"No!" I screamed out in disdain.
The goblins around me stopped what they were doing and stared at my rigid form in the throne. I clutched the crystal, unleashing all my anger into the thing until it shattered and fell to my lap and the floor, clattering about like hail. The goblins, having seen that scene ran out, tripping over their feet and the black chickens, leaving a hurt king alone.
She shouldn't have done that. She could be dead now. I was fuming. If she's dead, I'll wreak havoc on the Grassy Sea to retrieve her body and her brother before they could do anything with them. I sighed, limping over my throne. She's still alive. I could still feel her hold of my magic strong as ever, maybe even stronger, but I don't want her to venture into the Shadow's lair no matter if she could complete it. All I could do though because she remains so strong willed and stubborn was watch from my perch and wish to the High Court that she'd be okay. But I couldn't just sit here.
I have to help her in some way!
.*.*.
'Milady!'
I heard the different voices call out my name when I collapsed, but I couldn't seem to answer back. My body was heavy with lead it seemed and it hurt to even breath. My body felt pleasantly warm, though it was starting to tingle as if there were multiple needles poking at me and my vision was blaring red with my blood. My arms started burning then. I screamed in pain and looked to see what was wrong, but all I saw were the runes dance across my skin and add more of their brethren on my arms, extending them past my shoulders. Then, as suddenly as the pain came, it went. I could see in color again, though the bluish room didn't look so dark anymore and every detail was sharpened.
Toby floated in front of my face. "Sarah, you alright?"
I smiled, though I didn't really know why. Probably because I disobeyed the Goblin King. "I'm fine, Tobes. Now," I stood up, gracefully, "Let's get to the Shadow, shall we?"
Before us all was a dark opening within a large circle of burnt grass. The sun, pink with the setting time gave no warmth with us being this close to the lair of the Shadow. I shivered and took a step forward, grasping the spear til my knuckles turned white. The smell coming from the gaping hole was intoxicating, but not as much as...
No way, Sarah. How can you think about him at a time like this? Keep your head. I turned to the others behind me, the little statue pranced around nervously, Aethanvan glared at the hole with full blazing red eyes, and Toby hiding from the cold behind the Serpent's lengthy horns. At least Toby knew to stay out here, safe with the Lord and the statue.
"I won't be long." I promised to the little band, before turning on my heels and advanced into the hole.
I walked. I don't know how long, but I walked and hummed, dodging stubby stalagmites and deadly stalactites, dripping with water full of minerals. I held out my hand under one of the more full fountains and drank the cool water. Then, I heard laughter from behind me. I turned, letting the rest of the water idle out of my hands and drip of the tips of my fingers. Toby was running toward me. No, running past me into the darkness.
"Toby!" I called. The only response was more laughter. I ran after him, hoping that he wouldn't get into danger, but then I heard a bloodcurdling sound.
"Sarah, help me!"
I ran until I saw a huge trench before me. One the other side was Toby hanging from a loose rope on the bridge that spanned across the trench. I looked at the tunnel on the other side of the bridge. It glowed suspiciously, but I paid it no mind as I rushed to Toby's side.
"Hold on, Tobes. How come you didn't listen to me when I told you to stay with Lord Aethanvan?" I began to reach out my arm to grab him.
Toby, despite the fact he was hanging by one arm over a chasm of death, laughed. "Why would I listen to you?"
I gasped. "What... Toby... how could you say such a thing?" My mind was starting to whirl. The Lord had said that there were tests I'd have to go through. Maybe this was a test... but how can it be when Toby... Toby would never talk to me like that. I looked at Toby. Could I trust myself with this decision I was about to make?
I swooped down and slammed my hand against dirt. The image of Toby, the trench, and the bridge disappeared. I stood up, favoring my hand. I had run it against a sharp rock and cut it. Thankfully, it wasn't deep, but it still hurt like a... I looked up at the tunnel that remained. Timidly, I pushed forward, not paying any mind to the trail of blood I left behind me, hoping that my little humming could help.
There were no cave formations here, only a dusty castle-like hall, worn down with the years. I followed the winding hall until it opened up into a large room that must have once been a dungeon. Somewhere, I heard the grunts of a man and the landing of blows. I kept walking, until a sconce near me lit up suddenly. I jumped back and saw before me the back of a fat figure clothed in black with an iron whip lashing out in front of him. I inched around the figure to see what he was hitting. I had to bite my tongue to keep from gasping.
Dragged down by heavy shackles and dressed in torn clothes was the Goblin King, bleeding silvery blood from the many cuts infected from the iron. The fat man took a break from the lashing and took a seat in a simple wooden chair, catching his breath. The king then, looked up at his tormentor, glaring with pure hatred. He turned his head and widened his eyes. He was surprised that I was here.
Leave! Leave before it's too late! He'll catch you, too.
I anxiously held my ground. Could I keep going, leaving the king to this man? I looked at the man who was now asleep and snoring loudly. I sighed at myself. Why me?
I ventured forward until I stood only inches from the fat man and found a key hanging for the man's fat neck. I carefully used the spearhead to cut the string and caught the key before it could fall on the ground. I released my breath that I didn't know I was holding and tip-toed to the king. When I only inches from him, I could see the many wounds already swelling with infection and white lines where his tears have fallen. He kept staring at me.
You shouldn't be saving me. I know that you hate me, no matter how hard I tried to show you that I love you.
I stopped. You... love me? Why would you? I'm just a human.
That doesn't matter any more. You just can't seem to see that you love me back.
What? I... I didn't know what I felt when I was around Jareth. All I know is that he riles me up so much that my emotions become befuddled. I shook my head to clear it and stuck the key in the first shackle, but the loud snores abruptly stopped.
"Hey! Get outta here you mortal vermin." The fat man rose his whip and snapped it an inch from my foot. Frightened, I jumped up, but regained my thoughts and held my spear in both my hands.
"Come and get me." I said tauntingly.
The fat man roared in anger and charged at me. I stepped to the side and whacked his foot, sending him to tumble about the ground. He scrambled back on his feet and came at me again, but this time I held the spear tip first toward him. He came closer, though I was losing my nerve. I started to back away, scared at the thought of killing someone. Fear welled up inside of me when a pair or strong hands covered my own, lifted the spear again, and guided it deep into the gut of the man. The fat man gulped once, closed his eyes, and died letting his mouth pool up in silver blood and drip out of his mouth.
The hands pulled the spear out of the man, dropping him unforgivably unto the ground. I followed the hands to the arms of the king. His face was intent on the corpse, but then he looked down at me, his face bruised and bloody. He let go of the spear and backed away. I cleaned the spearhead on the man's clothes and secured it back in my hands.
"Thank you, my dear."
I looked at Jareth. I was actually glad that I helped him, though his words were still buzzing around my head. He told me that he loved me and that I loved him, too, but didn't know it. "It was no problem, Jareth."
"Oh, but it was. You had a choice before you and yet despite your feelings toward me, you helped me." He laughed a bit. "Maybe I have hope for you after all."
"Hope for what?" I asked, taking a chance to step closer. Oh, dear! He needs medical help for some of these cuts.
"Hope for you becoming my queen." He closed the distance between us, taking my empty hand in both of his. He was icy cold. "Try to understand that I would do anything for you, my love. I'd complete your every wish." He leaned forward. "Even those unspoken."
I shivered under his cold breath. Everything about him was cold, even his eyes. Usually they're warm and exciting. Something didn't sit right, but I couldn't think properly with his breath on my face. One of his hands cupped my cheek as the other wrapped itself around my waist, bringing me closer into the iciness.
"What do you wish for the most, my dear?" He ran his fingers along my lips.
This isn't kingly of Jareth. This is more like my... my dreams! This isn't real. "I wish for this lie to stop!" I took my spear and ran it through the Goblin King. He and the fat man dissipated into a mist as a deep laugh rumbled the ground around me.
"These are only visions, Shadow!" I screamed. "What kind of tests are these?" I stormed forward into the hall.
As I walked, I imagined the image of the Goblin King holding me. I wondered how the real Jareth would feel like when he'd hold me. Would it be warm and soft or cold and sharp, but still pleasant? I ignored those thoughts. That would never happen...
...would it?
The dusty halls melded into a brighter and newer hall still leading off deep into the Shadow's lair.
"Sarah." A familiar voice whispered.
I stopped. "Dad?" I searched the area around me and continued forward.
"Darling little girl." The voice spoke.
"Daddy?" I paused again when another image developed in front of me.
"Hey there. I heard about your adventure from the Almighty. I'm a little mad about that, but I forgive you since you've been taking good care of Toby when your stepmother and I left your world. Have to say, though it's time to go back. Leave this dark hole, darling. Take your brother and find another way to get back home."
Tears started to form around my eyes. "I don't know how to get us back, dad. I'm not magical."
"Sweetie, you are. Your mother never told you, but in order for her wish to become an actress come true, she had to give birth to you here in the Underground. When I was still human, what happened was that your mother had disappeared without a trace from the hospital and came back many hours later with a new baby girl. We took you home and cared for you. When you first opened your eyes, the first thing we saw was your beautiful emerald eyes. The second was the fact that your pupils were different sizes. We took you to many doctors, but none could figure out what was wrong. As you grew, though, your eyes started becoming more human-like."
I absorbed that in. "I was born here? That explains how I can hear Aethanvan talking to me."
"Yes, but now it's time to go back Aboveground. Back to your home. Hurry, though, for the Shadow lurks near. Sweetie, promise me that when you get back that'd you'd forget about this place forever. This will never be your home, no matter how much you wish."
Something snapped inside me. "No."
"What did you say?"
"I said no. During my little adventure in the Labyrinth, I felt like I belonged for the first time in my life. After I left, I couldn't find any relief. That's why I picked up the violin because with the music I felt in my heart reminded me of the place and the beings in it, even the Gob... even Jareth. My music captivated so many because it was not of their world but of this one. I have brought human-made fae songs to Earth!" I couldn't believe I was having a revelation right now. The image of my father scoffed. "And you! You are nothing but a test!"
I swung my spear at the image and yelped with glee when that too went up in mist. "What now, Shadow? What's next?"
"So much more, little one." The dark voice hissed.
I gathered myself and kept walking. "Just try your best." I whispered.
The Shadow laughed. "I'll do more than that, Champion of the Labyrinth. Come, join me for a nice sit."
All around me the nice hall transformed into a fire-lit room complete with red velvet chairs in front of the warmth of the flames. From a shadow in the room, stepped out a nice looking elderly man dressed in stone gray tunic and breeches. He held out his hand to one of the chairs and took his seat in the other one. I cautiously sat down and eyed the man.
"Now, how would you like a bit of food. I bet you're hungry after going through my little tests." The man smiled as if it was just a joke to him.
"I'm not hungry, Shadow."
The man gazed at me with red Serpent eyes. "Of course you're not. Well, what do I owe the to the company of the Labyrinth Champion?"
"I'm here to end your reign upon this land." I said with more bravely than I felt.
"Oh? Well, I'll give you the chance to strike me first, seeing as no one has made it as far as you. After your first chance, I can't promise to take it easy on you." He laughed triumphantly as if he felt that he had already won.
Angered, I held my spear in both hands and jumped from my seat to the other one, hitting stone. The chairs had changed into stalagmites and my spear was stuck in one. I tugged but couldn't get it out. Another laugh sounded from behind me. I turned and saw the man shift into a coiled gray Serpent, larger than Aethanvan, but more transparent as if he were a ghost.
"Who are you?" I asked, inching away from my spear.
'I was the first ruler of the Grassy Sea and now...' The Serpent uncoiled, keeping his eyes on mine. 'Now I'm the haunter of this little place. I felt as if I was missing something and ended up staying here. Not alive, but not dead. Apparently, my noble selfless deed wasn't enough to pass my spirit on to the next Realm. So I decided to raid this land of it's best crops and animals to tend to my own undead needs.'
"Did you ever find out what you were missing?" I said trying to think of a plan to stay alive.
'No. Besides, I barely remember my life alive. It was then, though when I left this place I chanced to meet this dark fae saying that he could relinquish this unfinished feeling within me if I could only suck the life out of this realm and give it to him.'
"You can't do that!" I screamed. "Your family lives here, you know. Because of you, your family was able to live. Maybe what you feel like you're missing is love. Maybe what you miss is the feeling of being loved by your family. I promise you that you are remembered with every loving thought by your family, but you must pass on to feel that love." I reasoned, secretly hoping that that would work.
'I never thought about that.' The Serpent floated about the cave formations, bending and twisting with the patterns of them. 'But I think that I'll stick with the fae's offer. It was nice meeting you, Champion of the Labyrinth. Too bad you have to die.'
I felt the point of a broken stalagmite in my back and inwardly grinned as I felt the runes on my arms give the ave formation otherworldly power. "I'm not going to die, Your Grace. It's you... oh wait! You're already dead!"
The Serpent hissed in anger and poised to strike. I watched and waited for the right moment to move. As if time had slowed down for me again, I saw the Serpent race forward. I moved with ease to one side, jumped on my spear, and freed it from it's mineral prison. The Serpent ran right into the natural weapon I found, but pulled itself up, showing a hole in his head where the stalagmite had hit him. He hissed some more and slithered forward. His head was within snapping distance of me, so I took the spear and slammed it on his nose. He yipped, pulling back growling. I smiled, to my demise.
I became distracted when he stuck at my arm, causing the bone and skin to break, allowing my blood to run freely. I thanked the High Court that it was my bad arm and that I couldn't feel the pain yet. This time he gave a toothy smile and brought his red eye to my face.
'No one dead or alive has ever beaten me, little one. Give up now.'
"Never." I held the spear tightly with my good arm, followed this strange feeling building up inside of me, and let it go with as much force as I could unleash. The tip of the spear dug deep into the Serpent's eye, probably striking the center of the specter.
There must have been poison left on the spear because a smokey hiss sounded from within the mighty beast. I gave the spear a final twist and pulled it out. A vein spurted out a small fountain of purple blood as the ghost creature died and turned into a mist. I exhaled slowly and saw that the entire hole around was going away, too.
Soon, I stood in the middle of the burnt circle and noticed that under the near full moon, the runes on my arms were glowing brightly and pulsing with my heartbeat. I had done it.
I had completed a prophecy. No, my reasonable side was thinking. Remember what Aethanvan said? 'One then wanders into the Shadow that lurks within the realm, and win over a prize, but loses something dear.' My heart jumped, making the runes spark.
Where's Toby?
