~ I can see.

The world laid in front of me just as it is. And I'm alright with that. The grass grew to the sky with flowers intertwining softly.

Where was I?

I had my eyes opened, and the breeze was whipping softly across my face, but I felt like I was sleeping. A quiet sound echoed; like when someone creates music with half filled wine glasses. It seemed such a calm scenic moment.

"Who are you, young lady?" I looked above me where a shadow covered my body. Only to meet the blonde haired heart stealer. Towering yet leaning over me as I laid calmly on my back; hidden amongst the undergrowth.

"Amelia Starr." I replied, but he shook his head with a smile.

"I mean it, who are you...?"

"I don't understand." I furrowed my eyebrows, and for the first time in what felt like years, I sat up. The grass rustled to signify Howl moving just beyond my sight. The grass kept moving, and so did my head to find the strange wizard. The wind blew a bit harder while the sunny sky left for who knows where as clouds replaced it. The eerie feeling grew within me with every second, then there was silence.

This was when I stood up to look over the tall grass. Yet as soon as I did, it vanished into the dead dirt ground.

"Howl!?" I called out, yet no one replied in the void.

~*~

AHHH! I bolted up and hit my head on the staircase. Falling back onto the pillow in a daze, I looked over to Calcifer who was crackling softly as his log had almost run out. I placed another log on him to keep his flame burning.

"Thanks Amelia." He murmured, and down clambered the teen I had seen the other day. His curly hazelnut hair brushing into his hair with every move he made. He stared at me for a moment, then smiled as he pulled out two plates from the chaos of a kitchen.

"Hello! Calcifer told us you'd be staying with us. My name is Michael!" He raised his hand for me to shake. "I'm Howl's apprentice, but, he's never around much to teach."

"My name's Amelia." I smiled as he shook my hand with enthusiasm. Then I looked around, but found that Howl was nowhere to be seen.

"If you're looking for Howl, he had a meeting with the king of Hollistine. He should be back about noon, that is if he doesn't get distracted." Michael's smile slowly faded from his face as he said the words.

"Does he get distracted often?"

"Yeah." He replied, setting down the plates and walking over to a basket of fruit and putting one on each plate. Then he sat down and began to eat. Wait. What? Can't this teen cook!? He's, like, eighteen!!!?!?

"Um, you do know we have enough to make eggs, toast, and bacon, right?" I asked. Now all we need is a stove.

"No body can cook on Calcifer except for Howl. He simply won't allow it." Michael sighed before taking another bite out of his fruit.

"Damn right! I'm a demon, not a cooker!" Calcifer spat at us, but I wasn't going to give up there. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!! A wild grin found its way onto my face as I grabbed a pan quickly and made my way over. His head raised and glared at me. "No."

"Please?"

"Nada."

"You're a cruel demon."

"Yes, be very afraid."

"Nah, I don't feel like it." I could hear his fire crackle under him, and I racked my mind for an idea. "What if I make you a deal;" I asked, "you let me cook on you always, and I'll owe you one." Calcifer seemed to take it as he was now pondering it over.

"Deal." He grinned, "but my favor isn't one that is easy." He bent his head over, and I placed the pan into his back. Michael cried out in amazement and clapped.

"Bravo! You've tamed even Calcifer!" He congratulated.

"I am no pet!" Calcifer snapped back. I couldn't hold back a laugh as I tossed a piece of hair out of my eyes. These two act exactly like my classroom buddies! Suddenly, the two of them stopped laughing as the sound of a little jingle entered the atmosphere.
There stood Howl.

My heart stopped with the spoon in my hand which I was using to scramble the eggs.

"Howl! You're back early.." Michael smiled, but his voice wavered. I looked back at the pan on Calcifer, and he gave me a straight look. After a few moments, Howl finally spoke with such an eloquent sound it sounded like silk to the ears.

"And look here. Not even one day and she's already gotten Calcifer to bend down. You're truly getting soft, my friend." Howl chuckled hollowly. I kept turning the eggs, and he moved away from me to help Michael.

"Not you too!" Calcifer wailed. I shut him up by throwing a piece of burnt bacon into his fiery mouth and watched as he crunched it up. This only made Howl laugh. I smiled back at him, but as I did, his smile faded into a serious frown.

"So why are you here..?" He asked; abruptly stopping the light mood. I turned back to look at him.

"To see what you'll do about Salazar." I replied, "if we team up, he doesn't have a chance."

"I don't need you help. If that's all your here for, then I'll ask you to leave." I dropped my jaw at his answer. How could he??! I could hear Calcifer try to change his mind, but he wouldn't budge on the subject.

"Is it because I can't defend myself?" I asked, "I'm more than a pretty face! I know karate, and I was at the top of my class in every subject in school!"

"That's irrelevant." He dismissed me again. I fumed, and grabbed his arm.

"It's because I look like Sophie Hatter, isn't it!?!" I yelled. I knew I had taken it too far when he froze in mid step. The room turned cold; as well as dark. I let go of his arm and took a step back. The room was closing in on me, and the shadows moaned an eerie melody.

"Here he goes again.." I heard Michael groan.

"Do not speak as if you knew her!!" He yelled with such a ferocity, in the moment I felt my heart race. Yet soon enough, the moment was gone, and a scowl replaced my frightened look.

"Pushing people away won't bring her back." I spoke, "if anything, it'll make the pain worse."

"I DONT CARE!!" Suddenly a powerful force pushed me down to the wooden floors. Papers flew like caged birds and the eggs I was making scrambled now on the floor. I got up though, I was not going to give up.

"You know what you're acting like? A spoiled little wizard! What, haven't ever heard of tough luck!? Cause I ain't leaving!! If I go out there alone, I could get killed, and you wouldn't care?? I say, GO STEP ON A LEGO!" He turned to me; his hair now on fire and his eyes.... They could kill man.

Time slowed between us, and the room only got scarier by the second.

"What's a Lego?" Calcifer asked, and all of a sudden, the room became lively again with my laugh. I heard Howl calm himself.

"Fine." He spat. "Until Salazar is locked up safely, you shall stay here." I jumped in the air and high fived Michael. "And Michael, you're lesson is on the workbench." Now it was time for the teen to groan. I giggled, and began to pick up the fallen eggs. Howl climbed the stairs to the second level of the house, but stopped and came down a few steps for me to see his face.

"By the way, what should I call you?" He asked. I smiled up to him.

"Amelia. Amelia Starr." It was a rocky start, but hopefully that will change.

______________________
Hey bros! Hope you liked this chapter, even though nothing happened much. Not much to say but the summer is almost over. TT-TT

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~ Saturnthehero