~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 17:
Narcissa was more terrified than she had ever been in her life. The spirits were creeping closer with every second and she knew that her magic or battle skills would not help her in any way. A single tear formed in her eye. She was going to die, just as her husband did so many years ago. She felt the drain on her powers, which were already weak after hours in the chains.
The Goblin King felt sick as well. If the strong, young queen was collapsing beside him, he knew that he could not last long. His chest began to seize up and he fell to one knee. He grabbed at his pendant, the heirloom passed down to him by his father. Another cold object hit his hand and realization swept over him. Morpheus's pendant was there; Jareth was still harboring his powers. If he died, Morpheus died. A crease formed above his eyes in determination. He could not allow his recklessness destroy another life. Jareth forced his head up, glared at Lemures and called out, "You have been the cause of too many deaths, monster! Something here wants us to win, and so we will. And in the process, we will kill you."
Lemures scoffed, "And how do you propose to do that, Goblin King? No one is here but you and perhaps Death! You are seeing hallucinations you idiotic creature!"
"A portal… A portal, Jareth. That will get rid of the phantoms," someone whispered. They seemed to be right next to his ear and yet sounded so far away. It must have been Narcissa, who had finally dropped to her knees like she was praying.
"What? What does that mean, Narcissa?" he cried, but there was no answer. The queen had gone into a dead faint. Puck was not looking much better off; his flailing became less deliberate and slower. Jareth racked his brains for the answer. A portal to where? And how was he to get a portal? Narcissa must have known that creating a portal was difficult work, even without weakened resources and ghosts flying about. He watched Lemures and growled. Jareth could not believe the evil fae would win soon. His only comfort was that Narcissa would not be harmed, for the time being. Such an image of beauty would be a waste to ruin. Suddenly, his head jerked up. He knew how to destroy the phantoms, but did he have time?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Keziah wrung her hands in frustration. Morpheus was getting worse, and despite all her years of training with Apollo, and other fae who practiced medicine, she did not know what was causing his death. His brothers Icelus and Phantasus sat across a small table from one another, completely silent. They hadn't said a word since their brother had fallen ill, in fact, and the old rumor that if one of the three died that the others would die as well came back to the princess. She desperately hoped it was not true.
"I am no healer, Grandmother, if I cannot save him," she said to Titania. The elder fae just held her granddaughter and told her that there was no way to know and that she could not blame herself.
"But if I just knew what that spell was, I could reverse it and Morpheus would live until Jareth came back with Mother."
"I know, child. But the Fates might have decided it was time for a fae to die. It happens, little one, and no one can stop it."
Ion came into the room where they all sat waiting for the inevitable news of Morpheus's death. "I'm afraid I have more bad tidings," he whispered, "All the servants are gone, they are afraid. Of course, this has alerted the other guests to the death this palace holds."
"Forget them," Oros said through gritted teeth, "If they cannot respect a time such as this, let them leave. All of them." The rest murmured agreement and then fell to silence again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jareth held up a crystal. It was smoky inside and he knew that it would be last one he ever produced if it did not work. It glowed milky white and the light streamed towards the phantoms.
Lemures frowned; this did not look good. "Wynne! Help me stop them! Now!" he screamed. The relief of gaining control was utterly gone, replaced by panic. The fae lunged forward, through the spirits to where Jareth stood. He reached the Goblin King in three long strides. The light pushed the ghosts back. Or were they fleeing? Lemures thought in fear. He could not pause to think about it and pushed the crystal from Jareth's hand. It fell and lost its glow, rolling away in the dark.
Meanwhile, Wynne shrieked and attacked the exhausted Puck. "This time I'll finish you, Trickster!" she yelled. She tried to produce a weapon but found that the spirits were having the same effect on her as they did on Puck. But she was more accustomed to the drain and had not suffered serious injuries; she still held the advantage. Wings ripped through the back of her dress as she dove for a sharp rock. The blast of air from her beating wings pushed Puck back onto the rock wall. The jarring sensation brought him to his senses and he realized that he was living a nightmare. The Scottish fairy screeched and threw a rock; Puck dodged it just in time. He sighed as she went for another rock, "This day isn't going very well. What I wouldn't give for a warm fire and a good book."
"Where is Sobek?" cried Lemures in distress. He was grappling with Jareth, both trying to feel the ground for the crystal and fight simultaneously. The demons were even affecting Lemures; it was the only factor that was keeping Jareth alive. They were almost on equal terms now, with Jareth's physical strength and Lemures' remaining magical strength pitted against one another.
Jareth felt something hit his foot and roll away. His frustration fueled a powerful push towards Lemures and then he ran to search for the crystal. But Lemures gained his footing quickly and came up again. He kicked the Goblin King in the stomach and punched his jaw. Jareth stumbled backwards for a few feet and then tripped. He landed next to an unconscious Narcissa. He only spared her a quick glance, noting the blood on her face and the spirits that surrounded her body.
Jumping to his feet, Jareth went to Lemures once again. The fae had no time to react as the Goblin King vaulted into his side. They rolled towards the cave's entrance. As soon as they stopped, the two both moved to grab the sharp stone beside them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Apollo came into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He turned and surveyed the waiting fae. Many of them were not even sitting, but suspended an inch from their chairs in anxiety.
The fae walked over to Keziah, who looked very tired and pale. He put his hand on her shoulder, "He wants to see you."
"Me?" she turned her face up to her teacher and mentor. Her whisper was so inaudible that no one except Apollo heard it.
"Yes. He's been asking for you."
Another question formed on her lips but she did not ask. Instead, she stood up and walked to the door and went through without looking back to her family. They all admired her for her composure while going to see a dying man. But once out in the hall, great tears flowed from Keziah's big brown eyes. It took a minute to wipe them away before she allowed herself to enter the dying fae's room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 17:
Narcissa was more terrified than she had ever been in her life. The spirits were creeping closer with every second and she knew that her magic or battle skills would not help her in any way. A single tear formed in her eye. She was going to die, just as her husband did so many years ago. She felt the drain on her powers, which were already weak after hours in the chains.
The Goblin King felt sick as well. If the strong, young queen was collapsing beside him, he knew that he could not last long. His chest began to seize up and he fell to one knee. He grabbed at his pendant, the heirloom passed down to him by his father. Another cold object hit his hand and realization swept over him. Morpheus's pendant was there; Jareth was still harboring his powers. If he died, Morpheus died. A crease formed above his eyes in determination. He could not allow his recklessness destroy another life. Jareth forced his head up, glared at Lemures and called out, "You have been the cause of too many deaths, monster! Something here wants us to win, and so we will. And in the process, we will kill you."
Lemures scoffed, "And how do you propose to do that, Goblin King? No one is here but you and perhaps Death! You are seeing hallucinations you idiotic creature!"
"A portal… A portal, Jareth. That will get rid of the phantoms," someone whispered. They seemed to be right next to his ear and yet sounded so far away. It must have been Narcissa, who had finally dropped to her knees like she was praying.
"What? What does that mean, Narcissa?" he cried, but there was no answer. The queen had gone into a dead faint. Puck was not looking much better off; his flailing became less deliberate and slower. Jareth racked his brains for the answer. A portal to where? And how was he to get a portal? Narcissa must have known that creating a portal was difficult work, even without weakened resources and ghosts flying about. He watched Lemures and growled. Jareth could not believe the evil fae would win soon. His only comfort was that Narcissa would not be harmed, for the time being. Such an image of beauty would be a waste to ruin. Suddenly, his head jerked up. He knew how to destroy the phantoms, but did he have time?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Keziah wrung her hands in frustration. Morpheus was getting worse, and despite all her years of training with Apollo, and other fae who practiced medicine, she did not know what was causing his death. His brothers Icelus and Phantasus sat across a small table from one another, completely silent. They hadn't said a word since their brother had fallen ill, in fact, and the old rumor that if one of the three died that the others would die as well came back to the princess. She desperately hoped it was not true.
"I am no healer, Grandmother, if I cannot save him," she said to Titania. The elder fae just held her granddaughter and told her that there was no way to know and that she could not blame herself.
"But if I just knew what that spell was, I could reverse it and Morpheus would live until Jareth came back with Mother."
"I know, child. But the Fates might have decided it was time for a fae to die. It happens, little one, and no one can stop it."
Ion came into the room where they all sat waiting for the inevitable news of Morpheus's death. "I'm afraid I have more bad tidings," he whispered, "All the servants are gone, they are afraid. Of course, this has alerted the other guests to the death this palace holds."
"Forget them," Oros said through gritted teeth, "If they cannot respect a time such as this, let them leave. All of them." The rest murmured agreement and then fell to silence again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jareth held up a crystal. It was smoky inside and he knew that it would be last one he ever produced if it did not work. It glowed milky white and the light streamed towards the phantoms.
Lemures frowned; this did not look good. "Wynne! Help me stop them! Now!" he screamed. The relief of gaining control was utterly gone, replaced by panic. The fae lunged forward, through the spirits to where Jareth stood. He reached the Goblin King in three long strides. The light pushed the ghosts back. Or were they fleeing? Lemures thought in fear. He could not pause to think about it and pushed the crystal from Jareth's hand. It fell and lost its glow, rolling away in the dark.
Meanwhile, Wynne shrieked and attacked the exhausted Puck. "This time I'll finish you, Trickster!" she yelled. She tried to produce a weapon but found that the spirits were having the same effect on her as they did on Puck. But she was more accustomed to the drain and had not suffered serious injuries; she still held the advantage. Wings ripped through the back of her dress as she dove for a sharp rock. The blast of air from her beating wings pushed Puck back onto the rock wall. The jarring sensation brought him to his senses and he realized that he was living a nightmare. The Scottish fairy screeched and threw a rock; Puck dodged it just in time. He sighed as she went for another rock, "This day isn't going very well. What I wouldn't give for a warm fire and a good book."
"Where is Sobek?" cried Lemures in distress. He was grappling with Jareth, both trying to feel the ground for the crystal and fight simultaneously. The demons were even affecting Lemures; it was the only factor that was keeping Jareth alive. They were almost on equal terms now, with Jareth's physical strength and Lemures' remaining magical strength pitted against one another.
Jareth felt something hit his foot and roll away. His frustration fueled a powerful push towards Lemures and then he ran to search for the crystal. But Lemures gained his footing quickly and came up again. He kicked the Goblin King in the stomach and punched his jaw. Jareth stumbled backwards for a few feet and then tripped. He landed next to an unconscious Narcissa. He only spared her a quick glance, noting the blood on her face and the spirits that surrounded her body.
Jumping to his feet, Jareth went to Lemures once again. The fae had no time to react as the Goblin King vaulted into his side. They rolled towards the cave's entrance. As soon as they stopped, the two both moved to grab the sharp stone beside them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Apollo came into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. He turned and surveyed the waiting fae. Many of them were not even sitting, but suspended an inch from their chairs in anxiety.
The fae walked over to Keziah, who looked very tired and pale. He put his hand on her shoulder, "He wants to see you."
"Me?" she turned her face up to her teacher and mentor. Her whisper was so inaudible that no one except Apollo heard it.
"Yes. He's been asking for you."
Another question formed on her lips but she did not ask. Instead, she stood up and walked to the door and went through without looking back to her family. They all admired her for her composure while going to see a dying man. But once out in the hall, great tears flowed from Keziah's big brown eyes. It took a minute to wipe them away before she allowed herself to enter the dying fae's room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~