-1Third Chapter! Ready for it? Reviews first then story.

XOXGracieXOX: your getting the next chapter, alright?

Now on with this story.

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"Well then, Cori, welcome to our home. If you didn't already catch our names I am Howl, this silver-haired lady is my wife, Sophie, the short boy is Markl, the fire is Calcifer, the old lady is The Witch of the Waste, and the dog is Heen." Howl said while pointing to each of them as he said there names.

"The… fire?" she questioned as she looked over to Calcifer. He saw her looking at him and took that opportunity to introduce himself.

"Hi. I'm the one that moves and heats the house. Nice to meet you." At this point most people would have screamed and backed away in fright, But not Cori. She walked over and looked at him. She smiled as she saw his flames dancing.

"A fire demon, huh? I'm going to take a wild guess and say that he used to possess something from someone in this room. Am I right?"

"Your almost right, girl. I used to possess Howl's heart." Her smile grew even bigger. Calcifer back up on the hearth, trying to get away from the girl. Why is she looking at me like that?

I heard that, flame face. Calcifer jumped a bit when he heard her voice inside his head. Don't let the others know that I can talk to you through your mind, alright. Calcifer nodded a little and she walked back towards Howl and Sophie. "You got anything to eat? I'm starving." Sophie nodded and went to cook some breakfast for all of them while Howl took Cori over to the Sofas.

"I have a question for you, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind at all, Wizard Howl. Ask away."

"Alright. But its just Howl, alright?" She laughed and nodded at her. "Why were you looking for me?" Her face fell as she remembered why she had come. Howl patiently waited for her answer. She sighed as she stood up.

"There is a reason that I was sent. But it is to soon to tell you. I can't answer your question just yet. And I think that breakfast is ready." Howl turned around just in time to see Sophie putting the last dish on the table. He jumped up and ran over to the table and started eating before anyone else even got there. The girls started laughing as they went to get some food before the wizard finished of all of the food.

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After the very noisy morning, the people in the house went and did their work. Sophie cleaned, Howl went up to his library to research, Granny Witch started to knit, Heen was still in hiding, Calcifer moved the castle, and Markl worked on one of the assignment that Howl had given him. With a little help from Cori from time to time. Cori just sat in thought for most of the day. It was near dinner time when Calcifer heard her voice in his head.

Calcifer?

Yeah, what is it?

I know that you have been wanting to ask all day so go ahead and ask already. Calcifer jumped a little. He had been wanting to ask a question all day but he hadn't ever worked up to actually ask.

And just HOW did you know that? Were you spying in my mind?

Heh. No, I wasn't. Your thought were so loud that I could help hearing them. And please don't yell. I hurts my ears.

Ok. Here's my question. What are you….. Calcifer started to say but was cut off by a knock on the door. "Lousy timing… HEY HOWL! THERE'S SOMEONE AT THE DOOR!" he yelled up to Howl. They waited but they didn't get an answer.

"Calcifer. Which door is it at?" Cori quietly the said. Markl had looked up from his work and was listening. Cori got up and walked towards the door.

"Its…. The black one." he said with a gasp. Markl started to run towards the door but Cori stopped him.

"BACK AWAY!" she shouted as she started to prepare for what ever was coming through that door. The house was deathly silent. Markl was about to speak when the door flew off its hinges and straight for Cori. She quickly sidestepped and it just missed her. A long black blob came through the door. It started to form into the shape of a huge, black snake. It hissed at Cori but she just stared at it. That made it angry. It drew back and lunged itself toward Cori. She tried to dodge it but this time it was to fast. It struck her leg and cut it down to the bone. She screamed in pain as it got ready to lunge at Markl. It quickly went for him but a blast from behind made it stop and spin around. There was Cori, standing there with a beautifully carved magician's staff in her hands. And by how she was holding it, Markl could tell that she was totally in control of it. Some staffs have a mind of their own and went wild unless the wielder was very skilled. The creature recoiled at the sight of the staff, as if it was remembering a previous experience. Just then they all heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"What is going on down……" Howl started to say but immediately stopped talking when he saw the creature. His face turned white when he saw it.

"Howl, what's…." Sophie started to say as she came down the stairs but Howl cut her off.

"Sophie, take Markl and Cori upstairs. Now." he commanded. Markl immediately ran to the stairs but Cori made no move. "Cori, I said now."

"This is not your problem." She coldly said. She turned back to the monster, which was getting ready to attack again. She raised her staff and started to say a incantation. The monster turned and quickly made for the door but Howl placed an immobility spell on it. She nodded to him and he backed up to the stairs. "UNSA, TRIABEM, NOTI, RECTEM, RISU , RIMAT TRECTI, TRECTO, UNSAMAI, SERICOUS, DELIBRIATUS! Return from whence you came!" She shouted. The whole room started to shake as the spell took hold. Howl quickly grabbed onto the railing so he would be sent as well. A black hole opened and started to pull the monster in. It screeched as it fell into the abyss, hopefully never to be seen again. Just as quickly as it had started, the spell ended. Markl, Sophie, Granny Witch, and Heen came back down. Howl let go of the railing and went over to the girl.

"Are you alright?" he softly asked. She turned around. Her face was pale and her hand were clasped so tightly around her staff that her knuckles were white. She smiled at him before speaking.

"Yeah, I'm…" was all she got out before she fainted. Howl caught her before she hit the ground and carried her over to the couch. He set her down and felt her forehead to see if she had a fever or not. Sophie came over and knelt by her husband.

"Is she going to be alright?" Her voice had concern in it. She was worried about anyone and everyone.

"She will be. She cast a high level spell and it drained her." He sighed as he stood up. "Calcifer. Come over here."

"Yeah. What do you need, Howl?"

"You were the one down here while she was thinking. Did she talk to you?" Calcifer got a funny look on his face when Howl said this. "What do you know, Calcifer?"

"She was able to… to speak to me in my mind!" He blurted out. Howl got a funny look on his face when he heard this. "Howl, there's something about this girl.."

"Yes, I know… We'll have to ask her when she wakes up.