Chapter Two:
Vira's Story

."She is taking her time," Jareth commented glancing towards the door. "Maybe she got lost; shall we look for her?"

Sarah was looking at the door, "I think we should. Call me crazy, but my guts telling me something's wrong."

Jareth took Sarah's hand and walked the path out to the gardens. They followed the same path Vira and Jareth had taken all the way to the fountain. He looked around seeing no sign of her. "Did we miss her going back into the ball?"

Sarah looked around, then she spotted something, Vira's locket. "There's no way she would have gone anywhere without this; it means too much to her. Something's wrong, she would have came and found us," she said beginning to worry now.

Jareth shook his head taking the locket from Sarah, "There isn't anything that couldn't happen to her here without anyone noticing." He glanced around still not seeing anything out of place.

Sarah sighed, "Trust me Jareth, there are plenty of ways that something could have happened." Then an idea came to her, "Jareth, I cannot believe I'm actually asking for one of them, but due the situation; can I borrow one of the dream crystals. I may be able to find her."

Jareth looked slightly confused but nodded creating a crystal out of thin air. He playfully spun it around for a few seconds and handed it over seeing that Sarah was not amused. "It'll show you whatever you want," he said.

"Jareth, I'm sorry but not now; Vi could be in trouble," she said looking into it and focusing only on Vira. It was not long till she was seen; everything around her was black, so they couldn't see anything but her. Vira was out on the floor for a moment before she woke up looking around. "What the..." She said standing up; she was a bit shaky but stayed strong. She had a feeling something was up.

"Where is she?" Jareth asked looking into the ball. He couldn't see enough of her surroundings to tell where she was.

"I'm not sure, but she's definitely in a jam," she said watching. Vira stood; looking around for Jareth or Sarah, realizing they were nowhere in sight she knew something was up. She muttered something under her breath, making a sword with red gems in specially designed places appear in her hand and hiding it behind her back.

Jareth's eyes widened as he saw Vira pull a magical sword out of nowhere. He would have been impressed if he wasn't so concerned. "I agree, but who would have taken her and where. I think it's time you let me in on some of her mysteries."

Sarah sighed and nodded, "I think your right, but you have to make me a promise Jareth that you will under no circumstances repeat a word of this to anyone."

Jareth nodded seriously, he considered himself a man of his word. He enjoyed twisting his words often, but now wasn't the time to play evil. "I can't help if I don't know what is going on and whoever harms her while she is under my protection is essentially attacking me and I cannot have that. I do have a reputation to protect."

"I understand that Jareth. It's just that if any of what she has been through or knows of gets out it could cause al lot of problems," she said. "You see she, like you, is much older then she appears to be, but it's because of her talents that she is like that. Many years ago there was a man that was just like her, but, well the power got to his head and he wanted more so he slowly betrayed all of their kind. It wasn't long until she was the last. She had taken care of him, but then she found out he hadn't been completely defeated and he has a family; which, trust me, is not a good thing. She thought she defeated them, but they just made it look as if she did and waited until the right time until they had something to use against her. What's scaring me the most is the fact of her scar; if it opens it, well let's just say Vira won't last long."

Jareth listened to the story and slowly processed the information. Shaking his head he asked, "How can opening up an old wound hurt her that badly and how would this family know to find her here?"

"The scar is more then it seems Jareth and it wouldn't just hurt her it would literally slowly kill her. Every second it's opened she loses more of more power," she replied. "And as for that, I don't know, but all I know is we've got to find her."

Meanwhile, Vira had her sword in hand as she looked around; she was jumped from behind by something, but managed to throw it against the wall off of her. It wasn't long till another voice could be heard. "Well, well, well, we meet again Cromwell Scum," a low, almost eerie voice came.

Rage filled Jareth's eyes as he saw someone attack her. If he had something to throw or destroy he would have but for now he needed to focus. "Do you know where she is?" he asked.

"No, but the picture's begging to clear," she said watching.

Vira stood straight, sword in hand and in plain sight now, "Indeed we do, it seems this time you're alone. Where is your family?"

"They'll be here shortly," he said, "But I would watch yourself, going against a wall like that doesn't kill that creature as easily. I'm sure you remembered them." The creature went at her again, but with reflexes faster than lighting she did a double swift attack at the ribs cutting whatever it was in half before it could even touch her.

Jareth flinched as he watched Vira defend herself. He hated feeling helpless or useless and standing there in a garden just watching her defend herself definitely was not helpful. He didn't recognize the creature attacking her, but it was still fairly dark in the picture and could have been anywhere. "Standing here isn't getting us anywhere, if I don't know where I'm going I can't transport there."

It was not long till the picture finally cleared; it was a dungeon of sorts and the stranger looked inhuman, his skin was white as snow, his eyes blood red, he wore a black robe that hid most of his body and he pulled out a sword similar to Vira's, but with no gems on the blade, just a pure blade with blood red gems around the handle. "Remind you of anything," he taunted.

Vira nodded, getting ready, "Indeed, but if you think bringing back the memories of my past will intimidate me as it did the first time we battles, it won't"

Jareth mentally went through every inch of the underground in his mind until it finally came to him. "That's in the labyrinth!" Without another word he grabbed a hold of Sarah and transported them both away in a whirl of glitter. They arrived outside of the place he was sure that Vira was being held. He turned to Sarah now worried for her safety, if anything happened to her he would never forgive himself, "Maybe you should head back to the aboveground or the castle to stay safe."

Sarah shook her head, "There ain't no way. Vira is like a sister to me; we've had each other's backs through everything."

He knew Sarah could be stubborn and decided not to argue with her, but he would make sure that she stayed out of harm's way. Together they stuck to the shadows heading down a set of stairs where voices and could be heard.

Vira and the stranger were already fighting, swords clashing every other second. They were equal in skill when it came to swordsmanship, but Vira had a few advantages. Thanks to Sarah she knew this place somewhat.

Jareth and Sarah reached the area where Vira and the strange man were fighting. He felt his temper snap as his own sword appeared in his hands, black glittery handle shining in the little light there was. He yelled out as he reached the man taking a swing.

The stranger dodged it, but barely. "Ahh, so this time you're not alone," he said.

Vira smiled, "Indeed, you could say I have friends in low places." Sarah smirked; she always knew Vira to be like that even when it seemed impossible she somehow kept up her attitude and was somehow never intimidated.

A noise that sounded similar to a growl came from Jareth as his temper wore thin, "How dare you come into my territory and take her. While she is underground she belongs to me."

The stranger nearly smirked at him. "Well, we have a fight to settle so if you'll just get away from her," he said hitting him with a large ball of magic.

"Jareth!" Vira cried, turning to him now she was furious. "Don't you dare do that to him!" she yelled hitting him with everything she had. The stranger smirked, so she was not jus not alone, but she was begging to fall in love; how very interesting.

The ball was large enough to throw Jareth back, but not do any permanently damage. Lifting himself off of the ground he watched as Vira defended his honor. His ego was now fully hurt and he had to prove himself as well as save the girl. While the stranger was distracted he threw his own bolt of magic hoping it would be enough to end it.

The stranger was hit hard, hard enough to go against the wall. He laughed though, "It seems we'll have to face off another time Cromwell." Vira glared at him, but he just laughed disappearing for the time being in a bright flash of black light. Vira was breathing slightly heavy, leaning against a wall. She was alright, just a bit weak at the moment.

Jareth took a second to look around making sure that he was really gone and sent his sword back to his castle's armory. He saw that Vira was weak, but resisted the temptation to hold her while at the same time working on walking evenly so no one could tell that the man's magical ball caused his leg to smash against the wall and hurt him. "Mind telling me what that was all about?" Jareth asked and then looked over at her clothing, "Can't take you anywhere can I?"

Vira chuckled a bit, "It's a very, very long story Jareth." She looked at him and could tell he was struggling. "Your leg, its hurt isn't it?" she asked. Sarah looked at them both trying to resist the urge to smirk at how close the two were getting and how protective Jareth seemed to be of Vira.

"No," Jareth answered immediately. "Now ladies since you are in no condition to be going back to a ball how about I transport us to the castle and Vira can tell us a story or two."

Vira nodded, "Yes that sounds like a plan, but first…" She looked at the leg, muttering something and healing it instantly. "Trust me Jareth; you can't hide a wound like that from me."

Tentatively Jareth tested out his newly healed leg finding that it no longer hurt him at all. His ego had already taken a hit and the fact that Vira noticed and healed him hit it again. Shaking his head slightly he put his trademark smirk on and put his arms around the two girls. They soon found themselves in the castle throne room surrounded by goblins.

Sarah looked at Vira; she knew this was not going to be the easiest thing in the world for her to look back on everything, but she was right there and Vira knew that. She smiled at Sarah then took a deep breath, "Well, I suppose the best bet would be to just start from the beginning, when I first found out about my…er...talents."

Vira started out like a normal girl, she grew and aged like everyone else. At least until she turned 18, on that fateful day was the begging of a very big life change. She woke up and it began like any other day until odd things began to happen like she could read the minds of the people she held close and when she went to wash her hands she found a beautiful but strange sapphire blue mark covering most of her right hand! Worried and shocked she grabbed a pair of lovely black gloves and used them to hide this odd mark. A few years later she was used to the mark and learned how to control the mind reading stuff, but nobody knew about her odd mark or the mind reading. That is until one day when she was at her oldest and dearest friend, Brom's house listening to one of his famous stories about shurtugals, but then her glove fell off! He told her that she had become one of the shurtugals like in his stories! Vira asked him to teach her everything he knew and he agreed, but when an evil man called Damion found out about Vira, the last shurtugal, she was forced to leave her home and stay on the run.

Brom followed her everywhere teaching her how to fight and use her magic until one dreadful night when Damion and his raz'ac caught up with them. Damion was hiding when he fired a flaming arrow right at Vira. Since Brom knew she was the only one strong enough to kill Damion once and for all he jumped in front of the arrow and saved her. The raz'ac and Damion retreated and because Vira was so new at being a shurtugal she was not strong enough to heal him, but because of what Damion had done she worked hard at her magic and swordsmanship and challenged him; the battle went on for hours! After he had finally given her one scar on her leg she turned and stabbed him, killing the evil Damion once and for all or so they thought.

During Vira's tale Jareth made himself comfortable on his throne propping his legs up on a goblin in front of him. He listened closely trying to see if he recognized anyone, but unfortunately had never heard of the shurtugals or raz'acs. "So this Damion will keep coming after you?" Jareth asked mostly to himself. "Fine then, I'll have a few goblins keep watch; they are always watching Sarah anyway."

Vira nodded though she really didn't want to put him in any more danger. She knew there was no arguing with him; then Sarah heard that last bit. "Hey, wait a second," she sighed, "Why am I not surprised?" Vira couldn't help but laugh.

Jareth smirked and shrugged, "You will always belong to me Sarah and I would not let you go unsupervised." He glanced over at Vira and continued, "And since you are so fond of this girl it would not do well for me to allow her to be harmed."

"No comment," she said, chuckling. Vira sighed and tried not to chuckle again, but failed and ended up laughing.

Jareth pretended to be angry and said in a harsh tone, "Well if you are just going to stand there laughing like idiotic goblins you can both return to the aboveground."

Sarah looked at him, "Jareth, you should know by now when we're just giving you a hard time."

The smirk returned to Jareth's face, "And you should know by now when I am only toying with you. Ladies, since you've ruined my plans is there anything that you would like to do while underground?"

"Well, I'm actually having a good time just relaxing here catching up. I mean, it has been a while," Sarah said.

Vira nodded, "That it has."

"As you wish," Jareth replied calling for his goblins to bring some ale for himself and the girls. "Although I know everything that has been happening to you aboveground," he said with an evil grin.

Sarah chuckled, "Well, You know everything that's happened to me. Vira, however you don't really; you don't know what she did when she wasn't with me, because you were watching me not her."

Jareth nodded slightly, "True, I don't what she has been doing. So tell me Vira, what are you doing when you are not with Sarah?"

Vira chuckled, "Not much for the most part I just sort of watch the classic films at my house, and practice my step so that I can make sure I remain the one and only queen of the Irish step."

Sarah nodded, "And that you have, I'd like to see one of those O'Rileys beat you at Thunder and lightning!"

"Though you're not half bad at it yourself Sarah, you're doing quite well since I started teaching you."

"Irish step?" Jareth asked with an eyebrow raised. "Show me, it will be most entertaining."

Sara even smirked at this one, "Well Vira, it seems you've got to show the goblin king just why they call you the queen of the step."

"It seems I do Sarah and I will be happy to do so," she said smiling, "but I will need your help."

Sarah smiled standing, "I'm not as good as you, but I will try my best." The two were soon ready and it began. It was a dance, but anyone could tell by the speed of the steps and how still just about everything but your feet had to stay it was in no way an easy dance to learn or master.

The goblins in the throne room watched along with the king in fascination. Many of the goblins got up and tried to copy the dance, but ended up tripping over each other instead. Jareth barely hid a smile as he watched the girls dance. Although he would never admit it there was some things that he would never be any good at and this was most definitely one of them.

The girls finished back to back breathing heavy, but laughing too. Anyone could tell in their faces they had a ball. Sarah chuckled, "Like I said they don't call Vi the one and only queen of the step for nothing."

Jareth smirked, "Well my queen, that was quite amusing and you will have to teach my goblins to do it properly without destroying my throne room."

Vira smiled "I would love to teach them and you as well, believe me it took me quite some time and hours of practice to get as good as I am today."

"It's midnight," Jareth commented looking at the clock that read 13:00. "Perhaps you girls should get your beauty rest." He noticed that the dancing had worn all of his goblins out and they were sleeping peacefully at random spots on the floor.

The girls nodded; Sarah couldn't help but yawn. "Yes, I believe we should, it's been a long day," Vira said.

Jareth got up from his throne moving close to the two girls turning toward Sarah, "A kiss goodnight perhaps?"

Sarah sighed. "You do try," she said chuckling, but did hug him, "Goodnight." Vira smiled, she had to admit it was good to see those two as such good friends.

With a slight pout he turned to Vira, "How about from you then?"

Sarah chuckled; Vira could not help but blush a bit, but she did kiss him gently once, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight ladies," he responded happy that he got a kiss. With a wave of his hand he sent the two girls back home to the aboveground. He decided to head to his own bedroom and lay on his bed spinning a crystal in his hand which soon showed him the two girls. He could never get to sleep without watching them for at least a little while.