Fallen Stars [Howl's Moving Castle Fanfiction]

Chapter Fifteen - Secrets

Chapter Fifteen - Secrets

“Hey wake up Alice! You overslept!”

I yawned and rubbed my eyes. “W-What, I haven’t overslept, that doesn’t happen-“I silenced myself when I saw the sun shining brightly against me through the window, and Markl crossing his arms. “You don’t oversleep? Can you explain then why it’s suddenly nine o’clock now instead of eight o’clock, since that was the time Howl’s lesson began?”

I blinked at him. “Howl always oversleep though…” I mumbled and fell back into the little cushion once again. The boys eyebrows twitched and he gave me an irritated glare. “Actually, he didn’t this time.” My eyes widened and I slowly glanced at Markl for the corner of my eye. “Wait just a little moment, Howl didn’t?”

Markl shook his head. “No, but since you overslept he dismissed the whole lesson until tomorrow instead.” He said and sighed.  I gave out an exhausted sigh myself and shook my head, while giving an apologetic smile towards Markl. It was certainly the first time something like this happened. No one have ever before woken me up, it’s always been the opposite. Ever since I was little, I’ve always been the one to wake up first even before sunrise. Strange, how come I’d wake up like this now for the first time?

“What are we going to do today then?” I asked as Markl made his way to exit the room. He shrugged in reply and closed the door, “Howl is having a visitor downstairs, so I guess we all have a day of today.” And with having that said, I was left alone in the room. Howl was having a visitor? That’s out of the usual. I wonder if I should go down there or not? Something inside me tells me not to, so maybe I shouldn’t.

A brief wind seeped through the curtains of the window not so far away, which made a shiver go up my spine. It’s been quite some time since the incident back at the bakery now, I’m both curious and worried for how my family is doing. Every time I’m alone, I can’t help but think about it, and how much I want to find them. For how long had the secret of me being a wizard been kept? Have I always been a wizard and have the always been conscious of it?

I always miss the bakery and my family, however I do feel like I belong here too. It’s not like I thought it to be, but with Sophie, Howl and Markl as well Jacelyn and Richard here teaching me how become a wizard on the best way, I feel like I fit more and more in by each day. I may not be knowing, but it feels like in this house everyone is a part of their family. Thinking about it, I’ll probably miss this place as well…

Once I entered the hall outside the room, I heard a loud noise from the left corner of the hall. In a hurry I rushed towards the sound in wonder of what it was. Once I found out about the sound, it was revealed to be Sophie whom dropped a plate by accident. She looked up at me with furrowed brows and smiled. “Sorry for the noise, my hands slipped.” She apologized and I waved my hands while smiling. “No need to be sorry, no one is sleeping anymore.”  

She chuckled. “Then it’s fine in that matter, but it might have caused some wondering for Howl’s visitor.”

“Howl’s visitor?” I asked curiously. I don’t know who that may be yet so I could after all ask.

“She’s an old familiar, though both Howl and I don’t really go on friendly terms with her.” She whispered, holding up a hand beside her chin while walking closer to me. I tilted my head. “Then how come she’d visit if you are friends?” I asked.

She narrowed her eyes and made a disturbed face. “I don’t know that either actually, Howl didn’t want to tell me. But since I’m good with sneaking around in different occasions, I may or may not have gathered some small bits of information.” She whispered in a silent tone. I nodded at her, wanting her to continue.