
"So do I," Howl said, thinking about Sophie. A servant running towards them stopped the trio.
"The prince would like to tell you, your welcomed to stay here for the night. Please follow me."
"Should we accept Turnip's head's offer?" Howl said, consulting with Markl and Calcifer.
"Why not? I think he is only trying to help us." Markl suggested
"I think he wants to drug me so he can go and save Sophie."
"Howl he wouldn't do anything like that."
"That turnip head would do anything to have Sophie to himself."
"Are you jealous Howl? Why? After all, Turnip doesn't have your powers, or courage," added Calcifer. "Besides, how many people swallow a star and live to tell about it?"
"True, I made you into a powerful fire demon, huh Calcifer?"
"Yep, so I think we should accept his offer. Young Markl might be tired. And besides, I'm hungry."
"Are you hungry Markl? But we do need to continue looking for Sophie."
"Sophie won't move from where she is, and I don't think it would do us good if you fainted in the middle of the air." Calcifer said.
"Fine, I'll go tell turnip head we're staying for the night." As Howl stormed off, Markl and Calcifer looked at each other.
"This could be fun, if the prince and Howl don't kill themselves first," said Calcifer darkly. But after looking at Markl, both of them started laughing at the idea. Running after Howl, Markl hoped that Calcifer was lying. Sadly to say, he probably wasn't.
So what do you think? Please review, and say what you think. Sorry if it's very gloomy. Thank you for reviewing,
Lady moon dragon.
