A/N: I'll be the first to admit that this chapter feels "weird". I can't decide what to do to fix these last few chapters, so please offer constructive criticism! Thank you!
Chapter 21: Changes
Tana tapped an ink pen on her desk impatiently. It had been four days since her last contact with anyone from the Labyrinth. It was hard to contact Taviki and Hoggle, without her sister noticing. She needed privacy to talk to them; especially with Taviki's rather rambunctious nature. She shifted, feeling completely out of place in the office she had spent so much of her adult life in.
At first, she refused to admit that something deep within her had changed. It wasn't just that it felt like there was now a bottomless pit clawing at her heart nonstop. She could almost have dealt with that pain. There were other changes that she couldn't hide.
She hadn't noticed the physical changes until her sister commented on them. Callie had noticed her eyes were now a golden honey color instead of chocolate brown; Tana covered it up by telling her it was new contacts. Her hair had also transformed into satiny smooth spirals, and she blamed it on a new conditioner. Callie had been suspicious, but accepted the explanation without too much of a fuss. Lying to her sister wasn't the hardest part.
What threw her off the most was that things made of Iron now gave her a rash. The first time it happened, she chalked it up to an allergic reaction. Maybe there was something in the dish soap that aggravated her? But after the handle of her favorite cast iron skillet left a nasty burn on her palm, she knew.
After all of that, Tana had to admit the truth. Her Fae blood had been awakened, and her life would never go back to normal.
Restlessness ate at her. Pacing the apartment while Callie sprawled on the couch, she found her gaze flitting to the windows constantly. No matter how many times she looked, the one thing she longed to see never appeared.
Finally, Callie's voice interrupted her train on thoughts. "You're going to wear a hole in the floor, you know. The neighbors are gonna hate us."
Tana dropped into a chair. "I'm sorry. I think I'm just a little stir crazy."
Her sister sat up a little straighter. "Wanna go out tonight?"
She chewed her lip. Did she really want to? Not particularly. Then again, it might be a good distraction. "Sure."
Several hours later, Tana sipped a drink in a bar while Callie flirted playfully. She glanced around, but knew that the head of wild dark blond hair she wanted to see wouldn't appear. It'd been five days, at least, since she'd seen him last. Not since the dream.
Callie poked her in the side, distracting her from her thoughts. "Let's go dance!" Putting her drink down, Tana nodded absently and followed her sister's lead.
*Meanwhile, in the Castle Beyond the Goblin City*
Prince Jareth paced the castle. Something was most certainly amiss, but what? The Labyrinth's gates were closed, which meant there was or had been a runner within its walls. So why couldn't he remember? He was its guardian! It seemed the more he tried, the more elusive it became. The memory was like water slipping through his fingers, and it was infuriating.
His father refused to help him. It was part of the challenge, he'd said. He could not interfere, as the Labyrinth was now testing his will. The Prince was on his own.
Most unnerving of all, was an angry, snarling instinct inside him, demanding he find this person. He'd never experienced anything like it. It was like a part of himself had been cut off, and now everything within him was screaming to find its missing half.
Anger, frustration, and an unknown ache spurred him out and over the Labyrinth. Flying low over the walls, his sharp eyes searched for something that would trigger any sort of memory. Giving up, he headed towards the entrance. No one entered the Labyrinth without the gate-keeper knowing.
Higgle (or something, he never could quite remember the Dwarf's name) was spraying pixie-type fairies at the gate. Something important niggled at him. Pixies. That was significant. He'd look more into that later, after he was done with Higwig.
Hoggle jumped and flattened himself to the ground when Jareth landed and transformed, smushing his bulbous nose to the dry earth. "Your Majesty," his muffled voice said, not daring to look up. "What a pleasant surprise."
Jareth barely held back a snort. It was clear the dwarf was no more delighted to see him than he was to be there at the present moment. "Hoghead."
"Hog-gle!" the dwarf snapped, raising himself up. Just like his father, this one was. What Sarah saw in the King, he'd never know.
"Yes." Jareth continued absently, inclining his head. "Tell me, have you been helping a runner?"
Hoggle eyed him suspiciously, a familiar lie slipping past his lips easily. "Helping? I was leading her back to the beginnin'. Little lady gave me the slip though."
The prince's eyes narrowed; he knew the dwarf was lying. It was hard to call him on it, since he didn't particularly want to give away that he had lost his memory. But, he also needed to know who this girl was. That instinct was snarling, something struggling to remember what he'd forgot. The memory was just at the surface of his mind, barely out of reach, like a phrase dangling on the tip of his tongue. Tamping down his pride, he snapped at the dwarf. "Where did you last see her? Don't lie to me Hoggle, or else it's straight to the bog." he warned.
Sweat broke out on the Dwarf's brow at the piercing look the Prince gave him, and he began stammering. "Well, uh, you see, erm, she..."
Jareth grabbed him by the vest, lifting him up. "Spit it out, or else it's the bog!"
"THE CASTLE!" He cried, grabbing the Prince's wrist.
Jareth's eyes widened, and he dropped the dwarf in surprise. "WHAT?" He roared. No. She couldn't have! But then, the gates still closed... she must have won. His stomach plummeted. Glancing towards the hill that runners typically began, he was assailed by a sudden memory. Milk-chocolate colored eyes and unruly brown hair lifting in the breeze, resolution and determination etched onto her face as she headed off. The admiration he'd felt for her strength.
The name rose the the surface of his mind. Tana. How could he have forgotten? A headache began to pulse in his temples as the memories came faster now, every moment spent with her returning. Seeing her in the oubliette, sending the washers after her; feeling every sensation as she brushed against him as they danced; the heat that had flared between them when their lips had met. Guilt crashed through him. How could he have allowed the Pixie magic to overwhelm him and make him forget? He had helped her, and had suffered for it.
She must have remembered, otherwise, she would still be lost and trapped within the maze. Her will and determination was as strong as his. The Labyrinth was truly a cruel entity, to force him to suffer the loss of her memory. He may have never remembered his Future Queen. The stirring within him snapped and growled, demanding he find her, bring her back where she belonged. He gripped his chest, where the squeezing and clawing ached. It was painful enough to bring lesser men to their knees. He needed her. She was the piece that had been missing.
Grabbing Hoggle by the vest again, he snarled at the dwarf. "Where is she?"
The dwarf looked terrified, struggling against Jareth's powerful hold. "Home! She went home!"
Throwing Hoggle several feet, the Prince vanished.
*Meanwhile, Several beverages later*
The drinks were starting to take effect. Tana focused on the music, hips finding the rhythm on their own as she moved. Callie giggled drunkenly and leaned close to Tana, shouting to be heard over the music. "Looks like we've got some admirers!"
Glancing around, she noted the leering of the very human men around them. At one time, she would have been flattered by their attention. Now, she simply shrugged it off. Their appreciative gazes meant nothing. None had piercing eyes that made her heart race; none could soothe her with a sweep of magic brushing over her skin. They all paled in comparison.
Pausing only a moment to take another drink, she again joined in the crush of human dancers. This club was entirely unlike the dream she'd had; the Fae had danced lightly, natural sunlight a sharp contrast to the flashing strobe she was currently under. The oppressive scent of sweat and tight crush of bodies was different too, as well as the vibration of the music. Callie's eyes were bright, a smile stretching across her lips as she lapped up the attention, reveling in the heavy bass. At least her sister was having fun. This was all overwhelming to her newly sensitized senses.
The alcohol was slowly working its magic on her system, making the noise and scents bearable. Slowly, she began to relax and enjoy moving her hips to the rhythm. It was no Fae dance, but she was still moving with music and others for the joy of it.
Callie noted the slow change in Tana, and smiled. This is just what her sister needed, she thought, a night out. Tana just hadn't been herself lately. It was a relief to see the smile curling her sister's lips. Callie didn't know what had been bothering Tana lately, but it was almost like she was back to her old self tonight. Needing to use the facilities, she shouted to Tana that she'd be right back and wove her way through the partiers, hunting for the inevitably disgusting restrooms.
Tana nodded at her sister, opting to remain on the dance floor. With the alcohol buzzing through her system, she could almost imagine she was back in the glade, among the Fae. If she closed her eyes, she could see it, bright and vivid in her minds' eye. When strong arms wrapped around her from behind, she could pretend it was him for a moment, those mis-matched orbs burning with intensity as he took her into his arms. She leaned into the embrace, willing, for just a moment, to stay lost in her fantasy.
Her body moved with his, heat burning low in her belly as she envisioned her Prince was the one holding her. She felt his hands on her hips, gently urging her to turn to face him. No, she wouldn't comply. If she did, the fantasy would shatter, and she'd be back in the damp, dirty human bar. Eyes closed, she could imagine it was his hands on her hips, sliding sensually over her waist, his breath sending shivers down her spine as it caressed her neck.
So lost in her fantasy, she barely registered the change in music. It became quieter, low piano notes replacing the bass. The vibration from the heavy bass gone, and it felt...still.
She must be really drunk, she decided. Sighing in disappointment that her fantasy had been disrupted, she turned to excuse herself from the man she'd been dancing with.
And it was him, looking at her with that intensity that stole her breath and sent heat crashing through her. She shuddered, and a sense of rightness clicked within her. Her body molded to his perfectly, the scent of him comforting as she buried her face into his firm chest, reciprocating his tight embrace. She was home.
The song...the one that was playing...she knew this song...
It was her song.
"Jareth." She murmured, nuzzling his firm chest. "Where were you?"
Pain shot across his face as he stroked her hair. "The Pixie magic."
Daring a glance at him, she was surprised to see the remorse in his eyes. "It's ok. I understand. You helped me when you weren't supposed to." Then she glanced around at the club; everyone around them was frozen in place. Caught between amusement and annoyance, she asked "What did you do?"
His lips quirked. "I have re-ordered time, and I have done it all for you."
Dipping her head to hide her smile, she looked at him through her long lashes. "What now then, your Majesty?"
With one hand on her chin, he drew her eyes up to meet his. He offered no reply, choosing instead to capture her lips with his, pouring all of his confusion, frustration, admiration, and need into it. That ancient, primal instinct to possess her growled in approval, rising to a fever-pitch when delicate fingers tangled in his wild hair as she met his passion. The inferno between them left them both gasping as they broke apart, Tana's eyes wide. No words were needed as they vanished from the dance floor, the activity resuming.
Callie blinked when she returned to the dance floor, finding her sister gone. Where was she? Looking around, there was no sign of her anywhere. She'd only been gone for five minutes; she couldn't have gone far, right? Pulling out her phone, she started trying to reach her sister.
Worried when she didn't receive a response right away, Callie was on the brink of calling for help when her phone gave a small "ding".
"Met a friend and went for a coffee. Don't wait up."
Callie grinned at the text. Responding that she wouldn't be home that night (and hoping that Tana got the hint), she went off to Brian's apartment. Mentally she cheered for her sister, hoping Tana had a long night ahead.
A/N: At this point in the story, I really started to struggle with writing the chapters. I'm posting it as-is deliberately, in hopes of getting some pointers. I hope you like the way I reunited the Prince and Tana! Thanks for reading! It's not over yet! :)