Under the Ruby Trees
By Shimya
Inspired by The Labyrinth, which is copyrighted, and not by me!
Chapter Ten
"With the Elves? At a time like this?" Morrigan scolded Jareth as he stood before her in her throne room. "Do you realize how close I am to my prize? How could I trust you with our arrangement if you go running around with the enemy?"
"Because I'm still here." He stated blandly, unscathed by her yelling. "A brief visit to another kingdom does not mean I'm planning against you, no matter how much I wish I could."
"Pfft." She scoffed, "If you truly wanted me dead Jareth you would have ignored the Dalamiore and just killed me, it's not like you have much to be living for."
"The Labyrinth needs a-"
"Oh silence about the Labyrinth already! In a matter of weeks, the entirety of it will be nothing but ruins." She snapped, looking at her sharp finger nails.
"Why did you put vampyre in the Labyrinth without my permission?" Jareth brought up her treachery, knowing she would shrug it off. But what if a child had been wished away and an innocent Abovegrounder was wondering through? What if Sarah had actually died from her wounds? Her tricks were way past the point of ignoring now.
She smiled. "Oh, Jareth, please don't be angry with me. I just wanted to plant some seeds…You already agreed to let me use it, the timing is my choice, not yours."
"You should have told me."
"Why?" she coaxed, curious. "Did something happen?" She let out an exaggerated gasp, "Did a little Aboveground human get sucked into your little game and die?"
"I am the keeper of the Labyrinth. If anything goes wrong, it will not react kindly-"
"Or did something happen to your little human?" She questioned, ignoring his other remarks.
"What?" He asked, not showing his surprise. Did she know about Sarah?
"I know you have a little human servant in your castle. Who is she?" She stood, making her way toward him. He didn't move as she circled him like a cat playing with a mouse. "Is there something you need that goblins cannot provide little Fae?" She smiled, her tone suddenly becoming more seductive. She stopped behind him and wrapped her arms around him in a flirtatious manner. "I can provide you with a lot more any human can Jareth…"
He took a deep breath, trying to ignore her actions. She truly sickened him; everything about her was wicked and deceitful. In a sick way they were almost alike. Although Jareth had morals that he dare not cross, he too, was cruel to those around him, to his goblins, …to Sarah. He hurt her with his words and he knew it. He was angry at her for trying to break down his walls but most of all he was angry at himself for not being able to let her just as she started to show interest in their dysfunctional relationship. All he wanted to do was hurt something and release his tensions…
Morrigan seemed as though she was reading his mind. She kissed the back of his neck softly, her hands trailing down the front of his body finding the solution for his stress. "I can give you something better than any human slave girl can…" She whispered, nipping at his earlobe. "Have you ever been with a vampyre before Jareth?"
He had. It was an exotic experience, different from that of having a woman of any other race. Vampyre were the same between the sheets that they were in the outside world; carnivorous, rough, and dominating creatures.
However, Morrigan was more vile than any other vampyre in the Underground. Not only did she disgust him but she had power over him which made him more apt to deny her anything he was able in his situation.
"Don't touch me." he said sternly as he slapped her hand away. When he walked out of her reach, he noticed the look on her face was one of dissatisfaction. "What's her name- your human slave? If she is truly satisfying you, I should ask her secrets…."
"A human servant is not of any importance to you. And you won't go near her. I don't want you changing the only help I have around that goblin filled castle into a ravenous vampyre." He lied, thinking of a way to keep her in the dark about Sarah entirely.
But Morrigan refused to let it go.
"In going to the Elven Kingdom, it must be difficult for you to transfer yourself and another being in a matter of seconds across the border. I could think of no reasons you'd want to put your body through that strain. Perhaps it was because your little girl ran about the Labyrinth, hm?"
She began circling him again. "The Goblin City doesn't have doctors, but the elves do. Were you trying to save a desperate little girl's life?"
"Whether or not that happened, it should be of no surprise to you that I don't let people just die in my kingdom, Morrigan."
She chuckled, "No, Jareth, you wouldn't, but why the hurry? If she were just a servant you certainly wouldn't bolt through the countryside in such a short time. Please, puppet, tell me who she is?"
And then, again, like before in his courtroom, he felt a sting of pain through his head, sharp and unbearable. He fell to the ground on his knees in an instant, holding his head in his hands. It felt as though his skull was splitting and Morrigan just stood above him, her eyes intent on getting answers.
"Who is she?" She cooed, bending down to his level, watching him squirm. "You've never in all these years shown any interest in human servants. Why now? What's so special about this one?"
"Nothing!" He yelled, pain taking over his temper.
"Now now, I know you're hiding things from me. When will you learn that you can't hide anything from me?"
He got up ignoring the pain in his skull and grabbed her by her neck with a deadly grip. She fell back in surprise as he sat on top of her, both hands wrapped around her throat in a murderous rage. Blood dripped from his nose and landed on her cheek.
But instead of fighting back or ordering him to stop, she smiled up at him as his grip became tighter and tighter. "Do it." She said, struggling to get the words out. "Snap my neck, little fae. What will happen to you afterward will be a fate worse than death with the Dalamiore."
He wanted to kill her, to end everything in that instant, to prove to her and himself that he was not a creature that could be tamed and trained to follow orders. He wanted to snap her neck, it would be so easy to just tighten his grip a little more…and rip her throat out…
But he let go and just as he did, the pain in his head stopped. He wiped the blood away from his face and stood, leaving her there laughing on the marble floor of her throne room.
As he turned into an owl and headed for the open windows of the castle, Morrigan yelled back at him with confidence in her voice, "The war is starting, Jareth! I will win and everything will be mine! There is nothing you can do to stop me!"
All the while, neither of them knew or suspected that Orin had been spying on them from behind closed doors.
Sarah took a deep breath in as she rubbed a soft, wet plant across her marred skin on her neck and forearm. She was told by that doctor that such a plant would help her wounds heal quickly and help with the scarring. She watched in the mirror as she noticed it already begin to take effect. Her wounds closed in a matter of minutes, slowly, but surely, bringing dead skin cells back to life, making her body regenerate 100 times faster than it would have naturally.
Content with the effects, Sarah removed her dress in order to attempt to heal her back, which was still raw from the lashings just a week or so before. It was awkward trying to maneuver her arm around in order to get every inch of skin but she was soon interrupted with an owl flying through her window.
In a hurry, she yanked up her dress, unable to clasp it so she held it against her breasts, not wanting history to repeat itself. "Why do you keep doing that? Get out."
He became himself in an instant, looking at the scene before him. He could tell she was still angry with him for the talk they had a few hours before. And he too was angry at himself for saying the things he did, despite the fact he feared her reaction to the truth. He truly hated having no control.
"Your wounds have healed nicely." He said, voice low and still tired, she could tell.
She shot him an accusing glare before turning to the mirror. "There is all sorts of magic in this place that they could use back home."
He noticed her back was still flawed and he made his way behind her, taking the plant from the table. "Let me help you."
"Why would you want to? You're the one that ordered me to have these lashings in the first place." She said in a rude and bitter way.
"Then let me show you how sorry I am."
He rubbed the large leaflet down her back, watching her wound close completely, the scars that would have been there slowly becoming less and less visible, although still there. After a moment of silence, Sarah turned and looked at him, resentment still in her eyes. "What do you want from me?"
He was slightly taken aback by her question. What did he want? He wanted her to act like the women he knew she truly was. He wanted her to take her place in the Underground without question. He wanted her to know about how he truly felt, and…he wanted her to love him.
"Nothing." He said mildly, putting the leaflet down and making his way toward the door.
"You're a liar." She said, watching him as he stopped in mid step. "Tell me, have you ever once told the truth in your entire life?"
He smiled but only a little as he turned back toward her. "You truly have no idea the positions I find myself in, Sarah."
"Only because you keep everything secret, like if anyone knew who you were behind that mask that you hide behind then the end of the world would ensue. You try so hard to push me away but keep me close at the same time. I can't keep doing this."
"Then don't. Go home. Go to where it's safe, where you won't have to deal with anything."
"No." She said, sighing. "I don't think that's an option anymore."
"Then stop complaining." He started to turn around again but was stopped when she slammed a hand down on the vanity in front of her in frustration.
"Tell me the truth. For once, just tell me why I'm here. I know I wished myself away but it was your choice to bring me back here so tell me why you did it."
He was silent for a moment before deciding that maybe it was time to stop his games. Perhaps the consequences wouldn't go as wrong as he thought they would…
"I brought you here because I wanted to hurt you."
"Hurt me?" Her eyebrows furrowed.
"When you beat the Labyrinth, I was on the verge of collapse. My authority over the Labyrinth was questioned. I was almost removed from my position as the Goblin King. I almost lost everything."
She didn't say anything, just listened, feeling slightly guilty.
"And…" He began, unsure, "you rejected me, Sarah. I offered you everything you could possibly want and you said no."
She met his eyes. This time they a mirrored something she had never seen in him before; sadness. Deep unhappiness, rooted to his core. It wasn't game of wits that he had actually lost the first time she was here, but a game of the heart, something she had never stopped to really realize. It was never about that, not then. She didn't want to reject her dreams, her wishes…she did it for Toby…
"I didn't mean to reject…everything.." She said quietly, "I just thought that you didn't want to lose. You're so domineering, Jareth. I thought all you wanted was to beat me, to take Toby!" Her tone strengthened and turned into a shout.
"You know nothing!" He yelled back at her, his voice harsh. "You are blind to everything in this place! Don't you see that the reason I offered you your dreams was to keep you here because the Labyrinth chose you? Toby was never a part of it, Sarah, it was all about you! From the beginning, it was a test for you!"
He lost it, finally, his emotions flaring out wildly in his body language, in his voice, on his face. His temper flared and his heart ached while she stood there, her eyes wide from realization. How could she have been so blind, she thought. How could she not see it all laid out before her?
"Did I…hurt you?" She asked, unknown to what she was feeling.
He said nothing, didn't meet her gaze, a fear in his gut. What had he just done?
She neared him, her dress still only being held up by a hand. With her other hand, she touched his cheek, as if seeing him as a completely different person. When she pulled his eyes to her, the words that escaped her lips surprised him. "I didn't reject you because I didn't want to be a part of this. I wanted to be a part of this place more than anything, Jareth. Look around- everything this place is, everything it represents was all I thought about as a child, it was my escape from a world I knew I didn't belong in. I wanted so badly to accept your offer, to be here, where magic and monsters are real; where everything that exists seems as though it hopped right out of a fairy tale book. But I couldn't. I wished Toby away- I abandoned him- me staying here would have been the same thing. It was the first adult decision I made, the only one I'd ever made. It had to be done."
She sighed, as if a weight had been lifted. "I never wanted to hurt you. I didn't even think I could…"
And what happened next surprised him even more. Her lips met his in a soft and light kiss. It wasn't a kiss of pity or regret, but a kiss filled with repentant feeling. He kissed her back, being bold enough as to wrap his arms around her in a loving way.
I wanna know what you really think of me,
I wanna feel all the pain that sets you free.
These waves of doubt are drowning me,
Gone are the days when this was easy.
She didn't fight him, didn't move, and only leaned into his body, dropping her dress in focusing on his lips. He moved his mouth to her cheek and then down her neck, pressing her against him, the feelings between them morphing into wanting. He wanted more than her kiss. She wanted more than his embrace.
Buried in the past- so many moments I want back
Tomorrow doesn't hold onto yesterday
He picked her up then, her dress slipping completely off and down to the floor. He rested her on her bed, never letting his lips leave her neck. It was almost unbearable to the both of them when he pulled away to remove his clothes. When he hovered above her, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glazed over with lust, she pulled him close, their skin touching, her fingers wrapping in his hair as his kisses rained down her chest.
If I fall back into you,
Don't fight it, don't fight it.
Show me what we've got to lose,
Don't hide it, don't hide it.
Memories stuck in my head
All the things I should have said…
If I fall back into you,
Don't fight it, don't fight it.
Sarah let out small and quiet moans as his mouth grazed over her breasts, his hands wandering to every inch of her form. He wanted to take her all in, kiss every area of her body, and claim her as his own. Slowly and carefully, he opened her legs and slipped his finger into her, feeling exactly how much she truly did want him. She ran her hands down his back, wanting nothing more than for her to take her.
I wanna know after all these lessons learned,
If there's a road from these the bridges the we've burned.
I need to know if you still want me,
Want to me show how much I need you.
"Do you want this?" He asked her, his breath heavy, as if he was making himself ask her. He wanted her to know what she was doing, wanted her to make sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
"Yes." She breathed, "I want this. I want you." She kissed him again, enveloping his lips, feeling his tongue wrap around hers in the passion.
Buried in the past so many moments I want back,
Tomorrow doesn't hold onto yesterday.
His fingers moved inside her for a moment longer as she moaned under his kisses. Part of him wanted to play with her there, truly take in the moment, dominate her, and make her know what she had given up. But that wasn't who he was right now. He loved her. He wanted to show her.
Buried in the past so many moments I want back
Tomorrow doesn't hold onto yesterday
And then he entered her as she took in a sharp breath, the feeling enveloping her body. It had been so long since she was touched, so long since a man had given her this special bliss. He seemed to fill her, his kisses never stopping as he pushed into her. She was his, for this moment. She was finally his.
If you come right back to me,
I won't fight it, I won't fight it.
Show me what you need from me,
Don't hide it, don't hide it.
She moaned as their hands intertwined above her head and he gave her everything she wanted in that moment. The sound of his heavy breathing, the feeling of him inside her, the pleasure from his lips on her taunt breasts, it all felt so right. He too was encased in his own heaven, his Sarah, his beautiful Sarah, beneath him as he made sweet love to her…
If I fall back into you
Don't fight it, don't fight it
Show me what we've got to lose
Don't hide it, don't hide it
Memories stuck in my head
All the things I should have said
If I fall back into you
Don't fight it, don't fight it…
Marielle stood there in the lobby entrance of her new home, an ugly goblin that called herself Ursula standing in front of her, not allowing her to pass. It gave her an angry look, its arms crossed, foot patting, and teeth morphed into a despicable little smile.
"Are ye here for me?" She said, beady black eyes twinkling with mischief. "Lord Jareth promised me a baby, but I think ye will do fine…"
"You are not going to eat me." Marielle said in a 'as-a-matter-of-factly' tone. She too crossed her arms, unwilling to back down to the goblin. "You are two feet tall. It is simply irrational to think you could take me down."
Ursula cackled. "There are hundreds of meeee and only one of yooooou."
Countless giggles filled the seemingly empty hall. Marielle looked around, starting to feel less brave. "You wouldn't…"
And then it seemed that the walls burst open with Goblins. They appeared out of nowhere, jumping across the halls, hopping over her shoulders, pinching her legs, pulling her hair, laughing out in chaos! And then, she smacked one, right out of the air- smacked it, and it fell to the floor, everything coming to stop…
All the others looked at their fallen comrade and went to his side as she watched, still slightly frightened. Ursula looked at him and looked then to her, "You killed him!" She pointed, screaming. "You killed little Jawsy! You killed him!"
"No- no I didn't! I didn't kill anyone! That little thing attacked me!" She yelled back, getting frustrated. She neared the motionless little body and poked him but it did nothing. "Oh my…" She said, feeling guilty. "I did kill him…" She crouched down and picked it up, but as soon as she stood, he jumped from her arms and landed on her head, pulling her short brown hair and yanking on her scalp as they all shouted with chaotic glee. "Let go of me you nasty little creature! Get off me!"
Then suddenly, the doors opened and a man waltzed in, all the goblins going completely silent before bolting away, leaving Marielle alone. She looked at him, almost wanting to thank him for making the pests leave, until she noticed who he was.
Orin scowled at her, shaking his head. "Another one? Hopefully you have more manners than that other woman, tripping over her own feet and bumping into people…"
At first, Marielle was unable to move, immobile from a twinge of fear. Her memories shot back to when she was forced to take the Mark of Blood, losing her humanity. She recognized the very same man before her, a vampyre that worked with the Queen, a member of the court. She wanted to run from him, to call for help, not wanting to go back to that place, not wanting to be turned again!
"Well, are you going to take me to your master?" He asked, demanding her attention.
Marielle snapped out of her daze and nodded, bowing her head, not looking him in the eye- it was the manners of a slave and for a moment, she almost forgot what her job was. "Yes…" She turned, about to lead him to the throne room but was unable to direct even herself. She had just gotten there the same morning…where was the throne room? She took a few steps forward and then looked down the halls…
"Do you even know what you're doing?" Orin asked, impatient.
"I just…ah…I think Lord Jareth is resting…" She stuttered, bowing to him again. "I could pass on a message if you have one?"
Orin pushed her aside, and called out to the Goblin King, "Jareth! I need to speak with you immediately Goblin King!"
There was no sign of him after a moment and he turned back to the slave girl. "The only message I want you to pass along to your King is that reckoning is coming to him unless he speaks with me immediately!"
"Now, now, there is no need to yell at her, Orin." Jareth said, coming down the stairs with a hint of agitation in his voice. "She's just a girl, she can only do so much…"
Marielle bowed to Jareth respectfully, "I-I'm sorry, King, I didn't know where your throne room was…and I was unable to direct the councilman appropriately. I will take on whatever punishment my behavior has brought onto me with dignity…"
Orin scoffed at her comments, "Give her to me- I think that'll be punishment enough for her stupidity…"
"Leave us." Jareth said to Marielle, letting the girl scurry off upstairs to look for Sarah. Orin watched her shaking his head and giving Jareth a smile, "It's not in your nature to be heartless, is it?"
"I don't know what you mean." He replied, leading the traitorous vampyre to his throne room. "It's very bold of you to show up here. The other royals want your head because of that little scene yesterday. I am of mind to call them to fetch you…" He said, sitting down in his chair.
Orin laughed, "Oh really? And what would they do to you if they knew the truth about you and Morrigan?"
Jareth said nothing, shooting Orin a glare. "You should watch what you say in my kingdom Orin- it is very unwise to accuse me of treason against the Underground in my own domain."
"I never pegged you for a murderer, Jareth. Which is why I'm so curious as to why you're helping my dear Lady Queen by planting underlings in your Labyrinth."
"There are vampyre in my Labyrinth?"
Orin laughed again, exaggerating his amusement, "You could drop the façade, Fae. I heard the two of you- I know about your involvement. I could tell the royals about how you've been taking orders from her for a while now, planning the entire war without so much as a warning. I'm sure they'd let me keep my head if I gave them you."
Jareth was silent for a moment, thinking about his predicament. It was true, if he were to tell them, he would be done for, assuming they believed him and assuming he was even able to spill his information before Jareth could rid of him….
"Does Morrigan know you're-"
"No." Orin stated, "Morrigan has no idea I'm here, let alone that I know about your little pact. The Dalamiore, Jareth? How did you manage to get wrapped into such a devious web?"
"What do you want form me, Orin? Wealth? Power? I can't provide you with anything you don't already have."
"On the contrary, King. Morrigan says that after she's won, she will make me her King and allow me to rule by her side. I know this isn't true. I have come to the realization that her use for me has almost no value now and I have a feeling she will try to rid of me. But you see, with your assistance, I could rid of her before the war can even have a chance to leave the home front."
Jareth smiled, amused. "You want to kill her and look like the hero of the Underground?"
"I would need you to be a witness, of course. Perhaps, after I've taken care of her, we could tell the council about this meeting. Tell them that you gave me a chance to explain my behavior to you and we came up with this plan secretly, as to avoid any obstruction. Once I've murdered her and controlled her underlings, I'll destroy them as a matter of goodwill- the war will be over." Orin smiled again, getting cocky.
"And? What else is in it for you, Orin? So, you'd be a hero- maybe offered pardon for your crimes, but nothing more. What else do you want from this deal?"
He licked his lips with excitement, "I need your vote to be the new King of the North."
"You want to be King of Vibanae? You?" Jareth laughed, more amused at his insane idea now more than he had been to begin with.
"They will need a leader in such a time of hardship. Who better than the Hero of the Underground?" He scowled, not liking the taunting he was getting from the Goblin King.
"And how do you suppose you'll kill Morrigan, Orin? How will you set this all in motion?"
"Simple. I will kill her in her sleep- an easy task for someone she gives herself to every night." He said as if he was gloating.
"She gives herself to you? Really? I would think it would be you giving yourself to her…" Jareth smiled.
Orin glared at him. "Or, we can always just keep going on with how things are- I'll just go into hiding until she loses, or wins, whichever happens doesn't much matter to me- I'll find my place in either scenario."
Jareth took a deep breath and thought a moment, a finger to his lips. If he were to succeed, and it was very slim that he would, then he would be free- his pact with Morrigan completely forgotten. The Dalamiore would disappear if she were dead, the rules just stated that he could not commit the act. Everything would go back to normal…
"Alright Orin." He said finally, "I think it's possible…assuming you don't fail at killing her. That is all you need to do and the rest will fall into place. Kill Morrigan and you end the war and save the Underground from destruction."
"I have your trust then?" Orin asked, bowing to him.
"Succeed and you will have anything you want." Jareth said, dismissing Orin from his throne room.
The scene was gruesome. Bodies littered the ground everywhere, vampyre roaming the folds, feeding on anything that moved within the walls. The wind was cold, the scissors to her skin. An owl hooted from a nearby tree, a ruby tree, the blossoms void of color now. She knew this place. It was the Castle beyond Goblin City, it was the Labyrinth.
The only light came from inside the castle, cheerful laughs escaping the doors, people in masks flooding in. She made her way past them and found herself in a white silk dress, clinging to her form and a white mask made of dove feathers hiding her face. She was the only one not wearing red, the mass of people hiding behind ugly and terrifying masks of black and blood.
They all looked at her as she pushed her way in and she looked at all of them, trying once again to find him. Where was he? She didn't like this place. Why wasn't he here? She could take the teasing and laughing from the others, but these people were different. They weren't saying anything, just eyeing her, wanting to hurt her…
She pushed herself through the final crowd and stumbled into the center of the ballroom floor, the spotlight on two people dancing. The woman was the only one dressed in black, her face completely hidden and distorted. But the man, the man was Jareth. She wanted to reach out and touch him, let him know she was there, but she was afraid. As soon as she took a step, the music and the dancing stopped, both of them looking straight at her. Jareth's eyes were cold and dead, his body suddenly falling to the floor, as if he was a puppet that a child has just dropped.
She gasped, falling to her knees at his side. He was dead! He was dead! How could he be dead?
The distorted woman let out a loud laugh, grabbing Sarah by the throat and throwing her back into the mass of people in red.
And they each took a bite out of her, pain shooting through her body, blood pouring from her veins. She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out, no one would hear her. No one would be there to save her—
Sarah bolted awake at that moment, her dream, no….her nightmare leaving fear in her chest. She looked around, noticing that Jareth was gone. Was it all a dream? Did the two of them really….?
She took a breath and relaxed, remembering their actions. She had broken his wall and all she had to do was apologize- it was always such a minuscule thing that ended up being the root of such problems…She wondered if things would be different between them now. Was it just lust that had overtaken her? She admitted that part of it had to be- through all his teasing and all her dreaming of him…but she knew some of it had deeper roots. She was just a little uncomfortable thinking about it all. What would he expect of her now? What would SHE have to expect of him?
"Sarah…"
Hearing her name broke her train of thought and she looked around the room curiously. It was barely audible- a faint whisper…it sounded like multiple voices… were the goblins playing tricks on her?
"…Sarah…come…"
She stood and dressed herself quickly, not sure exactly what she was doing. Where was that coming from? Who was calling her? "Hello," she called back, "Where are you?"
She opened the door and saw Marielle just about to knock. "Oh, Miss Sarah, there you are!"
"Hello Marielle, ah….do you hear that?"
Marielle gave her a curious look, "Hear what?"
"Sarah…"
"That." Sarah said, her eyes wandering all over the hall. "Where is that coming from…?"
"Miss Sarah, I don't hear anything."
"Just a minute… I'll be right back…" She passed her, making her way downstairs, the girl following at a distance. "Miss Sarah, are you alright?"
"Just a minute…" She repeated, listening. The voice didn't stop, it kept calling and she felt it in her chest, a pull, like a magnet, making her leave the castle. Marielle continued to follow, staying silent as she watched, not knowing exactly what was going on.
Sarah made her way outside the gates, now feeling as if she had to find something. She made her way past several goblins, spending their days in their little homes and gardens. She ignored all other noises and she traveled quickly through Goblin City, as if her body knew exactly where she was going and eventually she got all the way to the Labyrinth.
The door that entered the Labyrinth was shut, glistening in the light of the late afternoon. She stopped in front of it and just stood for a moment, Marielle catching up to her but still keeping a respectful distance. "Miss Sarah, what's going on?"
"I don't know…" Sarah mumbled, feeling as if she was in a trance that couldn't be broken. "I just feel...something.."
"Please, Lord Jareth will be wondering where we are…"
"Jareth…" She replied stoically, her head dropping. "Yes…Jareth will be worried…"
Sarah's body stood still for a long moment until Marielle slowly approached, worried herself about what spell had come over her. "Sarah…?" She touched her shoulder and she turned to face her, her eyes empty and glossy, as if she were dead. "Miss Sarah?"
"I need to go inside the Labyrinth." Sarah said, only her voice sounded as if there were several voices running through her. "It's calling me."
Marielle backed away from her, frightened at such a transformation. "What's happened to you?"
Sarah ignored her, and turned back to the doors that opened themselves. Marielle tried to stop her from entering for fear she may run into more vampyre but before she could frantically follow, Sarah disappeared behind the doors as they shut tight, leaving Marielle outside the Labyrinth not knowing what to do.
To those of you who reviewed- thank you. I'm glad I finally know what you guys think of this story! Hopefully, your feelings haven't changed after reading this chapter- I've included some heavy stuff in here to get the ball rolling on the climax. I'd love to hear your opinions as well as your criticism. I debated on whether or not to have Jareth and Sarah move forward in their relationship but after reading over what I had, I decided that it's about time to move things along. I don't feel that it was rushed through due to the confrontation in the previous chapter, so hopefully you readers don't feel that way either.
As for the ending here- it's a little different, but after looking over your comments it would make sense that the Labyrinth communicate with Sarah somehow- I've already hinted at it being somewhat of a deity to the Underground and it correlates that it be 'calling' to Sarah due to the fact it obviously picked her to be a part of it. Hopefully I've kept your interest. :]
By the way, the 10 Years reference has no super significant meaning- I just find myself listening to a lot of them when I write this fic and it happens to somewhat apply to the actions that took place…. I don't own the song Don't Fight It- REMEMBER THAT!
Reviews, as always, are highly appreciated.