Thank you Cadidius-lupus full moon, Eiko Makimachi, Kabia queen, Kristen, Kasumi997, and darkwolf88. I'm glad someone is still with me! Sorry for making you wait for a long time! My Internet was down. Oh, and if you find mistakes on this, I'm sorry! Watching the FIFA cup (Mexico vs. Brazil) and typing this is hard. Enjoy! Please review and tell me if it's still good!

Chapter 7: And Sophie finds out Sorahb's intentions

Sitting at the table, at the end of the stairs, head resting on the table, Sophie found Howl. His beautiful black hair was messy, his eyes closed. The light coming from Calcifer reflected the weary lines on Howl's face. As Sophie walked closer to Howl, he started to twitch.

"Sophie" he murmured, obviously thinking about her. Sophie couldn't help her self anymore. Walking over to him, she putt her hands on his shoulders, and started to mummer, "Howl, wake up, guess who?"

"Sophie?" Howl murmured, lifting his head slowly. Suddenly, his eyes were flung open, and he stood up really fast.

"Oh Sophie, how I've missed you so much!" Howl said while holding her tight and burying his nose on her head.

"Sophie, Sophie," Howl said, still holding her tight.

"Is this a dream? If it is, it's a good one. Howl, I'm sorry" Sophie said while hugging Howl.

"Its not you fault, its mine" he said, while holding up Sophie's chin. "Howl, I…"

"Shush Sophie" Sophie could feel Howl's breath on her lips. Her heart began to beat really fast, something only Howl could do. Suddenly she forgot everything, her and Howl were alone in their own world. After ten minutes, both were out of breath.

"How did I find you Howl?" Sophie said, holding him tighter than before. She hoped she would never have to let go.

"Hm, that's a good question," Howl said, while peering over Sophie's head. "But I think its because you have something that links you to me. And it could also be that our desire to see one another was too strong," Howl said while looking at Sophie fondly.

"Now, on to more important things, where are you? Are you okay? Does Sorahb have you captive? He hasn't harmed you, has…"

"Shush Howl, he hasn't done anything," Sophie said, while placing a finger on Howl's lips. "But I don't know where I am. After the kidnappers got me, I lost conscious. When I woke up, I was in a room, with the only window having bars."

"That's no way to treat a lady like you Sophie," Howl said, while looking disgusted. "Oh, on a brighter note, your sister came over to visit today," Howl said.

"Lettie, how is she doing, why did she come?" Sophie said, becoming a little agitated.

"She's okay, she came because she heard you got kidnapped. She was scared of me a little, but she's home safetly," Howl said, while placing both hands on Sophie's shoulders. "Don't worry about her Sophie," Howl said, while putting his nose on her hair. "You know what? I think your hair is growing again. But I think I like it short."

"You aren't starving are you Howl?" Sophie said.

"Yes, for you," he said while he started to nuzzle her neck. Sophie started to feel so safe in Howl's arms. She tried to fight her temptations. As Howl started kissing her again, she was losing herself, and she knew it. Howl suddenly stopped.

"Someone's coming. It's from your end. Sophie, be very careful. Sorhab may try to turn you against me, but don't forgot I love you."

"Howl, I also.." But a weird feeling suddenly interrupted her. "Howl, I have to go, I think Sorhab is coming," Sophie said, suddenly afraid.

"Don't worry about Sorhab. I will find you and bring you home. Calcifer and Markl miss you."

"Bye Howl. Be careful." Howl watched her go with a sad look.

Sophie could feel someone near her but she didn't open her eyes. She was a little afraid of Sorhab.

"Where you dreaming of him, Sophie?' Sorhab murmured. "I don't like that. You should only think of me, Sophie." Sophie could feel a lock of hair being moved. After a couple of minutes, she heard a very reliving sound: a door being closed. She went back to sleep, with no more dreams of Howl.

Sophie woke up two hours later than she normally did. Normally, she would wake up Calcifer first, followed by Markl, and then wake up Howl. But he often times needed to be told six times before he would actually got out of bed. A knock on the door broke Sophie's thoughts.

"Come in!" She said as she headed towards the door. Soraya came in, followed by a servant.

"Did you have a good morning, miss….ah?"

"Jenkins" Sophie said. Even though Howl had never asked her to marry him, she knew he loved her a lot.

"Ah, Miss Jenkins" Soraya said, interrupting Sophie's thoughts. "Master Sorhab is waiting for you to change so that you may join him for breakfast. Here are your clothes. Do you need help with them?" Soraya said as she raised an eyebrow.

"I'm fine, I'll be out in a second." As Sophie said this, she closed the door. The dress was much fancier than she ever owned, but she put it on in a minute. It was made out of silvery cloth, and had long sleeves with lace at the end. After looking at herself in the mirror, she opened the door, and to her surprised, an even more surprised Soraya.

"Follow me," Soraya quickly hurried, Sophie following, trying not to trip on her dress. Soraya soon stopped in front of a pair of elaborate doors.

"Go in. My master will be there shortly." Sophie was surprised at what she saw.

"Come on Justin, wake up. Master Howl is already awake." Markl said as he shook Justin.

"Howl's awake? Already? What time is it?" Justin asked as he woke up.

"Seven o' clock. Master Howl has just finished cooking breakfast."

"Really?" Justin said with a disbelieving look on his face

"Yeah, he taught Sophie how to cook" Markl said with a laugh.

"Sophie didn't know how to cook?" Justin asked, really surprised.

"Yep. Howl taught her." Markl said as they walked down the steps.

"I taught who what?" Howl said as they walked into the kitchen.

"You taught who what?" Howl said as they walked into the kitchen.

"You taught Sophie how to cook" Markl said as he and Justin sat down.

"Oh yeah" Howl said, a dreamy look on his face. But he snapped when Calcifer said, "Howl! Wake up! The breakfast is going to burn, and there's someone knocking at the door. Kingsbury too," he said with a disgusted look on his face.

"Turnip, here's breakfast. Sorry if it's not royalty worth, but its good. I have to see who's at the door." As Howl left the kitchen, Justin hear Calcifer mummer to Markl, " I hope its not Suliman." Justin picked up a fork, and was about to eat some egg, when he heard the door turn, and heard Howl's surprised shout. Then a lady came in carried by two men. She was followed by Howl, who looked like he had swallowed a lemon.

"Justin, this is Madam Suliman." As Justin stared at Suliman, he heard Calcifer hiss with annoyance.

'What a beautiful garden' Sophie thought as she walked among the roses. This garden had more flower's than How's private garden. Again, she couldn't help, but remember something from not so long ago.

Flashback

"Markl, where is Howl?" Sophie asked, looking around.

"He went through the door, and ever since, I haven't seen him." Markl said as he looked on a spell.

'I know where he is' Sophie thought as she turned the wheel to green. After doing so, she found herself in a field of flowers, the sky a clear blue. Looking among the many colors, she soon spotted a black among them. Howl was lying on his back, looking up at the sky. He never stopped looking, not even when Sophie got close to him.

"Howl, what's the matter?" Sophie asked as she sat next to Howl.

"Nothing dear Sophie. Just wondering about the feature. It always has surprises. And sometimes, you don't know if it will be okay." As Howl said this, he let out a sigh. "Sometimes you are afraid of what it holds. But I'm not afraid anymore" Howl said.

"Why's that?' Sophie asked, curious.

"Because I found you." Howl said softly, sitting up, and hugging Sophie. 'You were salvation."

End flashback

A sudden movement caught Sophie's attention, and she looked up. It was only Sorhab coming, but she hadn't heard him enter.

"What are you thinking about that makes you all quiet, yet smile?" Sorhab said as he walked her over to the table, where breakfast was waiting. After being seated across him, Sophie said, "I was thinking of Howl."

Justin couldn't help but stare at the lady with all dark jewels around her. 'Her face is beautiful, but there's something wrong about it' Justin thought. But matters dictated that he should present himself, so he stood up. Abandoning his eggs, he walked over to Suliman, and said, "My name is Prince Justin. Pleased to meet you, Lady Suliman."

"What a fine man you are, unlike other people" Suliman said as she stared at him, while ignoring Howl's glare. But before she could have said anything else, Obaba walked in, followed by Hein, Suliman's once eyes, now part of the family.

"Things might get ugly here," Calcifer said to Markl, who was staring at Obaba and Suliman. The tense was really thick between Obaba (witch of the waste for those who did not see the Japanese version) and Suliman. Both stared at each other, and after a minute, Suliman said, " I didn't know you were housing a hag Howl." Obaba, who pretended not to hear Suliman said, "If I had known Suliman was here, I wouldn't have entered at all. She tends to be so dramatic. Remember the bombs Markl?" Obaba said as she walked over to the table, and took Justin's eggs, ignoring his whisper of, "Those are MY eggs!" Markl, who had Suliman's eyes on him, shrugged and was hoping she would look somewhere, when Howl asked, " What are you doing here? Did you come to bother me or gloat at Obaba?"

Suliman laughed a cold laugh, before saying," I heard Sophie's gone. Is this true?" she asked as she peered at Markl, while he, Howl, and Justin were looking at each other with uneasy faces.

"Do you normally think of Howl all the time?" Sorhab asked as he drank from a cup. He looked up to see a thoughtful Sophie.

"No, I don't think of Howl all the time, because he was always there," Sophie said, avoiding Sorhab's eyes.

"It's okay, don't worry about it." Sorhab said as he saw Sophie eat a roll.

"Um, are you a lord or a duke?" Sophie asked, curious about his position. Howl had said that only rich people could have live in castles or mansions. Then with a laugh he added, "This isn't a true castle either!"

"….So that makes me a lord. Sophie?" Sorhab said while holding Sophie's hand. "Are you okay?"

"Um, what?" Sophie asked, surprised.

"You sort of zoned out. Are you okay?" Sorhab said, concern in his eyes.

"Fine, just remembering …what Howl said."

"No space in your heart for little me?" Sorhab said, holding Sophie's hand to his lips.

'Just like Howl' Sophie thought. After a moment, she said, "I don't think so. You know who has my heart." Suddenly she found her face close to Sorhab, and she found herself staring at his green eyes. She could feel his breath oh her lips when he said, "But you should let me have a chance." As he got even closer, Sophie could only think of Howl. And when Sophie suddenly found Sorhab's lips on hers, she thought of Howl, and howl gentle he had been with her, while she dreamed of him. Sophie pulled away suddenly, ignoring Sorhab's disappointing look.

"So you can't respond to my feelings, can you Sophie?'

"No, I'm sorry." Sophie lift the gardens before Sorhab could follow her. Sorhab thought to himself, "I've got to get her to forget Howl. That way, my plan will be in motion,' he thought as he saw Sophie run down the steps.

Sophie's POV

'What is Sorhab doing?' Sophie thought as she ran down the steps. 'He knows who l love, and yet he tries to convince me to forget him.' Sophie walked to the woods, trying to locate her position. 'Where are you, howl? Come and get me.'

"I know where you deer Sophie is, Howl. Would you like me to help you find her?" Suliman said as she looked at Howl, tying to lure him.

"Don't trust her Howl. She's probably after something, and needs you to do it," Obaba said, while walking over to Howl.

"And what if I said yes? What would be the price to pay?" Howl asked, ignoring Obaba's surprised look.

"Master Howl, you don't need to accept her help! You can find Sophie

by your self," Markl said, pulling on Howl's sleeves.

"Imagine what Sophie would say if she ever found out!" Calcifer said, staring at Suliman. He was pretty sure Suliman was going to trap him. He wasn't surprised when Suliman said," You would have to be my servant for a year, Howl. A small price to pay, unlike others." As she finished talking she glared at Obaba.

"Suliman, I will let you know my response, okay?" Howl said as he shoved Suliman out the door. After she was gone, Markl and Calcifer let out a huge sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Justin looked at Howl with an angry look, and said, "Why didn't you accept her help? We could have found Sophie by nightfall…."

"Would you have liked for Sophie to forget who you were? Suliman would probably erase her memory as well!" howl said, as he got agitated. "Calcifer, we leave in an hour! The sooner we find Sophie, the better!" before Justin could say anything else, howl walked up the steps. A minute later, Calcifer, Markl, and Justin heard the slam of a door.

"Howl is going to drive himself crazy before he finds Sophie" Calcifer remarked. After a moment, he added "Markl go talk to Howl, he needs to calm down." Looking at the steps, Markl agreed. Going up the steps as fast as he could, he soon reached Howl's room.

"Master Howl? Are you in there?" Markl said, knocking on the door. A minute passed, before Howl answered the door, head sticking out.

"Yes?" he said, opening the door a little.

"Nothing, are you okay?' Markl asked.

"Fine, but get ready, the sooner we find Sophie, the better. And pack enough food. We'll eat lunch and dinner outside. We have to hurry, Sophie is relying on us."

He stared at the globe, staring at Sophie. Sorhab should have known better to try and win Sophie's heart by himself. He also should have known that her heart has already belonged to howl. At first, he wanted to use her as a tool against Howl. But when he meet her, he knew he wouldn't. She was too beautiful and headstrong. Now, he had no other choice, he had to do it. Even if she would be unhappy.

"You drove me to this Sophie. If only… no matter. You leave me no other choice. I'm sorry, but this way I can continue my plans," he said while he stared at the globe one last time before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

So what do you, my readers think? Please review. See you next time,

Lady moon dragon