Howl's Moving Castle Fan Fiction ❯ Howl and Sophie One Shots ❯ Blood and Money - Part 1 ( Chapter 2 )

Sophie took a deep breath. This was it. Today was the day she would be formally introduced to her soon-to-be in-laws. She found herself fiddling with her shorter than usual skirt, praying she didn’t trip in these mid-length boots with higher than normal heels. She knew she could trust Howl’s sense of fashion, especially when it came to his own world of Wales. She just didn’t understand why her own clothes couldn’t have sufficed for just this trip, for as much as she “trusted” Howl to dress her, she felt like a trollop, and that made her uncomfortable. Being out of fashion she could live with, tripping and falling flat on her face she probably couldn’t.   She let out a snort and Howl abruptly turned to her, pausing in their walk towards the house, Rivendell. “Nervous Sophie? You know, we could always come back another time? Or better yet, skip the whole thing all together. Megan’s not such an interesting person. And Gareth-”              “Stuff it Howl.” Sophie set her jaw and walked forward, Howl trailing despondently behind. They had been through this already, half a million times at least. Despite what Howl might think, they were still his family and they deserved to know, just as much as she deserved to be known and formally acknowledged by them. It was actually the latter point that caused Sophie to insist upon this meeting. For all her talk on tradition, there had always been this silent fear that, for some reason, Howl was ashamed of her, unwilling to officially announce his affection for her to the people who were closest to him.   It wasn’t until later that she realized she was only one aspect of Howl’s life that had remained hidden from his family. She was reminded of this again as Howl paused in the act of pulling his keys out of the pocket of his “WALES RUGBY” jacket. “Remember now,” he whispered “you can’t mention the castle, or Calcifer, or the fact that I’m a wizard, or the king, or…”   “Or anything to do with magic or Ingary. Yes Howl, I understand.”   Howl nodded solemnly, before clearing his throat and smoothing back his blond locks one final time. Then he inserted the key, and with a little twist, pushed the door open. Once inside, Howl moved purposefully beyond the entry way and into the hall, towards the door that led to the orange and brown room with the talking magic box inside. Sophie just stood there, wondering if maybe they shouldn’t have tried knocking. Both their thoughts were cut short as Megan appeared in a door further down the hall, and all but screamed her brother’s name.   “Howl!”   Both heads shot up and Howl’s jaw dropped in stunned silence. He didn’t remain that way long, however, as his sister suddenly marched forward, frying pan at the ready and murder in her eyes.   “What are you doing here! No, forget it. Just get out! Leave! I want nothing to do with you now Howl. Go!”   Howl was on the back pedal now, and Sophie found herself doing much the same. The wizard seemed completely caught off guard by this assault, though Sophie sensed that this might not have been the first time the older Jenkins sibling had taken after her brother with a pan. She began to worry, however, when Megan’s voice began rising from anger into mild hysterics.   “Whatever it is you want, you’re not getting it. I’m tired of you sucking us dry, you lazy, good for nothing waste. This is all your fault, I swear it!   “Megan. Megan calm down”   “I will NOT calm down you, you, bastard! I swear you’re not my brother! I don’t have a brother. My brother would have a job and wouldn’t live leeching off his older sister and her husband, eating their food and borrowing their money without paying it back and…and he wouldn’t bring his harlots to my house and…”   That seemed to do it. With one quick move Howl grabbed the hand that held the frying pan and pressed it firmly to the wall. The rest of his sister followed suit with a firm shove from Howl’s fore arm which doubly served to pin the hysterical, now crying woman. Sophie saw the fear in her fiancé’s eyes as he motioned her to grab the pan, which she did, prying it from Megan’s grasp as gently as possible. It wasn’t long after that the poor woman seemed to collapse sobbing into Howl’s arms. Howl comforted her as best he could, all the while casting worried glances in Sophie’s direction. Nobody thought about the engagement.   *~*~*~*~*   It took a while, but the three of them finally managed to make their way into the kitchen. Sophie felt awkward and useless, sitting beside a slowly composing Megan as Howl dashed around the space, working the strange appliances and going through cupboards, muttering something about “tea”. He was stopped when Megan, while wiping her eyes announced, “Don’t bother. There isn’t any.”   Howl frowned, opening a cupboard and reaching up to the very highest shelf. A second later he pulled away, a tense, triumphant grin on his face. “Ah, my old stash.” He declared. In his hand, Sophie recognized their own jar for storing tea from the castle. If she had been in the mood, Sophie would have let out an indignant snort at his hypocrisy. After all, he had been the one who told her “No magic!”   Megan didn’t seem to notice. She sent him a nonplussed glare and returned to cradling her head in her hands. Sophie fiddled with her skirt nervously as Howl set a rather chipped and mix-matched set of cups down before them. His face was calm and he radiated an aura of comfort, someone capable of being trusted. It was forced though, and Sophie immediately got the impression that whatever was wrong, it was starting to alarm Howl more than just a little. They sat together for a long, awkward moment, Megan staring at the table, Howl staring at Megan, and Sophie staring at her tea. At long length, Megan finally spoke.   “Whatever you’re here for Howl, I don’t have it. You might as well leave…”   “I didn’t come here for anything.”   Another long pause, and Sophie thought, “Only to tell her you’re getting married” but that would have been selfish given the circumstances.   “Megan,” Howl began, “what happened? There’s no food in the cupboards. Mom’s good china is gone…where’s Mar-”   “Stop it Howl, just stop it! It’s nothing you could help with anyhow.” Megan’s head sunk lower, the tips of her hair trailing in her tea.   “I can’t if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.” Howl offered.   The glare Megan sent him was acid, but eventually she sighed and returned to brooding over her mug.   “Gareth was laid off from the steel works four months ago.” she began, her voice monotone as if repeating a well rehearsed speech. “We thought he could find another job, but the economy’s been bad. We didn’t have too much saved either, and the bank threatened to foreclose our mortgage. We were going to declare bankruptcy, but then suddenly Gareth got an interview, and he was almost certain he’d got the job. We just needed a little money to tie us over until his first paycheck, so we could keep the house…” and here she broke off, letting out a long, weary sigh. “…so Gareth heard through a friend, about some people who were willing to lend others money. The interest was high, but we figured we could pay it back soon enough-“   “A LOAN SHARK!!” Howl’s words were like an explosion into the quiet of the room, his chair screaming across the floor as he abruptly stood. “You went to a loan shark! Jesus on the cross, Megan what were you thinking?”   “YOU SHUT UP! You have NO right to say ANYTHING about this-” and for a moment Sophie couldn’t make any sense of the conversation due to the amount of yelling until Howl’s arm suddenly shot out, grasping firmly, and almost painfully onto Megan’s upper arm.   “Where’s Marie, Megan? Where are Marie and Neil?” It was he who was sounding hysterical now, and Sophie wondered if she couldn’t do something to help. However, at the mention of her children, Megan seemed to calm down a bit.   “They’re fine.” She said at last, her eyes leveled at Howl. “I sent them away to live with my friend Sherry across town. They’re perfectly safe.”   At these words, Howl visibly relaxed. Megan wasn’t finished however. Head down, Sophie could see she was beginning to shake.   “Gareth…” she said at last, “they took Gareth. They said…they said they’re going to make him work off the debt…oh Howl!”   And once again she broke down into heart wrenching sobs.   *~*~*~*~*   Sophie didn’t see much of Howl for the next three days. They had left Megan’s house not long after that, Howl having extracted a few necessary details from his sister before heading out the door with Sophie all but running behind in an effort to keep up with his long strides. The second they were both back inside the castle, Howl had turned around and left through the manor door, vanishing into a transportation spell before he was even halfway down the walk. It was late after dinner before he finally returned. He headed to his scrap yard and remained there long after Sophie and Michael had gone to bed.   She awoke the next morning to find Howl, fully dressed and still slightly damp from his shower, searching through the volumes of books in their room. He spared her a distracted “good morning” before heading off down stairs mumbling to himself. When Sophie arrived down stairs, breakfast was waiting for her on the chair by the fire, the workbench having been completely over loaded with bits and parts of Howl’s latest project.   “Where’s Michael?” Sophie had asked.   “I sent him out to get something.” And Howl went back to work.   Actually, Michael spent most of the morning and afternoon “out getting something,” to the point where Calficer had even made a smart remark about Howl trying to keep his project a secret. Howl shot Calcifer an unamused glare and continued working.   In the flower shop things were busy as usual. There was a bit more work for Sophie to do without Michael to help her but she managed just fine. Shutting down the shop for lunch she entered the main room only to have a basket full of food shoved into her face. She instantly recognized the smell of one of Cesari’s cakes, but also a package of tea, some fruit preserves and some eggs and cheese. On the other side of the basket, Howl’s smiling face and tired, not-quite glass green eyes stared back at her.   “Do me a favor Sophie love, take this basket to Megan for me? I just can’t spare a moment right now. Please?”   Sophie nodded dumbly, concern growing in her as Howl hurried over to the work bench to continue with his latest spell. He looked worn out. Had he slept at all last night? And when was the last time she had seen him eat?   “Oh, and Sophie,” Sophie looked over but Howl didn’t look up, “Better not mention the wedding just yet. Just tell her you’re my cleaning lady or something…”   Sympathy gone like a drop of sweat in a desert, Sophie headed out the door, black dot down.    *~*~*~*~*   After knocking on the door for several minutes and realizing there was no one home, Sophie thought to head back to the castle when she spotted Megan on the sidewalk coming towards the front gate. At first the woman seemed wary of Sophie, but was able to shake most of it off once the stranger on her porch had been recognized. Not all of it, but most of it. After all, this woman was her good-for-nothing brother’s, er…friend. Megan sighed, she really didn’t need this today. “Hello. Can I help you?”   “Oh, no, no, I just, er…Howl wanted me to give you this.”   Sophie presented the basket and Megan stared at it, blinking for a moment before finally accepting it.   “Oh, well, tell him I said thank you.”   Sophie waited for the woman to move away so Sophie could go back to the castle, only to realize that she was actually blocking the other woman’s way. Sophie shifted to the side, to let the other woman pass, wondering now how she was going to get back inside the castle.   “Was there something else?” Megan had noticed Sophie’s hovering. Sophie thought fast.   “You really shouldn’t look down on Howl so much.” Even as the words left her mouth, Sophie knew she was on dangerous ground. However, she couldn’t stop now, and she didn’t really want to either. “He might be a coward, and an expert at slithering out of things, but he’s a good man with a soft heart.”   Megan stopped fumbling with her keys long enough to pass Sophie a disapproving stare. Sophie felt as though she was being sized up, and returned the gaze full force.   “I see Howl’s taken to robbing cradles now, has he? How old are you? You can’t be older than 20 miss…”   “Hatter, Sophie Hatter. And I’m quite old enough to be able to make my own decisions responsibly, thank you very much.” If Megan was surprised by this, she didn’t show it. And then realizing what had been implied, Sophie added, “Besides, Howl and I have a professional relationship. I’m his cleaning lady.”   Megan’s instant reaction to this was a disbelieving snort. “Cleaning lady? Oh please. You’re some kind of actress aren’t you, dressed up like that. Cleaning lady, ha! The day Howl can afford a cleaning lady is the day I marry the Prince of Wales.”   Sophie grit her teeth, her mind trying to come up with a suitable response. Unfortunately, she never got the chance as Megan finally succeeded in opening her front door and stepping inside.   “Look. Tell Howl I thank him for the basket. It’s more than I had expected from him, really. And do yourself a favor, don’t get too attached to the fool. He has a history of cheating women out of their hearts. Good day.”   And Sophie was left standing on the door step, thinking these people could rot in the waste before she invited them to her wedding.   *~*~*~*~*   The second day passed much the same as the first, and on the third day Sophie woke up to find herself alone in the house save for Calcifer who explained to her that Howl had left with Michael earlier that morning to take whatever spell they had been making to the King.   If Howl had slept only a little on the first night, Sophie was certain he had gotten none the night before. This was confirmed when he arrived back at around noon with Michael looking more worn and tired than Sophie had ever seen him. Sophie didn’t even get the chance to force the food she had been preparing down him like she had intended. The second he stepped through the door his hand was on the little knob spinning it black side down.   “Howl!” It was only by using her most threatening voice that she was able to get him to pause, and sensing the urgency in his every motion, realized she would be unable to stop him. She sighed. “I’m making your favorite meat pie tonight, and I’ll send Michael over to get a cake from Cesari’s. And I’m going to make sure you eat every single bite off your plate no matter how late you get home, understand?”     Howl turned, presenting her with a genuinely tired smile.   “I love you too, cariad.”   And then the thin layer of nothing swallowed him whole.   *~*~*~*~*   It was raining in Wales, which was no surprise at all. A thin, early autumn mist was falling from a lead sky, dampening the collar of Howl’s long black coat as he walked to his car. The trench coat seemed appropriate attire to greet a loan shark with. Howl felt like the hero of some movie, about to walk into the gangsters den. He would be noble and heroic, save the hostage and then come back alive without a single scratch on him the way all hero’s did. This gave him courage, and that was something he desperately needed at the moment.   The address Megan had given him was in the industrial section of town. It had taken a bit of prying to get it out of her, mostly because she believed him incapable of doing anything about the whole situation. The thought of her grateful smiling face when he showed up at Rivendell, Gareth in tow, gave him added courage as he pulled up in front of a small warehouse, about the size of a school gym. And then, of course, there would be the added bonus of seeing Gareth eat humble pie. That thought actually sent a smile across Howl’s face as he climbed out of the car.   The smile stayed in place as he approached the front entrance, shifting into his trademark, deceptively honest and good natured grin. Game face on, Howl opened the door to the office part of the building to be greeted by the sight of two large and burly men dressed in leather jackets, slumped over their newspapers drinking coffee. The office was bare of all other furniture, with the exception of some fairly opaque drapes covering all the windows.   The two men jumped to attention the instant Howl entered, standing and posturing before him in a threatening manner, as if trying to make up for their lazy and slackish first impression.   “Wot do you want ‘ere?” the first asked. Howl took a step back and raised his arms in a placating gesture.   “Now, now gentlemen. No need to get up. I’ve just come to chat with Gareth Parry. I heard he was working here?” His smile never faltered. Howl watched as the first man turned to the second, a jerking motion of his head served as instructions, and the second man disappeared quietly into the back.   Howl waited.   It wasn’t long before the goon re-emerged, trailing behind someone who could quite easily be mistaken for a distinguished, slightly beyond middle-aged businessman. The man smiled at Howl, a smile much like Howl’s own, deceptively good natured.   “Ah, Mr…”   “Jenkins, Howell Jenkins.” He inwardly cringed at having to use his real name, but unfortunately it was the only one Gareth was likely to recognize. The heavy weight, probably a hand gun, in the pocket of each goon told Howl that it would be better to avoid suspicion. Besides, it wasn’t like they would ever be able to find him again, nor did Howl intend to give them a reason to.   “Mr. Jenkins,” the man greeted reaching for his hand. He introduced himself a moment later as,  “Joseph Surrey,” and then withdrew his hand. “Can I offer you anything? A coffee? Tea?”   “Oh no, very kind of you though. I’m just here to see my brother-in-law, Gareth Parry, I heard he was working here.” Howl was careful to keep his tone light, nonchalant.   “Ah, Mr. Perry. I’m afraid he’s very busy at the moment. He’s really working very hard to pay off a small debt he owes to us. I told him it was no big deal, but the man is very stubborn and insisted on working to pay us back.”   “Ah yes, my sister mentioned something about money, though I forgot, how much was the amount?”   “500 pounds. But with the interest, I’m afraid its risen to almost four times that amount, though he’s managed to pay some of it off…” Mr. Surrey looked thoughtful for a moment, as if trying to remember the exact amount. Howl took his chance.   “I see. How much would that be in say…gold ounces.”   The two goons let out an audible cough of surprise, but to his credit, Mr. Surrey only raised an eye brow.   “Its silly really,” Howl began by way of explanation, “My uncle was a collector of old coins, and it seems he was sold a few fake ones from a place that doesn’t really exist.” He drew one of the coins from his pocket and allowed Surrey to examine it. “They don’t have any value as collectors’ pieces, except, of course for the metal. When I inherited the collection I thought I’d keep them to see if they might be worth something one day in craftsmanship. But of course, family comes first, and it seems at the moment, Gareth is in greater need of them than I.”   Surrey continued to examine the Ingrish money. Pulling an old, well worn Swiss-army knife from his pocket, and using the point to whittle a hole in the centre of the coin, making sure not to lose any of the shavings. After a moment he stopped, looking contemplative.   “That is interesting. And you’re sure these coins are all solid gold, all the way through?”   “Positive.” Howl insisted, “But you’re free to look me up if by any chance you discover that they’re not. Gareth will know how to find me.”   There was a slight pause, “…and will I know how to find him?” Mr. Surrey was no push-over.   “Oh. How silly of me. Megan made it sound as if were familiar with their address. Of course I’ll write it down for you-”   “No need. No need.” Mr. Surrey intervened, “I’ll tell you what, give me ten of those gold coins and I’ll call it even.”   Howl grimaced, outwardly and inwardly. That was nearly twice the amount Gareth owed... “Oh dear, I’m afraid I only have nine of them. Hang on, let me count…” Reaching inside his coat, Howl performed a small conjuration to place nine coins in a small pouch, ignoring the goons as they reached for their hand guns.   “Relax gentlemen, we’re all business men here.” His smile was in place and he held his arms up in a gesture of peace, the pouch dangling from his fingers. The guns were put away again with a nod from Surrey, and Howl counted the contents of the small purse.   “Ah,” sighed, examining the coins in his hand, “Nine here, plus the one I already gave you, that makes ten. Perfect.” It wouldn’t do to make the man think he had an endless supply of them. He made a move to hand them over to Surrey, but then paused. “I don’t suppose someone could go inform Gareth that his services are no longer required here?”   Surrey looked over his shoulder at goon number two, who disappeared into the back once again. A few moments later he returned. A tired, rather thinner and over-worked version of the Gareth Howl remembered followed soon after. Gareth’s reaction was immediate. “H-Howell!”   “Ah, Gareth, good to see you. Working hard as usual I see. Come here, let me get a better look at you.”   Goon two gave Gareth a rather hard shove in Howl’s direction, and the man walked forward, stumbling on the way. It was only then that Howl finally handed over the coins to a very content looking Mr. Surrey, in plain sight of a very surprised Gareth Parry.   “Wh-what? Howell, where did you get those? You-”   Howl cut the man off before he could say any more. “You remember my old uncle Chester. I inherited an old coin collection of his.”   Unfortunately, Gareth sputtered “Chester? Who-”   “You might not remember him. He died well before you met Meg. Anyway, we’d best be on our way now. Good day to you gentlemen, and a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Surrey.” They shook hands briefly before Howl turned and left, herding a still confused Gareth out the door before him.   *~*~*~*~*   “Howell, what-”   “Get in the car.” Happy façade gone, Howl marched to his car, getting himself inside and settled before reaching to unlock the passenger door so Gareth could attempt to cram his large figure into the tiny Austin. They didn’t speak a word until they were around the corner and out of sight of the building.   “Howell, where on earth did you get that money.”   There was a stern quality to Gareth’s voice that made Howl want to punch him. Still, Howl hated getting angry, so he put on his pleasant grin again and said, “You’re welcome. After all, what’s a few thousand dollars between family. Really Gareth, you should have come to me in the first place if you were in financial trouble. That’s what family does…”   “Oh, stuff it up your ass Howell. I know you don’t have an uncle Chester. You never had any uncles period. And even if you did it’d still be a cold day in hell before they became stupid enough to leave a useless dolt like you with so much as a penny of inheritance! Now where did you get that money, and don’t you dare tell me you earned it by working at a decent job like the rest of us. I wasn’t born yesterday.”   Howl gripped the steering wheel harder and wondered if Megan would mind him returning her husband to her as a frog. “Oh really, then tell me why someone who wasn’t born yesterday would be stupid enough to go to a loan shark for help? What if the bastards had decided to grab Marie or Neil instead of you? Did you ever think of that you irresponsible oaf.”   “As if you could know anything about responsibility you slimy, no good, leech of a man. You could have had everything, you know? Your father’s company, a steady income, a family, but instead you  petered it all away-”   “Shut up!” Howl stepped on the gas and the only remaining words from Gareth were curses as they all but squealed down the road and into the drive of Rivendell. The second the car was parked, Howl was up and heading out the door of the garage, hoping to reach the castle before Gareth could follow him. His plan was thwarted, however, when Megan appeared on the veranda, drawn by the unusually loud tire sounds that had disturbed the peace of the neighborhood.    “Howell, what on-” she stopped short. “g-Gareth!!”   As he watched their happy reunion, Howl wanted to be sick. No, scratch that. He wanted to go home, to his castle, and his fire demon, and the perpetually clean, horribly bossy, nosy and absolutely wonderful woman who was his wife to be. The fatigue of the last two days was finally catching up with him and he decided that it would be okay if he slipped away now, unnoticed, without receiving the abundant gratitude which Megan undoubtedly felt for him at that moment. He was noble like that.   As he climbed the stairs to the veranda, however, he was stopped by the feeling of a heavy weight in his pocket.   Oh, right.   He hesitated for a moment, and then his opportunity slipped from his grasp as Megan came running up to him, a smile on her face the likes of which he hadn’t seen directed at him since they were still very young children. She threw her arms around him in a tight embrace, repeating his name and the words “thank you” while he felt his shirt become slightly damp. For a moment, he was glad he had stayed.   Not even Gareth could make him unhappy as he lumbered up the steps of the veranda, the scowl on his face directed specifically at Howl. Howl felt the weight in his pocket again, and, shifting his hold on Megan, reached down to pull out a second, slightly larger pouch which he knew was equally filled with silver and gold coins. When Megan released him to see what he was doing, he gently pushed the pouch into her waiting hands.   “Here, sis. That should be enough to cover the rent I still owe you.”   Megan frowned thoughtfully, before slowly opening the pouch and nearly dropping it in awed surprise.   “Howell…where did you…how?” She reached inside, pulling out a perfect gold coin. “Howell?”   It was at that moment that Gareth moved. He stepped up, swiping the bag from his wife’s hands and back into Howl’s in a single motion. He looked at Howl as if he had shown up on their doorstep intent on giving them the bubonic plague.   “Gareth?” Megan blinked, confused.   “Take it!” Gareth hissed, “Take it and leave!”   “Gareth what?”   Gareth’s only response was to turn around and pry the coin out of his wife’s hands, throwing that at Howl as if it had burned.   “Get out of here! And I if I see you here again, I’ll call the police.”   “Gareth!”   Howl frowned. “Now see here, man. I know we don’t like each other, and I know you’re proud but…”   “Pride has nothing to do with it!” Gareth retorted, and turning to his wife he added, “Megan, ask him. Ask him where he got that money.”   A look of question crossed Megan’s face, and he knew he’d been cornered. He cast his sister a pleading look.   “Megan. Megan believe me, I can’t tell you where I got the money but I swear…”   “Liar!” Gareth shouted, pushing Megan behind him. “Take it! Take it and leave. I and my family will have nothing to do with your blood money. We’d rather starve…”   “Gareth!” Megan turned to her husband, horrified. “Gareth what are you saying!”   “It’s drug money, Megan.” Gareth turned to his wife, “Think about it! The fool has no job, no home, what else could it be?”   “But, Gareth, Howell…”   She turned again.   “… Howell?”   However, Howl was no where to be seen. A bag of coins the only sign that he had ever been there.    *~*~*~*~*