Porcelain Doll (Howl X Reader)

Chapter 5

"Who is that?" A young voice whispers.

(Y/N) began to awaken at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Growing aware of her surroundings she kept her eyes close assuming the owner of the voice was close to her.

"Why should I know?" A rougher voice says "She wandered in last night and just passed out on the chair after talking to herself"

"How do you know she isn't a witch?" The younger voice questions, causing (Y/N) to raise an eyebrow, looking at the boy through squinted eyes.

"Because she wouldn't be able to get in otherwise" The other voice pipes up, sounding offended "You should know that!"

(Y/N) finally opens her eyes, surprised to see a young boy staring right back at her. Looking around she saw no one else who could've been the second voice. Maybe the kid had two personalities? She shook her head at the idea.

"I apologize for intruding. I was just looking for a wizard to help break my cu-" Her lips sealed shut once more as she rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Yikes, seems like a nasty curse" The rough voice speaks up. 

She turns her attention to the fire which was now staring back at her. She blinks once, then again. She looks around before back at the fire pointing to herself.

"Me?"

"Who else? Markl?" The fire scoffs, or what she assumed to be a scoff "Yes you. Seems like you want to break it"

She nods her head, nervous to speak, especially to a fire of all things. Staring at the fire she felt as if she had gone mad, but the fact the boy was unbothered meant the talking fire was real. To her that was interesting.

"Well, yes I do wish to break it" She nods her head, looking at the fire in awe diverting the topic quickly “How is it possible you are able to speak?”

“I...” The fire starts up, its flames growing as if it were puffing itself to look bigger “Am the great demon Calcifer! I am in charge of running this house”

“Not really, Howl bosses him around,” The young boy, Markl, pipes in. (Y/N) glances at Markl before returning her gaze to Calcifer, pressing her lips together. Calcifer huffs out, a flame of fire, small bits of smoke appearing in the air as he shrinks in size, with a blue tinge to his orange shape.

“That doesn't mean anything” He mutters hiding behind a wood log placed in front of him. A small giggle escapes her lips as she pulls the chair closer to the fire.

“So you're a demon?” She tilts her head to the side, staring down at Calcifer “How did you get stuck in a fireplace, of all places?”

“A spell too”

“A spell? How is that possible,” She gasps, leaning away slightly “Howl put you under a spell?”

“No, he is under a spell” Calcifer replies avoiding eye contact “I can't really tell you details as I am also under the same rules he and you are under. We cannot speak of our curse”

“Plus, only he and Howl know of any details on how he was put under the spell anyway” Markl chimes in standing up.

There was a knock on the door to the castle which startled the girl. Markl approached the dining table, which was piled with books, fabric, papers and even food. He picked up a cape lifting the hood over his head. The hood had added a beard to the little boy's face making him look like an old man rather than the child he was.

“Porthaven door,” Calcifer calls out. Markl turns a dial slightly above the doorknob. The dial had four colors with Markl turning it to the blue dial. Opening the door he is faced with a tall man, dressed in fancy clothes compared to average.

“A letter to Wizard Jenkins from the King” The man says, holding out the letter. Markl takes it from his hand nodding his head. 

“I’ll give it to him when he returns,” He says. (Y/N) does a double take as the little boy's voice sounded older than what it was when they were speaking. Markl thanks the man and closes the door.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Markl questions, taking the hood off showing his small face as he looks up at her. 

(Y/N) stops him, holding the hood of the cape in her hands. She pulls it upward to reveal an old man in place of the little boy. She moves the hood off of his head and stares at the fabric in wonder.

"What type of material is this fabric if it is able to pull such a trick?" She takes the robe which Markl held out to her. 

Pinching the fabric she brings it closer to her face observing the stitching and fabric type, taking in every small detail as if to replicate it eventually. Which she was hoping to do, but with a better, nicer disguise.

"It's not the fabric which causes the trick" Markl states. He moves to the table piled with books, papers and dishes grabbing himself a plate of bread and cheese. "It's the spell Howl used"

"Howl?" She stutters his name, taken by surprise. Her head snaps up to look at Markl before her eyebrows furrow. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Having breakfast." He states sitting down at the table, pushing aside the books.

(Y/N) places down the cape and heads towards a basket which was filled with eggs and bacon. Pulling out a plate she places the food down on it.

"Why not cook?"

"Only Howl can control Calcifer and cook on him" Markl informs her, prepared to stuff his cheeks with the stale bread and decent cheese.

"Let me at least try, your a growing boy" She leans over gently pinching his cheeks "You need food other than bread in that stomach of yours"

She moves back to Calcifer, with the plate in hand, scrunching her nose as she rubs the top of it slightly.

"Calcifer, would you mind if I cook on you?" She asks politely, crouching down to look at Calcifer on an even level.

"No" He huffs out smokes, looking away, seeming like he crossed his arms "No one can cook on me!"

"What if I make some food for you too?" Those words caused his tough look to falter. Who wouldn't falter. It was food. He looks at her from the corner of his eyes and grows smaller.

"Fine. Just give me the eggshells" He mutters, dispersing into a small fire. (Y/N) places down a pan and places 2 slices of bacon with two eggs to cook sunny side up.

"Thank you Calcifer" She cracks an egg throwing the shell into the fire, which Calficer caught.

Markl sat at his chair, his mouth open, staring at the older girl in amazement. "How did you do that...he never listens to anyone?"

"Sometimes kindness can get you farther than force" She pauses before thinking "Well, that is if you know the right words"

She giggles winking at Markl before turning back to the stove, leaning towards the fire. The sound of the sizzling pan filled the room, as a silence fell over the three, enjoying the quiet, plus Markl still amazed at the fact Calficer listened to (Y/N) in the first place. Markl could tell from the interaction alone, (Y/N) would play some sort of role in the small misfit family.