CHAPTER XX: Naked Souls
Sarah had tried to escape. There wasn't any way to do so. It wasn't an invisible barrier. It wasn't an implanted fear, through magic or otherwise. The problem was very simple.
There were no doors. Or windows. Not even a damn broom closet.
One would think this would make the place dramatically dark.
It did.
Sarah wasn't usually taken in by such things, but she got chills wherever she stepped. It was a beautiful place, despite her fears. But her worry over her deserted kingdom would not let her enjoy the beauty of her cage.
She wasn't exactly sure why Kaleb had disappeared, thus allowing her to explore the castle. Perhaps to press further how hopeless her escape was. But, she wasn't wont to give up hope.
So she tried to blow up a wall. It shattered, only to reveal another room. She stepped through the wreckage to explore further.
Was it water? It was dark at first, and hard to discern the source of that rushing noise. As her eyes adjusted to the increasing dark, she became certain that it was. It was coming from all around. She finally began to see that there was an inky liquid flowing down the walls and across the floor, stopping a foot away from her figure and seeping into nothingness. The strange whirlpool followed her wherever she went.
Upon closer inspection, the room was almost round, except for a very slight curvature of the floor. She walked to the other side to get a closer look at the liquid. A soft light emanated from the center of the room, impromptu, with nothing to create it. It helped her to see what awaited her in the depths of the strange water.
It was her reflection. But, instead of the white gown she had donned earlier that day for the festival, she was greeted by an image of herself in all black, feathers drifting about her cheekbones.
"Ah, lovely. You see my predicted future for you, Sarah. I think you'd look stunning in black." Kaleb stepped above the liquid, not rippling it one bit.
Sarah had been disturbed a bit by the image, but not so much as Kaleb would like. "Don't you have things to destroy?"
"Now, a good queen would do whatever she could to distract the villain from his evil deeds."
"Hmm," she replied. "I know from experience that you have the presence of mind to do several things at once."
"Still not phased by my attempts at intimidation?" Kaleb answered as he honed in on her.
"Take a guess."
"Would it help if I told you I was mistreated as a child?"
"Please, save your humor."
"Don't be so cold. You know there is a part of you that is drawn towards darkness and suffering."
"You have always been the one to know what it is that I desire, haven't you?"
"That's the most reasonable thing you've said. Of course I have always known your desires." Kaleb gazed into the shimmering wall and continued, "That wall reflects the darkest secrets of one's soul."
Sarah turned around to look. She only saw herself reflected, as the wraith of herself. "You don't have a reflection. Does that make you a vampire?" she said without a chuckle.
"No. It reveals that I am an empty soul. Nothing more."
Sarah was struck by the abrupt honesty with which he was able to reveal his own nature. She looked again - her image had changed. Some white was intermingled in the gown of her placid, gloomy self. On the arm of the dress appeared some white feathers. She examined her own arm to see that her own dress was turning black, in a growing, feathery pattern. Her eyes met the smiling eyes of Kaleb. She was transforming into this other self, more with each moment. Kaleb acknowledged her fear with a slight grin before leaving the room.
"What are you doing to me?" she demanded, trailing after him.
"Me? My dear, you are doing it to yourself. This time, I have nothing to do with it. It's your deepest desires made manifest. Look at you... A very responsible queen, and you have extended yourself across a whole kingdom. Your life belongs to thousands. Just for one moment, Sarah has wanted to know what it would be like to be without having to think of everyone else." He honed in on her, driving the point home, "To lose yourself in a complete abandon, where you could do anything you like?"
She was speechless.
"Don't feel bad, Sarah. Everyone wants to know what it's like to wear black. And to give everyone else cause to do so, as well."
With that, he left. She didn't know what to think about all of this. He walked out of the room, left her to her own devices, as if he were confident that she was caged for good. She could feel the chill of black creeping up her arm, she could hear the wet plop of the inky water against the stones, and it all brought a murderous sensation into her blood. She turned to face her reflection, and was stopped cold.
The Sarah in the mirror smiled. I didn't move, Sarah worked to convince herself. That wasn't the real me. She was amazed to see that any expression on her face could be so evil.
Without warning, she barged into the wall, smashing the image with her body. The ink dripped down her body, all over her dress, into her crevices, over her lips and teeth. The blackness consumed her, suffocating and enlivening all at once. With a furious roar, Sarah stormed out of the room, mustering all the strength she could to fight the demon that had come charging into her spirit. The fiery hell raged through her, and she beat it back with cold stones of ice.
Yet, somehow she knew why her reflection had smiled, knew that a familiar part of her was gone, trapped behind the inky waters, wearing the white of a caged pigeon.
Sarah was lost in the Labyrinth of herself.
* * *
"Well, here we are, and none to soon. That's twice an elf has tried to skin me. I'm rather fond of my flesh," Jareth joked.
"If you hurry back, you may get to see us again before we're skewered," Leah said.
"And I was thinking about stopping for a nice dinner... Toby and I could catch up on old times."
"Just get a move on," Leah commanded.
"Yes, well, here I go. And I didn't dress properly for a trip out of town. Damn." He pat Sage on the shoulder whilst Leah glowered at him. "See ya, good chap. Bring Sarah back to her loving sister and hated ex-arch enemy." He met Leah's arched eye and said, "Yes, here I go, moving along."
He stepped into the mirror, the metallic surface shimmering in contour about his form. Only one foot remained in their reality when Leah and Sage were taken by complete surprise as Sir Didymus' furry figure hopped after the former Goblin King, crying "Geronimo!!!"
"Oh dear," was all Sage could say. "Things have just gotten, erm... hairy?"
* * *
Jareth stepped out from nothingness into the somethingness of an alley in New York. Cars were whizzing by just five yards away, and the bright lights of a big city mesmerized even his jaded eyes.
"This doesn't look like Whispering Pines," he mused forebodingly.
Then Sir Didymus popped out of the air and landed on the concrete on his bum.
"Oh, and this makes things just peachy." He looked down at the fox with an arched brow. It wasn't like him to be negatively affected by most negative occurrences, so he bit back the urge to spout a witty British comeback at life's lovely knack of dealing him futile hands.
And then he thought again. "You know, and I thought of going back to bed this morning. Dammit if I choose the best time to be motivated."
Sir Didymus got up and faced Jareth, his jaw working to unhinge his embarrassment for having been so foolhardy. "Er, I, thought it best that I accompany you, Sir."
Jareth gave the fox a long look. "You are known for your wreckless bravado, are you not, Sir Knight?"
"Yes, I suppose I am. But I am brave and win every battle!"
"Do you storm in every time?"
"Why, most certainly. I do not wish the enemy to think I am a coward!"
"Far be it from me to be the type of gent to throw out harassing comments, but I think you have put yourself in the position of looking more like the fool, Sir Didymus. Do not all noble knights follow the commands of their queen?"
"Why, naturally, Sir."
"And who acts as counsel in absence of the queen?"
"Why, Sir Sage, of course."
"And did he not tell you to remain Underground while I retrieve the boy?"
Sir Didymus worked his jaw some more. "Er, I, yes, I recall..."
"Let us just get one thing clear, shall we? You are to consider my words commands in the absence of Sage's counsel. Do you understand? This is a strange place that even I am quite unfamiliar with, and I don't need you to stick your wet nose into unwanted trouble."
Sir Didymus was quiet a moment before finally answering, "Yes Sir. I am sorry to have disgraced you."
Jareth turned toward the street beyond the alley. "Now, Sir Knight, that I have made my wishes clear to you, let us not dwell on the matter. Let your actions be carefully considered from here on, and you will earn my respect and forgiveness."
"You are most kind, Sir."
Jareth headed out into the night, carefully stepping over the legs of the amazed homeless man looking on. "I have always been known for my generosity," he mused satirically.
He worked his way to the end of the wall and looked out into the passing throng of people in amazement. "My heavens, where the hell are we?"
"Pardon me, sir, but is this not our desired destination?" Sir Didymus asked.
"Sssh," Jareth answered. "You remember what I said about you not being able to speak here? You must be very quiet if you are to communicate with me. It will cause a great deal of suspicion if others were to hear you."
"They will believe me a spy, Sir?" Sir Didymus queried with a confused expression.
"Yes, that is it." Jareth looked out from beyond the wall and saw in the distance a giant Coca-Cola sign flickering large over the buildings. He was mere blocks away from Times Square. "And, to answer your question, no, we are not at our desired destination, Didymus. We are in a place called New York. I recognize it, as this is where Sarah once lived. You see their strange iconography in the distance?"
"Ah, yes. Is that where the Fieries dwell?"
"No, it is merely a sign. I believe it is associated with some sort of intoxicating beverage."
"Very odd to make signs about such things," Sir Didymus commented. "I wonder if the fairies that make it flicker like that must be working very hard."
Jareth did not hear his comment, but began to head out into the crowd. Sir Didymus tagged behind, nearly getting stepped on by a number of people. Once he finally caught up, he noticed that people were staring at him, and then turning to face Jareth with an odd expression. Jareth noticed as well. "Damn, they're noticing," Jareth mumbled.
Sir Didymus kept quiet. He could not, however, suppress a yap when a wild- haired lady snatched him up like this morning's Christmas sale. She held him tightly, pulling off his hat and petting his fur violently. She turned an accusing stare to the stunned Jareth. "How dare you! Making your dog wear clothes like this!" Sir Didymus was soon going to blurt out a curse related to people who steal the hats of fine knights. He grabbed feebly for the hat, but she did not notice. She was too busy chewing Jareth out. Jareth noticed that Sir Didymus was beginning a vocal growl, and he put his fingers to his lips to indicate that the fox needed to keep silent.
"How inhumane!" she declared. "And telling him to shush. Things like this make dogs violent, you know? I'm a card-carrying member of the Human Society, and I can't believe you'd put your dog through this, let alone walk him through mid-New York at night without a leash. What're you thinking?"
Jareth looked taken aback. He had no idea how to respond to her outburst.
* * *
Moments later, Jareth was walking down the sidewalk, holding a sans- clothes, very upset Didymus in his arms. Didymus held his clothes, moaning, "Oh, the indignity!"
"Sorry, chap, but this is going to be the way it is whilst we're on this world," Jareth replied. "Next thing you know, they're going to make me join a rock band, and we'll all be suffering indignation." Didymus began murmuring like a wounded puppy. "Now, now, Didymus. You are a very fine knight for making such a sacrifice. They will surely not suspect that you are a spy, now."
"Really?" he asked, his ears perking up. "Yes, I guess that is so. I will have them fooled. They will never suspect that I am looking to take their finest sorcerer away from them."
"Who would that be?" Jareth asked.
"Sir Toby, of course," Didymus replied in a matter-of-fact whisper.
"Oh, right." Jareth had no intention of wounding his sense of grandeur. "Well, I hope we find the lad soon. He should be somewhere around here. Too bad I don't have my magic to tell me where he is.
Sir Didymus pointed to the window of a shop. "Is not that a place of magic?" he whispered.
Jareth turned to look. It was indeed a magic shop, and just beyond the velvet curtains in the window he could see a young boy and a beautiful woman sitting across from each other, deep in conversation. "Well, well. This little leopard hasn't changed his spots." He ruffled Didymus' fur. "You may prove to be of assistance after all, chap."
"Oh, please. Nudity is hard enough, but must you pet me like a mere dog?" the knight moaned.
"Oh, right. I'm quite sorry. Let's go in and meet the boy, shall we?"
Sarah had tried to escape. There wasn't any way to do so. It wasn't an invisible barrier. It wasn't an implanted fear, through magic or otherwise. The problem was very simple.
There were no doors. Or windows. Not even a damn broom closet.
One would think this would make the place dramatically dark.
It did.
Sarah wasn't usually taken in by such things, but she got chills wherever she stepped. It was a beautiful place, despite her fears. But her worry over her deserted kingdom would not let her enjoy the beauty of her cage.
She wasn't exactly sure why Kaleb had disappeared, thus allowing her to explore the castle. Perhaps to press further how hopeless her escape was. But, she wasn't wont to give up hope.
So she tried to blow up a wall. It shattered, only to reveal another room. She stepped through the wreckage to explore further.
Was it water? It was dark at first, and hard to discern the source of that rushing noise. As her eyes adjusted to the increasing dark, she became certain that it was. It was coming from all around. She finally began to see that there was an inky liquid flowing down the walls and across the floor, stopping a foot away from her figure and seeping into nothingness. The strange whirlpool followed her wherever she went.
Upon closer inspection, the room was almost round, except for a very slight curvature of the floor. She walked to the other side to get a closer look at the liquid. A soft light emanated from the center of the room, impromptu, with nothing to create it. It helped her to see what awaited her in the depths of the strange water.
It was her reflection. But, instead of the white gown she had donned earlier that day for the festival, she was greeted by an image of herself in all black, feathers drifting about her cheekbones.
"Ah, lovely. You see my predicted future for you, Sarah. I think you'd look stunning in black." Kaleb stepped above the liquid, not rippling it one bit.
Sarah had been disturbed a bit by the image, but not so much as Kaleb would like. "Don't you have things to destroy?"
"Now, a good queen would do whatever she could to distract the villain from his evil deeds."
"Hmm," she replied. "I know from experience that you have the presence of mind to do several things at once."
"Still not phased by my attempts at intimidation?" Kaleb answered as he honed in on her.
"Take a guess."
"Would it help if I told you I was mistreated as a child?"
"Please, save your humor."
"Don't be so cold. You know there is a part of you that is drawn towards darkness and suffering."
"You have always been the one to know what it is that I desire, haven't you?"
"That's the most reasonable thing you've said. Of course I have always known your desires." Kaleb gazed into the shimmering wall and continued, "That wall reflects the darkest secrets of one's soul."
Sarah turned around to look. She only saw herself reflected, as the wraith of herself. "You don't have a reflection. Does that make you a vampire?" she said without a chuckle.
"No. It reveals that I am an empty soul. Nothing more."
Sarah was struck by the abrupt honesty with which he was able to reveal his own nature. She looked again - her image had changed. Some white was intermingled in the gown of her placid, gloomy self. On the arm of the dress appeared some white feathers. She examined her own arm to see that her own dress was turning black, in a growing, feathery pattern. Her eyes met the smiling eyes of Kaleb. She was transforming into this other self, more with each moment. Kaleb acknowledged her fear with a slight grin before leaving the room.
"What are you doing to me?" she demanded, trailing after him.
"Me? My dear, you are doing it to yourself. This time, I have nothing to do with it. It's your deepest desires made manifest. Look at you... A very responsible queen, and you have extended yourself across a whole kingdom. Your life belongs to thousands. Just for one moment, Sarah has wanted to know what it would be like to be without having to think of everyone else." He honed in on her, driving the point home, "To lose yourself in a complete abandon, where you could do anything you like?"
She was speechless.
"Don't feel bad, Sarah. Everyone wants to know what it's like to wear black. And to give everyone else cause to do so, as well."
With that, he left. She didn't know what to think about all of this. He walked out of the room, left her to her own devices, as if he were confident that she was caged for good. She could feel the chill of black creeping up her arm, she could hear the wet plop of the inky water against the stones, and it all brought a murderous sensation into her blood. She turned to face her reflection, and was stopped cold.
The Sarah in the mirror smiled. I didn't move, Sarah worked to convince herself. That wasn't the real me. She was amazed to see that any expression on her face could be so evil.
Without warning, she barged into the wall, smashing the image with her body. The ink dripped down her body, all over her dress, into her crevices, over her lips and teeth. The blackness consumed her, suffocating and enlivening all at once. With a furious roar, Sarah stormed out of the room, mustering all the strength she could to fight the demon that had come charging into her spirit. The fiery hell raged through her, and she beat it back with cold stones of ice.
Yet, somehow she knew why her reflection had smiled, knew that a familiar part of her was gone, trapped behind the inky waters, wearing the white of a caged pigeon.
Sarah was lost in the Labyrinth of herself.
* * *
"Well, here we are, and none to soon. That's twice an elf has tried to skin me. I'm rather fond of my flesh," Jareth joked.
"If you hurry back, you may get to see us again before we're skewered," Leah said.
"And I was thinking about stopping for a nice dinner... Toby and I could catch up on old times."
"Just get a move on," Leah commanded.
"Yes, well, here I go. And I didn't dress properly for a trip out of town. Damn." He pat Sage on the shoulder whilst Leah glowered at him. "See ya, good chap. Bring Sarah back to her loving sister and hated ex-arch enemy." He met Leah's arched eye and said, "Yes, here I go, moving along."
He stepped into the mirror, the metallic surface shimmering in contour about his form. Only one foot remained in their reality when Leah and Sage were taken by complete surprise as Sir Didymus' furry figure hopped after the former Goblin King, crying "Geronimo!!!"
"Oh dear," was all Sage could say. "Things have just gotten, erm... hairy?"
* * *
Jareth stepped out from nothingness into the somethingness of an alley in New York. Cars were whizzing by just five yards away, and the bright lights of a big city mesmerized even his jaded eyes.
"This doesn't look like Whispering Pines," he mused forebodingly.
Then Sir Didymus popped out of the air and landed on the concrete on his bum.
"Oh, and this makes things just peachy." He looked down at the fox with an arched brow. It wasn't like him to be negatively affected by most negative occurrences, so he bit back the urge to spout a witty British comeback at life's lovely knack of dealing him futile hands.
And then he thought again. "You know, and I thought of going back to bed this morning. Dammit if I choose the best time to be motivated."
Sir Didymus got up and faced Jareth, his jaw working to unhinge his embarrassment for having been so foolhardy. "Er, I, thought it best that I accompany you, Sir."
Jareth gave the fox a long look. "You are known for your wreckless bravado, are you not, Sir Knight?"
"Yes, I suppose I am. But I am brave and win every battle!"
"Do you storm in every time?"
"Why, most certainly. I do not wish the enemy to think I am a coward!"
"Far be it from me to be the type of gent to throw out harassing comments, but I think you have put yourself in the position of looking more like the fool, Sir Didymus. Do not all noble knights follow the commands of their queen?"
"Why, naturally, Sir."
"And who acts as counsel in absence of the queen?"
"Why, Sir Sage, of course."
"And did he not tell you to remain Underground while I retrieve the boy?"
Sir Didymus worked his jaw some more. "Er, I, yes, I recall..."
"Let us just get one thing clear, shall we? You are to consider my words commands in the absence of Sage's counsel. Do you understand? This is a strange place that even I am quite unfamiliar with, and I don't need you to stick your wet nose into unwanted trouble."
Sir Didymus was quiet a moment before finally answering, "Yes Sir. I am sorry to have disgraced you."
Jareth turned toward the street beyond the alley. "Now, Sir Knight, that I have made my wishes clear to you, let us not dwell on the matter. Let your actions be carefully considered from here on, and you will earn my respect and forgiveness."
"You are most kind, Sir."
Jareth headed out into the night, carefully stepping over the legs of the amazed homeless man looking on. "I have always been known for my generosity," he mused satirically.
He worked his way to the end of the wall and looked out into the passing throng of people in amazement. "My heavens, where the hell are we?"
"Pardon me, sir, but is this not our desired destination?" Sir Didymus asked.
"Sssh," Jareth answered. "You remember what I said about you not being able to speak here? You must be very quiet if you are to communicate with me. It will cause a great deal of suspicion if others were to hear you."
"They will believe me a spy, Sir?" Sir Didymus queried with a confused expression.
"Yes, that is it." Jareth looked out from beyond the wall and saw in the distance a giant Coca-Cola sign flickering large over the buildings. He was mere blocks away from Times Square. "And, to answer your question, no, we are not at our desired destination, Didymus. We are in a place called New York. I recognize it, as this is where Sarah once lived. You see their strange iconography in the distance?"
"Ah, yes. Is that where the Fieries dwell?"
"No, it is merely a sign. I believe it is associated with some sort of intoxicating beverage."
"Very odd to make signs about such things," Sir Didymus commented. "I wonder if the fairies that make it flicker like that must be working very hard."
Jareth did not hear his comment, but began to head out into the crowd. Sir Didymus tagged behind, nearly getting stepped on by a number of people. Once he finally caught up, he noticed that people were staring at him, and then turning to face Jareth with an odd expression. Jareth noticed as well. "Damn, they're noticing," Jareth mumbled.
Sir Didymus kept quiet. He could not, however, suppress a yap when a wild- haired lady snatched him up like this morning's Christmas sale. She held him tightly, pulling off his hat and petting his fur violently. She turned an accusing stare to the stunned Jareth. "How dare you! Making your dog wear clothes like this!" Sir Didymus was soon going to blurt out a curse related to people who steal the hats of fine knights. He grabbed feebly for the hat, but she did not notice. She was too busy chewing Jareth out. Jareth noticed that Sir Didymus was beginning a vocal growl, and he put his fingers to his lips to indicate that the fox needed to keep silent.
"How inhumane!" she declared. "And telling him to shush. Things like this make dogs violent, you know? I'm a card-carrying member of the Human Society, and I can't believe you'd put your dog through this, let alone walk him through mid-New York at night without a leash. What're you thinking?"
Jareth looked taken aback. He had no idea how to respond to her outburst.
* * *
Moments later, Jareth was walking down the sidewalk, holding a sans- clothes, very upset Didymus in his arms. Didymus held his clothes, moaning, "Oh, the indignity!"
"Sorry, chap, but this is going to be the way it is whilst we're on this world," Jareth replied. "Next thing you know, they're going to make me join a rock band, and we'll all be suffering indignation." Didymus began murmuring like a wounded puppy. "Now, now, Didymus. You are a very fine knight for making such a sacrifice. They will surely not suspect that you are a spy, now."
"Really?" he asked, his ears perking up. "Yes, I guess that is so. I will have them fooled. They will never suspect that I am looking to take their finest sorcerer away from them."
"Who would that be?" Jareth asked.
"Sir Toby, of course," Didymus replied in a matter-of-fact whisper.
"Oh, right." Jareth had no intention of wounding his sense of grandeur. "Well, I hope we find the lad soon. He should be somewhere around here. Too bad I don't have my magic to tell me where he is.
Sir Didymus pointed to the window of a shop. "Is not that a place of magic?" he whispered.
Jareth turned to look. It was indeed a magic shop, and just beyond the velvet curtains in the window he could see a young boy and a beautiful woman sitting across from each other, deep in conversation. "Well, well. This little leopard hasn't changed his spots." He ruffled Didymus' fur. "You may prove to be of assistance after all, chap."
"Oh, please. Nudity is hard enough, but must you pet me like a mere dog?" the knight moaned.
"Oh, right. I'm quite sorry. Let's go in and meet the boy, shall we?"