Chapter Two

The Dragon, the Witch, and the Maiden

Jareth stormed to the front door of the castle, boot heels clicking on the cold stone floor, but halted abruptly when a young Faye lord stopped in front of him.

"Andre, stand aside. Sylver is in danger." The dark haired, obsidian eyed man glared hatefully at the king. He could've cared less, Jareth realized, whether Sylver was in trouble, whether her child (so rare among the Faye) was in trouble.

"Andre. Move."

"You're going to rescue that traitorous bitch, aren't you? From the jaws of death and torment?" He asked mockingly. "Getting soft, Your Highness? You haven't forgotten that Sylver agreed to go to the Aboveground. Whatever she gets from the mortal insect, the whore deserves. Same with the half-breed whelp."

Before Andre could react, the Goblin King's silver dagger was at his throat.

"Be careful what you say, Andre son of Belial. Or I may find I don't need you anymore. Now," sheathing the dagger once more, "stand aside."

When he moved aside, Jareth swept past into the night and disappeared.

oo8oo8oo8oo

Lying on the floor by a bed in a puddle of blood was a woman with shocking white hair and jet rimmed storm gray eyes like molten silver. Her eyes were closed, and it was hard to tell if she was breathing, but Jareth knew Lady Sylver was indeed alive.

Barely.

He lifted the small Faye noblewoman into his arms and laid her on the bed. She moaned softly and murmured, "Jareth… milord, my daughter, where…"

"Hush, Lady. I will find the child. What has happened here?"

"Preston, my husband, has been taken. By the Fallen Ones. He went after Jaxxon, went after me… The Fallen want her, for something. You must keep her safe, Jareth. Please… there are two others, two mortal children: Tobias Williams and Cat Danyels. The Fallen are after them as well. Find them, and Jaxxon… protect them."

"Lady, why-"

"Their coming is not a good omen for the Fallen. They cannot be taken… Jareth…"

The woman's eyes fluttered closed.

"Sylver! Don't do this! You're Faye, you can-" In the distance, a loud crash resounded in the house, followed by a child's scream. "Sylver-"

"She won't last much longer against him, Jareth, I know she won't. Go to her, get her out."

Jareth stood and turned to go. He looked back.

"I'm not going to leave you here… sister. I will not. Wait for me."

He went to find Jaxxon.

oo8oo8oo8oo

"Jaxxon Steel, untouched and alive. Jaxxon Steel, untouched and alive. Jaxxon Steel, untouched and alive."

What was that? Jareth stepped into a small bedroom, and saw a small girl, about seven, with long white hair and beautiful blue eyes. She was holding a white kitten in one hand and a slingshot in another. Resting on her shoulder was a golden winged lizard with red eyes, which keened softly in her ear, preening her hair with its sharp beak. Numerous dogs arranged themselves around her, crouched in a guarding position.

The Faye king backed up a step when the second largest hound, a coppery thing with light brown/gold eyes, snarled at him.

"I mean her no harm-"

You are male. You are dangerous.

"I will not hurt her. Little one," to Jaxxon, "I cannot lie to one such as you. Let me help you."

Jareth…tell her Badger sent you, badger from the enchanted forests of the Divine Realm. Tell her in her mind.

Sylver's advice, her voice in his head…

"Jaxxon… Badger sent me. He sent me to help you."

Her blue eyes snapped up to his face. She whispered something.

"Jaxxon?"

"Badger… Badger."

"Give me your hand, Jaxxon. We will find your mother, and you'll be safe."

She bit her lip and whispered, "Badger. Badger, from the enchanted woods…."

Jaxxon, you must come now. The other will come for you soon. Jaxxon Steel, I command you to come with me. I need you to come with me, for your mother's sake. Please!

"Okay. I'll come. Copper, IceClaw, everyone, come on. Let's go."

"Thank you for trusting me, Jaxxon. I-"

"I don't."

Her eyes were cold and hard, and Jareth was almost frightened momentarily by the fierce rage smoldering in the depths of her eyes.

"I want to find Mommy. I know you know where she is. So, I will follow you, and find my mother. Then, if she says you are good, you are. Let's go find my Mo- no!"

Jaxxon stumbled back from the door, terrified. Her stepfather stood in the door to her room.

"Badger!"

"Damn. You're one of them. I should have known you freaks would rescue the bitch and demon whelp."

Preston took a menacing step forward. The numerous canines in the room began growling, and the kitten on Jaxxon's shoulder hissed.

"Jaxx," his voice went low and soft, cajoling, "come here, sweetheart. Come to Daddy. That man's bad, Jaxx, you need to get away from him."

"Silence, pathetic human. She wants her mother. I will take her to the Lady Sylver."

Preston lunged at Jareth. At any other time, the Goblin King would have dodged and counterattacked, but at that moment, a terrified voice fill his head and caused him to stumble: Jareth, it's Toby, HELP!

His name echoed inside his mind, three different voices screaming for him.

oo8oo8oo8oo

"Cat, are you okay?" Alouzon Vailley Danyels looked at her little sister with concern.

The blond, blue-eyed girl rocked back and forth in the corner of her room, hands clenching her upper arms hard enough to leave deep, ugly bruises.

"Cat, is it the Silence? Has the Silence been broken? Cat, answer me!"

Alouzon bit her lip and shook her head. She didn't have time to worry about Cat acting creepy. Sarah was in trouble. How did she know? Because Alouzon couldn't find her in the Sea Mirror. The half-Faye picked up the gift from her brother, Jareth, and gazed into it, trying to find her old friend.

The mirror was made of pure glass, formed by enchanted lightning and ocean beach sand. There was a hollow space in the face of the mirror, filled with moonlit ocean water. It was very powerful, and very beautiful.

"And completely fuckin' useless, god dammit!"

She slammed it down on her bureau top, furious, then stared at it in amazement. For a brief moment, Alouzon saw Sarah, lying on the floor at the foot of the stairs, eyes closed. Was she even breathing? Was she alive? The halfling noticed Toby, Sarah's little brother, lying next to her, looking positively hysterical. Then the imaged vanished.

"That's why Cat's so freaked out… isn't that right, Cat? Toby's in danger, too." She looked over at the silent girl, who blinked at her slowly. "Damn… damn, damn, double damn!"

Jareth!

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