Do I honestly have to say it? I think its pretty obvious that I don't own Labyrinth, don't you agree?
Descent into Darkness
Chapter 2
"Sarah, whats going on?" Toby demanded.
"Such a pity," a soft, unfamiliar voice called out from behind them.
Sarah and Toby turned around to find the speaker. There, sitting on the chair beside the vanity, was a woman. She was dressed completely in black, from her high collared cape to the pointy black boots that stuck out from under her flowing gown. She had curly black hair, swept up into a messy bun at the top of her head. Although she was sitting, Sarah could tell that she was tall. She was very beautiful, but her beauty seemed artificial. She seemed so cold, her pale eyes radiated no warmth, no sympathy.
"Who-who are you?"Sarah stammered.
"I am Aria, Queen of the Goblins, and master of the Labyrinth" the strange woman said in a husky voice.
"What happened to Jareth?"Sarah asked.
"Ah, Jareth. My dear cousin. He's decided to pursue, shall we say, and early retirement."
Though the idea of the Goblin King retiring seemed unusual to Sarah, she decided not to pursue it. She had far more important business to discuss with this woman. "Please give me back my daughter. She didn't know the meaning of the words,"she begged.
"I'm sure she did not. But unfortunately, what's said is said."
"No, that's not fair! You can't turn my Emily into a goblin!"
The woman gave low chuckle. "Not to worry, your daughter is far too old to become a goblin. I'll merely... make her my slave for all eternity. That's not so bad, is it?"
"Isn't there something I can do?" Sarah shrieked, starting to get hysterical.
"I'm afraid not, dear lady," Aria said, shaking her magnificent dark curls. She stood and made her way to the window.
"Wait!" Sarah called out," let me run the labyrinth!"
The dark woman halted."Beg pardon?"
"Let me run the Labyrinth," she repeated.
"Foolish mortal, you can not be serious!" She laughed, an unpleasant sound that sent chills down Sarah's spine.
"Why not? I've beaten it before, and I can do it again," Sarah said, more bravely than she felt.
"Don't insult my intelligence, girl. I may look young, but I have lived a dozen of your lifetimes. I know for a fact that only one person has ever beaten the Labyrinth."
"That was me," Sarah said, unable to hide the smarmy satisfaction she felt.
Aria whirled around to face her, her silvery blue eyes wide. "YOU are Sarah Williams, defeater of the Labyrinth, and conquerer of the Goblin king's heart?"
Sarah was greatful for the darkness, because at Aria's last words, her face grew hot. " Thats me."
The queen looked thoughtful for a moment, then a wicked smile formed upon her thin lips.
"Very well, girl. You may run the Labyrinth for your daughter's freedom. But be warned: the Labyrinth has changed since your time. My rule has brought back the monsters that originally roamed the Labyrinth, the monsters that my foolish uncle banished centuries ago. The chances of your survival are slim."
"I don't care. I just want my daughter back."
"Very well. You have 13 hours to run my Labyrinth and reach my castle, or your daughter becomes mine forever."
Sarah nodded, her heart doing flips in her chest.
"Sarah, wait!" Toby said, finding his voice at last. He had been standing there, gaping open mouthed at the stranger,"Let me go with you."
"No Toby. I have to do this alone." Sarah said, shaking her head vigorously.
"Sarah, I'm not letting you do this alone! She said it would be dangerous!"
"Which is why you're not going!"
"Sarah, you're not going alone!"
"Okay, fine. May my brother accompany me?" Sarah wouldn't admit it, but she would be glad to have company.
Aria studied Toby for a moment. A smirk crossed her lips as she took in every aspect of the young man before her, from his blonde curls, to his well fitted t-shirt, to his baggy jeans and black boots. "Very well," Aria said, "If you both will come with me?" she asked, gesturing out the window. Suddenly, the three of them were standing on the hill outside the Labyrinth.
"So thats the Labyrinth. It doesn't look so hard," Toby scoffed. Sarah admired his bravery, because to her, the Labyrinth looked positively terrifying. She had hoped for so long that she would never have to look at it again.
Aria pointed to a familiar clock that was floating in midair."You have 13 hours to complete the Labyrinth. And you must both reached the castle, or you are disqualified, and all three of you become mine forever, to do with as I please."
"All three of us? When did that become the deal?" Toby demanded.
"When you joined the group, young Toby," she said, her eyes flicking up him again.
And with that, she vanished. Sarah looked at Toby. "Well, lets get started.
A/N: I'm going to get the next chapter up soon. I'm planning to develop my characters a bit more this time around.