Well here is chapter two! I would like to give a shout out those wonderful people who took the time to review! Also a big thanks to Drangons-daughter!
Disclaimer: I do not own.
Sarah stared at the coffee cup that had a series of songs on it…and managed to almost fall asleep into her eggs. Maybe she should try a stronger dose of caffeine?
The crunching noise of Ton eating was heard to her left, he was growing at an incredible rate, and she had to physically force herself to not tap her nails on the wood table.
The past month had been filled with work, work, and more work. She was finding her job to be more dissatisfying every week. It was almost as if she was looking for something more. Of course what MORE was there?
She had a well paying job as a Liberian, the next best thing besides acting, and she had a puppy that adored her. She never did enjoy any type of relationship but it was almost like there was a piece of the puzzle missing.
Sarah drained her coffee and put Ton in his pen before closing and locking the door behind her. In the quite of the room, Ton settled down, his eyes only glowing a little.
~*~
Sarah ruffled the hair of one of the regular children who came every week for her to read to them. It was pretty much the highlight of her week. The rest of the time was cataloging books, helping people find books, and ordering books. Nothing like a life filled with books!
But then the past month had been strange indeed. People had been asking the more awkward questions that had nothing to do with the Library…what did she do in her free time…why did she do it…she had a dog? How cute, and so on.
But most of all it was the ring on her left index finger that caused so much attention. She had moved it, off her ring finger, and had tried to leave it at home. It drove her crazy all day long…so she had just put it on and left it. If she were going to turn into a green toad well that would have happened a long time ago.
She did wonder if he had anything to do with it. She had almost called on Hoggel to find out…but she knew somewhere that that would just alert him so she had left well enough alone.
Sarah excused herself to wash her hands. It was a pet peeve of hers to make sure she washed them as many times a possible. It seemed only right to do her best to keep from spreading germs from her hand to books and back again.
Sarah looked up from the motion and studied herself in the mirror. Her eyebrows came together as she looked…it seemed slightly off somehow. Her nose was the same pert form that had been there since day one. Her eyes were still dusky blues with the fairy dust lining the center. But was it her imagination or did her hair seem a little darker and her skin a little paler?
Sarah shook her head and snorted. That was what you got for living with books indoors and not being outside. She would have to fix that, once she got away from the books. Maybe when she retired…
~*~
Sarah walked in and threw her keys on the coffee table that was sorely abused. The knick and dents would not remove themselves…one leg showed puppy marks where the little guy had been teething. A few swats to his backside had cured that. Along with a milk bone.
Reaching down Sarah carefully opened the door and mentally prepared herself for the thirty pound ball of fur and energy that hit her legs. The impact was still enough to send her to her bottom. Sarah shut her mouth and eyes and tried not to laugh as the tongue attacked her. Excited yelps and growling echoed in the normally silent apartment.
Sarah stared into the silver blue eyes and smiled. She ran a hand down the soft fur and rub the soft gray-silver spot just above his nose. His reply was to lick her hand.
Ton watched as Sarah slowly unfolded herself from the floor and flopped on the couch. A few minutes later she was lying on her feet as she read the newspaper she had picked up at work. His eyes flashed in a slight burst of power…and then he settled back down.
Sarah scowled as she read the newspaper. More death and violence than she cared to read about. Serial killer here, fire kills there, and the list just went on and on. Sarah allowed a brief moment of thought to enter her mind. What was it like to be able to stop something like that?
Rolling her eyes she made sure that Ton's food was put up. It was a standing rule that he was not allowed to eat after 7:00. Some might have thought it mean, but this way she did not wake up with a present in an odd place.
That night dreams became reality.
~*~
Jareth brooded over the vents that had been recently told to him, in all rights he should have been worried. Most Fae were. He, on the other hand, was not slightly bothered. Anyone who was stupid enough to try to attack his castle would have a difficult enough time getting through his Labyrinth. Years ago he had set wards in and around the castle and city…so if he did not have his permission…you wanted in you walked.
But this news was interesting. The mountain packs were on the move. The Monqu had not done much in the past thousand years. Ever since Anika…ever since they had gone into seclusion he had made no attempt to find out of their doings. If they wanted his help…they knew where to find him.
But the pack never moved unless that had a reason. It would be wise to up date security. He would have to get in touch with Linka…she would know something. His lips pulled into a smile as he thought of child hood friend.
Jareth turned back to his crystals…his look was again back to being dark and brooding. Now that he thought about it…much had happened lately. Ever since the curse…half the curse that was had been broken…things had been going haphazardly. For instance…Gent had escaped. No one had heard from him and so far his contacts said everything was still relatively calm.
But the underground was a dangerous and chaotic place; he had to always be aware of the reasons that moved people. There were reasons why he was the most feared. His 'all seeing eye' was one of them. A good spy system and a few loyal subjects could make all the difference in the world.
Jareth felt a surge of power and then the Labyrinth give leeway to it. A few seconds later the sparkling form gave way to lithe form of one of his best friends. Linka had been queen of the dragon plains for over two thousand years. Her Queen Dragon, Pridith, and the handful of Fae that ruled there were just as feared as he was.
Linka, Jareth and another Fae named Derian made what was called the ring of power. The three had built the foundations of their power together and had become as inseparable as the never-ending circle. Derian was Lord of Enchanted Forest. His own methods of power were baffling, but they added context to what hey did.
They had once been four…Anika…had made the last piece of rope. The old saying about four strands of rope had been correct. They remaining three allowed Anika's packs to roam with freedom among their lands. It was the least they could do for the remaining pieces of her kingdom.
Linka through her waist length black hair behind her shoulder. Her violet eyes scanned the thrown room, apparently looking for Derian. Her outfit was what one would expect from the woman who had tamed the Dragons.
Black pants were tucked into mid-calf boots. A sleeveless shirt hung on her frame, ending just below her waist. It was weaved out of green mesh and if she held still long enough in a forest you lost sight of her. A dagger stuck out of the top of her boot. The bow and arrow set she normally wore was missing from her back…along with the short sword that she carried at the hip.
The twinkle of bells was the only sound that warned Linka and Jareth that Derian was there. His light blond hair was cut short, opposite of Jareth's, and his eyes were steel-grey. He wore dark grey pants and a poet's shirt of deep blue. He brought with him the scent of the forest after a rain.
Both bowed at the same time…matching smiles on their tanned faces.
" Well Jareth…what was the emergency?" Linka demanded snapping her fingers demanding, and with a slight stir, and chair met her descent. She crossed her long legs and raised her brows in question.
" Yes…I had wonderful company. The lady Deree, you have meat her? And I was having tea. Our discussion was rather…intense."
Linka and Jareth snorted at the same time. " Yes, intensely discussing the reason she slammed her delicate hand onto your face." Jareth relied dryly.
" Hey I resent that!" Derian growled.
" More like you resemble it!" Linka replied. " Now will you shut up long enough for Jareth to let us know what is going on?"
" Yes, Derian if you are interested?" Jareth questioned. At his nod Jareth conjured a crystal. The grew so that all could see what was shown. A large silver-coated wolf had its head raised and was howling up ward. The image changed to show it leading the pack behind her into the night.
" What a minute. When did Silver start to lead?" Linka demanded. Her violet eyes were wide, rightly so. Silver was only second in command. There should have been a large white wolf leading.
" We have no idea ware Keaton is. That is why I called this meeting. About two months ago he seemed to disappear. No one knows where he went. There was not the…shock or large amounts of magic to say he had died." Jareth told them. His eyes were guarded and Linka and Derian did not press him.
The after shock of the packs using there magic together to mourn the death of Anika had been…well shocking. They had woven it using their voices and the beautiful haunting sound had echoed through out the underground for days.
" So what is important enough that the pack has to be on the move?" Derian mummered.
" That is not all." Jareth sad standing and walking to a large bay window.
" They are heading to the temple of moonlight. Whatever it is, its coming from above ground."
Derian and Linka sucked in the breaths and stared outside. Lips thinning they all questioned the threat that would caused the pack to move to the place were they were the most powerful.
~*~
Sarah felt the air around her shift and change. IN front of her was a wolf. A LARGE wolf and it had to be at least twice the size of the wolves that were above ground. Sarah blinked. Aboveground. Now why would that thought enter her mind?
The wolf's eyes gleamed blue and magic seemed to permeate the air. Whatever this thing was it was most defiantly from Underground. There was not other explanation for it.
It raised it great head and Sarah noticed that it was pure white except for the molten patched on its back. The white underbelly was glowing almost turning it a blue color.
It locked eyes with Sarah. It seemed to be trying to tell her something. But what? Just as she thought she would drown it raised it head and let out an ear-piercing howl. The sound sent shivers down her spine…but it seemed like she had heard it before. The images around her shifted and changed turning to more and more wolves until they surrounded her, and thousand glowing eyes.
Sarah woke up with a jerk. The dream had been so real…so needy. She almost had thought she was in the real world. Sarah breathed in a deep breath and jerked her eyes wide. She smelled smoke.
Sarah through back the light blankets and ran to the door. Placing her hand it she jumped back when she realized it was hot. The faint taint was quickly turning too heavy. Sarah ran to the window and groaned at what she saw.
Fire-trucks were everywhere trying to contain the blaze, which seemed to spring up about two floors below her. The fire escape was directly under the blaze.
Sarah chewed her lip until she heads a soft whine. Turning she had every intention of running to her Ton. Until she saw what she did.
Ton turned his blue eyes on her. They glowed softly and quickly turned to ice…one minute there was adorable puppy. The next minute there was large wolf. Sarah stared in shock.
Beyond its left should a portal opened. Sarah could see rolling hills and forms racing across a valley.
" Uh uh." Sarah said shaking her head. " I am not going back there! Do you know what you are asking?" Sarah rambled as if talking to the wolf would get it to change its mind. Back into the underground where she had no defenses and back into Jareth's lair.
The wolf growled its hair rising on the back of its neck. Sarah felt her knees tremble but the streak of iron in her backbone took force.
" NO!" Sarah growled back. Never mind that is animal could turn her into a piece of lunch at any minute. Never mind that her situation gave a new meaning to midnight snack. Sarah would have stayed except for one little detail. Fire.
Sarah looked up and watched, as the door seemed to impale on itself. Fire burst into the room. Sarah felt something grab the bottom of her nightgown. She was thrown off balance and everything went zig zag in her mind.
Sarah opened her eyes and found herself on a small alcove of rock…and in the middle of the woods. The air was practically screaming magic. And in that instant Sarah knew she had been taken back. Back into the Underground.
