The sun peeked through the thin, white curtains, creating a warm yellow glow against my skin. I gave a small yawn and rubbed my eyes at the warmth it brought. I slowly got up and brushed off whatever could be on my dark blue night gown, and walked to the window. My fingers brushed aside the curtains to reveal the city below me.

My name is Ellegard Blackwood, but many call me Elle. I live in a region called Ingary. It's quite beautiful actually, with rolling green hills crystal clear oceans, and land that stretches far beyond than I could ever imagine. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I reside in however a small town called Market Chipping. It's that kind of town where everyone knows each other, and where their are many shops and businesses too. I even run my own shop, at the age of 19.

After staring at the train that passed by the window, I glanced out at something far beyond the city, in the hills. Something shiny, yet rusty, passed by quickly in the hills and disappeared into the fog.

I smiled and whispered "Must be Howl's Castle"

Everyone in town knows about Howl. He's the guy who steals young women's hearts and eats them, simply because he can. He's the reason why no lady goes out late at night alone, without a wizard, or at least a man at their shoulder. To be honest, I just think of them as rumors, but I still always have my suspicion about them. Even if they were true, he would want someone more beautiful than me.

I think of myself as average looking. Sure, I have bright green eyes, but the rest of me no one would really care for. I have a semi- oval head with an average nose and thin lips. I'm thin, but only 5"4' and have more of a gentleman's body without the bulk or strong build. It's wouldn't take much to push me to the ground. I have a dark raven hair with bangs that sit all over my face and hair that barely touches my shoulders. Some say I always look sad, but they say I look at the bright side of things. I have to anyways.

You see, I haven't had the most normal upbringing. My father said my mother died when she gave birth to me, so I never knew what she looked like. My father however, said she was beautiful and had a big heart. My father had brown hair always tired in a ponytail, and a few pieces of hair that framed his face perfectly. He had a normal build of a man, but a bulky built would never suit his thin jawline and dark blue eyes.

He was also a wonderful sorcerer. Many said he was the best in town, maybe even in Ingary. He was humble about it however, and always used his magic to help others who needed it. He ran a shop named after himself, called Blackwood Spells and Potions. He never really taught me magic however, even though we were very close. I know a few spells, even a curse, but whenever I asked him, he would simply brush it aside and tell me maybe later. He always said I had the potential to become a great sorceress, but also said I had the potential to become a great scholar as well. I never really knew why he never really taught me, even to this day.

One day however, he disappeared. When I was 12, he said he needed to run out and so an errand, but never returned. I remember tears streaming down my face as I searched for him through the streets day and night. I had never felt more hopeless and lost in my life. Today however I have accepted he would never come back, but a small voice screaming in the depths of my mind say he will return. That voice rarely comes out.

I sighed, and picked up a dark purple book from my desk, and headed out from my room. I entered the dining room/kitchen, to see a newspaper up and being read.

"Morning Artemis" I yawned as I walked to a chair next to him.

"You're up late again Elle" A british accent quipped.

"I was up late again reading" I held up the book in my hand "And besides, most of us aren't demons"

He put the newspaper down to reveal his scaly, red dragon face glaring right at my grinning face. He rolled his small, yellow eyes and put his newspaper back up to separate his view from me.

I live with a demon, a demon of loathe to be exact. He's not that bad really, just complains from here to there, but always has my back. He's pretty small, when he rests comfortably on my forearm. He has the classic yellow dragon eyes with a long stretching dark red neck and a thin body. He has large thin wings, and a long stretching tail too. He says he used to be a human, but was cursed to be a demon because he did terrible things. I don't ask about his past.

We're not cursed together or anything for that matter, but we made a deal. We met each other a few days after my father disappeared. He came into the shop as I was crying my eyes out, but in disguise. He was dressed as a person with their face covered up, and a long trench coat. Being the daughter of a first class wizard, I smelled his demonic manner from a mile away. Nevertheless, he asked for my father, saying he had a curse on him, and waited for a response. I cried again and said no, and turned my back on him. Surprisingly he asked if I was ok, but I simply said he didn't have a heart, that demons don't play nice. He took off his disguise when he knew the jig was up, and begged me for help.

That's when we made the deal. If I figured out a way to break his curse, he would help me run and keep my father's house, since he pointed out I would go to an orphanage soon after. We've been pretty close friends for almost 7 years.

"So, what's for breakfast?" Artemis asked in a hopeful voice.

"Let me check the pantry" I responded. Suddenly the bell rang, and I found myself walking to the door.

"Must be conscription" He said in a disgusted voice. I sighed and picked up a porcelain mask on a table beside the door and slipped it on my face. On the mirror beside the door I looked to see a young freckled girl with long orange locks and a black lacy dress. I did a fake grin as I brushed some hair out of my face.

The doorbell rang again, followed by light knock of the door.

"Hold for a moment please!" I shouted in my best British accent. I opened the door to see a tall man in soldier's outfit. In his hand he held a large envelope.

"Yes sir?" I politely asked.

"Yes, is Blackwood the wizard present?" The soldier asked in a gruff voice.

"No sir, but may I take a message in his place?" I asked. He handed me the envelope, and responded "The time for war is now. We are requiring for all witches and wizards to report to the palace and fight for our cause. Thank you"

"Thank you" I bowed and shut the door firmly. I groaned as I set the mask aside and tossed the envelope on the table in front of Artemis.

"It's for the war" I mumbled, as I slumped into a chair. Artemis threw his newspaper aside and jumped on the table, eying the envelope.

"What are we even fighting for anyways?" He said as he tore the envelope open.

"Who knows" I leaned my head on my hand "Our kingdom probably just wants our magic"

"Dear Wizard Blackwood!" He read in his best phony accent "The palace requires your knowledge of sorcery for the war! Please come to the place fight for our kingdom, or you will find yourself deemed a traitor to our cause!"

I giggled as he read in his phony accent, even though the last sentence. He grinned when he finished, and tossed the letter aside.

"With that, how will anyone take them seriously?" He said in his normal British accent.

"I don't know, but it will sure start a nice fire!" I still grinned as I grabbed the torn envelope and letter and set it on the stove.

"By the way, we don't have any meat" Artemis said. I turned around and eyed him, but he only gave me his "innocent" look.

"I just bought some a few days ago" I grinned, as I knew something was up " You ate it again, didn't you? He sighed, knowing the jig was up, and flew to a desk tucked in the corner.

"You know me so well.." He mumbled as he grabbed some coins.

"Then I'll just go to the butcher. Do you want to come?" I asked and grabbed the coins from him, and set it on the desk.

"I'll become too much of a spectacle" He sighed, as he remembered of the last time he went out. Let's just say he was nearly beaten to death by an elderly lady and her cane.

"Suit yourself" I grinned as I went back to my room to dress. I slipped on my clothes, and looked at myself in the mirror. I saw a brown buttoned vest above a loose white dress shirt. The shirt pillowed around my neck and framed my pale skin. On top of this I had a black long stretching trench coat with gold accents. My white dress shirt was tucked into black dress pants around my waist. My pants were tucked into tall leather buckled boots, that shined in the sun light. I wore a few rings on both of my hands, some with jewels and some without. A gold necklace stretched out with a emerald green pendant at the end. Similarly, on my right ear I had a small chained earring with a green jewel at the end as well.

"I'm going out!" I yelled as I grabbed the coins off the dining table outside my room.

"Remember to go through the back door!" Artemis yelled back from wherever he was.

"Of course! Do me a favor, can you clean the stove?" In response I received a groan, but a yes all the same. Like I said, although he will complain, he will come out nonetheless.

I exited the door in the back and made my way through an alley. As I made my way to the Main Street, at the end of the alley I saw people dancing around the Main Street, laughing and having fun. I backed away slowly as though something would attack me and ran towards the other direction. It's not that I mind people, I just don't like them in large groups.

I turned a corner and waved to an older man who sat near a door in the corner. He smiled and waved back, and went back to drinking whatever was in his glass bottle. Most people are friendly around here, even the ones who work night and day.

I turned to yet to another corner, but found something dressed green in my way. I looked up to see two soldiers, leaning against a building, and grinning down at me.

"Hey, looks like a little mouse lost its way" the taller dirty blond man said, as he leaned towards me.

I simply backed up a little and said in a polite voice "Oh, I'm not lost sir" I never liked the soldiers, especially the ones from Kingsbury. They always act like they can do anything with you, which seems to work on most ladies, but not me.

He walked a little toward me again and purred "This little mouse looks thirsty. We should take her for a cup of tea"

"No thank you.." I responded in an assertive voice. I'm came close to them, and stared into the tall man's dark eyes. I wasn't really afraid of these men. Little did this men know, I could make them disappear with the simple snap of my fingers.

"She's pretty cute for a mouse" A moustached soldier stepped up from behind

"How old are you? You live around here?" The other soldier asked. I gave him an annoyed face. My patience for these men simply ran out.

"I'm busy" I command in a shaky voice, and walked forward. The men both came in front of me, blocking my exit. A little surprised, I jumped back.

"You see? Your moustache scares all the girls.." The taller soldier joked to his friend.

"So? She's even cuter when she's scared" The moustached soldier came closer to me and again leaned into my face, as though he expected a kiss. I gave them a look of disgust, and backed up once again.

"Please don't make me do this.." I said, bringing both of my hands together, readying for a spell. At this point I was willing to do anything to escape these men's grasp. Suddenly I felt a hand rest on my shoulder, and the brush of soft hair against my neck, but I didn't react. It almost felt warm and comforting, as though I was safe with its touch.

"There you are, sweetheart. Sorry I'm late. I was looking everywhere for you" A man said softly in a velvety voice. I turned my head to his hand, to see it was bony and pale, but adored with a few rings.

"Hey, we're busy here" The tall soldier said in an annoyed tone, his eyebrows furrowed in frustration. The other soldier simply had a crossed look of confusion and anger that sat on his face.

"Are you really?" The ringed man purred. I could almost hear chuckling in his voice "It's looked to me like the two of you were just leaving" With the flick of his wrist, the soldiers suddenly stood tall and firm. Their face reflected fear and confusion, but I simply smiled. The ringed man flicked his hand again, and sent the grunting men on their way down the alley and out of sight.

"Don't hold it against them. They're not actually all that bad" He replied. I looked up once again, and saw his face. It was covered in lightly darkened blond hair, that sat a little below his shoulders, longer than my own hair. He had blue eyes, that seemed to shine a light blue even in the shade from his hair. His features were a little sharp, but soft enough to give him a kind look. His smile seemed to warm up my spirit.

"Um, thank you sir.." I said nervously, as I stepped away from him and bowed. I could feel my face flush from my awkwardness. I usually never get like this, let alone with a man.

He simply smiled softly in response, and asked "Where to? I'll be your escort for this evening"

"J-Just to the butcher shop" I said, stuttering. He held out his arm, and I wrapped mine around his. He didn't feel literally as warm as I expected, but I felt safe.

"Don't get alarmed, but I'm being followed. Act normal" The blond man whispered in my ear. As we walked, I heard not only the clicking of my boots, but his as well. His blond hair bounced a little with each step he took, and his colorful coat blew against the wind. Suddenly I heard the sound of squishing, like if my shoes were full of water. I went to turn my head to see what was behind, but the blond man pulled my head back forward.

"Sorry, looks like you're involved" He whispered, and walked a little faster. I started to widen my eyes in panic, and clench on to his arm tighter.

"This way" He turned a corner, as the squishing sound became louder. Suddenly a black goop emerged from the cracks in front us, and slowly formed into blobby men. I gasped in surprise, and looked to the blond man for help, but found him with the same warm expression. I hoped I didn't make a mistake with him.

"Hold on" He wrapped his hands around my waist, and I held on to him even tighter, making my knuckles a light pink. As the blob men were about to dive for us, I closed my eyes, and hoped I wouldn't become their next meal. I felt the sudden rush of air instead, and opened my eyes to see the sky, and roofs. I looked down to see the streets and the alley below. My eyes widened in surprise as we floated in the air. Although I knew magic, I could have never expected this

"Now, straighten your legs and start walking" He said. I listened to his command and did what I was told. With every step, I found myself inching over the buildings.

"See? Not so hard is it?" He looked towards me with his warm smile, making my fear dissolve into thin air. I smiled and laughed as we walked across the air, and felt the wind caress my skin.

"You are a natural" The blond man complemented. Not knowing what to say, I turned and smiled back at him in response. A few minutes later of walking on air, he set me down on a nearby balcony and backed up, still floating along.

"I'll make sure to draw them off. But wait a bit before you head back outside"

"Ok…" I said, slipping away my hand from his.

"That's my girl" He smiled, and bounced back, causing him to fall down below. I ran to the railing and looked down, only to see people dancing below on the street. I slowly backed up, in a small amount of confusion. Questions read through my mind: Why did he help me? Who was following him? What was following him? But one question stood out from the rest:

Who was he?

Hello! Thanks for reading this! I've always loved Howl's moving castle since I was little and had made countless OC's for a story, but this one struck out to me more than the others(probably because I put more effort into her and she has a demon partner...). Anyways, I wanted to take a different approach to the story, and slowly introduce characters to my OC instead. Don't worry, Most of the characters we know and love(maybe except Madame Suliman..) will be revealed! I plan to update on a weekly basis too. Thanks!

- X-Xepher-X