Author's Notes: Two chapters in one week. That surprises even me! Mucho thank yous go out to Anij, for her support and random conversation on evil that kick started the writing of this chapter, and for her support throughout. Thank you as always to my strong and determined beta, Kat, for without her, there would be interesting typos in weird places, since my fingers like to hit random keys without meaning to. Last but not least, this chapter comes with a WARNING!!!
WARNING! This chapter contains scenes of violence and torture. While I don't think they're too terribly graphic, they may be offensive to some readers, so proceed with care. You have been warned!!
As always, all comments and feedback are greatly appreciated and welcomed, as well as motivate me to write faster, too! Thanks to everyone who has read this, and an extra special thank you to everyone who has reviewed and told me what they think. Without further ado, on to the story!! I'm off to find a teddy bear, I need one…
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Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to the Labyrinth. I don't own Jareth, either. Any characters not seen in the original movie, as well as the plot do belong to me though. Mine to do with what I will!
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Field of Innocence
Chapter 14: So Go On And Scream. . .
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Sarah felt her world slip from its axis as she stared down at the man at her feet. Jason lay crumpled on the ground, unmoving. A curious roaring began in her head, and she could hear the blood rushing through her head as she dropped to her knees beside her friend, gasping when she saw blood oozing from a gaping wound in his forehead. She immediately lifted her head to glare at the sneering Fae in front of her.
"What did you do to him?!"
"I? I did nothing. He gave that injury to himself." The sneer remained further in place, though they eyes glinted briefly with sadistic amusement at her indignation.
"Liar!"
"Now, Sarah, we've just met. Where are your manners?"
Her far from polite response merely incited the sneer to deepen. "I see manners are the first thing we must work on then, hmm? But first, I do believe you have a choice in front of you, as I stated earlier. Which will you choose?"
"Choose for what?" She looked at Jason, whose head she held cradled in her lap, then to Jareth, who lay sprawled unceremoniously by the fireplace where he had landed after the initial blast of magick emitted by the amulet he reached to grab.
"Why, for death, of course." Nonchalantly, Ceallach walked into the room, adjusting the fit of a glove carelessly as he stepped past her and over Jareth, grabbing the amulet from the nightstand.
"You don't think I'll let both of them live, do you?"
Sarah could feel a deep well of panic bubbling up inside of her chest, even as she shifted to keep him in sight. "You won't let any of us live." She choked out in a whisper.
He tilted his head, feigning thought and the fire caught the red glints in his hair, bringing to mind the image of blood spilling down his shoulder. Sarah shivered at his next words.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. But then, that all depends."
With an effort, she forced the words past the rising lump in her throat.
"Depends on what?"
He sauntered to her, bending at the waist until his face was inches from hers, his breath hot on her cheeks as he grinned.
"On how well you amuse me."
Sarah opened her mouth to retort and gave a strangled cry when a sharp burst of pain shot through her skull, causing stars to dance in front of her eyes. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to keep consciousness within her grasp, but felt it slowly slipping through her fingers. With a last moan, she fell forward into the rushing darkness, Ceallach's grinning face the last thing in sight.
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"Sarah? Sarah, can you hear me? Snap out of it now. Please?"
"Sarah. Wake up. Now."
She heard the voices calling to her from far away and dimly registered she was sitting on her knees with her arms above her. Her head was pillowed on one shoulder as she slumped forward, saved from falling forward by an indescribably force on her arms that she couldn't explain. She shifted and grunted when the movement sent darts of pain shooting up her arms. She tried to lower them and the pain only increased.
Finally, she forced her eyes open, blinking rapidly to accustom them to the dim light in the room. Turning her head she surveyed the room slowly, exhaling softly when she realized she didn't know where she was. She whimpered at the new panic bubbling up in her chest when she looked up and realized she was chained to the wall. There was just enough give in her restraints for her to lower herself off of her knees into a cross legged position on the ground as she forced herself to take deep breaths to quell the panic.
"Sarah? You ok? What did he do to you?"
The simple questions broke through her panic and caused her to turn her head to the left, noticing Jason bound in a similar position next to her. Twisting her head to the other side found the Goblin King on her right, again trussed up to the wall.
"What happened?" She asked.
"That's what we're trying to find out. Apparently we were all out cold when we were brought here. Jareth woke up first, then me. Which brings me back to the question, what happened to you? Jareth said he was knocked out by some magickal field. Did you get caught in the blast?"
She shook her head as best she could. "No. No, he was talking to me, and I had my attention on him, then something hit me and. . ." She trailed off and hung her head. "I'm sorry, I wasn't focusing. I messed up."
"That makes two of us." Jason added grimly. "He got to me while I was unconscious. Nabbed my mind, and I knew he was there, but I couldn't fight him off. He made me beat Declan with a chair, then bean myself with a fireplace poker before making me leave the library and head to wherever it was he took me. I blacked out again along the way, and then woke up here."
Sarah exhaled slowly. "Ok, we need to figure out how long we've been here and how to get out. Not to mention where 'here' is."
"We are currently in the dungeons of the castle." Jareth answered. "I believe we'll be joined shortly, as Ceallach enjoys passing time down here to assuage his boredom."
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked, confused.
Jareth simply directed his attention to a corner of the room Sarah hadn't noticed in her initial inspection. It looked like every other corner of the room, actually, save for the fact there was actually furniture there, if a table counted as furniture. Sarah couldn't figure out why there was such importance with the table until her eyes grew accustomed to the shadows flickering on the wall from the single torch in the room above their heads. Her eyes widened as the light danced along gleaming metal. She couldn't make out the instruments on the table, but she had the sinking feeling they weren't place settings for dinner.
"He-he's going to-"
"Torture us. Yes, it seems he's quite adept at causing pain."
Sarah kept from hyperventilating only through sheer force of will. "H-how can you sit there, so calm?! What's he going to do to us!?"
Jareth turned his head, locking his gaze with hers. "I haven't an idea what he plans to do this time. Would you rather I detail the specifics of my last stay here, so you might have some reference point?"
Sarah didn't think it possible, but her eyes widened further. "Last stay. . .Jareth, I. . .that is, you. . .I don't know. . ."
"I refused to give him the satisfaction of my submission last time, Sarah. Do the same." The order fell from his lips and forced a frown to tug the corners of her lips down. Before she could respond, Jason snorted and she shifted her attention to him.
"Hell, I'm with that. Let's make him fight for whatever he wants."
The door creaked open slowly, eliminating any further conversation. Sarah's head jerked towards it to glare at the figure illuminated by the light behind him.
"Fight for what I want, is it? My, I do so love a challenge."
Ceallach stepped into the room and waved a hand. Torches flared from every corner of the room and Sarah winced at the sudden brightness.
"Oh, my apologies for the sudden discomfort, but I like to see what I'm doing when I work. Or play."
Sarah swallowed the sudden knot in her throat and chose to keep silent. Jason and Jareth mirrored her on either side and Ceallach grinned.
"What's this? The silent treatment?" He laughed at his own joke and Sarah shivered at the cruelty in the sound.
"Well, I see it would be a waste to attempt questions right off. Let's start with the real fun then, shall we. Any volunteers?"
Sarah forced herself not to tremble. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her afraid, she swore to herself. Not yet.
His attention settled on her regardless, and she tilted her chin, stubbornly meeting his gaze. He simply sneered in return.
"Well, I think it would be rude and ungentlemanly not to give a lady her choice. Tell me, Sarah, who do you think I should use first? Our fair Goblin King has already been a guest at my table, but your dear Empathic friend shouldn't be left out of the fun, don't you think? So tell me, who should go first?"
She felt the blood drain from her face and she shook her head. "No. Don't make me choose. I won't. I won't give either of them to you!"
He smirked and she had the sinking feeling she played directly into his hands. She knew she had when he snapped his fingers and she felt the manacles on her wrists tighten and yank her to her feet. She cried out with the sudden movement, her shoulders feeling as though they were being wrenched from their sockets. Ceallach stepped closer to her, his hand shooting out to grip her throat tight enough to cause her to choke.
"Well now, that sounds like you were volunteering yourself instead. I believe I can work with that, if you wish."
She struggled to suck in a breath when he squeezed tighter and she gagged at the feeling of her airway being constricted. He tilted his head, as though listening to her speak.
"What's that? You'd be delighted? Why, so would I. Let's begin shall we?"
He released his hold on her and she coughed hoarsely, gulping in much needed air as he moved away from her towards the table in the corner.
"Leave her alone!" Jason yelled from his spot on the floor, straining to get to his feet. "You want someone to fuck with, you twisted bastard? Pick on someone your own size! I dare you!"
Ceallach ignored him, choosing his tools with care. He walked slowly back to Sarah, who squirmed at the barely concealed glee in his gaze. His voice took on a lecturing tone as he drew nearer.
"Now, to most, torture would be considered a barbaric practice. I prefer to think of it as an art form, requiring great skill to extract the last exquisite drop of pain. There are some tried and true methods which will cause lasting trauma, especially when dealing with a female prisoner."
Lightning fast, one hand darted between Sarah's legs, grabbing the juncture there and gripping tightly. She gasped in pain and attempted to kick him away but he pressed closer until he could hiss in her ear.
"Vulgar, yes, but expedient, don't you think? What say you, Sarah? I could rape you here, against the wall while your friends watch, helpless. It would achieve many levels of torment, for all involved. But rather unimaginative, don't you agree?"
"No." She whimpered softly, trying to twist away from his grasp. He tightened his grip further and she couldn't help the cry of pain that escaped. "No!"
"Sarah!" Jason shouted from next to her, straining against his bonds.
"Hardly imaginative, Ceallach." Jareth remarked from the other side.
Sarah winced further when Ceallach twisted his hand causing further pain.
"Oh ho, so the errant King speaks! She must matter a great deal to you, Jareth, to break your usual silence in these conditions."
Sarah couldn't hear the conversation. A buzzing began in her ears, drowning out all outside noise as her attention focused onto one point and one point alone; to get free before Ceallach touched her further.
"Letmegoletmegoletmegoletmegolet. Me. GO!" The words built until they were one long scream and she put all her willpower into imagining him across the room.
And he was there. Flung with the force of her thoughts, he hit the opposite wall hard, eyes wide with surprise. He regained his footing quickly and strode across the room towards her, grabbing her hair and yanking her head hard to the side at an impossible angle.
"What was that, little girl?" he snarled in her face.
She flinched at the spittle that landed on her cheek, and stuttered. "I-I don't. . .I just. . ."
"She's telekinetic, dumbass." Jason supplied.
Ceallach didn't look in Jason's direction, but spoke directly to Sarah. "I'm well aware of this. I had this room specially shielded against any such attacks from either of you puling whelps! You couldn't have thrown me." His eyes narrowed speculatively. "Not unless you've had help."
"W-what?" Sarah's breathing was ragged and her neck ached. She could barely think, let alone form words.
A slow smile spread across his face and Sarah felt her knees go weak. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.
"Sarah. Are you keeping secrets from me? Secrets, perhaps, of a special bond you might have unwillingly undertaken?"
She swallowed convulsively. "N-no"
He tightened his grip and yanked her head further back. "Do not lie to me. Where is it? Where is your symbol of bondage to the Labyrinth, Sarah? Where is it hiding?"
"I-I'm not hiding anything!"
He released his hold on her hair and took a small step back, shaking his head. "I see you're going to be difficult. I supposed I'll just have to look for it. Now, where on your person would you keep it?"
Sarah barely had time to register his question before she was aware of his hands roughly groping her everywhere anything could possibly be hidden. He started at her feet, dodging easily when she kicked and worked his way up. She flinched and couldn't help the small scream that escaped as he made his way up her legs and he simply leered up at her as he roughly fondled her thighs. Up her waist, in the pockets of her jeans, along the waistband of her pants he searched fruitlessly. Finally, mercifully, he stepped back and eyed her thoughtfully.
"Well, it seems that foolish maze made the same mistake twice."
Without warning, he reached for the collar of her shirt and yanked hard. Buttons went flying as her blouse tore open and she shrieked at the unnaturally loud sound of fabric tearing. Tears filled her eyes as she was bared to his gaze. She could feel the heat of his stare on her chest. There, on her left breast over her heart, sat the sigil branded on her by the Labyrinth. A triple moon, identical, she knew now, to the amulet Jareth wore which was taken. She numbly remembered the sight of it on the nightstand. She shook her head forcing her hair to fall over her shoulders and lowered her head, attempting to cover herself as best she could, hiding from his gaze.
"Sarah? Sarah!! Leave her alone, jackass!! What's the matter, not man enough to take me on?! You can only pick on women?! Unchain me, I'll show you a real challenge!"
Sarah heard Jason's voice echo in her ears as though he spoke from across the castle.
"Much as it pains me to agree, Ceallach, it does seem as though you've lost your touch. You've hardly been inventive at all."
Her head jerked at the sound of Jareth's voice and she dared a glance in his direction. His eyes burned with barely concealed fury, pulling a gasp from her throat. At the sound, his attention jerked to her and she froze, reading the silent command to remain strong and she felt the tears begin to slip silently down her cheeks. She was trying, couldn't he see she was trying?
Whether he caught the thread of her thought, or read it on her face, Jareth inclined his head slowly. A seemingly invisible nod with a wealth of meaning she couldn't even begin to decipher completely. What she read there, what she could understand, dried her tears and she nodded in turn, a moment of silent communication. She remembered Jason proclaiming he would make Ceallach fight for what he wanted and she began to understand. Perhaps she wasn't as strong as either of them, but she could continue to try.
She heard Ceallach's footsteps draw closer and shuddered involuntarily at the sound of his chuckle.
"So feisty. I love it when my toy is the object of affection, and in this case twice over! I must admit this is unexpected."
Sarah gasped when she felt cool metal on her breast. Her eyes darted down and widened at the sight of a knife on her chest, the tip just below the sigil.
"You see, I had thought the insipid maze would have given you another equally useless and all too easy to steal amulet. I hadn't expected this little bit of cleverness. I wonder, how easy do you think this would be to remove?"
He pressed the tip harder into her flesh, stopping only when the blade pierced the skin and a thin stream of blood began trickling down her chest, seeping into the fabric of her bra. He paused then, surprising her and pulled the blade back. Smirking he made a show of licking the blade clean before stepping back.
"This development requires thought. Careful, careful thought." He snapped his fingers again and the chains holding Sarah upright slackened. She collapsed to the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest protectively in an attempt to shield herself.
Ceallach walked to the door, calling over his shoulder. "Sit tight children. I will return once I've worked through this particular problem"
Sarah flinched when the door slammed shut and the lights went out, casting the room into darkness again.
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Sarah wasn't sure how long the silence stretched, punctuated by her ragged breathing as she huddled on the ground and tried to gather her courage and dignity again to no avail, for they lay as tattered as her blouse. She stayed huddled against the wall, curling herself up as tightly as the chains would allow, shivering in the cold air of the dungeon.
"Sarah?" Jason called her name quietly and she flinched automatically before forcing herself to exhale slowly.
She drew in another deep breath to steady her nerves before feeling confident she could answer without her voice quavering.
"What is it, Jason?" Her voice was muffled, as she refused to look up, keeping her chin down on her chest
"Stupid question, probably, but. . .are you ok?"
"Not really." She answered honestly.
"I know you probably don't want to hear this, but you're the only one who can get us out of this mess. Or out of these chains, at least."
"What?" She tilted her head slowly, resting her cheek on her knees to face him. "How?"
"He said he had the place shielded against our gifts, but you still blasted him. Maybe if you concentrate, you can blast us out of these chains, and maybe we can rush him when he comes back. You know, the advantage of a surprise attack."
"I don't know if I can."
"Try." Jareth spoke up. "Try, and at the very least, we will have regained control of our arms."
She nodded jerkily and closed her eyes to further her concentration. Stamping down on the all too recent memories, she focused on the instance when Ceallach had been thrown across the room, and felt the same surge of power rise. Rather than picture someone being thrown, she instead pictured the chains binding all of them releasing, freeing their hands.
An audible click sounded and Sarah felt the pressure on her arms release. Immediately, barbs of pain darted down her arms and she lowered them with a cry, crossing her arms over her chest. She could hear Jason suck in a pained gasp before he sighed.
"Lactic acid in the muscles is such a bitch."
She heard the soft shush of movement as he crawled towards her. "Sweetheart, look at me. You're hanging on, right?"
She managed a shaky nod and huddled closer to herself, shivering with the cold. She heard him sigh again and flinched when something dropped on her shoulders. With a start, she realized it was the jacket he had been wearing over his plain t-shirt. She gratefully tugged it on over her nakedness.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Now, I say we wait by the door for it to open, rush the bastard, and get the hell out of here."
"Crude, as far as plans go, but serviceable." Jareth stood in one liquid, graceful movement, drawing their attention and looked at the door contemplatively. "If we each were to rush from a different angle, it would be all the better."
He looked down at Sarah silently. She met his gaze steadily, nodding slowly. "Sounds like the best idea we have."
"And so it is." He held out his hand and she stared at it wordlessly before reaching out and letting him pull her to her feet.
"Good." Jason nodded, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You can always throw him again, sweetheart, and give us an edge to get the hell out of here. We can figure shit out once we've had a chance to regroup, right?"
"Right." Jareth agreed, and Sarah nodded.
"All right. Now, we wait."
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Their wait, unfortunately, was drastically shorter than they could have imagined. Footsteps sounded, echoing along the empty corridors ominously. Sarah let out a pent up breath as the faint tingling of alarm inside of her increased.
"Something isn't right!" She hissed urgently, but her warning came too late.
The door burst open and a wave of goblins swarmed them, separating them into different corners of the room. They fought, but unarmed combatants can only do so much against spears and short swords, even if said spears and short swords are wielded by goblins. For these goblins, like everything else in the Labyrinth it appeared, were firmly within Ceallach's control.
The sound of heavy shuffling came next, a bulky shadow falling across the doorway. Sarah's heart sank as she recognized the oversized frame of her one time friend, despair ripe in her voice.
"Ludo."
"Hold her. Make sure she cannot move."
Sarah found herself engulfed by the large, hairy arms of the great beast she cared for. She pleaded with him to release her, trying to wriggle free from his grasp, but his hold only tightened during her struggles, and his dull, lifeless eyes stared at his so called master, awaiting further orders. The goblins that had swarmed her split off, each adding to the mass surrounding both Jason and Jareth
Ceallach stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips, shaking his head as though he were a parent, chastising naughty children for some prank or another.
"Honestly, did you not think I wouldn't anticipate this? No, no, Sarah, you've misbehaved, and for that, you must suffer."
She could feel herself begin to hyperventilate and she renewed her struggles, failing to notice when the breath was driven from her lungs with the ever tightening grip, all she could focus on was the driving need to get away, before he could lay his hands on her again.
"Yes, Sarah, you must suffer, but the punishment isn't yours alone."
Sarah felt a spark of relief course through her, followed by gut wrenching guilt when he turned his attention to Jason.
"Bind him."
The stern order was instantly obeyed and Jason was tied in the center of the room, directly in front of Sarah and Jareth, arms once more extended over his head, held in place by a chain that extended from the ceiling.
"No, Sarah, your punishment will be knowing you brought this on your companion, your ally. Know that you are the seed for his destruction, just as you will be the downfall of Jareth's. Then, and only then, will I take a more personal interest in bringing you to heel. Watch closely now, for this is where I excel in my art."
Sarah felt all the breath leave her body and her blood turned to ice in her veins.
Jason shot her an encouraging grin as best as he was able, even as the chains were drawn taut, yanking his arms up at a far more painful angle than before. He grunted, and forced out his next words.
"If you talking is part of the punishment, this is torture already."
Sarah felt an answering smile tug at the corner of her mouth, even as tears filled her eyes. Ceallach merely chuckled and strode to the table to choose his first tool. She lowered her head as she was dragged back a pace, and held off the ground next to Jareth.
"Do not dishonor him this way." The Goblin King murmured in a low voice, barely audible.
She turned her head slightly to meet his gaze, eyes wide with surprise. He answered her unvoiced question.
"He gives himself over to this for your cause. For our cause. He knew danger lay ahead, and still he chose this path. Bear witness, Sarah, to acknowledge his bravery, if nothing else."
Comprehension dawned slowly and she turned her gaze back to Jason, just in time to see Ceallach slice one shoulder open with a wicked, curved blade. She stifled her cry of disdain, seeing Jason bite down on his lip to keep from crying out. She would bear this in silence as long as he did.
Minutes passed by agonizingly slow and Sarah watched numbly as Ceallach methodically went through his repertoire, explaining in detail the best areas to cut, gouge, or burn to cause the maximum amount of pain in the victim while keeping them conscious. He was only too glad to demonstrate his skill.
The first few minutes, Jason managed to retort with his usual sarcastic barbs.
He stopped speaking when Ceallach sliced open the backs of his knees, opting instead to bite his lip further, until he bled.
When Ceallach crushed his feet, he opted to begin screaming, despite his best efforts.
By the time Ceallach was using a poker on his naked back, Jason could do little more than flinch, smearing the brand across his skin.
Still, Sarah and Jareth bore witness, though when Jason began screaming, Sarah took her cue, pleading for him to be left alone. Tears streamed freely down her face and she forced herself not to gag as the sickly sweet smell of burning flesh assaulting her senses.
Ceallach ignored her cries. And Sarah wept on.
Later, much later, though whether it was hours or days, Sarah couldn't rightfully tell, when Ceallach stepped back to survey his handiwork, he looked over his shoulder and smirked at Sarah, his next words piercing her straight through the heart.
"And to think, you could have ended all of this by choosing Jareth in his place. You refused to play the game, Sarah, now you must pay the penalty."
He waved a hand and Jason was dropped unceremoniously to the floor, Sarah winced at the dull thud echoing in the chamber. With a snap of his fingers, she was dropped by Ludo and he shuffled out, followed by the myriad goblins serving to guard her and Jareth. She ignored all movement, and the pain of landing on the hard floor in favor of keeping her eyes glued on the mangled, torn mess of a human body that had her best friend's face. As the room emptied, she crawled to him, only dimly aware of Jareth following close behind.
"Jason?" Her voice came out in a strangled whisper.
He was so still. So completely and utterly still. Sarah felt an iciness welling within her, rising to the surface and numbing every place it touched. No, he couldn't be. She refused to believe he could be.
She sobbed in relief when he gave a choking cough and crawled the last few feet to him to gently lift him and cradle him as best she could, holding his head to her shoulder.
"Jason? Jason, talk to me. Tell me you're going to be ok!"
She vaguely registered a warmth washing over her hands and glanced down biting back a horrified cry at what she saw.
Jason's blood. Flowing freely over her arms. With a stifled sob she scrambled to press her hands over the wound, but more blood flowed. She sobbed openly now and looked pleadingly at the Goblin King.
"Jareth! Help me! We have to stop the bleeding. I can't stop the bleeding! Help me, please!"
"Sarah. . ." He spoke her name softly, as he knelt across from her, on the other side of Jason.
She heard the finality in his tone and shook her head frantically. "No! No, I won't let it happen! Help me. Help me! I can use the Labyrinth's power to help him, can't I? Can't I?!"
"Not this late, Sarah."
"You reordered time, Jareth. Can't I do it, too?"
"I was King."
She bowed her head, still shaking it, as though if she denied the truth hard enough, the truth would change itself to her will.
"No, please. There has to be something!"
"Don't cry, sweetheart."
She snapped to attention at the words, and in truth barely heard them, they were spoken in such a weak voice.
"Jason!" she gasped. "Jason, hold on, I'm going to figure out how to save you!"
"Already. . .did. Saved me from the Council. From myself." He lifted a hand to her face and she caught it, weeping anew when she saw the agony that simply gesture caused.
"Jason, lie still." Jareth murmured. "Move as little as possible."
Sarah was surprised to hear the gentle tone with which Jareth spoke, and surprised even further when he addressed Jason by name, having never heard him do so in the past.
Jason smiled at Jareth and coughed again, a thin line of blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "Ha. I knew you liked me."
"I respect you. I will see you remembered for this, Jason. Always."
"Take care of her."
Jareth simply nodded.
Sarah knew she should be annoyed at the byplay, at their talking about her as though she weren't there, but she couldn't find it in her heart to scold either of them. Not when Jason lay in her arms, bleeding his life away on the cold stone floor. Not when she heard an ominous rattling sound from his lungs with every painful breath he took.
"Jason." She spoke his name again, pleading with him.
"Sorry, sweetheart, I can't see this through like I promised."
"Jason, don't, please. . .please don't."
"Promise me three things, Sarah."
"Anything."
"First, don't blame yourself. It isn't your fault, no matter what that bastard said." He sucked in a breath and she knew it was getting harder and harder for him to speak clearly. "Second, kick his ass. Kick his ass good."
She nodded. "I can do that. I promise you I will."
"Good. Last. Fix the Council. Make it what it should be, what it can be. I think you're the only one who can."
Tears streamed faster down her cheeks and she bowed her head, nodding silently, unable to speak beyond the lump in her throat.
"Good." He sighed, his breathing little more than wheezing gasps. He managed one more weak grin in Jareth's direction. "You. . .you weren't so bad, for a Fae."
"Nor you, for a human."
Sarah felt Jason weakly squeeze the hand she held and she looked up into his face. He smiled at her, a genuine smile, heartbreakingly beautiful.
"Love you, sweetheart. You were my best friend, too. I just didn't realize it until too late."
"I love you, Jason. Thank you for being my friend."
She listened to his pain wracked breathing as it slowed, though the smile stayed on his face until she heard that last, hollow sounding sigh and watched the light dim from his eyes while his hand went limp in her grasp.
It was much too soon. Much, much, too soon.
"Jason?" She shook his hand slightly. Nothing. "Jason! Jason, no!" An anguished keening rose in her chest, until her pain was loosed in a long, wordless scream.
She gathered him close and wept, mindless of the blood smearing across her frame. Dimly, she registered hands prying her loose and she struggled to hold on through her tears. She was far too weak to maintain her grasp and was dragged away from the body of her best friend. She struggled, beating at the chest of the one who held her tight, keeping a firm hold on her flailing arms. Her strikes slowed until, finally, she went limp in the embrace. And when her head was pressed firmly into a shoulder she welcomed the warmth and gave herself over to her grief, crying until her throat felt swollen shut, and her eyes and nose were raw. This time, when darkness rose to claim her, she sank gratefully into the void.
End Chapter 14
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Author's Notes II: I only reiterate what I stated above. Please don't kill me!! Let me know what you think, and in this case, I won't mind hate mail, if y'all actually liked Jason. I liked him, too… Thanks for reading, and see you next chapter!!