Another chapter of the tale of mystery.

FAMILY SECRETS

A HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE FANFIC

Chapter 22

I don't know what I was expecting to happen when thrust the flower into the water. I don't even know why I did it. It was the most ridiculous thing that I have done in quite some time. Howl always says that I don't think. I just act. This would be prime example. Whatever came out of the door would not be my friend. If the Soul Walk taught me anything then it should have taught me that. Why else would that man try to steal my soul? I shouldn't have done this. This was the exact opposite of what was a good idea. I don't know why I did it. I was compelled. Something told me that I had to do this. It was like I was under a curse. Maybe I was. I don't know. All I know is that I opened the door that should not be opened. Now we paid the price for this error.

The man walked out from that door. He was a nobleman with a fierce look about him. His eyes were cold and calculating. I sensed great power from him. He was easily more powerful than any man I had ever encountered. It sent shivers down my spine. I could tell that he was not a kind man. He was not gentle at all. Not like Howl. This man would cut us down without a second thought. I definitely shouldn't have let him out.

He surveyed the area then locked on to me. For a moment he studied me then said, "Ahh . . . Elizabeth's bastard. I am glad to see that you have returned. I was beginning to worry that you might never come back."

"Who are you?!" I tried to sound a lot braver than I actually was. The man scared me to death.

"I am the Earl of Sedgewick, Lord of this region. You are my granddaughter. Whom Elizabeth stole away from me."

I was confused. That story was true? Mother really was a Lady from Strangia? It didn't make any sense! Why didn't they say anything? More importantly, why did he say that mother stole me? That doesn't make any sense! If I was bastard child then why would he want me? Wouldn't I embarrass him? It didn't make any sense!

"Stole? Mother stole me? What are you talking about?"

He laughed. "I see they told you nothing. Too bad they are not here. They could explain for you." He sighed. "I suppose that I could explain it. That is assuming that you force that dog of yours to stand down. One can never truly relax while a wizard is aiming a spell at you."

I glanced over at Suliman then gestured to stand down. I wanted to tell him to be ready. For now we would play this man's game. Alas, this was not Howl. Suliman was not as good at reading my face. He did not pick up on what I was thinking. He did, however, stand down.

"Thank you. That is far more respectful." The Earl smiled. Which put me more on edge. "As I was saying, your parents stole you away from me. Long ago I was told that my first grandchild would have the power open doors into space and time. A very useful power indeed. Once, I had believed that the foolish Philip of Drumner would be the one to sire you. Alas, it was not so. Some commoner from Ingary got in the way and Elizabeth became pregnant with the wrong child."

He noticed my reaction then chuckled. "Don't worry child. I am no longer angry. I was simply mistaken about the father. It was always meant to be Gardenia. Not Drumner. I see that now. Only Gardenia had enough power to create you. No one else could do it." He smiled again. "It's such a shame that I couldn't control get a hold of you until now."

I didn't want to hear anymore. I wanted him to go away. So, I used the power that I understood well. I yelled, "Go back to where you came from! Go back!"

He laughed again. "Ahh, the power to talk life into things. I see that you inherited that gift from your father. How adorable. I'm afraid that it won't work on me. I've learned long ago how to counter it. You shouldn't try that again though. I might get angry."

Suliman waited no longer. He started firing spells at the Earl. The Earl responded in kind. Both of them started to ignore me completely. It was both terrifying and infuriating! I was worth at least firing a spell or two at! I wasn't completely useless! I ended up just sitting and watching them fight. At first Suliman had the edge. He was beating back the Earl. Then he summoned some of his henchmen. The tide turned again. Suliman needed help, but I did not know what to do! I wasn't really good in a fight. Arguing with Howl was one thing. Fighting against a insane, hyper-powerful madman was another. What I really needed was Howl! Only he wasn't here. He was dead. I could not reach him. He was gone.

"Or is he?" I said out loud.

The Earl said that I had the power to open doors into space and time. In theory I could reach into any reality and pull out Howl out to help me. Or I could go back in time and save him from death! No one really knew what happened to Howl. That could have been that I pulled them here. It's possible. No one actually found his body. Heck, even Calcifer was gone! Maybe they were pulled forward in time by me. Maybe that's what happened with this Earl. He's from the past. He had to be! He was barely older than Fanny. That shouldn't be possible. I must have dragged him forward in time. It still didn't explain the ones who attacked the castle, but it didn't matter right now. What mattered is that we needed help. I needed to bring Howl forward from the day he died.

There was only one problem: I had no idea how to do that. I didn't exactly intend to bring this monster forward in time. I don't actually know how I did it the first time! It was going to be difficult to replicate it. Which was a huge problem. Especially since Ben is losing right now. I had to find help! Think! Think! How did I do it before? I found a flower, thrust it into the water, then a door appeared. Maybe that's all I need to do? Only I would have no control over where the door opens to. It's how I got in this mess to begin with. I had to think! I had to find a way!

My father's words started to play in my head. Go where the tulips. Pick a flower made of gold. Wash it in the emerald sea. In the morning just at dawn. You will see, my child. You will see. A new reality. As they danced in my head I realized something. They were part of a spell that forced me to open the door. It was cast on the paper long ago by father. He talked life into the page. But why? Why would he put me in danger like this? It didn't make sense! Unless, it was to prove a point. He wanted me to see something. But what was it? What did he want me to see? WHAT WAS IT? What does he need me to do?

Out of the corner of my eye I saw another tulip. It was not gold, but I wondered if I could use it. I snatched it then whispered to it, "Become gold like the other one." In seconds, it was exactly like the one I had before. I understood now. It was my power that made it gold. Any flower would do. I could talk to it and change its color. All I had to do now was ask it to find Howl. It would do the rest.

The Earl stopped fighting for a moment when he saw me heading towards the water. He seemed to know what I was about to do. He tried to stop me but it was too late. I had already asked the flower to find Howl and Calcifer. All that was left was to drop it in the emerald sea. Which the Earl did not have enough time to stop. The flower sank and the door flew open.

"Howl." I whispered. "Please be there. I need you!"

A man appeared in the doorway, but I couldn't see who it was. I didn't know if I had actually summoned Howl or not. All I could do was wait and see.

Next Chapter coming up!