I paused at the end of the hall, seeing that it ended with a single opening leading to somewhere within the castle. Zem continued walking until she noticed that I'd stopped. She faced me with understanding showing from her veiled eyes.
"My Lady, you must proceed through there to meet the king as he has wished. I cannot go past the entry presently, but if you shall need me just say my name." She held a slender hand out toward the opening as I started walking again. I passed her, glancing down at the nice face of the Teg, and smiled before stepping past the threshold.
The narrow tan walls twisted and bent around me, while the faint sconces lighting my way threatened to blink out if I took too harsh a breath. A rumble sounded from the walls like it was growling at me. I sped up, not wanting to see what would happen if I were too stay in the hall for too long. When I quickened my pace, the lights began to dim even more. Finally, I stumbled around a corner and saw the exit, but by then the dying fires went out one by one, following the hall to the exit. I hurried, not wanting to get caught in the dark. I knew I was getting closer to the end, but it still seemed so far away. With every step I took, the hall grew another foot, distancing me farther and father away from my goal. I was practically running when a rush of cool air caressed my face. I looked behind me to see that the hall was pitch black and heard a mocking rumble come from it. It was laughing at me.
With anger set in my heart, I faced forward to try to forget about the teasing hallway and forget I did. Before me was a room bright with reflected light. Each wall was made of mirrored glass and a few sections were covered by beautiful curtains. I walked over to the closest one to me and felt it between my fingers. It was a silky black material, but if I turned it in a certain way in the light, another color showed through as if the curtain was fabricated oil. I let go of the curtain and ran my hand along the mirror-wall. The reflection of me was even more breathtaking in this sweet light, though there was something wrong with the image. Ripples ran through the glass starting where my hand touched it. As the water-like ripples waved through the image changed.
Now before me was a living scene of the edge of a dark forest leading to the beach of a lovely body of water. Playing on the warm sand were strange creatures with ornate scales on their tails and other parts of their bodies. Laughter came from one of the many females as a male had flopped up behind her and kissed her neck. The woman had turned to the male, smiling and kissed him on his lips, lifting her orange tail in happiness. The male responded by kissing back with all his might. The rest of the group, I noticed, was looking in my direction, though I wasn't sure if they were looking at me or something else.
"Good morrow, lady. Would you like to join us, merpeople?" A male with a sea blue tail asked. "The day is so nice and pleasant for a lady as lovely as you." He ran his blue scaled hand through his lengthy foam green hair.
"Yes, lady!" A pink scaled woman chimed. "Come with us. I'm sure we could find a way for you to play in our games." I watched at all the different half-fish half-human creatures on the other side of the glass. I had actually wanted to take up their offer, but I didn't think that I could walk through glass. I looked at the ones calling for me. "Just step through, lady. It's a magical transportation device that could take you anywhere you can think of." The pink woman said, answering my question. I thought about their offer for a bit long and decided to go through, when a hand slipped around my waist and a light voice began speaking.
"I'm afraid that she'll have to visit some other time, dear People of the Waters. She's quite busy with me, but I'll see to it that she'll indeed stop by." The Goblin King said. Kill joy. I thought.
"Of course, Goblin King. Good luck with him, Lady Williams. You'll need it." The orange woman said.
The king smirked. "Thank you, Queen Portia. Until next time." He slightly bowed as she returned the motion before the image phased away, showing me again with a new form next to me.
I stared at the reflection of the king, though I stayed away from his eyes. I noticed that he had on what my dreams would have him in: a poet's tunic tucked into fitted breeches, his riding boots, fitted gloves, and his glorious medallion. I suddenly became very aware of the hand wrapped around my waist after seeing it look so relaxed there in the mirror's reflection. I stepped away, slipping out of his hold.
"Good afternoon, Goblin King." I said without emotion.
"I'd say good afternoon to you as well, though it has been anything but good today." He answered.
Crap. He's mad that I'm here. "I'm sorry."
"Now why would you be sorry?"
"I... don't want to answer that if it's all the same, Goblin King." I saw his feet shuffle a bit.
"I see. Sarah," he started with question in his light voice, "...would you do me two favors?"
I thought about that. Might as well. I'm going to die soon anyway. "Yes?"
"I want you to look at least look at me. You've been trying to avoid visual contact with me and I grow tired of looking at the top of your head. It's lovely, but I'd rather see your face."
Yeah, I thought, so you can see my grimaced face when you decide to kill me.
"And call me by my name. All my other subjects use my title or something like it and the last thing I want to hear is it used by your lips."
I looked up, bewildered that he'd actually want me to talk to him as if he were an equal to me. "I... I'll do my best to please you... Jareth." Feeling his name roll of my tongue sent pleasurable shivers down my spine.
"Thank you, Sarah. Now I called you here because you have some questions, yes?"
I nodded. "I need to ask you about Toby's and my stay here. How is it going to effect Aboveground with us not there?"
"Time here goes by differently. Should you want to go back after, let's say, staying a six days, only six hours have passed. Also, you don't age here, so no human would notice that you'd ever left. Unless a child here wants to grow, then they can naturally age to a certain physical age."
I absorbed that in and asked another question. "Because of my wish, how long are we going to stay here?"
Jareth looked into my eyes before turning away, facing a mirror. His reflected eyes suddenly looked so sad. "I cannot determine that. You wish was along the lines of personal needs. Who knows how long that could take before both of you are finally happy. It'll depend on you and your brother."
How could I be happy with the emanate threat that I could get killed? I stared at the reflection of the king. "Sir... I mean Jareth, are..." I bit my lip, wondering how to word my question. "Are you... angered by anything?"
His mirrored eyes bore into mine. "I am, but I don't think you'd understand. This anger I feel is beyond what I can bare, but I must keep it in otherwise those close to me could perish."
"What's causing your anger?" I had a feeling that I was a part of his problems.
"A single damned person is, Sarah. It's amazing how much she can threaten me so. Even the faint thought about her causes my mind to be succumbed to chaos. She's bothered me before, but now she's done the worst possible way to take what I can't give." He looked at me the whole time he spoke. I could see flames in his eyes and the twitch of anger in his lips.
"I'm sorry, Jareth." I started to tremble. He's talking about me, I knew it, but what could I do to get away so he won't be inclined to destroy me.
He stepped up toward me, invading my personal space, but I didn't move as my vision strayed at his mismatched eyes. "Now what are you sorry for, Sarah?"
I croaked. "For being such... such a bother to you. I've done nothing but... take from you and never give back."
A grin played on his lips. "That is true," he spoke softly, "but I'll find a way for you to return what you have taken."
Yeah. The price? My life.
"For now, though," he continued, "I'll just keep you and your darling brother company."
"What company could we be to you?"
"Plenty." I felt his hand brush along my bare shoulders.
I took a sudden intake of breath and held it. What is he doing? Does he plan to use me before taking my life? I looked at his eyes, covered over with a wall blocking an emotion. No! I'm not going to let this happen! I've got to get Toby and myself out of here! I stepped away, glaring at Jareth, and bolted as best as I could in a dress down the dark hall. I followed the walls and found the entrance. With new vigor, I sped past the frame and Zem, who looked temporarily dazed, but she easily caught up with me.
"My lady, what's wrong? Where are you going?" Zem said as if she were simply walking.
"Away, Zem. I never meant to come back here. For years, I knew that Jareth was sore about me defeating him and his Labyrinth. He'll kill me, Zem, and possibly Toby as well. I need to get away from here."
"But my lady, you can't. You're tied to the Underground by your wish. You have no choice but to stay here."
"No? There are other places in the Underground I can go to as long as it's not here." I stopped moving. "I need your help to escape, Zem."
"But Lady Williams..."
"Please, Zem." I begged.
"I..."
"Please! I order you as your master to help my brother and I escape."
Zem looked defeated then and hung her head. "Yes, lady. Come, we'll get some things you'll need outside the Labyrinth walls."
...
I looked through the glassless window, watching an owl fly away from the castle, waiting for Toby to finish packing his things. Dusk was coming. The time for us to leave was nigh. Zem had just come back from gathering up some food to take with us on our trip.
"Are we really leaving?" I heard Toby ask softly.
"Yes, Master Williams. It is your sister's choice and reasons." Zem said just as softly.
"But I like it here. I was happy playing with my new friends and meeting new creatures and learning things my teachers back at school made boring." Toby quietly whined.
"I understand, Master Williams, but your sister needs time to realize what will make her happy. That is the reason you're here. If both of you can't find what you're looking for, you'd be stuck here forever and change into a fae."
"I want to get stuck here then! I like it here. It's not fair."
I turned, tired of hearing them talk behind me. "It's never fair, Toby! It's not fair that mom and dad died. It's not fair that you have be here. It's not fair that I might die if I stay here for too long. It's not fair that I completed the Labyrinth!" I was shaking uncontrollably. I watched the little boy in front of me stand still, staring at me with awe. Zem made the first move and sat me down on my bed then sat Toby in a chair across from me. I could see a single tear slip from Toby's eye when he looked down at his feet.
"I know it's not fair, Sarah. I didn't mean to anger you. I understand that if we have to leave, then we'll leave." He sniffled a bit. My heart broke into pieces. I had just yelled at my brother for the first time in years. I fell to my knees and embraced him tightly, murmuring my apologies and promises to never do yell again. He hugged me back, crying softly. I never ever want to hurt him like that again. He's the only thing I lived for. If I lost him, I'd lose myself.
"Milady and master?" Zem spoke. "Now is the time to leave."
I turned around on my knees to look at the Teg. "Thank you, Zem. You have been a good friend even though I haven't been."
Her veiled eyes blinked. "A friend? You consider me... a friend? A noble..." She wandered off in her thoughts. "I've always been property to those above me. I've never been a friend to one." She stared at Toby and me, smiling. "If I'm a friend, then I have to say something before you leave." She paused, taking a breath. "You have to know that if you leave, his majesty will be hurt."
I scoffed. "Why should I care? The last time I was here I had gone through dangers untold." I said with acid, remembering the monologue from my once favorite script. "No," I finalized, "I'm not staying here because a fae wants to be pleased." I stood up and looked over at Toby. "I just don't want us to get hurt and the Goblin King doesn't have my trust." I sighed. "At least, not yet he doesn't. Anyway, I have my friends waiting outside. They'll take us to the farthest reaches of the Labyrinth Realm. There, I'll make sure that we go our way."
I hope that we'll be out of the borders by the time Jareth realizes that we're gone.
The Teg looked solemnly at me and shook her head. "But you don't understand. He wants what's best for you."
I gawked at her. "What are you implying, that he actually cares for Toby and me? That everything that happened between us was only a game?" She nodded her head. I only shook mine. "You didn't hear what he told me today. He said that a woman was bothering him and that she has messed with him before. It could be me since I'm here again."
Shock ran through Zem suddenly. "My Lady, he was talking ab..."
"Enough!" I sniped, my eyes wide with how I just acted. Calmly, I started again. "I don't belong here anyway. I have to leave."
Zem lowered her head as if her veil had become a sheet of lead hanging on a wilting flower. "If my lady wishes it, then I must abide." She looked up, her eyes devoid of emotion. "Good morrow, Lady and Master Williams. I hope to see you again." With that she turned and left us in my room.
A hand tugged on my pants. "Sarah, where would we sleep?"
I took Toby's hands in mine. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, okay?"
"Okay, but, Sarah? I don't want to leave."
I sighed. "I know, but..." I looked at Toby's eyes, one pupil seemed smaller than the other or was the other one larger. Fear welled up inside of me. "Let's go, Toby, before anything happens. Hoggle should be here by now." I stood up and gathered the rest of our things, stuffing them in our packs.
Toby still had the boots on, but he traded the nice tunic for something travel worthy, though I still could have sworn that my brother was a mini Jareth. I looked at my own clothes. I had to ask Zem to retrieve me some pants and a decent shirt. Sadly though, my clothes came from the Goblin King's wardrobe. I had to admit that the tights weren't bad at all, but the shirt. Well, I had to tailor it so my own chest wouldn't be revealed.
A knock sounded from the door. The doors hissed as I approached, but instead of backing away, I pet the door, talking softly. "Allow the guest to come in, please?"
The door's hissing subsided and began to open. Before I moved away, one of the metal snakes nuzzled my hand. I backed away to see who was on the other side. A dwarf as tall as a Teg but more rugged looking stood behind a great shaggy dog, slobbering on the stone floors. Atop the dog was a fox-like creature, white hair with age and covered in many battle scars, but energetic with loyalty and conduct. Finally, behind all of them was a large red haired beast with fangs sticking out fearfully from his wide smiling mouth.
"Sawah!" Ludo exclaimed. "Sawah back. Fwiend back."
"Yes, Brother Ludo, the Lady hath returned," Sir Didymus said, "But it is our duty to escort the Lady and her brother away from hither."
"Wow!" Toby jumped from his chair and ran to the dwarf. "Hi! Are you my sister's friends? The ones she told me about?"
"Sarah talked about us?" Hoggle blushed. "Aw, she didn't have to go and do that."
Ludo sauntered up to Toby. "Fwiend?"
"Yes, friend! I'm Toby!"
Ludo grinned. "Toby fwiend." He gave Toby a hug. I started smiling when I couldn't see Toby among the thick red fur, but then remembered the reason why they were here.
"Guys, we have to get out of here before the Goblin King finds out. We must make haste."
"We'll take you, my Lady." Sir Didymus said. "Come, while the halls are empty."
"Why are they empty?" I asked, shrugging to Toby.
"Tonight is the night when you fully completed the Labyrinth, Sarah." Hoggle answered. "The goblins liked having you around that they declared this night a holiday and that rat, Jareth, had to oblige."
"Oh." That was all I could say. No words came up that could have responded to that.
"Yeah, the festival is nice and all the food that the goblins make is pretty good. The main food that they use though is, well, peaches." Hoggle said shyly. "Sliced peaches, stuffed peaches, peach pie, sauteed peaches. It's very interesting to see the different things one can do with that cursed fruit."
"Nice!" Toby chirped hungrily.
I rolled my eyes. "No, Tobes. We have to get going."
Toby hung his head and acted like he was sniffing sadly. "I know." He looked up with such a puppy face that I could have let him go to the festival, but the thing he never knew is that I'm sometimes immune to that look.
I knelt down, making sure that I looked like I was about to say yes and held his chin in my hand. "Aw, wittle Tobes wants to go to the party?" He nodded, still with his lip sticking out. I laughed. "Maybe next time, Tobes." I let go and watched him kick at the dust again. I turned to my friends. "Let's go."
