Chapter two
The light of the sun made its way into the small yet elegant room which Sophie slept in; she opened her eyes not really knowing where she was. Sophie sat up on the soft bed. She swung her legs off her bare feet meeting the warm wooden floor boards; she looked around the room almost like it was another universe all together. She opened some draws nothing the wardrobes perhaps still nothing. She was angry she couldn't find a single thing to wear she sat on her bed thinking, she some what hated her sister for what she had done to her, and that man a flash of bottle blue eyes claimed her memory, she shook her head then cast a glance at her door it was closed, she slowly approached it not knowing what may lie behind it.
She took the handle and gently pulled it so it would open, once it did Sophie's vision met a dirty hall way cobwebs and dust it was like being in a an abandoned house, she cased a glance to her left there was some kind of dirt and the wall paper was peeling off the walls, Sophie caught sight of a stair case and landing she took baby steps constantly cringing with every step she made for the feel of the dirty floor under her bare feet.
Sophie was at the bottom of the stair case, she could see a room it was just as dirty it held a ghostly aura to it, she breathed out suddenly noticing how cold she really was, she rubbed her hands together she continued to look around she wanted nothing more than to run back up to the stairs and crawl up in the warm bed she was once in. she was about so turn around and leave when a small noise caught her attention.
Cautiously she made her way over to the sound, she found herself standing in front of the stove she looked into the small depths of the small fire which seemed to be dieing,
She stared on until it seemed like he fire was growing she continued to stair until:
"What are you looking at" said a small voice Sophie looked on into the fire she thought she was going to faint when she saw the small round eyes appear
Sophie opened and closed her moth trying to get the words out but they weren't forming
"You gonna stand there gapping like a fish, or are you gonna hand me one of those logs over there"
Sophie slowly reached over and made a grab for one of the logs on the counter and put it next to the talking fire, "So what your not gonna scream wow, he picked a good one this time"
There was a double meaning in that what it truly ment Sophie couldn't place there for left it and simply looked on into the fire: "Swoe," the fire said while munching on the log "what's your name then?" "Uh, um S-Sophie, yours?" she did feel rather silly whoever heard of talking to a fire "you can call me cal"
"Okay, Cal, where am I who brought me here, wh-"
"Whoa, hold on all will be explained when my master comes back actually he's your master too"
"Well what's he like what dose he look like, any thing I should know?"
"Other that he's very vain and child like and he-"
"Calcifer, is that what you really think of me" said a gentle voice Sophie looked over towards the back door and there stood a tall man he wore long black pants and black shoes, a white peasants shirt which looked like it was made from the finest of silks a long jacket which hung on his shoulders threads of fine gold decorated the collar and seams of the garment the jacket it self was in a diamond pattern of pink and grey
His hair was a soft gold blond and his eyes! Those eyes she remembered them
They were bottle blue beautiful.
Sophie turned her body so she was facing him fully; it was the man who had saved her the man who had bought her.
"…uh,"
"Well what's your name? What can you do? How old are you?" he asked rather in a rush
"Ladies first, who are you? Why did you buy me? What are you? Where am iiiiiiiiiiiiii?" Sophie screamed the last part
He sneered but put on that o so ever charming smile and spoke " my name Howl, the reason I bought you was because you caught my interests I am a wizard of course and your in and forever will be in my moving castle"
Sophie wanted to crawl up and die she had been sold to the cruellest of men the one and only Howl he ate and stole hearts young girl hearts
"Now my lady kindly answer my questions" he said fixing his gaze on her making her feel quite uncomfortable
"m-my name is Sophie, Sophie hatter, I beg your pardon on the second question, I can clean which this place needs a thrall session, cook mend cloths and im 15"
"Riiight, any ways that's what you're doing till it's safe to teach you , refer to me as master Howl do as I say and you wont get beaten- Sophie tensed at hearing this, would he really do that- yes Sophie I will beat you if necessary and I don't want you ever to leave the castle is that understood if you must go out then ask calcifer if he thinks its ok then you may go however this option is only in motion when im not in, DO NOT go in my room the only times I want you in there is when your cleaning. Understand" Sophie nodded and looked at her legs they were slightly blue
"Good, now follow me I have some thing to show you" she bent her head and followed him up the stairs once she was standing in the hall way with him he opened a door: "this is your room that there is my room along the hall way is the bathroom and the last room over there at the end is Markle's room"
"Who?" She asked slightly puzzled
"Oh don't worry, you'll see him later on he's 11, I found him long ago his parents cast him out when he was three so I took him under my wing when I found him"
"So you do have a heart" muttered Sophie
However it wasn't unnoticed by Howl however he chose to ignore it and opened the door for her she went in. it was a large room with a single bed underneath a large window, there were two wardrobes a small dresser and a large mirror, the room was painted in a cool calming blue with designs of white fluffy clouds on the walls. Howl came in after her and pulled open both the wardrobe doors "it gets pretty hot at night here even in the winter so this wardrobe it for you bed cloths, sheets, slippers and dressing gowns you have three, the other is for your uniform and out of the castle cloths which only include trousers dresses and jumpers" Sophie had to admit for an evil guy he was sure taking care of her
"The vanity has over 500 bandages for you're um…-"
"I got you" Sophie said a little embarrassed
"Shorts, short shorts and knickers"
Again Sophie blushed this time just a little bit darker.
"Well, I have to go calcifer; will let you know when Markle has arrived"
Sophie nodded, she was still wearing the shredded kimono she watched him exit the castle for ever will be ran through her mind it was quite simple really:
She was a prisoner
Sophie tore the long sleeves off and suddenly started down the steps the door suddenly opened and in bounced a small child
"Who are you?"
"Intro's later I'll make you a nice tea and then I'll tell you ok, im safe no need to be afraid I just reallllly have to clean this place"
"Huh no wait" said the little boy as he ran to the stairs "you got something to hide then do it quick" said Sophie really she could not STAND mess "leave mine till last kay" said the little boy already she started looking at him as a little brother if not her own, she started on the windows not caring if she dripped it would come in use later.
She started to wash dishes after having done the windows and floors and to calcifer grate appreciation his fireplace she started on the stair well shortly after and started to clean till her hearts content, however when she reached the bathroom she could have gagged right there and then the state of the room was horrendous it bore into her mind. She quickly got it done and started to mop the room it was so clean and much better for use. Sophie's cleaning had stopped at about 8 o'clock that's when she had a small wash and slipped on the new bed cloths she put on a small pink cotton shirt and matching shorts she went down stairs to see markle eating away and calcifer blazing.
She sighed she was more than over tired yet she stayed up waiting for the little 8 year old to finish
(A/n if I said markle was 12 he's now 8 okay sorry for the confusion)
"Hu Master Howl's back" said markle excitedly
Sophie seemed to stand immediately when he came into view he stood right in front of her he raised an eye brow she bowed her head all ready fear stricken for some reason. he looked her up and down she was wearing pink cotton shorts and a short sleeved pink top she had the white socks and her long black hair was in a pony tail
he placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed down gently then a little harder until she was kneeling, "This is how you will greet me, when I come back, I see the castle has been cleaned have you been in my room Sophie" "N-no Master Howl" pleased with her answer "Hn for your hard work you may be aloud to visit that family of yours, though I have no reason to believe you want to see them right now"
"Please I would very much want to see them…one last time"
"you may, however when you leave in the morning I will give you something so I am able to sense if you have any idea's about running away"
"I dare not" said Sophie it was a whisper it shook with fear
"You better, retire, now Markle you also"
They stood side my side bowed and left the room
(With Sophie)
"Sophie you need to know how to speak to master Howl some times he's fun but most he's dead serious now that a war is breaking out he's doing every thing he can to protect us she in a way, he's like our king" Sophie listened to markle's explanation on proper manners when talking with howl like at the start when Howl came in she didn't hear markle say "master Howl, your student kneels before you" in her case it would be servant that's all she was however markle had an idea that when things calmed down Howl would take her on as a student also Markle went to bed however Sophie went back down forgetting to put some logs near calcifer
Slowly she made her way down thanking the havens that Howl wasn't there any more
"Sorry cal" "s'ok Master Howl was sort of mad"
"I gathered, here and I have to go before I get into more trouble" she placed five logs to where he could easily reach, she fluttered back up the stairs quietly past Howls room to markle's room to see if he was alright all she earned was: " im fine but you better get to bed quick Master Howl checks if your not in bed he'll beat you" she nodded kissed his check then snuck into her room she sighed her back to her room and its contents and slid to the floor, " a prisoner, that's what I am, and forever …will be" she whispered she climbed into her bed and looked out to the star lit sky. She closed her eyes and started to drift off she wasn't fully asleep when someone came into her room she knew it was Howl and so remained silent she felt him take her wrist and put something cool on her index finger and wrist. He set her hand gently to her side then left Sophie opened her eyes and stared there was a small ring it was silver with a crimson red gem then on her wrist there was a silver bracelet with the same bottle blue as his eyes, she closed her eyes and went to sleep
a/n wow that was long R&R plz