There was a lot of rumbling, and some things fell off of shelves and wherever else.
Kari did her best to sit still on a shelf, but the vibrations were pushing her forward; she had to use what little arm strength she had to pull herself back.
After about two minutes, everything was still.
"Ok; we're all set." Howl stated once he finished renovating the castle.
"What is that?" Kari asked, pointing at Calcifer. She was scared—and clearly, either wasn't paying attention before or is under so much stress that she just doesn't remember.
"I'm a scary fire demon." Calcifer announced with pride, causing Kari to back away a little.
"Pay him no attention; he is a fire demon, but he's harmless." Howl stated, giving Calcifer a dirty look.
"Why do you have a picture of my great aunt?" Kari softly questioned, looking at a picture of Sophie.
"So, you're a Hatter?" Connor asked, astonished.
"No… My last name is Gage. My great-grandmother was Lettie Suliman." Kari softly answered.
"My great-grandma was Martha Fisher; we're cousins!" Connor happily exclaimed.
"That's lovely." Kari replied with a soft smile.
"So, you were raped?" Connor slowly asked.
"Yes… But he's the man my father and stepmother wanted me to marry." Kari dully answered, looking around.
"Are you alright?" Howl asked, concerned.
"I'm not sure." Kari answered.
"Well—can you tell us about the curse you're under?" Calcifer curiously asked.
"My stepmom had it placed on me; she went to a witch and asked that I lose my powers so that I couldn't surpass her. I don't know what the curse is called—or how to break it. But I do know that I drank it. Of course, I didn't know until after I drank it because my dad gave it to me. I don't think he knew what it was. Or maybe he did; he believes that women should always listen to their man. And I was too much of a free spirit—as he puts it." Kari sadly answered.
"I'm so sorry." Howl, Connor, and Calcifer sincerely apologized.
"It's ok; I'm used to it." Kari softly and sadly replied. That, of course, made them feel even worse.
"Are you tired? I've made you your own room." Howl asked and then informed Kari, leading her to the new room he created.
"Thank you." Kari softly replied, entering the room made just for her.
"Sorry—I don't know what you like." Howl apologized, looking around a plain, empty room.
"It's perfectly alright…" Kari sighed.
"What's wrong?" Howl asked, concerned.
"Oh, nothing. I just miss my new kitten, is all. He's just the cutest little thing." Kari answered before plopping on the bed and started crying.
"What does he look like? What's his name?" Howl questioned, interested.
"His name is Sammy; he's black and white and spotted like a cow. He wears a little blue bowtie." Kari answered in tears before slowly falling asleep; her day had been nothing but shit.
"What are you planning?" Calcifer questioned, looking at Howl.
"I'll be back after a while." Howl vaguely replied, heading out with a piece of Kari's old clothes; he turned the knob down to teal—a new color—and left.
"Do you think he's going to get her cat?" Connor curiously asked.
"Probably… I think he's falling in love again." Calcifer sighed, shrinking into his hearth.
Calcifer is able to leave the castle but rarely ever does. If he does leave, it's usually at night when nobody's out or awake.
Oh, Calcifer leaves the castle on Halloween because he likes freaking people out—especially people he believes deserve it. i.e., Dicks, assholes, child abusers, pedophiles, women beaters, bullies, etc.
"And Kari's immortal like Howl and me, correct?" Connor asked, looking at Calcifer.
"Correct—even with no magical powers." Calcifer replied.
"That would be great for Howl. But—I'm not sure how Kari feels…" Connor stated, unsure.
"Only time will tell." Calcifer sighed before he, too, fell asleep.
Several Hours Later:
"Did you really go out and get her kitten?" Calcifer questioned, slightly annoyed.
"Why, Calcifer—you know me so well. Yes, I went to get her kitten—and a second and third one as well; they're all boys. And they're all fixed; so no, they'll be no more kittens. She hasn't had a good day, let alone a good however long she's been struggling. She can't use her magic because she had stripped from her from people, she thought she trusted. She was raped by a man who chose her despite her not wanting any part of that. And it looks like she was beaten—probably by that prince. I wasn't going to let her lose the only comfort and family she had that cared about her. And as I've already said, I brought her two new kittens; I just couldn't decide which one to get her. I brought her an orange and brown kitten with a purple bowtie, and a yellow and tan kitten with a red bowtie." Howl calmly but happily explained, proud of himself; he was almost patting himself on the back.
"I wonder how long she's had the black and white one." Calcifer wondered—accidentally out loud, looking at the kitten.
"I don't know… But his name is Sammy and there's an immortal spell on him. I've put the same immortal spell on the other two as well, so that they will be kittens for as long as Sammy is. It wasn't all that hard to figure out which immortal spell was placed on him. And once I figured that one out, it was easy enough to copy and place it on the other two." Howl simply explained.
"How did you get Sammy?" Calcifer asked as Connor came downstairs.
"He was outside, roaming around, hurt. So, I walked over, picked him up, and healed him. And then went to adopt the other two." Howl happily explained.
"Are you sure it's the right cat?" Calcifer seriously asked.
"Pretty sure." Howl replied.
"What else did you bring?" Connor curiously asked, prying.
"Some litter boxes, litter, food bowls, water bowls, cat food-both dry and wet, cat treats, toys, catnip (gotta have the catnip), and other stuff kittens may need. Now, if you'll excuse me; I have to put the cats in her room for her." Howl stated, excusing himself; he opened Kari's door to find that she was still asleep.
He placed the kittens on her bed:
Sammy went right to and laid by her head, while Howl filled a litter box, food, and water bowls before leaving her room.
Two Hours Later:
Kari was just waking up when she felt cat fur against her face.
"Sammy?" Kari asked, shocked before she started crying tears of happiness.
"Who are your friends?" Kari queried, noticing the orange and brown kitten and the yellow and tan kitten.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"I thought I heard you talking in here. May I come in?" Howl asked, cracking and peeking through the door.
"Yes; you can come in." Kari softly replied.
"How are you feeling?" Howl asked right away.
"Did you go and find Sammy?" Kari questioned right away.
"Yes, I did; he was out on the streets, badly hurt. But don't worry; I healed him." Howl calmly and gently answered.
"Figures as much… My stepmom hates Sammy. Thank you so much for finding and saving him. But—who are the other two?" Kari thanked and then asked, confused.
"Oh, I hope you like them; I got them so Sammy wouldn't be the only cat staying here—provided that you stay as well. You four are safe here." Howl calmly told Kari—almost in a pleading way.
"Did you get them at the pound?" Kari softly asked, looking at Howl.
"No. I actually found them on the streets—like Sammy. I healed them and made sure they were healthy and everything. Do you no—" Howl started to ask but was interrupted by her hugging him.
"Thank you so much." Kari cried into his chest.
"You're welcome." Howl replied, gently hugging her.
"Do they have names?" Kari asked after she pulled away.
"No, but they're both boys; I figured you'd want to name them. Oh, and I put a spell on them; they'll be kittens for as long as Sammy will. How long has he been a kitten? I know there's an immortal spell on him." Howl stated, watching Kari.
"Yes, he's immortal and will be a kitten forever; he's been a kitten since I was twelve. When I was two, my mother got me my first kitten. Then when I was nine, my mom died of illness. And then, when I was eleven, my cat, who was aging, died suddenly when hit by a car. I realized, at that moment that cats age faster than humans—and die sooner; I didn't want to watch another die. So, when I was twelve and got Sammy, I enchanted him when he was about six months old so that he'd always be a kitten. He'll never age, so I'll never lose him. I know that's selfish—but I didn't—I don't want to lose him." Kari sadly explained.
"I'm sorry about your mother—and first cat—and everything else. And it's ok to be selfish every now and then. I wish I could tell you how old these two are." Howl stated, petting one of the new kittens.
"They're seven months old. Sorry, I can't use magic directly, but I'm also psychic—kind of. I can tell certain things—especially when it comes to cats and dogs." Kari softly admitted.
"I figured you were special. So, what are you going to name your kittens?" Howl asked.
"Oh, I'm not special; I'm just me." Kari nervously disagreed, blushing.
"You really are like Sophie—in ways. But you didn't answer my question." Howl stated, looking at Kari.
"Thank you. Umm… I think I'll name the orange and brown one, Pumpkin. And I'll name the yellow and white one, Sparky." Kari answered with a small smile—the first genuine smile Howl had seen from her.
"Those are spectacular names." Howl happily announced, causing Kari to blush as he went to the main area.
"So—we're welcome to stay here for as long as we need? Just like that?" Kari asked, walking out with the kittens.
"Forever if you'd like." Howl replied with a smile, ignoring the "just like that" part.
"Thank you. And they won't find me?" Kari softly asked.
"Correct. Or if they do, they won't be able to get you." Howl confidently assured.
"Ok." Kari responded with a smile.
"What's for dinner?" Connor asked, looking around.
"Well, the cats have their food in Kari's room. Do you like fish and chips?" Howl asked, looking at Kari.
"I'll eat fish and chips, yes." Kari answered, looking back at Howl.
"Perfect. Calcifer, head down please." Howl instructed, placing a pan down to make fish and chips.
In the end, it ended up being fish and French fries as the chips ended up burnt.
"Sorry about there being no chips. Oh, excuse me; I'll be back soon." Howl apologized and then excused himself, heading to his room.
With Howl:
When Howl made it to his room, he saw Sophie's spirit standing by his bed.
"Howl…" Sophie's spirit spoke, looking at Howl.
"Sophie! What are you doing here? Where have you been? I've missed you so much!" Howl exclaimed, looking at Sophie's spirit.
"I'm dead, Howl; you need to let me go—and move on." Sophie sternly told Howl.
"But—I love you." Howl argued, sitting on his bed.
"You loved me. However, you seem to love another now. And that's fine; it's time for you to move on." Sophie softly but seriously told Howl.
"Sophie…" Howl sadly started.
"It's ok to be sad and mourn, but you've been doing it far too long. You've fallen for Kari; I can see it in your eyes. You have the same look for her, that you had for me; plus, she needs you. You need to protect her because they will continue to search for her; she mustn't go back to London Square alone—ever. Or maybe, she shouldn't go back there at all." Sophie firmly told Howl before becoming super seriously—concern written all over her face.
"I'll protect her; I promise." Howl sincerely replied, seeing a look he's never seen on Sophie before.
"Good. Promise to move on as well." Sophie told Howl, narrowing her eyes a little.
"It won't be easy, but I'll try." Howl sadly promised.
"That's better than nothing. I can rest peacefully knowing that. Thank you. Well, I must go now. Goodbye Howl." Sophie softly spoke before lightly kissing Howl on his cheek and disappearing, leaving him alone in his room.
Five Minutes Later:
"Is everything ok?" Calcifer asked when Howl came back.
"Everything is just fine—or it will be." Howl replied, sitting down.
"You talked to Sophie, didn't you?" Connor asked, watching Howl; Connor could see, hear, and speak to ghosts.
"Yes. Can you see and speak to ghosts as well, Kari?" Howl asked with interest.
"No… And honestly, that's ok; ghosts freak me out." Kari honestly answered.
"So, you were able to see and hear them at one point?" Calcifer asked with great interest.
"When I was little. But when I turned seven or eight, they went away—just before mother died." Kari sadly replied.
"What do you like to do for fun?" Howl asked, changing the subject.
"Oh… Umm… I like to write, read, draw, paint, and pottery." Kari answered.
"Creative, aren't you?" Howl asked with delight.
"I guess so." Kari softly answered, embarrassed.
"Well, I'll just have to get some things then, won't I?" Howl asked, looking at Kari with a determined grin.
"Oh, no… You don't have to do that! You've already given me a safe place to stay—and brought me Sammy and two new kittens. I couldn't possibly ask for more." Kari frantically exclaimed after she finished her food.
"Nonsense; it's perfectly fine. Now, don't worry about the dishes until morning; just head back to bed." Howl replied with a smile, taking all the plates, silverware, and cups to the sink.
"But…" Kari started to protest, but Howl stopped her.
"Uh-uh-uh… Now, don't be like that. Go to bed. Everything will be here in the morning…" Howl started but was interrupted.
"You can say that again…" Calcifer remarked, narrowing his eyes left and down to the ground, avoiding eye contact with Howl.
"Anyway—as I was saying… Go to bed and get some rest and gain your energy back. I'm sure you'll need it tomorrow; you're going to be one busy girl." Howl instructed, looking at Kari.
"You got that right…" Calcifer continued to send out distasteful remarks.
"One more comment like that and I'll dump a bucket of water on you." Howl warned, glaring at Calcifer, causing him to scurry back to his hearth.
"Now go. Go on. Sleep. Rest. Gain your energy. The kittens may sleep with you if you wish. You can keep the door closed for privacy if you'd like." Howl once again turned his attention back to Kari.
"Ok…" Kari softly obliged, defeated, heading to her room.
"What are you planning?" Calcifer asked from his hearth.
"None of your concern. Just keep the castle warm and running." Howl told Calcifer, being all hush-hush.
An Hour Later:
Once Howl was sure Kari was in bed, sound asleep, he left to get her some things he thought she'd like…