Disclaimer: Just writing a fun story.
Chapter 24
To forgive is divine
But vengeance is mine
"You're okay," Lochlan whispered as he scooped Tali up in his arms before she fainted. "You'll be fine."
"Bring her to the drawing room," Taggert ordered as Lochlan followed him out of the throne room. Kalin walked over to Toby and grabbed him by the hand to pull him away.
"Come with us," she said. "You should rest as well."
Toby tried to object. "But-"
"Let's. Go," she gritted out.
Sarah stood still and watched as everyone left before confronting Jareth.
"You can't go out there. Not right now," Sarah implored. "You look drained, tired. You never look tired."
Jareth looked up at the ceiling as he inhaled deeply. "There's no reason to delay the inevitable."
"Did you forget that you just had iron ripped out of you?" she pointed out. "You're weakened. And if Sawyer sees you now, he'll know it."
"While he's in the Labyrinth, I could be half asleep, dreaming about kittens," he said. "No one can defeat me and my Labyrinth."
"I did," Sarah quickly responded.
Jareth turned to face her as he transformed into his Goblin King regalia. "You weren't in the Labyrinth as an enemy, encountering it as a hostile."
Sarah remembered when he told her the true intent behind his mother building the maze. For these many years, it truly had been used as child's play, but not this time.
"Okay. Okay," she conceded with a nod.
"And if I catch you outside this castle," he warned her, as his mouth thinned to a serious expression. "I'll lock you in my highest tower flanked by guards for every hour of the day until I see you can follow orders."
"Can't threaten me, you know," Sarah said crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm ruler over the Court; you're not."
Jareth walked over to her and, when he reached her, he lifted her chin up in order to look directly in her eyes.
"Do you wish to test me?" he asked her.
Sarah paused for a moment as her eyes narrowed. "No," she simply answered.
Jareth lowered his head and placed a small kiss on her lips. When he took a step back, he opened his mouth to say something, but Sarah interrupted him.
"You don't need to call anyone to come get me," she groused as she pulled away from him. "I need to be with Toby anyway."
Before she could walk completely out of his reach, Jareth snatched her arm and pulled her into a close embrace.
"Are you…are you afraid to face Sawyer?" Sarah mumbled into his breastplate.
"Of course not," he refuted. "I'm merely thrilled that you decided to listen to me. You have no idea how much I hate worrying about you." Sarah kissed him quickly on his cheek before walking away without saying anything. Jareth stared at the hallway she exited through for a few moments before turning his attention to Labyrinth.
Jareth peered out the window to see Sawyer leaving the Goblin City, toward the gate. His eyes went black as he reached out with his gloved hand. Rotating his hand slowly, a loud groan emanated from the maze as the walls moved in accordance to Jareth's will.
"What are you doing?" Lochlan asked as he entered the throne room.
Thankfully, Jareth was not distracted by his brother's outburst, even if the question caused him annoyance.
"I could ask you the same thing," Jareth said as he continued his manipulation. He noticed that Sawyer pause at gate, visibly confused by what was occurring around him. When the sound stopped, he continued through the gateway, as though he gave no thought to the movement that occurred around him.
"Why did you turn the Labyrinth around?" Lochlan asked.
"For fun," Jareth smirked as he turned to face his brother. "Again, why are you here?"
"I couldn't stand to let you have all the fun by yourself," he replied.
"I don't need your help," Jareth said. "You should be with Tali."
"The same could be said about you in regard to Sarah," Lochlan said as he walked to the window. "So, enough with this stalling. Where is he?"
Sawyer ran through the giant gate and turned right without giving much thought to where he was going. He found it odd when he saw the entire maze move as he approached it from the Goblin City, but Sawyer wasn't going to stay still long enough to figure out what was happening. Besides, he was good at puzzles. This was a maze after all- just another puzzle to solve. He hoped that the iron knife would kill the Goblin King, but he doubt just anyone could manipulate these walls. Sawyer slowed his steps before coming to a stop. Or maybe they move on their own. He shook his head, banishing the thought from his mind as he started to run again.
That would be preposterous. He didn't kill the Goblin King, but at least, the incident gave him time to get away.
After several minutes, Sawyer's run became a jog before turning into a walk. Every so often, he would turn around to confirm that he wasn't being followed.
"What type of bloody maze has no turns?" he whispered to himself. Sawyer didn't know how long he has been in this stupid place, but he was shocked that he hasn't come across anyone- not even the Goblin King or his atrocious brother. Sawyer continued to plod along as the seconds turned to minutes. He had no idea how much time went by. The darkened night sky wasn't giving him any comfort.
"Confused about where to go?" a voice that filled the air asked him. Sawyer took out another knife and held it out as he spun in a circle, attempting to figure out where the source was. Although Sawyer had come to terms with the fact that the Goblin King was alive, now that he had concrete proof, part of him was still upset that he survived. "I have better things to do than talk to you in person."
"Hiding away, like a coward," Sawyer taunted.
An annoyed sigh filled the passageway. "I would really like for all of this to be done by dinner," Jareth's voice said. "I would advise you to turn to your left and then turn right."
Sawyer turned to his left to see the same stone wall of the Labyrinth that he had seen for a while now. However, now that he had time to focus, he realized that a magical energy emanated from these stones.
"Turn right, you say?" Sawyer snorted. "As though I would be dumb enough to follow your directions." He walked through the hidden passage and turned left, ignoring Jareth's instructions. Sawyer took one step before the stone floor gave way. He screamed in shock and panic as he fell through the ground.
"Such a pity," Jareth's voice echoed through the hole.
Quickly comprehending that the walls were lined with some sort of overhanging branches, Sawyer hysterically reached out his hands, grasping the plants to stop his fall. However, he soon realized that these were not sturdy tree branches, but rather, a slightly flimsy moss of some kind that broke off when he pulled on it.
"Gah!" he cried out in pain as he struggled to grasp the greenery. Continuing to fall, he tried to get a better hold. Sawyer felt his nails scratching against the rocky wall as he attempted to grab onto the moss. A few nails peeled off as he finally clutched a fist full of the vegetation, halting his fall. He looked up to see the hole he fell through was still open. Peering down, he only saw darkness which didn't allow him to see how far he was from the ground. He reached up to grab another bunch of moss, hoping he could climb his way out. Ignoring the sickly feeling of the blood from his fingertips running down his hands, he successfully pulled himself up several feet, taking a rest before trying again.
A distanced screech of a bird echoed through the hole causing Sawyer to look up, wondering if he could see what was causing that noise. The bird swooped down into the hole and then perched on a stone near Sawyer that jutted out of the wall. The osprey turned its head to the side as it seemed to consider Sawyer's current state.
Sawyer was certain that this was either Lochlan or Jareth. Against his better judgment, he sneered in its face.
"Wanted a closer look?" Sawyer huffed out as he reached up to grab onto more greenery. "Nothing else better to do?"
When Sawyer got a hold of the moss, the osprey pecked his right hand, causing him to let go. Now, he was only holding on with one hand as he dangled against the wall.
"Ow! You bloody bird," he cursed. His right hand attempted to grab onto the moss, but he was pecked again. This time, the bird didn't stop as it continued to peck at both his hands.
Sawyer tried to ignore the pain as the bird pecks cut deeper into his flesh. However, the bird was causing him too much pain.
"Blasted bird," he snarled before his hands slipped as he fell again.
Not having to fall as long as before, he hit the ground like a rag doll. Sawyer cried out in pain before he nearly choked on the dirt that swirled around him. He lifted up his head to observe his new surroundings. He was in a cave of some sort with only a few lit torches on the wall which provided the little light that illuminated the area. His palms dug into the floor as he struggled to lift himself to his feet.
"How do I get out of here?" he wondered aloud.
"If I tell you how to get out again, will you listen this time?"
Sawyer spun around, regretting his quick actions when he felt his back crack in resistance. The Goblin King stood several feet in front of him, wearing an imposing outfit that Sawyer had never seen before.
"Am I to believe that you this way was any better than the other?" he countered. "I could have fallen into a lake of filled with kelpie or a questing beast!"
"Don't be absurd," Jareth scoffed. "The Questing beast is on the other side of the Labyrinth."
Sawyer glared at Jareth as his heavy breathing filled the otherwise still air of the cave. "You wish to kill me, don't you? So, just get it over with!"
A small pitying smile formed on Jareth's lips as he approached Sawyer.
"My bloodlust was quenched with Roux," he admitted. "But you- I plan to have a little fun, and you should too. This is a game after all: winners and losers. There's always a way out of this."
"And how is that?"
"By solving my Labyrinth, of course," Jareth answered.
"That's all I have to do? Get through this blasted thing, and you'll let me go?" Sawyer said.
"You make it sound so simple," he said. "Only one other individual defeated this place. Not in your most elaborate dreams would you match her in strength or will."
"It's just a maze- just a game."
Jareth looked at Sawyer's still bleeding hands. "You've must have played your fair share of games as a child. Maybe that explains why you are this way."
"Do not speak on things which you know nothing about," Sawyer warned.
"Did I hit a nerve?" Jareth asked as he raised an eyebrow. He began to slowly circle around him. "Does all this madness arise out of some desperate need for attention?"
"Shut up," Sawyer said, standing his ground, trying to act unaffected.
"It's so difficult for faes to have children that one would think that every child would be treated well by their parents," Jareth surmised. "But, it's clear that yours did not."
"Are you going to help me get out of here, or did you come here to talk about me?"
"Certainly not the former," he answered.
"Then, you are of no use to me," Sawyer mumbled as he walked down the cave. However, Jareth appeared in front of him, preventing him from moving forward.
"Is that how you view people? Whether or not they have use for you?" Jareth questioned.
"Why do you even care?"
"I find you mildly interesting. There are very few individuals such as yourself in the Underground," Jareth explained. "What sort of use was Sarah to you?"
Sawyer's face turned bright red as he glared into Jareth's eyes. "You love throwing her in my face, don't you?"
"It's a button I like to push," Jareth sneered. Sawyer lifted up his arm and took a swing at Jareth, but his fist only hit air. A haughty chuckle caused Sawyer to turn around.
"You're barely worth my time," Jareth said. "Why would I physically be here, with you, in this horrid place? Faes love illusions as you know."
"You- you are a bizarre fae," Sawyer gritted out. "What was the point of all this?"
"A distraction," Jareth stated as he faded away.
Sawyer felt the rumbling underneath his feet before he saw anything. The sound of insect wings beating and a distinct hissing sound cause Sawyer's heart to palpitate in fear and uncertainty. However, he was unable to leave, wanting to see what could be the source of all this noise. The torches on the tunnel walls that were previous cold, alighted to expose what was coming toward him.
"Shit!" he yelled as he quickly turned to run away from the thousands of scarab beetles tumbled toward him.
Sawyer took a right when a fork in the tunnel presented itself. Even though he thought his head start would give him enough room between him and the creatures chasing him, he felt the rumbling of the ground intensified with every step he took. Curiosity got the better of him as he turned his head to the side and immediately saw several hundred beetles crawling up the wall and flying behind him. He didn't need to know what these creatures would do if they caught up to him to realize that he must find a way to run faster. The sweat pouring down his face and the pain in his legs didn't slow him down as he took a sharp left down another dark corridor.
Suddenly, the feeling of small legs crawling up his back affected him his running, causing him to lose his footing a couple of times. The beetles bit into his back as he struggled to swat them off his body. A sliver of moonlight could be seen in the distance giving Sawyer hope that he would not be eaten alive by these wretched bugs. As he got closer to the source of light, he noticed that the light had to come from another corridor. Turning right, he was accosted by the low level of light, since he was in the cave for so long. However, he kept his running pace as his eyes grew accustomed to the change in scenery. The pathway changed to stairs causing Sawyer to release a curse, knowing that going up these steps slowed his speed. But, he could now smell fresh air for the first time in a while. Ignoring the biting on his backs and the horde of beetles behind him, Sawyer ran up the steps as fast as he could. He began to panic when he noticed that the stairway narrowed as he traveled further up the steps. He looked up to the origin of the light and saw that the exit to this hell-hole appeared smaller than he originally thought it was.
"No, no, no," Sawyer huffed, hoping that he could still escape. He cried out in pain as more beetles crawled on his back and legs, biting at his neck and ankles. He ran up the steps but noticed before it was too late that he had to jump to reach the opening in the ceiling. With the little strength he had left, Sawyer jumped from the final step, reaching out with both hands to grasp onto the ledge, his way out of this cave.
"Gah!" he yelled in pain as his hands held tightly to the stone opening. He looked behind him as all the beetles that were following him fell into the pit below, even though he still had to suffer through the pain of the beetles on his back. Sawyer pulled himself up as he finally nearly dragged himself out of the cave. His arms gave way as he fell on his stomach; the beetles on his back fading to dust.
"Hello," an amused, nasally voice said to him.
Sawyer lifted his head off the sand stone ground to see who was talking to him as a strong, sour smell hit him before he could see who was talking to him. He was taken aback by her gleaming golden eyes and pointed teeth that were present as she smiled at him. Dressed in a simple brown dress, she had brown, thick hair that reached past her elbows. Curiously enough, the woman appeared to have a light layer of visible hair all over her body.
"Oh," she said looking down at his hands. She reached out to touch his hand. "You look hurt-"
"Don't bloody touch me!" Sawyer yelled as he struggled to rise to his feet. The warm smile that was previously on her face twisted into a frown.
"I was only trying to help!" she snarled as her body began to transform.
Sawyer took a few steps back as the woman hunched her shoulders, the clothes on her body falling away. The woman transformed into a large hyena that stood tall on its back legs, the previously golden eyes, now glowed red. Her small mouth morphed into a large muzzle as her mouth snarled at the fae.
"Oh. Damn," Sawyer whispered to himself as he walked backward, the hyena stalking towards him.
Jareth chuckled as he sat in the window of his throne room, looking into a crystal. Lochlan paced back and forth, shooting annoyed glances at his brother.
"Having a grand ole time?" Lochlan questioned.
Jareth ceased his laughter as he turned to his brother, giving him a frown. "And why should I not find joy in this turn of events? This fool actually found a buda that was willing to help him, and now, due to his foolhardiness, he's being chased by a hyena. How could you not find amusement in that?"
"We should be out there," Lochlan countered. "At least, let me deal with him. Why are we lounging around here?"
"I already let you out of your cage for a while. We are allowing the Labyrinth to do what it was meant to do," Jareth stated as he returned his attentions to the crystal. "You want to get your hands dirty for no reason. A little patience goes a long way."
Lochlan sighed. "You're one to talk about patience."
"Just wait," Jareth said. "I'll let you out to play again. I promise."
Lochlan's only response was a grumble.
"If you can't be patient, take a walk around the castle or off a cliff," Jareth suggested. "Better use of your time than having to listening to you complain."
"I'm not-"
"Yes, you are," Jareth countered. "This is the first time I'm not interfering with a run. If you're not interested in how my labyrinth plays out, then there are enough rooms in this castle for you to barricade yourself in. Stay or go. But if you stay, I forbid you from annoying me."
"Arguing about how best to torture that irrational fae?" Taggert asked as he walked into the throne room, biting into a piece of bread he held in his hand. "Somehow, you two can always find a way to be at each other's neck. Must be a skill passed through your genes."
"I thought you said you would watch Sarah," Jareth said with irritation in his voice.
"She's stuck in a room with Tali and Kalin," he answered. "If she's able to escape their prying eyes, Sarah deserves a medal."
"I should be insulted," Sarah remarked as she scrutinized the guards stationed outside the castle below her balcony. "Why does he think I need to be guarded?"
"Probably because you placed yourself between Jareth and that nut job, scaring Jareth to death," Kalin said from inside the room. "And, because you told him you would stay still before and didn't listen. Also-"
"Ok!" Sarah snapped. "I get your point. But I can't see anything that's happening. They must not be in this area of the Labyrinth."
"Will the guards know it was me if I spit and it falls on their head?" Toby asked as he stood next to Sarah, leaning over the guard rail.
"Gross," Sarah said, grabbing him by the back of the collar, pulling him away from the railing. "And I don't need all of you guys in here. There are guards posted outside my room as well."
"Considering you are supposed to be lying down, but you aren't," Tali said sarcastically. "I'm sure you would do as you were told if we all weren't here."
Sarah gave her lady-in-waiting a disparaging glare. "I don't need this snarky tone right now."
"Too bad," Tali said as she pulled the blankets on Sarah and Jareth's bed. "Now, lie down and think about something else."
Sarah crossed her arms over her chest as she refused to do as she was told. She opened her mouth, about to say something. However, Tali cut her off.
"Don't make me get Jareth," Tali threatened. "And you know that he will stop whatever he's doing in order to come here."
"No, he won't," Sarah scoffed as she padded toward the bed, even though she thought otherwise.
"So, is this what you do all day?" Toby asked as he followed Sarah into the room. "Lie around and complain all day?"
Tali snorted while Kalin merely rolled her eyes before sitting in the chair near the bed. However, Sarah gave Toby a glare that caused him to stop in his tracks.
"I was just joking?" he said as his voice rose, hoping to tepid any angry reaction that she may have.
"Shut up and sit down," Sarah ordered as pointed to the edge of the bed. Toby shuffled to the bed, knowing that nothing good would come from it.
"Are you going to yell at me?" he asked. "It seems like you are going to yell at me."
"Oh, this is going to get interesting," Kalin said as she walked toward the door. She opened it, catching the attentions of both guards. "Could you bring us some tea and some snacks?"
"I'll get it," Tali said as she walked out the door. She turned around to give Kalin a leveled stare. "Don't let her leave."
"Of course not, mother," Kalin smirked. She walked over the seating area and sat down, pretending as though she didn't care what was happening around her. Sarah shook her head at the blatant actions that Kalin took to appear not interested.
"Anyway," Sarah said. "I'm not angry with you, I promise." She reached out to give him a hug as he responded in kind. "I'm just happy you are okay. I can't imagine how scared you were."
"I wasn't scared," Toby said, shrugging off her concern.
"Really?" Sarah asked, not believing him.
"Well, maybe I was a little," he confessed.
"How did they get you?" she asked.
"Sawyer and that other guy were waiting in my room," Toby explained. Suddenly, reality hit him. "Oh shit! Mom and Dad must be freaking out? Wait- did they make mom and dad forget me?"
"No. And they definitely have not forgotten you," Sarah said as she held out her hand. The missing child letter that Avitus brought from Above sat in her hand. Toby grabbed it from her.
"Oh man," he whined. "Why did they have to use this picture? I haven't worn braces in a year. There has to be other pictures of me."
"Seriously?" Sarah said, shaking her head. "There are more important things to worry about."
"How am I going to explain this to them?" Toby asked. "Are you going to tell them about this place?"
Sarah was quiet for a moment, staring at blankets. "I don't know."
His breathing labored, Sawyer kept his frantic pace as the creature continued to chase him. He felt as though he was going in circles as he traversed the sandstone maze. As he hurried down the corridor, Sawyer turned left only to be met with a dead end. Frantically, he spun around to see how far away the creature was from him, but he was met with a wall instead.
"Wh-What?" he wondered aloud, trying to catch his breath. "I just came from there."
A loud crash against the wall made him to take a few steps back. Clawing on the wall and a low snarl let Sawyer know that he was still being followed. He threw his hands in the air in exasperation, not knowing what else he could do while trapped within these four walls. Before he could curse his misfortune to the sky, Sawyer noticed something different out of the corner of his eye: a passageway where there previously wasn't.
"This place," he muttered. "Sucks."
"Take that back," a voice boomed, startling him. Sawyer scowled but knew better than to say anything more as he started down the newly revealed path.
"You said that you wouldn't interfere!" Lochlan yelled. "The buda nearly had him! And you let him escape!"
"Did I not already tell you that you are free to leave?" Jareth snapped as he lounged in his throne.
Lochlan released a frustrated growl as he leaned against a wall.
"I must admit that I am a bit surprised by your attitude toward all this," Taggert said as he held a glass of goblin ale in his hand. "Especially since that cretin embedded an iron knife into your stomach."
Jareth briefly rested his hand on his abdomen before returning his attention to his chalice of goblin ale as he formed another crystal.
"Everyone believes that hatred must be met with hatred," Jareth said as he gazed at his chalice. "Nothing withers a soul more than apathy. He's not worth my emotions. Not yet."
"Does that make you feel better?" Taggert asked Lochlan as he handed the Unseelie King a drink.
"No," Lochlan answered in a petulant manner, snatching his glass from the Centaur King. He took a gulp before giving Taggert a conciliatory look. "Thank you."
"No worries," Taggert replied as he slapped him on the back.
"And why in the bloody hell are you cheerful?" Lochlan asked.
"Why aren't you?" Taggert countered. "I don't know what this Labyrinth does, but I doubt it's easy to solve. Sawyer's trapped. Your brother knows where that useless fae is at all times. No need to worry about something that is already under control."
Lochlan gave the centaur a pointed stare. "I'll have you know that your general attitude and disposition tends to rub me the wrong way."
"I know," Taggert said with a smile.
"Both of you, quiet," Jareth ordered, sitting up in his throne, gazing into his crystal. "He's heading for the Royal Groves."
Sawyer decided he no longer needed to run after the sounded from that hyena shapeshifter faded away. Sweat poured down his face even though the daylight slipped away hours ago, but he all but given up on trying to keep himself dry. His priority now was to get out of this maze alive.
As though that will happen, he ruefully thought to himself.
But regardless of his fate, he wasn't going to give up or lie down and die. Sawyer walked for a little while longer until he noticed a pathway that broke off to the right. However, the pathway leading straight ahead to an area that consisted of a tree canopy that stretched above the walls of the Labyrinth. This intrigued him more. He was tired of walking. His body needed a break, and what better way than to rest against a tree. He walked under the archway and stepped into the grove. The grove seemed vast, much larger than he previously thought. Nevertheless, right now, he was ecstatic to see a small group of peach trees, nestled together away from the other trees. Running for one's life tended to induce great pangs of hunger.
"I've never been this happy to see a piece of fruit in my life," he exhaled, reaching up to pick off a peach. Sawyer bit into the fruit, relishing the taste in his mouth. He looked around squinting to see the other trees around him now that he didn't have the aid of daylight. A single Lotus tree was planted directly across from the peach tree grove. It was large and imposing; its fruit was plentiful and enticing, yet he knew better than to go anywhere near that tree.
Sawyer had never seen one in person, only heard about it in lore. Clever, Sawyer thought. He thought the idea of having that particular tree in a maze was a truly cunning idea. According to legend, whoever ate of the lotus tree would forget his friends and family, losing his desire to return home in favor of living in idleness. Not keen on the idea that he was in the same area with a tree such as that, Sawyer turned around, wanting to return back from where he came. He cursed when he saw that the doorway he entered was now closed.
"Damn. Just damn," he whispered.
Sawyer continued to walk through the grove, hoping to find a simple way out. At least, the pebbled walkway was clear and unobstructive. His thoughts briefly considered what other sinister trees were planted here. The Lotus tree couldn't be the only one like that in here. Maybe the peach tree was placed near the entrance in order to entice someone inside.
"This bloody thing keeps changing," he moaned, shaking his head. Sawyer walked a few feet coming to a stop; his attention caught by an unusual tree whose features he could see clearly, even in the dark. His mouth twisted into a frown as he slowly approached the tree. The trunk of the tree appeared normal if not horribly twisted and warped from years of growth and abuse. However, the base of the tree is not what caught Sawyer's attention.
"What the hell?" Sawyer breathed as he cautiously grasped the fruit that hanged from the tree. He turned the plump fruit over in his hand. "Shit!" he exclaimed, dropping the fruit. The fruit was the same color of peach. However that's where the similarities ended. The surface of the fruit resembled a face, complete with eyes, nose, and mouth. Even though it appeared to be laughing at him, no sounds came out of it- a face frozen in laughter, staring at him. He took a step back to gawk at the rest of the tree and noticed that all the fruit on the tree appeared to be an array of faces, laughing in merriment.
"Bizarre tree, isn't it?" a calm voice behind him asked. Sawyer reeled around to see Lochlan standing in the pathway, gazing up at the tree instead of him. "My mother brought it from Above. I believe she called it a Jinmenju. I could be wrong about that. At the time, I was in the habit of blocking out her stories."
"What do you want?" Sawyer challenged as he took two steps back. Lochlan walked toward him but stopped to pick up the fruit that Sawyer dropped on the ground. He stared at Sawyer as he took a bit out of the fruit.
"You shouldn't let the fact that it looks like a human face stop you from eating it," Lochlan commented between chews. "It's quite pleasant."
"Have the two of you grown tired of watching me flail about?" Sawyer asked, suspiciously. "Decided it would be better to finish me off?"
Lochlan took one last bite of the odd fruit before tossing it back on the ground. "Don't tempt me," he warned. "I made a promise to not harm you, and I always keep my promises. Also, I've never been in the Labyrinth when someone was running it. This is exhilarating."
"Why are you here?" Sawyer asked as he felt a bit more emboldened.
Lochlan's mouth turned into a sly smile as humor danced across his features. "I believe the question you should be asking is what happened the last time one of us appeared in this Labyrinth."
Sawyer's face fell as his anxiety rose. His mouth went dry as his breathing quickly turned around in a circle, dreading any new intruders that were about to come out of nowhere. But he didn't see or hear anything. He turned to Lochlan.
"Liar," he accused as he walked passed the Unseelie King, continuing on the pathway.
"Watch out for the roots," Lochlan called out. "It's rude to hit them."
Sawyer scowled as he continued on his way, ignoring whatever useless insult that he was sure that Unseelie yelled at him. Nothing was coming after him, and he wasted too much time indulging that inferior king. Sawyer continued the ranting in his own head for a while as he made his way down the pebbled path until he approached a fork in the road.
"Gah! Why can't this place have one simple path?" Sawyer complained.
"It's a maze, you idiot," Jareth's voice echoed throughout the air.
"I know it's a maze!" Sawyer cried out to the sky. He rubbed his dirt and blood encrusted hands over his face, immediately regretting that decision.
"If it makes any difference, you're almost there," Lochlan whispered into Sawyer's ear, startling him. Sawyer spun around as he recoiled from Lochlan.
"And what reason do I have to believe you?" Sawyer asked.
Lochlan appeared to consider the question before shrugging it off. "You don't." Unexpectedly, Lochlan disappeared, leaving Sawyer alone again.
"I went right last time," Sawyer reasoned out loud. "At least, I believe I did. Might as well go left."
"I can't believe you put all these restrictions on me," Lochlan protested when he appeared in the throne room. "He was right in front of me. So easy to plunge a knife into his neck-"
"Your lack of patience has turned from slightly intolerable to outright maddening," Jareth said as he stood from his throne to walk toward the window.
"Why did you stop observing him in your crystal?" Taggert questioned, ignoring Lochlan's mini-rant.
"I know where he's going," Jareth said as he gazed upon his Labyrinth. "We'll hear from him soon."
Sawyer's rising nerves made him move from a walk to a jog. He found a nice running pace as he felt a wind on his back. Although nothing was behind him, he was anxious thinking that at any moment, something would run after him. Sawyer was tired of being in this place. If what he heard was correct, his time in this retched place would soon be over. As he continued his swift pace, he had no idea what he would do once he got out of here, but his weeks in the wilderness was luxury compared to the hours he spent in this maze.
The tall trees where thinning out, causing Sawyer to think that he was near the exit to the grove.
"Oh, thank the Fate- Argh!"
Sawyer tripped over several large roots in the road which made him fall of the pebbled pavement, his ragged hands breaking his fall.
"Dammit," he cursed as he inspecting his bleeding palms. He felt a throbbing in his knee before inspecting his left knee and seeing a cut open, dirt and blood intermingling.
A hissing noise startled Sawyer from the pain in his leg. The hissing intensified as it became clear that there was more than one creature causing that sound. A chill ran up his spine as he slowly turned around to see three massive silver-eyed cobras hovering over him; there fangs visible through their closed mouths. Their hoods were extended as they stared at him in the posturing position, setting themselves up nearly six feet high.
"Shit!" he exclaimed as he jumped to his feet and ran. One of the cobras struck the area he was resting before all three chased after him. Against his better judgment, Sawyer peaked over his shoulder as he ran, only to see three monstrous snakes closing in on him. He noticed that he was approaching another fork in the road. He picked up his pace, hoping that one of these roads would lead him out of there and away from those creatures.
A sharp pain emanated from his shoulder as he felt a set of fangs embed deep into his shoulder. The snake latched onto him, tackling him as the other snakes circled Sawyer's body. Sawyer's head hit the ground, and he swore he heard his skull crack before feeling his body being lifted in the air. Dizziness nearly overcame him as the snake's large body coiled around his own. He went in and out of consciousness as the pressure around him intensified as the only thing he could see was a pair of silver eyes staring back.
"Drop him," a calm, almost bored voice ordered the snake. A series of growling hisses rang out as the grip around Sawyer's torso strengthened.
"Don't make me repeat myself," the voice said, still in a calm manner. The pressure around Sawyer disappeared as he fell on the ground.
Sawyer struggled to open his eyes for a moment, but when he was finally able to open them fully, he observed the Goblin King chiding the oversized cobras, like a parent reprimanding a child.
"When I tell you to do something, I expect it to be done," he said to the reptiles. The cobras lowered their bodies in deference as their hoods retracted from their previously extended state.
"He kicked usssss," one of the snakes hissed as it turned its beady eyes to Sawyer. Jareth walked over to block the cobras' view of Sawyer. "Sssuch dissssrespect cannot be tolerated."
"And you believe I would permit such insolence to stand?" Jareth countered. The snakes said nothing as they kept their heads lowered. "Go back to your nest. You've done your part."
The snakes paused for a moment, giving one last glance at the battered fae, before leaving the two alone.
"Those three are those most kind, curious creatures in my Labyrinth," Jareth said as he sauntered toward Sawyer. "You do have a way with everyone you meet, don't you?"
"Kind?" Sawyer spat. "They nearly killed me!"
"Yes, they did," Jareth acknowledged. "And you're welcome. I'm not an expert in reptiles, but I doubt any such individual would take kindly to be kicked."
"I didn't kick anyone! I tripped over some overgrown roots in the road," he said.
"Ah, yes, those. Those roots are actually nagas in disguise. Sleeping because there are appallingly lazy," Jareth explained. "If I'm not mistaken, you were warned to watch your step."
Sawyer struggled to pull himself up to sit.
"Having trouble?" Jareth asked which provoked a glare from Sawyer. When he was finally able to sit up, his wounds became apparent. The naga got a nice clean bite into his shoulder. Blood was still flowing out of it. "Nasty bite you have there." He produced a crystal and rolled it across his hands before holding it out to the ailing fae. "Do you want it?"
"I don't want anything from you," Sawyer grounded out as he shakily stood on his feet.
Jareth's face fell into a grim expression as he made the crystal disappear. "Your pride will literally be the death of you."
"Is that how it works around here?" he asked. "Anyone can wonder through here, get bitten by giant snakes, and then die of poisoning?"
"This area is closed off during a normal run," Jareth explained. "And you're a fae, remember? The poison coursing through you will only slow you down. I was offering you a healing balm, yet you spat in my face."
"And you expect me to trust that you would help me?"
"If my end goal was to have you dead, the nagas could have done that for me," he stated. "Maybe I should have let them relish in their natural instinct, instead of spending my time saving a pompous swine such as you."
Sawyer brought his hand to cover the bit marks on his shoulder. "And why would you help me? Why would I want your help?"
Jareth contemplated him for a while as he approached Sawyer. "You would rather die than accept any assistance from me? Is that why you ignore everything I've told you so far?"
"I would never, ever stoop so low as to accept any help from you or your wretched brother!" Sawyer screamed as he turned around to walk away.
"If you stop walking away from me, I'll place you at the door that will lead you out of the Labyrinth," Jareth offered.
Sawyer slowed his walk as he listened to Jareth's words but sped up, running away from him. Jareth said nothing, watching him for a while before he disappeared from the grove.
Sawyer's resolve was stronger than ever as he ran down the trail, watching carefully for any roots. Not that he believed the Goblin King's words, but he would never accept that deal. There's no way it came without strings attached. Besides, he had principles that would never allow him to accept the Goblin King's gestures. To accept his kindness would be to acknowledge his position and prominence, something Sawyer would never do.
The poison in Sawyer's body slowed his run to a walk. He was feeling sluggish as he neared the edge of the grove. He could see the trees thinning to reveal a section of grassland and a door in the side of a wall. Unable to walk straight, Sawyer's feet fumbled as he let out a sigh of relief, happy to see this come to an end. He continued shuffling to and fro, unable to walk straight. He noticed a grey, nearly white, gnarly root protruding out of the ground. Not wanting to make the same mistake again, he moved a little to the left, avoiding any contact with the tuber.
Sawyer heard an odd creaking noise to his right. He didn't have much time to process the fact that a tree branch was jutting towards him before he fell to the ground. The root that he previously skipped over rose out of the ground and wrapped around right leg as the another branch wrapped around his neck, constricting his airflow. Sawyer reached into his pocket to pull out a knife. He knew the knife wasn't large enough to cut the branch, but he used it to stab the branch around his neck. The branch slackened, allowing him to pull it off his neck. Before the branch could retreat, Sawyer pulled out his knife out and was shocked to see blood pouring out of the broken stem.
However, Sawyer's small victory was cut short when three more branches thrusted out of its canopy, jabbing Sawyer through both his upper arms and left leg, pinning him to the ground. He let out a bloodcurdling scream as he was impaled by the tree branches. His eyes widened in horror as he saw another branch aimed above him, positioned to hit him in the abdomen. The branch descended but before it could stab him, a large knife swipe at the branch, causing the blood to pour out of it before it flopped to the ground. Sawyer writhed around in pain as the other branches held firm.
"Jubokko," Jareth said as he came into Sawyer's view, holding the blood soaked knife. "A tree that feeds on the blood of anyone who passes by it. As you know by now, its branches consist of blood." He coldly observed Sawyer's state: three limbs embedded in his arms and one leg, pulling blood out of him. "You'll die if you don't accept my help."
Sawyer grimaced but said nothing in response. Instead, he spat blood in Jareth's direction. However, Jareth stepped back, avoiding any contact.
"Such a pity," Jareth said before fading from view. When Jareth disappeared, a jubokko branch returned as it plunged toward Sawyer as his horrified screams echoed through the grove before the area went silent once again.
"I'll have you know that it was an absolute chore keeping him in here," Taggert said when Jareth appeared in the throne room.
"What were you thinking?" Lochlan fumed, storming toward his brother. "Offering him help? Giving him a way out?"
Not responding, Jareth walked passed the duo while cleaning his knife with a white piece of cloth.
"Are you not going to answer me?"
Jareth spun around, glaring at Lochlan. Wanting nothing to do with this conflict, Taggert quietly left through the side door.
"I wasn't born yesterday," Jareth snapped. "Every step of the way, I knew he would defy me, ignore everything I said."
"Then why bother yourself with such theatrics?" Lochlan asked, not understanding any of his brother's reasoning.
"Because," Jareth said as he looked at away for a moment before turning his attention back to his brother. "No one has ever died in the Labyrinth. If I was going to sentence that cretin to one of the most horrible deaths that my kingdom offers, I wanted to ensure that he had no redemption left in his soul."
"And if he did show any remorse, what were you planning to do with him?" Lochlan asked. "Let him go?"
"Of course not," Jareth scoffed as he left the room.
"I'm hungry," Toby complained as he huddled next to Sarah in bed. The two were left alone after Kalin dragged Tali nearly two hours ago to an empty room within the castle to discuss her wedding planning ideas, much to Tali's consternation.
"Seriously, how are you so removed from what happened to you?" Sarah asked. "All you've been doing is talking about trivial things."
Toby sat up, turning a bit to look at her. "I don't want to think about it, okay? I just want everything to go back to normal. I wanna play games again and complain to you about stupid crap. That's what I want to do."
Sarah frowned for a moment before giving him an apologetic smile. "I wasn't thinking about that. I'm sorry. If Jareth doesn't come back in another half hour, we'll go raid the kitchens. Also, we need to think about the best way of getting you home."
"I wonder what's going on out there," Toby asked. Sarah let out a sigh as she allowed her mind to wander for a brief moment.
"Sometimes, ignorance is bliss, Tobes," she stated.
"You went through it," he said. "Was it really that bad?"
"The Labyrinth is a large entity," Sarah explained. "I didn't encounter all the things that I know are in there."
"How do you know what's in there?"
"There's a collection of large leather bound book in Jareth's office," she said. "It's like a census of everything that lives in the Labyrinth. It's amazing yet terrifying to think of all those creatures in that place."
"Ooh! What's the grossest thing you saw in that book?" Toby asked, ecstatic to hear any gory details.
Sarah opened her mouth briefly but then closed it, only to look at her brother with befuddled amusement.
"Are there giant slugs that will drown you in their slime?" Toby wondered. "Oh! Oh! Or someone who gives you directions, but every time he opens his mouth a flood of saliva comes out?"
"What is wrong with you?" Sarah asked him, her face scrunched in disgust.
"He's a curious boy with an active imagination," Jareth said as he walked through the door. He was no longer dressed in this Goblin King regalia. "Albeit, a troublingly, uncultured imagination."
Toby jumped out of the bed, running toward Jareth, nearly tackling him as he gave him an enormous hug. Jareth was taken aback by his enthusiasm for a moment before returning the gesture.
"The last time I saw you, you had a bunch of crap pulled out of your body," Toby said, his voice muffled against Jareth's shirt.
"That was a bit dramatic, wasn't it?" Jareth said as his eyes settled on Sarah. "We need to send him home."
"And how are we going to explain that he was kidnapped and taken to a world that hardly anyone believes exist?" Sarah asked.
"Sending me back already? Aren't you going to tell me what happened while we were stuck in this guarded room?"
"No," Jareth answered swiftly. "Not all information about this place should be available to you."
"But-"
"No," Sarah and Jareth interjected at the same time.
Toby's arms flopped down to his sides, rolling his eyes in annoyance. "Fine," he mumbled as he trudged back to Sarah. "Don't tell me."
"These are things that I will discuss with Sarah, and if she chooses to tell you at a later date, so be it," Jareth concluded.
"What? Why are you putting this all on me?" Sarah complained, causing Jareth to smirk. "I don't appreciate that."
"So how am I getting home? " Toby asked. "Are you going to mess with everyone's memory again?"
"If this didn't involve your parents again, I would consider it," Jareth stated. "Yet, I don't like the idea of manipulating their minds with that amount of magic in a short period of time."
"Are we going to tell them about this place?" Sarah asked.
"Have you considered it before?" Jareth asked.
"A little," she admitted.
"You definitely can't tell them now," Toby emphatically said. "They'll lose their minds."
"Do you have something to propose instead, Tobias?" Jareth inquired, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I kinda got off easy last time when I snuck down here," Toby said with a shrug. "I was wrong for sneaking down here. Just send Above without magically influencing anybody. I'll say I ran away. Just drop me off near the house."
Sarah could barely believe what she was heading. "Toby-"
"I don't want anyone to have their brains messed with," Toby said to her before looking at Jareth. "Right? You made it sound like they would go insane."
"The magic could drive them mad or have no effect at all," Jareth admitted. "It's not that I'll be imbibing them with vast amounts of magic, but their time and space will be influenced as well. I've, personally, never done such a thing twice before on the same person. However, I could try. It would be a nice magic experiment."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Jareth."
Toby shook his head. "I don't want to risk it, not for something that had nothing to do with them. I'll make up a story and be grounded forever. Things could be worse."
Jareth created a crystal and gestured for Toby to stand up. "Are you ready to go?"
"What? Now? What about my promised food?" Toby asked as he reluctant rose to his feet.
"The sooner you go back Above the better," Jareth said. Sarah left the bed to give Toby one last hug.
"I'll see you soon, okay?" she reassured him, still holding on to his shoulders. She gave his shoulders one last squeeze before she stepped away from him. Jareth tossed the crystal at the teenager as Toby became engulfed in light before disappearing.
"Oh, he's in so much trouble," Sarah muttered.
"Come," he said, taking her hand in his. "We have much to discuss."
The world around Toby went white as he felt himself falling, the ground below him disappearing. After a while, he finally felt something solid beneath his feet. The vacant space around him melted away to reveal that he was once again Aboveground, sitting on the front law of his house. It was night Aboveground as well. The sky was clear, allowing the stars to twinkle bright. Slowly, he rose to his feet, suddenly filled with fear now that he really had to confront his parents. As he walked toward the front porch, a sense of dread almost overwhelmed him.
Think of something quick, Toby told himself.
He couldn't stay out there all night. Someone was sure to spot him and cause more trouble than he was prepared for. Toby rang the doorbell and then heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. The door opened to reveal his father and mother, shocked to see their child standing in front of him.
"Hey, guys," Toby said in a soft light-hearted manner, giving them a lopsided grin. Karen promptly pushed her husband to the side as she fiercely grabbed Toby, hugging him.
"Tobias Robert Williams," she muttered through tears. "Where have you been?" His father found a way to pull Karen away so he could offer his own bone-crushing hug.
"We were so worried for you," Robert said, fighting his own series of tears. He pulled back and grabbed Toby both sides of his face. "Did someone take you? Are you hurt?"
"Let's get inside," Karen sniffed as she ushered them inside, looking around to see if any neighbors were watching. "We'll make a scene if we stay out here any longer."
"I'm going to call Detective Quinn," Robert said. "Let him know we have Toby."
"Where were you?" Karen asked. This time, her question was stern; although, the quiver in her voice and the puffiness of the cheeks betrayed the fact that she was more relieved than angry.
"I-uh- think I –uh- had one of those fainting spells again," Toby said, trying to think on his feet. "I must have wondered off." While he meant to say that as a statement, it came off as a question.
"Why was your room in nearly destroyed?" Karen asked, not understanding his story.
"Umm," Toby said. He didn't give any thought to that. Might as well admit that, he thought. He gave a little shrug. "I don't know."
Karen was flabbergasted. "What? You don't know! How can that be possible?"
Robert interrupted the minor interrogation when he walked into the room. "The detective will be over here within the hour to ask some questions. He suggested that we take Toby to the hospital after his visit."
Karen said nothing still shocked by what her son was telling her. To stop herself from asking anymore questions that would only bring more confusion, she pointed to the direction of the stairs. "Toby, go to your room. I'll be up shortly and talk some more."
"All right," Toby muttered. He didn't like this outcome, but it was basically what he was expecting to happen. Toby rushed up the stairs and into his room. Opening the door, he was taken aback by what he saw.
Yep, this place is trashed, he thought as he looked around him.
Toby didn't realize how much he struggled when he was taken. He was about to turn around to go to the bathroom, but something by the window caught his attention. He walked over to the window sill and saw a red crystal resting on a folded piece of linen paper. He picked up the crystal and opened the note.
Toby smiled when he recognized Sarah's penmanship.
Should you need us
A/N: So, I received several messages stating how some people were upset that Roux got out easy. Hopefully, this satisfies all the revenge plots you had in mind for Sawyer :-D