Disclaimer: The Labyrinth, its characters, songs, and phrases are
unfortunately not mine. They belong to Jim Henson Productions. However,
Ione, Apollo, and Isis are my original characters as well as the story.
Please do not use my characters without my permission.
Chapter 10: Pain Runs Deep
Ione returned home silent, but Apollo was prepared for her. He had hidden any reminders of his father and was waiting up for her. But he saw her stiffen when she walked in the door. Apollo rose and mentally kicked himself as he walked towards his mother. He'd forgotten that his physical picture was plenty of reminder. He put a protective arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"You've got to say no to him someday, Mother. When are you going to start?"
"I can't, Apollo. I just can't! Even before Sarah, I couldn't deny him!"
"Mother, just remember Sarah then. She refused his offer and got her life back."
"You don't understand, Apollo! I could never say no like Sarah did. You weren't there. You didn't see the pain and hurt on his face! Not only that, Apollo, but he does have power over me."
"But he never sees the pain and hurt he causes you! I do!"
"I just can't do it, Apollo."
"Well, don't think about it now. He'll leave you alone till the child is born anyway."
Apollo felt his mother tense, and he knew she was thinking about her last child.
"I wish I knew why he didn't care. You and. your sister. You're a part of him, but he didn't even care when she died."
"I know, Mother."
"Oh, look at me! I'm wasting the day away!"
Apollo just smiled and followed his mother about the house. She was extremely feisty and needed to know she had a good day's work behind her. Apollo sometimes wondered if it was her way of escaping her worries, but that was a good thing. Even though she was pregnant, Ione didn't spare herself. She would always claim that she'd never be strong enough to birth her child if she didn't keep working. Apollo didn't believe her for a moment since she was certainly well exercised simply by housework. Still he didn't complain. He silently accomplished taxing chores before she could get to it. Ione would simply smile at her son, which Apollo knew was a thank you.
She was only a month pregnant when she decided to go on a walk. Jareth never surfaced until she's birthed the child so she felt safe enough without Apollo. She lay down carefully, but she leaped instantly to her feet when a twig snapped behind her. She whirled around and found herself facing the King.
"Jareth!" she breathed in surprise.
"Hello, Ione U. Are you busy?"
"No, Milord."
"Then you are free to come with me."
"Jareth!" Ione stated with exasperation. "That is impossible!"
"Why?"
"You know very well why. I'm pregnant."
"Oh." Jareth replied drawing the single syllable out into a question.
"I know you don't care about your children, but I do!"
"And just what makes you think I don't care about them?"
"You saw Apollo once as a child, you didn't even appear when your daughter was born, and now you want me to come with you even though I'm pregnant with your third."
"I still gave Apollo presents until he challenged me."
"That is not good enough, Jareth! Your son's challenge of you should've brought this to light. You might try to make an attempt at being a part of your children's lives, but now I seriously doubt that you can." She turned slightly away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You are challenging me?" Jareth seemed almost shocked.
"It appears to be the only language you understand." She lifted her chin slightly truly mad for the first time at this man.
"Very well. I accept the challenge. Come with Apollo to the castle. You will live there secretly until the child reaches its third birthday. It would be an adult then, yes? You know which door."
Ione nodded utterly stunned. He was going to try? He was really going to try? It seemed too good to be true. She told Apollo the instant she returned home, and he gradually came to accept the conditions. Ione would go about her work as usual, but secretly she would return to the castle instead of home.
Chapter 10: Pain Runs Deep
Ione returned home silent, but Apollo was prepared for her. He had hidden any reminders of his father and was waiting up for her. But he saw her stiffen when she walked in the door. Apollo rose and mentally kicked himself as he walked towards his mother. He'd forgotten that his physical picture was plenty of reminder. He put a protective arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"You've got to say no to him someday, Mother. When are you going to start?"
"I can't, Apollo. I just can't! Even before Sarah, I couldn't deny him!"
"Mother, just remember Sarah then. She refused his offer and got her life back."
"You don't understand, Apollo! I could never say no like Sarah did. You weren't there. You didn't see the pain and hurt on his face! Not only that, Apollo, but he does have power over me."
"But he never sees the pain and hurt he causes you! I do!"
"I just can't do it, Apollo."
"Well, don't think about it now. He'll leave you alone till the child is born anyway."
Apollo felt his mother tense, and he knew she was thinking about her last child.
"I wish I knew why he didn't care. You and. your sister. You're a part of him, but he didn't even care when she died."
"I know, Mother."
"Oh, look at me! I'm wasting the day away!"
Apollo just smiled and followed his mother about the house. She was extremely feisty and needed to know she had a good day's work behind her. Apollo sometimes wondered if it was her way of escaping her worries, but that was a good thing. Even though she was pregnant, Ione didn't spare herself. She would always claim that she'd never be strong enough to birth her child if she didn't keep working. Apollo didn't believe her for a moment since she was certainly well exercised simply by housework. Still he didn't complain. He silently accomplished taxing chores before she could get to it. Ione would simply smile at her son, which Apollo knew was a thank you.
She was only a month pregnant when she decided to go on a walk. Jareth never surfaced until she's birthed the child so she felt safe enough without Apollo. She lay down carefully, but she leaped instantly to her feet when a twig snapped behind her. She whirled around and found herself facing the King.
"Jareth!" she breathed in surprise.
"Hello, Ione U. Are you busy?"
"No, Milord."
"Then you are free to come with me."
"Jareth!" Ione stated with exasperation. "That is impossible!"
"Why?"
"You know very well why. I'm pregnant."
"Oh." Jareth replied drawing the single syllable out into a question.
"I know you don't care about your children, but I do!"
"And just what makes you think I don't care about them?"
"You saw Apollo once as a child, you didn't even appear when your daughter was born, and now you want me to come with you even though I'm pregnant with your third."
"I still gave Apollo presents until he challenged me."
"That is not good enough, Jareth! Your son's challenge of you should've brought this to light. You might try to make an attempt at being a part of your children's lives, but now I seriously doubt that you can." She turned slightly away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You are challenging me?" Jareth seemed almost shocked.
"It appears to be the only language you understand." She lifted her chin slightly truly mad for the first time at this man.
"Very well. I accept the challenge. Come with Apollo to the castle. You will live there secretly until the child reaches its third birthday. It would be an adult then, yes? You know which door."
Ione nodded utterly stunned. He was going to try? He was really going to try? It seemed too good to be true. She told Apollo the instant she returned home, and he gradually came to accept the conditions. Ione would go about her work as usual, but secretly she would return to the castle instead of home.