Howl

Chapter Thirty Six

Artemis's POV

    Solomon asked if I would give my powers to live, to see . . . I didn't know what she was getting at, but now that I stand in front of the gaping cavern, home to The Ferocity, I wish I had told her no.

    I know that I will see better again, with time, but my power is short now . . . fading so quickly I feel my world is ending. I have always had these powers . . once even thought they were a curse. But will Howl even love me when I am like a normal mortal?

    Then again, I may not live to see such a time. The four of us, Mellach, Solomon, Howl, and myself, stand in the dark opening. Howl has a small blood red light emenating from his ring.

    "You'll want this," I immideatly recognize what was once Sophie's ring. Which he had once given to her for protection . . .

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Solomon's POV

    I only save the girl because Howl loves her and I respect that, I tell myself. What I do not wish to admit is that I may have come to love her as a dughter, too, just as Howl is the closest thing I have to a son. I may not have the gift of foresight, but It doesn't take anyone secial to know that one of us is not going home if we face The Ferocity.

    We all know who the odd one out looks like at the moment . . .

    "Do we have to save the boy?" I nudge Mellach lightly with my elbow, and nearly hiss.

     "One, you are surprisingly gentle, especially considering the cold hearted witch everyone once tolda me you were," this earns him a glare. "But, secondly, why don't you want to save little Markl?"

    "You and I both know someone isn't walking away from this!"

     "Really? Do you really have to go back to being selfish and self centered? I thought you had changed, Solomon." The look in his eyes when they meet my own almost breaks my heart.

    "Yes, but not in the way you think!" I am given a quizzical look in the one second I pause for. "I don't watn to lose Howl or Artemis, okay?"