The Elemental

The Elemental

By Bunniko

Fieryfaerie@yahoo.com

AN: This is my first published Labyrinth fic. It is dark and is pre-"Labyrinth." As such, it features a lot of dark undertones. I have also taken liberty with a great deal of things, such as history in general and in specific and with magic. I am not Wiccan, nor pagan, so I hope that my representation of magic offends no one. I do not mean to endorse any religion nor denigrate one either. I don't own the Labyrinth either. This fic was inspired while watching a show about Ireland's ghosts of the Travel Channel. I don't know its name, nor do I own it. Kiori does belong to me, so please ask if you want to use her. If you want to know her background, email me and maybe I'll write her story. By the way, it's pronounced "key-or-ee" ;

Chapter Four – It

At first, the odd sound of laughter had jangled its nerves. Jerked out of its nightmare-filled slumber, it lay for a moment in the darkness, listening, wondering where the unusual sound had come from. After a brief moment, a far more comforting sound was heard, a scream. And then, ah then, the scent made itself known to the elemental. That delicious scent of blood. Human blood, to be exact. Hours before, the elemental had almost awakened, thinking it heard a scream and then smelt blood. Apparently, it had not been a cruel trick of that bastard who called himself King, but truth. As it sat up, scenting the air, it realized that there were two tastes, drying blood and fresh blood. That meant that the human had been hurt and was hurt again. Perfect. If the thing had had discernible lips, it would have grinned quite demonically.

It shuffled forward in the direction of the blood, its primal mind wondering if the victim was dead or alive. Alive was so much more fun. Human blood itself was terribly sweet and satisfying, a perfect wine. But human's blood when tainted by fear was nectar. It had been so long since the elemental had frightened a human to death, but it wasn't worried. No, instead it was salivating at the prospect. In the oubliette, the victim could run but couldn't hide. Eventually the victim would trip and fall on a spike or collapse from exhaustion or a heart attack. No matter how the death came, it was responsible and thus the meal was twice as sweet.

The human made a shrieking noise, making the elemental realize two things. The first was that the human was female. Females were easier prey in general, because they rarely attempted to attack it. The second was that she had detected the threat. That made things easier. As it drew closer, it became aware of the faerie, the one that was well armed. Since ingesting flesh and blood had drawn it across the psionic plane, as Jareth had no doubt planned, it could be injured, though not killed. Its current physical form could be destroyed, leaving it just a malevolent poltergeist, but only until it managed to kill and feed again. It liked being solid, so it would avoid the faerie. At least until she was too weak.

Helen watched helplessly as the thing drew closer. Kiori moved away, hunching in another corner, her battered wings spread out much like a vulture's. She sat on her haunches, fangs bared, orange eyes focused on the lump. She gulped in fear, realizing Kiori would not help her in this battle. She held herself rigidly, her damaged arm stiff against her side, her bleeding hand wrapped in the folds of her dirty shirt. Finally, it came close enough to her for her to fully see the creature.

It was the size of a large dog, with a face of human, the nose of a pig. It was covered in fur that was matted, filthy and rotting. Whatever color the fur had been was a complete mystery. In eye sockets squirmed maggots, the pig nose looked like dried and cracked black leather. The gaping jaw revealed sharp, yellowed teeth. No skin covered the human-like skull. Somehow sinews and muscles connected the parts, exposed to her eyes. From the creature rose up the stench of rotting flesh.

Helen gagged, nausea roiling through her. It was hideous. Her scream rent the air above the Labyrinth, spiraling off the walls of the oubliette before escaping through that lone window. It moved ever closer, her fear rising with each shuffling movement it made. She tried to press herself further into the far too solid wall. Then, her world went black.