The door slammed shut making me jump and Sophie scream. Laughter was
echoing from different parts of the room, scaring her even more. Lightning flashed and a big white owl started scratching at the lock on the window, trying to get in.
"Sophie, stay behind me." I told her
The owl burst in, causing the window to slam open. I held Sophie behind me protectively as a long shadow began to grow on the floor. Glitter flew threw the air as the owl transformed, turning into none other than the Goblin King himself.
"Y...You're the Goblin King! Aren't you?" Sophie whispered, peeking over my shoulder.
"Nah...It's the Easter Bunny." I rolled my eyes," Of course it's the Goblin King! You wished our brother away! Who else would it be!?"
Jareth smirked and Sophie winced at my tone. I was furious that she'd been so careless. I sighed in frustration. We didn't have time for this nonsense.
"Look, " I said, taking a step closer to him, "My sister was being really stupid. She didn't mean it. So will you please just give us back our brother?"
Jareth looked at me for a moment, his mismatched eyes calculating. He then looked at Sophie and back to me, smirking again, "What's said is said. Now girls, go down stairs, watch your movies and play in your costumes. Forget the baby."
I glared at him, then looked back at Sophie. She was stiff and her eyes were glazed over as if she were in a trance. I had no tolerance for goblin tricks.
"Not a chance." I snarled.
He arched an eyebrow at me and held out a crystal. It was much more beautiful than my glass orbs
, and was definitely much more valuable. "But look, I've brought you a gift. It's just a crystal, but if you turn it this way and look into it, it will show you your dreams. If you want it, then forget abut the baby."
I was horrified when Sophie actually started to reach for it. I smacked Her hand way and stood firm, "Not. Interested. If it was really a gift, we wouldn't have to do anything for it."
"Cassandra." He warned and turned the crystal into a snake." Do not defy me."
He threw the snake at me but I caught it and wrapped it around my neck, my green eyes locked on his. This seemed to catch him off guard because his eyes widened in surprise.
"It's nothing about defiance. We just want our brother back." I said, throwing the snake back at him. It turned into a harmless scarf it moment it touched his armored chest and fell to the floor.
"You have fire." He said. "I'll give you that."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, can we move this along?" I asked impatiently, "We want our brother back and she sucks at mazes so she won't be running the labyrinth."
"You seem to be the one that wants him back." Jareth said, "So it is you who will face my labyrinth."
"What?!" Sophie whined, "But I want to go too!"
"No."I told her," Like I said, you suck at mazes. And riddles...And running for that matter. I'll go. Besides, someone needs to stay here in case Mom and Adam get home before I do."
She muttered something under her breath but I knew she knew I was right. She was only twelve. She couldn't solve difficult mazes or riddles yet and she didn't exercise. If she went into the labyrinth, best case she wouldn't make it in time. Worst case she wouldn't make it at all. I was not about to risk losing another sibling to this guy.
"Okay..."She grumbled, eaving the room,"But wait here a second."
Jareth looked at me, confused and I just shrugged. I had no idea what she was doing. Sophie ran back in with a little red book in her hands. It had been Dad's before he died. She handed me the book and my leather purse. I put the purse on and tucked the book safely inside with whatever else she had put in in. At first glance, I could see my glass orbs, a poptart, a candy bar, and a bottle of water.
"Good luck..."She whispered and I nodded, hugging her tightly.
"If Mom and Adam get home first, tell them that Milo had been fussy so I took him for a walk."
She nodded and pulled back. I turned back to the window to find myself outside on a hill, next to Jareth overlooking the infamous labyrinth.