Another chapter of the tale of mystery.
FAMILY SECRETS
A HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE FANFIC
Chapter 26
Over the next week the thought of my mother and father going back weighed down upon me. I enjoyed being with them again so much that I didn't want them to go back. As soon as I was able to use the spell I would have to send them back. I had no choice. It had to be done. All I could was enjoy the time I had left with them. I had many wonderful conversations about Howl, Lettie, and my life here. I even got to see a lot of Lettie and Martha. Which was a bit awkward since neither Mother nor father had met Martha. Fanny had just started working at the shop when I brought them forward in time. He simply didn't have any feelings towards her. Nor did he know what to do with Martha. He was kind to her as he always was, but it was awkward for him. Mother felt the same. After all, Martha wasn't even her child. She confronted mother with her impending death. Along with the fact that her husband will have a child with someone who was not her. It was not a thought that one would welcome.
Ironically, it was through their daily visits that Mother and Father grilled Lettie for information about Ben Suliman. They picked up that there was something going on between the two. Which prompted a thorough interrogation of the man. They tested him to see if he was a good match for Lettie. Suliman ended up admitting to being in a serious relationship with her. Something that I already had suspected. I was surprised by Ben when he asked permission from father to marry her. It was a tad old fashioned but sweet. Just like Ben Suliman. He was perfect for Lettie! Fortunately, both mother and father agreed with me. He approved his request. Then both mother and I threatened him if he didn't take care of Lettie. In the Hatter family, the Ladies always ruled. Something that Suliman was going to have to get used to. That is assuming that he wasn't already used to it. He didn't seem too surprised by our antics. If anything, he was almost relieved by it. Silly man, he will fit in well with us.
This is when they moved on to their new target: Howl. He was already a member of the family, but that didn't mean that father hadn't been watching him. He watched how Howl took care of me and how he reacted to my condition. Then father grilled him. He wanted to make sure that he was worthy of me. Father refused to go home until he was certain. Mother felt the same way too. She actually grilled him even harder than father. She wouldn't let him off the hook. She wanted to be certain that he would be good to me. Poor Howl couldn't slither out of this one. I started to feel bad for him. It almost made up for his awful sister, almost. Still, I had to eventually let him off the hook. I do love him, after all.
I steered my parents attention away from Ben and Howl and asked about the past. For the first time in my life they were willing to talk about it. When I was a kid they never really wanted to talk about it at all. Now I know why. I found out a bit about life in Strangia. Mom told me what grandfather was like before he became obsessed. I also learned about father's career as a wizard. It was nothing like the rumors had said. Father was an ordinary wizard living and working in Ingary. If anything his powers were not that spectacular. Barely even noteworthy. He was no royal wizard such as Ben or Howl. He did not have the kind of power that the woman said he had. His power was like mine, only less powerful. He could talk life into things, but that's about it. He ended up only using that power on his wares. It didn't bring him either fame or fortune. It did make him reasonably wealthy though. That was about it.
"I was terrible wizard, Sophie. Not like your youngman here. He is quite something."
That was the first time that I had heard them praise him. They had been so dedicated to picking him apart that I was caught off guard. I wasn't sure if they liked him or not. Now I could see that they did. It was a huge relief. We loved each other dearly. I didn't want my family to reject him.
"I knew that the moment I met him. The man's crazy about you."
I blushed. "I know."
"Just remember that, okay?" I nodded. "Good."
Father told me about travelling to Strangia. He wanted to escape the mediocrity of his life. He was disappointed in himself and his ability. He hoped that seeing new lands would help him find his way. He didn't want to be known as Thomas Hatter, failed magician. He wanted to be reborn! That's how Louis Gardenia came into being. He travelled the area, helping people and making a small but respectable living. He ran into my mother a few months into the journey and the rest was history.
"Your grandfather did not want us together. He tried again and again to separate us. When he failed his wrath was terrifying. He nearly killed us. I am just grateful that he didn't find out about you until we long gone."
"Thank you."
My mother took my hand. "You're our daughter, Sophie. We would do anything for you. Any of you." She reminded my sisters. I was so grateful to know the story now.
Soon after I was able to regain enough strength to send Mrs. Penstemmon and my doubles back to where they came from. I had to wait a few more days to send my parents back. Which gave Howl time to ask my father a favor. My father wrote a letter to start this whole thing. It had to be written once again. That way the journey could begin again. So, he asked father to write everything once again. Including the strange spell that father wrote into the page. It would compel me to seek out the flowers and activate the doors. Allowing us to confront my grandfather and seal him away forever. The story had to begin again. It seemed weird that father was doing this, but it made sense. It had to be done.
When father was done Howl cast his own spell. He explained, "There was a hidden message on it from me. It warned me of what was to come and what I need to do. It needs to be there." He smiled. "Don't worry, I didn't mention anything about your parents or about your power. That I will have to figure out for myself." He sealed up the letter then told me to open the doorway. "Open it right outside the castle. I'll take care of getting it past Calcifer. It's actually pretty easy."
I grunted. "It's your castle!"
"Exactly, now open the door!" I did as he ordered. He sent the letter through to where I found it that day. Finally, the door shut behind it. "Now, there is only one more thing to address."
It was it. It was time to say goodbye. My parents had to go back to their time frame. "Don't worry, we won't tell a soul what happened this day."
Howl nodded. "Good. Somehow I think little Sophie wouldn't understand."
"Howl!" I screamed. Oh why did I bother? He will do it again next time. He could never resist an opportunity to tease me.
Father didn't seemed too bothered by Howl's antics. "Take care of her."
He nodded. "I will."
Father turned towards Suliman. "Same goes for you too!"
Ben nodded, "I will."
They nodded. Mother and father hugged me and my sisters then I opened the door. I knew that I would never see them again. I knew that it had to be done, but I couldn't help crying. It was almost as if I had lost them twice. Maybe I had. Maybe I hadn't. I did learn things about them that I never knew. Magic was always in my blood. I was always meant to be a witch. I just didn't know it, that's all. My life could never be normal. For a Hatter was always a bit mad.
Things returned to normal after my parents left. However, something kept nagging at me. I still did not know how father died or who was after me. I doubted that Grandfather was responsible. He did seem to have some ability to control space and time, but it was nowhere near as strong as mine. If it was then he would have needed me at all. He would have also tracked down my parents easily. He didn't do that. The question was why. Why didn't he track them down? If it was so critical then why didn't he track me down? The answer was slowly became clear to me: He couldn't. There was no way for him to find me. Then I sealed him away. He couldn't harm father or send men to attack me. That was beyond him. He could not possibly have sent those wizards to attack me.
So it begged the question: If it wasn't Grandfather then who was it? Who was after me? The letter could answer that question. My enemies were still out there, somewhere. I could not drop my guard just yet. We were still in danger. Something that Howl was all to aware of. He was still on edge. He had not relaxed at all. He was just ready to fight. He tried to hide it, but I could see through him. This wasn't over just yet.
Next Chapter coming up!