The Labyrinth: Another Tale



III



"I seem'd to move among a world of ghosts,

And feel myself the shadows of a dream."

--Alfred, Lord Tennyson



~*~



Bryanna stepped deeper into the dark and silent room, knowing what was going to happen, yet also knowing that she would have to face the danger.

A hoarse giggle came from the bed, and Bryanna dropped into a karate stance-all of her years studying Kenpo finally paying off.

Another evil laugh came from her sisters' bookself, and Bryanna directed her attention there.

"I know you're there!"she shouted. "Why don't you reveal yourselves?!"

----waitandsee,waitandsee,waitandsee-- an evil sing-song voice said, coming from a corner of the room. Soon, the other goblins joined it, making it into a taunting song.

Bryanna listened to them, and when they were distracted by their song, she quickly took her scrunchie off of her wrist and pulled her hair away, leaving her face free.

Silence. Not one goblin said anything, but Bryanna could feel their eyes on her. She took a deep breath, calming herself, unnerved by the silence and the stares. Then...

----look!lookatherears!----

----she'sdifferentfromtheothers----

----she'sFae,hermagicisstrong----

----doesHEknowaboutthis?----

----shutup!shutup!HEwillnotbepleased!----

As the goblins were immersed in their argument, Bryanna noticed that the room had suddenly gotten colder. When the goblins realized this, all abruptly fell silent. Suddenly, without warning, the windows to her sisters' bedroom blew open, and in flew a snowy white barn owl.

"Jareth, the Goblin King...." Bryanna whispered when the owl landed and turned into a man. He was taller than she, with long blonde hair. His face was exotic...cruel. He wore knee high black leather boots, black tights, and an open collared black pirate's shirt. His cloak was stunning, flowing to the ground around him. It, like the rest of his clothing, was black; and it was lined with little black gems-onyx, probably.

"Ah....sweet, sweet Bryanna," Jareth purred as he stepped closer. "Having a rough nigh, are we not?"

Ignoring his question, Bryanna looked up and into his eyes. Inwardly, Jareth frowned. How can she look into my eyes as she is doing? Usually, I can control people who just barely glance at me in the eyes; she in staring at me fully. Why isn't my magic working?

"I want...I want my sisters back," Bryanna demanded firmly, her eyes narrowing in determination.

"You said the words, Bryanna; you cannot take them back," Jareth said, in reply to her demand.

Bryanna's eyes narrowed further, until they became slits of silver. "Normally," she began, "I would say something like, 'But I didn't know it was true! I didn't know that those were the words!', or 'But it isn't fair!'" Seeing Jareth's mouth open, about to say something, she raised her hand and cut him off immediately. "But I know how you'll reply: 'Well then, Bryanna, you should be more careful about what you say,' or 'Life isn't fair'. I know that both of these are correct; but still, I want my sisters back."

Jareth stood there for a minute, startled by her frankness. Then, recovering, he was back to his suave self. "Ah, but Bryanna. wouldn't you rather have my gift, than to go and look for your sisters?" he asked as he held out a flawless crystal ball. "Wouldn't you rather have your dreams?"

Hesitantly, Bryanna reached out and slowly cupped the crystal ball in her palms. Without warning, she threw it to the floor, where it shattered into a million pieces.

"Dreams....dreams are what give this world magic, Jareth,"Bryanna said. "But, sometimes, you have to come to terms with what's happening in reality. I may want my dreams, but I don't need them. I need my sisters, Anatasia and Celadry." She looked into Jareth's eyes, and he saw bitter sadness when she said that; and then.....her eyes were emotionless, empty. She was distancing herself away form the pain and sadness. "Now," she continued, "take me to the Underground--to your Labyrinth. I need to get my sisters back."

Looking amused, Jareth said, "As you wish, Bryanna...but you will regret your decision..."

With a mere tendril of thought, he transported them to the Underground--to the entrance to the Labyrinth.