Yes, yet another labyrinth story. This one you will most likely find more enjoyable because it is a J+S story.
-TiskTask
"Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child you have stolen." Said Sarah. She was dressed in a Victorian style dress and talking to a blond haired man who was wearing an old fashioned suit; also from the Victorian era.
She took a step forward and he took a step back. "For my kingdom is as great, you have no power over me!" The last six words she shouted out and the man threw a hand to the ground and the curtain seemed to fall down. The lights flickered on and the audience stood up and applauded. More from restlessness then from actual love of the play, but the drama club ate it up anyways.
Sarah ran out to her family. "So that's it then?" Karen said disapprovingly. Sarah nodded and took Toby from her step mother's arms. Karen shook her head. "That's what you've been making such a big deal about for the last month and a half? Do you wish to be an actress so badly that you would waist your time with that drivel?" Before either Sarah or her father could protest a lady walked up.
"Well Karen, some of us don't see it as drivel." Sarah smiled at the sound of the woman's voice; it was her mother. She turned to face her with Toby struggling in her arms. Before either of them could speak however, Toby burst out crying. For some reason he didn't seem to like Sarah's mother. She shrugged apologetically and said loudly over Toby's screaming, "Sorry, I'll meet you out side in a few minuets." and ran off to the restroom to calm down Toby.
She sighed as she bounced Toby up and down on her knee. He was no longer crying but still whimpered occasionally. "What's the matter Toby?" She said fondly. She had made an attachment to him within the last two weeks because of the dream she had. She believed the dream was real but refused to think of it as such because that made the pain of losing the magic of that land so much worse. Her friends still visited but only in her dreams and only when she felt she needed them most. They had lives too after all.
Another whimper brought Sarah out of her thoughts. She looked at her watch. It was 10:15. She had been in here for 20 minuets! Her mother might have got fed up and left without her! They were supposed to go out to dinner tonight to celebrate her first play. "Okay Toby I've got to go but I'll be back tonight, okay?" She said to her brother. She knew he didn't understand her but the tone of her voice calmed him. She ran and found her father and handed Toby over then ran off to find her mother. She found her and her new boy toy, Ronald, waiting in the parking lot.
As she hopped into the back set her mother said, "I don't know why you bother. The brat will only be crying again in a couple of minuets over a new hardship." The way her mother spoke was offhanded and indifferent, so Sarah knew her mother was only challenging her to play a part, but anger burned in her all the same. "Don't ever call my brother that again." Sarah's voice was low and steady, but if one cared to look, a fire burned in her eyes.
Her mother got into the role better with her next response. "Ha, he's not you're brother. You only share blood on one front." Her mother sneered at her. Sarah's anger rose at this low blow and sneered right back. "That may be true, but he is more my brother than you are my mother." As soon as she said the words she knew that was the way she truly felt. Her mother was never around when she needed her most and only took a real interest in Sarah's life when she took up acting. The only reason she did that was to gain her mother's approval because she seemed so grand to a child's eyes.
Her mother laughed her normal laugh, a practiced work that sounded like the ringing of bells. "You're getting better. You almost convinced me you spoke the truth." Sarah remained silent as she realized that everything about her mother was practiced and fake. She lived her life as if on a stage and as if she was the star of the show. The rest of the night she remained quite; thinking about this new realization. As she stepped out of her mother's car she said "I don't want to see you any more. I don't know if I'll keep acting but…If I do or don't I don't want you in my life. You never took any part in my life until I started acting…So…I just don't want to see you any more mom." She was neither dramatic no accusing and she did not let her pain of this discovery show in her voice or in her face. She sounded weak but that was because of the effort it took not to show any emotion. She wanted her mother to know she was serious and not acting. Her mother said nothing; she just let off the brake and drove away.
As Sarah walked inside she saw an owl perched on the mail box. She did not turn to look at him but knelt, like she was tying her shoe, in the door way of the house and watched him from the corner of her eye. It was a white owl, but other then that and the fact it was on her mail box it gave no sign it was anything other then an ordinary owl. She walked inside and closed the door softly behind her. Just in case I better make sure I don't say I wish for the next few days. Having made that promise to herself she went to bed.
