Hello! It's been awhile since I posted anything! I found myself with some free time and ideas fresh after the new Beauty and the Beast movie. This isn't necessarily a rip off of that, but there is definitely a little inspiration.

Chapter 1

-XXX-

If she remembered the story correctly, the sacrifice on the part of the daughter was supposed to have been made by the daughter, with the daughter's knowing consent. There was some guilt on the parent's part, of course, a lot of declarations of love and promises of never forgetting. That was how the story usually went, anyways, Sarah mused huffily as she tilted her head back. She winced when her skull made contact with the cold stone.

No, the story wasn't exactly playing out as she'd remembered. But then again, her mother wasn't like a fairy tale mother - that is to say, dead or kind. In fact, she was behaving more like an evil stepmother. Wryly, Sarah reflected that Karen, for all her faults, would not have traded her son or step-daughter for youth and fame. Linda however was not restrained by feeling of love or morality. Not now and not fifteen years ago when she bargained away her daughter's soul.

Sarah knew her mother wasn't particularly affectionate or present when it came to her role as a mother. When Linda left Robert and Sarah fifteen years ago it took them both a while to come to terms with her departure. They both came to realize that she wasn't suited for the role of wife and mother, never would be, and they'd accepted that. Sarah came to appreciate the few days she spent with Linda in New York every summer. Robert moved on and married Karen. They accepted Linda's faults and left it at that.

So both of them had been surprised when out of the blue Linda called insisting that twenty-two-year-old Sarah come to visit her following her graduation. "You can find an internship here!" she'd said, enthusiastically. "There are so many more opportunities in New York than in Portland! And you could stay with me! I feel like I've been so out of your life, since you started college."

It took a lot of self-control for Sarah not to point out the Linda had not really been a part of her life since she was seven. Instead, she replied slowly. "I don't know. I mean, I don't really have anything lined up, but I was hoping that I could stay close to Dad and Karen. I know they'd appreciate the help with Toby."

"Oh Sarah," Linda sighed. "You're a young woman! You can't live your life for the sake of others. They can always find a babysitter, but your window of opportunity won't always be open. You're only young once, after all!"

She made some fair points. Maybe it was her mother's eagerness and Sarah's willingness to be mothered a little. Maybe it was because New York did make more sense, Portland was too small and too stale for her ambitions. Or maybe it was because she did want to live her own life away from her father, Karen and Toby. There were a lot of emotions swirling around Sarah's head. She said yes.

Robert was reluctant, but supportive. He drove Sarah to the airport after they dropped Toby off at school.

"You can always come back," he said seriously. "If it doesn't work out or you're having a hard time with your mother."

The fifteen-year-old Sarah would have gotten upset at the insinuation that things might not go as planned. But twenty-two-year-old Sarah had mellowed considerably and she merely squeezed her father's hand.

"I know. I'll call you when I get there."

He helped her unload the bags and walked her to the security line. The hug he offered was longer than usual and Sarah pecked his cheek when she pulled away.

"Tell you mother we said hello," he said, averting his eyes. "We'll call you if you don't call by five."

"Okay, Daddy."

-XXX-

That was the last time she'd seen her father, nearly two weeks ago. As Sarah curled up against the wall of the darkened oubliette, she wondered if she'd ever see him again. Linda had not apparently concerned herself with this prospect, which caused Sarah to wonder what her plan was, exactly. How would she explain Sarah's disappearance to Robert and Karen? Would she pretend that Sarah ran away? Was kidnapped? Simply disappeared? What would her father think? And what about Toby?

Toby had been Sarah's primary concern when the realization of her situation swept over her. He was only eight and terribly fond of his big sister. He was already heartbroken at her leaving. It took a lot of convincing and bargaining to calm him down. They'd worked out an arrangement where she called him at least twice a week and wrote letters. How would her react when he found out she was never coming back?

She hugged her knees closer. Linda had done a cruel thing to the whole Williams family, not just Sarah. She either hadn't thought this through or hadn't cared. Perhaps a combination of both. Closing her eyes, Sarah thought back to her mother's last words to her.

Linda had spontaneous suggested a picnic that Sunday morning. Sarah was surprised but more than willing to go along. She'd been cramped in Linda's apartment for nearly two weeks. Linda hadn't done much to accommodate Sarah either in the set up of her home or her schedule. Sarah had barely seen her and was forced to spend most days wandering, hanging out in cafes or watching TV alone. It had been lonely and frustrating. So when Linda finally showed the smallest interest in spending time with her daughter, Sarah jumped on the opportunity.

She seemed so sincere when she apologized. It was a busy time of year, unmissable opportunities, surely Sarah could understand. Linda would make it up, starting today. They would explore the city together, starting with a picnic. She was so excited to have Sarah here, all to herself.

In an isolated corner of Central Park around four o'clock, Sarah remembered asking if they were going to find a table all the way out there, since Linda failed to bring a blanket. Linda had merely waved her off, saying they'd work it out. Sarah had thought that it was odd - forgetting the blanket, packing few bodega-bought sandwiches without even checking to see what they were, the lateness of the hour, the weird location. But she believed her mother when she said they were going to a pretty, less-known spot. That was, until Linda started talking to herself. And they went more than 20 minutes of walking without seeing anyone.

They had reached a clearing when Linda stopped. "There isn't a table here, Mom," Sarah began. "Maybe we should -"

Linda had simply lifted a hand, effectively silencing her daughter. No one could say Linda Williams didn't have stage presence. Stepping forward, she spoke loudly and clearly. "I've done as you've asked. She's here."

There was no response for a moment but the rustle of leaves in a light breeze. Then the breeze grew stronger, rustling louder. Sarah looked up, expecting to see dark storm clouds. But instead the sky was pitch black - as though night had suddenly fallen. Mist rolled out from between the trees, blanketing the clearing. She had never seen such a dramatic weather shift. Eyes wide, she opened her mouth to call for her mother.

In her distraction, Sarah was taken off guard by the sudden rough hands that swiftly pinned her arms to her back, forcing her to kneel. Soon her hands were bound, sharp edges of plastic zip ties digging into her flesh. She made to scream. A flash of light and noise stopped her.

Blinking and stumbling backwards, Sarah tripped on a branch and fell back, crying out as she struck the unforgiving ground. Cold and damp seeped into her bones. Her mother, ahead of her by a few feet, was not perturbed by the change in atmosphere. She stood ramrod straight, arms outstretched. Outstretched towards a strange dark figure in the center of the clearing.

The air was cold and seemed to shimmer. Sarah wanted to scramble backwards but she was rooted to the ground, mobility limited by her bound arms, frozen as she stared at the scene that played out before her.

"I have brought her to you," Sarah's mother intoned. "Just as you asked. I have fulfilled my end of our bargain."

The figure glided forward soundlessly. As the smoke and shimmer settled Sarah could make out a tall male head to toe in black, with a high-collared cloak that whipped around the ankles heavy boots. His hair was a silvery mane and his eyes mismatched pools. Sarah gasped when his eyes held hers for a full second. They blazed unnaturally and sent more cold down her spine. However, he quickly moved his focus back to Linda.

This had to be a joke, right? An elaborate trick by her mother and one of her actor friends. Some kind of unorthodox "Welcome to New York." Surely, because what else could it be? Some kind of...kidnapping. Hostage situation?

"Mom," Sarah cried weakly, struggling to sit up once more. Without access to her hands it proved difficult.

Neither he nor her mother gave her a glance.

"Just as I'd asked, Linda," he echoed. The rich timbre of his voice gave Sarah a shiver. It was strangely familiar. If she'd had to guess it was the voice of a Bond villain, the voice of the bad guy in one of those dull action blockbusters college boyfriends dragged her to. "And with minimal trouble, it would seem."

"She is young and naive," Linda sneered. "But to your liking, I think. She's yours, provided you can keep up your end of the deal."

The man smiled. "I always keep my promises. So. Your daughter for all the beauty and youth and fame you desire. I wasn't sure you'd go through with it, Linda. After all, she is your only child." He gestured to Sarah gently with one gloved hand.

Linda sniffed. "She's more Robert's child than mine. Besides, he has a new one now with that secretary he married. Now. We're even."

"We are," he purred. "When you leave this forest you'll have your heart's desires, with all of our conditions, of course." The man paused. "You can stand by this? There will be no undoing. Once I take your daughter, she is mine. The consequences will be yours to bear alone."

Linda almost seemed to hesitate. But it was only for a fraction of a second. She nodded, firmly. Grabbing the jointed area where Sarah's hands were bound, she pushed the young woman forward, all but shoving her into leaves at the man's feet. Sarah fell face-first, gasping.

She shifted forward quickly, on her knees. "Mom," she croaked. "Mom, please. Don't -"

Her mother turned, refusing to look at Sarah. She walked passed, head bowed and silent. Sarah squirmed to follow, calling out. Somehow she made it back onto her feet.

"Mom, please, you can't -" Her voice rose, boarding on a scream. It echoed through the clearing, ringing through the trees.

She tripped, fell again, and was left on the ground, struggling against the zip ties that kept her so limited. Linda strode straight into the mist between the trees, still not looking back. Soon, her silhouette faded and Sarah was alone with the man.

Sarah felt a wetness on her cheeks and realized dully that she was crying. She ducked her head to her shoulder, trying to ignore the ache that was rising in her arms. The shock was swiftly setting in. It was interrupted the the shadow of the man approaching.

Finally his eyes were upon her and they were overwhelming. As he moved forward she shrank back slightly. His lips tightened at the sight of her.

Feeling challenged, Sarah fought the urge to shrink back further and jutted out her chin, hoping that despite her tears her eye could be hardened. Now simply wasn't the time for mourning. She needed to put the sorrow and fear aside and survive.

To her surprise and horror he put a gentle gloved hand on her cheek. When she didn't move he spoke slowly. "Come."

"Where?" Her voice was still hoarse.

"Your new home."

She swallowed. "Where is that?"

She noticed that the trees were gone. It was still dark, but there were stars now, bright overhead. It was painfully quiet.

He almost smiled. Lips stretched, but there was no mirth. Merely empty and practiced motion. With a step forward he continued to hold his gloved hand out to her, lifting her easily to her feet and pulling her against his chest.

"The Underground."

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UPDATED/REVISED: 5/24