• The Demon's Curse •

12: In Which Howl isn't Forgiven

        Lily had been in the bathroom ignoring every request given by Howl and his apprentice to come out. She been locked in for an hour before she began running water for a bath. By that time Michael had given up but the wizard did not. He shouted obscene phrases at the closed door. Most of which were about taking up the hot water or the fact he was an all powerful wizard who could very well break the door down.
        She ignored him as she slipped into the tub of warm water. Lily had no issue ignoring the wizard; who had yet to utter an apology of any kind.
"Don't touch any of my potions, lest all my hair fall out!" He shouted at the door. Though she only grinned to herself, "To lose something important to you? Wouldn't that be a dreaded shame." 
        She could hear his string of unnatural curses and grumbling followed. He slammed his back against the door and sunk down just as Lily sunk deeper in the warm bubbles. The water was warmed to perfection and the scent wafted lavender and sugar cane all around her.She felt relaxed now that the scarecrow had been cast away. Though she couldn't help but trace the scraps on her hands.         
        The stick man must have been bespelled to have such power. He could have killed her if his arms have been sharp enough. She doubted magic would heal her faster than a doctor in her own world. She followed the scraps to something much more pronounced. Her arm had been engulfed in a red pattern of burnings. It swirled much like Calcifer's singing symbols nearest her palm and ended near her shoulder. Soon she may be covered in the mark.
        "Why is it so hard for you women to take a kindness from me?" Muttered Howl through the door.
"What makes you think it's such a kindness?"
"You can see. You don't have to hide behind lenses any longer."
        The door opened, making Howl fall backward onto her toes. She was wrapped in a tight towel and peered down at him. "Strong words coming from a coward."
In this moment, Howl rolled his eyes. Causing his hair to shift to black once again.
        She moved carefully around him, "Is it so difficult for you to apologise?" 
"Yes. Only because I want to be helpful but you see right through me. I am a coward. I have been running my whole life." Howl shrugged and Lily wondered if he was going to slime himself once again. He rarely got serious like this; borderline depressed. She wondered if Lettie had broken his heart yet or vice versa. 
        "If that is your way of an apology then I don't accept. But you can start with lending me a pair of clothes."
"Upstairs closet. I had a sweater and boots made for you."
        Up until now Michael had provided her with clothes. Such as an old t-shirt or a sheet that could be made into a dress. She was hardly picky but she hated how big they were on her. Finding a turtleneck sweater in her size with beaten up brown boots made her the happiest person alive. Granted she was still mad at Howl.
        "Did you hear about the meterer' shower tomorrow Lily?" Michael asked when she had finally come back down. He smiled at her as if this was an event he wanted to see for centuries.
"How would she hear about a meteor shower you cotton-mouthed fool. She never leaves the castle." Sneered Calcifer, earning himself a sharp glare from Howl himself. She would remember to thank Howl later for the sweater and boots but for now she would happily brush her hair from her face in a comfortable sweater.
        Howl turned back to Lily, sparing a glance at her boots. They fit nicely on her. "They aren't meteors either."
"What do you mean?" Michael said, slightly hurt that his dream was crumbling.
"Don't worry it won't ruin your romantic night but I don't insult my intellect and utter they are rocks falling from the sky. They are in fact stars." he corrected with an apointed finger in the air.
        Lily rolled her eyes and stared skeptically with her hands folded across her chest. "You mean like actual stars or something?"
"Oh look at that. A woman that doesn't know any better." He snapped. However this time a wooden spoon smacked his hand out of nowhere. The Wizard snapped his head towards Michael who looked just as surprised. 
"It waddn't me!" He sputtered, holding his hands up in defense.
        He narrowed his milky eyes at Lily who shrugged. He gave up once his focus returned to nursing his bruised fingers. All the while Lily noticed her hands clenched together tightly. She immediately relaxed knowing someone had punished Howl.
        "Yes." He finally hissed. "Real stars falling from the sky. You could practically catch them if you wanted to." Howl visibly noticed Calcifer grow quiet. The conversation must have made the demon uncomfortable.
"That's impossible." Lily spat. "A falling star is nothing but an actual star dying millions of miles away. By the time we see it here on earth the star will have been dead already for hundreds of years."
        The room fell dreadfully silent and she realized how tragic it sounded. She didn't mean to upset the mood, it was just difficult to wrap the concept of magic around her mind.
"Shows how much you know," He retorted finally. "Here in this world, when a star dies, he or she will fall from the sky where they will dissipate and die." For whatever reason his tone was far more authoritative than before, making Lily aware of his seriousness. She paid no mind to it. She was far more excited to see an actual star falling from the sky. She could possibly catch it. Would it grant her a wish? 
        For some odd reason her mark tingled. Not in a painful way or in a way that made itself bigger. If it grew, it would grow hot and feel like stretching rubber and if it burned hot enough she felt pain. This was neither. She glanced at her mark noticing the brownness on her palm. It seemed lighter and more faded. Maybe it went away on it's own.

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