A.N.: I'm so, so, so much sorry, I can't hope that you will forgive me at all, I can't even forgive myself for it. I'm so sorry I didn't update sooner, but my final exams in my final year have started and everything kept me really busy. I know that is no excuse at all, but I can't help it. I am stuck between written exams and oral exams, and I'm freaking the hell out right now, because my oral exams are on the last freaking day possible in our oral exams (20th June). And on noon too, argh, I want to get killed! So, I should have studied instead of writing this chapter, but I felt so bad for not updating, since some of you put me even on watch list and gave me so kind reviews. I really love you all for this and I can't forgive myself. And I don't think I have to remind you, but I'm bad at English, I checked the story for any errors, yes, but I'm sure all of you will wind something written wrong.
Special thanks to: smfan, Glorytommy, Mollz33, Dark knightress, MissBlueMuffin, mimichiro, Peaceful Dragon Rose, Lo0pster and Mysticbreeze327 for your kind reviews. And I'm sorry if I didn't respond to your reviews, I didn't have time for that. (Lame excuse I know, please forgive me...). And also special thanks to Storylovers91, smfan again, skitsophraniac, sexy evil nat and mimichiro again for putting me on your favourits list for stories. It keeps me sane enough to not kill myself. And also to all who have me on the watch list for stories, but I think I'm overusing the A.N. part here, so happy reading.
Last time:
"Who are you?" was all Sophie managed to get out of herself.
Chapter Four: Remember
Darkness. That was all that surrounded her. Pitch-black, debilitating, endless darkness. There was no for or back, no left or right, no up or down. There was simply nothing. She briefly wondered if this was the darkness of a faint or death.
She couldn't move her body. Did she even have a body to begin with? Or was she just a mind, a soul? Who was she? How had she ended here? Would she be here in this nothingness for the rest of eternity? Would anybody miss her?
The image of a handsome man flashed past her mind. Dark hair reaching just his shoulders, greenish-blue eyes, a well-built, tall and slim body, wearing some expensive blue suit with silver embroidery on its shirt collar and sleeves over a simple white shirt.
Fear clenched her heart as she imaged this person. What if something happened to him? What if he was hurt? Dead? She didn't know what she would do without him, she couldn't live without him. She remembered when he had fought against the witch of the waste and shortly after that his fight against the attack of all those ships, throwing off their deadly bombs. It happened on their way back. He had carried her to their house in Market Shipping and just let her down in the inner courtyard. Several battle ships were right about them and one of their bombs was falling directly at the house. Because of this he had leaped up again, since he was already in his raven form. He had had shouted at her to go inside to save her, but she couldn't bring her to do so. Not if he was facing the bomb. She had been so scarred. Scarred that he might not be able to shield himself enough. But he had managed.
She knew if there was one person who would miss her then it had to be him. If there was one person to come and rescue her then he would be the only one who would be capable. Hope and love swelled up inside her heart. She trusted him. She trusted and believed in her beloved one. Her Howl.
Howl was desperate. Sure he had defeated the six mages easily, but Mr. Smith hadn't given him a damn answer what had happened to Sophie when he had threatened him. So he quickly decided that a good old escape was the best. Still, he was in Kingsbury and far away from Marker Chipping and since his door wasn't leading to Kingsbury anymore… And there was one more problem. The war had started again. Battle ships were everywhere in the sky above him, letting their deadly cargo fall down. He changed into his raven form, he didn't care if it was dangerous to use it, he needed to get to Sophie now. He dodged as many bombs as he could, but he still needed to destroy many of them, since they were falling onto a lively city.
"Damn it… I need to get to Sophie…I hope that was just a lie… Please Sophie, please be safe!" he thought while he flew at full speed.
While he was finally, finally, leaving the city behind, he reached mentally out for Calcifer.
"Calcifer. Calcifer! CALCIFER! I know you can hear me, so answer me already!"
"No need to scream so loud, I can understand you well enough. Why are you even reaching for me?"
"Something happened in the palace, I will tell you everything when we are meeting again, but I need you to go immediately home and check if Sophie is alright. I'm sure someone is after Sophie! The war started again and Kingsbury is under attack right now and I'm still too far away from Market Shipping to check on Sophie myself. Call me immediately when you are home, I want to know where Sophie is."
"Oh hell, the war broke out again? Why must humans always solve their problems with violence? Ok I will fly home and check things out and then I will tell you. Until later Howl"
And with this Calcifer ended their mental chat. Meanwhile Howl had left Kingsbury far behind him, but he would still need another hour to bet home.
Howl? Can you hear me? I got some …news." Calcifer only whispered the last word in his mind.
"Yeah, I can. Where is Sophie?"
"She's not here. And there is evidence that there was a fight with magic. Michael's also not here."
Howl's world turned black for a moment. Sophie, his Sophie, wasn't safe at home. They had got her, captured her, probably done something to her. If something had happened to her… he would never be able to forgive himself.
"Howl? Are you still there?"
"Yeah, I am." His mental voice sounded completely dead and lifeless.
"Shall I search for them? Or shall I meet you first? I need to know what happened."
"No, stay in the house and protect it with everything you have got. Michael's probably at Cecari with Martha. I will get them and bring them to our house. Lettie is with Suliman at the palace, so she is safe right now. The protection of the palace is too strong to be smashed by mere bombs. And Sophie's stepmother is at some remote house outside Market Shipping, I think, so she is safe too. When everyone is gathered I will tell you everything and then we will think of a plan to get Sophie back."
"Howl, are you sure you are okay with that? I could also bring Michael home and then search with you for Sophie. There is still a chance that they didn't get away so far. We might loose our only chance to save Sophie."
Concern filled the demons voice and mind. He had really grown attached to Sophie during their adventures. And even if she was sometimes an evil, deadly clean woman, she was most of the time very kind, friendly and respectful with him. And lets not forget that she broke his and Howls curse.
"I know this, but… when we are dealing with who I think that we are dealing with, than Sophie is already out of our reach for now. And we will need a goddamn good plan to get her back then. Also, Sophie would never forgive me if anything happened to her sister. It didn't sound as if they wanted to harm her severe or kill her. And let's not forget that the war will be soon in Market Shipping too. If they are already attacking Kingsbury, they must be on their way to our home too."
"Okay Howl, but you must tell us everything that might be important once you are here."
"Believe me, I will. Meet me there and protect the house"
Howl finally reached Market Shipping and flew directly to Cecari Bakery. Before he entered he transformed back into a man in a dark side street. He slumped against a nearby wall, breathing heavenly. Dark shadows were dancing right before his eyes. The flight, the magic and the transformation had him cost too much energy. It was a wonder that he wasn't dead because of the loss of energy. After finally being able to stand again, he made his way inside the Bakery. He almost immediately spotted Michael. And Martha was there too. He went to them.
"Howl, what are you doing here? I thought you would go to the palace?"
Michael asked as soon as he saw Howl. Just then he noticed his masters pale white face and heavy breathing.
"Michael, Martha, we have no time for long explanations. Something happened in the palace and Kingsbury is under attack right now. And something happened to Sophie while I was away." Howl whispered.
"What happened to my sister?" Martha asked.
"I can't tell you here. We all need to get inside my house, Calcifer is already there and protecting it. We aren't safe here. I will tell you everything when we are inside my house under the protection spells of Calcifer and mine. Martha, it would be best if you could inform your superior about the attack in Kingsbury and that we will have to face the same problem soon."
"Okay, but I want to know what has happened to Sophie."
Not so much later they were all going fast to Howls house. There they were awaited bay n impatient Calcifer. The living room was a disaster. Anybody could see that something terrible happened in here.
"Oh my god, what happened here? Where is Sophie? Where is my sister?" Martha screamed.
"Howl it might be best if you tell us now everything." Calcifer said quietly.
"There was a trap in the palace for me. And while I was gone, someone kidnapped Sophie."
"WHAT?" were Martha and Michael shouting.
"Listen, I think I should start from the beginning. It all started while I was still at the Mage School and had this dream about a starry-haired maiden…"
Last A.N: Thanks for reading this chapter, I think it is pure shit, but yeah I'm not too good at it. And if you disliked this chapter, then I'm really sorry if I disapointed you. I like every kind of critic, even bad ones, since I need them to improve even a tiny little bit. And I'm sorry, but I will not update till 20th June due to my exams, and since I'm tested in the afternoon and my friends already decided to get me some alcohol after it... so the earliest update will be 21st June. I'm really sorry. fantasyfreak17