Slowly Sara's eyes adjusted to the darkness of the theatre auditorium as she made her way down the sloping aisles. The class was already assembled in the pit, the faces of her peers beaming with excitement as they watched the drama teacher intently. Curiousity at her friends' expressions quickly faded as her own face lit up with excitement. Her heart leaped to her throat as her pace quickened, devouring the ground between her and the crowd, till she stood in the circle around Mrs. Gallagher.

Today was the 23rd of October, the day that had held her and the entire class in suspense. Over the past week they had been auditioning for a surprise drama that Mrs. Gallagher had decided would be their next performance.

Today Mrs. Gallagher was to announce both the play and the cast!

Sara's attention was now focused on the softly formed red haired woman with the rest of the class; however, her eyes held both excitement and strong admiration.

Mrs. Gallagher was Sara's role model, she was everything that Sara thought a true woman should be in life. Mrs. Gallagher had lived in Ireland as a young girl and had come to America to attend Juliard, after graduating she had performed in Broadway plays before pursuing a brief acting career in Hollywood. There she met her husband, Richard Brandon, and gave up her career after he asked her to marry him. She kept her last name and the two of them traveled through Europe on their honeymoon. Richard died 2 years ago in a boating accident off the coast of Florida. After his death Mrs. Gallagher settled down and pursued a teaching career at the college. She was only 39 and had already accomplished more things in her 39 years than Sara ever hoped to accomplish in her lifetime. She was remarkable.

Mrs. Gallagher smiled at her in the tender way that was only for her students and began to speak, her voice filling the auditorium with the musical sound that had captured her audiences throughout her life. "Good afternoon, my darlings", her smile warmed, "before we get to the business of the play, it is my pleasure to introduce a new student to our class. He just transferred from England." She gestured toward the stage, the entire class following her up-turned hand. "Mr. Taryn J. Collins", she smiled as he entered view from right side of the stage. Sara, along with the other girls, stared as he walked to the front of the stage and bowed.

Taryn Collins was at least 6'2" with a length of blonde hair, restrained in a pony tail, that trailed over his shoulder like a river of pale sunlight. He wore a black silk shirt that seemed to float around him, tucked into the top of a pair of black slacks. Three open buttons exposed a length of silver chain that shined against his pale skin and ended along his chest in a silver faerie-star pendant.

Although his clothes were loose on him, Sara could make out the lean body that hid beneath their cover, but is was his eyes that she was curious about. Sara believed that a person's eyes told more than even their actions could tell about them; however, a pair of silver framed sunglasses protected them from view.

As if reading her thoughts he lifted his right hand and, taking the glasses between tapered fingers he slid them from his face.

It was one of those slow motion moments that kept her spell-bound as the dark lenses disclosed his eyes; they were closed. Soft lashes raised slowly and she went rigid, covering her mouth with her hand.

The eyes from her dreams; mismatched and perfect…

Blue and green pools swept her away, relieving her of her wits and her breath in rush of wonder.

'Could it be?'

Phedrea elbowed her slightly and Sara stumbled back to herself, turning to her friend.

"Hmmm?", she mumbled. It was the only sound she could manage.

Phedrea looked at her sternly but her eyes danced with mirth and Sara knew she had been watching her the whole time. Phedrea had been her best friend since she had transferred to Sara's high school and they had found they had a number of things in common, from step-moms to a love of art. Sara had never been able to hide anything from her and though at times it helped her work out her problems, most of the time it was irritating to be read so easily. Phedrea was the only person Sara had confided in about her dreams. Besides Toby, she was the most important person in Sara's life.

"Mrs. Gallagher just asked us to sit down", she struggled to hide a grin as Sara snapped to attention, "you don't want to miss the casting, do you?"

She didn't have to say anything more, Sara was already herding her toward an empty row of seats. Laughing Phedrea sat down on Sara's left side and as they were focusing on Mrs. Gallagher someone filled the seat to Sara's right.

Alternating waves of warm and cold crashed over Sara's skin as she turned to gaze into the eyes that had haunted her dreams. His eyes were locked with hers as well and Sara swore that she could see a familiarity mingled within them. They were so familiar and yet she had never met Taryn before now. Or had she?

A smile lit his face as he spoke to her, his words, carried on a breath of music that filled her head and left her dizzy, "do you mind if I share the arm rest?" Sara smiled lazily. It would have been humorous and she was sure that within a moment she would have laughed at the simple question if his arm had not shifted beside hers on the arm rest.

Air whooshed passed her lips at the quick intake of breath and a shiver waved through her as images assaulted her mind.

'Memories,' she thought. 'No…. Dreams. Memories do not contain fairies, goblins, and funny little dwarves.' The images were too fantastic to be real. Too much like one of the fairy tales she use to read, and yet…. they were so vivid, the color and texture so real.

Sara had not realized her eyes were closed until his voice filled her head again, mingling perfectly with the visions, "Sara?"

Sara pulled her arm back violently as her eyes opened to meet his. It seemed that they held the key to everything she had just seen. The key to her hopes, her fantasies. Her dreams.

*Just a crystal. Nothing more. But if you turn it this way it will show you your dreams….*

Folding her hands in her lap she turned her eyes away, 'Uh, sorry,' she managed to mumble as she pushed the visions and the voice from her mind. It was silly to let herself get carried away in her imagination. She wasn't a child anymore. This was the real world, and Taryn was a regular, average boy. There was nothing magickal or special about him, save for his eyes…

And his gorgeous accent…

And the way he smiled…

And…

Tuning into Mrs. Gallagher, Sara forced herself to forget the young man beside her, or at least to turn her attention away from him and his knowing smiling past away unnoticed by her.

But Phedrea caught it and the faint light that touched his eyes.

"Now class, I am sure you will all make Taryn welcome," Mrs. Gallagher's voice held laughter as she eyed a cluster of giggling freshman girls who were busy sneaking not-so-secretive glances at Taryn. "And with that heavy burden off my mind I think it is time that we cut to the real reason we are here," she paused. Mrs. Gallagher's years on the stage had given her a knack for dramatics and she knew how to work her audience. The tension in the room seemed to crackle like lightning through the auditorium as Mrs. Gallagher took her time. "The play," simply stated, it had the affect of increasing tension and causing not a few lips to be chewed on nervously.

"Oh! I do hope I get a speaking part," whispered Phedrea secretively to Sara.

Sara could not stop herself from rolling her eyes at her friend. Phedrea was one of the best actresses in the class. A true dramatist by nature, she had pure talent for the stage. Sara had no doubt of her being chosen.

No, there was no doubt of Phedrea having a part within the play; the one Sara was truly worried about was herself. She wanted so desperately to be given the chance to shine out. Would this be her chance?

"I have reviewed each of your audition and have allowed Taryn to audition as well and I believe that I have chosen the parts correctly," smiling she added, "I know that it has just been murder to each and everyone of you, thinking of the play these few days, not even knowing what it will be." Her smile broadened, "I have my reasons for not revealing the play to you all before hand, but I wont tell you them."

A soft rumble of laughter rippled from the students and Mrs. Gallagher took the moment to steal a meaningful look toward Sarah.

"The play that we will be performing is a personal favorite of mine and I hope it will become one of yours. And if not then lets just try to have fun." Taking out a folder from her book bag she leaned against the podium she had set up just in front of the stage. "Enough beating around the bush, the play is entitled 'The Labyrinth'."

The rest of Mrs. Gallagher word were lost on Sara as light and darkness swam behind her eyes, colors, shapes, images… voices. Sara collapsed onto the chair, her body numbed as thoughts and words intermingled in her head. Some were her own but others…

-Give me the child…-

An image of herself as she had been that night played out before her.

Taking Toby in her arms she shushed him with all the impatience and self-righteous indignation she had felt as a teenager.

"I wish the goblins would come and take you away…"

Lights click… Darkness and shadows envelope the room… as it fills with… Power.

Then there is him… or rather the pitch black vision of him. Faceless, no detail to his figure except the breathtaking sight of his eyes on her.

"Please, I want my brother back if it is all the same to you…"

His voice; not actually a vocalization, but more of a dim indeterminate echo in her mind.

*What's said is said.."

-Through dangers untold…-

*Turn back, Sara. Turn back before it is too late…*

"It doesn't look that far.."

*You have thirteen hours in which to solve the Labyrinth…*

More images raced through her mind. A crude, jewelry-crazed dwarf… a shaggy-haired, gentle beast… an overly-righteous, knight fox and his loyal hound… and a host of other odd creatures. These were followed by scenes of hedges, doors, pits, and walls that hid their openings.

Sara could almost feel the wind on her again, as if she was there in that fantasy world…

-and hardships unnumbered-

Then he was there again. Hidden this time in an envelope of white light that resembled feathers.

*Look what I am offering…*

Her mind strained to see what he held in his hand but she couldn't make it out.

Just a little more, she thought as she tried to focus on the image.

Slowly her fingers reached forward. She had to touch it. Had to…

Just.. Just a little further.. Almost…