Thank you to all my reviewers! It means a lot to me to know your opinion. Thank you to my follow reviewers: Kristen, Candidus-lupus full moon, callarose4ever, Eiko Makimachi, Kasumi977, tadsgirl, and darkwolf88! IheartSYAORAN, your reviews made me laugh, in middle of class. Unfortunately, there's no award. I still keep looking in the mail. You'll see what Sorhab plans on doing chisakmi saiyuki, thanks for reviewing! Sorry for the long wait my readers! Now, on to the eight chapter!

Chapter 8: In which Sorhab does something unforgivable

Sophie knew she would have to face him soon or latter. She didn't want to, but she still had to. Running as fast as she could, far away from the mansion, had caught up to her, making her sit down by a pond. After taking a small sip of water, she sat down again, her back resting against a tree. Soon she felt sleepy, and fell asleep.

After much complaining from turnip's head, the group started to head out again. Howl left careful instructions with Obaba: do not answer the door to anyone, and lock the door. He told her the rules with Obaba, but he didn't notice Obaba saying, "My, how lucky am I to live with such a handsome wizard. But by that time, Howl had already left. Soon, everyone was back in the circle they had arrived in yesterday. Justin was stuck with the bags, while Markl held a huge book. Howl had one hand carrying Calcifer; the other was up to his forehead, trying to remember the spell. After a minute, the quateret started lifting up into the air. A flash made Obaba cover her eyes while shouting, "Don't transform again Howl! You will never change again, and I mean it!" When the flash was over, Obaba mummer "Show off," to no one in particular.

Justin landed nearly on the ground, but he quickly composed himself. When he stood up, he noticed that Howl and Markl had already moved away from the circle, and Howl was mounting his horse, Markl waiting for him to mount.

"Wait Markl. Erase those marking before we leave. Coming turnip head?" Howl asked as Markl quickly erased the marking, and went back to Howl.

"Yeah, I'm coming," Justin said as she mounted his horse.

Soraya was mad. That intruder Sophie had been here for nearly a week, and she had Sorhab worried about her like crazy when she went missing for an hour. Soraya had been with Sorhab for a long time, and he never worried about her, even when she didn't see him for weeks.

'I hope I never find her' Soraya thought as she continued to look for Sophie. Ever since she arrived, things got turned around. She even had Sorhab eating out of her hand. "I'll get you, Sophie Jenkins" Soraya said, continuing her task, silently cursing Sophie.

"Come on turnip, we have to hurry, or we won't eat," Markl said as he bent over to pick up a log. Howl had asked him and turnip to go and collect wood so he could cook lunch. It was really supper, but neither complained as they left Howl with the camp, taking to himself.

Howl stared at the horses tied to a tree. After riding for six hours, Howl decided to stop for the day. They were nearly out of the forest, and into a clearing. The sun was two hours from sunset. He was really tiered, having stayed up, and then be visited by Sophie in his dreams. He was semi-conscious when Sophie came to him again. He slowly opened his eyes, and then closed them again. His brain was slow. He opened them again, then his brain told him Sophie was standing right there, looking at him with a smile on her face.

"Howl, you should go to sleep earlier, or you won't have enough energy for the next day."

"I'm guessing you also are sleeping as well Sophie?" Howl said as he walked over.

"Before I forget, I'm going to put your pendant near a tree. That way, you'll know if you are going in the right direction," Sophie said as she suddenly found herself in Howl's arms.

"Sophie? Sophie!" Markl said as he ran towards both of them.

"Markl? But how…"

"Where you sleeping on the job Markl?" Howl asked, an eyebrow raised.

"No Master" Markl said, avoiding looking at Howl.

"Are you okay Markl? Have you been eating well?' Sophie said as she bended down to Markl's level.

"I'm fine Sophie. Are you okay? I'm sorry I ran away! I should have stayed and…"

"It's okay Markl. The only thing you have to worry about, is if you are going to find me in time."

"Sophie's right. No point crying over that," Howl said as he helped Sophie get up.

"Markl, go and finish what I old you to do," Howl said, hoping that Markl would leave soon.

"Yes Master Howl. Sophie, be careful," Markl, said before he left the two alone. He headed back to where he had fallen asleep when he collided with something, making him wake up immediately.

"Watch where you're going… Justin?" Markl stared at Justin, who wasn't paying attention. He seemed to be in his own world.

"Justin!" Markl's shout made Justin look down at him.

"I thought I saw Sophie in my dream. She…"

"Yeah, Sophie's with Howl now. I just came from there a couple of minutes ago. I think they need some time alone."

"I see" Justin said. "In that case, let's go and finish what Howl told us to do!"

After leaving How, Sophie woke up. It was nearly six o' clock, so Sophie continued to walk some ore. Howl was reluctant o let her go, but he did in the end. She walked around for another bit, until she encountered a tall wall of grass.

"A maze? Here?" Sophie said to no one in particular.

"Sorhab's father had a weird taste. His mother said it would be the death of him. In some sort of way, it came true," Soraya said, before coming out of the shadows.

"You can go in. The maze isn't so hard to get out of, if you know your way!" As Soraya said this, she shoved Sophie inside. Before Sophie could do anything, Soraya closed the entrance with a blast of her powder.

Soraya laughed as Sophie walked around. After a couple of minutes, Sophie wanted to get out. Soraya saw Sophie trying to hide her panic.

"So easy to fall, eh Sophie?" Sorhab said.

"Talking you yourself again, Soraya?" Sorhab said, coming down a small path.

"Master Sorhab!" Soraya said as she bowed down. "I was wondering if I should…"

"Yes, whatever it is, I'm sure it's important," Sorhab said impatiently. "Have you seen Sophie? I can't find her, and it's been a while."

"No master, I haven't see her…"

"Fine, continue what you were doing," he said as he dug his heel in the horse, making the horse gallop faster than before. Seeing Sorhab riding away, Soraya turned to the maze. However, a silver light came from the back.

"She blasted her way out!" Soraya said, furiously before running towards the back. If her master found out what happened, she would be in big trouble.

Sophie walked out of the maze, somewhat surprised. When she slammed her fist against the wall, silver light came from nowhere, causing a huge hole in the wall. Walking as fast as she could, away from the maze, she soon encountered the stables. Knowing what she had to do, she began to look for the horse master.

Ten minutes later, Sophie found herself on top of a small mare, riding sidesaddle. She would have been afraid, had the horse not been gentle. Determined to do what she had to do, she set off, at a brisk trot.

He should have known better than to leave Sophie in Soraya's care. The clumsy girl didn't know where she was. As long as he found her, things would be okay. Soraya would not have to be punished for her lack of watching Sophie. She belonged to him now, and he wasn't going to let his old friend have her. 'I'll kill you Howl, before you can have Sophie again,' Sorhab thought as he continued to look for Sophie.

Sophie had just finished hanging up Howl's pendant in the tree, when she heard horses' hooves near by. She quickly climbing down, ignoring the scratches and ripping noise as branches tore her dress. Relived to be on the ground after jumping, she straightened up her dress, only to find a surprised Sorhab on his horse.

"I'm fine" Sophie said, avoiding Sorhab's eyes. Quickly mounting, she set her horse to a canter. She didn't want to explain to Sorhab what she was doing up there. It would lead Sorhab to find Howl's pendant.

"You're quite a rider" Sorhab commented as he caught up to Sophie easily.

"Howl taught me" Sophie said quietly. Both of them soon reached the mansion without another word.

After a silent dinner, Howl, Markl, and Justin were looking at the fire. Sundown was upon them, and all were tiered. Calicfer however, started to complain.

"First you made me transport you here, and then you make me cook dinner! Howl you crazy wizard you…!"

"Yes Calcifer, would you please be quiet? I swear, you are going to be the death of me with all of you complains." Howl said, not bothering to look up from his book.

"Howl, I hope you don't fail in protecting Sophie just like Meitaro failed to protect Higo…."

"Calcifer stop it! I'm sure Master Howl won't fail" Markl said before truing to Howl. But what ever Markl was going to say died on his lips. Howl had finally looked up from his book, a serious look on his face.

"If I loose Sophie, I'll never forgive myself," Howl said before standing up to leave.

"Sophie! As master of this house, I command you to come here!" Sorhab yelled as Sophie walked away. Sophie quietly finished after a dead dinner, and stood up to leave. But Sorhab, who had other plans, didn't want her to leave.

"You may be master of this house, but not master of my heart!" Sophie yelled back. She had to put up with all the glances of Soraya at the table. However, Sorhab also saw them. He tried to get Soraya to apologize. Soraya would have had to, if it wasn't Sophie's quick mummer of: "Leave it Sorhab" before leaving the dinning room.

"Soon I'll be!" Sorhab said. To his delight Sophie went into the room he wanted her to go. Unfortunately, Sophie slammed the door in his face. "Open up Sophie!" he yelled as he pounded on the door. Sophie didn't response. She locked the door, and slowly backed off. However, because she was backing backwards, she didn't know what or whom she ran into.

"I have lived here all my life, you think I don't know how to get into a locked room?" Sorhab said, looking down on Sophie.

"How did you get in here?" Sophie said, not daring to turn around.

"Secret passage" he whispered in her ear. "Just as I have found the passage into your heart."

"I don't think so," Sophie said. She wouldn't show her feelings. Sorhab scared her, while Howl…well Howl was…is different.

"Yes, I do believe you're wrong for the first time, Sophie." Sophie found herself being forced to sit in a chair. She tried to get up, but failed. Her head were bound invisibility to the chair to get up, but failed. Her hands were bound invisibly to the chair. All of a sudden, the hair on her neck stood up. She suddenly felt sick.

"Don't try to fight my memory spell Sophie, it won't work." Sorhab said from behind. But Sophie didn't hear him. Her memories of Howl were disappearing! Sophie couldn't let that happen. The memory of Howl when she first meets him played in her mind. The way he gently held her. She remembered his blue eyes. But there it was! That feeling as if someone was going through her head!

"This is my secret garden, my uncle gave it to me" Sophie heard Howl say in his mind, while she saw his beautiful smile. She struggled against the spell, which got stronger.

"Sophie stop now. You're hurting yourself!" Sorhab said. If Sophie didn't stop fighting, she would die. But out of nowhere, Sophie slummed in her chair, a thin line of blood coming from her lips.

So what do you thing? Please review! Lady moon dragon was here!