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Dark wolf88: You'll find out soon, thank you!

Thanks to candidus-lupus-full moon, Aerith, and Kristen! And tadsgirl: yep! They are going to get better! Thanks! On to the story!

Chapter 6: In which Howl has a visitor

Sophie never truly liked books. But after meeting Howl, she got interested in them. Howl had said they were the most useful items in the world. Being among so many books comforted her. They made her remember something Howl has said a long time ago.

Flashback

"Howl, what's this? Its in some weird gibberish," Sophie said as she picked up a open book.

"Oh, put that down, and I'll tell you what it says," Howl said from Sophie's shoulder.

"It's a spell for immortality," he said, as he ran a hand through his black hair. "But sometimes it can backfire horribly. Besides, I don't need that spell," he said, looking down at Sophie.

"Why not? Don't you want to live forever?"

"No, a life time with you would be enough. That spell wouldn't bring me all the happiness I have felt ever since I've meet you," Howl said, placing a hand on Sophie's shoulder. Very gently, he kissed her.

"Oh, I hate it when both of you get mushy. Go to the bedroom!" Calcifer said from his logs.

"He's right, we should," Howl said, and with one swift motion, picked up Sophie bridal style.

" To the bedroom!" he said, running up the steps, into his room. Laying Sophie gently in the bed, he closed the door behind him.

"Now you're trapped my small bird," he said with a weird look on his face.

"I can see your room is still messy Howl," Sophie said, avoiding Howl's glance.

"Don't worry, I won't make you my bride yet," he said softly, picking up a lose lock of her silvery hair.

"Still, you'd better go downstairs, Markl is looking for you," Howl said, interrupting Sophie's thoughts after a couple of minutes.

"But I love you too much to harm you," he said, hugging Sophie. "Come on, let's go," he said softly, standing from the bed.

End flashback

'Howl,' Sophie thought. A sudden feeling made Sophie's senses go on alert. She could feel someone staring at her. She hated the feeling.

"Please come out of the shadows, its freaking me out," Sophie said out loud.

"I'm sorry, I don't want you to freak out. I only want to observe you for a little while." As the speaker finished this, he stepped out of the shadows. Sophie could see what he looked like for the first time. He had green eyes, and black hair tied into a ponytail.

"My name is Sorhab, nice to meet you, Sophie Jenkins, although I believe you're still Ms. Hatter," he said, amusement filling his green eyes.

"How do you know my name?" Sophie asked, determined to find answers.

"I have interested in you for quite sometime," he said, as he sat down on a sofa. "But please sit down. Are you hungry?" he asked as a servant came in, carrying a tray.

"Normally, I don't allow people to eat in my library, but I'm pretty sure you're hungry," he said as a servant served the dishes in the table between them.

"Thank you," Sophie said as she picked up a cup of tea.

'Well, at least he is okay… so far' Sophie thought as she sipped her tea.

"You can sleep here," Howl said as he pointed to a room smelling of flowers.

"Where are you going to sleep?" Justin asked as he put down his bags.

"I'm going to sleep in my room," Howl said, as he turned to leave.

"Um, where is it?" Justin asked, cautiously. He didn't want Howl to be mad with him.

"Why do you need to know?" Howl asked, a little confused.

"Nothing really, I…um…" he started to stammer.

"Markl, come here please!" Howl yelled all of a sudden, making Justin flinch. "Markl will show you around, and don't touch anything," Howl said as he left.

"So, you live with Howl in his moving castle, right?" Sorhab asked.

Sophie couldn't see why he wanted to know, so she asked, "Yes, but why do you want to know? I'm nobody special. Well, according to Howl, I'm really special. But he just says that for sake."

"Does he now? Sophie, I want to know everything about you," he said, grabbing her hand.

"I'm sure you do, but why? I mean its just really weird right no. I barely know you, and besides, you kidnapped me! You never let me say good bye to Howl!" She yelled as she stood up, knocking her cup.

"Is he all you care about? He is cold hearted, he has no feelings!"

"You're wrong! He's really kind you just don't know it. And your one to talk! Who locks up their host in a cold prison cell?"

"Your really clueless. He doesn't care about you! He'll use you and then throw you aside!" As Sorhab said this, he stood up, and walked over to Sophie. "But I can rescue you."

"I don't need your help. I want to leave. And if you excuse me, I'm leaving."

"I haven't excused you yet, so don't leave!" As he tried to stop her, his hand got burned.

'Howl,' Sophie thought as the blue shield around her disappeared.

"Don't turn the wheel to black. That's the wastelands." Markl said as he pointed to the wheel. After showing him around the flower shop, Markl lead Justin through the door, and back into the castle.

"So, this door connects the castle to different parts?" Justin said, confused.

"Yeah, blue is Kingsbury, red: Market Chirping, and I don't know what green leads to. Only Master Howl and Sophie go there. Master Howl won't even let me go there."

"Do Howl and Sophie disappear in there for long hours?"

"Nah, he goes up to his room. Besides, why do you care turnip?" Markl asked, looking up at Justin. "Wait, do you actually have feelings for Sophie? Because let me tell you, Howl loves her more than anything," Markl said. But when he looked up again, he saw the prince's face looking crestfallen.

"Um… should we go to bed? We have to wake up early tomorrow, and find Sophie."

" Ah yes, Sophie. Good night Markl" Justin said as he walked away.

" I guess turnip really loves her," Markl said.

"Probably not as much as Howl," Calcifer said. Both looked at Howl, who was bending over a book.

"He's going to make himself sick with worry. Sophie wouldn't like that," Markl said, before joining Howl.

"Master Howl, you should also go to sleep. You must be tiered." Markl was surprised to see that Howl's eyes were red.

"Its okay Markl, I'm fine, just thinking of a spell to lead us to Sophie…" A loud knock at the door interrupted Howl, and made both of them jump.

"Who could it be at this hour?" Howl asked as he stood up.

"Market Chirping" Calcifer said as the loud knocks continued.

"Is it Sorhab? Did he come to gloat at me?" Howl said as he walked down the steps. But he didn't expect to be attacked. He yelled in surprise.

"What are you doing… Lettie! Aren't you Sophie's sister?" Howl said as he looked down to a distressed Lettie. Lettie, who was a little afraid of Howl, shook her self-free from his hold.

"I heard from a customer at the bakery say that Sophie is missing! And I'm here to tell you, I'm holding you responsible for her disappearance!"

"Calm down Lady Lettie! Master Howl is doing his best to find Sophie," Markl said as he took Lettie from Howl, and sat her next to the table.

"I'll make tea," Howl said as he rummaged through the cupboards.

"What is going on? I heard Howl's shout and came down to investigate. And just when I was about to go to sleep," Justin said as he walked down the steps, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"We have a loud and bossy guest, Sophie's sister," Calcifer said as Howl put the teakettle on top of him. "And be more gentle! Sophie wasn't so mean! Okay, at the beginning she was, but she got better! I mean, she was quite nice, even through she was under a spell," Calcifer said, as he ate two more logs.

"Sophie was under a spell?" Lettie said, nearly standing up.

"She's fine now, Master Howl saved her," Markl said, as he made sure Lettie sat down again.

" She saved me too!" Howl and Justin said at the same time.

"She saved me first turnip, don't ever forget that!" Howl said, approaching Justin.

"She saved me from wandering around in a disguise!" Justin said, not noticing the spell coming from Howl's hand.

"Well, she saved my life, not yours, and she has been my greatest treasure ever since!" Howl said, ready to throw the spell.

"Howl, not in front of a guest!" Markl said. But before he could say anything else, Calcifer interrupted with his shout of, "Tea's ready!"

"Oh no! I forgot about the tea!" Howl said, running over to the chimney.

'He really loves Sophie,' Lettie thought as she looked at Howl, who was preparing the tea. But she looked at Justin, when Markl interrupted her thoughts by saying, "Oh, I forgot to introduce you, turnip! Lady Lettie, this is turnip, I mean, Prince Justin of the neighboring country. Prince Justin, this is Lady Lettie, Sophie's sister."

"Nice to meet you, Lady Lettie, I'm Justin, and Sophie's truest friend."

"Liar, more like a stalker," Howl mummer.

"What did you say Howl?" Justin asked, sitting across Lettie.

"Nothing, tea's ready," Howl said, placing a tray on the table.

"Achoo!" Sophie's sneeze interrupted the eerie silence between the both of them. After Howl's shield protected Sophie, Sorahb apologized.

"I'll take you to your room. You won't have to sleep in that uncomfortable room anymore. You'll be treated the way you should be," Sorahb said with a soft look on his face.

"It's okay, you don't have to worry about me, all I want to do, is to go home," Sophie said, looking down.

"So are you unhappy here? What do you need? Shoes, beautiful clothes, jewelry? What ever you desire, don't be afraid to ask. Ah, here's Soraya." A beautiful girl with amber eyes, and jet-black hair entered. She wore a beautiful, yet simple dress, with an elaborate design on her sleeves.

"Soraya, show Sophie the room next to the observatory" Sorahb said, standing up.

"Yes master" Soraya said while bowing. "Come this way, lady Sophie." But before Sophie left, Sorahb stopped her.

"This is your home Sophie. Whatever you need, don't be afraid to ask. Good night."

"Good night" Sophie said as she closed the door. Soraya led her through a beautifully decorated hallway before taking her to her room.

"This will be your room Lady Sophie. If you need anything, please let me know." As Soraya finished this, she closed the door, leaving Sophie to stare at the beautiful room with a surprised look.

'I wonder if Howl is sleeping' Sophie thought as she looked outside.

"Come on Howl, Sophie wouldn't want you to get sick!" Calcifer said, while looking at Justin.

"Calcifer's right" Markl said. After Lettie had clamed down, Justin offered to walk her home. But Lettie declined, saying she would be okay. Howl instead that he put a protection spell on her, so he wouldn't be worried. After much pleading, she agreed. Howl had just found out she arrived safely. He then continued to find spells to help him find Sophie. Much to his dismay, Markl and Calcifer instead on him going to sleep. When he looked up, he noticed that Justin just sat there, a weird look on his face.

"What's wrong with you? Come on turnip head, get your head out of the clouds," Howl said, while Markl peered into Justin's face.

"Ugh! Markl, I'm fine, get out of my face," Justin said, while shoving Markl away.

"Hey, no shoving Markl turnip head, he just wanted to help. And you look stupid like that," Howl said, as he closed the cover of the book. After standing up, he ruffled Markl's hair, and said," Come on, go to sleep Markl. You too turnip."

"Fine, but Master Howl, you also should go to sleep."

"I will, but…" Before Howl could finish, Markl found himself going up the steps, Justin following him.

"Master Howl, you shouldn't do this!" he yelled as he continued up the stairs.

"Good night to both of you," he said with a laugh, ignoring Justin's shouts. But after a while, he began to feel sleepy.

After Sophie had taken a long, hot bath, she climbed into a big, fluffy bed. Almost immediately, she fell asleep. She didn't know if it was something she ate, but her dream was weird, yet….

She dreamed she was going down a pair of steps, almost too familiar. At the end of the steps, her heart gave a huge leap.

I wonder why? Thank you for reviewing! You are all very kind!