Disclaimer

I don't own any rights or character for Labyrinth, Inkheart, or any other books/movies mentioned or used in my story.

Cue the music: Get off of my Back By Bryan Adams; from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Italics = thought

/= Silvertongue magic at work

{Squiggly brackets} - Jareth mind speak

More indications will be added as needed or required and changed accordingly.

Ch. 11

How 'bout Upping The Stakes

When Moirai had returned, Silver pulled her aside to talk.

"You're more reckless than most pirates on the seven seas."

"Something had come up." Moirai didn't know if he was actually being concerned for her or what, but he hadn't narced. Why hadn't he narced? Well he had grown fond of Jim Hawkins; maybe he had an easy soft spot. She just couldn't figure it out. "Did she figure out-."

"Almost, but didn't. If I told, I'd have admitted being a conspirator. Not to mention she'd be here instead of me." Chuckled the intelligent old pirate.

Had he read her thoughts? "I didn't say anything, but point taken." Moirai hesitated to say more. He was still tough to figure out, but he had a point. If Jadis knew Moirai's new intentions, she be here, and Moirai would be a statue. "Okay, here's the four-one-one."

"Pardon me?" Silver puzzled; he didn't understand exactly what she meant?

"Oh. I mean, here is the information." Moirai explained as she filled Silver in on what happened so far "And... I'm sorry; I know I said I'd read you back. I can't right now, but, I will."

Silver's soft spot seemed to never stop growing. He sighed, and his face slightly softened in a slight smile. "Alright, now move along. Jadis is expecting to hear your progress."

Moirai nodded. "Get outta here; go to the Williams's. If Jadis found out you covered for me, we're both statues. I know I'm not ready to go head to head with the White Witch, but I'll do what I can." She didn't leave room for a reply and went to see Jadis.

Silver admired how noble she was trying to be. He still didn't like that it seemed like goodbye; he knew she'd stop him if he tried to convince her to let him help. Perhaps he would go to the Williams and send help.

The White Witch watched Moirai as she came up to her. "Well." She had let her rage allow Moirai to try reading 'the Nothing' in to 'that' book; she was starting to suspect Moirai manipulated it somehow.

Moirai needed to buy the others more time. "I'm sorry, I have tried. I haven't made very much progress with anything really. It's not that I can't, see, it's writer's block." She purposely lied.

"I'm sorry to hear that... you're lying." Jadis tapped her wand on her hand. She had lies of her own, and so the saying goes; 'It takes one to know one'.

The raven haired girl pretended to be surprised at being caught. "I have, and for good reason. I sensed a disturbance in the force." So far it was going how she wanted it to go, and without revealing herself. If it came to that, she would, she at least owed that much to the Williams.

"Oh." Jadis thought that she'd deny lying. "And what is this disturbance?"

"And what if I told you, perhaps you'd have no more use of me." The dark haired Daughter of Eve pretended to consider telling.

"And what if you don't." The White Witch countered with a snake-like smile. "Why so ludic?"

Moirai didn't answer. "Uh." She couldn't.

"You're hiding something else aren't you?" The question was rhetorical; Jadis finally had her.

She saw right through me!? Moirai struggled to keep her composure. "You're right, I was only playing, but I'm not hiding anything else."

Silver had been listening in, waiting for the right moment to leave. Now was his chance to slip away, so he did.

Hmmm. So you want to play. Don't complain when I play along. Jadis raised an eyebrow. "You're awfully playful lately; you have plenty of time for that later. What is the disturbance you feel."

Moirai was unsure if Jadis was onto her or not."R-right. Well, Doc Brown is worried about a rip in the space-time continuum, so to speak. Things are happening around town like building, people, and other things appearing and disappearing."

What was that girl up to, what was she hiding. "Huh? I get what's going on. Though it's a little hard to follow the rest." The White Witch tapped her wand on her hand once again.

"Heh, well if you get what going on, is the rest really that important?" Moirai teased.

"That's pretty audacious of you." The White Witch stared icicles at the cheeky Daughter of Eve. "Now I get it; you're jealous. You really did think that you would no longer be needed; you're wrong. I might be able to use the 'rip in the space-time continuum', as you eloquently put it, to bring certain things through. But I can't do that or directly affect the 'rip' it's self without consequence. Magic always comes with a price, dearie, and the price for using the rip like that or affecting it is steep. Besides, you could say I've developed a soft spot for you, too. So to speak."

That threw Moirai for a loop. Jadis definitely knew something was up. I hope this was long enough. "I see, I still have a lot to learn from you." She crossed her arms. This rip must be the price for bringing a whole book out of itself. I must have contributed, too, by reading out characters for reinforcements. "But you still have a nagging inkling that I'm hiding something more, don't you."

"Figured it out, did you?" Jadis mocked. "I don't think; I know you are. I think I even figured it out, too."

"I don't quite think so, but you're right again." Moirai's last chance at stalling was now. "I don't know how you could miss something like this; I mean it's not like it is so mundane. Besides, aren't you supposed to be more powerful than me."

"Cheeky. What are you getting at?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

"I think this has gone on long enough. You're no match for me, Moirai."

Moirai knew she was pushing it. "A thousand apologies, O patient one. I'll tell you."

Jadis scoffed.

It was a short while before either spoke.

"Well." The irritated Witch could barely keep from shouting.

"Well this is my home. I was hoping this might... Change your mind about... destroying it." Of course she didn't want that even if she was eager to learn other magic from someone like The White Witch.

"And what makes you think that plea will change anything? You honestly think it will?" Jadis laughed mockingly. "Alright, I'll humor you and perhaps think about it. What is it I have missed?"

Moirai knew those were empty words, but that was besides the point. She unfurled her arms, and brought a finger to her chin. "Hmm..." She raised an eyebrow in mock consideration.

"Come now, I told you, you're still needed. Magic always comes with a price, remember." Jadis smirked.

Moirai was running out of excuses to stall with. She couldn't back down now, though. She sighed. "Now I feel obligated."

"You are, you foolish girl," Jadis scrunched up her face. "Moirai, beware, I have been generous up 'til now."

"What have you done that's generous... it's over, I am a means to an end." Moirai chuckled. "Let's face it, you'd destroy this world no matter what."

Jadis grunted, and stormed off. Obstinate, headstrong daughter of Eve.

"At first, maybe I was foolish." Moirai left to return to the Williams. After how this turned out, she was surprised she wasn't turned to stone on the spot. She will have me soon enough, can't deny that.

Notes

Cue music: No Turning Back By Lit

Thank you to tmwilson3 for beta reading for me and everything else.