Chapter Text
The tears flooding from her eyes raged of a violent pain that he had never known and wished to never be familiar with.
Dark clouds covered an even darker sky, while light posts failed to brighten her surroundings. The city was a ghost town, a shattered memory of what once was pristine. Everyone abandoned this wreckage save for one person. She didn't know where she was or where she was going.
All she knew was that she needed to run.
Her heart raced against the speed of the pouring rain as they splattered like bullets onto the stone pavement. The sky roared in anger and the droplets pelted harder. Puddles formed in the low dips of the street and she tried to avoid them at all costs. She didn't need anything slowing her down, though her racing thoughts were already doing so.
Get out, now.
Leave before they find you.
Save yourself.
These words would haunt her dreams and nightmares.
"Wait!" That man's voice again. It sent pangs of fear throughout her body, pulsating with every beat of her heart. How he continued to find her everywhere she turned was still a mystery. She couldn't be safe as long as he was trailing her.
Be stronger, she thought to herself. Be stronger, faster, braver.
The sound of his heavy footsteps against the puddles increased. She turned a corner, but there was nowhere left to run. In the middle of a dark alley, she was trapped.
She turned around, only to find the man mere inches from her. She jolted back and fell to the cold, wet ground, pushing herself back away from him. He knelt to her level, his vibrant hair nearly glowing underneath the darkness of his hood. He reached one hand forward, but she pushed him away.
"No!"
"Please." He begged. "You know me."
She widened her eyes, wondering if it could be true, but immediately shook her head. People lie, and he would be no different. "I don't remember you, so how can I know you?"
"Before this. Before I was like this." He removed the hood from his head, revealing his true self. His features were a beautiful reminder. It was like seeing color in a black-and-white film for the first time - all she could do was stare. "Remember me."
⊱ ──────ஓ๑♥๑ஓ ────── ⊰
Calcifer blazed proudly in the rounded fireplace, his strength at full power. He warmed the tiny cottage in the town of Magnol with love and fire. No ashes surrounded him, though he was accompanied by a fresh set of logs to choose from. Days like today were his favorites, as Sophie spent her time cleaning the cottage and organizing things. She always spent too much time on his fireplace, determined to give him the most comfortable sitting.
Calcifer's view of their home consisted of the main living area. The kitchen was open to the living room with a long dining table for the family between the two rooms. A pot filled with water started to boil steadily. Family portraits lined the walls and side tables, showing any who entered how the beauty of the Jenkins family. Of course, photographs of Calcifer were sealed in the bedrooms. If they showed any proof of magic, they would be banished.
It seemed odd that a family of magicians would live in a land where magic was at the brink of criminal action, but what a better place to hide from the wicked ones than a country without magic. Calcifer sensed that they weren't the only magicians in Magnol, but he assumed they were there for the same reasons as the Pendragons. Anyone who could escape the Royal Sorceress was deemed lucky, even if you were hiding in a land that despised you for such miraculous gifts.
A little old lady hobbled like a penguin to the dark brown couch. Her wrinkled hands shook as they held a thin book. The Witch of the Wastes had become a simple soul, now that her ways were less selfish and her values more familial. She spent most of her time at the local library or bringing the books home to read next to Calcifer. With a faint smile on her face, the elderly woman enjoyed the last few pages of her story.
Calcifer’s log broke in half and he dropped in an instantaneous motion. He clutched onto the grates as a momentary fear jolted him. The Witch looked up at the fire demon, though shrugged her shoulders and returned to her book. Calcifer breathed heavily for a moment, assessing the quick alteration of his situation. His uneasiness quickly subsided. Though this was rather a common occurrence, he would never get used to the feeling of falling.
"Here, let me help you with that." As Calcifer reached for the nearby logs, he saw two smooth hands grab one first. She struggled to bend forward, yet pushed forward to place the log atop Calcifer. It took quite a bit more effort for her to stand straight up after bending down. She pushed the small of her back forward to adjust for her extended middle. Her silver hair covered her face and she blew the stray hairs away. Her weary eyes fell to her pregnant belly, and her smile was painful for the demon watch.
"Better?" she asked.
"Yes. Thank you, Sophie."
The boiling pot in the kitchen began to excessively bubble, so she hurried back to diffuse the heat. She turned off the stove immediately and the bubbles gradually disappeared. The table was naturally set with four place settings and silverware in perfect alignment with one another. Sophie had been cooking dinner since just after lunchtime, as was the case with some of her meals that took hours of preparation.
Sophie sighed with a heavy exhaustion. "Today has been a long day. I think the house gets dirtier and dirtier every time I try to clean it."
Calcifer chuckled. "That's what happens when you're expecting a child."
Sophie blushed as her eyes darted to her stomach. Six months ago, none of them had expected things to turn out how they did. Moving to a new country, shielding their identities - or pregnant with a wizard's child. She and Howl were to be parents in only a few short months. Life transitioned from the mundane to exhilaration in a split second.
Sophie jolted forward in a sudden motion, the feeling of internal movement frightening her for a moment. The baby kicked and moved around quite often lately, and everyone kept itching for a chance to feel her stomach. She was usually on display, since she was the only one in town this heavily pregnant.
"Baby's kicking again?" Calcifer said.
"Yeah." Sophie lightly laughed. "For some reason, I don't think I'll ever get used to that feeling."
"How does it feel?" Sophie looked up at Calcifer, her eyes wide. He stared at her, longing for an honest answer. "How does it feel when the baby kicks?"
Sophie swallowed hard. "Weird. I don't really know how else to say it. It's just the strangest thing I've ever felt."
Calcifer nodded, his eyes downcast. He didn’t say it, but he was the only one who hadn't touched her stomach; and for good reason. His flames could burn her stomach and cause damage to the baby, which was one thing she and Howl agreed on. Keep the baby safe at all costs - even from their friends and family if necessary.
She knew Calcifer wanted to, though, and that killed her.
The front door swung open as young Markl pushed hard on the handle just to get it open. Heen wheezed loudly as he plummeted to the hardwood ground, panting as he fell. Markl was in high spirits, despite the sweat that lined his forehead.
"Pay day!" Markl shouted. He pushed hard against the door to close it and met Sophie in the kitchen. He handed her the coins earned for the week and Sophie nodded proudly. They didn't need the money, but it looked suspicious for a family not to work and still be able to pay rent. Since Howl didn't make much working in the fields, Sophie would lie to their landlord, Donna, asking for a slight extension. Donna was always happy to allow it, which made Sophie feel a little more guilty each time.
"Mr. Bowen gave me a raise." Markl said as Sophie counted the coins. Four gold and three silver. It was nice for Mr. Bowen to help out even when it was unnecessary. She saw how Markl lit up, appreciating the reward for his hard work.
"That's wonderful." She placed the coins in her apron and returned to the kitchen. Markl ran off to his room, his steps too boisterous for the sleeping dog. Heen wheezed strenuous breaths and stood up on shaky legs, instinctively wobbling to the kitchen where his food and drink bowls lay. Sophie looked over her shoulders and noticed the poor dog licking the bowl dry, hardly any left for him. She took his drink bowl, filled it with chilling water, and returned it. Heen drank with a refreshed visage.
Sophie skimmed her fingers down Heen's back, watching his contentment grow. Every morning, bright and early, he would run into Howl's and Sophie's bedroom and wake him up so he wouldn't be late for work. Then, he would move to Markl's room, though Markl had a not-so surprisingly harder time getting out of bed than Howl.
Sophie rested her hands on her knees and - once again - made the rigorous effort to stand straight. All the up and down movements were tiring, and she wished she didn't have to finish preparing a meal. Her stomach felt heavier each day, especially after meals. Even though she still had three more months to go, she worried if she would have to deliver early.
The front door opened again, creaking louder than before. Sophie turned around with a ladle in her hand, her eyes softening when she saw Howl step through the doorway. Even in his drained and fatigued state, she was simply glad to see him home.
"Hi sweetie." Sophie said as she placed the ladle on the counter. She walked over to him as he shut the door, his arms so burned out that he had to push three times for the door to finally close. He sighed into her embrace, unwillingly putting his weight against her. She held him up and slid the sweaty strands of dark hair from his face, revealing his amorous gaze. Even on laborious days like these, Howl still shone like a graceful light.
"Long day?" Calcifer asked, adjusting the broken wood pieces from earlier. Howl nodded dramatically, causing Sophie to chuckle. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his other hand reaching for her stomach.
"More kicking I assume?" He asked.
"Very much so." Sophie said, "It's almost like he or she wants to come out right now."
Howl waved his hand in a slow motion, gesturing toward the unborn baby. "Not quite yet. You can stay in there for a little while longer."
Sophie smiled wide when he spoke to her stomach. She had never seen him express so much love for someone who wasn't even born yet.
Howl sniffed and turned his head toward the kitchen. "Lentil soup again?"
Sophie shrugged. "Not like we have much else. But I also have chicken pot pie. I could try and switch it up for tomorrow."
Howl shook his head. "I'll eat whatever you cook."
"You better eat what she cooks." The Witch chimed in as she turned the page. "She doesn't give you much of a choice."
Howl breathed a hard laugh. He pushed off of Sophie's shoulders and trudged through the main room toward the hallway. "I better wash up before dinner. Maybe a warm bath would help my tired muscles."
Calcifer continued adjusting his fireplace, not listening to Howl in the slightest bit. Howl cleared his throat emphatically, which then sparked the fire demon's attention. "I should probably take a nice hot bath, shouldn't I?"
Calcifer rolled his eyes. "I should've never connected myself to this house. I'm still used to heat the baths."
Howl smirked. "At least you don't have a castle to move." He walked down the hallway to the bathroom. Calcifer's fire sparked and grew larger in preparation for his task. He sighed as he performed the repetitive spell that gave him access to the house. Other than keeping the house warm, it was all he really did for them.
Sophie stirred the pot, using the wooden spoon to taste a sample before she served it for dinner. She tapped her tongue to the roof of her mouth, nodding with satisfaction. As she took the oven mittens from the counter, Markl ran down the hallway wearing his cloak, his grin reaching across his face. Sophie darted her eyes to the young boy, watching his excitement grow.
"Master Howl said he would teach me a couple new spells after dinner." Markl said, his wand already in hand.
Sophie turned to the wide open windows, only a couple residents walking around this late in the evening. Markl turned to the windows as well, and in a flash vanished his cloak and wand. Calcifer shook his head at the boy. They had been through this so many times before, and he still hadn't learned to conceal magic properly.
Sophie slammed the mittens on the counter and raised her hand, but didn't have the heart to shame him. Instead, she walked over to close the windows. “Markl, I know you're excited for training. But you can't just wear the fact that you're a wizard when anyone could be watching us."
“I know, Sophie. I'm sorry." Markl said, his eyes dropping to his feet. He was twelve years old, and while still young, he was living in a more dangerous situation than most kids his age. He and Sophie hardly had any time to practice magic themselves, and it became more pressing the closer her due date came.
Sophie lowered her shoulders. From time to time, she also felt the urge to do something with her newfound powers. She tried to contain it while cleaning, knowing that some of the spells that Howl had taught her would make the tasks go faster. Yet the risk was too great - even the slightest change could be detrimental for the life they so carefully made in Ovela.
One wrong move and they would be back in Ingary, Suliman breathing down their necks.
Markl strode somberly to the living room and sat in the brown armchair. He tapped his foot against the chair, his feet only a few inches off the ground. When Heen followed him and jumped up, Markl scooted over so the corpulent dog could lie next to him. As he rubbed his fingers against the dog's floppy ears, he wished it wasn’t so dangerous to do the one thing he absolutely loved.
"Let's do it." Markl looked up at Sophie. She closed the draperies over the windows, blocking the sliver of sunlight and remaining residents from their view. "It's been a few days and I think we're both dying to cast a spell or two."
Calcifer raised his eyebrows. "You sure, Sophie? You haven't had the easiest time controlling your powers."
The Witch chuckled, her eyes glued to the book in her hands. "Let the girl have a little fun. It's all she gets with a baby on the way."
Calcifer narrowed his eyes at the old woman. "All I'm saying is when Sophie tries to use magic, something always explodes."
Sophie laughed. "Not every time."
Calcifer dragged his eyes to her. "Name one time that hasn't happened."
Sophie breathed a laugh, thinking she could remember a time when she knew how to control her powers. Her mind went blank, and her mouth was silent.
Calcifer smirked. "Exactly."
"Okay." Sophie said, still trying to defend herself. "But that's because I don't have enough practice. Maybe if I could use magic around the house, I could control it better."
Sophie raised her hands, her eyes set on the broomstick in the corner. She lowered her chin, her arms shaking with either fear or power. Maybe both. Calcifer couldn't tell the difference.
The broomstick started to come alive, its bristles moving like a centipede's legs. Sophie opened her mouth, her eyes glistening like a child on Christmas morning. It started sweeping back and forth, crossing into the living room. Markl watched with excited eyes while Calcifer nodded, somewhat impressed. The Witch looked over for a moment, but found no real interest in a simple sweeping spell. She had done far greater in her time.
Sophie stretched her fingers and attempted to add some spark to the spell, hoping the broomstick would brush the ceiling for her. Contrary to Sophie's plan, the only spark she created was disintegrating the bristles into ash from the bottom up. Sophie drew her arms back, curling her fingers into frightened fists. Calcifer and Markl yelped, their eyes bursting wide. Heen shivered next to Markl, backing down further and further into the chair.
They each stared in shock as the wooden pole fell to the ground, rolling toward them. All eyes turned to Sophie, though her apologetic smile was all she could muster. "Uh, whoops?"
"And that's why we don't practice magic in the house." Calcifer said.
"At least it didn't explode." Sophie sighed and went to pick up the wooden pole. "I thought I could handle a simple spell."
"And you did." Calcifer said. "Until you got greedy and tried more than you could handle."
"But shouldn't I be able to do something a little more than simple?” Sophie retorted. “It wasn't even that impressive." The Witch nodded in agreement - it wasn’t.
Calcifer shrugged. “Well, Howl works all day and you're usually cleaning or reading or socializing with the neighbors. Neither you nor Howl have the time to practice as much as you would like to."
Markl stood up and walked to Sophie's side. "It's okay. I never have time to practice either. It's like I'll be a novice forever."
"Don't say that, Markl." Sophie said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "You and Howl will-"
At the sound of a booming knock on the door, Sophie dropped into silence. The knocking was roaring and ceaseless against their heavy door. Sophie tensed and Markl hugged her around the waist, trying to hide from the deafening sound.
Calcifer sucked in an anxious breath. No one was expected tonight. Everyone had gone home for the most part.
And no one knocked this urgently.
Howl entered the living room with only his work slacks on. He held a hand towel, but other than that he was bone dry. He turned to Sophie, then to everyone else to check their safety. The knocking boomed repetitively with no sign of an end unless someone answered.
He threw the towel onto the couch and walked toward the door, stepping carefully so as not to make a sound. He turned to the others and raised his index finger to his mouth. They nodded in unison.
Howl opened the heavy door, his other hand ready to attack. Slowly, he dropped his hand and shoulders, not moving a muscle. He instead stared in awe.
"Howl, who is it?" Sophie rushed to the door and stood next to him, her hand covering her mouth when she saw their unexpected guests.
A woman with a disheveled blonde braid stood at their entrance. She heaved painful breaths as she held up a man resting on her shoulder, so worn out he could have been dead for all they knew.
Sophie's voice trembled. "Gwenda..."
Her eyes held desperate tears. "Please, help us."