Hi again, dear readers of this story!

As usual, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post another chapter! But as I've already told you, I don't *want* to write this story in a haste! And to be honest, I'm almost done now! I *think* there are only four more chapters (and an epilogue) to be posted–and since I'm a couple chapters ahead, I only have one chapter left to write! Which is kind of incredible, isn't it? :-)

This is a rather short chapter, I'm afraid... but I promise I won't leave you hanging for too long!

I've finally got myself another job besides the freelancing, too, which is a relief, but it's been eating some time from my regular fic writing. But as I'm starting to get into the new routines, things will hopefully get better!

Thank you, once again, for your kind words and feedback! It means everything to me!

Lots of love,

BoMD

–––

The day was progressing painfully slowly. Between Howl's frequent attacks of dry heaving, Sophie did become aware of how quiet the house actually was without Heen's frequent hisses, the clattering of his feet on the wooden floor boards, and Markl's rummaging through the cupboards and bookshelves. In fact, the silence was almost unbearable, feeding her anxiety and provoking her subconscious with a thousand what-if-scenarios.

In the afternoon, three customers came by, not too long after one another. All of them were requesting Howl's or Markl's assistance. They all appeared genuinely concerned when she told them that Howl was very ill, and judging that Markl would probably be able to help the first two, she gave them directions to her mother's house. The third one was somewhat of a regular who only wanted to renew a potion that would keep the rats away from the family pantry. Fortunately, Sophie knew that Howl and Markl had lots of the particular potion in store, and hence, she was able to help him herself. To her surprise, he offered her a couple silver pennies in return, his eyes warm with pity when she found it hard to conceal her gratitude.

However, she realized that the rumors would be spreading very quickly if she kept the house open for business. She knew they needed the money, but until things changed–and she knew it wouldn't be long now, even though she was constantly trying to push her darkest thoughts aside–Howl needed every minute of her time. Eventually, she put a note on the front door, simply stated that due to illness, wizard Howl would be unavailable for a couple of days, but that his assistant was available at her mother's address.

There was no significant change in Howl's condition. Sophie had totally lost track of how many times he'd vomited since he woke up, and maybe the attacks were growing less frequent, but then again, his stomach was completely empty, there was nothing left in his system to wring out. Sophie sat with him for most of the day, doing her best to comfort him, occasionally offering him a sponge bath with the soothing bath oil, and wetting his cracking lips with a cloth. She did however follow her sisters' advice, and prepared two steady meals for herself and Calcifer. As expected, though, she found it very difficult to eat, and most of the contents of her plate ended up in the fire demon's insatiable flaming gap of a mouth.

Despite the feeling that going to bed would most likely be of no use, since she knew that she would be in for another sleepless, or mostly sleepless night, she decided to give it a try anyway, just to maintain some kind of normal routines. Changing Howl's nightshirt for a clean one proved to be most difficult since it was almost impossible to make him uncurl himself.

Although he was becoming weaker by the hour, no longer thrashing around as the pain attacks were setting in, it was evident that the level of constant pain was steadily increasing, his body becoming rigid while he was breathing in shallow, short gasps and occasionally moaning. Eventually, Sophie managed to get him redressed, and after properly tucking him in, she curled up behind him, stroking his trembling back, trying to make him relax just enough to get a little rest. Yet, as the pain finally seemed to be easing up for a bit, and his limbs were getting less tense, Sophie found herself to be relieved that his breathing remained somewhat labored, so she could feel his back moving from underneath the pile of blankets. Shuddering as the realization crossed her mind, she whispered a hardly audible prayer, her eyes tightly closed. Despite the tight knot of anxiety in her chest, it only took a few moments before she succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.

–––

As Howl's strength was rapidly fading, the magic connection between him and Sophie was weakening as well. Still, its effects were enough to wake her up as he needed her attention. Most often, he was way too exhausted to even try to communicate verbally but she always knew when his subconscious was trying to reach out to her, like a touch of his hand against her cheek. A few hours after midnight, this sensation woke her up to find that the bedroom had gone completely dark, since the bedside candle had burned out.

Still knowing instinctively what was coming, she reached out for the basin in the dark. Not that he would need it anyway, only on a few occasions did the exhausting ordeals of Howl's attempt to vomit result in a few drips of bile. She found, however, that the onset of this attack was particularly violent, and from the sound of it, he did produce quite a bit of liquid. As he was finally done, shivering violently, she reached out for the cloth, her fingers locating it within an arm's reach. Howl gave a load moan as she was wiping his brow and later his mouth. "I'll be right back," she promised as she rose, grabbing the basin to clean it in the bathroom.

Fumbling with the matches, she eventually managed to light the bathroom candle. As the flame sank, trembled a little and rose anew, she reached out her hand to lift the toilet seat, but as she looked down, her legs almost buckled underneath her, and she had to clench her teeth to keep herself from screaming out loud.

The basin, the cloth and her hands were all soiled with blood.

–––

Calcifer was already awake as she entered the kitchen, and she saw the unspoken question in his eyes.

"It's… blood now…" she eventually managed, her voice barely a whisper.

Calcifer's eyes went wide, and he gasped, unable to produce another sound. As Sophie sank down on a chair by the table, covering her face with her hands, he quietly slid toward her, and for a moment, she felt his fiery hands softly stroking her cheek as he was hovering over her shoulder.

Taking a few deep breaths, Sophie rose from the table and headed for the stairs.

To be continued...